The 2025–26 football season is here, and for many fans, it feels like it never left. The Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and Serie A all kick off this month, bringing fresh signings, new managers, and heavyweight clashes from the start. Fans are already buzzing with kit rankings, fantasy football dilemmas, and grumbles about the “no summer” schedule.
Premier League action begins Friday, Aug. 15, with Liverpool hosting Bournemouth. Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United on Sunday is the standout fixture, while promoted Sunderland, Leeds, and Burnley add new intrigue.
Liverpool’s record signing Florian Wirtz and Arsenal’s new striker Viktor Gyökeres are among the summer’s biggest arrivals. Manchester City added creative spark Rayan Cherki, and Everton embark on a new era at their waterfront stadium after 132 years at Goodison Park.
La Liga starts Aug. 15, when Rayo Vallecano face Girona in Madrid. A couple hours later, Villarreal welcome newly promoted Real Oviedo in the first match, while champions Barcelona travel to Mallorca in Hansi Flick’s second season. Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid open at home to Osasuna. The title race has a fresh edge, with Flick’s high press at Barcelona set against Alonso’s youth-focused rebuild in Madrid.
A central talking point is the planned Villarreal vs Barcelona match in Miami on Dec. 20, approved by Spain‘s football federation and awaiting UEFA and FIFA sign-off. Oviedo’s return after 24 years has revived Asturian pride.
Ligue 1 also kicks off Aug. 15 with Rennes vs Marseille, followed by PSG’s trip to Nantes. PSG arrive as treble winners, fresh from their first Champions League triumph. Monaco hope Paul Pogba and Ansu Fati can close the gap, while Marseille will pair Mason Greenwood with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in attack.
Bundesliga returns Aug. 22 with champions Bayern Munich, now in Vincent Kompany’s second season, hosting RB Leipzig. Borussia Dortmund’s trip to St. Pauli is another highlight, marking their first visit there in over a decade. Hamburg’s promotion means the return of the Hamburg derby with St. Pauli, one of Europe’s most colorful rivalries.
Bayern are still favorites, but Dortmund under Niko Kovač and Leipzig with Ole Werner will challenge hard.
Serie A begins Aug. 23 with AC Milan hosting Cremonese and champions Napoli visiting Sassuolo. Napoli, led by Antonio Conte in his second season after delivering last year’s Scudetto, are aiming to defend their crown. At the same time, Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, and Lazio also have title ambitions. Pisa’s first top-flight season in 34 years adds a romantic subplot, with coach Alberto Gilardino promising attacking football.
Why opening weekends matter
The first week does more than set the points table. It shapes narratives, sells shirts, and sparks rivalries that last all season. From Manchester United vs Arsenal to Bayern vs Leipzig, Rennes vs Marseille, and Milan vs Inter just weeks away, August is offering no gentle start.
Football is back, the stadiums are full, and fans from Liverpool pubs to Barcelona tapas bars to Hamburg terraces are already writing the first chapter of a new season.
