What are the Most Popular Football Leagues to Bet on?

Cameroon host Comoros on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 8:00 PM local time, as the Indomitable Lions open their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign in Group G. It is the first competitive meeting between the two sides since Cameroon edged Comoros 2-1 in the Round of 16 at AFCON 2021, and David Pagou's men — who steadied the ship impressively after taking over just weeks before the 2025 finals in Morocco — will be eager to build on a tournament in which they reached the quarter-finals before falling to the hosts. The Lions qualified for the knockouts by beating Gabon and Mozambique and drawing with Côte d'Ivoire, and their comeback 1:2 win over Mozambique in Agadir, sealed by teenage striker Christian Kofane, underlined the resilience they will bring into this new 2026/2027 season cycle.

Cameroon's recent knockout pedigree was further confirmed at the start of 2026 when they eliminated South Africa in Rabat, surviving a late Bafana Bafana fightback to claim a 1:2 away victory in the Round of 16, with goals from Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane. Only a Brahim Díaz-inspired Morocco — who went on to lift the trophy — stopped their run, winning 2:0 in the quarter-finals. For the 2026/2027 season, Pagou can call on a deep squad featuring Devis Epassy in goal, Samuel Kotto, Nouhou Tolo and Tchamadeu in defence, Carlos Baleba and Arthur Avom in midfield, and an attacking unit led by Bryan Mbeumo, supported by Danny Namaso, Georges-Kévin Nkoudou, Etta Eyong and the rapidly rising Kofane.

The 2026/27 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign gets underway for D.R. Congo on Thursday, 24 September 2026, when the Leopards host Equatorial Guinea at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT). This TotalEnergies AFCON 2027 (Pamoja) first-round Group I clash pits two nations at very different moments in their trajectories: Sébastien Desabre's side arrives fresh from a historic FIFA World Cup 2026 run that saw them reach the knockout phase for the first time ever, while the Nzalang Nacional are still rebuilding after a winless AFCON 2025 in Morocco. CAF has appointed Nigerian referee Joseph Odey Ogabor to take charge of the encounter, and although doubts persisted about a possible behind-closed-doors order, Desabre is publicly counting on a packed, volcanic Stade des Martyrs to propel his team toward a winning start.

D.R. Congo's confidence is built on a memorable summer on the global stage. The Leopards battled through a demanding World Cup group and then pushed England all the way in the Round of 32 in Atlanta, where Brian Cipenga's seventh-minute opener briefly had the Three Lions on the ropes before Harry Kane's late double settled the tie at 1:2. Desabre has since renewed his squad for the 2026/27 season, calling up 13 new faces alongside established pillars such as captain Chancel Mbemba, goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in defence, with Yoane Wissa — scorer of three of Congo's four World Cup goals — leading an attack that also features Simon Banza, Meschak Elia, Nathanaël Mbuku and the emerging Cipenga. That blend of World Cup-tested steel and fresh hunger makes Kinshasa a daunting venue for any visitor.

Ivory Coast against Ghana is one of the standout Africa Cup of Nations fixtures of the 2026/2027 season, with both nations refreshing their squads after a busy summer and the Elephants looking leaner, quicker and more direct in wide areas. European odds point to a narrow home edge rather than a rout, and our prediction is a tight 1:0 win for Ivory Coast, built on defensive discipline, second-ball pressure and one clinical transition. For recent home context, see the 1:0 angle from the Norway build-up and the 1:0 reference from the Curaçao tie.

Ghana remain dangerous because their 2026/2027 squad mixes proven Championship and top-five-league experience with younger runners who can stretch a back line, but consistency in the final third is still the big question away from home. The Black Stars will likely try to slow the tempo, protect the half-spaces and attack after turnovers, yet the European odds still shade the match toward Ivory Coast when the game state becomes stretched. Their road form is captured in the 1:0 check from Colombia and the 1:0 note from the Croatia preview.

Libya host Botswana at the 11 June Stadium on Thursday, September 24, 2026, in the opening-round Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie in Group H, with both teams looking to set the tone early in a competitive 2026/2027 campaign. Libya are expected to control territory and tempo at home, while Botswana arrive after a difficult AFCON 2025 in Morocco and must quickly rediscover defensive resilience after recent defeats.

Botswana’s form guide is underlined by those recent losses: 0-3 against DR Congo, 1-0 against Benin, and 3-0 against Senegal. Those results leave the Zebras needing a cleaner shape in midfield and far better protection in transition, because conceding first would play directly into Libya’s patient home approach.

Mauritania begin their 2026/2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Thursday, 24 September 2026, as the nominal home side against Central African Republic in Group F, with kick-off listed for 16:00 GMT at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca. Amir Abdou’s Mourabitounes are under pressure to turn home advantage into an early statement before visiting Benin five days later, while Eloge Enza Yamissi’s Central African Republic arrive as underdogs yet with fresh memories of beating Mauritania 2-1 in a June 2025 friendly in the same city. The group also contains Burkina Faso and Benin, so opening points could be decisive in the race for a top-two finish and a place at AFCON 2027 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Form and context point to a tight, low-margin contest rather than a shoot-out. Mauritania’s latest reference point is the 0-1 friendly win over Niger, settled by Idrissa Thiam deep in stoppage time, a result that showed resilience but also how fine the margins are for this attack. Central African Republic’s most recent outing was the 3-0 friendly defeat by Angola, where Depú, Mabululu and Ary Papel punished defensive hesitation; before that, Les Fauves drew 1-1 with Togo and lost heavily to Ghana in World Cup qualifying. The H2H warning is clear: Central African Republic have already proved they can hurt Mauritania on Moroccan soil, even if the current squad profile and market sentiment lean toward the Mourabitounes.

Namibia host Congo on Thursday, 24 September 2026, in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations Qualification (Group G) fixture at the Botswana National Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 14:00 local time. The Brave Warriors are using Botswana as a neutral base for this 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, and head coach Collin Benjamin has already named his final squad for the double-header against Congo and Comoros, with five players plying their trade in the Botswana Premier League included in the travelling party.

These two sides know each other well from previous qualifying campaigns: Congo eased to a 3:0 win when the teams met in Brazzaville back in June 2014, while the most recent encounter, a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in September 2021, ended in a 1:1 draw — one of two stalemates in their four meetings, which are otherwise split evenly with one win apiece. On the European 1X2 market, the bookmakers make Namibia a narrow favourite at around 2.24, the draw is priced near 3.00, and Congo can be backed at roughly 3.49, reflecting just how tight this group opener is expected to be.

Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe open their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns on Thursday, 24 September 2026, in a Group E clash staged in Morocco. The Leone Stars come into this fixture after a mixed run of results, including a narrow defeat to Liberia and a dramatic penalty-shootout loss to Azerbaijan earlier this year, while Zimbabwe's Warriors arrive under new head coach Ramón Catalá, who has already warned his players to expect a tough, physical encounter. The Warriors' most recent outings underline how competitive this tie could be: they fell to Nigeria in May, a 2 - 0 defeat on the road, edged India 1-0 in a friendly, and beat Zambia 1-0 in March, results that suggest a well-organized but occasionally blunt attacking unit.

For Zimbabwe, the pain of the 2025 AFCON group stage still lingers, as they were eliminated after a heartbreaking 3 - 2 loss to South Africa in their final group game, preceded by a hard-fought 1 - 1 draw with Angola. That experience of competitive tournament football may prove decisive, although Sierra Leone will feel confident at home conditions in Morocco, having beaten Ethiopia 2-0 and Djibouti 2-1 during the World Cup qualifying campaign. Both nations know that a positive start is vital in a group that also contains DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea, and neither side can afford a slip on matchday one.

Tunisia host Uganda on Thursday 24 September 2026 at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group H match, with the Carthage Eagles aiming to reset after a winless World Cup group stage that included 1-3 and 0-4 defeats plus a heavy loss to Sweden. Tunisia’s 2026/2027 squad core is expected to feature Aymen Dahmen or Mouhib Chamakh in goal, Dylan Bronn, Montassar Talbi, Omar Rekik, Ali Abdi and Yan Valery in defence, Ellyes Skhiri, Hannibal Mejbri and Anis Ben Slimane in midfield, and Elias Achouri, Elias Saad, Sebastian Tounekti and Firas Chaouat competing for attacking minutes.

Uganda arrive with a resilient but less settled 2026/2027 group built around Denis Onyango, Aziz Kayondo, Jordan Obita, Toby Sibbick, Kenneth Ssemakula, Baba Alhassan, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Travis Mutyaba, Allan Okello, Rogers Mato, Denis Omedi and Uche Ikpeazu, knowing their AFCON campaign earlier ended with a 1-3 loss to Nigeria after a 1-1 draw with Tanzania. The Cranes’ route to a result is clear: stay compact, protect the central lanes, and turn set pieces or counters into one high-value chance rather than chasing possession against a technically stronger Tunisian midfield.

América de Cali host Águilas Doradas on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the Estadio Olímpico Pascual Guerrero in Cali, in a Round 12 clash of the Liga BetPlay Dimayor Finalización 2026 that pits the league leaders against a mid-table side chasing a place in the next phase. América come into this fixture top of the standings with 20 points from nine matches and an outstanding 20:5 goal difference, while Águilas Doradas sit tenth with 11 points and a 12:12 record. Historically this has been a favourable matchup for the "Diablos Rojos," who have won 11 of the last 22 meetings between the clubs, with Águilas taking just six and five ending level, and the last league encounter in March 2026 also finished in América's favour, 1-0 at the Estadio Cincuentenario.

América's recent form underlines why they are the team to beat this season: despite being held to a 1 - 1 draw away to Deportes Tolima last weekend, they remain unbeaten in their last five away matches and earlier demolished Deportivo Pereira 4 - 1, one of several emphatic home wins at the Pascual Guerrero this campaign. Águilas Doradas, coached with their trademark compact 4-2-3-1, arrive in Cali after a string of tight results, including a 1 - 1 draw at home to Llaneros and a 2-2 stalemate with Internacional de Bogotá, and they will lean heavily on forward Jorge Rivaldo, their top scorer, to trouble a defence that has kept the most clean sheets in the division.

Atlético FC host Cuenca Juniors on 24 September 2026 in Round 5 of the LigaPro Serie B Promotion Group, in one of the most evenly matched fixtures of this year's promotion race. Atlético FC, the ambitious Guayaquil-based project backed by Atlético de Madrid, have been one of the stories of the 2026 season, pushing for a place in the top-flight playoff spots, while Cuenca Juniors arrive sitting just behind them in the standings after a solid campaign. The most recent meeting between the sides, on 24 July 2026, ended in a goalless draw, and with Atlético FC coming off a narrow 1-0 win over LDU Portoviejo and Cuenca Juniors beating San Antonio 1-0 in their last outing, another tight, low-scoring contest is expected at the Estadio Christian Benítez Betancourt.

The home side will rely heavily on the experience of veteran striker Fidel Martínez, the headline name of Atlético FC's 2026/2027 squad, supported by forwards such as Jacson Pita, Darlin Leiton, Diney Ramírez, Job Belizaire and Denilson Ovando, a midfield marshalled by Dennys Quiñónez, Wilmer Godoy, Joseph Espinoza and Santiago Zamora, and a defence featuring Gorman Estacio, Ramiro Ríos, Chris Briones and Jhonier Estrada, with Leandro Medranda or Jhon Mero in goal under coach Carlos Santamarina. Atlético FC's recent form underlines their defensive solidity: since edging past 22 de Julio by 0-1 in June, they have kept clean sheets in draws with Independiente Juniors and Cuenca Juniors, and followed up with a 3-0 win over El Nacional and a 4-1 victory against San Antonio before the 1-0 defeat of LDU Portoviejo.

Andorra host Malta on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the Estadi de la FAF in Encamp, as the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League gets under way with a League D Group D1 opener that also features Gibraltar. The two sides know each other well: their recent head-to-head record reads two Maltese wins and two draws, so Andorra are still chasing their first victory in this fixture. The hosts come into the campaign in reasonable spirits after edging Liechtenstein 2 : 1 in a June friendly, while Malta's most recent competitive outings ended in a narrow defeat in Luxembourg 1 : 0 and a hard-fought home success over the same opponents 2 : 1 last March.

Andorra's squad for the 2026/27 season remains built around a compact, experienced core, with long-serving figures such as Marc Rebés, Christian Garcia and Francisco Pires expected to anchor the spine of the team. Manager Koldo Álvarez has retained the disciplined 5-4-1 shape that has made La Tricolor difficult to break down at home in the Nations League, relying on a low defensive block, aggressive pressing in wide areas and quick counters through the wing-backs. With no major injury concerns reported in the build-up, Andorra are expected to field their strongest available XI as they look to set the tone at home before trips to Malta and Gibraltar later in the campaign.

Austria kick off their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign on Thursday, September 24, 2026, when they host Israel at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz (20:45 CET) in Group B3, which also features the Republic of Ireland and Kosovo. Ralf Rangnick's side arrive with valuable big-match experience from the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer, where they advanced from a tough Group J before their run ended against the eventual champions, Spain, in a 3-0 round-of-32 defeat at SoFi Stadium. Before that, Austria showed real resilience in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Algeria that sealed their knockout place on goal difference, and they pushed defending champions Argentina hard in a narrow 2-0 group-stage loss in which only a record-breaking Lionel Messi brace separated the sides.

Israel, meanwhile, come into this fixture after a busy summer of their own, having earned a hard-fought 1-0 friendly win away to Albania on June 3 — a result that underlined their ability to grind out results on the road, even if they will be clear underdogs in Linz. Austria's 2026/27 Nations League squad sees Rangnick blend his trusted World Cup core with fresh faces: goalkeepers Lukas Jungwirth, Alexander Schlager, Florian Wiegele and Christian Zawieschitzky are joined in camp by defenders David Affengruber and Felix Bacher, while captain David Alaba, Marko Arnautović and Marcel Sabitzer remain the experienced spine of the team. Israel's traveling squad will rely on their compact defensive shape and quick transitions, but they have historically struggled against top-tier European pressing sides like Rangnick's gegenpressing machine.

Kosovo host the Republic of Ireland in the opening round of the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, with kick-off set for 19:45 UK time (20:45 local). This is the first ever competitive meeting between the two nations, and it arrives at a poignant moment for the hosts, who fell just short of reaching their first ever FIFA World Cup after a heroic March campaign. Franco Foda's men edged a seven-goal thriller away to Slovakia in the play-off semi-finals before their dream was ended by Türkiye, who won 0-1 in Pristina to reach the tournament for the first time since 2002. Ireland's own play-off story ended in heartbreak too, a 2-2 draw with Czechia followed by a 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat, so both sides enter this new campaign carrying the scars of March but determined to build fresh momentum in League competition.

The visitors will be wary of Kosovo's attacking firepower, having watched the Balkan side twice come from behind to stun Slovakia 3-4 in Bratislava in one of the most dramatic play-off ties in recent memory, a result that showcased the counter-attacking threat of Vedat Muriqi, Fisnik Asllani and Florent Muslija. Ireland, meanwhile, showed encouraging signs under Heimir Hallgrímsson during the summer friendly series against Grenada, Qatar and Canada, and they will aim to be far more compact than the Slovakian side that was carved open in March. Kosovo's strong home record — seven wins and two draws from their last ten matches on their own patch before the Türkiye setback — suggests Ireland face a tough assignment on the road, with Hallgrímsson's men having won just one of their previous five away fixtures.

Liechtenstein host Lithuania at the Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz on Thursday, 24 September 2026, in the opening match of Group D2 in the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League — a clash between two of Europe's lowest-ranked sides that kicks off the new league phase across the continent. Lithuania arrive as the clear favourites and will be expected to dominate possession, but their recent history shows how difficult it is to break down a compact Liechtenstein block, especially in front of a passionate home crowd in Vaduz.

Liechtenstein's build-up to the new campaign has been far from ideal, as they fell to a 2:0 defeat away to Andorra in their most recent friendly in June 2026, a result that highlighted their ongoing struggles in the final third. The head-to-head record between these two nations is remarkably tight: across four previous meetings, Lithuania have won twice, Liechtenstein once, and there has been one draw, with very few goals scored in each encounter — a strong indicator that this fixture rarely turns into an open, end-to-end contest.

Netherlands vs Germany headlines Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League as Group A2 kicks off on Thursday, 24 September 2026, at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam (20:45 CET). The clash brings together two of Europe's heavyweights fresh from their World Cup campaigns, and it also marks the competitive debut of Jürgen Klopp as Germany head coach. The Oranje will be out for revenge after the most recent meeting between these rivals ended 2-2 in Gelsenkirchen, where the Dutch fought back from two goals down in the dying minutes. With Serbia and Greece completing the group, neither side can afford a slow start in this congested league phase that packs four fixtures into a single extended international window.

The Netherlands squad for the 2026/27 season has been named by Ronald Koeman with some notable talking points: Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst have been left out, while Joey Veerman, Kenneth Taylor and Jeremie Frimpong return to the fold. Injury concerns remain, however, as Micky van de Ven and Frenkie de Jong are unavailable for selection. Germany's revolution under Klopp is even more radical — the former Liverpool boss unveiled an expanded 44-man pool split into two blocks for this Nations League campaign, with Marc-André ter Stegen installed as the new number-one goalkeeper, Joshua Kimmich restored to central midfield as captain, and veterans Leroy Sané and Leon Goretzka shockingly omitted. Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry and Nico Schlotterbeck remain in camp for the full two weeks as Klopp carefully manages them back from injury.

Norway vs Denmark headlines the opening round of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League Group A4 on 24 September 2026 at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, as Ståle Solbakken's side begins a demanding section that also features Portugal and Wales. The latest news from the Norwegian camp is positive: captain Martin Ødegaard and vice-captain Erling Haaland headline the 25-man squad named for the September fixtures, with Julian Ryerson and Antonio Nusa also included after Solbakken held a crunch summit with Manchester City over Haaland's availability. Denmark, coached with their trademark tactical discipline, arrive in Oslo looking to repeat their most recent meeting with Norway, a 3-1 friendly win in June 2024, but the Danes will be eager to make a statement after missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Norway come into this fixture with enormous confidence after the best year in the nation's modern history, having reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time before falling to England. Their summer run included a sensational 2-1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16, where Haaland struck twice, though they were also humbled 1-4 by France in the group stage. For the 2026/27 Nations League campaign, Solbakken can count on Ørjan Nyland in goal, a back line featuring Kristoffer Ajer, Leo Østigård and Ryerson, a midfield anchored by Sander Berge and skipper Ødegaard, and a feared attack led by Haaland — now on 62 international goals — alongside Nusa, Jørgen Strand Larsen and Oscar Bobb.

Portugal kick off their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League title defence on Thursday, September 24, 2026, when they host Wales at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon (19:45 local time) in Matchday 1 of League A Group A4. The Seleção enter a new era under Jorge Jesus, who took charge after Roberto Martínez's departure following the 2026 World Cup, where Portugal reached the Round of 16 before falling to eventual champions Spain. The Dragons, meanwhile, return to League A after earning promotion under Craig Bellamy and face an immediate step up in class against the defending Nations League champions. European odds strongly favour the hosts, with Portugal priced at 1.28 to win, the draw around 6.50, and Wales out at 12.00, reflecting the gulf in squad quality between the two sides.

The Seleção arrive in strong recent form, having conceded only three goals across their last five competitive matches at the World Cup. That run included a narrow 0-1 defeat to Spain in the knockout stage, a solid 2-1 group-stage win over Croatia, and a disciplined 0-0 draw with Colombia. Jesus has named a 25-man squad for the new campaign that blends experience with fresh faces: Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, remains involved and could lead the line, supported by Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, João Neves, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, Gonçalo Ramos, Rúben Dias and Nuno Mendes, with Samuel Soares, Nuno Tavares, João Palhinha and Fábio Silva the notable new call-ups compared to the World Cup squad.

Serbia vs Greece, UEFA Nations League 2026/27 – Group A2 (Europe): The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign kicks off in style on Thursday, 24 September 2026, as Serbia host Greece at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade (20:45 CEST). Both sides arrive with something to prove in a group that also features heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands: Serbia maintained their League A status via the play-offs with a 3-1 aggregate win over Austria, while Greece earned promotion to the elite tier for the first time in their history by beating Scotland in the promotion play-offs. With a packed Marakana expected to create a hostile atmosphere, our prediction for this opening fixture is a confident 2:0 home win for Serbia.

Serbia's 2026/27 squad, assembled by head coach Veljko Paunović for the first four Nations League fixtures, blends experience with fresh talent: captain and record scorer Aleksandar Mitrović leads the line alongside Dušan Vlahović and Luka Jović, with Sergej Milinković-Savić, Saša Lukić and Filip Kostić pulling the strings in midfield and Nikola Milenković anchoring the defence. However, the Eagles' recent form is a genuine concern — the summer friendlies brought a humbling 5-1 defeat to Mexico in Toluca and a 3-0 loss away to Spain, results that have increased the pressure on Paunović to deliver a strong start on home soil.

Caen host Rouen at Stade Michel-d'Ornano on Thursday 24 September 2026 in a France Ligue 3 early-season six-pointer, with both Norman clubs trying to turn tidy squads into a promotion push. Caen’s latest home marker was emphatic, 4-0 against Valenciennes, but the recent head-to-head is tight and their March meeting finished 1-1, so home advantage is unlikely to decide this alone.

For 2026/2027, Caen’s group is built around goalkeepers Anthony Mandréa, Yannis Clémentia and Parfait Mandanda, a defence featuring Dennis Appiah, Valentin Henry, Diabé Bolumbu, Sacha M'Baka and Nassim Titebah, and attacking names such as Fahd El Khoumisti, Ivann Botella, Armand Gnanduillet, Mohamed Hafid and Keelyan Portut. The latest team news points to Caen needing more control between the lines: when El Khoumisti and Botella get service they can stretch any Ligue 3 back line, yet dropped points against lower-block sides have kept the conversation around consistency rather than ceiling.

Rivers United host Kun Khalifa on 23 September 2026 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Round 5 clash that pits one of the title favourites against a side still searching for consistency early in the 2026/27 campaign. Finidi George's men finished runners-up last season and have carried that momentum into the new term, opening with a 2-0 win over Plateau United on 30 August, before grinding out a hard-earned away point in a 1-1 draw at Nasarawa United last weekend. Kun Khalifa, meanwhile, sit near the foot of the early standings after a goalless opening-day draw and a narrow 1-0 home defeat to an improved Barau side.

The Pride of Rivers have kept the core of the squad that pushed champions Rangers all the way last season, and their 2026/27 roster blends experience with fresh energy. Goalkeeper Ibrahim Pius anchors a defence featuring the impressive left-back Ochobi Elias, while new arrivals Chikamso Amaefula, James Ekebuike, Alex Oyowah, Ubong Williams, Imo Obot, Ekene Awazie, Blessed Iyamu, Clinton Andy and Shehu Abdulrasheed Dabai have all been integrated into Finidi George's attacking setup, with forwards Handsome Surveyor and Mbaoma Chijioke expected to lead the line. Chairman Okey Kpalukwu has publicly stated that the club's target this season is nothing less than the NPFL title, and home fixtures like this one are viewed as must-win games in that pursuit.

Seattle Sounders host Real Salt Lake at Lumen Field on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, in an MLS Western Conference fixture rescheduled from April 12 after Seattle’s Concacaf Champions Cup run. The Sounders arrive after a gritty road point in a 1-1 at LA Galaxy, while RSL’s latest away trip ended in a 2-1 defeat at Houston, leaving both sides needing a late-season spark.

Seattle’s home form has been more stable than its recent win column suggests: a 2-2 draw with Chicago Fire showed attacking promise but defensive lapses, and RSL’s 3-4 loss to FC Dallas exposed the same transition problems that have undermined Pablo Mastroeni’s 3-5-2 shape. With European odds framing Seattle around 1.78, the draw near 4.10 and RSL near 4.60, the market still respects home advantage despite both clubs sitting outside the West’s top tier.

Japan vs Uruguay is set for Thursday, 24 September 2026 in a Friendly International that arrives with both teams reshaping their 2026/2027 season squads after painful World Cup exits: Japan’s run ended in a 2-1 round-of-32 loss to Brazil, while Uruguay were knocked out after a 0-1 defeat to Spain, with Hajime Moriyasu’s side looking sharper after also taking 1-1 from Sweden and cruising past Tunisia, whereas Uruguay’s momentum was hurt by Cape Verde in a 2-2 draw and by a earlier 1-1 stalemate with Saudi Arabia.

The European odds market prices Japan as the clear favourite at about 2.20 to win in 90 minutes, with the draw near 3.62 and Uruguay around 3.55, while the total goals line sits around 2.5 with Under 2.5 generally odds-on; that valuation fits Japan’s control-oriented 2026 profile, because their 2026/2027 season core is expected to feature Zion Suzuki in goal, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ko Itakura and Hiroki Ito in defence, Wataru Endo and Ao Tanaka screening, Daichi Kamada creating, Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan providing width, Keito Nakamura drifting between lines, and Ayase Ueda leading the press, with Koki Ogawa, Kento Shiogai and Keisuke Goto pushing for minutes.

South Korea vs Ecuador is set for Thursday, September 24, 2026 at Suwon World Cup Stadium, kicking off at 20:00 local time and 12:00 BST in a Friendly International that opens a new cycle for both nations after the 2026 World Cup. For South Korea, the fixture is the first under interim coach Roberto Moreno, who took charge on September 1 and named a 30-man group featuring captain Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae and a dozen K League players as part of a four-match audition also including Uruguay, Venezuela and Uzbekistan. Ecuador arrive with their 2026/2027 spine still intact, built around Moises Caicedo, Willian Pacho, Piero Hincapié, Pervis Estupiñán, Enner Valencia, Gonzalo Plata and Kendry Páez, with speed and midfield power the clear strengths of La Tri.

The form line shows why the market is cautious despite Korea's home advantage: the Taeguk Warriors opened the World Cup by beating Czech Republic 2-1, then faded with back-to-back 1-0 defeats against Mexico and South Africa. Ecuador's tournament was similarly uneven, beginning with a stale 0-0 against Curaçao, peaking with a major 2-1 win over Germany, and ending with a 2-0 round-of-32 loss to Mexico. That combination points to a tight friendly rather than an open shootout: Korea need authority after their group-stage exit, while Ecuador will value defensive structure and quick transitions over risk.

Algeria host Zambia on Friday, 25 September 2026 at Stade Hocine Aït Ahmed in Tizi Ouzou, opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group I alongside Togo and Burundi, with Ibrahim Hamdani taking charge of the Desert Foxes for a first official test and George Lwandamina leading an interim Chipolopolo staff after Avram Grant’s departure. The European odds market makes Algeria a clear home favourite at about 1.38 for the win, the draw is priced around 4.50, and Zambia are the outsiders near 9.70, so the betting picture points to pressure on the visitors to keep the game tight rather than chase an early away goal.

Algeria’s 2026 World Cup run ended with a 2-0 round-of-32 loss to Switzerland, but before that they produced a dramatic 3-3 with Austria and a comeback 1-2 win over Jordan, showing enough attacking threat through Riyad Mahrez, Amine Gouiri, Farès Chaïbi and Ibrahim Maza to justify short home-win odds despite the defensive lessons learned against elite knockout opposition.

Burkina Faso take on Benin in a highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations clash for the 2026/2027 season, with both sides eager to lay down an early marker in their group campaign. The Stallions come into this fixture on the back of a solid unbeaten run, having fought back from two goals down to hold Belarus in a 2-2 draw in Minsk in June 2026, a result that showed real character despite a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Russia in Volgograd just days earlier. Coach Amir Abdou has kept faith with the spine of his team, and with European odds listing Burkina Faso as favourites at around 1.75 for the win, the expectations on the home side are clear.

Benin, meanwhile, arrive at this match following a memorable but demanding AFCON 2025 campaign in Morocco. The Cheetahs recorded their first-ever victory at the tournament finals when Yohan Roche's strike sealed a historic 1-0 win over Botswana in Rabat, but they were ultimately edged out by the group's heavyweights, falling 1-0 to DR Congo and then 0-3 to Senegal in their final group game. With Gernot Rohr's side priced at roughly 5.00 for victory and the draw at around 3.40, Benin will fancy their chances of frustrating their hosts on the counterattack.

Egypt vs Angola: The Pharaohs Open Their AFCON 2027 Quest in Cairo. The road to AFCON PAMOJA 2027 begins on Friday, 25 September 2026, as record seven-time African champions Egypt host Angola at Cairo International Stadium in Group B of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Kick-off is set for 19:00 GMT in front of an expected 40,000 fans, with Hossam Hassan's side looking to build on a strong 2026 that saw them reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history, although their campaign ended in heartbreak after a 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the round of 16. Angola, meanwhile, arrive under new head coach Aliou Cissé — the man who led Senegal to AFCON glory — and will be no pushovers after a confident summer that included a 3-0 friendly win over the Central African Republic.

Team News and the 2026/2027 Season Squads. Hossam Hassan has named a full-strength Egypt squad for the September window, with captain Mohamed Salah — now chasing his coach's all-time national scoring record — leading a forward line that features Omar Marmoush and Mahmoud Trezeguet, while Mohamed El Shenawy starts in goal behind a defense anchored by Mohamed Abdelmonem and Yasser Ibrahim, with Emam Ashour and Marwan Attia pulling the strings in midfield. Angola's squad for the 2026/2027 season, announced by Cissé on 19 September, blends domestic Petro de Luanda talent with European experience: Olympiacos center-back David Carmo organizes the back line, Fredy and Manuel Cafumana "Show" control midfield, and the attacking burden falls on Mabululu, Gelson Dala, Depú and Milson. These two sides know each other well — they shared a group at AFCON 2025 in Morocco, where their meeting ended in a hard-fought 0-0 stalemate, so expect another tactical battle in Cairo.

Gambia host Somalia on Friday 25 September 2026 at Independence Stadium in Bakau for a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group C qualifier, kicking off at 4:00 PM Gambian time. The Scorpions missed the 2025 finals and begin this campaign needing a fast start against an Ocean Stars side that reached the group stage for the first time in Somalia’s history after edging Mauritius on penalties, with the tie’s decisive league-phase scoreline reading 0-0 before Somalia won 4-2 in the shootout.

The latest camp news is that Johnathan McKinstry has trimmed Gambia’s preliminary 35-man list into a final 25-man squad for the September window, while Somalia have also confirmed their travelling party and landed in The Gambia on 22 September. With Group C also containing Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, this opener is effectively a must-win for the hosts if they want to control their own route to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027.

Malawi open their 2026/2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Friday, 25 September 2026, when South Sudan visit Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe for a Group B matchday-one kickoff listed at 16:00 GMT, 18:00 local time. With Egypt and Angola also in the group and no host-nation exemption, the pressure is immediate: the top two sides qualify for the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 finals, and the Flames are trying to return to the continental tournament for the first time since reaching the round of 16 in 2021.

The latest team news points to Malawi being the form side at home, while South Sudan arrive after a tense preliminary-round tie against Djibouti in which the Bright Stars advanced 4-1 on aggregate despite losing the second leg 1-0. Malawi’s own build-up has been low-scoring and control-oriented, so expect Kalisto Pasuwa’s side to value patience, set pieces and territorial pressure rather than an early shootout. The historical reference point is Malawi’s narrow 1-0 win over South Sudan in Khartoum during the previous AFCON qualifying cycle, a reminder that this fixture has often been decided by one moment rather than sustained dominance.

Mali and Cape Verde meet on September 25, 2026, at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako to open their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaigns in a decisive Group K clash. With only six matches to secure one of the top two qualifying spots, both coaches know that points dropped against a direct rival could prove costly come the final standings. Mali, coached by Anthony da Silva, qualified for AFCON 2025 in style and reached the quarter-finals, while Cape Verde arrives with fresh belief after making history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Blue Sharks advanced past the group stage in their tournament debut. Bookmakers price Mali as the home favourite at European odds of 1.98 for the win, with the draw at 3.20 and an away victory for Cape Verde at 4.00.

The Eagles have had a quiet but solid run of results leading into this fixture: they battled to a 0-0 draw away to Russia in Saint Petersburg in March, fell narrowly 0-1 to eventual champions Senegal in the AFCON quarter-finals in Tangier, and ground out a disciplined 0-0 stalemate against Comoros during the group stage in Morocco. For the 2026/2027 season, da Silva has called up a strong squad built around captain Yves Bissouma in midfield, Al-Sadd's Mohamed Camara, Braga defender Sikou Niakaté, striker Lassine Sinayoko and attacking talent Nene Dorgeles, giving Mali a blend of European top-flight experience and homegrown depth.

Morocco open their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Friday, 25 September 2026, when they host Gabon at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 local time in a Group A meeting between two of the section’s strongest names. The Atlas Lions come in after a deep 2026 World Cup run and will look to turn home advantage into an early three points, while Gabon arrive under new head coach Sebastien Migne trying to reset after a difficult AFCON 2025 and begin the road toward the 2026/2027 international season on the front foot.

Mohamed Ouahbi has named a 29-player Morocco squad for this window, with the familiar spine built around Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofyan Amrabat, Noussair Mazraoui and Yassine Bounou, but early availability news is not perfect: Azzedine Ounahi, Chadi Riad and Youssef Belammari are listed as unavailable. Morocco’s recent high-level knockout tests still underline the gap they are expected to impose on African opposition, from the 0-3 World Cup win over Canada to the 4-2 group-stage success against Haiti.

Niger will host Lesotho on September 25, 2026, in the opening matchday of Group A in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the Mena looking to kick off their campaign to reach the finals in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania on home soil. Lesotho, who booked their place in this group by edging past Seychelles in the preliminary round, make the long trip to West Africa as clear outsiders, while Niger — ranked comfortably above Likuena in the FIFA standings — are expected to control proceedings. Niger's most recent competitive outing came against Mauritania, where the Mena secured a 1-0 victory, a result that underlines their recent defensive resilience and home strength.

For the 2026/2027 season, both squads will rely on a blend of domestic-based players and professionals plying their trade abroad. Niger are expected to build around experienced campaigners such as goalkeeper Abdoulaye Sabo, midfield anchor Amadou Wonkoye, and attacking threats like Amadou Moutari and Daniel Sosah, with a core of players drawn from clubs in Niger, Egypt, Turkey and France. Lesotho, coached with a renewed focus on youth development, will lean on the likes of Sera Motebang and Lebohang Lesako — both of whom found the net in the preliminary round win over Seychelles — alongside goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane and defender Basia Makepe, as the Likuena aim to punch above their weight against one of the group's mid-tier sides.

Nigeria vs Madagascar headlines the opening night of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying on Friday, 25 September 2026, with the Super Eagles hosting the Barea at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo at 16:00 GMT. The latest team news has sharpened the picture: Madagascar have arrived in Nigeria without goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher, who was omitted from the camp, while Nigeria continue to manage major attacking questions around Victor Osimhen’s fitness before Eric Chelle finalises his 2026/2027-season group for Madagascar and the quick trip to Guinea-Bissau.

Recent form points to a clear home edge. Nigeria were beaten 2:1 by Portugal, then drew 2:2 with Poland before responding with a 2:0 win over Zimbabwe; Madagascar arrive off a heavy 4:0 defeat by Morocco, a result that exposed their difficulty when forced to defend for long spells against mobile, physical front lines.

Rwanda host Liberia at Stade Amahoro on Friday, 25 September 2026 in a AFCON PAMOJA 2027 qualifying Group K opener that matters immediately because Mali and Cape Verde are the seeded obstacles behind the two rank outsiders. Stephen Constantine has made clear that Liberia is the immediate target, with Rwanda chasing only a second AFCON appearance after 2004 and Liberia still chasing a return after 2002; the historical split is tight, Liberia won 3-2 in 2006 before Rwanda answered 4-0 in Kigali in 2007.

For the 2026/2027 squad picture, Constantine named a 26-man group captained by midfielder Djihad Bizimana, with Europe-based returns including Darryl Nganji Nkulikiyimana of Standard Liège and Leroy Mickels of Waldhof Mannheim giving Rwanda a more travelled spine. Liberia arrive under Mohammed Adil Erradi, appointed in May on a three-year deal and unusually familiar with Rwandan football after managing APR from 2019 to 2022, winning three straight league titles and building a 50-match unbeaten run.

Sudan and Ethiopia renew their long-standing rivalry on Friday, September 25, 2026, when the two sides meet at Juba Stadium in the opening round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying campaign. The match marks Sudan's first competitive fixture on home soil since their appearance at the AFCON 2025 finals earlier this year, where Kwesi Appiah's men defied expectations to reach the Round of 16. Ethiopia, meanwhile, arrive in Juba full of confidence after cruising through the preliminary round in March, setting up what promises to be a tightly contested East African derby to kick off Group F of the road to AFCON 2027.

Sudan's recent tournament form has been a story of resilient defence mixed with attacking struggles. The Falcons of Jediane opened their AFCON 2025 group campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on December 28, 2025, before falling 0-2 to Burkina Faso on December 31, 2025 — a result that left their knockout hopes hanging by a thread. They responded admirably, booking a last-16 date with Senegal, where an early strike from Aamir Abdallah briefly put them ahead before the tournament favourites roared back to win 3-1, ending Sudan's fairy-tale run. For the 2026/2027 season, Appiah can again count on the spine of that side: goalkeeper Ali Abdullah Abu, defenders Mustafa Karshoum, Mohamed Hakeem and Altayeb Abdalla, midfield engine Salaheldin Adil and the creative Al-Gozoli Nooh, with Yasir Mozamil, Mohamed Abdel Rahman and Aamir Abdallah leading the line.

Tanzania host Guinea-Bissau on Friday 25 September 2026 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, kicking off at 13:00 GMT (16:00 EAT), in one of the standout fixtures of Matchday 1 in Group L of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. As a co-host of AFCON 2027, the Taifa Stars have already secured their place at next summer's finals in East Africa, but this clash carries enormous weight for the Djurtus: with Tanzania auto-qualified, only one non-host team from Group L — Nigeria, Madagascar or Guinea-Bissau — will reach the tournament, so Emiliano Te's men simply cannot afford a slip-up on the road.

Guinea-Bissau have confirmed a strong 25-man squad for the September window, named by head coach Emiliano Te and featuring players from top leagues across Europe and beyond. The attacking line is headlined by Athletic Bilbao's Álvaro Djaló, Fiorentina striker Beto, Brest forward Mama Baldé and Trabzonspor's Franculino Djú, while Alfa Semedo (Al Fayha), Ronaldo Vieira (San Jose Earthquakes) and Galatasaray youngster Renato Nhaga add quality in midfield — a squad depth that far exceeds what Tanzania can currently field. The Taifa Stars, meanwhile, are finalising their squad for the 2026/2027 international season as they begin competitive preparation on home soil ahead of hosting duties, with the coaching staff using these qualifiers to fine-tune systems and blood players before June 2027.

Togo host Burundi in Lomé on September 25, 2026 in TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 qualifying Group I, with Patrice Neveu’s Hawks opening camp at home before a quick turnaround that sends them to Zambia on September 29 while Burundi prepare to face Algeria. Burundi arrive with momentum from March after a 0-4 away win and a 4-0 home win over Chad, an 8-0 aggregate route into the group stage that signals sharper finishing than their recent scoreless World Cup qualifying run suggested.

For the 2026/2027 season squads, Togo have blended experienced campaigners with newer call-ups as Neveu prioritizes compactness, wide speed and set-piece threat in Lomé, while Burundi’s announced group for the September window is built around physical midfield pressure, direct transitions and centre-back height from dead balls. The Swallows must manage travel and a short recovery before hosting Algeria, so rotation and discipline in the middle third could decide whether this opener becomes a platform or an early setback.

Everton de Viña del Mar and Universidad de Chile renew their rivalry this Thursday, 24 September 2026, when they face off in the first leg of the Copa Chile 2026 round of 16 at the Estadio Sausalito in Viña del Mar, with kick-off scheduled for 20:30 local time and the return leg set for Sunday 27 September at the Estadio Nacional. Los Azules arrive as group winners and view the cup as their clearest route to silverware this season, while the Ruleteros, who finished second in their group behind Universidad Católica, are also pushing for a Copa Libertadores 2027 spot through the league. The two sides already met in the Chilean Primera this year, playing out a goalless draw in April, and their head-to-head across 23 meetings is remarkably balanced with seven wins each and nine draws, so a tight contest is expected in front of a sold-out Sausalito crowd, with TNT Sports Premium and HBO Max carrying the action live.

Form ahead of the tie tells two different stories: Everton have been solid rather than spectacular, grinding out results in both the Copa Chile group stage and the league, whereas Universidad de Chile have been one of the most consistent home sides in the country, conceding under a goal per game at home. In their recent reference matches, Everton's side showed resilience in a 1-0 win and again in a hard-fought 1-0 cup victory, while also holding firm in a 0-0 away stalemate — a run that underlines their defensive organisation. Universidad de Chile, meanwhile, were last seen in a thrilling 3-3 encounter with Unión La Calera earlier in the season, a reminder that the Azules can score but occasionally leave space in behind.

Armenia host Latvia at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan on Friday, 25 September 2026, in the opening fixture of the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League League C Group 2 campaign — the first of two group meetings between the sides, with the return leg scheduled for Skonto Stadium in Riga on 15 November 2026. It is a fresh start for both nations after difficult World Cup qualifying campaigns, and Armenia head coach Yeghishe Melikyan has already named his squad for the September window, announcing the group on 17 September 2026 for the matches against Latvia, Montenegro and Cyprus. Armenia come into the game off the back of two home friendlies in June, where they were held 1-1 by Moldova after Artur Serobyan's 89th-minute opener was cancelled out by Victor Bogaciuc in stoppage time, three days after sharing a 1-1 draw with Kazakhstan in a game where Eduard Spertsyan cancelled out Maksim Samorodov's strike.

Armenia's 2026/2027 Nations League squad blends experience with youth, built around captain Eduard Spertsyan of Al-Ahli, Olympiacos left-back Nair Tiknizyan, Puskás Akadémia defender Georgy Arutyunyan and experienced goalkeeper Ognjen Čančarević, while Rubin Kazan midfielder Ugochukwu Iwu, Edgar Sevikyan and the forward line of Artur Serobyan, Zhirayr Shaghoyan and Artur Miranyan provide the attacking depth. The one setback for Melikyan is the injury to defender Edgar Grigoryan, who has withdrawn from the group for the Latvia fixture, but with home advantage in Yerevan and a full week of preparation, Armenia will view this as a must-win opener against a side they have already beaten convincingly in this competition in recent seasons, and the two June draws — the 1-1 with Kazakhstan included — showed a team that is competitive but still searching for a cutting edge in front of goal.

Georgia host Northern Ireland at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena on Friday 25 September 2026 in the opening round of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League League B Group 2, with Willy Sagnol’s side expected to set the tempo against Michael O’Neill’s younger, reset squad. European odds make Georgia the clear home favourite at roughly 1.90–1.95, the draw around 3.30–3.50 and Northern Ireland about 3.70–4.25, while a 2-0 correct score is priced near 9.00 in the decimal market.

Georgia’s most recent home test finished 1-1 against Romania, but they responded by beating Bahrain 2-0 and remain dangerous when Kvaratskhelia drifts inside from the left. Northern Ireland’s summer mixed promise with reality: they edged Guinea 1-0, competed bravely before losing 3-1 to France, and were beaten 2-0 by Italy when their World Cup hopes ended.

Hungary host Ukraine on Friday, 25 September 2026 at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest in the opening fixture of the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League, League B Group 2, as the Magyars look to bounce back at home after a mixed run of results. Marco Rossi's side warmed up for the new campaign with an unbeaten summer, beating Finland 2–1 (2:1), thrashing Kazakhstan 3–1 (3:1) and holding Greece to a goalless draw (0:0), while Ukraine arrive in the Hungarian capital after a narrow 2–1 defeat away to Denmark (2:1) and a heavy 3–1 home loss to Sweden (1:3) earlier in the year.

For the 2026/2027 season, Hungary boss Marco Rossi has named a fresh 26-man squad featuring captain Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool, veterans Willi Orbán (RB Leipzig) and András Schäfer (Union Berlin), livewire full-back Milos Kerkez, Galatasaray forward Roland Sallai and AEK Athens striker Barnabás Varga, with young debutants pushing into every line. Ukraine's travelling group is built around Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mykhailo Mudryk, Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, Girona's Artem Dovbyk and Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Heorhii Sudakov, with Illia Zabarnyi anchoring a defence that has leaked goals in recent outings.

Italy host Belgium on Friday 25 September 2026 at 20:45 CET at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, in the opening fixture of Group A1 in the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League League A. The Azzurri, drawn from Pot 2, begin a new era after the agony of March, when their World Cup dream ended on penalties against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Gennaro Gattuso resigned, while Belgium arrive as Pot 3 opponents fresh from winning promotion back to League A via the play-offs and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup in North America, with the reverse fixture scheduled for 15 November in Brussels.

Italy head into this tie in rebuilding mode: Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean delivered a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo, but the subsequent play-off final defeat cost Gattuso his job, and interim coach Silvio Baldini's youthful experimental side responded with narrow 1-0 friendly wins over Luxembourg and 0-1 in Crete, both decided by Pio Esposito. Belgium's summer form was far more explosive, as Romelu Lukaku and Jérémy Doku powered the Red Devils to a 1-5 rout of New Zealand and a 1-4 round-of-16 demolition of hosts USA, before eventual champions Spain edged them 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

Montenegro host Cyprus at Podgorica City Stadium on Friday, 25 September 2026, 20:45 local time, in the opening Europe - UEFA Nations League match of the 2026/2027 League phase. The Brave Falcons come in with useful June confidence after beating Bulgaria 1-0 away and earning a 2-2 draw in Slovakia, with Milutin Osmajić scoring twice in that 2-2 friendly. Across the historical series Montenegro are unbeaten in five meetings with Cyprus: two wins, three draws, nine goals scored and only three conceded.

Cyprus begin the campaign under Akis Mantzios after a mixed but competitive run: a 0-1 home loss to Belarus, a 3-2 win over Moldova, a 1-1 draw away to Slovenia and a 2-0 win in Liechtenstein. That Slovenia game is the useful away benchmark for this trip, finishing 1-1 despite Cyprus conceding the later equaliser. The head-to-head still points to a tight, low-margin contest rather than an open shootout.

Sweden vs Romania arrives on Friday, 25 September 2026 at Strawberry Arena in Solna, opening League B Group 4 of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League for two sides promoted after the previous cycle and now chasing an immediate push toward League A. With Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina also in the section, the first matchday can set the tone for a congested September-October block, and the market prices Sweden as the clear home favourite in European odds: about 1.55 for the win, 4.20 for the draw and 5.90 for Romania. Our prediction is Sweden 3-1 Romania, because the hosts have the more explosive forward line when their build-up is clean, while Romania’s away defense has shown just enough brittleness against top-tier pressure to concede in waves.

Sweden’s recent scorelines explain why the confidence is tempered but still tilted toward Graham Potter’s side: after the World Cup ended with a 3-0 loss to France, Blågult also drew 1-1 with Japan and were beaten 5-1 by the Netherlands, yet the 5-1 win over Tunisia in the same tournament showed the ceiling remains high. The latest team news is not perfect, with Anthony Elanga, Isak Hien and Jacob Widell Zetterström unavailable, but Sweden still carry more pace between the lines, more runners beyond the striker and a stronger set-piece profile; if Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres pin the centre-backs early, the home crowd should see Romania forced into emergency clearances rather than controlled buildup.

Turkey vs France is the headline fixture of Matchday 1 in the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, as the Crescent Stars host Les Bleus at Kocaeli Stadium on Friday, 25 September 2026 (19:45 BST) in a blockbuster Group A1 opener that also features Italy and Belgium. It marks Turkey's historic first-ever campaign in League A, with Vincenzo Montella's side looking to prove they belong among Europe's elite after edging Hungary in the promotion play-offs, while world football powerhouses France — Nations League winners in 2021 — begin their latest bid for the trophy under Didier Deschamps. Turkey's build-up has been mixed: they thrilled fans in a 3-2 win over the USA, but also suffered a 0-1 defeat to Paraguay and a 0-2 loss to Australia during the summer, showing the defensive vulnerability France will aim to exploit.

For the 2026/27 season, both squads arrive packed with star quality. Turkey are expected to lean on captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu pulling the strings in midfield, with the dazzling Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız providing creativity behind Barış Alper Yılmaz, while Çağlar Söyüncü and Merih Demiral marshal a back line protected by Altay Bayındır in goal. France, meanwhile, boast frightening depth: Mike Maignan between the posts, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano in central defence, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga in midfield, and a forward line led by Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Marcus Thuram. France's recent form reads three wins and two defeats from their last five, including a wild 4-6 loss to England, but they showed their resilience with wins over Paraguay and Sweden before the tournament.

FC KTP welcome Mikkelin Palloilijat (MP) to the Arto Tolsa Areena in Kotka on Friday, 25 September 2026, in what promises to be a pivotal Finland Ykkösliiga clash as the season enters its final stretch. KTP arrive at the top of the table with 57 points from 24 matches (18 wins, 3 draws, 3 defeats) and are in scintillating form, having won their last five league games on the bounce, including a 3-0 triumph over JäPS and a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Haka. Mikkeli, meanwhile, sit seventh with 28 points and have struggled for consistency away from the Mikkelin Urheilupuisto, although they did hold KTP to a 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture in July. Historically this fixture has been one-sided: across their last 27 meetings, KTP have won 13, scoring 57 goals to Mikkeli's 37.

The latest team news strongly favours the hosts. KTP's attack has been firing on all cylinders under head coach Juha Pasoja, with veteran playmaker Petteri Forsell leading the league scoring charts with 9 goals, ably supported by Mustapha Coker (6) and Onni Hänninen (4). The Kotka club strengthened their squad late in the window, bringing in striker Ahmed Adebayo from SJK Seinäjoki in August and defender Junior Christian Chibuzor earlier in the year, while goalkeeper Maksym Zhuk has been a reliable last line of defence. For Mikkeli, recent results paint a worrying picture: they were beaten 3-1 by JIPPO and fell 1-0 to SJK Akatemia, with goals proving hard to come by against the division's stronger sides.

KaPa host Haka in a Finland Ykkosliiga clash on 25 September 2026, with the visitors arriving as clear favourites in the European odds at around 1.50 for an away win, 4.20 for the draw and 5.50 for a home surprise. Haka sit 3rd in the standings and have won four of their last five league matches, while KaPa are stuck in the lower half of the table after a heavy 1-4 home defeat to PK-35 and a 3-2 away win at SJK Akatemia in their most recent outings. The head-to-head this season already leans Haka's way, as they beat KaPa 3-1 at Tehtaan kenttä in July after a 2-2 draw in April.

KaPa's 2026/27 squad relies on goalkeeper Reko Huhtamäki and a defensive line featuring Sebastian Savini, Pessi Lähteenmäki, Sameli Puputti and Elias Jantunen, with Viljami Jokiranta, Emil Ahola and Hugo Toivonen driving the midfield and Yllson Lika, the competition's top scorer with six goals, leading the attack. Their recent home form has been shaky, though they did beat JäPS 3-1 at home earlier in the campaign, a rare bright spot in a season where they have conceded more than two goals per game on average.

TSV Havelse host Fortuna Köln in a Germany 3. Liga relegation-zone six-pointer on Friday, 25 September 2026, with kick-off at 19:00 CEST in Hannover. Early-season pressure is already real: Havelse sit 20th with four points from six rounds, while promoted Fortuna are 16th on six, so the first meeting of 2026/2027 has more needle than a normal autumn fixture.

Havelse's latest away test ended 2-1 at Duisburg, and their previous trip to Wehen produced a memorable 1-4 win, but Samir Ferchichi's side have been too open this term. European odds for this match are clustered around 2.90-2.95 for Havelse, 3.40-3.50 for the draw and 2.20-2.28 for Fortuna, with correct-score 2-2 priced near 13.0.

As the 2026 League of Ireland First Division enters its decisive September stretch, Cobh Ramblers host Athlone Town at St. Colman's Park on 25 September 2026 with playoff momentum firmly in focus. Fran Rockett's Cobh arrive in fourth place on 45 points, while Athlone sit seventh on 41, so this is a genuine six-pointer in the race to stay attached to the top-five picture; Cobh's recent road swings include a 1-0 defeat at Wexford and a morale-boosting 0-1 win at Cork City, but the 1-2 home loss to UCD showed why defensive transitions remain the Ramblers' biggest tactical question.

Athlone's season has been more turbulent: after Ian Ryan's July departure, Seán O'Connor was appointed on 14 July 2026 and has tried to steady a side that had endured a ten-match winless run earlier in the campaign and still carries one of the division's longest losing sequences. The Town's immediate form reads awkwardly, with a 0-0 home draw against Kerry failing to lift them clear of the cluster behind Cobh, although captain Brendan Clarke's presence and the appointment of O'Connor give Athlone a clearer structure than during the mid-season slump.

Kerry FC host Wexford FC at Mounthawk Park on Friday 25 September 2026 at 19:45 in a crucial SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division fixture, with the home side looking to recover from Friday’s 3-0 defeat away to Athlone Town. Kerry sit seventh on 42 points after 32 games, two points and one place above Wexford, and with 12 points still available the playoff race remains alive; the Kingdom’s penultimate home game is a must-win if they are to keep pressure on the sides above them.

Kerry’s recent form has been mixed but competitive: before the Athlone setback they had beaten Treaty United 3-1 in the Munster derby and Longford Town 1-0 away, while also losing narrowly 1-0 at home to Bray Wanderers. Wexford arrive in Tralee after a damaging 1-3 home defeat to Finn Harps, though they did win their previous away match at Treaty United 0-1, showing that their season has been defined by inconsistency rather than a lack of quality.

Treaty United host Finn Harps at Markets Field on Friday, 25 September 2026, in a Round 33 clash of the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division. The fixture comes late in the 2026/2027 season with Treaty United sitting ninth in the table on 33 points, while Finn Harps prop up the division in tenth place. With only a handful of matches remaining, the Shannonsiders know that a home win over the strugglers from Ballybofey is essential if they are to finish the campaign on a high note in front of their own supporters.

Treaty United arrive at this contest looking to bounce back from a disappointing run of results. Their most recent outing ended in a 2 : 0 defeat away to Bray Wanderers, following a narrow home reverse by 0 : 1 against Wexford and a heavy 3 : 1 loss away to Kerry. Despite that dip in form, Tommy Barrett's men have shown real resilience on home soil at Markets Field this season, and the return of several key figures from his 2026/2027 season squad should give the home side a much-needed boost in both midfield creativity and attacking firepower.

UC Dublin host Bray at the Belfield Bowl on Friday 25 September 2026 at 19:45 in a pivotal Ireland Division 1 clash, with the 2026/2027 squad picture now taking shape after a turbulent run for both sides. UCD’s latest results show the danger and the fragility in Andy Myler’s group: a heavy 5-1 defeat at Cork City, a 2-2 home draw with Athlone Town and a battling 1-1 at Cobh Ramblers, while Ciaran Behan remains central to their attacking output.

Bray arrive with confidence from the most recent meeting, having crushed UCD 6-0 at the Carlisle Grounds in July through Ifunanyachi Achara’s hat-trick, Ryan Kelly, Dan Ring and Endri Mustali, but their September has been tighter: a 2-2 home draw with Treaty United and a narrow 0-1 win at Kerry underline a side still leaning on Ben McCormack’s goals and Achara’s movement.

Galway United host Shelbourne at Eamonn Deacy Park on 26 September 2026 in a crucial SSE Airtricity Premier Division clash, with both sides eager to build momentum in the closing stretch of the 2026 season. The reverse fixture at the end of August finished 1-1, as Jimmy Keohane fired home a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a point for the Tribesmen, and that late drama sets the stage perfectly for this return meeting in Galway.

Galway's recent form has been built on defensive resilience, with scoreless draws dominating their schedule, including a hard-fought 0-0 stalemate against Drogheda United at home in August, though they were beaten 2-3 by Bohemians in mid-September and edged past Drogheda on penalties in the FAI Cup quarter-final. Shelbourne arrive in the west with an inconsistent run of results behind them, but they will draw confidence from their impressive away record, highlighted by a 1-2 victory at Oriel Park back in May and a gritty goalless draw against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght earlier this month, before Sean Boyd's 90th-minute winner sealed a 3-2 triumph at Dundalk last Friday.

FC Dordrecht host Almere City FC at the Riwal Hoogwerkers Stadion on Friday, 25 September 2026 (21:00 CET) in a Keuken Kampioen Divisie Round 8 clash that pits the league's basement against a promotion contender. Dordrecht sit 17th after a miserable start to the 2026/27 campaign under new head coach Paul Nuijten, following up their opening-night win over Jong Ajax with heavy defeats, including a 1-3 loss at Volendam and a 2-3 home reverse against AZ Alkmaar Youth. Their home form has been particularly worrying, losing 0-1 to Roda JC in their most recent outing at the M-Scores Stadion, a result that extended their winless home run. Almere City, by contrast, arrive in 5th place full of confidence, having thrashed MVV Maastricht 4-0 away last weekend and beaten Vitesse 0-3 on the road in August, with their only recent slip a surprise 0-1 home defeat to Jong Ajax earlier this month.

The 2026/27 squads tell the story of two clubs moving in opposite directions. Dordrecht's summer rebuild under Nuijten brought in goalkeeper Calvin Raatsie, defenders Beni Mpanzu, Jaden Pinas — poached directly from Almere City — and Adil Lechkar, with Feyenoord youngsters Lucas Gardenier and Ayoub Ouarghi adding energy, though Ouarghi and Martin Vetkal remain the main creative threats alongside veteran Nick Venema. Almere City, relegated from the Eredivisie last season, assembled one of the division's strongest squads: Damian van Bruggen arrived from Vejorg on a free, Martin Wasinski joined on loan from Schalke 04, Wessel Speel came in on loan from Minnesota United, and Jochem Ritmeester van de Kamp returned permanently from Telstar to pull the strings in midfield. The visitors have one significant absence, as midfielder Mees Hoedemakers is out injured, while Dordrecht report no fresh absentees ahead of the fixture.

Coleraine host Linfield at the Coleraine Showgrounds on Friday 25 September 2026 in one of the most anticipated NIFL Premiership fixtures of the 2026/27 season, with both sides once again battling at the top of the table. Coleraine come into this clash full of confidence after their stunning 2-1 win over Glentoran earlier this year and a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Larne in January, results that underlined their status as genuine title contenders this campaign.

Linfield, meanwhile, have enjoyed a solid start to the season but have struggled for consistency on the road, and their recent 0-0 stalemate against Larne showed both their defensive resilience and their occasional lack of attacking spark away from Windsor Park. The Blues have plenty of quality in their 2026/27 squad, led by the ever-dangerous Matthew Fitzpatrick up front, with experienced campaigners such as Chris Shields and Jimmy Callacher providing the backbone, but they will need to be at their very best to cope with Coleraine's high-tempo pressing game.

Arbroath host Queen's Park in the Scotland Championship on Friday, 25 September 2026 at Gayfield Park, with the early-season table showing Arbroath around seventh and Queen's Park close behind in the lower half of the division. The most recent 2026 meeting between the sides ended Arbroath 1-0 Queen's Park on 21 March, so the home team will back themselves to repeat that tight, disciplined performance in front of their own supporters.

Arbroath's recent reference point is the Dunfermline play-off first leg, finished 1-0 to Dunfermline, with the same past-game line also tracked as 1-0 in the supplied home-team links. That result underlines how fine the margins have been for Arbroath in big matches, while Queen's Park arrive trying to turn a refreshed 2026/27 squad into more consistent away performances after a summer of contract decisions and departures.

Ayr United welcome Stenhousemuir to Somerset Park on Friday 25 September 2026 (19:45 BST) for a fascinating William Hill Scottish Championship fixture that carries a compelling subplot: Honest Men boss Gary Naysmith faces the club he led to a historic promotion last season before departing for Ayr in the summer, with Marvin Bartley now steering the Warriors. Remarkably, newly promoted Stenhousemuir arrive as league leaders with 16 points from their opening six matches, while Ayr sit eighth on five points, yet the European odds tell a different story — Ayr are favourites at 2.20, the draw is priced at 3.25 and the visitors can be backed at 2.60, a market leaning heavily on the hosts' superior squad depth and home advantage at Somerset Park.

Ayr's 2026/27 squad has taken shape nicely under Naysmith, with Harry Stone in goal, a back line built around Leon King, Kevin Dick and Kevin Holt, Dylan Watret, Luke McBeth, Reece Lyon, Ben Summers and Scott McMann providing the platform, and the in-form pairing of Owen Stirton and Ross Taylor leading the attack. The Honest Men's campaign has been a mixed bag — they were beaten 3:0 at Raith Rovers back in March and pushed Premiership Kilmarnock all the way in an Ayrshire derby cup classic before falling 3:2 at Rugby Park in August — but the confidence booster is their most recent meeting with Friday's opponents, a 4-1 away demolition of Stenhousemuir in the Premier Sports Cup earlier this month.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle host Greenock Morton at the Caledonian Stadium on Friday 25 September 2026 in a William Hill Scottish Championship fixture that pits two clubs at very different ends of the early-season table. Inverness, back in the second tier after winning the 2025/26 League One title, have been solid if unspectacular with a recent 3-1 away win at Ayr United and a 2-2 draw at Livingston, while Morton arrive in the Highlands in crisis: the Ton have lost six straight matches, sit bottom of the Championship, and are battling a deepening injury crisis under manager Ian Murray despite fresh investment from the Estrella Group and the close-season additions of MacKenzie Carse, Jayden Gorman and deadline-day loan defenders Calvin Okike and Dylan Borso.

The European odds strongly favour the home side, with Inverness priced at around 1.45 to 1.51 for the win, the draw at roughly 4.30 and a Morton victory as high as 6.87, numbers that reflect both the league positions and recent head-to-head history — Inverness have won the last three meetings, including a 1-0 triumph at Cappielow in the Premier Sports Cup group stage back in July thanks to an Alfie Bavidge penalty. Inverness's recent home form has been mixed, however, as shown by the 1-1 draw against Partick Thistle in August, though their away resilience was proven with the 0-2 league win at East Fife earlier this year, a result built on defensive discipline and late counterattacks.

Raith Rovers host Livingston at Stark’s Park on Friday, September 25, 2026 in one of the headline Scottish Championship fixtures of the new 2026/2027 season, with Raith looking to turn home pressure into a promotion push and Livingston beginning life back in the second tier after their Premiership battle last term. The early table has kept Raith in the leading pack, while Livingston’s away days have been about reset and resistance; Raith’s most recent home reference point was the 3-0 win over Ayr United, a reminder that when Raith move the ball quickly through Dowds, Telfer and McMullan, Stark’s Park can become a difficult place to visit.

For Raith, the 2026/2027 squad story is about keeping an experienced Championship core and adding pace around the final third: Anton Dowds has carried the early scoring load, Charles Telfer offers creativity between the lines, and Paul McMullan gives width and set-piece delivery, with the midfield expected to squeeze Livingston’s build-up and force turnovers high up the pitch. That matters because Livingston still have players who can hurt teams in transition, but their recent away sample was mixed: a stubborn 0-0 at Dundee United showed they can defend deep, while the 3-0 loss at Dundee FC exposed how quickly things can unravel when the first press is beaten and the wide areas are left unattended.

Girona FC host Albacete Balompié at Estadi Montilivi on Friday, 25 September 2026 (20:30 CET) in a LaLiga2 Round 7 clash that pits two teams at opposite ends of the early-season table. The hosts, relegated from LaLiga in May 2026, have adapted well to life in the second tier under new head coach Quique Álvarez and sit 8th with 10 points from six matches, having scored 12 goals. Albacete, meanwhile, are in crisis: they are 21st with just one point, winless in six, and carry the league's longest winless run into this fixture. Girona's attack has produced the division's highest-scoring game so far, a spectacular 5-2 home win over Las Palmas, while their only home setback came in a 1-2 defeat to Castellón. Albacete's last away outing ended in a 0-2 loss at Castellón, and they also fell 1-2 at home to Córdoba last week.

The 2026/27 Girona squad blends experience with fresh firepower: Paulo Gazzaniga guards the goal behind a defensive unit featuring David López, Juanpe, Arnau and Miguel Gutiérrez, while the midfield is marshalled by Axel Witsel, Donny van de Beek, Azzedine Ounahi and Fran Beltrán. Going forward, captain Cristhian Stuani remains the reference point, supported by Viktor Tsyhankov, Bryan Gil, Vladyslav Vanat and Abel Ruiz. The headline news of the season so far is Yáser Asprilla, who leads the Segunda División scoring charts with four goals and has quickly become the face of Álvarez's project. The home side will be without Bryan Gil (muscle injury) and Jastin García (torn thigh muscle) for this fixture, but the depth of the squad built for an immediate promotion push should comfortably cover both absences.

Australia vs Brazil headlines the international friendly calendar this week, with the Socceroos hosting the five-time world champions in Queensland on Friday, 25 September 2026 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium before the second meeting on Tuesday, 29 September at Suncorp Stadium. The latest team news points to a fresh cycle for both nations after the 2026 World Cup, and European odds for the Townsville opener make Brazil clear favourites at about 1.43, with the draw around 4.50 and Australia near 6.50.

Australia’s 2026/2027 squad reset is already underway: Tony Popovic named a 26-player group with seven uncapped players and ten changes from the World Cup squad, keeping one eye on the AFC Asian Cup 2027 after a hard-earned 0-0 against Paraguay and a confident 2-0 win over Türkiye. Patrick Beach, Nestory Irankunda, Connor Metcalfe, Harry Souttar, Jackson Irvine, Aziz Behich and recalled Riley McGree give Popovic a mix of World Cup minutes and new energy, while Maty Ryan’s omission signals a real goalkeeper debate rather than a routine refresh.

Estudiantes L.P. and Rosario Central are set to face off on Saturday, 26 September 2026 at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero, in what promises to be a tightly contested Supercopa Internacional final. Estudiantes arrive after a mixed run of form: a heavy 3-0 home win over Defensa y Justicia (3 : 0) was followed by a narrow defeat to Boca Juniors (0 : 1), while Rosario Central were held in a goalless stalemate by Racing Club in their last encounter (0 : 0), a result that underlines just how difficult these two sides are to break down when they sit deep.

Both coaches will lean heavily on their 2026/2027 season squads, with availability issues shaping the tactical battle. Estudiantes have injury doubts over Joaquín Correa, Lucas Alario and Tiago Palacios, which could force Eduardo Domínguez to rotate his attacking options, while Rosario Central are without Julián Fernández and Kevin Gutiérrez, weakening their engine room. Ángel Di María remains the creative heartbeat of Central alongside Jaminton Campaz, and Jeremías Ledesma anchors a defence that has kept things tight in recent weeks, while Estudiantes will count on the experience of Enzo Pérez and the work rate of their younger contingent to control the tempo of the match.

All Boys welcome Colón de Santa Fe to the Estadio Islas Malvinas on Saturday, 26 September 2026, in one of the most intriguing Primera Nacional fixtures of the closing rounds. With the regular season entering its decisive stretch, Colón arrives in Buenos Aires chasing a place in the promotion play-offs after a convincing 3-0 home win over Los Andes, a result that underlined their ambitions of returning to the top flight. All Boys, meanwhile, are locked in mid-table after a 1-1 draw away to San Miguel and are determined to finish the campaign strongly in front of their own supporters. The reverse fixture back in May ended in a 3-2 Colón victory at the Brigadier López, so the Floresta side will also be hungry for a measure of revenge.

The hosts come into this clash with mixed recent form. They fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat away to league leaders Ferro Carril Oeste, bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Nueva Chicago, and earlier shared a 1-1 draw with Central Norte. Under coach Fabián Nardozza, All Boys have built their identity on defensive discipline, conceding an average of well under a goal per game in recent weeks, though goals have been scarce at the other end. Colón's form has been far stronger: they beat San Telmo 1-0 at home and earned a solid 1-1 draw at Acassuso, results that kept them firmly in the promotion conversation heading into September.

CA Estudiantes host San Miguel at Estadio Ciudad de Caseros on Saturday, 26 September 2026 in Argentina's Primera Nacional, with kickoff listed for 18:30 UTC. The sides met earlier this year on 9 May and shared a 1-1 draw at Malvinas Argentinas, and the recent history is tight enough to expect another cautious contest rather than a wide-open game. European decimal odds currently make Estudiantes the clear favourite at about 1.80 for the home win, with the draw around 3.40 and San Miguel near 5.25, but the low-scoring trend between these teams keeps the correct-score market attractive. Our prediction is CA Estudiantes 1 : 0 San Miguel.

Estudiantes come in with mixed but competitive form: they drew 2-2 with Ferro at home, then lost 2-1 at Central Norte, while the preceding home defeat to Deportivo Madryn finished 0-1; the bigger picture is still solid at Caseros, where Estudiantes have averaged roughly 1.07 scored and 0.80 conceded per home league match this season. For the 2026/2027 squad picture, the listed core includes goalkeepers Nicolás Campisi, Facundo Vila and Rodrigo Fumo; defenders Nicolás Caro Torres, Jorge Benítez, Balthazar Bernardi, Martín Albarracín, Franco Quinteros, Tomás Squie, Tomás Núñez, Facundo Ardiles and Fernando Duré; midfielders Rodrigo Melo, Bautista Degregorio, Manuel Sánchez de León, Iván Bonus, Lucas Silva, Federico Sena, Román Rodríguez, Enzo Acosta and Santiago Camacho; and attackers Jorge Correa, Alejandro Melo, Darío Rostagno, Ezequiel Almirón, Ian Vera, Joel Lucero, Teo Cohen and Mateo Acosta.

Ciudad Bolívar host Chaco For Ever at the Estadio Municipal Eva Perón on 26 September 2026 in a Argentina Primera Nacional fixture that closes the month with a direct duel between two sides still fighting to climb their respective zone tables. The reverse fixture back in May finished Chaco For Ever 0-1 Ciudad de Bolívar, with Guillermo Sánchez scoring the only goal of the night in Resistencia, so the visitors arrive with revenge on their minds while the hosts look to complete the season double over their northern rivals.

Ciudad Bolívar come into this match in mixed but resilient form. They ground out a 1-0 home win over Defensores de Belgrano on 29 August, shared a goalless 0-0 draw with All Boys in July, and earlier produced one of their best displays of the campaign with a 3-1 demolition of Godoy Cruz. The 2026/2027 squad built around goalkeeper Agustín Rufinetti, defenders Ezequiel Navarro, Elías Martínez and Agustín Paredes, and the attacking trio of Sánchez, Francisco Ilarregui and Facundo Mucignat has kept things tight at home, where low-scoring, hard-fought contests have been the pattern all season.

Quilmes host Club A. Güemes in an Argentina Primera Nacional fixture on the weekend of 26–27 September 2026, with both sides using their 2026/2027-season squads at Estadio Centenario Ciudad de Quilmes. The latest team news is that Quilmes must respond quickly after a 3-0 defeat at Chacarita Juniors, a result that exposed their need for cleaner build-up and faster transitions against a compact opponent. Güemes arrive with the more urgent table situation, still fighting to escape the relegation picture, while Quilmes are trying to turn mid-table stability into a late push toward the promotion conversation.

Quilmes’ recent pattern has been inconsistent: after the confidence of a 3-0 home win over San Telmo, they were beaten 1-0 by Nueva Chicago and then failed to score again at Chacarita. That matters for this matchup because Güemes are unlikely to open up early; they usually compete best when the game stays tight, physical and decided by one set piece or one lapse in concentration. For Quilmes, the 2026/2027 squad has enough home quality to control territory, but the attacking unit has to be more ruthless than it was in those two away defeats.

The Goiás derby takes centre stage in the 2026 Brazilian Série B on September 26, as Goiás host Atlético-GO at the Estádio da Serrinha in what promises to be a tense Round 30 clash. Goiás arrive with momentum after a 2-1 home win over Avaí on September 20, where Kadu Sousa and Jean Carlos found the net, and they remain unbeaten in their last five league matches. The Esmeraldino have also been solid at home lately, following their 1-0 victory over Londrina in August, though they were held to a 2-2 draw away at CRB earlier in the season. Atlético-GO, sitting just above Goiás in the table, are pushing for the promotion play-off spots and will be eager to bounce back after dropping points in recent rounds.

Both sides line up with their established 2026/2027 squads. Goiás, coached by Mozart, are expected to field Thiago Rodrigues in goal behind a back three of Lucas Ribeiro, Ramon and Nicolas, with Diego Caito, Lucas Rodrigues, Filipe Machado and Djalma Silva across midfield, Lucas Lima as the playmaker, and Anselmo Ramon partnering Kadu up front. Atlético-GO, under Roger Silva, should respond with a 4-2-3-1 featuring Paulo Vítor in goal; Natã Felipe, Tito, Adriano Martins and Guilherme Lopes in defence; Matheus Índio and Cristiano anchoring midfield; Ewerthon, Marrony and Geovany Soares supporting lone striker Gustavo Coutinho.

Deportivo Pereira welcome Internacional de Bogotá to the Estadio Hernán Ramírez Villegas on Saturday, 26 September 2026, in a Colombia Primera A clash that closes out Matchday 12 of the Liga BetPlay Finalización 2026-II. Pereira are desperately trying to climb away from the foot of the Clausura standings after a stop-start campaign, while Inter Bogotá arrive sitting 12th with 11 points and eager to push into the top eight. The reverse fixture earlier this year finished 2-2 in Bogotá back in March, and the all-time head-to-head between these two sides remains finely balanced, with history offering little to separate them ahead of this return meeting in Pereira.

Pereira come into this fixture searching for consistency following a difficult run of results. They earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Águilas Doradas in the Copa Colombia in May, but their league form has been patchy, including a narrow 1-0 defeat away to América de Cali and heavy losses to Independiente Medellín and Bucaramanga. Their most recent outing brought another 1-1 stalemate at Águilas Doradas on 18 September, a result that at least stopped the rot. Inter Bogotá's form has been modest too, with a draw-heavy recent record that includes a 2-2 share of the points against Águilas Doradas, leaving both teams arriving with something to prove.

Cambridge United host AFC Wimbledon at the Cledara Abbey Stadium on Saturday 26 September 2026 (15:00 BST) in a mouth-watering Sky Bet League One clash between two of the division's early-season surprise packages. The U's sit fifth in the table with 12 points from seven matches (three wins, three draws, one defeat), while Johnnie Jackson's Wimbledon are just two places behind in seventh on 11 points, making this an early six-pointer in the race for the play-off places. Cambridge come into the fixture unbeaten in four league games, having followed up a battling 2-2 draw at Burton Albion with a hard-fought 2-1 home win over Reading, before claiming an impressive 2-1 victory at Bradford City and a 1-1 draw at Oxford United last weekend. Neil Harris's side have been strong at the Abbey Stadium this season, with their only home league defeat coming against Huddersfield Town, and they will be confident of extending that record against a Wimbledon side that has struggled on the road.

AFC Wimbledon arrive in Cambridgeshire in solid form themselves, having lost just twice in seven league outings, but their away record is a concern for the travelling Dons faithful. Wimbledon have taken just three points from their three away league games so far this campaign, and their last two trips on the road have ended in defeat, including a damaging 4-1 loss at Burton Albion at the start of September. However, they bounced back impressively with a superb 0-2 away win at Bromley, followed by a 1-0 home victory over Doncaster Rovers and a gritty goalless draw against bitter rivals MK Dons in their rearranged fixture on 17 September. Jackson's men will also be looking to avenge their Carabao Cup exit, having been beaten 3-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage in August, a result that exposed their lack of cutting edge against higher-quality opposition — a weakness that could prove costly against a Cambridge defence marshalled by the experienced Dominic Ball and Zak Bradshaw.

Plymouth Argyle host Burton Albion at Home Park on Saturday 26 September 2026 in a League One meeting that already carries extra edge after Argyle won the reverse fixture 3-0 in January. The latest market prices make Plymouth clear favourites in European odds at about 1.65 for the home win, 4.20 for the draw and 5.00 for Burton, reflecting Argyle’s stronger attacking numbers despite a mixed run of 2-3 and 2-0 results.

Tom Cleverley’s 2026/2027 Plymouth squad blends retention with targeted additions: Murphy Cooper in goal; Mathias Ross, Julio Pleguezuelo, Wes Harding, Alex Mitchell, Alex Hartridge, Joe Edwards and Matty Sorinola across defence; Malachi Boateng, Harvey White, Bradley Ibrahim, Caleb Watts, Tyreeq Bakinson and Michael Baidoo in midfield; and Xavier Amaechi, Ronan Curtis, Will Evans, Aribim Pepple and Oliver Irow competing for goals. That depth matters because Burton arrive after a 2-2 home draw with Mansfield and a damaging 3-0 loss at Oxford United.

Wycombe Wanderers host Reading at Adams Park on Saturday 26 September 2026 in a Sky Bet League One clash between two of the division's most in-form sides. The Chairboys arrive with real momentum after grinding out a 0 - 1 win at Wigan Athletic last time out, a result built on defensive resilience and Dan Casey's second-half winner, though that victory came after a narrow home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, where Cauley Woodrow's early strike was cancelled out in a 1 - 2 reverse. Managerless Wycombe have shown character in recent weeks, and their only heavy setback in this fixture's recent memory was the 3 - 0 loss at Stockport County back in April, a reminder of what happens when their shape is pulled apart.

Reading, sitting eighth with ten points from six league games, are equally dangerous going forward, led by the red-hot Jack Marriott, whose eight league goals already include a hat-trick against Luton Town in August that won the EFL League One Goal of the Month award. The Royals' season has been a rollercoaster: a 5-0 thrashing of Mansfield Town and a 3-1 win over Blackpool showcased their attacking firepower, while recent setbacks came in a 2-1 defeat at Cambridge United and a 1 - 2 home loss to Brentford in the Carabao Cup, followed by a 2 - 1 league defeat at the Abbey Stadium before they bounced back by beating Notts County 2-0. Notably, these sides already met in the EFL Trophy in August, drawing 1-1 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium before Reading won 3-1 on penalties, and with the 5 - 0 Mansfield demolition still fresh in the memory, the visitors will travel in confident mood.

Albania host Belarus on Saturday, 26 September 2026 at the Elbasan Arena in what promises to be a fascinating opening fixture of the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League, League C Group C1. With both nations desperate to launch their campaigns with a win in a group also featuring Finland and San Marino, the Eagles will look to their passionate home support to give them the edge. Albanian coach Sylvinho has named a strong 2026/2027 squad blending experience and youth, with Thomas Strakosha guarding the posts, a defensive unit marshalled by Berat Djimsiti and Elseid Hysaj, a creative midfield anchored by Kristjan Asllani and Ylber Ramadani, and a dangerous front line led by Rey Manaj and Armando Broja. Belarus, under their new technical staff, counter with a disciplined squad featuring Sergei Ignatovich in goal, Aleksandr Pavlovets and Ruslan Khadarkevich in defence, the industrious Evgeni Yablonski pulling the strings in midfield, and the experienced Denis Laptev leading the attack. Both sides arrive in solid form — Albania claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Israel in June, while Belarus earned a narrow 1-0 win against Burkina Faso in their most recent outing.

The head-to-head record between these two nations has historically been tight, but Albania's home advantage in Tirana cannot be overstated — the Eagles have made their national stadium a genuine fortress in recent qualifying campaigns. Belarus, meanwhile, will be aiming to bounce back after a 1-1 stalemate against Poland earlier this year showed their resilience against stronger opposition, though their away form remains a concern for travelling supporters. In the European odds market, bookmakers have installed Albania as clear favourites at around 1.80 for the home win, with the draw priced at 3.50 and a Belarus victory quoted at a tempting but risky 4.75. The odds for our predicted correct score of 1-0 sit at approximately 6.50, reflecting how tightly contested this Group C1 opener is expected to be despite Albania's status as group favourites and promotion hopefuls.

Bulgaria vs Luxembourg is set for Saturday, 26 September 2026 at Stadion Hristo Botev in Plovdiv, a Europe - UEFA Nations League league-phase meeting in the 2026/2027 season with both teams opening their Group C4 campaign at 0-0-0. The latest build-up points to a cautious first matchday: Bulgaria are under pressure to turn home possession into goals, while Luxembourg arrive with recent playoff momentum and a compact, counter-attacking structure designed to keep the game tight.

Recent form supports a low-margin contest. Bulgaria finished their last pre-camp friendly in Moldova at 2:2, showing creativity but also defensive looseness late in the game. Luxembourg’s summer friendly ended in a narrow 0:1 home defeat to Italy, but before that they controlled the Malta playoff with a 3:0 home win after taking the away leg 0:2, 5-0 on aggregate.

The 2026–27 UEFA Nations League kicks off in style on 26 September 2026 as Czech Republic host Croatia at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45 CEST. The two sides know each other well after sharing Group L in World Cup qualifying, where Croatia ran out 5–1 winners in Osijek before a goalless draw in Prague, and both arrived here after experiencing the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. It is a new era for both teams: Czech Republic are led for the first time by Spanish coach Santi Denia, who named three debutants in his first squad, while Croatia begin life under returning boss Slaven Bilić, who has recalled Josip Mišić and handed a first call-up of the cycle to Dinamo Zagreb striker Dion Drena Beljo. The visitors remain captained by the evergreen Luka Modrić, who turns 41 this week and recently confirmed he will continue his international career.

Czech Republic's build-up to this opener has been mixed. Denia's men were eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage after a narrow defeat to South Korea in their opener, a 2-1 loss in which they took the lead before falling late on, followed by a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Atlanta, where Michal Sadílek's early opener was cancelled out by a late Teboho Mokoena penalty. Their tournament ended with a heavy 0-3 defeat to Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. The Czech squad for the 2026/2027 season is built around captain Ladislav Krejčí, midfield anchor Tomáš Souček and forwards Adam Hložek, Jan Kuchta and Mojmír Chytil, but Denia has been hit by injuries to David Zima, David Jurásek, Lukáš Provod and Tomáš Chorý, all of whom withdrew from this camp.

England host Spain in a headline UEFA Nations League 2026/2027 fixture with both managers expected to lean on refreshed 2026/2027 squads rather than experimental line-ups. England's pool is built around Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, while Spain's expected group includes Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo and Rodri, giving the visitors a strong blend of youth and control.

England's recent rhythm has been competitive but not flawless, with the 1-2 reverse against France followed by the 2-1 win over Argentina, whereas Spain answered the 1-1 draw with France by edging Belgium 2-1.

The UEFA Nations League League C Group 3 fixture between Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan will be played on 26 September 2026 at Tórsvøllur in Tórshavn, with the Faroes looking to build on their positive momentum. The two sides last met in November 2025, when Faroe Islands edged Kazakhstan 1-0, and their head-to-head record now stands at one win each with one draw. For Kazakhstan, this opening Nations League campaign comes after a mixed run of summer friendlies, including a 3-1 defeat in Hungary, which you can relive in our 3:1 prediction and match report, as well as a hard-fought draw away to Armenia, analyzed in our 1:1 prediction, two results that underline the visitors' inconsistency heading into this trip to the Faroes.

For the 2026/2027 season, both nations will rely on experienced cores. Faroe Islands, coached by Eyðun Klakstein, are expected to shape up around goalkeeper B. Reynatrod, defenders G. Oregaard and G. Vatnhamar, midfield engine J. Andreasen, and attacking outlet Á. Samuelsen, with supporting names such as S. Chukwudi, G. Turi, A. Frederiksberg and P. Klettskarð also in contention. Kazakhstan will likely answer with shot-stopper A. Zarutskiy behind a back line featuring A. Ashirbek, A. Kasym and E. Tapalov, with A. Sadybekov pulling the strings in midfield and R. Murtazaev and I. Chesnokov leading the attack, although promising forward Dastan Satpaev is ruled out through injury for the visitors.

Iceland vs Estonia arrives as one of the clearer 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League home bankers on paper, with the Icelandic camp expected to lean on direct width, second-ball pressure and set-piece volume from the first whistle. The latest selection news points to a settled home core rather than a rebuild, while Estonia’s build-up has been framed by their recent away date against Rwanda in 3 : 0 and by the need to protect a back line that can be exposed when pressed high. In European odds, Iceland are the strong favourites at about 1.40 to win in 90 minutes, the draw is priced near 4.50, and Estonia are the outsiders around 8.00, with Iceland -1.5 on the Asian handicap close to 2.05 and “both teams to score: no” hovering near 1.95.

Our prediction is Iceland 3 : 0 Estonia, a scoreline that fits the market shape because the home side should generate repeatable chances from corners, wide free-kicks and cutbacks rather than relying on one transitional moment. The most useful team-total angle is Iceland over 2.5 goals at roughly 1.80, while Estonia’s team total under 0.5 sits in the same conversation as the clean-sheet bet; if you prefer a conservative European odds route, Iceland win to nil is the headline call, with 3-0 also worth a smaller correct-score play at a bigger price. The tactical key is whether Estonia can keep the first 20 minutes compact—if Iceland score early, the game can stretch quickly into exactly the kind of comfortable home win the odds already imply.

North Macedonia host Switzerland at Toše Proeski Arena in Skopje on Saturday 26 September 2026, opening 2026/27 UEFA Nations League B Group B1 after very different summers: Switzerland reached the World Cup quarter-finals before losing 3:1 to Argentina after extra time, while North Macedonia’s 2026 campaign ended in a playoff semi-final defeat and a chastening June friendly in Türkiye.

The form line points one way. North Macedonia were beaten 4:0 by Denmark in Copenhagen and then hammered 4:0 by Türkiye, extending a run in which goals have been scarce and defensive mistakes costly. Switzerland’s World Cup group was far stronger: they edged Qatar, overpowered Canada 3:1, then beat Algeria 2:0 before pushing Argentina deep into extra time.

San Marino host Finland at the San Marino Stadium in Serravalle on Saturday, 26 September 2026, as the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League gets underway in League C Group C1. The group also features Albania and Belarus, but Finland arrive as clear favourites to challenge for top spot, while San Marino — ranked 211th in the world — begin another campaign looking to build on their rare positive results. The hosts come into this opener on the back of a disappointing June friendly, where they fell 1-2 to Bangladesh at home despite a Nicolas Giacopetti equaliser, a result that extended their long winless run. Finland, meanwhile, were beaten 2-1 by Hungary in Budapest in their own June friendly, though they showed resilience with a late Tony Miettinen strike and remain a class above their opponents here.

The 2026/2027 season squad news adds intrigue to this fixture. Finland head coach has recalled midfielder Glen Kamara to the national team for the first time in a year, while goalkeeper Lucas Bergström also returns to the squad, and experienced Chicago Fire midfielder Robin Lod has been called up for the Nations League campaign. The Finnish pool blends veteran leadership with fresh energy, and with players like Joel Pohjanpalo, Teemu Pukki's successors up front, and a solid defensive unit, they possess far too much quality for League C opposition. San Marino's squad remains built around domestic-based players such as captain Nicola Nanni, Filippo Berardi, and goalkeeper Edoardo Colombo, with Roberto Cevoli's side likely to set up in a compact shape and hope to frustrate the visitors for as long as possible.

Slovakia host Moldova on 26 September 2026 at the Štadión Antona Malatinského in Trnava, in what promises to be a one-sided UEFA Nations League 2026/27 League C Group 3 opener. The Slovaks, ranked 44th in the FIFA world rankings and targeting an immediate return to League B, come into this campaign on the back of a solid June window that saw them draw 2-2 with Montenegro and edge Malta 2-1, while Vladimír Weiss's side also showed its attacking ceiling despite the narrow 3-4 defeat to Kosovo in World Cup qualifying. Moldova, ranked 158th, arrive in Trnava after two resilient June friendlies in which they twice came from behind to hold Bulgaria 2-2 in Chișinău, before snatching a stoppage-time equaliser through Victor Bogaciuc to earn a 1-1 draw away to Armenia in Yerevan.

The European odds for this clash reflect the gulf in class between the two nations, with Slovakia priced as a heavy home favourite at around 1.28 to 1.33 to win in the 1X2 market, the draw available at roughly 5.30 to 5.60, and a Moldova upset quoted as high as 9.00 to 11.00. The goal line markets tell a similar story: the "no" on both teams to score is available near 1.58, and Slovakia on the -2.5 Asian handicap sits around even money (2.00), while a 3-0 correct score for the hosts is offered at approximately 7.90. The bookmakers clearly expect Weiss's men to dominate possession and territory against a Moldovan side that managed just one point from eight World Cup qualifiers and has kept remarkably few clean sheets in recent years.

Slovenia vs Scotland opens the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League B1 campaign for both nations on Saturday, 26 September 2026, with Slovenia hosting at SRC Stožice in Ljubljana. The latest team news points to a cautious start to the new cycle: Slovenia are building around Jan Oblak, Jaka Bijol, Vanja Drkušić, Žan Karničnik, Sandi Lovrić, Adam Gnezda Čerin, Benjamin Šeško and Andraž Šporar after a mixed June in which they fell 2-1 to Croatia before drawing 1-1 with Cyprus.

Scotland arrive after a painful 2026 World Cup group stage in which they beat Haiti but finished with back-to-back defeats, losing 0-1 to Morocco and 0-3 to Brazil, scoring zero goals across those final two matches. The 2026/2027 squad picture still features Angus Gunn, Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Nathan Patterson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Lewis Ferguson, Ryan Christie, Ché Adams and Lyndon Dykes, but the tactical priority for the new Nations League phase is restoring attacking fluency without losing the midfield bite that keeps Steve Clarke-era Scotland competitive.

Celta Vigo B host Sabadell in an intriguing LaLiga2 clash on 26 September 2026 at the Municipal de Barreiro in Vigo, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 UTC. The two sides arrive at this fixture with contrasting fortunes in the 2026/2027 campaign: Sabadell sit 6th in the table with 11 points from six matches, while Celta Vigo B are 15th with just 7 points and a negative goal difference. The visitors have been one of the surprise packages of the early season underpinned by a solid defensive record of just 0.83 goals conceded per game, whereas the hosts have struggled at the back, shipping 1.67 goals per match over their last six outings.

Celta Vigo B's recent form has been worryingly inconsistent for Alfredo Álvarez Paredes' young side. The hosts were crushed 0-4 at home by high-flying Eibar on 14 September and fell 1-2 to Castellón at Balaídos on 31 August, though they did show their attacking potential in the earlier 4-2 victory over Andorra. For the 2026/2027 season, Celta Vigo B's squad is built around goalkeeper Coke Carrillo, defenders Enrique Ribes, Pablo González Meixús and Anxo Rodríguez, the creative Óscar Marcos and Hugo Cuenca in midfield, and forwards Bernard Sarpong and Ángel Arcos, with Álvaro Marín Sesma leading the scoring charts with two goals. However, the injury list remains a concern, with Stefan Bajčetić (hamstring), Jan Oliveras (knee) and Anthony Khayat (wound) all sidelined.

AD Ceuta FC host Real Sociedad B at the Estadio Municipal Alfonso Murube on Saturday, 26 September 2026, in a LaLiga2 (Segunda División) fixture that pits two sides in very different moods against each other. Ceuta are rooted in 22nd place after a miserable start to the 2026/27 campaign, still searching for their first league win of the season despite a spirited 1-1 home draw against Real Valladolid last weekend, where Carlos Hernández rescued a point deep in stoppage time. Real Sociedad B, meanwhile, sit 14th with five points and arrive unbeaten in their last three league outings, having already shown their attacking quality away from home this term.

Ceuta's 2026/27 squad has struggled to turn possession into points, with head coach relying on a 4-3-3 built around goalkeeper Pedro López, defenders Carlos Redruello, Carlos Hernández, Yann Bodiger and José Matos, a midfield of Kuki Zalazar, Chidiebere Okoro and Mawuli Mensah, and an attack led by Edgar Sevikyan, Omar Sadik and Álex Camacho. Albert Caparrós remains suspended, depriving the hosts of a useful midfield option. The home faithful will hope the Alfonso Murube can spark a turnaround after recent disappointments, including the 0-3 home defeat to Valladolid in January and last month's 3-1 loss away to Burgos, results that underlined how costly defensive lapses have been for Ceuta.

Granada CF host FC Andorra at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes on Saturday 26 September 2026 at 22:15 in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, with both teams trying to reset after painful Matchday 6 defeats: Granada fell 3-2 at Leganés, while FC Andorra lost 1-3 to Real Sporting. The tie arrives only weeks after Granada’s away form was exposed again, following February’s 1:0 defeat at Butarque and September’s 3:0 loss at Ipurúa, so Pacheta’s side must defend with more discipline without losing Los Cármenes’ attacking edge.

Granada’s 2026/2027 spine is built around Raúl Lizoain in goal, a back line featuring Sergio López, Manu Lama, Benedikt Gimber and Diego Pampín, and a midfield where Rubén Alcaraz and Gerard Gumbau must set the tempo for Owen Emeka, Jorge Pascual, José Arnáiz and Alejandro Marqués; Pedro Alemañ, Chinaza Onuha and Bourama Dembele give Pacheta rotation options. The 1-1 home draw with Albacete, referenced by 1:1, showed Granada can control spells but still concede preventable pressure, which is the main concern against an Andorra side that likes to stay compact and strike quickly.

CD Tenerife host Cádiz CF at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López on Saturday, 26 September 2026 (kick-off 16:30 UTC) in one of the most intriguing LaLiga2 fixtures of Round 7. The newly promoted Chicharreros, crowned Primera Federación champions last season, have adapted brilliantly to life back in the second tier and currently sit fourth in the table, while Cádiz are struggling near the relegation zone in 19th place. Álvaro Cervera's side arrive in confident mood after beating one of the league's powerhouses, Almería, by 1-0 at home in late August, a result that underlined their defensive organisation and new-found winning mentality.

Tenerife's momentum was actually built on the road, where they produced a stunning 3-1 victory at Ipurúa against Eibar in mid-August, a resounding win that announced their promotion credentials to the rest of the division. Cádiz, by contrast, head to the Canary Islands with morale low: Albert Celades' men were beaten at home by Girona in their most recent outing, a 1-2 reverse at the Nuevo Mirandilla, and they remain without a league win after several frustrating draws, including a 1-1 stalemate with Real Valladolid and a goalless encounter with Celta Fortuna. Cádiz also carry painful memories from the closing weeks of last season, when they were dismantled 4-1 by champions Racing Santander on the final day, a defeat that summed up a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.

Mexico and Colombia open a brand new chapter in their rivalry when they meet in a Friendly International on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore — the first-ever stop of the 2026 MexTour in the city. The fixture marks the head coaching debut of Mexican legend Rafael Márquez, who takes charge of El Tri for the first time after replacing Javier Aguirre, and pits FIFA's 10th-ranked nation against 11th-ranked Colombia. Los Cafeteros handed Mexico a humiliating 4-0 defeat in the sides' most recent meeting in October 2025, so revenge will be on the agenda as both teams begin building toward the 2030 World Cup following round-of-16 exits this summer.

Mexico arrives full of confidence after its best World Cup campaign since 1986, having won its first four matches of the tournament without conceding a goal — including a routine 2-0 victory over Ecuador — before a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat to England at the Estadio Azteca ended the dream on home soil. Márquez has already shaken things up for the 2026/2027 season, calling up a 30-man squad for the United States tour that sees the return of Hirving Lozano alongside Santiago Giménez, Johan Vásquez, César Montes, Jesús Gallardo and exciting young talents such as Gilberto Mora, Diego Campillo, Isaías Violante and Hugo Camberos, while Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones and Edson Álvarez are all left out.

Almagro host Nueva Chicago at Estadio Tres de Febrero in Argentina’s Primera Nacional, with the match listed for Sunday, 27 September 2026 at 18:30 UTC. The latest table picture keeps this tied near the lower middle of the group: Almagro sit around 14th and Nueva Chicago around 15th, so the pressure is less about title dreams and more about avoiding a late-season slide into the relegation conversation. Almagro’s recent rhythm has been uneven: they were beaten 3:1 by Temperley, but they had previously ground out a 0:1 away win over Patronato.

Nueva Chicago arrive with a similarly stop-start profile. They stopped the rot by beating Quilmes 1:0 in Mataderos, then shared a lively 2:2 at Colegiales, a result that again underlined their problem: enough structure to stay in games, not enough consistent finishing to turn pressure into three points. For the 2026/27 cycle, Almagro’s likely spine still revolves around Emiliano González in goal, Gonzalo Asís, Matías Cortave, Julián Vitale and Enzo Silcan across the back, Julián Marchioni and Juan Fernández Pinto in midfield, with Andrés Chávez, Franco Bustamante, Nicolás Tolosa and Mateo Benegas providing the attacking references. Nueva Chicago’s corresponding base has featured Facundo Masuero; Bruno Palazzo, Dylan Gissi, Gonzalo Paz and Diego Arroyo; Enzo Roldán and Tomás Rodríguez; with Thiago Ocampo, Evelio Cardozo, Lucas Ambrogio and Mauro Pérez the names most often carrying the attacking burden.

Almirante Brown host Acassuso at the Estadio Fragata Presidente Sarmiento on Saturday, 26 September 2026, in a Round 31 clash of the Argentina Primera Nacional 2026 season. The Mirasol come into this fixture in the thick of the promotion playoff race after a solid campaign, while Acassuso sit near the foot of the Group A table and are desperate for points in their battle against relegation. The reverse fixture earlier this year ended in a goalless draw at Estadio La Quema, and with both sides conceding fewer than a goal per game on average this season, another tight, low-scoring contest is expected in La Matanza.

Almirante Brown's recent form underlines their strength at home: they brushed aside Racing Córdoba 2-0 at the Fragata on 2 August, and before that they earned a hard-fought point away to CA Mitre in a 0-0 draw. The 2026/2027 squad built around goalkeeper Bruno Galván, defenders Enzo Cardozo, Gustavo Cabral and Pedro Velurtas, and the creative axis of Santiago Gauna, Tomás Villoldo and Luciano Pascual has kept things compact, with Santiago Vera leading the line as the team's top scorer. Acassuso, meanwhile, have struggled for goals all season: they were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Los Andes on 1 September and fell 0-1 at home to Godoy Cruz on 21 August, with Ramiro Reynoso and Lázaro Romero carrying the main attacking threat for the visitors.

CA Mitre welcome San Telmo to the Estadio Aurinegro on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in a Round 31 clash of the Argentina Primera Nacional, and the home side will be confident of extending its remarkable head-to-head record: Mitre have never lost to San Telmo in their last six meetings, winning three and drawing the other three. The hosts sit 14th in the table, while San Telmo are hovering near the bottom in 17th, and with neither side chasing the promotion playoff spots, pride and momentum are the main stakes. The latest news surrounding San Telmo has also been emotional this season, as the club mourned teenage midfielder Camilo Nuin, who tragically passed away during knee surgery — a loss that has deeply affected the 2026/27 campaign.

Mitre have been hard to break down in recent weeks, grinding out a goalless stalemate at Ferro in their most recent outing, 0:0, and coach Claudio Artemio Graf is expected to stick with the same compact structure for the 2026/27 season, relying on his experienced defensive core to keep things tight. San Telmo, by contrast, arrive on the back of a turbulent run: they fought out a lively 2:2 draw with Deportivo Moron at the Baletto, suffered a heavy 3:0 defeat away to Quilmes, and have won just one of their last six matches. A rare bright spot came with their 2:1 away win at Acassuso at the end of August, 1:2, which remains their only away victory of the campaign.

Colegiales and Chacarita Juniors meet on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Estadio de Colegiales in Munro, Buenos Aires, for Matchday 31 of the Primera Nacional Zona B. Colegiales arrive with real momentum in their push for the Reducido playoff spots, while Chacarita are still battling to pull clear of the lower reaches of the table after a difficult campaign. With both sides needing the points for very different reasons, this Buenos Aires derby promises to be a tight, tactical affair under the lights in Munro.

Colegiales have been almost untouchable at home in recent weeks, stringing together three straight victories at the Estadio de Colegiales without conceding a single goal. They edged Nueva Chicago 1-0 on September 12, produced an emphatic statement against direct rivals Midland with a 3-0 win on September 2, and before that defeated Deportivo Maipú 1-0 on August 29 thanks to a Nahuel Galardi own goal. Coach Leonardo Fernandez has built a compact 4-4-2 unit in which keeper Emilio Di Fulvio and defenders Franco Malagueno, Facundo Rivero, Leonel Ortiz and Franco Hanashiro have formed the backbone of that home defensive record.

Defensores de Belgrano and Ferro Carril Oeste close out a pivotal Matchday 31 in the Argentina Primera Nacional Zona A when they meet on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Estadio Juan Pasquale in Buenos Aires. Ferro arrive as one of the strongest sides of the 2026 campaign, sitting second in the zone and firmly in the promotion play-off race, while Mariano Campodónico's Defe have steadied themselves in mid-table after a difficult mid-season run. The reverse fixture earlier this year finished Ferro 2-1 Defensores, so the home side will be eager to settle the score in Núñez. Both teams come in with encouraging recent form: Defe rescued a late 1-1 draw against Los Andes thanks to Leandro Ciccolini's stoppage-time equalizer, while Juan Manuel Sara's Ferro were held to a goalless 0-0 draw at home by Mitre (Santiago del Estero).

Looking at the broader form picture, Defensores de Belgrano have turned the Juan Pasquale into a difficult venue, most notably in a commanding 3-0 win over Racing de Córdoba, though their one blemish in this stretch was a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Ciudad de Bolívar. Since then they have beaten Deportivo Madryn 2-1 and won 1-0 at Central Norte, showing a newfound defensive resilience. Ferro, meanwhile, have been one of the tightest teams in the division, built on Fernando Monetti's goalkeeping and a compact back line of Sebastián Corda, Federico Tévez and Emiliano Ozuna. Their attack flows through Enzo Hoyos, Matías Kabalín and veteran Gonzalo Castellani, with Emanuel Dening, Lautaro Parisi and Franco García — who scored twice in the entertaining 2-2 draw away to Estudiantes (BA) — providing the goals. Defe's spine of Alejandro Medina in goal, Brian Gómez and Gonzalo Gamarra at the back, Ciccolini in midfield and Ezequiel Aguirre up front will need to be at their best to contain them.

Deportivo Madryn host Central Norte de Salta on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Estadio Abel Sastre in Puerto Madryn, in a key Argentina Primera Nacional (Zona A) fixture. Madryn sit 5th in the standings with 40 points from 25 matches, firmly in the promotion conversation, while Central Norte are struggling in 13th place on 27 points, leaving everything to play for as the 2026/27 season enters its decisive stretch. Bookmakers make the hosts clear favourites: European odds of 1.77 for a Deportivo Madryn win reflect their strong home form, while a draw is priced around 3.40 and a Central Norte victory as high as 5.30.

Form strongly favours the hosts. Under head coach Luis García, Madryn have won three of their last five league games, scoring 9 goals and conceding just 2, with recent results including a dominant 2-0 win over Godoy Cruz, a hard-fought 2-2 draw at San Martín de Tucumán, and a gritty away 1-0 victory at CA Estudiantes. Central Norte, by contrast, are winless in their last few outings, managing a 0-0 stalemate against Deportivo Morón and a 0-0 draw with Gimnasia y Tiro, though they did edge CA Estudiantes 2-1 earlier in the month. Salta have scored just 0.6 goals per away game this season — one of the weakest attacks in the division.

Deportivo Maipú host Temperley at the Estadio Omar Higinio Sperdutti on 27 September 2026 in a crucial Argentina Primera Nacional (Zona B) clash. Maipú sit 9th with 41 points from 30 matches, still chasing a Torneo Reducido spot, while Temperley arrive in outstanding form in 2nd place with 53 points and are pushing for direct promotion. The reverse fixture back in May produced a stunning 5-0 away win for Maipú — the biggest away victory of the 2026 season — and the Cruzados will be hoping to repeat that dominance on home soil. Maipú's recent form has been mixed, however, as they followed a hard-fought 2-2 draw away at Almagro with a 1-1 home stalemate against Gimnasia Jujuy, leaving Alexis Matteo's side without a win in several rounds.

Temperley, meanwhile, have been one of the strongest teams in the division, unbeaten in their last five league games with four wins and a draw. Their most recent outing was an emphatic 3-1 home victory over Almagro, preceded by a goalless 0-0 stalemate at Patronato. Their only recent slip came on 2 August, a narrow 1-2 home defeat to Gimnasia y Tiro, but they responded with convincing wins over Colegiales, Quilmes and Midland. Despite that strong run, Temperley's 5-0 humiliation against Maipú earlier this season will be fresh in their minds, and the long trip to Mendoza has historically been a difficult one for the Gasolero.

Los Andes and Deportivo Morón meet again in Argentina’s Primera Nacional on 27 September 2026 at Estadio Eduardo Gallardón, with both 2026/2027 squads carrying the pressure of a promotion race rather than treating this as a routine league date. The latest league reference between them finished Deportivo Morón 0-0 Los Andes in May, and Los Andes’ most recent away checkpoint before this home appointment was a hard-earned 1:1 at Defensores de Belgrano, so the preview starts with whether the Milrayitas can turn control into clearer chances.

Los Andes’ 2026/2027 spine is built around Sebastián López in goal, Daniel Franco and Peter Martínez Grance in central defence, Julián Navas and Gabriel Cañete as the midfield screen, and Mauricio Asenjo as the attacking reference, with Franco Tisera and Alex Valdez giving the front line mobility. Their recent pattern has been competitive but short on ruthlessness: the 0:0 against Acassuso kept another clean sheet at the Gallardón, yet it also underlined the need for faster circulation into the half-spaces instead of asking Asenjo to win repeated isolated duels.

Patronato host San Martín S.J. at Estadio Presbítero Bartolomé Grella on 27 September 2026 in Argentina's Primera Nacional, a meeting between a draw-heavy home side and a San Juan team with more punch in the final third. Patronato's latest references are caution rather than risk, with 1-1 at Nueva Chicago and 0-0 against Temperley, while the 2026/2027 group built around Iván Cháves, Franco Rivasseau, Román Peralta, Matías Caballero, Alan Sosa, Juan Pablo Barinaga, Santiago Piccioni, Joaquín Barolín and the Agustín Araujo, Franco Meritello, Federico Bravo, Tomás Attis and Hernán Rivero arrivals has leaned on structure over volume.

San Martín's 2026/2027 squad reads experienced at the back with Sebastián Díaz Robles, Federico Murillo, Emanuel Aguilera, Mauro Osores, Facundo Nadalín, Hernán Zuliani and Julián Marchio, while Sebastián González, Guillermo Acosta, Gabriel Hachen, Diego Mercado, Leonardo Monje, Ramiro Rúmbolo and Sebastián Jaurena are asked to screen for Genaro Rossi, Nazareno Fúnez, Carlo Lattanzio, Bruno Juncos and Alex Salcedo; their recent markers include 1-0 over Nueva Chicago and 0-0 against Tristán Suárez, with Fúnez, Zuliani and Murillo supplying much of the scoring and Hachen plus Lattanzio the creativity.

Racing Córdoba host Godoy Cruz in Argentina’s Primera Nacional this weekend with both 2026/2027 season squads trying to turn pressure into points. Racing’s referenced form includes a 1-0 home success over San Miguel, but the more recent away assignment ended in a 3-0 defeat at Defensores de Belgrano, so the home side needs a cleaner start at Estadio Miguel Sancho. Godoy Cruz arrive with similar volatility: a narrow away win referenced by 0-1 at Acassuso was followed by a 2-0 loss at Deportivo Madryn, leaving the Mendoza club seeking a response on the road.

For Racing Córdoba, the 2026/2027 squad points to Brian Olivera in goal, a defensive line shaped by Gabriel Aranda, Raúl Chamorro, Santiago Rinaudo and Emanuel Díaz, a creative midfield led by Ricardo Centurión, Leandro Córdoba, Alan Olinick and Cristian Vega, and an attack featuring Pablo Chavarría, Sergio González and Nahuel Sandrone. Godoy Cruz counter with Roberto Ramírez or Juan Strumia available in goal, Francisco Gerometta, Nahuel Brunet, Esteban Burgos and Juan Morán across the back, Gastón Gil Romero, Vicente Poggi, Agustín Valverde and Brian Orosco supplying control, and Martín Pino, Axel Rodríguez, Misael Sosa plus Rodrigo Fernández offering the main goal threat.

Austria host Kosovo at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna on Sunday, 27 September 2026 (18:00 CET) in one of the headline fixtures of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League Group B3 campaign. Ralf Rangnick's side are looking to bounce back from their FIFA World Cup 2026 round-of-32 exit and lay down an early marker in a group that also features the Republic of Ireland and Israel, with the return meeting in Pristina following just one week later on 4 October.

Form guides point in opposite directions heading into this clash. Austria's World Cup ended in disappointment with a 3-0 defeat to Spain in Los Angeles, though they showed real attacking steel in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Algeria in the group stage. Kosovo, promoted to League B and coached by Franco Foda, fell 0-1 at home to Turkey in the World Cup play-off final after a sensational 3-4 away win over Slovakia, and they will arrive in Vienna battle-hardened but short of confidence against top-tier opposition.

Denmark host Wales at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Sunday, 27 September 2026, in one of the headline fixtures of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League League A group phase. The two sides have been drawn alongside Portugal and Norway in a fiercely competitive section, and with both teams targeting an early statement win, this clash promises to be a tight, tactical battle between two of Europe's most organised national sides. Denmark will be looking to make home advantage count in front of a passionate Copenhagen crowd, while Craig Bellamy's Wales arrive determined to prove they belong back among the continent's elite after a strong build-up to the campaign.

Denmark head into the match in confident mood after an impressive run of results in 2026. The Danes dismantled North Macedonia 4-0 in a World Cup qualifying play-off at Parken in March, before continuing their fine form with a 2-1 friendly victory over Ukraine in Odense in June. For the 2026/27 season, Denmark can call on a settled and powerful squad featuring goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, defenders Joakim Mæhle, Victor Nelsson and Joakim Bah, a midfield engine room of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Morten Hjulmand and Mikkel Damsgaard, and the exciting attacking trio of Patrick Dorgu, Gustav Isaksen and Rasmus Højlund, with Christian Eriksen still pulling the strings as the creative heartbeat of the side.

Fresh off a World Cup that ended in a round-of-32 penalty heartbreak against Paraguay, Germany begin a new era under Jürgen Klopp in the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League, and their second fixture of the campaign is a home clash with Greece on Sunday, 27 September 2026 at the WWK Arena in Augsburg. Group A2 also contains the Netherlands and Serbia, so a winning start at home is essential for the four-time world champions. This year marks the first competitive reset after Spain lifted the World Cup in July, and Klopp has already made headlines by naming an extended 44-man pool split into two working squads — with his first group handling the Netherlands trip and this Greece match. The bookmakers have taken notice: European odds opened at roughly 1.30 for a Germany win, around 5.50 for the draw, and near 9.50 for a Greek upset.

Klopp's first squad features a compelling blend of experience and fresh blood for the 2026/2027 season: Marc-André ter Stegen is finally confirmed as Germany's number one after Manuel Neuer's retirement, with Joshua Kimmich captaining the side from midfield rather than right-back. Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck anchor the defence, while Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, Karim Adeyemi and Kai Havertz — who arrives with three goals in his last four Arsenal appearances — supply the firepower, with Eintracht Frankfurt's Younes Ebnoutalib among eleven potential debutants. Germany's attacking credentials are proven: they have scored in 13 consecutive internationals, a run that includes the 7-1 dismantling of Curaçao and the dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast at the World Cup, though they were stunned 2-1 by Ecuador in their final group game before exiting on penalties. Germany have won both previous meetings with Greece without conceding, and with Klopp demanding vertical, high-tempo football in his first home match in charge, the hosts look built to dominate possession and territory in Augsburg.

Gibraltar will host Andorra at the Europa Point Stadium on Sunday, 27 September 2026 (17:00 CET) in a UEFA Nations League D Group 1 clash that opens the 2026/2027 campaign for both nations. With the group also featuring Malta, a positive result in this opener could set the tone for the entire mini-league, and both head coaches are expected to field their strongest available 2026/2027 squads as they chase a shot at promotion through the Nations League pathway. Gibraltar's preparations include a warm-up against São Tomé & Príncipe on 23 September, while Andorra will be battle-tested after facing Malta just days earlier.

The home side heads into the new season under coach Scott Wiseman with a youthful but increasingly settled group, built around goalkeeper Bradley Banda, defenders Ethan Jolley and Bernardo Lopes, midfielders James Scanlon and Kian Ronan, and forwards Tjay De Barr and Jamie Coombes. Gibraltar's recent Nations League form has been mixed: they fell to a narrow 1:0 defeat away to Latvia in March, before also losing the home leg by a 0:1 scoreline — two tight, low-scoring games that underline how hard this team is to break down when the defensive shape holds.

Israel face the Republic of Ireland in a UEFA Nations League B Group B3 match on Sunday, 27 September 2026, at Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary. The game is Israel’s designated home fixture but will be played at a neutral venue, with the return meeting scheduled for 4 October in Bačka Topola, Serbia. The tie will go ahead after UEFA rejected the FAI’s request to keep the teams apart, while Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson acknowledged that some of his players feel uncomfortable but stressed the sporting consequences of not fulfilling the fixture.

Israel approach the match unbeaten in their last three internationals following a 4-1 victory over Moldova, a 2-2 draw with Georgia and a 1-0 friendly win away to Albania. Ireland have also shown resilience, producing a 5-0 win against Grenada, a 1-0 victory over Qatar and a 1-1 draw in Canada, although their World Cup play-off against the Czech Republic ended in a 2-2 draw followed by a penalty shoot-out defeat.

Lithuania host Azerbaijan on Sunday, 27 September 2026, at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas, kicking off at 16:00 local time (15:00 UTC), in Matchday 2 of Group 2 in the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League D. Both sides were relegated from League C last season and now face each other in a group completed by Liechtenstein, with the group winner earning promotion back to League C. Lithuania come into the tie after a mixed run of results in 2026, including a 2-0 friendly win away in Moldova and a narrow defeat to Georgia, while Azerbaijan bounced back from a loss to Malta with a 2-1 victory over San Marino in June. With so little separating the two lowest-ranked teams in the section, a tight, cagey contest is widely expected in Kaunas.

Head-to-head history also points toward a low-scoring affair: the teams have met several times in recent Nations League and qualifying campaigns, and their encounters have typically been decided by a single goal or ended level. Lithuania's home form has been modest — they were beaten 2-0 by Poland and held 0-0 by Israel in Kaunas during the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle — while Azerbaijan have struggled for goals away from Baku, managing just one strike in their heaviest recent defeats. Recent meetings between these sides, such as the 1-1 draw and the 2-0 home win in past campaigns, underline how evenly matched they are when neither can establish attacking rhythm.

Norway vs Portugal headlines Group A4 of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League this Sunday, 27 September 2026, with kick-off at 20:45 CEST at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo — a blockbuster Round 2 clash pitting Erling Haaland against Cristiano Ronaldo. Both teams arrive after memorable 2026 FIFA World Cup runs: Norway reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1998 before falling 2-1 to England, while Portugal were eliminated in the Round of 16. The Norwegians have carried their summer momentum into autumn, having stunned Brazil 1-2 in the World Cup Round of 16 and beaten Ivory Coast by the same margin, though they were beaten 1-4 by France in the group stage. Portugal, now under new coach Jorge Jesus, edged Croatia 2-1 in the Round of 32 but bowed out to eventual champions Spain 0-1, leaving both sides hungry to open their Nations League campaign with a statement result.

The 2026/27 season squads are loaded with star power. Norway can call on captain Martin Ødegaard, who has been included in Ståle Solbakken's selection alongside Haaland — the tournament breakout with seven World Cup goals — plus Antonio Nusa, Jørgen Strand Larsen, Alexander Sørloth, Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer and Sander Berge. Portugal's squad features Cristiano Ronaldo, named by Jorge Jesus for the September fixtures, supported by Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, Gonçalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes and Diogo Costa — a blend of veteran leadership and one of Europe's most exciting midfields. With Ødegaard pulling the strings against Portugal's technical engine room, the tactical battle in the centre of the pitch could decide the contest at Ullevaal.

Serbia host Netherlands in a UEFA Nations League Group A2 meeting at Stadion Rajko Mitić on 27 September 2026, with the return in Eindhoven set for 4 October; the early European odds make Netherlands clear favourites at about 1.73, the draw 3.90 and Serbia 4.60, while the correct-score price for a 0-3 away win sits near 15.00. Serbia arrive after a bruising run that includes the 5-1 loss to Mexico and back-to-back 3-0 defeats by Spain, so pressure will be high from the first whistle in Belgrade.

Netherlands come in with the stronger momentum profile after the 1-3 win over Tunisia and the 5-1 demolition of Sweden, giving the Dutch the attacking rhythm Serbia currently lack. The market lean is toward an away victory and over 2.5 goals, but Serbia’s home crowd should still make the opening 20 minutes physical and transitional rather than a straightforward cruise.

Burgos CF host CD Eldense at the Estadio Municipal El Plantío on Sunday, 27 September 2026 (kick-off 18:30 CEST) in a LaLiga2 (LaLiga Hypermotion) fixture that pits two sides heading in very different directions early in the 2026/27 campaign. Burgos, under new coach Sergio Francisco, have made a solid start to the season and sit in the upper half of the table after a strong run of results, including a impressive 2-1 away victory at Las Palmas last weekend (1-2) and a convincing 3-1 home win over Ceuta (3-1), although their resilience was also on show in a goalless draw at Oviedo earlier in the month. Eldense, meanwhile, are still searching for their first league win of the season and remain anchored in the bottom four following a narrow 1-2 home defeat to Eibar (1-2) and a 0-0 stalemate against Mallorca (0-0).

The big story in the visitors' camp is the dugout: Eldense sacked Claudio Barragán on 6 September after a winless start, saw Josep Ferrando take caretaker charge, and then appointed Javier Calleja as the new permanent manager on 16 September, meaning this trip to Burgos will be one of his first games in charge of the promoted side. Eldense's squad for the 2026/27 season is built around captain and centre-back Jesús Clemente, goalkeeper Ramón Vilà, defenders Álex Serra, Floris Smand and David Ruiz, midfielders Justin Smith, Guille Macho, Jordi Martín and Fidel Chaves, and forwards Mariano Carmona and Manuel Nieto, but they have scored just twice in their opening league matches and look short of confidence in the final third.

Eibar host Las Palmas at the Estadio Municipal de Ipurúa on Sunday, 27 September 2026 (kick-off 18:30 CEST) in one of the standout fixtures of the 2026/27 LaLiga2 season. The Armeros have been the surprise package of the campaign so far, sitting second in the table with 15 points from six matches and riding the longest winning run in the division (five straight victories), while Rubén de la Barrera's Las Palmas occupy mid-table after an inconsistent start that has included impressive away wins and heavy home defeats. With both sides harbouring promotion ambitions, this Basque-Canary Islands clash promises to be a fascinating tactical battle under the lights at the compact 8,050-capacity Ipurúa.

Jokin Aranbarri, who took over in June 2026 after Beñat San José's departure to Rayo Vallecano, has built a disciplined and clinical Eibar side captained by veteran centre-back Anaitz Arbilla. The 2026/27 squad, built around goalkeeper Jon Magunagoitia, full-backs Álvaro Rodríguez and Juan Bernat, midfield engine Álvaro Madariaga and forwards Jorge Bautista and Álvaro Ares, has been ruthless on the road — most recently edging Eldense 1–2 — and devastating in attack, thrashing Celta Fortuna 0–4 and sweeping aside Granada 3–0 at Ipurúa. Eibar are averaging two goals per game while conceding just 0.67, and their only league defeat came on the opening day against Tenerife.

Real Valladolid host Córdoba CF at the Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in a LaLiga2 2026/2027 matchday 7 clash between two sides searching for consistency early in the campaign. Valladolid sit 18th with just five points from their opening six fixtures, while Córdoba are only marginally better off in 16th place with six points, making this an early-season basement battle with real pressure on both benches. The European odds reflect how tight the contest is expected to be, with the home win priced around 2.45, the draw at approximately 3.10 and a Córdoba victory quoted near 3.40, as bookmakers struggle to split two out-of-form teams.

Valladolid finally claimed their first league win of the 2026/27 season at the fifth attempt when they edged FC Andorra 1-0 at home in early September, and Álvaro Aceves will look to build on that platform behind a defensive line featuring Iván Alejo, David Torres and Carlos Clerc, with Julien Ponceau, Chuki and Víctor Fernández supplying the creativity for striker Robin van Duiven. The hosts have fond recent memories of this fixture's surrounding region, having won 0-3 away at Ceuta back in January, although they were humbled 3-0 at Eibar last December and crashed 0-3 at home to Real Oviedo earlier this month, underlining their fragility. Team news is far from ideal: Álex Balboa is suspended, Tay Abed and Homam El Amin are away on international duty, while Dani Pérez, Thiago Ojeda and Guille Bueno remain in the treatment room.

Austin FC host San Diego FC in a USA - MLS 2026 regular-season meeting at Q2 Stadium on Sunday, September 27, with kickoff listed at 00:30 UTC and both clubs needing points near the Western Conference playoff line. The latest team news points to a tight contest rather than a one-sided game: Austin arrive unbeaten in six MLS matches after a strong 1-2 win at Vancouver, while San Diego are coming off a resilient 2-2 draw at Inter Miami despite sitting only one point ahead of Austin in the Sofascore standings. Using European decimal odds, Austin are a modest home favorite at about 2.30, with the draw and San Diego win close enough to keep the market cautious; our prediction is Austin FC 2 : 2 San Diego FC, reflecting both teams’ recent scoring trends and defensive leaks.

The home side’s 2026/2027 squad is built around Brad Stuver in goal, Mikkel Desler, Brendan Hines-Ike, Oleksandr Svatok, Jon Bell, Guilherme Biro and Žan Kolmanič in defense, Ilie Sánchez, Besard Šabović and Joseph Rosales in midfield, and Facundo Torres, Christian Ramírez, Brandon Vázquez and Myrto Uzuni as the attacking core, with Przemysław Płacheta adding late-season depth. Austin’s recent rhythm has been mixed at Q2 Stadium, including a 1-1 draw with Colorado, and the latest availability concern is Uzuni’s injury after a summer window in which Austin sold Owen Wolff and Jayden Nelson, loaned out CJ Fodrey and Nicolás Dubersarsky, traded Daniel Pereira to CF Montréal, signed Płacheta, and confirmed Jim Curtin will take over in 2027 with Davy Arnaud interim for the rest of 2026.

Charlotte FC welcomes the Chicago Fire to Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in a blockbuster Eastern Conference showdown billed as the Walmart Soccer Showdown, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT and global coverage on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass. The stakes could hardly be higher: Charlotte sits fourth in the East on the back of a strong unbeaten run, while Chicago arrives in fifth, just one point behind Dean Smith's side, making this a genuine six-pointer in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs race. The Crown are priced as favorites at European odds of around 1.76 (converted from -132 moneyline), the Fire are available at roughly 2.10 (+110), with the draw near 3.80, and oddsmakers are clearly expecting goals given how these sides have traded blows in recent meetings.

Charlotte heads into this clash in the better rhythm, having remained difficult to beat since the Leagues Cup exit. Their most recent outing was a thrilling 3-3 draw at FC Cincinnati, where Pep Biel converted from the spot and the Crown twice came from behind before Kévin Denkey's stoppage-time equalizer rescued a point for the hosts. Before that, Charlotte ground out a 1-2 away win over CF Montréal, with young Idan Toklomati striking late off the bench, and they also held Western Conference powerhouse Houston Dynamo to a 0-0 stalemate. With Biel leading the line on 11 goals and nine assists for the 2026/2027 campaign, Toklomati chipping in eight goals, and Kristijan Kahlina between the posts, Charlotte's spine looks built for exactly this kind of pressure match.

FC Dallas host Los Angeles FC at Toyota Stadium on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in an MLS Western Conference playoff-positioning match streaming on Apple TV. Dallas enter fourth in the West on 44 points, while LAFC are sixth on 41, and the European odds make the hosts only a slim favorite at around 2.30, with the draw near 3.70 and LAFC about 2.65; the market total around three goals fits two attacks that have produced most of their good moments this season.

Eric Quill’s FC Dallas squad for the 2026/2027 cycle is built around Daniel in goal, Shaq Moore, Osaze Urhoghide and Sebastien Ibeagha/Nolan Norris across the back, Ramiro, Christian Cappis and Joaquín Valiente in midfield, and Petar Musa, Logan Farrington, Kaick and Santiago Moreno as the main scoring threats. Dallas have cooled slightly after three straight wins, drawing Austin FC 0-0 last time out, but their recent profile is still strong: 2:1 over Portland at home and 1:2 away to Minnesota, with Musa leading the line and Valiente driving the creative load.

Houston Dynamo host Sporting Kansas City at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, September 26, 2026, with kick-off at 7:30 p.m. CT, in a Major League Soccer regular-season clash that arrives with the two clubs in sharply contrasting form. Houston sit fifth in the Western Conference with 44 points from 26 matches, while Sporting Kansas City are anchored to the bottom of the standings with just 18 points and a -34 goal difference, having lost 17 of their 25 games. The Dynamo, coached by Ben Olsen, are pushing to lock in a home playoff seed, whereas Sporting arrive in Texas with little left to play for beyond pride. Houston head into the weekend after a 2-2 draw with FC Cincinnati, following a 2-1 home win over Real Salt Lake and a 0-0 stalemate in Charlotte.

The latest team news points to Houston fielding their established 2026/2027 core, with Jimmy Bond in goal, Franco Negri and Artur anchoring the back line, and Hector Herrera pulling the strings in midfield alongside Guilherme, with Lawrence Ennali and Mathieu Bouzat supporting striker Mateusz Bogusz. Sporting Kansas City are expected to line up with John Pulskamp between the posts and a young back line of Dany Rosero, Zorhan Bassong and Jake Davis, with Oliver Wolff and Jake Bartlett in midfield and Ryan Ramos leading the attack; however, they continue to miss Manu Garcia, and their defensive fragility has been exposed all season. The reverse fixture on August 1, 2026, ended 0-2 in Houston's favor, and the Dynamo have won three of the last six meetings between the sides.

The LA Galaxy host the Colorado Rapids at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, September 26, 2026 (7:30 PM PT, Apple TV), in a Western Conference showdown that could prove decisive for the 2026 MLS Cup playoff race. The Rapids currently sit seventh in the West on 36 points, three points clear of the eighth-placed Galaxy, who have 33 points from 27 games — meaning a home win would vault LA into a direct playoff position on tiebreakers. In 88 all-time regular-season meetings, the Galaxy hold a 41-34-13 advantage, including a dominant 27-11-6 record at home, and the hosts will be looking for revenge after Colorado cruised to a 4-1 victory at Dick's Sporting Goods Park back in March, a result distorted by a Gabriel Pec red card.

Greg Vanney's Galaxy arrive with genuine momentum after a gritty 3-2 road win at Minnesota United, though their form has been erratic — a 2-1 home win over New England Revolution preceded a 3-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps, before grinding out a 1-1 draw with Seattle Sounders in their most recent home fixture (3:0 loss to Vancouver; 1:1 vs Seattle). Marco Reus has been the creative heartbeat of the 2026/2027 squad with 7 goals and 58 chances created, supported by João Klauss de Mello (6 goals in just 604 minutes), Joseph Paintsil, Gabriel Pec, and Mexican star Hirving Lozano — who returns from international duty with El Tri under Rafa Márquez — while JT Marcinkowski, Jakob Glesnes, Julián Aude, Calegari, Emiliano Thommy, and Harbor Miller form the expected spine, though Sergi Roberto, Paintsil, and Elijah Wynder remain injury doubts.

Nashville SC host Toronto FC at GEODIS Park on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in a Major League Soccer regular season clash that pits the East's best against one of its most unpredictable sides. Nashville arrive as the Supporters' Shield leaders with 57 points from 26 matches and a +32 goal difference, having already become the first club to clinch a berth in the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs. Toronto FC, sitting 12th on 29 points, make the trip south after a month of highs and lows under Robin Fraser. The bookmakers have made their position clear in European odds: a Nashville win is priced at 1.45, the draw at 4.50, and a Toronto victory at 5.50, with Over 2.5 goals available at 1.47.

B.J. Callaghan's Nashville side has been the class of MLS this season, and its latest statement was a dominant 3-0 win over Chicago Fire at GEODIS Park, in which Sam Surridge, Cristian Espinoza and Hany Mukhtar all found the net to secure the club's playoff spot. That result followed a hard-earned 2-2 draw at Inter Miami, where Surridge scored twice, including a stoppage-time equalizer against Lionel Messi and company. The Boys in Gold are unbeaten at home in MLS this campaign and their 2026/27 squad blends experience with youth: Brian Schwake in goal; Reed Baker-Whiting, Maxwell Woledzi, Jeisson Palacios and Andy Nájar across the back; Patrick Yazbek and Matthew Corcoran anchoring midfield; Elias Saad, captain Hany Mukhtar and Espinoza supporting Surridge, the club's top scorer with 16 league goals. Warren Madrigal remains a doubt with a lower-body injury.

New York Red Bulls welcome St. Louis City SC to Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on Saturday, September 26, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM ET in what is a first-ever MLS meeting between the two clubs at this venue. The hosts are looking to build on a morale-boosting week that saw them edge New York City FC 1-0 in the Hudson River Derby thanks to a Julian Hall strike and an Ethan Horvath clean sheet, while St. Louis arrive unbeaten in their last five league outings and sitting on 38 points in the Western Conference playoff race. With both sides pushing toward postseason positioning, this cross-conference clash promises intensity from the first whistle, and every MLS match is available to stream live on Apple TV.

Form suggests the visitors hold the edge heading into this fixture. St. Louis City SC are unbeaten in five straight MLS matches, including a 2-1 home win over Houston Dynamo and a 3-1 road victory at San Jose, with Brazilian striker Rafael Navarro in red-hot form after netting twice in their recent trip to Portland. New York, by contrast, have been inconsistent: they ended a six-match winless skid with a hard-fought 0-1 win at Columbus Crew courtesy of Ronald Donkor's 89th-minute winner, ground out a 0-0 draw away to Seattle Sounders, but were beaten 1-3 at home by Philadelphia Union in late August and fell 2-0 at LAFC in midweek. The Missouri side also showed resilience in their 2-2 draw at Portland Timbers, twice leading through Navarro before being pegged back late.

Philadelphia Union vs Orlando City SC is the standout MLS matchup on the September 26 card at Subaru Park, with the Union arriving as one of the form teams in the Eastern Conference after a stunning 4-3 comeback win at Sporting Kansas City, while Orlando City head north after a 4-2 defeat at New England and a 2-1 U.S. Open Cup semifinal loss at Columbus. The latest team news centers on Philadelphia’s balance of youth and experience under Ryan Richter against Martín Perelman’s more transitional Orlando side, now powered by Antoine Griezmann; in European decimal odds, Philadelphia are priced around 1.48, the draw is close to 4.40 and Orlando are drifting toward 6.00, which makes the home win the clear market position and our prediction is Philadelphia Union 3 : 1 Orlando City.

Philadelphia’s 2026/2027-season core is built around Andre Blake in goal, Kai Wagner and Frankie Westfield as attacking full-backs, Nathan Harriel and teenage force Neil Pierre at center-back, Danley Jean Jacques supplying midfield energy, and the Sullivan brothers—Cavan and Quinn—adding creativity around Milan Iloski and Bruno Damiani. That group has turned the season around since the summer restart, including the 5-0 dismantling of FC Cincinnati, the 1-3 win at the New York Red Bulls and the 0-5 rout at San Diego FC, results that explain why the Union are trusted at short European odds despite Orlando’s headline talent.

Seattle Sounders host Minnesota United at Lumen Field on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in a crucial late-season Western Conference clash that kicks off the "Vamos Sounders" matchday in front of a sellout crowd. Seattle comes into this fixture on a five-match unbeaten run, having fought back brilliantly to claim a 3:3 draw at the Colorado Rapids, where debutant Caden Clark struck a stoppage-time equalizer, while Brian Schmetzer's men also earned a hard-fought 1:1 draw at the LA Galaxy. Minnesota, meanwhile, arrives in the Pacific Northwest in patchy form, losing 1:2 at home to FC Dallas and falling in a nine-goal thriller 4:5 at the Portland Timbers, results that have left Cameron Knowles' side chasing points to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Seattle's 2026/2027 squad has taken shape impressively under Schmetzer, blending veteran leadership with summer signings: Stefan Frei and Andrew Thomas compete in goal, with Nouhou, Jackson Ragen, Stuart Hawkins and Alex Roldan anchoring the defense, Cristian Roldan captaining the midfield alongside Albert Rusnák — who leads the team with ten assists — and Hassani Dotson. The attacking third is stacked with Jordan Morris, Pedro de la Vega, Paul Arriola and deadline-day arrivals Dejan Joveljić, already on three goals for the club, and Caden Clark, who became just the eleventh player in club history to score on his debut. Minnesota counters with Dayne St. Clair in goal, Michael Boxall and DJ Taylor at the back, Wil Trapp and Alejandro Bran in midfield, and a dangerous forward line featuring Kelvin Yeboah, Anthony Markanich, Joaquín Pereyra and the emerging Marcus Caldeira.

Vancouver Whitecaps welcome D.C. United to BC Place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, with kick-off set for 7:30 PM PT in a Major League Soccer regular-season fixture that pits the Western Conference leaders against an Eastern Conference side still clinging to playoff hope. The Whitecaps top the West with 49 points from 25 matches (15 wins, 4 draws, 6 defeats) and a league-best +33 goal difference, while D.C. United arrive 11th in the East on 29 points at -8. Vancouver head into the weekend buoyed by a superb 3-0 victory at Real Salt Lake in their latest league outing, although that win came either side of a Canadian Championship semifinal exit to CF Montréal, while the visitors from the capital were beaten 1-2 at home by Charlotte FC last time out and have taken just one win from their last five league games.

The 2026/27 Vancouver squad remains one of the deepest in the West, built around goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, a back line featuring Édier Ocampo and Tristan Blackmon, and an attack in which Brian White scored his 14th goal of the campaign in the 3-0 dismantling of the LA Galaxy earlier this month. Ryan Gauld continues to pull the strings as the creative heartbeat of the side, veteran Thomas Müller brings big-game experience in support of the front line, and homegrown talents such as Jeevan Badwal and Olivier Larraz add energy — although Ranko Veselinović and Gabriel Segal remain unavailable. The only recent blemish came in a 1-2 home defeat to Austin FC, but Vancouver have otherwise been ruthless at BC Place, and their +33 goal differential is the best mark in the conference.

Deportivo Cali host Rionegro Águilas at Estadio Deportivo Cali on Sunday, 27 September 2026 (20:10 local; 28 September 01:10 UTC) in a Liga BetPlay Primera A Finalización date that already carries playoff-tone pressure: Cali are ninth in the aggregate table on 27 points, one clear of Águilas on 26, and a home win would lift them back into the leading pack before the October run-in.

The market is tight but tilts to the Azucareros in European decimal odds, with Deportivo Cali around 2.10, the draw near 3.20 and Águilas close to 3.60; those prices fit a low-margin home favourite rather than a blowout, especially after Cali’s recent control in a 1-1 away at Millonarios, a 3-0 home win over Cúcuta and a 2-1 win at Once Caldas.

Fortaleza FC welcome Deportes Tolima to the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo on Sunday, 27 September 2026, in a Liga BetPlay Primera A Clausura fixture that closes the weekend's Matchday 12 action. The clash is a repeat of March's meeting at the Manuel Murillo Toro, where Tolima ran out comfortable 2-0 winners thanks to a dominant 65% possession performance, and the historical record heavily favours the visitors: across 19 meetings since 2011, Tolima have won 10 to Fortaleza's 3, with 5 draws. El Vinotinto y Oro arrive in Bogotá in solid Clausura form, unbeaten in their last outing after a 1-1 home draw with América de Cali, a result that kept them in touch with the playoff places, while Fortaleza FC are desperate for points to climb away from the lower half of the aggregate table.

The hosts come into this one on a streaky run that has mixed resilience with frustration: their last time out they were held to a 1-1 draw, and they are still smarting from a narrow 1-2 defeat away from home in July. For the 2026/2027 season, Fortaleza FC's rebuilt squad has leaned on defensive organisation at Techo, where they remain awkward to break down, but goals have been scarce — a pattern that has defined their campaign. Head coach Ismael Rescalvo (at the helm for the new season project) is expected to name a compact midfield in front of his back four, hoping to spring counters through the flanks, though suspensions and knocks picked up in training this week could force at least one change from the side that took the field in the previous round.

Barranquilla FC host Real Cundinamarca on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Estadio Romelio Martínez in Round 11 of the Colombia Primera B Clausura, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 local time. The visitors arrive in far better shape, sitting 6th in the Clausura standings while Barranquilla languish down in 15th place, still searching for consistency after a difficult campaign. The latest European odds for this fixture price a Barranquilla home win at 2.90, the draw at 3.05, and a Real Cundinamarca away victory at 2.45, reflecting the visitors' superior league position and more reliable recent form.

The home side come into this clash on the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat away to Bogotá FC last weekend, a result that extended their frustrating run in the second half of the season. Dayron Pérez's squad for the 2026/2027 campaign remains built around Cristian Peñate, the team's top scorer with 5 goals, alongside forwards Phillipe Oviedo (4 goals), Jhoynner Lozano and Jairo Torres, while midfielders Javier Ortiz, Sebastián Caballero, Alberto Orozco and Mohamed Bolívar provide the engine room behind them. In goal, Juan Lemus and Sebastián Guerra compete for the gloves, with defenders Neymar Uribe, Edmilson Herazo, William Mosquera and Fabián Correa tasked with tightening a back line that has leaked goals far too easily this term, despite the club's memorable Copa BetPlay upset over parent club Junior in July.

Belgium host France at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Monday, 28 September 2026 (kick-off 20:45 CET) in a mouth-watering UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A1 clash between two of Europe's heavyweights. Both nations begin a new era on the bench, with Mark van Bommel taking charge of Belgium for the first time and Zinédine Zidane returning to management to lead Les Bleus. History heavily favours the visitors: France have won the last five meetings between the sides, including 2-0 and 2-1 victories in the most recent Nations League edition, while Belgium have not beaten France in a competitive fixture since a 2-0 win in 1982 World Cup qualifying. The Red Devils arrive in mixed form after their World Cup run ended with a 1 - 2 quarter-final defeat to Spain, though they did impress earlier in the tournament with a 4 - 1 win over the USA in the round of 16.

France, for their part, are looking to bounce back from a painful World Cup campaign that saw them fall to Spain in the semi-finals before losing the third-place play-off to England by a remarkable 4 - 6 scoreline, and a 0 - 2 defeat to the eventual champions in the last four. Zidane has already stamped his authority on the 2026/27 squad, leaving out 11 players from the World Cup run: William Saliba, Marcus Thuram and Jean-Philippe Mateta are all sidelined with fitness issues, Aurélien Tchouaméni has been omitted as a precaution, and N'Golo Kanté has retired from international duty. Even so, Les Bleus remain stacked with talent, with Mike Maignan in goal, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé and Dayot Upamecano at the back, Eduardo Camavinga and Adrien Rabiot in midfield, and a frightening attack led by Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise.

Georgia host Ukraine on Monday, 28 September 2026 at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi in one of the headline fixtures of UEFA Nations League B Group 2, with both sides chasing early momentum in the 2026/27 campaign. Willy Sagnol's Georgia opened the window three days earlier against Northern Ireland, while Sergiy Rebrov's Ukraine arrive in Tbilisi fresh from a tough away trip to Hungary — making this second-round clash a potential early decider in a group that also features Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland. The two nations met most recently in a Nations League playoff in 2025, so there is recent history and no shortage of motivation on either side.

Georgia's 2026/27 squad blends established stars with in-form domestic talent: goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili (Liverpool) anchors the back line, where Guram Kashia and Saba Goglichidze provide experience, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain) remains the creative heartbeat in attack alongside Georges Mikautadze and Budu Zivzivadze. Coach Willy Sagnol has called up a 27-man group that also includes Chicago Fire midfielder Anzor Mekvabishvili and Giorgi Chakvetadze, and the Crusaders will draw confidence from their most recent outing, a 1-1 friendly draw with Romania in Tbilisi on 2 June (1-1), where Giorgi Kvilitaia found the net.

Sweden host Poland at the Strawberry Arena in Solna on Monday, 28 September 2026 (kick-off 20:45 CEST) in a UEFA Nations League 2026/27 League B Group 4 clash that reunites the two sides just months after their dramatic World Cup play-off. Graham Potter's men arrive with mixed feelings from their summer campaign: after thrashing Tunisia 5-1 and drawing 1-1 with Japan to squeeze into the knockouts, they were eventually stopped by France, who won 3-0 in the round of 32. Poland, meanwhile, missed out on the World Cup entirely and are rebuilding under Jan Urban, having drawn their June friendly 2-2 with Nigeria in Warsaw.

The squads for the 2026/2027 season tell two very different stories. Sweden have named a youthful 25-man group in which Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres once again lead the line, but Anthony Elanga is out injured and Isak Hien remains on a long lay-off, while Potter has turned to rookie keepers Melker Ellborg, Viktor Johansson and Noel Tornqvist. Poland's selection is built around captain Robert Lewandowski, who has continued with the national team despite the World Cup failure, supported by Piotr Zielinski, Jakub Kiwior, Jan Bednarek and Matty Cash — though an injury crisis in goal has left Marcin Bulka as the clear number one with Sławomir Abramowicz promoted from the under-21s.

Turkey host Italy in one of the standout fixtures of the 2026/2027 UEFA Nations League, as two of Europe's most talked-about sides meet with very different emotions from the summer behind them. Turkey's 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in Group D heartbreak, while Italy once again missed out on football's biggest stage after falling in the European qualifying play-offs, meaning Vincenzo Montella and Silvio Baldini both have plenty to prove this season. With a new cycle beginning and fresh blood pushing into both squads, this clash in Turkey promises intensity, quality, and plenty of goals.

Turkey's World Cup campaign was a story of frustration followed by late pride: after a narrow defeat to Paraguay (0-1) left them eliminated, the Crescent-Stars responded brilliantly to beat the United States (3-2) in a dramatic finale, with Kaan Ayhan striking in stoppage time. For 2026/2027, Montella is building around a gifted young core featuring Real Madrid playmaker Arda Güler, Juventus forward Kenan Yıldız, Inter captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Orkun Kökçü, Barış Alper Yılmaz and Uğurcan Çakır between the posts, a squad blending creativity with growing tournament experience.

Athens Kallithea host Asteras Tripolis B in a Greece Super League 2 2026/2027 Round 4 fixture that arrives with Kallithea needing to turn home control into three points. The early-season story is straightforward: Kallithea want a faster start, cleaner chance creation and a more ruthless edge in the final third, while Asteras Tripolis B arrive with the confidence of a development side that has already handled second-tier pressure but still needs to prove it can score consistently away from Tripoli.

A useful away-team reference is Asteras Tripolis B's 0-1 defeat by Anagennisi Karditsa on 22 December 2025, a result that underlined how fine margins decide games when the away side cannot convert territorial pressure. Kallithea's recent home template should be built on patience rather than panic: higher defensive line, quicker wide rotations and a focus on second balls after crosses, because Asteras B's shape is compact but can be stretched when forced to defend deeper for long spells.

Marko host Panthrakikos at the Municipal Stadium of Markopoulo on Sunday, 27 September 2026, in a Round 4 clash of the 2026/27 Super League 2 that pits two of the division's early pace-setters against each other. Marko arrive in flying form with two wins from two, having edged Athens Kallithea 2–1 at home before stunning Olympiacos B 4–2 away, while Panthrakikos — back in the second tier after almost a decade — have collected four points from their opening matches. The Athens side also gained valuable top-flight experience in December's Greek Cup, where they pushed PAOK hard before falling in a 4-1 defeat at the Toumba.

For the 2026/27 campaign, Marko's squad is led by head coach Soulis Papadopoulos, with experienced captain Charalampos Pavlidis anchoring the spine of the team, while Panthrakikos, under Konstantinos Georgiadis and captain Thanasis Giannarakis, have rebuilt impressively since their promotion from Gamma Ethniki. The visitors have been built on defensive discipline — they have yet to concede in the league — and their most recent outing saw them beat Niki Volos in a composed 2-0 home win on 21 September. However, their only defeat of the young season came in August at Serres, where they slipped to a narrow 1-0 loss against Panserraikos.

Club León host FC Juárez at Estadio León on Sunday, September 27 local time in a Liga MX Apertura Round 10 clash that arrives with very different pressure levels. León are pushing to stay in the playoff conversation after a stop-start but productive opening phase, while Juárez remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are searching for consistency after a difficult start to the 2026/2027 campaign.

León’s recent league picture shows resilience at home and a useful away win at Necaxa, but also a reminder of the gap to the elite after defeat at Toluca: they drew 1-1 at Querétaro, lost 4-1 at Toluca and won 1-2 at Necaxa. Juárez’s clearest recent reference against Liga MX opposition was their 2-1 home win over Tigres UANL, but their season profile remains worrying because they have conceded heavily and struggled to turn spells of pressure into points. In European odds, León are priced around 1.61, the draw is 4.07 and Juárez are 5.25.

Necaxa host Club América at the Estadio Victoria in Aguascalientes on September 27, 2026, in a Matchday 10 clash of the 2026-27 Liga MX Apertura season. The two sides arrive in very different form: América sit third in the table with 17 points from eight matches (5 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss, 17 scored and only 8 conceded), while Necaxa are struggling down in 15th place with just 8 points from nine games, having already conceded 16 goals. América won the reverse fixture earlier this year 2-0 in Mexico City, and historically hold the upper hand in this rivalry with nine wins to Necaxa's six across their last meetings. With European odds pricing an away win at around 1.55, the draw near 4.20, and a Necaxa home victory at roughly 5.50, the bookmakers clearly expect the Águilas to keep flying high.

Necaxa's 2026/2027 squad, led by coach Juan Reynoso, has leaned heavily on Argentine striker Julián Carranza, who is joint-second in the Apertura scoring charts with five goals and remains the Rayos' only consistent attacking threat. The supporting cast around him includes goalkeepers Christopher Andrade and Luis Jiménez, a back line featuring Agustín Oliveros, Alexis Peña, Kaiky Naves and Emilio Martínez, and a midfield built around veterans Lorenzo Faravelli and Danny Leyva plus creative outlets like Javier Ruiz, Kevin Rosero and Emi Rodríguez. The problem is defensive solidity: Necaxa have shipped 16 goals in nine rounds, and their recent home form does not inspire confidence after they fell 1-2 to León at the Victoria in August, a defeat that followed a 0-2 home loss to Monterrey back in January. Carranza can punish any lapse, but Necaxa need far more than one man to trouble this América side.

San Lorenzo vs Recoleta is set for 28 September 2026 in Paraguay’s Copa de Primera, with San Lorenzo trying to stabilise a difficult season after recent reference results such as 1-0 at Instituto, 1-0 at Central Córdoba and 0-0 against Gimnasia Mendoza.

The European odds make Recoleta the narrow away favorite at roughly 2.95 for San Lorenzo, 3.35 for the draw and 2.30–2.36 for Recoleta, even though Recoleta were beaten 3-2 at Ameliano earlier in 2026. The 2026 head-to-head leans Recoleta: 3-0, 4-2 and 1-1, and the current table shows Recoleta 11th on seven points while San Lorenzo are 12th with one.

MŠK Žilina B meet FK Humenné in the Slovakia 2. liga on 28 September 2026, with the early 2026/27 table showing Žilina B in the upper half and newly promoted Humenné still adjusting to life back in the second tier after winning the 2025/26 3. liga East title.

Žilina B’s 2026/27 squad is built around a young, mobile core featuring Samuel Hostacny or Jakub Jokl in goal, defensive options such as Adama Drame, Teodor Stanik, Vladimir Trabalik and Issah Mohammed, midfield runners including Michal Pekelsky, Robert Petruska, Amin Ziblim and Samuel Samaj, and attacking threats like Patrik Baleja, David Trubacik, Michael Junior Lamptey, Denis Alijagić and Vladislav Cicek.

Rudar Velenje host ND Dravinja at Štadion Ob Jezeru on 27 September 2026 (19:00 CEST) in a Round 8 clash of the Slovenian 2. SNL 2026/27 season, and the home side arrives in clearly better shape. Rudar have been solid at home this campaign, most recently thrashing Bilje 4:1 after a convincing 3:0 win over Krka, while Dravinja are in free fall, losing 1:4 to Triglav, 0:2 to Dren Vrhnika and 0:1 to Ilirija in their last three outings. With Dravinja shipping goals at an alarming rate, this fixture looks like a prime opportunity for Rudar to climb the table in front of their own fans.

Rudar's 2026/27 squad underlines their ambitions in the second tier. Between the posts, Denny Tiganj and Lukas Tomažič compete for the gloves, while the back line features Dejan Kuzmanović, Tilen Rajter Krebs, Sandro Zukić, Valent Savor, Nemanja Studen, Gašper Gaberšek Rotovnik, Neo Mrkonjić and Tycho Collins. The engine room is packed with Tom Kljun, Martin Plavec Marković, Gal Gorenak, Aljaz Krefl, Stian Dzumhur, Adam Vošnjak, Marko Simic, Rocco Vicol, Rastko Rastoka, Maj Škoflek and Denis Nikic, and the attacking burden falls on Dominik Simic, Shakeone Satchwell, Josip Perkovic, Lejs Pličanić and Hugo Šelih — a deep roster that gives Rudar fresh legs and firepower late in games.

CD Leganés host CD Castellón at Estadio Ontime Butarque on Monday, 28 September 2026 in Spain’s LaLiga2/LALIGA Hypermotion, and the early-season betting reads tight but tilted toward the visitors: European 1X2 odds are around 3.37 for Leganés, 3.40 for the draw and 2.19 for Castellón, with prices still subject to match-day movement. Leganés come in after the 0-0 draw at Las Palmas and the 3-2 home win over Granada, while Castellón’s most recent home marker was the 2-0 victory against Albacete, so the away side have both form and H2H confidence despite playing at Butarque.

Rubén Albés’ 2026/27 Leganés squad is built around Luca Zidane or Raúl Fernández in goal, a defensive line featuring Marvel, Ignasi Miquel, Rubén Peña and Enric Franquesa, a technical midfield with Zico Buurmeester, Miguel Atienza, Yassine Kechta, Dani Rodríguez and Ismaël Gharbi, and attacking responsibility shared by Naim García, Patrick Soko and Álex Millán; earlier this year they also beat Granada 1-0 at home. The main selection concern is whether Enric Franquesa and Marcos Leiva have recovered after being listed unavailable for the Granada game, because Leganés need their experience to handle Castellón’s direct transitions and set-piece pressure.

Columbus Crew welcome Inter Miami CF to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on Sunday, September 27, 2026 (7:00 PM EDT) in a Major League Soccer regular-season clash that carries very different stakes for each side. Inter Miami arrive sitting third in the Eastern Conference on 46 points with an MLS-leading attack of 63 goals scored, fresh off winning the 2026 Campeones Cup with a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul, while Columbus remain locked in a battle near the bottom of the East on 23 points despite their upcoming U.S. Open Cup final against St. Louis City SC. European odds for this fixture currently price an Inter Miami win at around 2.35, the draw at 3.60, and a Columbus home win at 2.80, reflecting Miami's superior league form but Columbus' strength at home in Ohio.

The Crew's 2026/2027 squad under Wilfried Nancy features goalkeeper Patrick Schulte shielding a back line that includes Rudy Camacho, Steven Moreira and Max Arfsten, with Daniel Gazdag, Darlington Nagbe's successor in deep midfield, pulling the strings alongside Dániel Rossi and Taha Habroune. Columbus will be desperate to bounce back after a frustrating run that saw them fall 2-1 at D.C. United and then lose 0-1 at home to the New York Red Bulls, results that have left their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Nancy's men did show their resilience earlier in the campaign, grinding out a draw against Orlando City in April, and they will need that same defensive organization to contain a star-studded Miami attack.