Top games to watch this weekend
Friday
Puebla vs. Pumas UNAM (Liga MX)
Monaco vs. Nice (Ligue 1)
Corinthians vs. Botafogo (Brasileiro)
Al Nassr vs. Al Ahli (Saudi Pro League)
Saturday
Man City vs. Nottingham (English Premier League)
Burnley vs. Manchester Utd (English Premier League)
Barcelona vs. Celta de Vigo (La Liga)
Bayern vs. Bochum (Bundesliga)
Borussia Dortmund vs. Wolfsburg (Bundesliga)
Porto vs. Gil Vicente (Primeira Liga)
Brest vs. Lyon (Ligue 1)
Cincinnati vs. Charlotte (MLS)
Philadelphia Union vs. Los Angeles FC (MLS)
Minnesota United vs. St. Louis City (MLS)
Tigres UANL vs. Monterrey (Liga MX)
Sunday
Ajax vs. Feyenoord (Eredivisie)
Arsenal vs Tottenham (English Premier League)
Chelsea vs. Aston Villa (English Premier League)
Liverpool vs. West Ham (English Premier League)
Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid (La Liga)
Empoli vs Inter (Serie A)
Bologna vs. Napoli (Serie A)
Portimonense vs. Benfica (Primeira Liga)
PSG vs. Marseille (Ligue 1)
Toluca vs. América (Liga MX)
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami (MLS)
USA vs. South Africa (Women's Friendly)
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: September 11-17, 2023
The viewership numbers for soccer matches aired in the USA for the week of September 11 to September 17 are in, with the three most-watched fixtures coming courtesy of Spanish-language network Univision.
Liga MX continued to flex its muscles as the Mexican top flight secured two slots on the podium, with the Súper Clásico derby between Club America and Guadalajara taking the no.1 spot. A whopping 1.3 million average viewers tuned in to Univision alone to watch the Eagles thrash their bitter rivals 4-0. An additional 303,000 average viewers flocked to TUDN to follow this fixture, showing its popularity in the United States.
The other Liga MX tie to make the top three is Monterrey's 3-1 victory over Leon, which earned Univision 732,000 average viewers. Sandwiched between these two fixtures is the Mexican national team's friendly with Uzbekistan, which ended in a 3-3 draw. This tie garnered a whopping 1,285,00 average viewers.
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?
Al Nassr (6th) vs. Al Ahli (5th) live this Friday at 2 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Plus
Matchday 7 in the Saudi Pro League wraps up on Friday, with Cristiano's Al Nassr taking on Roberto Firmino's Al Ahli in one of four fixtures scheduled for this day. The hosts enter this clash on the back of their 2-0 win over Iranian side Persepolis in the AFC Champions League, and while Ronaldo did not score in that game, the Portuguese icon will be looking to guide his team to victory in what is a weekend in Saudi.
Barcelona (2nd) vs. Celta de Vigo (16th) live this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, and the ESPN App
Barcelona return to action following back-to-back 5-0 wins over Real Betis in La Liga and Antwerp in the UEFA Champions League. Next up for the reigning Spanish giants is a home clash with Celta de Vigo as the visitors aim to climb up the table. However, getting points against Xavi's high-flying side will be easier said than done.
Arsenal (4th) vs. Tottenham (2nd) live this Sunday at 9 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock
The standout game of this weekend is the North London Derby as Arsenal and Tottenham prepare to lock horns at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners enter this clash on the back of their impressive 4-0 win over PSV in the UEFA Champions League, marking their return to this competition with a brilliant result. Spurs, meanwhile, were not in action during the midweek but should be high on confidence following their dramatic 2-1 triumph over Sheffield. Don't miss this clash.
Liverpool (3rd) vs. West Ham (6th) live this Sunday at 9 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock
From one Premier League game to another, Liverpool host West Ham in what should be a thrilling encounter. Both sides are in the UEFA Europa League and enjoyed lovely comeback victories on Thursday. Furthermore, both teams have begun the Premier League season well and should fancy their odds of winning. Tune in to Peacock to catch this showdown.
Atlético Madrid (7th) vs. Real Madrid (1st) live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, and the ESPN App
The Madrid Derby is back! Will Atletico become the first team to halt Real Madrid this season? Los Blancos currently boast a perfect record, winning every game so far this campaign. Simeone's men, on the other hand, have played a game less but still boast only two wins and are thus in seventh. However, form typically goes out the window whenever a heated derby such as the Madrid Derby comes around.
PSG (5th) vs. Marseille (3rd) live this Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET on beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español
This weekend sees the return of another iconic derby as PSG prepare to host Marseille in Le Classique. This tie comes at an interesting time as the two teams are not in a great spot right now. The visitors are third in the table but have been underwhelming and have undergone an early managerial change. The reigning French champions, meanwhile, are in fifth and stumbled to a 3-2 defeat at home to Nice in their last outing.
This weekend in women's soccer
This week will not see many of the top women's soccer leagues in action, but there are still matches to tune in for fans of women's football.
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 21st to September 24th
NCAA
The week kicks off with plenty of NCAA action as the 2023 season continues. 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.
UEFA Women's Nations League
The inaugural UEFA Women's Nations League gets underway this week. A total of 51 teams from across UEFA will be taking part in this event, and the action will commence with Israel and Armenia, who are in Group C4, locking horns on Thursday, September 21st.
Friday will be a packed schedule, with key games including Sweden, who finished third at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, facing newly-crowned World Cup winners Spain, as well as two other big games starring World Cup runners-up England taking on Scotland, and heavyweights France battling Portugal.
On Saturday, it will certainly be a tense affair as the Republic of Ireland face Northern Ireland. Check out our dedicated UEFA Women's Nations League competition page for key games, broadcast details, kick-off times, and more.
Friendlies
Here are some of the key friendlies taking place between September 21st and September 24th:
USA vs. South Africa (doubleheader)
Interestingly, the USWNT will play South Africa twice over the next few days. The first meeting took place on Thursday, September 21st, while the second will happen on Sunday, September 24th. For the Stars and Stripes, this will be their first matches following their humiliating early exit at this summer's World Cup, and the first games for interim boss Twila Kilgore following Vlatko Andonovski's departure earlier this summer.
Fans in the USA will have a wide range of options to follow these two games, both on TV and via live streaming. Here's how you can tune into the USWNT's game on Sunday.
Japan vs Argentina
Japan experienced disappointment at this summer's World Cup, where, despite an excellent start, they were ultimately knocked out by Sweden during the quarterfinals. They will hope to get back to winning ways in their first international friendly prior to taking part in Olympics qualifiers within the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the upcoming event next year. To date, Japan have never lost to Argentina, with four wins and a draw from their past five meetings.
Top news in women's soccer
Spain's players agree to end boycott after threat of legal action against them
Just when people had thought that the drama surrounding Spain had finally ended following their win at the Women's World Cup, things appeared to flare up once again. That's despite Jorge Vilda being forced out and former player Montse Tome making history as the first female coach to lead La Roja.
Indeed, many players were still not satisfied with these changes and quite a few made it clear that they would boycott being picked until further issues were resolved within the national team set-up. Now, under the threat of legal action being taken including fines and disqualification for up to five years, many have decided to show up for international duty. Still, all clearly is not well, with two players - Mapi Leon and Patri Guijjaro - reportedly leaving the team camp due to personal issues, and it will remain to be seen whether this chaos behind the scenes will have any impact as Spain prepare to take part in their first ever Nations League campaign this month.
Didn't find your favorite women's league on this list? No worries, as this is just a highlight of some of the exciting games coming up this week. Make sure to check out our special women's soccer page here at LiveSoccerTV.com for full broadcast info, match updates, news, and more.
Major League Soccer: Preview, news, and broadcast details for matchday 34
The 2023 MLS playoffs are not too far away, meaning that every single game between now and then will be that much more decisive for the teams hoping to feature in the post-season tournament.
Here's all you need to know ahead of matchday 34 in MLS.
How to watch Matchday 34 in the 2023 MLS season
Matchday 34 gets underway on Saturday, September 22nd. Atlanta United, who ended Inter Miami's unbeaten streak two rounds ago, will hope that their strong home form will help them pick up maximum points when Montreal come to town. The hosts have scored a very impressive 57 goals so far this season, making their attack among the strongest in the league, and also will look to exploit Montreal's poor away record that has seen them win just two of their last 14 matches.
Meanwhile, Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati will hope to end their three-match winless streak when they host 12th-placed Charlotte on Saturday. Despite failing to win their last three games, Pat Noonan's side already have secured a playoff berth thanks to their comfortable nine-point lead over the chasing pack. Still, despite the huge gap between the two sides, Charlotte could pose a stern test, as they have lost just one of their last 11 games.
New York City will look to heap more misery on floundering Toronto as they also hope to make a very late push for a playoff berth. Given that Toronto have won just four games all season, and come into this match having lost 4-0 to Inter Miami last time out, and have yet to win a single road game, this will present a great chance for the hosts to pick up a crucial three points this weekend.
Inter Miami will look to continue their scramble to grab a spot in the playoffs as they travel to face Orlando on Sunday. Although they have climbed up into the 13th spot following their 4-0 win over Toronto, Gerardo Martino's men still have a lot of work to do and have been dealt a potentially devastating blow with injuries to Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba coming into this contest. Meanwhile, Orlando, who sit in second spot, have been in excellent form this season, and have just lost three of their last 20 games.
Some fans, especially those in the USA will be able to follow some of these games on TV or via live streaming, with Fox Sports 1, Foxsports.com, Fox Deportes, Sling TV, and FuboTV offering coverage of some matches while Sirius XM also provides coverage via the radio. However, for those who can't access MLS games via TV or prefer a more flexible option, MLS Season Pass offers live streaming of MLS matches in over 100 countries worldwide.
Top news of the week in Major League Soccer
Huge worry for Inter Miami as Messi and Alba looking set to miss clash against Orlando
Inter Miami have been dealt a huge blow due to injuries to key players Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, both of whom were subbed off during their team's recent win over Toronto. Despite the duo exiting in the first half, the Herons were still able to cruise to a 4-0 win against Toronto to rise to the 13th spot in the table. However, there are major worries as to whether either will be able to play on Sunday against Orlando, a team who sit in second spot and have lost just three of their last 20 matches. Recent reports indicate that both Messi and Alba will not feature in Sunday's game, and it will be very interesting to see how the Herons cope in their absence.
Can the Red Bulls stage a late rally to qualify for the playoffs?
So far, the New York Red Bulls have featured in every single post-season playoff tournament for the last 13 years. No club have consistently qualified more consecutive times, but things have gone from bad to worse for one of MLS's oldest clubs. At the moment, they have slipped to the 14th spot, and are only propped up from the bottom of the table by Toronto. The Red Bulls come into their upcoming game against DC United having earned just two points from their last five games and will be taking on an opponent who are fighting tooth and nail to also earn a coveted berth in this season's post-season playoff competition.
Make sure to check out our special Major League Soccer page here at LiveSoccerTV.com for full broadcast info, match updates, news, and more.
Biggest stories of the week
Lazio snatch win away from Atlético thanks to last minute goal...by their goalkeeper!
Once again, Atlético Madrid seemed to have everything under control to claim their first win of the season in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, but they managed to drop the ball thanks to the least probable player on the pitch who could score: Lazio's goalkeeper.
Los Colchoneros handled the lead properly for over 45 minutes, and when things got complicated, their defense emerged victorious despite the hosts' efforts. A corner kick was called for Lazio in the dying seconds of the match, and goalie Ivan Provedel joined those in attack to help out.
The outcome? A heart-breaking moment for Los Colchoneros and a day to remember for Le Aquile. The shot-stopper did his part in front of goal, but also between the sticks. Provedel saved four shots from Atlético's players to keep Lazio in contention for a point, which would eventually go their way thanks to his header.
Onana issues apology following 4-3 loss to Bayern
It takes courage to admit a costly mistake, and at least with his actions after the game, Andre Onana deserves some credit.
The goalkeeper from Cameroon requested to speak to the media right after Manchester United's 4-3 loss to Bayern, where he had a major role due to an awful mistake. Onana's performance was far from what the team expected, which caused him to pin a big part of this loss on himself.
At one point, the African goalie added that his team deserved more from this tie, but his costly mistake for Bayern's opener played a huge hand in their defeat against the Bundesliga champions. Before the interview concluded, Onana praised his teammates for their drive and determination, which saw the game ending 4-3 despite his shaky performance.
CBS Sports reveals coverage plans for U.S. Open Cup final on Sept.27
The anticipated title match in the U.S. Open Cup will be covered thoroughly by CBS Sports, with the network offering details of their in-depth coverage for the clash between Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and the Houston Dynamo, led by Héctor Herrera.
The network which has established itself as the English-language home of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, will keep fans informed of all things surrounding the match with on-site studio coverage, which will be available on CBS Sports Network and also via Paramount+ on September 27.
For this game, the network has planned a live 90-minute pre-match preview right from the field of DRV PNK Stadium. The clash is expected to kick off at exactly 8:30 p.m. ET, with Inter Miami trying to win their second title since Messi's arrival and Houston trying to replicate their win from 2018. The network will also feature the second-screen "Star Cam" experience, which will focus on Lionel Messi's antics during the game.
England reaches agreement with FA following impressive World Cup showing
Although they were not able to bring it home, England made the country proud following their historic run to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup finals in Australia. That came a year after the Lionesses won their first-ever major international title during the re-scheduled UEFA Women's EURO 2022 competition, but behind the scenes, there were tense discussions about how the players should be compensated.
Indeed, as the team flew to Australia and New Zealand for the competition, they did not hide their frustrations with the FA concerning their bonus structure, but put that behind them to firmly focus on making a run to the World Cup final.
Now that the dust has settled, it appears that both sides have come to a resolution. Prior to the competition, reports indicated that FIFA had allocated approximately $184,000 (£150,000) for each player should they reach the final, but the players were seeking an additional bonus of approximately $123,000 (£100,000) on top of this amount from the FA.
Messi dubious about real chances of playing 2026 World Cup
Fans may want Messi to keep on playing forever, and even if he wanted to, he cannot promise he will make it to one more FIFA World Cup with La Albiceleste.
The Argentine ace, who won the 2022 edition with his national team, shared his doubts on how possible it would be for him to play the tournament in 2026. Speaking in an interview with Migue Granados, "La Pulga" admitted that he plans to weigh in on his health and other issues before making a final ruling on whether he will be around to defend the 2022 title with La Albiceleste in approximately three years.
"I don't know if I will be able to play in the next World Cup. I try not to think about it because it is still very far away," Messi stated.
Klopp wins record 50th European tie but "everybody will hate it"
Klopp changed his entire team for the opening game of the Europa League group stage away to LASK and, despite falling behind, Liverpool won 3-1. That victory broke a tie for most European victories with Rafa Benitez who won 49 games between 2004 and 2010 and, like Klopp, led the club to a Champions League title.
The victory put Liverpool top of Group E which also contains Union Saint-Gilloise and Toulouse who drew on Thursday.
"Let me say it like this, if I still have 50 after the group stage, then even if I've still got the most wins in Europe as a Liverpool manager then everybody will hate that," he said.
"It's nice," he added. "We have played a lot of games in Europe, but it is good we have won that many and we have frequently qualified for finals."
Perisic could miss rest of Premier League season with knee injury
Tottenham forward Ivan Perisic is expected to miss the rest of the Premier League season after suffering a serious knee injury in training.
Spurs confirmed on Wednesday that the Croatia international had sustained a "complex anterior cruciate ligament injury" to his right knee.
Perisic played a key role off the bench in Tottenham's dramatic 2-1 win over Sheffield United last weekend with an assist on his 50th appearance, but the severity of his injury could mean it is his final appearance for the club.
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Ronaldo helps Al Nassr to historic Asia Cup win in Iran
Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a winning debut in the Asian Champions League as he helped Al Nassr to a 2-0 victory against 10-man Persepolis in Iran on Tuesday night. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who has five UEFA Champions League titles to his name, captained the Saudi Arabian side to an opening three points in Group E.
"Why not?": Tuchel backs Nagelsmann amid Germany job rumors
Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel on Tuesday backed the rumored appointment of the man he replaced in the dugout, Julian Nagelsmann, for the Germany job. German media reported earlier on Tuesday that Nagelsmann was on the verge of being named coach of the men's national team following the sacking of Hansi Flick, just nine months out from Germany hosting the European Championship.
"Why not?," said Tuchel, speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Bayern's Champions League match against Manchester United on Wednesday, when asked about Nagelsmann's possible appointment.
