Top games to watch this week
August 2
Morocco vs USA (Olympic Soccer-Men)
Japan vs Spain (Olympic Soccer-Men)
Egypt vs Paraguay (Olympic Soccer-Men)
France vs Argentina (Olympic Soccer-Men)
NJ/NY Gotham FC vs Guadalajara (NWSL x Liga MX Fem.)
Bay FC vs América (NWSL x Liga MX Fem.)
Newell's vs Estudiantes
Pisa vs Inter (Friendly)
Nottingham vs Villarreal (Friendly)
Benfica vs Fulham (Friendly)
Concacaf U20 Championship - Semi final 1
Concacaf U20 Championship - Semi final 2
August 3
USA vs Japan (Olympic Soccer - Women)
Spain vs Colombia (Olympic Soccer - Women)
Canada vs Germany (Olympic Soccer - Women)
France vs Brazil (Olympic Soccer - Women)
Sporting CP vs Porto (Super Taca)
Tigres UANL vs Inter Miami (Leagues Cup)
Monterrey vs Pumas UNAM (Leagues Cup)
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Tijuana (Leagues Cup)
Velez Sarsfield vs Defensa y Justicia (Argentine Primera Division)
Talleres Córdoba vs Instituto (Argentine Primera Division)
Huracán vs Racing Club (Argentine Primera Division)
Vasco da Gama vs RB Bragantino (Brasileirão)
Criciuma vs Atlético Mineiro (Brasileirão)
Sao Paulo vs Flamengo (Brasileirão)
Tottenham vs Bayern (Friendly)
Lens vs Bayer Leverkusen (Friendly)
Roma vs Olympiakos (Friendly)
Juventus vs Brest (Friendly)
Manchester City vs Chelsea (Friendly)
América vs Aston Villa (Friendly)
Barcelona vs Real Madrid (Friendly)
Man United vs Liverpool (Friendly)
August 4
Atlanta United vs Santos Laguna (Leagues Cup)
Philadelphia Unión vs Cruz Azul (Leagues Cup)
Orlando City vs San Luis (Leagues Cup)
Pachuca vs Toronto (Leagues Cup)
St. Louis City vs Juárez (Leagues Cup)
Guadalajara vs LA Galaxy (Leagues Cup)
Seattle Sounders vs Necaxa (Leagues Cup)
Unión Santa Fe vs River Plate (Argentine Primera Division)
Boca Juniors vs Barracas Central (Argentine Primera Division)
Lanús vs Tigre (Argentine Primera Division)
Athletico-PR vs Gremio (Brasileirão)
Fluminense vs Bahía (Brasileirão)
Internacional vs Palmeiras (Brasileirão)
Concacaf U20 Championship Final
August 5
Cincinnati vs New York City (Leagues Cup)
Toluca vs Sporting KC (Leagues Cup)
León vs Colorado Rapids (Leagues Cup)
Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake (Leagues Cup)
Olympic Soccer - Men (Semi final 1)
Olympic Soccer - Men (Semi final 2)
Gimnasia La Plata vs Rosario Central (Argentine Primera Division)
Platense vs Banfield (Argentine Primera Division)
Cruzeiro vs Fortaleza (Brasileirão)
Fulham vs Sevilla (Friendly)
August 6
New England vs Nashville (Leagues Cup)
Salzburg vs Twente (UEFA Champions League)
Olympic Soccer-Women - Semi final 1
Olympic Soccer-Women - Semi final 2
NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup - Semi final 1
NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup - Semi final 2
Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal (Friendly)
Real Madrid vs Chelsea (Friendly)
Barcelona vs Milan (Friendly)
August 7
Slavia Praha vs Unión Saint-Gilloise (UEFA Champions League)
San Lorenzo vs Vélez (Copa Argentina)
Bahía vs Botafogo (Copa do Brasil)
Palmeiras vs Flamengo (Copa do Brasil)
Gremio vs Corinthians (Copa do Brasil)
Sturm Graz vs PSG (Friendly)
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen (Friendly)
Inter vs Al Ittihad (Friendly)
Southampton vs Lazio (Friendly)
Real Betis vs Raja Casablanca (Friendly)
August 8
Kryvbas vs Viktoria Plzen (UEFA Europa League)
Olympic Soccer - Men: Bronze medal match
Olympiakos vs Nottingham Forest (Friendly)
Granada vs Al Wehda (Friendly)
What are this week's must-watch games?
France vs Argentina live this Friday at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock and Telemundo
All eyes will be on the Olympics on Friday as France take on Argentina in the men's quarterfinal stage in what promises to be a heated affair. The two nations have been embroiled in a dispute after La Albiceleste's racism row following their recent Copa America success. Additionally, Les Bleus are the hosts and will feel the pressure from the home crowd to eliminate Mascherano's side. Don't miss this clash.
USWNT vs Japan live this Saturday at 9 a.m. ET on Peacock and Telemundo
From one exciting Olympic Soccer fixture to another, the USWNT prepare to face Japan in the quarterfinal stage. Emma Hayes' crew are one of only three teams across both the women's and men's competition with a perfect record, beating Germany, Australia, and Zambia in the group stage. Nadeshiko Japan, on the other hand, suffered a 2-1 defeat to Spain in their most recent outing but beat Nigeria and Brazil to finish second in their group. Can the Asian powerhouse eliminate the four-time gold medal winners? Tune in to find out.
Sporting CP vs Porto live this Saturday at 3:15 p.m. ET in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira final on fuboTV and RTPi
The Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira final is here, with Primeira Liga champions Sporting CP taking on rivals Porto in an exciting fixture. The Dragons, who are competing in the Portuguese Super Cup after winning the Taça de Portugal, struggled last season in the Primeira Liga, finishing third. They subsequently missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification, underwent a managerial change, and lost talisman striker Mehdi Taremi to Inter Milan. This upcoming fixture will test Porto and give a glimpse into what is to come under the newly-appointed Vítor Bruno.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid live this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, ESPN App
The standout game of the weekend takes place at MetLife Stadium, with ESPN+ bringing live coverage of El Clasico from the USA. Los Blancos enter this fixture on the back of their 1-0 loss to AC Milan in Chicago while the Blaugrana were held to a 2-2 draw by Man City in Orlando. This will be Hansi Flick's first taste of El Clasico, albeit in a friendly, as the Catalan giants will look to beat their bitter rivals in the U.S. for a second summer in a row.
Manchester United vs Liverpool live this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes
And finally, we have Manchester United vs Liverpool as England's two most successful clubs lock horns in South Carolina this weekend. The Merseyside giants recently beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Rivals in Red series and will want to repeat this feat against the Red Devils. Ten Hag's men overcame Real Betis 3-2 in the build-up but lost to Arsenal roughly a week ago. With Manchester United kicking off the new Premier League season in two weeks, the English giants will want nothing more than to beat Liverpool at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Tigres UANL vs Inter Miami live this Saturday at 8 p.m. ET exclusively on MLS Season Pass
The Leagues Cup returns this weekend as reigning champions Inter Miami go to battle with Liga MX powerhouse Tigres UANL to decide who wins the group. Both sides have secured progression to the knockout stage after beating Puebla. However, with the Herons and Los Tigres tied on three points with one more match to play, this fixture will decide who takes the top spot. Tata Martino's men only need a draw to make that happen but will be in for a tough ride at NRG Stadium.
FA Community Shield, La Liga, and more, on ESPN+ this August
Those who want to satisfy their need for good soccer games can turn to ESPN+, as the streaming platform will offer some interesting fixtures in the coming days.
The platform will feature a variety of tournaments that include U.S.-based teams. Fans will be able to enjoy matches from the USL League One, the USL Championship, and the USL Cup. Additionally, there will be some international friendlies being played in the United States, which could also catch the eye of avid soccer fans.
To top it all, the service will feature the start of some of the finest leagues in the world. This month, the German Bundesliga, the Dutch Eredivisie, and the Spanish Primera División, mostly known as La Liga, will call ESPN+ their home for one more season. In fact, before these leagues kick-off, the DFL Supercup and other competitions of the sort will be used to kick the season off across the top leagues in Europe.
In fact, one of the most anticipated games of the preseason will be the Manchester Derby, where Manchester City and Manchester United get ready to play for the FA Community Shield. These soccer titans will get things going in England, and we honestly cannot wait to see the clash taking place.
ESPN+ will have a good deal of games to watch for all kinds of soccer fans, with over 165 fixtures to keep an eye on. Have a look at their programming here.
Paramount+: What to stream this week in the United States: July 31-August 7, 2024
If you are interested in watching top-caliber soccer, then Paramount+ should become your one-stop streaming service.
The platform will bring fans closer to some of the best club soccer fixtures being held this week, whether those games take place in the U.S. or other countries. Speaking of matches being held in North America, the platform will cover USL Championship games and fixtures of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup in its first edition.
Paramount+ will also cover South American soccer, with a special focus on the Primera División Argentina, which will carry on this week with quite a few fixtures. Additionally, the Scottish Premiership will kick things off during the weekend, with Rangers and Celtic getting ready for another title clash between them.
Things will not stop there, as the service will also give fans a chance to follow club friendlies. Teams such as Newcastle, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter will be among those covered by the platform this week.
Without further ado, have a look at the full schedule for Paramount+ here.
What to stream this week live on Fanatiz: August 2-8, 2024
It is not easy to keep track of as many soccer games, but with the help of Fanatiz USA, you will be able to follow the best leagues from South America and other territories.
The subscription service will offer over 55 matches to keep an eye on this week, with at least forty-five of those taking place over the weekend. Leagues such as the Brazilian Serie A, Argentina's Primera División, the Uruguayan top-flight, and Ecuador's Primera A will be among the impressive offers available on the platform.
Additionally, Fanatiz will feature some great friendly games taking place all over the globe. Teams playing those fixtures include PSG, West Ham, Benfica, Crystal Palace, and more. Just in case you were left craving more European soccer, then the start of the Dutch season with the Dutch Super Cup clash will be the right cup of tea for you.
Here is the full list of games being covered on Fanatiz USA in the coming days.
Biggest stories
Manchester City fined over £2 million for delayed kick-offs
Manchester City have been fined £2.09 million ($2.68 million, 2.48 million euros) by the Premier League for 22 instances of delaying the kick-off or restart of matches, it was announced on Wednesday.
The English champions have accepted the punishment, which relates to rule infringements over the past two seasons, the league has confirmed.
This issue is unconnected to the 115 charges City are facing for alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations.
A Premier League statement said: "The Premier League and Manchester City FC have entered into a sanction agreement after the club accepted it had breached Premier League Rule L.33 relating to kick-off and restart obligations." Read more…
Tearful Marta sent off as Brazil lose to Spain in Olympic soccer
Brazil legend Marta exited the pitch in tears on Wednesday after being sent off in her side's 2-0 defeat by World Cup holders Spain which left them in danger of a group-stage exit in the women's Olympic Soccer tournament.
Marta was shown a straight red card in first-half stoppage time in Bordeaux for a rash and dangerous high tackle on Spain captain Olga Carmona right in front of the referee.
The 38-year-old was inconsolable as she walked off the pitch. The multiple winner of the FIFA women's World Player of the Year award is appearing at her sixth Olympics and featured in the teams that won silver in 2004 and 2008. Read more…
"That's it for me as a coach" says Klopp
Jurgen Klopp has ruled out a return to coaching in the near future, including for the vacant England job, saying Wednesday "as of today, that's it for me as a coach".
Speaking at a German Football Coaches Association meeting in Wuerzburg, the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund mentor said: "I didn't decide to stop on a whim, it was a general decision."
Klopp stood down as Liverpool boss at the end of the 2023-24 season citing exhaustion after 23 years in club management.
The 57-year-old was almost immediately linked to several vacant jobs, including as England coach when manager Gareth Southgate stood down the Three Lions lost the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. Read more…
Barcelona receive huge blow in transfer pursuit of Athletic Club's Euro 2024 star Nico Williams
Athletic Club attacker Nico Williams might have won plaudits at Euro 2024 but the highly-rated winger will not be getting his dream summer move on the back of his European Championship success.
This is according to a report by the Athletic which claims Barcelona, the player's no.1 choice, have given up hope of signing the Basque attacker.
Chelsea, Arsenal, and PSG, who have also been linked with the 22-year-old, will also miss out on the attacker as he appears destined to stay with Athletic Club for another year.
There has been no official communication but both Athletic and Barcelona expect the player to remain at San Mames. This is a huge blow to the Blaugrana as pairing Williams with Lamine Yamal had been their dream. Read more…
DC United advance in Leagues Cup, Miami through without playing
Defending champion Inter Miami advanced to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup without even taking the field on Wednesday while DC United joined Lionel Messi's squad with a victory.
A 2-1 triumph by Tigres over 10-man Puebla at Houston ensured the winners and Inter Miami both progressed from their group.
MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs are competing in the World Cup-style event with three-team groups each advancing two to the knockout stage.
Miami beat Puebla last Saturday even with Messi sidelined by a right ankle injury and Tigres eliminated Puebla's last hope. Read more...
Huge blow for Manchester United as summer signing could miss start of the Premier League season
Manchester United fans have been dealt a huge concern as one of their summer signings was spotted walking with crutches two weeks before the new Premier League season kicks off.
That player is Leny Yoro, the highly-rated young center-back who the Red Devils signed earlier this month for an initial $67.6M fee — this figure could rise to just over $76M.
The teenager suffered this injury during his team's friendly against Arsenal on Saturday in Los Angeles. He was thus subbed off after half an hour during the 2-1 loss to the North London giants.
He was one of two Manchester United players to suffer an injury in that SoFi Stadium fixture, with the other being Rasmus Hojlund. However, while the Danish striker's hamstring issue is not serious, the same cannot be said about the French teenager. Read more…
Pig's head threat sees Di Maria abandon return to Argentina
Argentine soccer player Angel Di Maria said Tuesday that safety concerns mean he will not finish his career in his native Rosario after a bullet-pierced pig's head was thrown at a family business.
The 36-year-old, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, had said he wanted to return to his boyhood club in the nation's third-largest city, which has recently seen an explosion in gang-related crime.
"There was a threat at my sister's business: it was a box with a pig head and a bullet in the forehead and a note that said that if I returned to (Rosario) Central, the next head was that of my daughter Pia," Di Maria told TV station Rosario3.
"I am not going to return to Rosario in this way. They touched my family and I am not going to allow that. Not at any price," he said, adding he wanted to protect the "peace and happiness" of his family. Read more…
Other headlines from the world of soccer
France captain Mbappe buys Ligue 2 club Caen
France captain Kylian Mbappe has taken over as majority shareholder of Ligue 2 club Caen, Mbappe's company Interconnected Ventures announced in a statement on Wednesday.
The new Real Madrid player, who came close to signing for Caen when he was younger, has acquired 80 percent of the shares through Coalition Capital, the investment entity of Interconnected Ventures, replacing US investment fund Oaktree as majority shareholder. Continue reading…
France striker Mateta stokes Argentina rivalry ahead of Olympic showdown
France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta set the tone Tuesday ahead of a quarter-final clash with Argentina in the men's Olympic Soccer tournament by saying recent bad blood with the South Americans had left its mark on the country.
"With everything that has happened recently, everyone in France was affected, so we will see what happens in the quarter-finals," said Crystal Palace striker Mateta after wearing the captain's armband and scoring the opening goal in Tuesday's 3-0 win against New Zealand in Marseille. Continue reading…
