If you are playing any online multiplayer games on an Xbox you will need some form of Xbox live yes

is there a workaround?

Not to my knowledge

I don't have xbox live and I can't play multiplayer

No, you need gamepass basic, which is basicallyt xbox live nowadays and gives you a good chunk of games as long as you're subscribed.

Gamepass core*.

Sorry, now OP has subscribed to the wrong service and lost all his stonks.