Cheerleading’s first professional league is here — and it’s a big deal. The Pro Cheer League (PCL), presented by Varsity Spirit, launched its inaugural 2026 season with five live events, paid athletes, and a multi-year broadcast deal with Scripps Sports putting every match live on ION. Teams include Atlanta Air, Dallas Drive, Golden State Grit, and Miami Metal — with athletes like Gabi Butler, Angel Rice, and Maddy Brum competing for the first PCL championship.
The problem: ION, Tubi, and Pluto TV are geo-restricted outside the U.S. International fans — whether you’re a cheerleader coach in Australia, a U.S. expat in Europe, or a cheer parent working remotely abroad — hit a wall the moment they try to stream. This guide explains the most reliable device-wide fix: a VPN router.
⚡ TL;DR
- The PCL’s 2026 season airs live on ION — also available via Pluto TV, Roku Channel, LG Channels, and YouTube TV in the U.S.
- Outside the U.S., those streams are geo-blocked — even for paying subscribers.
- A VPN router routes your entire network through a U.S. server — Smart TV, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV included — with no per-device setup.
- Best results: use WireGuard protocol, a nearby U.S. server, and Ethernet for your main TV box.
Jump to: 2026 Schedule · Why Streams Are Blocked · Setup Guide · Recommended Routers
2026 Pro Cheer League Season Schedule
All five matches air live on ION at 8:00 PM ET — season runs January 16 through March 27, 2026
✓ Aired
Indianapolis
Jan 16, 2026
JAMfest Super Nationals
✓ Aired
Atlanta
Feb 13, 2026
CHEERSPORT Nationals
▶ Next Up
Houston
Feb 27, 2026
NCA All-Star Nationals
Upcoming
Anaheim
Mar 13, 2026
USA All Star Super Nationals
🏆 Championship
Nashville
Mar 27, 2026
One Up Grand Nationals
Replays available on-demand via Varsity TV and periodically re-aired on ION. No official international broadcast partner announced — a VPN router is the most reliable solution for fans outside the U.S.
Where to Watch the Pro Cheer League
Multiple free and streaming options — all U.S.-only without a VPN
ION (Live)
Every PCL match airs live at 8pm ET on ION. Free over-the-air with an antenna, and via cable, satellite, or live TV streaming services. U.S. only.
Pluto TV, Roku Channel & LG Channels
ION is available as a live FAST channel on Pluto TV, the Roku Channel, LG Channels, and YouTube TV. All are free or subscription-based — and all are U.S.-geo-locked.
Varsity TV (Replays)
Full match replays published on Varsity TV after each event. Some content free, some subscription. A useful backup if you miss the live ION stream.
🔒 Why Tubi, Pluto TV & ION Don’t Work Outside the U.S.
ION is a U.S. broadcast network with U.S.-only licensing. Tubi and Pluto TV are ad-supported FAST platforms with region-specific content libraries — what’s available in the U.S. is not available internationally, and vice versa. Streaming services are enforcing geo-blocks more aggressively than ever in 2025 — detecting your IP address and redirecting or blocking access entirely.
At this time, no official international broadcast partner has been announced for the Pro Cheer League. A VPN router giving you a U.S. IP address is currently the most practical route for international fans. See how VPN routers bypass geo-blocked streaming →
Why a VPN Router Is the Best Solution for TV Streaming
Tubi and Pluto TV work best on Smart TVs and streaming sticks — devices that can’t install VPN apps. A VPN router handles everything at the network level. Full comparison →
Works on Smart TVs
Tubi and Pluto TV are TV-first apps — and Smart TVs can’t run VPN apps. A router-level VPN covers them automatically.
One Setup, All Devices
Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, consoles, laptops — everything on your Wi-Fi gets U.S. access without individual configuration.
Always-On
No toggling a VPN before each stream. Set the router once and your whole home stays on a U.S. connection automatically.
Harder to Block
Router-based VPNs look like normal home traffic — more stable and consistent than device-level apps.
What You Need
📦
A FlashRouters VPN Router
Pre-configured and ready to connect. Browse all VPN routers or see our picks below.
🔐
A VPN Service with U.S. Servers
NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, or any provider on the FlashRouters supported VPN list. WireGuard recommended for best streaming speed.
📺
A Streaming Device
Smart TV, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, gaming console, laptop, or tablet — anything that connects to Wi-Fi or Ethernet works.
🆓
Tubi / Pluto TV Account (Free)
Both platforms are free with ads. A free account is optional but useful for watchlists and saved content. No subscription needed.
Step-by-Step: Stream the PCL on Your TV From Abroad
Works for Smart TV, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and any device connected to your router.
Pick a provider with strong U.S. servers and WireGuard support. See the full FlashRouters-compatible VPN list.
Browse WiFi 7 routers for full homes or travel routers if you’re moving between countries. All come pre-configured.
East Coast (NYC, DC) for Europe and Africa. West Coast (LA, Seattle) for Asia and Oceania. Use WireGuard for lowest latency on live streams.
Join the router’s Wi-Fi network, or use Ethernet for your main TV box. All traffic now routes through the U.S. server automatically.
Search for ION or the Pro Cheer League. You should now see the full U.S. content library. Pro tip: Only need the VPN for streaming? Use split tunneling to keep other devices on your local connection.
Top VPN Routers for Streaming the PCL
Three picks for different setups — apartment, family home, or travel.
Performance & Troubleshooting
🔴 Buffering during live matches?
Switch to a different U.S. server city. Reduce other simultaneous usage. Switch VPN protocol to WireGuard if available — it’s significantly faster than OpenVPN for streaming. Ethernet from router to TV is the single biggest improvement you can make.
🟡 Wrong content library or region error?
Fully close and reopen the Tubi or Pluto TV app after connecting your VPN. Try a different U.S. server region. Some platforms check DNS independently — consider setting your router DNS to your VPN provider’s recommended resolver. Why this happens in 2025 →
🟢 Only one device needs the VPN?
Use split tunneling / policy routing on your FlashRouter to route only your streaming device through the VPN. Everything else — phones, work laptops — stays on your local connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Pro Cheer League available internationally?
No official international broadcast partner has been announced for the PCL’s 2026 season. All five matches air live on ION in the U.S., with replays on Varsity TV. International fans using a VPN router with a U.S. server have reported accessing ION via Pluto TV and the Roku Channel.
Is Tubi or Pluto TV free?
Yes — both are completely free, ad-supported streaming platforms. No subscription or credit card is required. A free account on each platform is optional but useful for saving content and personalized watchlists.
Why use a VPN router instead of a VPN app?
Smart TVs and most streaming sticks (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV) don’t support VPN apps. A VPN router covers every device on your network automatically — no per-device setup, no device limits, and no toggling before every stream. Read the full VPN Router vs VPN App guide.
Which VPN protocol is best for live sports streaming?
WireGuard is the recommended protocol for live streaming — it’s faster and more efficient than OpenVPN, which reduces buffering on international connections. All FlashRouters support WireGuard via compatible VPN providers.
Where can I watch missed PCL matches?
Full replays are published on Varsity TV after each event. Matches also re-air periodically on ION and via Sling TV’s on-demand ION content. If you missed Houston (Feb 27) or have Anaheim (Mar 13) or the Nashville Championship (Mar 27) coming up — get your setup in place now.
Don’t Miss a Single PCL Match — Wherever You Are
Houston is Feb 27. Anaheim is Mar 13. Nashville Championship is Mar 27. Set up a FlashRouters VPN router and catch every match live on ION — from anywhere in the world.
VPN service subscription required separately · Streaming availability varies by country and platform · Supported VPN Providers · Geo-Blocking Guide
How to Watch the Varsity Pro Cheer League on ION, Tubi & Pluto TV From Outside the US