Honestly, trying to figure out where to watch the match shouldn't feel like a part-time job. But here we are. It’s Sunday, January 18, 2026, and if you're sitting there with a remote in one hand and a cold brew in the other, you've probably realized the schedule is a bit of a maze today. We've got the Premier League heating up, the Women's FA Cup in full swing, and even the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final tonight.
It's busy.
Gone are the days when you just flicked on BBC One and hoped for the best. Now, you’re bouncing between Sky Sports, TNT, and even Channel 4.
The Premier League schedule for Sunday, January 18
If you're looking for the top-flight stuff, Sky Sports is your main home today. They’ve grabbed the Sunday double-header, and both games have massive implications for the mid-table scramble and the European spots.
Wolves vs. Newcastle United kicks things off at 2:00 pm. You’ll find this on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Newcastle are still pushing for that consistent top-four form, while Wolves at Molineux is always a prickly fixture. Coverage usually starts an hour early if you like the pre-match tactical talk.
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Later on, we’ve got Aston Villa vs. Everton at 4:30 pm. This one is also on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League. Unai Emery has Villa playing some of the most structured football in the country right now, and Everton... well, Everton are doing what they do best: fighting.
Why the Monday game matters
Just a heads-up for your "uk football tv today" search—if you're looking for Brighton or Bournemouth, they aren't on today. They’ve been pushed to tomorrow, Monday the 19th, at 8:00 pm on Sky Sports. It’s a bit of a weird one, but it happens when the TV picks get shuffled for maximum viewership.
The Women’s FA Cup and AFCON final
Today isn't just about the men's Premier League. We’ve got some massive "knockout" energy in the air.
The Women's FA Cup Fourth Round is happening right now. The big standout is Arsenal Women vs. Aston Villa Women. This is being shown on Channel 4 and TNT Sports 1 at 2:00 pm. It’s pretty cool to see the BBC not being the only free-to-air option for the women's game lately; Channel 4 grabbing these rights has changed the accessibility quite a bit.
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Then, there’s the big one. The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Final.
- Kick-off: 7:00 pm (UK Time)
- Channel: Channel 4 (and E4 usually has the build-up)
- Streaming: All 4
Seeing the AFCON final on terrestrial TV is a win for everyone. Usually, you’d have to hunt down a specific subscription, but for 2026, the rights have stayed relatively open.
Lower League and Youth Football
If you’re a bit of a football hipster or just follow the stars of tomorrow, there’s actually some U21 action and National League stuff hidden in the schedules.
- Liverpool U21 vs. Leeds United U21: 2:00 pm on LFCTV.
- National League action: DAZN has basically become the "home" for the fifth tier. If you’ve got a subscription there, they’re streaming most of the regional games starting around 3:00 pm, though none are the "main" TV picks for today.
What most fans get wrong about TV rights in 2026
The biggest frustration I hear is, "Why can't I just buy one package?"
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I get it. It’s expensive. Between a Sky sub, TNT Sports (formerly BT), and then the random games on Amazon or Channel 4, you're looking at a hefty monthly bill.
The 3pm Blackout is still a thing. Despite all the rumors every single year, the 3pm Saturday blackout hasn't budged. You won't see a live Premier League game on TV in the UK at 3:00 pm on a Saturday. Today is Sunday, so we escape that rule, but it’s the reason why the Sunday schedule is so packed—broadcasters have to cram the "unsellable" Saturday games into these Sunday slots.
TNT vs. Sky: The split is weird.
Sky generally owns the "Super Sunday" slots (like the Villa and Newcastle games today). TNT tends to take the early Saturday kick-offs and the mid-week European nights. If you’re searching for Champions League, remember that’s a Tuesday/Wednesday job on TNT Sports and Amazon Prime.
Practical steps for your viewing today
If you want to actually watch these games without the "spinning wheel of death" on a dodgy stream, here’s how to handle it:
- Check your Now TV passes: If you don't want a full Sky contract, a Day Pass for £14.99 is the easiest way to get the Wolves and Villa games legally.
- Download the Channel 4 App: Since the AFCON final and the Women's FA Cup are on there, make sure your login actually works before the 7:00 pm kick-off. There’s nothing worse than resetting a password while a goal goes in.
- Sync your calendar: Most club websites now offer a "Sync to Calendar" feature that updates the TV channel automatically. It’s a lifesaver for when games get moved for TV at the last minute.
The landscape of UK football TV is basically a jigsaw puzzle where the pieces change shape every six months. For today, stick to Sky Sports for the domestic league and Channel 4 for the cup and international glory.
Stay updated on the Monday night football listings if you're a Brighton fan, as that 8:00 pm slot is the final act of this matchweek.