Which matches and tournaments can football fans watch after the World Cup?
Following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which featured 48 nations and 104 matches, football fans can anticipate several major competitions including the Women's AFCON, UEFA Super Cup, Champions League, and domestic leagues resuming in August and September.
With the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup—the largest edition in the tournament's history with 48 participating nations, 104 matches, and 308 goals scored—the football calendar will shift focus to club and continental competitions. Within weeks, European leagues will resume operations, accompanied by player transfers and managerial announcements.
The immediate post-World Cup period will feature several significant fixtures. Morocco will host the Women's AFCON in 2026, opening against Kenya. Nigeria will attempt to defend their title from the previous year, while Ghana, Zambia, and Malawi are considered strong contenders. The UEFA Super Cup 2026, scheduled for August 12 in Salzburg, Austria, will pit Paris Saint-Germain against Aston Villa, with PSG seeking to retain the trophy they won in 2025 and Aston Villa aiming to add another European honor under manager Unai Emery.
The Champions League will commence in mid-September with 36 teams competing, with the league stage draw occurring on August 27 in Nyon, Switzerland. Twenty-nine teams secured their spots from the previous season, while seven will qualify through a preliminary round. The English Premier League, widely followed globally, begins less than a month after the World Cup, with defending champions Arsenal hosting Coventry City on August 21. La Liga will also resume, with Barcelona and Real Madrid—the latter welcoming back World Cup stars including Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham—among the featured clubs.
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