The good news: In 2014, there are more apps and other options than ever before. As the World Cup moves into the knockout stages, here’s how to follow everything related to the World Cup in Brazil, including Thursday’s game between the United States and Germany.
(See also: How to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup live on your PC, smartphone or tablet)
Global Vision
To stream games live online using ESPN’s website or app, viewers will need a cable or satellite TV subscription. Simply providing internet service through a cable TV provider is not enough.
But there’s another way to watch for free – legally. Spanish-language channel Univision will live stream the first 56 World Cup matches for free on its website and Deporte app. The only downside (for some) is that the reviews are in Spanish.
Unfortunately, even the games on Univision will require a cable or satellite subscription once the quarterfinals begin on July 4.
radio
ESPN Radio and Sirius XM are broadcasting all games on the radio. Just find your local ESPN station, tune in during the game and let the drama unfold. Sirius requires a satellite radio subscription.
This is convenient if you’re watching the game on Univision but want to hear English commentary, although the internet stream may run a minute or so after the broadcast.
ESPN Television.
app
There are various smartphone apps available to help World Cup fans.
The official FIFA app for Apple and Android phones gives you live updates from all matches, updated standings, photo and video highlights and curated tweets from FIFA and other bodies.
If you’re looking for resources outside of the sport’s governing bodies, check out Forza Motorsport, Vubooo’s 2014 World Cup and World Football Finals for Apple and Android devices (and sometimes Windows phones). You won’t see live video, but the apps provide lineups, game statistics, live updates, standings and video highlights.
These apps provide similar information, but they’re all free, so you can try them all and see which one you like best.
FIFA app.
Media website
ESPN’s website is filled with statistics and video highlights that can be accessed even without cable TV. Many news sites, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, provide live blogs of all games, providing insight and commentary. This can be a useful way to keep up, especially now that there are two games going on at the same time.
(See also: How to watch FIFA World Cup 2014 online or offline)
My favorite live blog is from The Guardian. It offers insightful running commentary, along with plenty of sarcasm and an ongoing debate about which country’s national anthem is the best.
The Guardian World Cup page.
social media
Twitter displays World Cup scores on its home page. All but two teams have official accounts, with 300 players on Twitter. FIFA’s Twitter accounts are FifaWorldCup and Fifacom. Clicking on the official Twitter hashtags WorldCup and WorldCup2014 will take you to Twitter’s Activity Center.
Facebook has an official World Cup section called “Hot World Cup.” It includes a feed of the latest scores, match highlights, and tournament-related posts.
Google makes a different Google Doodle on its main search page every day. One is dedicated to Paul the Octopus, who predicted World Cup winners until his death in 2010.
Google also has a special Street View page that highlights Brazil’s painted streets and the interiors of all World Cup stadiums. The character guiding users through Street View now has a white T-shirt and a football.
A dedicated Google Trends page showcases all the trending topics related to the World Cup. Additionally, when you search for anything related to the World Cup, including the names of countries in the tournament, statistics and other information appear in the graphic box at the top.
(See also: Facebook, Twitter, Google scores during the 2014 World Cup)
Fight
Even if you have a TV, the best way to watch the World Cup is with other fans. Ask local bars and restaurants when and where the competition will be held.
But don’t limit yourself to these: There may be competitions held at community centers, parks, or other non-traditional venues. In Minneapolis, for example, the Riverview Theater is screening the June 16 game between the United States and Ghana for free. In New York, the game is being played outdoors in the Archway under the Manhattan Bridge.
If you don’t have a cable or satellite TV subscription, this may be the only way you can watch live video with English narration in the United States. ABC will broadcast 10 of the 64 games live for free, including the final. But the live broadcast is via ESPN, so you still need a subscription.
So do your research and you might find some unexpected places nearby showing the game and find out which of your neighbors are fans too.
