Kenya Sport

Important Dates for the 2026/27 Football Season

The 2026/27 football season will see schedules adjusted following the expanded 48-team World Cup, which pushes European domestic leagues and competitions back to allow player recovery and travel time. Some players will have different rest periods depending on their World Cup involvement.

Premier League

  • Start: August 21, 2026
  • End: May 30, 2027
  • The season kicks off with Arsenal hosting Coventry City on a Friday night. The Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester City will be on August 16 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Scottish Premiership

  • Start: July 31, 2026
  • End: May 16, 2027
  • The league begins earlier than England’s top flight, with the season featuring a split into top six and bottom six after April 10-11. Celtic enter as champions and will proceed to Champions League qualifiers.

EFL Championship

  • Start: August 14, 2026
  • End: May 31, 2027
  • This second tier starts early and has 46 matchdays. Notably, playoffs expand from four to six teams, with the final played over May 29-31 weekend.

Champions League

  • League Phase Start: September 8, 2026
  • Final: June 5, 2027
  • The 36-team league phase remains, starting after the August 27 draw. The top eight qualify directly to the Round of 16; others compete in knockout playoffs. Paris Saint-Germain defends their title with the final in Madrid.

FA Cup

  • First Round: November 7, 2026
  • Final: May 15, 2027
  • The oldest cup competition enters its 146th year. Premier League and Championship clubs join in the Third Round (January 9-10). The final is set for Wembley, where Manchester City aim to retain their crown.

Serie A

  • Start: August 23, 2026
  • End: May 30, 2027
  • The Italian top division shifts just one week later than usual. Inter Milan seek to defend their title. A winter break pauses the league before January resumption.

Bundesliga

  • Start: August 28, 2026
  • End: May 22, 2027
  • Germany’s league begins last among the big five, includes a winter break from Matchday 14. Bayern Munich are defending champs, with Schalke 04 returning and SV Elversberg debuting. The Supercup is on August 22.

La Liga

  • Start: August 16, 2026
  • End: May 30, 2027
  • One of the earliest major leagues to start. El Clásico occurs twice: October 25 at Camp Nou and May 9 at Bernabeu.

Ligue 1

  • Start: August 22, 2026
  • End: May 29, 2027
  • French league opens with PSG hosting Rennes. It features 18 teams playing 34 matches without midweek games to ease post-World Cup strain.

Summary of Major Competitions 2026/27

  • Community Shield: August 16
  • Premier League: August 21 – May 30, 2027
  • Champions League (League Phase): September 8 – June 5, 2027
  • Serie A: August 23 – May 30, 2027
  • Bundesliga: August 28 – May 22, 2027
  • La Liga: August 16 – May 30, 2027
  • Ligue 1: August 22 – May 29, 2027
  • Europa League (League Phase): September 16 – May 2027
  • Conference League (League Phase): October 15 – May 2027
  • FA Cup (First Round): November 7 – May 15, 2027
  • Carabao Cup: August 7–9 – February 28, 2027
  • EFL Championship: August 14 – May 8, 2027
  • Scottish Premiership: July 31 – May 16, 2027
  • WSL (Women's Super League): September 4–6 – May 21–23, 2027

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