Top games to watch this week
Friday, August 16
Manchester Utd vs Fulham
Celta vs Alavés
Las Palmas vs Sevilla
Santa Clara vs Porto
Le Havre vs PSG
Ulm vs Bayern (DFB-Pokal)
Konyaspor vs Galatasaray
Saturday, August 17
Ipswich Town vs Liverpool
Arsenal vs Wolves
Everton vs Brighton
Newcastle vs Southampton
Nottingham vs Bournemouth
West Ham vs Aston Villa
Valencia vs Barcelona
Genoa vs Inter
Parma vs Fiorentina
Milan vs Torino
Nacional vs Sporting CP
Benfica vs Casa Pia
Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart
Saudi Super Cup Final
Goztepe vs Fenerbahce
Gimnasia La Plata vs River Plate
Sunday, August 18
Brentford vs Crystal Palace
Chelsea vs Man City
Real Sociedad vs Rayo Vallecano
Mallorca vs Real Madrid
Lazio vs Venezia
Cagliari vs Roma
Rennes vs Lyon
Boca Juniors vs San Lorenzo
Botafogo vs Flamengo
Besiktas vs Antalyaspor
Monday, August 19
Leicester vs Tottenham
Real Valladolid vs Espanyol
Villarreal vs Atlético Madrid
Juventus vs Como
Vitoria vs Cruzeiro
Tuesday, August 20
Fluminense vs Gremio
Atlético Mineiro vs San Lorenzo
Junior vs Colo-Colo
Racing vs Huachipato
Corinthians vs RB Bragantino
Lanús vs San Lorenzo
Wednesday, August 21
Young Boys vs Galatasaray
The Strongest vs Peñarol
River Plate vs Talleres Córdoba
Palmeiras vs Botafogo
Fortaleza vs Rosario Central
Medellín vs Palestino
Lanús vs LDU Quito
Thursday, August 22
Sao Paulo vs Nacional
Bolívar vs Flamengo
Belgrano vs Athletico-PR
Sportivo Ameliano vs Libertad
Cruzeiro vs Boca Juniors `
Al Nassr vs Al Raed
What are this week's must-watch games?
2024-25 Premier League season kicks off on Friday with Man United vs Fulham live at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, Universo, and fuboTV
The Premier League is finally back! The 2024-25 season kicks off this Friday, with Manchester United hosting Fulham in the opening game of the campaign. The last time these two sides met in the league at Old Trafford, the Red Devils suffered a gutting 2-1 loss, conceding the decisive goal in the final minute. Will Ten Hag's men get things underway with a win? Don't miss this clash.
Arsenal kick off Premier League title pursuit vs Wolves live this Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on USA Network and Universo
Will this finally be Arsenal's season? This is the question on everyone's mind as last season's runners-up kick off the new campaign with a home clash against Wolves. The North London giants beat Leverkusen, Lyon, and Manchester United during the preseason and will aim to keep this going on Saturday. Wolves, on the flip side, will want to get the better of Arteta's side after losing both home and away last term.
Barcelona visit Valencia, Real Madrid face Real Mallorca on Matchday 1 of the 2024-25 La Liga season live on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
La Liga kicked off on Thursday with Athletic Club's 1-1 draw with Getafe but fans eager to see Barcelona and Real Madrid in action will have to wait until the weekend. The Blaugrana visit Valencia in their opening game as Hansi Flick aims to start with a bang following the club's roller-coaster 2023-24 campaign.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, visit Mallorca on the back of their UEFA Super Cup win, with Kylian Mbappe scoring against UEFA Europa League champions Atalanta in his Los Blancos debut. Will the Frenchman score in his Spanish top-flight debut as well? Tune in to find out.
Man City commence Premier League title defense live this Monday at 11:30 a.m. ET vs Chelsea on NBC, Telemundo, USA Network
The standout game of our list takes place on Monday as reigning champions Manchester City kick off their Premier League title defense away to Chelsea. The Cityzens enter this match on the back of their FA Community Shield victory over Manchester United, beating the Red Devils on penalties following a 1-1 draw in normal time. Meanwhile, the Blues are yet to find their feet under newly-appointed head coach Enzo Maresca and will want to make amends after losing 4-2 to Pep's side during the preseason.
ESPN reveals coverage schedule for the 2024 NCAA Women's Soccer season
Fans of NCAA Women's College Soccer will be in for a real treat, as not only is the 2024 season set to get underway on August 22nd but also there will be multiple ways to both watch and livestream matches.
ESPN will be on hand to cover a massive number of soccer matches via its various platforms. The network will showcase 50 games on its TV networks, including ESPNU, ACC Network (ACCN), and SEC Network (SECN). TV coverage kicks off on Thursday, August 22nd at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) as reigning national champions and number-one ranked Florida State welcome Rice. That match will be carried on ACCN.
Meanwhile, ESPN+ (alongside SEC Network+ and ACC Network Extra) will be live-streaming more than 2,000 women's soccer games from 20 conferences, and that includes more than 100 conference championship matches as well. A wide range of conference matches will be included (both within the conferences themselves as well as against other conferences).
Key aspects of ESPN and its platforms' coverage include:
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A total of 17 conference tournament matches will be carried on ESPN's various platforms, while 33 out of 50 regular-season matches on ESPN's platforms include at least one ranked team.
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ACC Network will cover 28 matches during the 2024 season. This includes four ACC Tournament matches, and 16 out of the 24 regular season matches on ACC Network will involve at least one ranked team.
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SEC Network will cover 26 matches, including the whole SEC Soccer Tournament. In addition, nine out of the 15 regular season matches on SEC Network will involve at least one ranked team.
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ESPNU will cover 11 matches during the regular season, plus the American and ACC Tournament Championship games played in November.
*Click here for a full breakdown of ESPN's coverage of the 2024 NCAA Women's College Soccer Season
TV Schedules and Streaming Info for CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo - August 15-19, 2024
The 2024-25 season is already underway, and some of the top games to follow will be available on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo, which will provide extensive coverage this weekend.
Both media outlets will keep fans glued to their TV sets and mobile devices with over 10 games taking place in different regions of the globe. Luckily, the network's offer will include competitions such as the Italian Serie A, the EFL Championship, Liga MX Femenil, and the EFL League One for all fans in the U.S. to enjoy.
Keep an eye on everything the network will offer this week and in the coming days, as there will be more competitions being added to the programming of these platforms, especially from CBS, who will be making history with a very special broadcast involving Serie A soon.
*Have a look at what CBS Sports Network has scheduled for this week here
TV Schedules for ESPN Deportes and Streaming info for ESPN+: August 14-19, 2024
Many soccer leagues and tournaments are already underway, which is why it is wise to keep track of everything ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes will be covering in the next few days.
There will be quite a few fixtures to follow both on linear TV and on the streaming platform, but out of those, the most appealing to watch will be the first games in the 2024-25 La Liga season. Starting on Thursday, the Spanish top-flight will be covered in style by ESPN Deportes, with all ten games available to watch on linear TV up until Monday.
This will not be the only top European competition being covered by the channel and the streaming service, as the DFB Pokal, the DFL Supercup, and the Eredivisie will all be included on ESPN+'s grid. Teams such as Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig will be playing this weekend and have their matches covered on the streaming platform.
*Here is the list of games being covered by ESPN Deportes
TV and Streaming Schedules for NBC, Universo, and Peacock: August 16-19, 2024
One of the top leagues in the world will start this weekend, and all details related to its coverage will be handled by NBC and its sister networks.
The network will begin covering everything related to the top domestic competition in the world starting on Friday, with Manchester United and Fulham kicking things off at Old Trafford. Manchester United get to this game after losing the FA Community Shield clash after penalties, which will make it even more interesting in case they want to bounce back in style. The opening match will be aired on USA Network.
If that was not enough to get everyone excited about the start of the competition, Chelsea and Manchester City will be the protagonists of the most interesting game of Matchday 1. That clash will be covered by NBC and USA Network on Sunday in a game that should attract quite a few fans from all over the U.S.
Additionally, the network will also include USL Super League matches to expand its coverage across the U.S., this time with Peacock offering coverage of that competition.
*Here are the games being covered by NBC this weekend.
Biggest stories
Pochettino agrees to become US national team coach: reports
Mauricio Pochettino has agreed terms to become the new coach of the United States national team, according to multiple reports on Thursday.
The Athletic and ESPN reported that unnamed sources confirmed Pochettino, who parted ways with English Premier League side Chelsea in May, would replace Gregg Berhalter as boss.
Pochettino, 52, would arrive as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.
Pochettino left Chelsea after finishing sixth in the Premier League in his only season in charge, after previous stints with Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham. Read more…
PFA Player of the Season nominees revealed as Man City dominate six-man shortlist
The PFA Players' Player of the Year nominees have been announced, and to no one's surprise, Premier League champions Manchester City dominate the six-man shortlist with three nominations.
Guardiola's side are the only team to receive more than one slot on this list, with Phil Foden, the 2023-24 EA SPORTS Player of the Season, making the cut after an outstanding campaign.
The Englishman scored 17 goals and registered an additional eight assists to help the team win a historic fourth consecutive league crown. However, he is merely one of three Manchester City players to get nominated and will face stiff competition for this gong.
Rodri, who was shockingly snubbed from the EA SPORTS Player of the Season shortlist, was one of the most influential midfielders in world football last season and could be in the running for the 2024 Ballon d'Or. The Spaniard was also named the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament after helping La Roja win the European Championship. Read more…
Huge blow for Ligue 1 as TNT Sports drops exclusive UK broadcasting rights on the eve of 2024-25 kick-off
In another huge blow to the French top-flight, TNT Sports has decided to drop its exclusive Ligue 1 broadcasting rights in the United Kingdom.
This is according to a report by World Soccer Talk that claims executives of TNT Sports, previously known as BT Sport, informed employees last week of the need for change. As a result, the sports broadcaster will not renew its deal with the "League of Talents".
TNT Sports enjoyed exclusive Ligue 1 rights until mid-May 2024, airing more than 200 top-flight matches per season thanks to this arrangement. However, this decision leaves fans in the UK without a means to catch the action live.
This bombshell dropped just days before the 2024-25 season kicks off, with Le Havre hosting defending champions PSG on Friday at 2:45 p.m. ET in the opening match.
This is just the latest chapter in what has been a tumultuous few years for the league in securing broadcasters. Read more…
Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, and Luka Modric all make history after beating Atalanta 2-0 to win UEFA Super Cup
Wednesday goes down as a historic night for Real Madrid, the manager, and one key player after the Spanish giants beat Atalanta 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup.
And with that, the Spanish champions made history. The Madrid giants entered this fixture equal with Barcelona and AC Milan as the most successful clubs in UEFA Super Cup history with five each. However, Wednesday's win sees Real Madrid move ahead of their domestic and continental rivals.
Ancelotti also made history in this fixture. Not only did he overtake Pep Guardiola as the most successful manager in the UEFA Super Cup after winning it for a sixth time, but the Italian also became Real Madrid's joint-most successful manager in history.
Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup crown was Carlo's 14th title at Santiago Bernabeu, seeing him move level with Miguel Muñoz as the Blancos boss with the most trophies. Read more…
Date reportedly set for Man City hearing for 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules
A key update has been revealed in Manchester City's unprecedented battle with the Premier League over alleged financial breaches. According to the Times, the hearing is set to begin as early as next month.
The Cityzens were charged with 115 breaches, ranging from failure to provide accurate financial information to concealing payments made by the owner as sponsorship revenue. These alleged breaches are said to have occurred between 2009 and 2018.
The hearing, previously thought to be scheduled for November, has reportedly been brought forward and is now scheduled to commence in mid to late September, bar further legal delays.
ESPN writes that it will commence on September 16. Additionally, the proceedings will last 10 weeks, meaning a verdict should be reached early next year and could be announced as early as January. Read more…
Three arrested, fourth wanted after teen star Yamal's father stabbed
Three people have been arrested and a fourth is wanted after a knife attack on the father of young Spanish football star Lamine Yamal in Catalonia, local police told AFP Thursday.
The attack took place at 1910 GMT on Wednesday in a car park in the Catalan town of Mataro, around 30 kilometers from Barcelona, in the Rocafonda neighborhood where Lamine Yamal is from, said a spokesman for the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Catalan regional police force.
Yamal's father Mounir Nasraoui was stabbed several times the police said, and is being treated at the Can Ruti hospital. The player's father could not be reached by AFP for comment.
Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reported late Wednesday that Nasraoui was in a serious but stable condition, citing sources close to the victim. Read more…
Spurs suspend Bissouma over laughing gas video
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said midfielder Yves Bissouma has been suspended for Monday's trip to Leicester after he was seen inhaling laughing gas in a video on social media.
The 27-year-old has since apologized for what he described as a "severe lack of judgment".
Possession of nitrous oxide - also known as laughing gas - for recreational use has been a criminal offense in the United Kingdom since 2023 and can result in a two-year prison sentence for repeat offenders.
"We've suspended him for Monday's game," said Postecoglou at his pre-match press conference on Thursday. Read more…
Marta admits Olympic final "probably" her last game for Brazil
Brazil legend Marta admitted Saturday that defeat in the Olympic women's football final against the United States was likely her last ever appearance for her country after a remarkable career.
"In the Olympic Games (yes) and probably in official competition," the 38-year-old said when the question was put to her after Brazil's 1-0 defeat in the gold medal match in Paris.
"I don't think you will see me again at the World Cup. I don't know what might happen or what the plans of the national team are, but my plans are to keep contributing to the team in some way because this is my life."
Her comments come after there had been some suggestions she could try to continue representing her country on the pitch until the next World Cup in 2027, which Brazil will host. Read more…
Other headlines from the world of soccer
Pop star Sheeran purchases minority stake in Premier League Ipswich
Pop star Ed Sheeran has acquired a minority stake in Ipswich Town, the Premier League football club announced Thursday.
The 33-year-old English singer-songwriter, a lifelong fan of the team, has taken a 1.4 percent stake in the club, having been a shirt sponsor of both Ipswich men's and women's teams since 2021. Continue reading…
Man Utd "not ready: for Premier League start, says Ten Hag
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag said his side are "not ready" for the start of the Premier League season on Friday, but is hoping new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui can bed in quickly.
United open the English top-flight campaign at home to Fulham with Ten Hag in need of a fast start after finishing eighth last season. Continue reading…
German stalwart Reus rolls into LA Galaxy
Former Borussia Dortmund and Germany midfielder Marco Reus has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to play for LA Galaxy, the Major League Soccer side announced on Thursday.
Reus, 35, was a free agent after leaving Dortmund at the end of last season, playing his final game in the Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid. Continue reading…
