The 2025/26 football season in the United Kingdom is shaping up to be a landmark year for fans glued to their screens, with a record-breaking number of live games across all major competitions. As the Premier League, FA Cup, Women's Super League, and even the Africa Cup of Nations reach pivotal moments, broadcasters are rolling out an unprecedented lineup of televised fixtures, ensuring supporters hardly miss a kick—no matter their club allegiance or favorite tournament.
Gone are the days when Saturday 3pm matches were sacred and tucked away from the cameras. In a move reminiscent of the pandemic era, nearly every Premier League fixture will now be available to watch live, thanks to exclusive deals struck by Sky Sports and TNT Sports. This season, these networks are pulling out all the stops, delivering wall-to-wall coverage not just of the English top flight, but also the FA Women's Super League, the English Football League, the Carabao Cup, and the European club competitions. For those who love nothing more than a packed football weekend, the menu has never looked richer.
Let's talk specifics. The Premier League schedule for January is bursting with high-stakes encounters, and every one of them is set to be broadcast. On Saturday, January 17, 2026, the action kicks off with a blockbuster Manchester derby—Manchester United hosting Manchester City at 12:30pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Later that day, Nottingham Forest welcomes Arsenal at 5:30pm, with TNT Sports 1 carrying the coverage. Sunday, January 18, brings more drama: Wolves face Newcastle at 2:00pm and Aston Villa takes on Everton at 4:30pm, both on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League channels. The excitement rolls on into Monday, January 19, as Brighton squares off against Bournemouth at 8:00pm, again on Sky Sports.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. The following weekend, Saturday, January 24, sees West Ham clash with Sunderland at 12:30pm on TNT Sports 1, while Bournemouth hosts Liverpool at 5:30pm, available on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League. Sunday, January 25, is a football feast: Brentford meets Nottingham Forest at 2:00pm on Sky Sports+, Crystal Palace faces Chelsea at 2:00pm on Sky Sports Main Event, Newcastle battles Aston Villa at 2:00pm on Sky Sports Premier League, and the day’s headline act—Arsenal vs Manchester United—kicks off at 4:30pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League. Wrapping up the month, Everton takes on Leeds at 8:00pm on Monday, January 26, again on Sky Sports.
This schedule represents a seismic shift in the way fans consume football. According to the latest guides, "Saturday 3pms are increasingly becoming a thing of the past as the relentless march towards every fixture being broadcast—like the good old days of COVID—continues at pace." For many, this is a welcome development, making the beautiful game more accessible than ever before. Sky Sports and TNT Sports are the main players, but discovery+, BBC, and ITV are also in the mix, especially when it comes to the FA Cup and Women's Super League action.
Speaking of the FA Cup, the third round is upon us, and it’s bringing its usual magic and unpredictability. On Friday, January 9, 2026, several matches kick off the festivities, including MK Dons vs Oxford United, Port Vale vs Fleetwood Town, Preston North End vs Wigan Athletic, and a tantalizing tie between Wrexham and Nottingham Forest—all available via discovery+ and TNT Sports. The FA Cup’s third round has always been a stage where Premier League giants and non-league hopefuls meet as equals, and this year is no different. As noted in the Radio Times’ coverage, "The FA Cup third round weekend is hallowed ground. It is the stage for Premier League giants and non-league minnows to put on a show as equals."
Saturday, January 10, is jam-packed with cup action: Cheltenham Town faces Leicester City at 12:15pm on TNT Sports 7 and discovery+, Everton hosts Sunderland at 12:15pm on TNT Sports 5 and discovery+, and Macclesfield FC takes on Crystal Palace at 12:15pm across BBC One, TNT Sports 1, and various online platforms. Later, Tottenham Hotspur meets Aston Villa at 5:45pm, with coverage spread across BBC One, TNT Sports 1, and TNT Sports 2. The day wraps up with Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea at 8:00pm on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
The Women's Super League returns from its winter break with a bang. Saturday sees Arsenal take on Manchester United at 12:30pm on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, and Sky Sports+. The following day, Aston Villa faces Brighton, Chelsea meets West Ham, Manchester City plays Everton, and Tottenham hosts Leicester—all broadcast across various Sky Sports channels and YouTube. These fixtures not only mark the league's resumption but also highlight the growing prominence of women's football on UK television.
International football is also taking center stage. The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 is deep into its knockout phases, with quarter-finals scheduled for January 9 and 10. Mali faces Senegal at 4:00pm on E4, followed by Cameroon vs Morocco at 7:00pm. Saturday brings Algeria vs Nigeria at 4:00pm and Egypt vs Ivory Coast at 7:00pm, also on E4. The international flavor continues with the Spanish Super Cup final between Barcelona and Real Madrid at 7:00pm on Sunday, January 11, broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports 4.
For those who crave even more, the English Football League, Carabao Cup, and international leagues like Ligue 1, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and MLS are all represented in the UK’s football TV guide. Live streaming options abound, with bet365 offering online viewing for those who meet the requirements, and discovery+ providing a Premium Monthly Pass that unlocks a world of football content.
Sky Sports, holding the "lion's share of football TV rights in 2025/26," is the go-to for Premier League and FA Women's Super League matches, along with a staggering 1,000+ English Football League and Carabao Cup games this season. TNT Sports, meanwhile, is the home for not only Premier League matches but also the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, ensuring fans can follow their favorite teams across Europe.
With so much on offer, the challenge for fans might not be finding a match to watch, but choosing which one to tune into. As the season heats up, every weekend promises a smorgasbord of football, from the drama of the cup to the intensity of the league, and the thrill of international showdowns. One thing’s for sure: in 2026, the remote control will be getting quite the workout.
