It’s the time of year again for the biggest cup game in English football. Yes, that’s right the FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United is set to take place on Saturday 3rd, June 2023.
The FA Cup always throws up surprises and gives those lower league teams a chance to battle it out with the big boys. This year sees two of Europe’s biggest teams go head to head.
The FA Cup Final will be shown live on BBC 1 and ITV in the UK and online on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
Both BBC iPlayer and ITVX are restricted to UK viewers. So if you’re living or travelling abroad or even just from another country we’ve created this guide to show you how you can watch the FA Cup Final abroad online.
What you will need to view
When you visit the BBC iPlayer or ITVX website or app it checks your internet connection to see what country you’re in. If you’re in the UK then it allows you to view and you can watch the FA Cup Final without issue.
If you’re outside the UK then it can determine this and so blocks you. iPlayer and ITVX uses what is known as your IP Address that is a set of numbers unique to you at the time of connection and from this can tell you’re not in the UK.
Luckily a service exists called a VPN or Virtual Private Network to give it the long complicated name. A VPN allows you to alter your IP Address to that of another country and so allows you to give the impression that you’re somewhere else.
To watch the FA Cup Final on BBC iPlayer or ITVX you’ll want to appear as if you’re in the UK and with a VPN you can do this with just one or two clicks.
First you need to sign up with a VPN provider. There are a lot to choose from and many can be compared in our handy VPN Comparison Guide.
If you have a busy lifestyle and you don’t have time to be comparing the vast array of providers – and let’s face it, who does? there are thousands! then three providers we do recommend and have tested extensively are below.
Not only do they score highly in our VPN reviews they’re also fast and for streaming video fast is essential.
- ExpressVPN – Highly Recommended!
- CyberGhost VPN
- NordVPN
30-day money back guarantee
How to use the VPN to livestream the FA Cup Final
- Choose a VPN service and sign up. I recommend ExpressVPN due to their extensive device support.
- After signing up, download the required software or app for your specific device.
- Once the software or app is installed, open it.
- Look for the option to connect to a server. In the case of ExpressVPN, this would be the “United Kingdom” option.
- Press the “Connect” button.
- After you are connected, open your internet browser and visit iPlayer or ITVX. Alternatively, use their apps.
- Now, you will be able to enjoy watching the FA Cup live online.
Unlock the FA Cup anywhere using ExpressVPN.
Other providers offer similar software and apps and as long as you connect to a UK server it’ll work without issue.
30-day money back guarantee
When and where is the FA Cup taking place
The 2023 FA Cup final, the first-ever Manchester derby in a cup final, is set to take place at London’s Wembley Stadium on 3rd June 2023.
The match carries historical significance, marking the 100th anniversary of the first FA Cup final held at the original Wembley Stadium.
This is Manchester United’s 21st FA Cup final, tying Arsenal’s record, and Manchester City’s 12th. City is seeking a treble, while United aims to win their second trophy under manager Erik ten Hag.
Average match attendance for United and City in the 2022-23 season was approximately 72,962 and 40,124 respectively.
Given Wembley’s capacity of 90,000, the final will likely see full attendance.
How did Man City and Man Utd progress to the final?
Manchester City defeated Arsenal, Bristol City, Burnley, and Sheffield United on their path to the final.
Manchester United, on the other hand, beat Reading, West Ham, Fulham, and Brighton (after a penalty shootout).
The stakes are high as City is pursuing a treble, having already won the Premier League and looking forward to the Champions League final.
Summary
Whether you’re a Manchester City fan or a fan of Manchester United you won’t want to miss this match.
Wembley will be full but for most of us, the only choice is to watch online. If you’re not in the UK this can be difficult.
So grab the ExpressVPN app and stream the whole game whatever country you’re in.
30-day money back guarantee
