As of February 2026, Amazon Prime Football refers to two distinct premium sports packages depending on your location: in the UK, it is the exclusive home of the UEFA Champions League “Top Pick” Tuesday matches (having replaced its Premier League coverage), while in the US, it remains the exclusive broadcaster of NFL Thursday Night Football.
For UK subscribers, the 2025/26 season marks a major shift: Amazon no longer broadcasts domestic Premier League fixtures, having pivoted entirely to European elite football. You can watch 17 exclusive Champions League matches per season—specifically the best game involving a British club on Tuesdays—at no extra cost to your standard £8.99/month Prime membership. In the US, Prime Video continues its long-term deal for NFL Thursday Night Football and has expanded its portfolio to include 27 exclusive NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) Friday night matches for the 2026 season.
Streaming live sports has fundamentally changed how we consume “the beautiful game” (and the gridiron game). Amazon Prime Video has positioned itself as a major player in this space, using deep pockets and superior technology to secure rights to some of the most valuable sports properties on Earth.
However, the landscape is confusing. Rights are fragmented by country, “football” means different things to different audiences, and contracts change every few years. As we move deep into 2026, this guide serves as your definitive handbook to everything football on Amazon Prime—whether you want to watch Real Madrid vs. Liverpool in London or the Kansas City Chiefs in New York.
The UK Landscape: A New Era of Champions League
For years, UK fans associated Amazon Prime with the “December festive fixtures” of the Premier League. As of the 2025/26 season, that era is over. Amazon did not bid for the new domestic Premier League rights cycle (which went to Sky and TNT). Instead, they went bigger: The UEFA Champions League.
The “Top Pick Tuesday” Explained
Amazon Prime Video now holds the rights to the first-pick match on Tuesday nights throughout the Champions League tournament. This deal runs through the 2026/27 season.
- What you get: The single best game of the night, usually featuring a British team (e.g., Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, or Aston Villa) during the Group and Knockout stages.
- The “Swiss Model” Impact: With the new Champions League format (one big league table), there are more “big” games early in the season. Amazon gets the first choice of these every matchweek.
- Knockout Stages: As we head into the Spring 2026 knockout rounds, Amazon will broadcast critical legs of the Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals, provided they fall on a Tuesday and are the “top pick.”
The Broadcast Experience
Amazon has retained much of the high production value that made their Premier League coverage popular.
- Punditry Team: Expect familiar faces like Clarence Seedorf, Frank Lampard, and Daniel Sturridge, alongside presenter Gabby Logan. The tone is often seen as more relaxed and analytical than traditional broadcasters.
- Stadium FX: A fan-favorite feature that allows you to turn off the commentary and listen only to the stadium atmosphere (crowd noise), immersing you in the chants and tension of a European night.
- UHD/HDR: Unlike some competitors who charge extra for 4K, Amazon streams select big matches in Ultra HD at no extra cost, provided your bandwidth can handle it (min 25 Mbps recommended).
Cost Analysis (UK)
- Price: Free with Amazon Prime (£8.99/month or £95/year).
- Prime Video Only: £5.99/month.
- Comparison: To watch all Champions League games, you now need a hybrid setup: Amazon Prime for Tuesday’s top game, and TNT Sports (via Discovery+) for the rest. This fragmentation makes Prime essential for fans of top-tier clubs who don’t want to miss key fixtures.
The US Landscape: Thursday Night Football & NWSL
In the United States, “Amazon Prime Football” is synonymous with the NFL, but 2026 sees a massive expansion into soccer with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Thursday Night Football (NFL)
Amazon is midway through its historic 11-year deal to broadcast Thursday Night Football (TNF) exclusively.
- Exclusive Rights: If you want to watch the Thursday night NFL game, you must have Prime (unless you live in the local market of the playing teams, where it is simulcast on free TV).
- Prime Vision: Amazon leverages its AWS (Amazon Web Services) power to offer “Prime Vision with Next Gen Stats.” This alternate stream features real-time on-screen graphics showing route running, receiver separation, and probability of a blitz. It is widely considered the most advanced analytical broadcast in sports.
- Alternate Streams: For younger or more casual fans, Amazon offers alternate feeds, often featuring groups like Dude Perfect or LeBron James (The Shop), providing a “watch party” vibe rather than traditional commentary.
NWSL 2026: Friday Night Soccer
The 2026 season marks a huge investment in women’s soccer.
- The Package: Amazon holds the rights to 27 matches per season.
- The Slot: Friday nights. Amazon is attempting to own the “start of the weekend” slot for soccer fans.
- Playoffs: The package includes one quarter-final playoff match, ensuring high-stakes content at the end of the season.
- Production: Amazon has promised “World Cup level” production for NWSL, addressing long-standing fan complaints about the video quality of women’s sports broadcasts in the US.
How to Watch: A Technical Guide
Streaming live sports requires a different setup than watching a movie. Latency (lag) and buffering can ruin a live goal or touchdown.
Supported Devices
Amazon Prime Video is available on almost every smart device:
- Smart TVs: Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense (models 2018+ recommended).
- Streaming Sticks: Amazon Fire TV Stick (obviously the best integration), Roku, Apple TV 4K, Google Chromecast.
- Consoles: PS5, Xbox Series X/S.
- Mobile: iOS and Android apps (allow for offline downloads of highlights, but live games require data).
Reducing Lag (The “Goal Spoiler” Problem)
Streaming is typically 20-40 seconds behind real-life action. To minimize this:
- Use Wired Ethernet: WiFi introduces jitter. Plug your TV or Fire Stick directly into the router if possible.
- Use the “Live” Tab: Do not start from the “Watch from Beginning” option if you want to be as close to real-time as possible.
- Turn off Notifications: If you follow the team on Twitter/X, mute their notifications. The phone alert will arrive before the goal appears on your stream.
4K and HDR Requirements
To watch in Ultra HD:
- TV: Must support HDCP 2.2 and 4K 60fps.
- Internet: A steady speed of 20 Mbps or higher is required.
- Cable: Ensure you are using a “High Speed” HDMI cable (HDMI 2.0 or 2.1).
Amazon Prime vs. The Competition
Is Prime worth it just for football? Let’s compare it to the heavyweights in 2026.
| Feature | Amazon Prime Video | TNT Sports (UK) / Peacock (US) | Sky Sports (UK) / ESPN (US) |
| UK Rights | Champions League (Top Pick) | Champions League (Rest), PL | Premier League (Majority), EFL |
| US Rights | NFL (TNF), NWSL (Fridays) | NFL (SNF), Premier League | NFL (MNF), La Liga, Bundesliga |
| Cost | Low (£8.99 / $14.99) | Med-High (£30.99 / $5.99+) | High (£40+ / Cable Bundle) |
| 4K Availability | Included | Often Extra | Often Extra |
| Contract | Monthly (Cancel anytime) | Monthly Rolling | Often 18-month contract |
| Verdict | Essential Supplement. You can’t rely on it for everything, but it covers specific high-value games cheaply. | Volume King. Good for quantity, but production quality varies. | The Traditional Giant.Most content, highest price. |
Future Outlook: What’s Coming Next?
Amazon does not stand still. Rumors and confirmed deals point to even more football content by 2027.
- Documentaries: Following the success of All or Nothing (Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham, Juventus, German National Team), Amazon is investing heavily in “fly-on-the-wall” docs. Expect a major series covering the 2026 World Cup build-up for a specific national team.
- NBA Rights (US/Global): Starting late 2025/2026, Amazon enters the NBA broadcasting game. While not “football,” this solidifies the subscription as a must-have for sports fans, potentially leading to price increases.
- Integrated Betting: In markets where legal, Amazon is experimenting with “X-Ray for Betting,” allowing viewers to see live odds on-screen without leaving the app.
Practical Information and Planning
Subscription Details
- Free Trial: Amazon typically offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Tip: Time your trial to coincide with the Champions League Quarter-Finals (April) or the start of the NFL season (September) to watch big games for free.
- Cancellation: You can cancel immediately after subscribing and keep the benefits for the remainder of the 30 days. This prevents accidental auto-renewal.
Troubleshooting “Geoblocking”
- The Issue: You are a UK Prime member traveling in Spain. You want to watch the Champions League match.
- The Rule: Brexit and EU portability laws have changed. UK digital content is often blocked in the EU.
- The Fix: Amazon officially states that you can watch content while traveling within the EU if your “home” location is verified. However, for live sports rights, this is stricter. You may find live matches blocked while abroad due to local rights holders (e.g., Movistar in Spain) owning the signal. Always check before traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I watch the Premier League on Amazon Prime in the UK in 2026? No. Amazon Prime held rights from 2019 to 2025. For the 2025/26 season onwards, live domestic Premier League rights are held exclusively by Sky Sports and TNT Sports. You can, however, subscribe to TNT Sports through Amazon Prime Channels as an add-on.
2. Which Champions League matches are on Amazon Prime? In the UK, Amazon Prime shows the top match on Tuesday evenings (one game per week). This is usually the game featuring the highest-profile British team playing that night. All other matches are on TNT Sports.
3. Do I have to pay extra for football on Prime? No. If you have a standard Amazon Prime membership (or a standalone Prime Video subscription), the football coverage (Champions League in UK, TNF in US) is included. There is no separate “Sport Pack” fee.
4. Can I watch games on catch-up? Yes. Amazon posts full match replays and extended highlights shortly after the final whistle. These usually remain available for 7 days.
5. How do I turn off the commentary and hear just the crowd? While watching a live match, navigate to the “Audio & Subtitles” menu. Select the audio track labeled “Stadium FX” or “Stadium Atmosphere.” This mutes the commentators but keeps the crowd noise.
6. Does Amazon Prime have the 2026 World Cup? No. In the UK, World Cup rights are protected by law (listed events) and must be shown on free-to-air TV (BBC and ITV). In the US, FOX Sports and Telemundo hold the rights for the 2026 World Cup.
7. Why is my stream buffering or low quality? Live sports require higher stable bandwidth than movies. Reboot your router. If on WiFi, switch to 5GHz band. Amazon recommends at least 5 Mbps for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K.
8. Can I watch on multiple devices at once? Yes, but with limits. You can stream up to three videos at the same time using the same Amazon account, but you can only stream the same live event on two devices simultaneously.
9. What is the “Discovery+ Premium” add-on? In the UK, this is a channel you can add to your Prime account. It costs roughly £30.99/month and gives you access to TNT Sports (Champions League, Premier League, UFC, MotoGP) inside your Prime Video app, keeping all your sports in one place.
10. Is the NFL Thursday Night Football available in the UK? Yes, but not always via the main Prime interface. In the UK, Sky Sports is the primary NFL broadcaster. However, Amazon sometimes simulcasts games or offers them via the DAZN add-on (Game Pass). The “Prime Exclusive” TNF deal is primarily for the US market.
Relevant Videos
- Champions League on Prime Video: The New Era
- Watch the new intros and punditry style for Amazon’s European coverage.
- Inside the NFL on Prime Vision
- See how Amazon uses AI to overlay stats in real-time for US Football fans.
- How to Fix Buffering on Live Sports
- A practical guide to optimizing your home network for match day.
