FA Cup live stream 2020/21: how to watch 5th round fixtures online from anywhere

(Image credit: ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

England's FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world, and with the 5th round taking place mid-week from Tuesday February 9 to Thursday February 10, the stakes are higher than ever as clubs from the Premier League and Championship look take another crucial step towards one of football's most prestigious pieces of silverware. Read on to get an FA Cup live stream and watch every FA Cup 5th round fixture online wherever you are right now - including a number of FREE FA Cup live stream options for those located in the UK!

This season's FA Cup kicked off all the way back on August 2020 with 736 clubs from League One, League Two...and all the non-professional sides that reside even further down the English football pyramid. Now, just 16 sides remain in the competition and the clashes start to pair bigger and bigger names against each other.

2020/21 FA Cup live stream

Loads of huge FA Cup games are 100% FREE to watch in the UK courtesy of the BBC and iPlayer, with coverage also extending to BT Sport and FA Player. Full streaming and TV viewing details are below - and you can take your preferred coverage with you wherever you are with the help of a good VPN solution (opens in new tab).

Man City, Chelsea, Leicester, Arsenal and Tottenham are also all in action - with Chelsea's encounter against Championship Luton Town being a particularly interesting clash, even if the Hatters won't be bringing any of their rabid fanbase to Stamford Bridge for the behind-closer-doors match.

To make matters even more exciting, replays have been thrown out of the window this season, which means games that end on level terms will go straight to extra time and possibly penalties.

The FA Cup is the competition that reminds you that anything can happen in football on any given day, so let's cross our fingers for Chorley and dream big! Here's how to get an FA Cup live stream this season and watch every FA Cup 5th round fixture online from anywhere this week. And don't forget, anyone located in the UK can watch the FA Cup free online for a number of the biggest games - just follow our guide below.

Related: how to watch a Premier League live stream

How to watch 2020/21 FA Cup: free live stream and TV channel details

You can watch three FA Cup 5th round matches for FREE in the UK this week, as the BBC has gotten its slice of the pie again.

These games are being shown on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer streaming service (opens in new tab), with two games being shown on iPlayer only.

This means you all you need to do to watch the FA Cup free online is to fire up BBC iPlayer (opens in new tab) - again, as a national broadcaster, it doesn't cost a penny to stream if you're located in the UK (though you should possess a valid TV license)

If you're not in the UK for this round of fixtures, don't forget to download a VPN (opens in new tab) and follow the instructions above to live stream the action just as you would at home.

How to watch FA Cup football from outside your country

If you're out of the country on an FA Cup weekend, you'll likely find you're unable to access your usual football coverage like you would at home. This isn't necessarily cause for alarm, but rather the result of geo-blocking - best understood as digital borders that restrict certain services and content to certain parts of the world.

Fortunately, there's a convenient way around this in the form of a VPN, or Virtual Private Network. This is a nifty bit of software that lets you re-position your device of choice to a location of your choosing, thereby allowing you to globe trot and still access your preferred FA Cup live stream. It's a completely legal workaround, very affordable, and super easy to use - allow us to explain more.

Use a VPN to watch an FA Cup live stream from anywhere

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How to watch the English FA Cup: live stream soccer in the US without cable

ESPN has the rights to the FA Cup in the US, and the great news is that all the games are being aired on its ESPN+ streaming service.

As the competition progresses, select games may also be shown on ESPN linear TV. Better still, you don't have to use cable to access ESPN. Over-the-top streaming services let you watch TV over an internet connection and can typically be had for a fraction of the cost of even the most basic cable package.

Sling TV (opens in new tab)'s Orange package includes ESPN and there's a FREE trial period for a limited time only - the regular cost is $30 a month.

How to get a FREE FA Cup live stream: watch soccer online in Canada

In Canada, Sportsnet (opens in new tab) is where you need to turn for all your FA Cup needs.

You can watch Sportsnet online at no extra charge if you already subscribe to the channel as part of your TV package - or access it on a streaming-only basis, with plans starting from just CA$9.99 a month. Check out all of the options here (opens in new tab).

Canadians away from the Great White North right now can follow the VPN route (opens in new tab) above and tune in to their streaming service of choice regardless of geography.

How to watch the FA Cup: live stream soccer in Australia

As in the States, ESPN owns the rights to FA Cup coverage in Australia - but if you don't have it as part of your Foxtel (opens in new tab) TV package, you can access it just as easily via Kayo Sports (opens in new tab).

This great value over-the-top service will let you stream loads of quality sport - including Australia's own NRL and AFL footy competitions. All this for the very reasonable price of just $25 per month for a basic package, or $35 a month for the premium offering. Better still, Kayo Sports is contract-free and offers a 14-day FREE TRIAL (opens in new tab) so you can check it out for yourself, no strings attached.

The only difference between the two tiers is the amount of screens you can stream to simultaneously - two on Kayo basic and three on Kayo premium. If you've got mates or family who also to watch sport online, both deals break down extremely tidily on a per person basis.

Anyone from Australia who wants to stream the FA Cup just like they would at home, but can't because they're abroad, can use a VPN (opens in new tab) as described above.

How to watch a 2020/21 FA Cup live stream in New Zealand

FA Cup coverage in New Zealand is provided by Sky Sport (opens in new tab), which is available as part of a range of pay TV packages.

Subscribers can watch online using the country's Sky Go service (opens in new tab), while cord-cutters and anyone else can try the Sky Sport Now streaming-only platform (opens in new tab) - where a weekly pass costs just $19.99.

Anyone in New Zealand from abroad of vice-versa can use the VPN route (opens in new tab) outlined earlier to access their service of choice just like they would at home.

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Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.

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