X
CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

Watch FA Cup Soccer: Livestream Wolves vs. Brighton From Anywhere

This all-Premier League tie sees Gary O'Neil's side take on the Seagulls.

Kevin Lynch Contributor
Kevin Lynch is a London-born, Dublin-based writer and journalist. The author of Steve Jobs: A Biographic Portrait, Kevin is a regular feature writer for a number of tech sites and the former Technology Editor for the Daily Mirror. He has also served as editor of GuinnessWorldRecords.com and has been a member of the judging panel for the BAFTA British Academy Video Game Awards.
Kevin Lynch
5 min read
See at ExpressVPN
Express VPN
ExpressVPN
Best VPN for streaming
See at ESPN
espn-plus-logo-2022-276
ESPN Plus
Watch the FA Cup in the US from $11 per month
See at BBC
The logo for the BBC iPlayer on demand streaming service
BBC
Watch the FA Cup in the UK for free
See at SN Now
The logo for Sports Net on a white background
Sportsnet
Watch the FA Cup in Canada for CA$15 a month
See at Paramount Plus
paramount-plus-logo-2022-272
Paramount Plus
Watch the FA Cup in Australia for AU$10 a month

A place in the quarterfinals is up for grabs today as Wolves take on Brighton at Molineux in this FA Cup fifth-round matchup. 

Wolves have so far seen off Brentford and West Brom to get to this stage of the tournament, and come into this clash off the back of a 1-0 home win in the English Premier League against struggling Sheffield United. 

Currently eighth in the EPL, Brighton had to get past Championship side Stoke City and Sheffield United to reach the fifth round, but were left frustrated by Everton at the weekend as they were held to a 1-1 stalemate at home in the league. 

Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live, wherever you are in the world.

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil pointing with his right hand.

Gary O'Neil is on the hunt for Wolves' fifth FA Cup victory, their first since 1960. 

Jack Thomas/WWFC/Getty Images

Wolves vs. Brighton: When and where?

Wolverhampton Wanderers host Brighton & Hove Albion in this FA Cup fifth-round match at Molineux, on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. GMT local time in the UK (2:45 p.m. ET, 11:45 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 6:45 a.m. AEST on Thursday, Feb. 29 in Australia)

How to watch the Wolves vs. Brighton game online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch the game -- that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Sarah Tew/CNET

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 per month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 35% -- the equivalent of $8.32 per month -- if you get an annual subscription.

Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Livestream the Wolves vs. Brighton game in the US

This cup match at the Molineaux is streaming exclusively live in the US on ESPN Plus. Kickoff is at 2:45 p.m. ET (11:45 a.m. PT) on Wednesday for viewers in the States. 

ESPN's standalone streaming service costs $11 a month or $110 for an annual subscription. With it, you'll be able to watch all of this season's FA Cup fixtures. Read our ESPN Plus review.

How to livestream the Wolves vs. Brighton game in the UK for free

The great news for footy fans in the UK is that free-to-air broadcasters the BBC and ITV are sharing live duties for this season's FA Cup.

While this fixture isn't being shown on linear channels, it will be available to watch live on the BBC's Red Button interactive channel as well as its iPlayer online service, with coverage starting at 7:30 p.m. GMT ahead of the 7:45 p.m. kick-off.

BBC

With the match being broadcast on BBC Red Button, that also means you'll also be able to watch the game online for free via the network's on-demand streaming service, BBC iPlayer.

With an app that's available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs and streaming boxes, all you need is a valid UK TV license to stream the game.

Livestream Wolves vs. Brighton game in Canada

Canadian soccer fans looking to watch this FA Cup fixture can watch all the action live via Sportsnet.

Sportsnet is available via most cable operators, but cord-cutters can subscribe to the network's standalone streaming service Sportsnet Plus instead, with prices starting at CA$15 per month or CA$180 per year.

Livestream Wolves vs. Brighton game in Australia

ViacomCBS holds the broadcast rights for the FA Cup in Australia, which means you can watch matches from the tournament live Down Under via streaming service Paramount Plus. You'll just have to set an alarm for early on Thursday morning: kickoff is at 6:45 a.m. AEDT.

An Australian Paramount Plus subscription currently costs AU$10 a month, which gives you access to Paramount's coverage of this year's tournament, as well as Hollywood movies such as Top Gun: Maverick and original shows like Picard and Tulsa King.

Quick tips for streaming the FA Cup using a VPN 

  • With four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- your experience and success when streaming FA Cup matches may vary.
  • If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.
  • If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
  • All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location. 
  • And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.