Top games to watch this weekend
Friday
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham (English Premier League)
Girona vs Celta de Vigo (La Liga)
Al Hilal vs Al Ahli (Saudi Pro League)
Necaxa vs Pumas UNAM (Liga MX)
Saturday
Chelsea vs Brentford (English Premier League)
Arsenal vs Sheffield United (English Premier League)
Wolves vs Newcastle (English Premier League)
Barcelona vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
Cádiz vs Sevilla (La Liga)
Bayern vs Darmstadt (Bundesliga)
Benfica vs Casa Pia (Primeira Liga)
Gil Vicente vs Sporting Braga (Primeira Liga)
Philadelphia Union vs New England (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)
Fortaleza vs LDU Quito (Copa Sudamericana)
Al Feiha vs Al Nassr (Saudi Pro League)
Guadalajara vs Tigres UANL (Liga MX)
Monterrey vs América (Liga MX)
Sunday
Liverpool vs Nottingham (English Premier League)
Manchester United vs Manchester City (English Premier League)
Atlético Madrid vs Alavés (La Liga)
Inter vs Roma (Serie A)
Napoli vs Milan (Serie A)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Vizela vs Porto (Primeira Liga)
Brest vs PSG (Ligue 1)
PSV vs Ajax (Eredivisie)
Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Cincinnati vs New York Red Bulls (MLS)
St. Louis vs Sporting KC (MLS)
Most-watched games in the USA: October 16-22, 2023
Club soccer returned over the weekend, with matches from the Premier League, La Liga, and Liga MX making it onto the list of most-watched fixtures in the USA from October 16 to October 22, 2023.
However, despite this, it was an international friendly that grabbed the top spot on this list. That game was Mexico's encounter with Germany, with El Tri's 2-2 draw with the European powerhouses earning UniMas roughly 1.2 million average viewers.
The runners-up spot went to the Mexican top flight thanks to Univision's coverage of Club America's 4-3 victory over Santos Laguna. An average of 865,000 viewers tuned in to the Spanish-language network to watch the Liga MX leaders maintain their grip on the number one spot.
And finally, we have a Premier League game — a Premier League thriller, in fact. Arsenal's dramatic 2-2 draw at Chelsea wraps up this list, with late goals from Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard helping the Gunners salvage a point from two-nil down. Just under 800,000 average viewers tuned in to NBC to watch this Stamford Bridge affair as Arteta's men maintained their unbeaten start in the league.
For a full breakdown of last week's most-watched soccer games in the USA, click here.
What are this weekend's must-watch games?
Chelsea (10th) vs. Brentford (14th) live this Saturday at 7:45 p.m. ET on USA Network, Universo, Universo NOW, and Telemundo Deportes en Vivo
Chelsea are back in action, with the Blues hosting Brentford in Saturday's early Premier League fixture. The Blues will want to return to winning ways after throwing away a 2-0 lead at home to Arsenal to draw 2-2 last weekend. The Bees, on the other hand, thrashed Burnley 3-0 in the previous round but that is their only win in their last seven games across all competitions.
Barcelona (3rd) vs. Real Madrid (1st) live this Saturday at 10:15 a.m. ET on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes
All eyes will be on El Clasico this weekend as Barcelona and Real Madrid renew their rivalry in a highly-anticipated La Liga showdown. The Catalan giants will have the home advantage but Xavi's side are struggling with injuries, with Pedri, De Jong, Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Kounde all in danger of missing this game. Los Blancos, on the other hand, enter this clash on the back of their disappointing 1-1 draw away to Sevilla. However, Ancelotti's side still remain top of the table. That could change, though, depending on who wins this battle.
Manchester United (8th) vs. Manchester City (2nd) live this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock
Another exciting rivalry will take place this weekend, with Manchester United hosting Manchester City in the latest edition of the Manchester Derby. Both sides enter this tie on the back of much-needed wins, with Ten Hag's men triumphing 1-0 over Sheffield United while the Ciyzens beat Brighton 2-1 over the weekend. The Manchester outfits then followed this up with midweek victories in the UEFA Champions League. However, six points separate the two, meaning a win for the Red Devils would see them move within touching distance of the Premier League champions. Do not miss this clash.
Inter (1st) vs. Roma (7th) live this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET exclusively on Paramount+
Over to Serie A, two thrilling fixtures will take place this weekend, the first being Inter Milan's showdown with Roma. Jose Mourinho will return to his former club, as well as Romelu Lukaku, with the Belgian ace expecting a fiery welcome from the Nerazzurri. Inzaghi's men are currently top of the table thanks to AC Milan's defeat last weekend and will want to win this crucial showdown with the Giallorossi.
Napoli (4th) vs. AC Milan (2nd) live this Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET exclusively on Paramount+
And finally, we have AC Milan's trip to Napoli. The Rossoneri visit the reigning Serie A champions on the back of two disappointing results, having lost 3-0 away to PSG during the midweek and 1-0 at home to Juventus last weekend. Gli Azzurri, on the other hand, have won their last two matches following back-to-back defeats against Fiorentina and Real Madrid. However, the Scudetto holders find themselves trailing in their title defense and will be keen to make up ground on — or at the very least, keep up with — league leaders Inter Milan.
Although many leagues have gone on pause, there is still plenty of great soccer to watch over the next few days.
Here's all you need to know ahead of another exciting weekend of women's soccer.
What to watch in women's soccer: October 27th to October 29th
UEFA Women's Nations League
The inaugural UEFA Women's Nations League resumes action this week. There will be quite a few matches taking place, with highlights including:
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Italy vs Spain
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Sweden vs Switzerland
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Norway vs France
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Iceland vs Denmark
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Germany vs Wales
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England vs Belgium
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Netherlands vs Scotland
International Friendlies
The next few days will feature a series of interesting international friendlies, namely the USWNT taking on Colombia twice over the span of a few days. Given how impressive Colombia were at this summer's World Cup, it is likely to be an interesting match-up. The first of these two games gets underway on October 26th, and the second will take place on Sunday, October 29th.
Other key games also include Canada facing Brazil, with that match getting underway on Saturday, October 28th.
NCAA
For fans of college soccer, they will have plenty of games to follow over the next few days. Fans in the USA can follow many of these games via live streaming through ESPN+ and the ESPN App, which also provides games from the ACC Network. Additional live-streaming options also include fuboTV, while the SEC Network will also be carrying some games on TV and live-streaming is also accessible through SEC Network +.
For a detailed schedule of games, including where and how you can watch them, check out our special NCAA Division I women's soccer page here.
Top news in women's soccer
Sam Kerr sees long-standing record in Australia broken
The kids are really alright! Last week, 14-year-old Talia Younis became the youngest-ever debutant in Australia's A-league when she was subbed on for Western Sydney. The youngster now holds the new record after breaking Sam Kerr's previous one, which was set back in, ironically, 2008, when Younis was born. At the time, the A-league was known as the W-league, and Kerr, who now is a huge star for Chelsea, was just 15.
Younis is also the first player born after the creation of the W-league to appear in a match. She was born on October 26, 2008, exactly a day after the league was founded on October 25, 2008.
Didn't find your favorite women's league on this list? No worries, as this is just a highlight of some of the exciting games coming up this week. Make sure to check out our special women's soccer page here at LiveSoccerTV.com for full broadcast info, match updates, news, and more.
MLS Playoffs: Tournament outline, TV listings, live-streaming - October 28 through November 1
With the regular season now finished, things are bound to get a lot more interesting as the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs gets underway on Saturday, October 28th.
Here's all you need to know ahead of these key matches.
When does the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs kick off?
The 28th installment of the MLS Cup Playoffs starts on Saturday, October 28th. Prior to this, four teams - New York Red Bulls, Charlotte, Sporting Kansas City, and San Jose Earthquakes - all featured in a "wild-card" round to determine the final two teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences. Those matches were played on October 25th and October 26, with New York Red Bulls and Kansas City securing their places in the Eastern and Western Conferences respectively.
Now that is all sorted, all eyes will turn towards round one of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs,
What is the format for the upcoming games in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs?
This series of matches will be known as round one, which will be played as a "best of three" series.
That means that the team that wins two out of three matches against their opponents will proceed to the next round.
Each game will be played over the course of 90 minutes. Should the scores be level at regulation time, the match will proceed straight to penalties, so there will be no extra time. The team that wins on penalties (if needed) will earn a victory for that specific match.
In addition, the teams involved are seeded, with the higher ranking team getting to host game one (and game three, if needed) while the lower ranking team will host game two.
Will we get to see Lionel Messi and Inter Miami taking part in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs?
Unfortunately, Messi fans will not get to see the Argentine superstar in action during the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Despite showing signs of improvement earlier this season, Inter Miami were unable to qualify for the playoffs after finishing in 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
However, there will still be plenty of great games to follow during the post-season tournament, and many eyes will be on Cincinnati to see how far they can go after having a very impressive season that saw them win the Supporters' Shield.
Other teams looking to make a major splash include St. Louis, Orlando City, and Seattle Sounders, plus Los Angeles, who will aim to retain their title.
What teams are taking part in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs?
A total of 16 teams will be taking part in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. They are as follows:
Eastern Conference:
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Cincinnati
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New York Red Bulls
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Orlando City
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Nashville
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Columbus Crew
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Atlanta United
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Philadelphia Union
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New England Revolution
Western Conference:
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St. Louis
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Kansas City
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Seattle Sounders
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Dallas
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Los Angeles
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Vancouver Whitecaps
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Houston Dynamo
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Real Salt Lake
Who are the defending champions in the MLS Cup?
Los Angeles are the reigning champions in the MLS Cup. They will begin their title defense against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, October 28th.
How can I watch the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs?
Fans in the USA have a wide range of options to follow these upcoming games, including Foxsports.com, FOX Sports App, MLS Pass on Apple TV, Fox Sports 1, FOX Deportes, fuboTV, and Sling TV.
MLS Pass on Apple TV will also be live-streaming the games for fans in a wide range of locations outside the USA.
Make sure you bookmark our special Major League Soccer competition page to find specific options for wherever you are based.
Biggest stories of the week
ESPN preparing special coverage for El Clásico this weekend
La Liga fans in the U.S. can follow every minute of El Clasico thanks to the special coverage ESPN's platforms have prepared for the occasion.
The platform will offer a wide variety of shows and in-depth stories prior to the game, which will be covered in English by ESPN+ and in Spanish by ESPN Deportes. Fans watching the game in Spanish will have the chance to listen to special commentary provided by former Barcelona defender Rafael Márquez.
The network will also provide coverage for the full set of games being played in Spain this weekend, as their agreement with the Spanish top-flight states. But that will not be all for soccer fans via ESPN's platforms, and Bundesliga matches will also be available for fans to keep an eye on, especially with Bayern trying to catch up with league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Newcastle pondering lawsuit against AC Milan as Sandro Tonali is set to receive 10-month ban
While Newcastle and AC Milan are in the midst of a battle on the pitch in their UEFA Champions League group, these two European sides could face off in court in the near future.
This is according to a Corriere dello Sport report that claims the Premier League side have threatened the Italian giants with a mega-money lawsuit over their recent Sandro Tonali deal.
The 23-year-old has been banned for 10 months due to illegal betting, thus ruling Newcastle's £52M signing out for the rest of the campaign in a season in which the Magpies were hoping to achieve something worthwhile in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
The English club are livid with the Rossoneri for selling them a player who was at risk of getting suspended and are now reportedly contemplating a lawsuit against the Serie A giants.
Heartbreaking: Man United legend and England World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton dies
The greatest name in English soccer has sadly passed away.
That man is Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the most gifted footballers to have graced the beautiful game, who has departed this world at the age of 86. His family revealed this heartbreaking news to the public, with their statement saying: "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Sir Bobby passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was surrounded by his family."
Manchester United, the club he spent 17 unforgettable seasons with, also took to X (formerly Twitter) to pay their condolences with a short but touching message, writing: "Sir Bobby Charlton CBE, 1937-2023. Words will never be enough."
Miami's Messi named finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year
Lionel Messi was among three finalists named on Thursday for Major League Soccer's Newcomer of the Year award despite the Argentine star playing only six league matches for Inter Milan.
The 36-year-old striker, who inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, powered Miami to the Leagues Cup title in a tournament with MLS and Mexican league sides in August.
Messi only played his first MLS match for Miami on August 26 as a second-half substitute and scored a goal in Inter's 2-0 win at New York Red Bulls to snap an 11-match winless streak.
Man Utd report record Premier League revenues
Manchester United on Thursday reported a Premier League record revenue figure of £648.4 million ($784 million) for the year ending June 30.
The figure is 11 percent up from the previous year and beats the previous league record set by United in 2019.
The record earnings come despite the fact United played in the Europa League, rather than the more lucrative Champions League, last season.
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Swiss probe into FIFA chief Gianni Infantino dropped
Swiss prosecutors announced Thursday they have dropped their three-year criminal proceedings against FIFA president Gianni Infantino over suspected collusion with officials concerning the corruption scandal that engulfed world football's governing body. Infantino declared a "full and clear victory" in the case and demanded an apology from what he called the "envious and corrupt" people out to tarnish his reputation.
Everton face 12-point penalty for financial breaches: report
Everton face a 12-point deduction after an investigation into alleged breaches of financial rules by the Premier League club, according to a report on Wednesday. The Daily Telegraph said Premier League chiefs have asked an independent commission to impose the severe sanction, which would be the largest points penalty in the history of the competition.
Losing 12 points would leave Everton on minus-five points at the bottom of this season's table.
