- Champions League 2025/26 dates: 17 September 2025 → 30 May 2026
- Stream 5 free games this week RTÉ Player & Empty bracket set
The Champions League welcomes matchday six this week as the qualification places become clearer. Only Arsenal still need to be defeated, closely followed by several clubs such as PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern.
Still not enthusiastic? Here’s more: RTÉ Player AND Empty bracket set will broadcast five games for free to Irish viewers this week.
But how can you watch Champions League 2025/26 anywhere on RTÉ and Virgin Media? Can you access free UCL streams in UK and US? And which games are streamed on the service.
Here’s our simple guide on how to watch the Champions League 2025/26.
Free Champions League games and channels
Virgin Media Play and RTE Player bring you five games this week:
All times in GMT
- Tuesday (December 9):
Bayern-Sporting (17.45) – Empty bracket set
Atalanta-Chelsea (20:00) – Empty bracket set - Wednesday (December 10):
Villarreal-FC Copenhagen (17:45) – Empty bracket set
Real Madrid-Man City (20:00) – RTÉ Player
Club Brugge-Arsenal (20.00) – Empty bracket set
Note: Real Madrid-Man City has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected that this match will be broadcast on open TV.
How to watch Champions League 2025/26 on Virgin Media Play and RTÉ Player
RTÉ Player AND Empty bracket set will broadcast the Champions League for free to Irish residents.
Watch RTE: Visit RTÉ website or download it RTÉ Player App (iOS/ Android ).
How to watch Virgin Media Play: Visit Empty bracket set website or download it Virgin MediaPlay application (iOS/ Android)
RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play are free
OUTSIDE IRELAND?
Here’s how to watch Champions League 2025/26 for free, wherever you are
While RTÉ and Virgin Media Play are among our favorite streaming platforms for Champions League 2025/26, they are only available in Ireland.
Soccer fans traveling outside the Emerald Isle can still access these free Champions League streams via a VPN.
There are many VPNs available, but our pick is to unblock RTE and Virgin Media Play to stream the Champions League. Like a pro… and now you can save 70%.
Using a VPN to watch is very easy RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. Like I said, it’s the best option.
2. In the VPN app, select the location you want to connect to. For example, if you are visiting Canada and want to watch your free stream from Irish Virgin Media Play, select Ireland from the options.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Go Empty bracket set Visit the site, log in and watch the Champions League for free.
RTÉ and Virgin Media do Q&As
Why use RTÉ and Virgin Media Play to watch the Champions League?
RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play are two of our most popular streaming services among Irish residents, offering a variety of live sports and a wide range of high-quality TV shows.
Events we have attended on these platforms over the past year have included Gaelic football, the Six Nations and horse racing.
RTÉ recommends an internet speed of at least 5 to 10 Mbps for high quality streaming.
What devices can I use to watch RTÉ?
- Amazon fire (Tablet, Cube, Stick and Fire TV)
- Android TV (Note: Some models may not be supported)
- Android (Mobile devices and tablets – Android 7.0 and later)
- Apple TV (tvOS 14 or higher)
- Google TV (including Chromecast with Google TV and NVIDIA Shield)
- Free
- Free satellite (Note: Some models may not be supported)
- Read for free (TVs and set-top boxes: some models may not be compatible)
- iOS (iPhone and iPad: iOS 14 and later)
- LG Smart TV (models from 2016 to 2024)
- NOW Smart boxes and keys (at least firmware version 11.5.0)
- gaming station (PS4 and PS5)
- roku (TV with Stick and Roku OS – minimum firmware version 11.5.0)
- Samsung smart TVs (2017 and newer models)
- Paradise (Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream Puck)
- Empty media (360, streaming and TiVo)
- You’ll see (BT, Humax, Sony and TalkTalk boxes)
- xbox (One, Series X and Series S)
More from TechRadar
- This is how to watch the Champions League 2025/26
- How to watch Las Cenizas 2025-26
- Here’s how to watch the Premier League 25/26
Disclaimer
We test and assess VPN services in the context of legal recreational use. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms of that service). 2. Protect your online security and improve your online privacy abroad. We do not support or condone illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Future Publishing does not condone or condone the use of pirated copies for a fee.