Patrick Mahomes, #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs, throws a pass in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl 59 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Feb. 9, 2025. Gregory Shamus | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images
YouTube will stream the National Football League’s Week 1 game on Sept. 5 for free, which is pretty cool, right? It’s actually the first time the big streaming platform has ever broadcasted a live NFL game in its entirety. The game, as reported by Front Office Sports, will be between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers, set to take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Can you believe it?
“Last year, people spent over 350 million hours watching official NFL content on YouTube, so it’s both fitting and thrilling to continue to build our relationship with our partners at the NFL,” said YouTube Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe in a statement. “Streaming the Friday night game to fans for free around the world will mark YouTube’s first time as a live NFL broadcaster — and we’ll do it in a way that only YouTube can, with an interactive viewing experience and creators right at the center of the experience.” Sounds like it’s going to be quite the show, huh?
The game is going to be available to all YouTube and YouTube TV users globally, except in Canada and certain other countries, and locally on broadcast television in the media markets of the participating teams, according to YouTube. YouTube is the most-watched streaming platform in the U.S., consisting of 12% of all viewership for March, as reported by Nielsen. The NFL already has a deal with YouTube TV for Sunday Ticket, the league’s out-of-market package of games, which requires a subscription — either $480 per year without YouTube TV or $378 per year for YouTube TV subscribers. YouTube TV is a collection of linear TV networks that approximates a standard cable bundle. Stay tuned for the full 2025 NFL schedule to be released Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
In conclusion, this new development with YouTube streaming the NFL game for free is definitely something to look forward to. Who wouldn’t want to watch a game between the Chiefs and Chargers live from Brazil? It’s a great opportunity for fans all around the world to enjoy the game without any hassle. So mark your calendars for Sept. 5 and get ready for some exciting football action!
