How to Follow World Cup Beyond Live Video

Every World Cup game is being shown on television and online in the U.S. , but many will require a cable or satellite TV subscription, even for internet streaming. What if you don't have one?

Good news: In 2014, there are more apps and other options than ever before. As the World cup transitions into the knockout stages, here's a look at how to keep up on everything to do with the tournament in Brazil, including the U.S.- Germany match on Thursday.


Univision
 To stream games online using ESPN's website or app, viewers  need a cable or have TV subscription. It's not enough to have internet service through the cable provider.

But there is another way to watch for free-legally. Spanish-language channel Univision is streaming the first 56 World cup games for free on its website and Deporte app. The only drawback (for some) is that the commentary is in spanish.

Unfortunately, even the games on Univision will require a cable or satellite subscription once the quarterfinals begin on  july 4 .

Radio
ESPN Radio and Sirius XM are broadcasting all games over the radio. Simply find your local ESPN station, tune in at game and let the drama unfold. Sirius requires a satellite radio subscription.

This is handy if you are watching the game on Univision but want to hear English-language commentary, though Internet streams can run a minute or so behind the broadcast.
 ESPN stations.

 Apps 
There is a wide array of smartphone apps to help World Cup fans.

The official FIFA app for Apple and Android phones give you real-time updates of all games, updated rankings, photos and video highlights and selected tweets from FIFA and others.

If you're looking for a source outside the sport's governing body, check out Forza Football, Vuboo's World Cup 2014 and World Soccer Finals for Apple and Android devices, and in some cases windows phones as well. You don't get live video, but the apps offer lineups, game statistics, live updates, rankings and video highlights.

These apps offer similar information, but they are all free so you can try them all and see which you like best.
 FIFA app.



Media sites
ESPN's website is chock full of stats and video highlight that you can access even if you don't have cable. Many news sites, including the New York Times and The wall street Journal, offer live blogs of all of the games, offering insights and commentary. This can be a useful way to way to keep up, especially now that two games are going on at the same time.