Friday nights in January. Usually, that means freezing temperatures and the creeping realization that the weekend's chaos is about to begin. But if you're looking for what football games are played today, you’ve actually hit a bit of a sweet spot. We’re in that weird, wonderful overlap where the NFL playoffs are looming like a massive storm, European leagues are shaking off the winter rust, and college football is practically vibrating with national championship energy.
Honestly? It's a lot to track.
If you just woke up and need to know where to point the remote, I've got you. We aren't just talking about the big televised matchups either. There is some low-key drama happening in the Saudi Pro League and the German second division that might actually be more entertaining than a standard blowout.
The European Friday Night Lights
European football loves a Friday night "curtain-raiser." It's basically a way for leagues to own the TV space before the Saturday madness kicks in. Today, January 16, 2026, we have some heavy hitters taking the pitch.
Ligue 1: The Parc des Princes Showdown
The big one. Paris Saint-Germain is hosting LOSC Lille. If you follow French football, you know this isn't just another game. PSG is currently sitting second in the table, trailing by just a few points, and they’re dealing with some serious roster headaches. Lee Kang-In and Safonov are out. Worse for them? Achraf Hakimi is away at AFCON. Lille isn't exactly at full strength either, but they’ve been scrappy. Expect a lot of goals. PSG has a habit of scoring at least twice whenever Lille comes to town.
La Liga: The Catalan Derby Lite
Over in Spain, we have Espanyol vs. Girona. This one is personal. It’s a regional clash that usually gets heated. Girona has been the "cool" team to watch lately, but Espanyol at home is a different beast. It kicks off around 10:00 PM local time (Cairo) or roughly noon if you're on the West Coast of the US.
Serie A: A Trip to Pisa
Italy is giving us Pisa vs. Atalanta. Atalanta is always a fun watch because they play like they’ve forgotten how to defend and only know how to sprint forward. It's chaotic. It’s beautiful. It’s at the Arena Garibaldi, which has that old-school Italian vibe you just can't replicate.
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Bundesliga: Werder Bremen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
Germany starts their weekend at the Weser Stadium. Bremen and Frankfurt are both sitting in that middle-of-the-pack "we could make Europe or we could finish 10th" limbo. These games are usually high-intensity because neither team can afford to drop points in January.
What About the NFL?
If you’re asking what football games are played today looking for an NFL fix, I have some news. Today is Friday, January 16. The NFL Divisional Round doesn't actually kick off until tomorrow, Saturday the 17th.
I know, it’s a bummer. But the schedule is set. Tomorrow we get the Denver Broncos taking on the Buffalo Bills, followed by the Seahawks and the 49ers. Today is basically the "calm before the storm." It’s the day when every sports talk show host tries to convince you that a 10-point underdog has a "secret path to victory."
Use today to set your fantasy lineups or check the injury reports. Word is several key starters are still "questionable," which in NFL-speak means nobody knows anything until an hour before kickoff tomorrow.
The College Football Buzz
While there isn't a game tonight, the entire college football world is currently descending on Miami. The National Championship between Miami and Indiana is set for Monday night. Today, Friday the 16th, is when all the official "Championship Campus" events begin at Hard Rock Stadium.
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It’s a massive party. If you’re in South Florida, the energy is basically a preview of the game itself. Indiana being in a title game? It’s the story of the decade. People are losing their minds.
Friday’s "Deep Cut" Matches
Sometimes the best games are the ones you have to hunt for. If you’ve got a subscription to some of the more niche streaming services, check these out:
- Saudi Championship: Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Ettifaq. This is where the big money is. Even if you aren't a die-hard fan of the league, seeing the individual talent on the pitch is wild.
- Bundesliga 2: Eintracht Braunschweig vs. Magdeburg. This is pure "vibes" football. The stadiums are packed, the fans are loud, and the quality is surprisingly high.
- International Friendlies: Malmo vs. Sparta Prague. A little cross-border action to keep things interesting.
Why Today Matters for the Standings
We are officially in the "moving month." In Europe, the January transfer window is open. Managers are looking at their squads today and realizing they are one injury away from disaster. A loss for a team like PSG tonight doesn't just mean losing three points; it means the owners might panic-spend $80 million on a striker tomorrow morning.
In the NFL world, today is the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft. It’s a huge day for the future of the league. While there isn't a pigskin flying through the air in a stadium in America tonight, the front offices are working overtime.
How to Watch
Look, keeping track of 15 different apps is a nightmare. Here’s the basic breakdown:
- Ligue 1 & La Liga: Usually on ESPN+ or BeIN Sports.
- Bundesliga: Check out the OneFootball app or the standard sports networks.
- Saudi League: Often streamed on YouTube via the GOAT channel or specialized sports packages.
Basically, if you have a decent streaming setup, you can have four games going at once. Is it overkill? Maybe. Is it a great way to spend a Friday? Absolutely.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Sync your calendar: If you're waiting for the NFL, set your alerts for tomorrow's Broncos/Bills game at 1:30 PM PST.
- Check the PSG lineup: Watch the pre-game reports for the PSG vs. Lille match to see if they’ve made any last-minute tactical shifts due to their missing AFCON players.
- Download a tracker: Use an app like FotMob or Forza to get live notifications for the scores of the European games while you’re doing other things today.