ITV

Over the years, ITV has produced coverage of some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including huge football matches. That remains the case today.

Coverage of the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championships make up the biggest and most important parts of ITV’s football portfolio, but it also holds the rights to some of club football’s biggest prizes.

In a football broadcasting landscape dominated by pay-TV networks, ITV more than holds its own when it comes to remaining an important figure in watching football on TV in the UK.

Which football competitions does ITV show?

ITV, along with fellow public broadcaster the BBC, shares rights to the two major international football tournaments in the world, the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championships (Euros).

One of these two events usually takes place every other year, and ITV enjoys rights to half of the games from each competition, as well as two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final, which it broadcasts simultaneously alongside the BBC.

Elsewhere in international football, ITV airs matches from the UEFA Nations League involving the England national team.

However, ITV also has its fair share of club football rights. These include the FA Cup, which it covers from start to finish, again alongside the BBC, and La Liga - 10 of the Spanish top flight’s biggest games of the season air completely free on ITV.

ITV also shows live coverage of one semi-final from the Carabao Cup each season, as well as the final itself. The Community Shield also airs exclusively on ITV. 

The best TV packages to get ITV Sport

There are no TV packages necessary to watch ITV Sport and football on ITV. As a free-to-air broadcaster, it can be accessed on linear television or online via live streaming completely free.

However, all UK citizens who watch ITV and other terrestrial TV channels must hold an up-to-date TV license by law. The current cost of a TV license is £169.50 a year.

Best ITV Sport Live Streaming Options in the UK 

Football fans can watch the World Cup, the FA Cup, La Liga and more on ITV via live streaming with the broadcaster’s dedicated live streaming platform, ITVX.

The ITVX app can be accessed on most mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and more. Desktop users can also access all the same ITVX content on the ITV website.

However, as a terrestrial network,  ITV and the football it covers can also be watched on a myriad of other streaming services, both paid and free, in the UK, including NOW, Pluto TV, Freeview and more.

Remember that whatever streaming service or website you use to watch football on ITV, you will need a valid TV license to do so legally.

Can You Watch ITV Using a VPN?

Fans from around the world can watch football on ITV on the ITV website or  ITV streaming app ITVX with a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Even if you don’t reside in the UK, you can access ITV football live streams wherever you are, with the help of a VPN.

Assuming you have checked the rules and regulations regarding VPNs where you are, and done your due diligence regarding the best VPN to go with, there’s little stopping you from accessing football live streams on ITV.

Best ITV Football Pundits and Commentators

Across its coverage of some of the biggest international and club football events in the world, ITV can boast some of the most beloved presenters, commentators and pundits in its ranks.

In terms of hosts and presenters, Mark Pougatch is a veteran broadcaster who fans love to see bringing them coverage of England in particular, while up-and-comers like Hugh Woozencroft, Jules Breach and Laura Woods are also hugely popular.

These popular hosts are often joined in the studio by the likes of Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Lee Dixon, all highly respected pundits.

Meanwhile, in the commentary booth, Clive Tyldesley lends his legendary vocals to proceedings, and Ally McCoist and Sam Matterface bolster a very respectable roster of talent.

Pros and Cons of ITV Football

The big plus for ITV is that it is “free”. Discounting the TV license fee, watching football on ITV is completely free.

What’s more, unlike most free-to-air broadcasters in the UK and across the world, its football coverage is not limited to big international tournaments. It also broadcasts matches from the FA Cup, and perhaps most impressively, La Liga.

However, the jewel in the crown for ITV remains its ability to air the FIFA World Cup, which is inarguably the pinnacle of world football, something which none of the big pay-TV broadcasters, with their huge budgets, can claim.

The downside for ITV is that, as a free-to-air network, it does not have the might to compete with the likes of Sky Sports and TNT Sports for the very biggest properties in club football, like the Premier League or UEFA Champions League.

FAQ: How to watch ITV Football

Q. How can I watch live football on ITV?
A. You can watch live football on ITV by heading to channel 3 on most TV sets or by visiting the ITV website or downloading the ITVX app to watch online.

Q. Can I watch ITV online for free?
A. You can watch ITV online via its dedicated live-streaming platform ITVX. The app can be downloaded to most mobile phones, tablets, smart TVs or other devices. You can also access live streams on the ITV website.

Q. How do I watch ITV Hub on my TV?
A. ITV Hub has changed its name to ITVX. You can download it to your smart TV and watch it directly there. Alternatively, if your TV isn’t a smart TV, you will need an Amazon Firestick, Chromecast or other type of HDMI device to connect to your TV. Then you can download ITVX onto that.

Q.  Is ITV Hub the same as ITVX?
A. Yes. ITVX is simply the new name for ITV Hub. It is the live-streaming platform of ITV. Since the rebrand, the app has a lot more on-demand content than before. If you liked ITV Hub, you are sure to love ITVX.

Q. How to watch live ITV on smart TV?
A. You can watch ITV live on your smart TV by downloading ITV’s dedicated live-streaming platform ITVX. After downloading, you simply need to register or sign in and you can start watching ITV on your smart TV straight away.

Q. How to watch ITV football live for free?
A. ITV football is always free. Discounting the TV license fee, you can watch the FIFA World Cup, FA Cup and more on ITV for free either on the network’s linear TV channels or on its live streaming platform ITVX.