The 2021 World Series starts October 26 - here's how to watch the Astros and Braves compete for the MLB championship
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- The 2021 World Series features the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves.
- Fox will air every game from October 26 to November 3.
- To stream Fox without cable you need a live TV streaming service like Sling TV, Fubo TV, or YouTube TV.
The Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves will meet in the 2021 World Series to determine the champion of this year's MLB season. The World Series will air on Fox starting October 26 at 8:09 p.m. ET in Houston; a live stream will also be available for Fox cable subscribers and viewers with live TV services like YouTube TV, Sling TV, or DirecTV Stream.
The Astros return to the World Series for the third time since 2017, when they won against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Braves will compete in their first World Series since 1999 after defeating the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Every game in the 2021 World Series is scheduled to start at 8:09 p.m. ET, except for the fifth match, which is slated for 8:15 p.m. ET. The series will continue until one team wins four games. The first two games will be played in Houston, followed by three games in Atlanta, and two final games in Houston if needed. Game seven is scheduled for November 3, if necessary.
MLB World Series schedule
The World Series uses a first-to-four wins format, meaning the series can last for up to seven games.
| Teams | Date and time | National broadcast/stream |
| Atlanta Braves at Houston Astros (Game 1) | October 26, 8:09 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Atlanta Braves at Houston Astros (Game 2) | October 27, 8:09 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves (Game 3) | October 29, 8:09 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves (Game 4) | October 30, 8:09 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Houston Astros at Atlanta Braves (Game 5) | October 31, 8:15 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Atlanta Braves at Houston Astros (Game 6) | November 2, 8:09 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Atlanta Braves at Houston Astros (Game 7) | November 3, 8:09 p.m. ET | Fox |
How to watch the World Series
The MLB World Series will be broadcast on Fox. If you don't have cable you can stream the World Series with a subscription to any live TV streaming service that carries Fox. During the regular season and playoff rounds, national MLB games are also spread across channels like MLB Network, ESPN, FS1, and TBS.
To help narrow down your options, we compiled the best streaming services you can use to watch the World Series live.
Sling TV
Sling TV is one of the cheapest options to stream the World Series and other MLB games during the regular season. Sling Blue ($35/month) includes access to Fox, FS1, and TBS. If all you want to do is stream the World Series, then this is the plan to get. Please note, however, that Fox only airs in select markets via Sling TV. Be sure to check if Fox is available in your city before signing up.
If you're interested in watching other MLB games during the regular season, there's also the Sling Orange ($35/month) plan to consider. This option includes live access to ESPN and TBS. You can combine both Sling Blue and Sling Orange for $50 a month. You can also add MLB Network via Sling's Sports Extra package for an additional $15 a month.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream features Fox in all of its plans. It's also a good option to catch regular season MLB matches since it offers several packages with MLB Network, TBS, FS1, and ESPN. The cheapest plan with all five channels is the DirecTV Stream Choice plan for $85 a month. The Choice plan also gives you access to several regional sports networks for local regular season games that aren't broadcast nationally.
DirecTV Stream provides local coverage for 20 of MLB's 30 teams, according to a spokesperson from the service. You can check to see if DirecTV Stream covers your regional sports network with this lookup tool.
YouTube TV
One of the most comprehensive options for streaming MLB games all season long is YouTube TV. The service costs $65 a month and includes Fox, FS1, ESPN, TBS,and MLB Network, as well as some regional sports networks depending on your area.
YouTube TV also includes an option to watch out-of-market games via the MLB TV add-on for an extra fee. This means you can watch a mix of local games, nationally televised games, and out-of-market games all in one place.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live lets you watch the World Series on Fox, and it also includes several channels with regular season MLB games, including ESPN, FS1, and TBS. The service costs $65/month ($55/month for your first three months) and includes access to Hulu's entire on-demand library. That said, Hulu + Live TV is missing MLB Network.
Fubo TV
Fubo TV carries Fox for the World Series, and it also offers a package that will get you most of the channels you need for national MLB games all season long. The streaming service's Starter plan ($65/month) has over 100 channels, including Fox, FS1, and ESPN. Fubo TV also offers access to MLB Network with its Sports Plus with NFL RedZone add-on for $11 a month. There's also a few regional sports networks in select areas. On the downside, Fubo TV is missing TBS.