Where to Watch the Champions League in the US (2025-26 Season)
The UEFA Champions League is the most watched club competition in the world, and for US fans, it's now easier to follow than it's ever been — Paramount+ has the full rights, with select matches on free broadcast CBS.
But the broadcast split still trips people up. Not every game is on the same platform, and kickoff times (noon to 3 PM Eastern) mean you need to know in advance what's on and where.
Who Has Champions League Rights in the US?
CBS Sports has the US broadcast rights through 2028-29. Here's how they split the games:
- Paramount+ (streaming) — The vast majority of group stage and knockout round matches, including all midweek doubleheaders
- CBS (free broadcast) — Select high-profile matches, typically 1-2 per matchday during group stage and through the knockout rounds. The final often gets a CBS broadcast slot.
- CBS Sports Network (cable) — Additional coverage and analysis
- Univision / TUDN — Spanish-language coverage of all matches
What Time Do Champions League Games Kick Off?
Most UCL matches kick off at 3:00 PM Eastern (8:00 PM Central European Time). The earlier batch kicks off at 12:45 PM Eastern. On big matchdays you'll have games at both times.
This is one of the biggest advantages of having the UCL in your calendar: you can see at a glance whether Tuesday's Arsenal game is at 12:45 or 3:00, without having to check Paramount+'s website.
The Format Change and What It Means for Scheduling
The 2024-25 season introduced the new "league phase" format — 36 teams, each playing 8 matches against different opponents instead of a traditional group stage. This means there are more unique matchups per matchday and it's harder to predict which games will feature your team early in the season.
The upshot for calendar syncing: you want a subscription that updates as matchday schedules are confirmed, not a static file you set up in August and hope reflects the right fixtures by January.
Get the Full UCL Schedule on Your Calendar
SportsCal's Champions League calendar includes all confirmed fixtures for every matchday, knockout round, and the final. Each event has a Watch Link pointing to Paramount+ or CBS — whichever is showing that specific match.
Setting up takes about 30 seconds:
- Visit sportscal.io/league/champions-league
- Tap Add to Calendar
- Choose your calendar app
- Every upcoming UCL fixture lands in your calendar immediately