Sunderland are playing their first Premier League match in eight years as they host West Ham in an intriguing opening weekend matchup.
Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch Premier League games as they happen, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if it's not available where you are.
Black Cats boss Régis Le Bris exceeded expectations by guiding his team to promotion via the play-offs in May, prompting a $100 million spending spree during the summer as the club looks to maintain its place in the top flight.
Former Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka has been the headline-grabbing addition to the team, but the retention of French star Enzo Le Fée following his successful loan from Roma last season may be their shrewdest piece of summer business.
Aiming to spoil the party on Tyne and Wear this afternoon are a West Ham team who are looking to vastly improve after flirting uncomfortably with relegation last term.
Graham Potter struggled to improve results after succeeding the hapless Julen Lopetegui as manager midway through the last campaign, but the signs are looking brighter for the east Londoners after a string of encouraging pre-season displays.
Nevertheless, the Hammers look short of energetic options in midfield after a disappointing transfer window so far, and are among many pundits' choice to be involved in a relegation scrap once again.
AFC Sunderland take on West Ham United on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Stadium of Light, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. BST. That makes it a 10 a.m. ET or 7 a.m. PT start in the US and Canada, and a 12 a.m. AEST kickoff in Australia.
Experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka is set to make his first Premier League appearance for Sunderland today, following his $20million summer move from Bayer Leverkusen. Ed Sykes/Getty Images
How to watch Sunderland vs. West Ham in the US without cable
This match will be broadcast on streaming service Peacock. You'll need a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus subscription to catch the game live.
How to watch the Premier League 2025-26 from anywhere with a VPN
If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the EPL action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds, and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN usage is crucial.
James Martin/CNET ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year) Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 tests Network 3,000 plus servers in 105 countries Jurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months) See at ExpressVPN
Can I livestream Sunderland vs. West Ham in the UK?
No broadcaster has the rights to show this game live in the UK, due to the traditional Saturday 3 p.m. kickoff blackout, which prohibits matches from being shown in the region at that time to protect attendances throughout the English football pyramid.
That also means that if you're traveling in the UK, you're unlikely to be able to watch the game like you normally would at home, thanks to geoblocking.
There's one option to get around this. By using a VPN, as explained above, you can set your location to a country where the match is being broadcast, and go from there.
Livestream Sunderland vs. West Ham in Canada
If you want to livestream EPL games in Canada this season, you'll need to subscribe to Fubo. The service has exclusive rights to the Premier League once again and will be broadcasting all 380 matches live.
Fubo Fubo Canada Watch the Premier League in Canada Fubo is the go-to destination for Canadians looking to watch the EPL, with exclusive streaming rights to every match. It currently costs CA$27 for the first month, then CA$31.50 a month from then on. See at Fubo
Livestream Sunderland vs. West Ham in Australia
Livestreaming rights for the EPL are now with Stan Sport, which will be showing all 380 fixtures live, including this match.
Quick tips for streaming the Premier League using a VPN