Top games to watch this weekend
Friday
Bayern vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
Estrela vs. Porto (Primeira Liga)
PSG vs. Nice (Ligue 1)
Al Hilal vs. Al Riyadh (Saudi Pro League)
Rayo Vallecano vs. Alavés (La LigA)
Mazatlán vs. Cruz Azul (Liga MX)
Saturday
Wolves vs. Liverpool (English Premier League)
Manchester United vs. Brighton (English Premier League)
Tottenham vs. Sheffield United (English Premier League)
West Ham vs. Man City (English Premier League)
Valencia vs. Atlético Madrid (La Liga)
Barcelona vs. Real Betis (La Liga)
Juventus vs. Lazio (Serie A)
Inter vs. Milan (Serie A)
Freiburg vs. Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Vizela vs. Benfica (Primeira Liga)
Al Raed vs. Al Nassr (Saudi Pro League)
New York City vs. New York RB (MLS)
Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami (MLS)
Philadelphia Union vs. Cincinnati (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs. LA Galaxy (MLS)
Monterrey vs. León (Liga MX)
América vs. Guadalajara (Liga MX)
Sunday
Atlas vs. Tigres UANL (Liga MX)
Bournemouth vs. Chelsea (English Premier League)
Everton vs. Arsenal (English Premier League)
Sevilla vs. Las Palmas (La Liga)
Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad (La Liga)
Sporting CP vs. Moreirense (Primeira Liga)
Marseille vs. Toulouse (Ligue 1)
Lyon vs. Le Havre (Ligue 1)
América vs. Guadalajara (Liga MX Femenil)
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: September 4-10, 2023
The viewership numbers for soccer games for the week of September 4 through September 10 are in, and while the beautiful game did not collectively stand out due to the international break, a handful of games made the cut.
Despite the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2024 qualifiers taking place, the most-watched game was a friendly, with Mexico's 2-2 draw with Australia garnering 1.35 million average viewers for Univision.
Sister channel Telemundo also made it to the podium, with the Spanish-language network's coverage of Argentina's 1-0 FIFA World Cup qualifier win over Ecuador and Guadalajara's 2-0 triumph over Leon racking up an average viewership of 840,000 and 479,000 respectively.
For a full breakdown of the most-watched soccer games in the USA last week, click here.
What are this weekend's must-watch games?
Bayern Munich (2nd) vs. Leverkusen (1st) live this Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and the ESPN App
Matchday 4 in the Bundesliga kicks off this Friday with the exciting Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen showdown. Both teams are the only two clubs with a perfect record, with goal difference handing Xabi Alonso's side the upper hand. Who will come away with the three points? Don't miss this tie.
Manchester United (11th) vs. Brighton (6th) live this Saturday at 10 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock
Matchday 5 in the Premier League has arrived now that the international break is over. Manchester United star in the headline fixture, with the Red Devils hosting De Zerbi's high-flying Brighton. The Red Devils lost 3-1 at Arsenal before the break and will want to overcome their recent dramas with a crucial win.
West Ham (4th) vs. Manchester City (1st) live this Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on USA Network, UNIVERSO, UNIVERSO NOW, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Two in-form Premier League teams lock horns this weekend, with reigning champions and title favorites Manchester City visiting West Ham. The Hammers have begun the campaign extraordinarily well, beating Chelsea and Brighton to climb up to fourth. On the flip side, Haaland and Co. are yet to drop a point. Can David Moyes' men stop the all-conquering Cityzens? Tune in this weekend to find out the answer.
Inter (1st) vs. AC Milan (2nd) live this Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Golazo and Paramount+
The Milan Derby is back! The Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri, two of Italy's most iconic teams, face off this weekend following spectacular starts to the campaign from both clubs. The Milan giants have won their opening three games but one team, if not both, will lose their perfect start come Saturday.
Newcastle (14th) vs. Brentford (8th) live this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock, UNIVERSO, UNIVERSO NOW, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
The Magpies look to overcome a worrying blip in form when they host Brentford this weekend. Eddie Howe's men have lost three games in a row since their 5-1 win over Aston Villa on the opening day while the Bees boast one win and three draws to their name.
Real Madrid (1st) vs. Real Sociedad (8th) live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, and the ESPN App
Matchday 5 in La Liga is upon us, with league leaders Real Madrid hosting Real Sociedad in this round's standout fixture. Los Blancos have won four out of four so far and will aim to maintain their perfect start. However, La Real are a tricky side and will look to build on their 5-3 win over Granada just before the break.
This weekend in women's soccer: Frauen-Bundesliga, Serie A, D1 Feminine, NWSL, and more
This week is set to be a very exciting one for women's soccer fans, as the top leagues in France, Germany, and Italy are set to get underway.
Here's all you need to know ahead of another busy weekend of women's soccer around the globe.
What to watch in women's soccer: September 15th through September 17th
NCAA
The week kicked off with plenty of NCAA action on Wednesday, September 13th as the 2023 season is in full swing. Fans in the USA can follow many of these games via live streaming through ESPN+ and the ESPN App, which also provides games from the ACC Network. Additional live-streaming options also include fuboTV, while the SEC Network will also be carrying some games on TV and live-streaming is also accessible through SEC Network +.
For a detailed schedule of games, including where and how you can watch them, check out our special NCAA Division I women's soccer page here.
Damallsvenskan, Toppserien, and Elitedivisionen
In Scandinavia, the top leagues in women's soccer are all still in process, with ongoing title races in Sweden's Damallsvenskan, Denmark's Elitedivisionen, and Norway's Toppserien.
Here's where you can catch key games in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
Frauen-Bundesliga
The latest iteration of the German top flight will finally kick off on Friday, September 15th as reigning champions Bayern Munich travel to face Freiburg. This season will see two new sides, RB Leipzig and Nürnberg, with Leipzig making their first-ever appearance in the first division after winning the 2.Bundesliga last term.
The 34th installment of Frauen-Bundesliga continues with an exciting triple-header on Sunday, September 17th. Newly promoted RB Leipzig will hope to kick off their campaign on a high note as they travel to face Cologne. Next up will be a clash between Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen, before matchday one concludes with a tie starring Essen and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Make sure you bookmark our special Frauen-Bundesliga competition page to follow all matches taking place on matchday one and throughout the season.
NWSL
Matchday 19 in the 2023 NWSL season starts on September 15th with Racing Louisville, who presently sit in seventh, welcoming tenth-ranked Houston Dash. With things looking pretty congested at the top of the table, many eyes will be on the fixtures taking place over the weekend, including San Diego Wave, who are in first, taking on the worst-performing side in the league, Kansas City Current, on Saturday.
A crunch clash will be on the cards when Portland Thorns (second, 29 points) face OL Reign (fourth, 27 points) as either of these teams could move into the top spot should the Wave end up slipping up against the Current in the earlier game on Saturday.
Matchday 19 finishes on Sunday, September 17th with a doubleheader featuring Chicago Red Stars vs. Angel City and Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage. The Courage, who are in third, will hope to pile up the pressure on the teams ahead of them in the table and take advantage of Orlando's less-than-consistent form this season.
Dedicated broadcast listings for your specific location can be found here.
Division 1 Féminine
The top flight in France has now reached its half-century since its inception in 1974 and will kick off on Friday, September 15th as Lyon, who come into this season as the reigning champions, travel to face Le Havre. Lyon won their 16th title last season but there are other teams hoping to challenge them, including PSG, who will be on the road against Bordeaux two days after Lyon's match.
Here's where you can find info on where to catch D1 Féminine games throughout the season.
FA Women's Championship
Although it's still another few weeks until the Women's Super League gets underway, the FA Women's Championship has been up and running for a bit. Fans hoping to still tune into some English soccer will be in for a treat this Sunday, with six matches taking place throughout the day. Kick-off times range from 7 a.m. ET to 9 a.m. ET, depending on where you are based. Here's where you can find geo-localized listings for the FA Women's Championship for your specific location.
Top news in women's soccer
Manchester United look to secure deal for American shot-stopper
Manchester United are reportedly looking to spend big to add OL Reign's Phallon Tullis-Joyce to their squad ahead of the upcoming WSL season.
The Red Devils were reportedly the subject of a record-setting bid from Arsenal for star shot-stopper Mary Earps, with some sources claiming that the Gunners were ready to spend over $120,000 to bring in the English international following her excellent showings at this summer's Women's World Cup. However, Manchester United, who finished second in the WSL last season and will be featuring in the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time in club history, decided to reject the deal with the hopes of getting Earps to sign a new bumper contract.
Read more...
Not just the men's game: Saudi Pro League looking to add big-name women's players
The Saudi Pro League has been quite determined and aggressive in its quest to establish itself as a major player in world soccer. Over the past year, they've signed players like Cristiano Ronaldo, followed by Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson, and Neymar, with many more certain to make the switch from Europe to the oil-rich nation over the coming months and years.
Interestingly, and perhaps even surprisingly, they are not just looking at the men's game. Indeed, Saudi Arabia is hoping to even get involved in women's soccer, as evidenced by their recent signing of Leicester City's Ashleigh Plumptre. The 25-year-old, who previously played for England's youth sides but was able to switch to Nigeria due to her grandfather being from that country, was one of the standout showings for the Super Falcons at this summer's World Cup.
Read more...
Arsenal shockingly dumped out of UEFA Women's Champions League by French side Paris
What a difference just a few months can make for Arsenal.
Last season saw the Gunners make an impressive run to the semifinals of the UEFA Women's Champions League, where they were unfortunately beaten by German outfit Wolfsburg by the narrowest of margins. However, because they finished in third in the WSL, Jonas Eidevall's team were not given an automatic ticket to feature in this year's competition and thus had to secure their spot in the tournament via a series of playoff games.
After cruising to a comfortable 3-0 win over Swedish side Linköping, Arsenal were pitted against Paris in the finals, with the winner given a chance to play in another two-legged playoff tie to earn a spot in the group stages. Although they were the heavy favorites to progress, Arsenal's poor, and at times, shambolic defending cost them dearly, and despite goals from Jen Beattie and Alessia Russo late on in stoppages, Paris managed to hang on to push the game to penalties after it ended as a three-all draw.
Read more...
Major League Soccer - How to watch the games from Matchday 32
With only seven games left for almost all teams, it is safe to say that Major League Soccer has entered the final stretch of the regular season. Teams from all over the country are still in contention for a spot in the playoffs, while the coveted Supporters' Shield is still very much up for grabs.
As things stand, Cincinnati have already booked a spot in the postseason, and a couple more wins could see the blue and orange claiming the Supporters' Shield for this season. Elsewhere, league sensation Inter Miami are still struggling to leapfrog their rivals in the Eastern Conference, and their clash this week will be crucial for that purpose.
It is important to keep in mind that after these games, the MLS will have more midweek action on Wednesday, keeping fans closer to what could go down in terms of those looking for a spot in the next round. Will we get to witness some classic moments in the upcoming matches? Here's how you can get hold of all fixtures.
How to watch this weekend's games in the 2023 MLS season?
The games set to take place between Saturday and Sunday will feature key moments that could determine the fate of the league. The first one of those available on linear TV will be CF Montreal vs. Chicago Fire, where both teams look to keep the fight for a spot in the playoffs open. That game will be aired on TSN4 and on RDS for Canadian users. On Sunday, fans in the USA will be able to follow Austin vs. Portland on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes. For those interested in watching Lionel Messi and Inter Miami's match, they will be able to stream their clash on the road facing Atlanta United in over 100 countries via MLS Season Pass, the platform where fans will be able to follow the rest of the games for Matchday 32.
Top news of the week in Major League Soccer
Goal of the Matchday goes to Inter Miami starlet
No Messi, no problem for Inter Miami. The team's momentum carried on even without their best player, and those in charge of keeping things moving for the Herons even saw how Facundo Farías claimed the award for the best goal of the week. Farías' effort against Sporting KC ended up being crucial for the pink and black club to keep their playoff hopes alive and win three more points while at it.
Vancouver Whitecaps add Canadian talent to their roster
With the race to make the playoffs wide open, clubs from all over the league are trying to lure in as much talent as possible. This was also true for the Vancouver Whitecaps, who signed Junior Hoilett until the end of the 2023 season. The Canadian international makes it to the league after a two-year spell with Reading, trying to provide his experience to the Caps, who are sixth in the Western Conference and only two points away from Real Salt Lake, ranked fourth in that same lot.
Sporting KC confirm contract extension for Alan Pulido
After much speculation regarding his future, Mexican striker Alan Pulido has committed to a new contract with Sporting KC. The Designated Player joined SKC in 2020 and has helped the team to 28 wins out of the 56 matches he has played for them. Pulido won the Player of the Month award in June and is also currently leading the charts for the Comeback Player of the Year Trophy after sitting out the entire 2022 season.
For additional details regarding Major League Soccer's schedule, top scorers, and more, visit our bespoke MLS page here.
Biggest stories of the week
Juventus midfielder Pogba provisionally suspended for doping
Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended after a doping control detected the banned substance testosterone, Italian anti-doping authorities (NADO) told AFP on Monday.
"The National Antidoping Tribunal informs that, in acceptance of the instance proposed by the National Antidoping Prosecutor, it has provided for the provisional suspension of the athlete Paul Labile Pogba," NADO said in a statement to AFP.
NADO said the "prohibited substance detected: Non-endogenous testosterone metabolites", was consistent with a doping infringement.
Gareth Bale aims dig at Arsenal when asked about Brennan Johnson's move to Spurs
Gareth Bale's final stint with Tottenham may not have ended as most fans wanted, but he has shown one more time that he holds no grudges against the Premier League side.
Being known as one of the team's icons in the early 2010s, Bale spoke about how one of his fellow countrymen, Brennan Johnson, has recently been hired by the Lilywhites to replace Harry Kane. The former winger did not hold back when speaking about the Welsh striker, urging him to keep in good shape so he can stay with the North Londoners for as much time as he can.
"Yes, for sure (about being glad). It's better than seeing him join Arsenal," Bale joked.
CBS Sports and Paramount+ reveal coverage plans for start of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League
Another season of European soccer is just around the corner, and CBS Sports, along with Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network, are getting ready to guide fans every step of the way until the finals of each of those competitions.
Coverage will begin on Tuesday, September 19. Select matches will be made available to watch on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network. Added to that, all games will be available to stream on Paramount+.
Things will get busy with UEFA Champions League Today, the live pre-match, halftime, and post-match studio show on CBS Sports, hosted by Kate Abdo and with top-caliber analysts Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, and Micah Richards. To boost its coverage, the network will have the legendary Peter Schmeichel, Guillem Balagué, and Anita Jones providing reports on-site all season long.
Nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 revealed as Man City dominate the list
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 is on the horizon and in preparation for that highly-anticipated ceremony, soccer's world governing body has revealed the nominees for its different categories.
To no one's surprise, Manchester City dominate the list after winning the treble, securing the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League titles in an unforgettable 2022/23 campaign. As a result, Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Julian Alvarez, and Ilkay Gundogan — the German only left for Barcelona over the summer — are in the running for The Best FIFA Men's Player prize while Guardiola is nominated for The Best FIFA Men's Coach award.
Several of the standout performers at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup have been nominated for The Best FIFA Women's Player award, namely Aitana Bonmatí, who won the Golden Ball in Australia and New Zealand before scooping up the UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award. Unsurprisingly, Sarina Wiegman is in the running for The Best FIFA Women's Coach prize. However, her stiffest competition comes from Barcelona Femeni boss Jonatan Giráldez and Chelsea Women boss Emma Hayes. Jorge Vilda, the manager who led Spain's women's national team to the World Cup title over the summer, has been overlooked after resigning following a tumultuous and controversial spell in charge.
Man United surpass Real Madrid with record-breaking shirt sponsorship deal with Snapdragon
Not only have Manchester United finally found a new mega-money shirt sponsorship deal, but the Premier League giants have also overtaken Real Madrid as the club with the most lucrative sponsorship following this latest arrangement.
As revealed by the club, the Red Devils have reached an agreement with Snapdragon to replace TeamViewer as the UEFA Champions League side's front-of-shirt sponsor. Snapdragon is a subsidiary of U.S. technology company Qualcomm, which is worth over $100 billion, and has been one of Manchester United's global partners for a year.
According to the Daily Mail, this deal is worth £60M per year (roughly $75.1M annually), making it the most expensive front-of-shirt package, overtaking Real Madrid's Fly Emirates arrangement. Additionally, this will run for a minimum of three years, as per the Athletic.
World's most expensive squads revealed: Premier League trio top list, Saudi club make top 20
CIES Football Observatory is back with another interesting post, this time revealing the teams with the most expensively assembled squads in the beautiful game. To little surprise, the Premier League dominates this list, but there are a few surprises.
Chelsea are not number one on this list. That honor goes to Manchester United, who spent a whopping €1.15 billion to assemble their current squad. The Manchester heavyweights are one of only four clubs to have invested €1 billion or more on their current players, alongside Chelsea (€1.134BN), who are second, Manchester City (€1.042BN) in third, and PSG (€1BN) in fourth.
Manchester United outcast Sancho told to train on his own
Jadon Sancho's Manchester United future was plunged into further doubt on Thursday as the club said the winger will train on his own due to a "squad discipline issue."
Sancho was dropped for United's 3-1 defeat to Arsenal earlier this month for what manager Erik ten Hag deemed poor performances in training. The 23-year-old then responded by posting on social media that he had been made "a scapegoat for a long time", thus further complicating matters.
The Red Devils are also without Brazilian winger Antony after he was given a leave of absence to fight allegations of domestic abuse made by his former girlfriend.
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Pro League or MLS? Griezmann drops hint on potential transfer
When asked about the possibility of joining the Saudi Pro League in the near future, Atletico Madrid ace Antoine Griezmann admitted that family issues would see him choosing another competition.
"If I would go there? I have a family, three kids. It is not an easy decision to make. But as you may be aware, playing in the MLS is still a personal goal of mine," the Frenchman said.
Man City's Walker signs two-year contract extension
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker signed a two-year contract extension with the treble winners on Thursday. Walker agreed the new deal just weeks after his future with Pep Guardiola's side was in doubt amid links to Bayern Munich.
Bonucci confirms legal action against Juve after 'humiliating' treatment
Leonardo Bonucci has confirmed that he is taking legal action against Juventus, claiming that the Serie A club have not told the truth about their treatment of him after he was frozen out and eventually sold over the summer to Union Berlin.
Poland fire Fernando Santos from national team after just six games
After just eight months, coach Fernando Santos will have to seek pastures new. The seasoned Portuguese boss has been relieved from his duties by the Polish Football Federation, who are trying to shake things up within the group after losing three out of six games under the former A Selecao boss.
England boss Gareth Southgate blasts treatment of Maguire as a 'joke'
Gareth Southgate has condemned the "ridiculous treatment" of England defender Harry Maguire, labeling the unrelenting criticism a "joke". The Manchester United centre-back won his 59th cap as a substitute in England's 3-1 friendly win in Glasgow on Tuesday but his performance was marred by an own goal.
