Watch Global Football Live in 2026
Updated August 2026. New season, new managers everywhere, Xabi Alonso is now at Chelsea, José Mourinho is running Real Madrid, and Arsenal open their title defense off the back of ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League trophy. Here’s where everything airs and the full early-season calendar.
Annonces
Premier League: opening weeks
Arsenal kick off the defense of their first title in 22 years at home against newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday, August 21. The rest of the opening round runs through the weekend:
| Fixture | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal vs. Coventry City | Aug 21, 8:00 PM | Title defense opener |
| Hull City vs. Manchester United | Aug 22, 12:30 PM | Hull’s first top-flight game since promotion |
| Brentford vs. Tottenham Hotspur | Aug 22, 5:30 PM | London derby |
| Manchester City vs. Bournemouth | Aug 23, 2:00 PM | City’s first match post-Guardiola, new boss Marco Rose |
| Newcastle vs. Liverpool | Aug 23, 4:30 PM | Liverpool’s Andoni Iraola era begins |
| Fulham vs. Chelsea | Aug 24, 8:00 PM | Xabi Alonso’s first game as Chelsea manager |
The Community Shield kicked things off early on August 16, City vs. Arsenal at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium instead of the usual Wembley.
La Liga: opening weeks
La Liga officially opens August 15, but the calendar is staggered this year, clubs that sent players deep into the 2026 World Cup get an extra week before their season debut.
| Fixture | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Alavés vs. Getafe | Aug 15 | Official season opener |
| Espanyol vs. Real Madrid | Aug 22 | Mourinho’s La Liga debut in charge of Real Madrid |
| Barcelona vs. Elche | Aug 23 | Barça begin their title defense |
Circle the calendar for El Clásico: October 24-25 in Barcelona, and the return leg May 8-9 in Madrid.
Annonces
Where each league streams
| Competition | US platform | Free trial | Free alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Peacock / USA Network | Often available | YouTube highlights |
| La Liga | ESPN+ | Frequently offered | YouTube highlights |
| Champions League | Paramount+ | Frequently offered | YouTube highlights |
| Serie A | Paramount+ | Frequently offered | YouTube highlights |
| General/regional coverage | Pluto TV | Already free | Pluto TV |
If you’re traveling for opening weekend
Regional blackouts are the most common issue fans run into, especially with Champions League group stage matches later in September, where local broadcasters sometimes hold exclusive regional rights. If a match isn’t showing up on your usual app while traveling, check whether your subscription is region-locked before assuming it’s unavailable altogether.
Common questions
Why is Real Madrid’s opener delayed to matchday 2?
Several Real Madrid and Barcelona players went deep into the 2026 World Cup on international duty, so La Liga pushed both clubs’ openers back to give them extra recovery time.
Does one subscription cover both Champions League and Serie A?
Yes, in the US both currently sit under Paramount+.
What’s the biggest storyline heading into the new Premier League season?
Arsenal defending their first title in over two decades while Manchester City rebuilds under Marco Rose post-Guardiola, and Liverpool starts fresh under Andoni Iraola, are the three headline transitions worth following from week one.
Stack one paid platform around the league you care most about, and keep YouTube open as your free backup for anything outside that subscription.
- Peacock TV (Play Store | App Store)
- ESPN App (Play Store | App Store)
- Paramount+ (Play Store | App Store)
- YouTube (Play Store | App Store)
- Pluto TV (Play Store | App Store)
