How to watch Rams vs Chiefs preseason for free
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The Los Angeles Rams open their 2026 preseason on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, August 15th, with kickoff at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT. The game airs nationally on NFL Network, and fans in Los Angeles and Kansas City can watch free over the air on KCBS and KSHB 41. Outside the US, DAZN streams the game free through NFL Game Pass, no season-long subscription required.
The matchup doubles as the 42nd annual Chiefs Charity Game and a reunion: the Rams acquired two former Chiefs starters this offseason, trading for cornerback Trent McDuffie and signing another member of Kansas City's secondary. Neither team's star quarterback is expected to play, with Patrick Mahomes and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford both tracking to sit.
DAZN streams Rams vs Chiefs for free through NFL Game Pass, no season-long subscription required, in most countries outside the United States, Canada, and China. DAZN is geo-restricted, so if it's blocked or paywalled where you are, a VPN connected to a country with the free offer unlocks the stream. We recommend NordVPN for reliable server access and smooth HD streaming.
Where to watch Rams vs Chiefs
Below is a full overview of where to watch the game and when it starts in your time zone.
| Country | Streaming service | Price | Kickoff |
| United States | NFL Network / NFL+ | NFL Network via cable or live TV bundle; NFL+ $6.99/month | 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT |
| United Kingdom | DAZN NFL Game Pass | Free | 9:00 PM BST |
| Germany | DAZN NFL Game Pass | Free | 10:00 PM CEST |
| Canada | DAZN NFL Game Pass | Paid subscription | 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT |
| Australia | DAZN NFL Game Pass | Free | 6:00 AM AEST, August 16th |
In the US, fans in Los Angeles and Kansas City can also watch free over the air on KCBS and KSHB 41, respectively. DAZN's preseason free window does not apply in the US, Canada, or China, and the offer is explicitly confirmed for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland on DAZN's own schedule pages.
How to use a VPN to watch the NFL preseason for free
DAZN streams Rams vs Chiefs free through NFL Game Pass in most countries outside the United States, Canada, and China. The free stream is geo-restricted to those eligible countries, but a VPN lets you watch from anywhere by connecting to a server where the offer applies.
- Choose a VPN with servers in a DAZN free-tier country. We recommend NordVPN for its fast servers and reliable unblocking.
- Install the VPN app on your device.
- Connect to a server in a confirmed free-tier country, such as the UK, Germany, or Australia.
- Open DAZN and create a free account.
- Find Rams vs Chiefs under NFL Game Pass.
- Start the live stream shortly before kickoff, and switch servers if it doesn't load.
DAZN requires a free account to watch. If registration asks for a local address or postal code, use any valid postal code from a country where the free offer applies (for example, a London postcode for the UK) to complete sign-up.
DAZN runs on mobile apps, desktop browsers, and most smart TV and streaming stick platforms. If your smart TV doesn't support a VPN app directly, NordVPN's Smart DNS feature or a router-level setup covers it. For a full breakdown of options across every device, see our guide to the best VPNs for streaming.
How to watch Rams vs Chiefs without cable in the US
With an NFL Network window, cord-cutters have a simple path: YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV all carry NFL Network in their base plans, and each offers a free trial for new subscribers. Verify the channel lineup for your market before signing up, since carriage can vary.
One important note for local fans: NFL+ at $6.99/month streams out-of-market preseason games on mobile, but it is blacked out for in-market viewers in Los Angeles and Kansas City, where the local broadcast takes priority. If you're in either market without cable, the free over-the-air broadcast on KCBS or KSHB 41 is the better answer. NFL Sunday Ticket also added out-of-market preseason coverage for the 2026 season, a first for the package. For readers who still have cable or satellite, NFL Network is included in most standard packages from DirecTV, Dish, Xfinity, Spectrum, and Verizon Fios.
How to listen to Rams vs Chiefs on the radio
In Los Angeles, the game airs on ESPNLA 710 AM, the Rams' flagship station, with a simulcast on 93.1 JACK FM and Spanish-language coverage on KWKW. In Kansas City, the broadcast is on 96.5 The Fan (KFNZ-FM), the Chiefs' radio home, with a simulcast on 106.5 The Wolf and Spanish coverage from Tico Sports on the Audacy app.
Nationally, SiriusXM carries both teams' feeds, and NFL+ includes live audio of every game as part of its $6.99/month subscription, a solid fallback for out-of-market fans who'd rather listen than stream.
What's different about preseason football
The biggest names won't be on the field for long, if at all. Patrick Mahomes and reigning MVP Matthew Stafford are both tracking to sit out the opener, per preseason broadcast reporting, though some starters on both sides are expected to get limited work.
The result itself doesn't count. Preseason games have no effect on the regular-season standings, so the scoreboard matters far less than the evaluations happening on the field. Every snap is an audition for players fighting to make the roster.
That process ends on Sunday, August 30th, 2026, when all 32 teams must cut their rosters to 53 players by 6:00 PM ET. The league moved the deadline up to the Sunday before Week 1 this season, so every preseason rep between now and then carries real weight for players on the bubble.
Rams vs Chiefs: roster battles and storylines to watch
The reunion angle leads this one. The Rams acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie in a trade with Kansas City this offseason and signed another former Chiefs starter in the secondary, moves Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed publicly this week. Saturday is the first time either player faces their former team, even in an exhibition setting.
With both starting quarterbacks expected to sit, the backup QB snaps on both sides take center stage, along with the 42nd annual Chiefs Charity Game tradition, which makes this one of the longer-running preseason fixtures in the league. The Rams held a joint practice earlier in camp week (August 11th), but not against Kansas City, so Saturday is the first live look at these rosters against each other.
Frequently asked questions
When is Rams vs Chiefs?
The game is on Saturday, August 15th, 2026, at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Can I watch Rams vs Chiefs for free?
Yes. In the US, the game is free over the air on KCBS in Los Angeles and KSHB 41 in Kansas City. Internationally, DAZN streams it free through NFL Game Pass in most countries outside the United States, Canada, and China, including the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Australia.
Do NFL starters play in preseason games?
It varies by team and by week, with no league-wide standard. For this game, Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford are both tracking to sit, though some starters on each side are expected to get limited snaps.
Do preseason games count toward the standings?
No. Preseason results have no impact on the regular-season standings. The real stakes are roster spots, with teams required to cut down to 53 players by August 30th, 2026.
Which VPN server location should I use for DAZN?
Connect to a server in a confirmed free-tier country, such as the UK, Germany, or Australia. A server in an excluded country, like the US or Canada, will not unlock the free stream.
Do I need cable to watch Rams vs Chiefs in the US?
No. Live TV bundles like YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV carry NFL Network with free trials for new subscribers. Out of market, NFL+ at $6.99/month streams the game on mobile, though it's blacked out in the Los Angeles and Kansas City markets.
Can I listen to Rams vs Chiefs on the radio?
Yes. The Rams' broadcast is on ESPNLA 710 AM and 93.1 JACK FM, and the Chiefs' is on 96.5 The Fan. Nationally, SiriusXM and NFL+ carry live audio of the game.
