You’ve probably noticed that Tuesday nights usually feel like a bit of a placeholder in the sports world. Not today. If you're looking for what football games on today, you're actually spoiled for choice, which is kind of rare for a random Tuesday in January. We are deep into the knockout stages of major European trophies, and the NFL is currently in that frantic "breath-holding" phase right before the Divisional Round kicks off.
Honestly, the biggest story today isn't on the gridiron, it’s on the pitch. While the NFL Wild Card dust is still settling—shoutout to the Texans for that absolute clinic they put on against the Steelers yesterday—the soccer world is taking over the midweek slot. We’ve got the Carabao Cup semi-finals in England, the Round of 16 in the Coppa Italia, and a massive slate of Bundesliga games that could seriously shake up the table.
The Big One: Man City Travels to St. James’ Park
If you only watch one match, make it the EFL Cup semi-final. Newcastle United is hosting Manchester City at 20:00. This is the first leg, so expect things to be a little Cagey early on, but Newcastle at home under the lights is a different beast entirely.
City is coming in as the favorite, naturally. But Eddie Howe’s squad has a knack for making these cup ties absolutely miserable for visiting giants. It's basically a tactical chess match between Pep Guardiola and Howe, and with a trophy suddenly feeling very "reachable" for both sides, nobody is going to play it safe for long.
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Italy and Spain: Knockout Drama
Over in Rome, the Coppa Italia is heating up. AS Roma faces Torino at the Stadio Olimpico. This is a Round of 16 clash, and it’s a classic "trap" game for Roma. Torino is a gritty side that loves to sit deep and frustrate, which is basically the worst-case scenario for a Roma team that sometimes struggles to break down a low block.
In Spain, the Copa del Rey has three big fixtures today, all starting around 21:00.
- Deportivo La Coruña vs. Atlético Madrid: A massive test for a Deportivo side trying to find their old glory against Simeone’s disciplined machine.
- Real Sociedad vs. Osasuna: This one is likely to be the most "pure" football of the night—lots of technical skill and high pressing.
- Cultural Leonesa vs. Athletic Club: The ultimate David vs. Goliath matchup.
Germany’s Midweek Madness
The Bundesliga doesn't usually do Tuesday fixtures unless the schedule is absolutely packed, and right now, it is. Borussia Dortmund is taking on Werder Bremen at the Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund's "Yellow Wall" will be vibrating for this one at 19:30.
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At the same time, Bayer Leverkusen—the team everyone is still watching after their historic runs—is away at Hamburger SV. Leverkusen's consistency under pressure has been the talk of Europe, but a midweek trip to Hamburg is never a "gimme."
What About the NFL?
Since the Texans just finished dismantling Pittsburgh 30-6 on Monday Night Football, the league is technically in a "dark day" for actual games. However, the schedule for the Divisional Round was just finalized this morning.
If you were hoping for a Tuesday night NFL fix, you're mostly looking at the waiver wire and injury reports today. The real action returns on Saturday, January 17, when the Buffalo Bills head to Denver. But for today, January 13, the "football" on your TV is almost certainly going to involve a round ball.
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Summary of Kickoff Times (January 13, 2026)
Sorta depends on where you are, but here are the global windows:
- Saudi Pro League: Al-Fateh vs. Al-Riyadh and Damac vs. Al-Ittihad are both kicking off around 17:30 local time.
- Bundesliga: VFB Stuttgart vs. Eintracht Frankfurt starts early (18:30), with the rest of the German slate following at 20:30.
- Liga MX: For the late-night crowd in the US, Puebla vs. Mazatlán gets going at 17:00 ET, followed by a heavy lineup including Necaxa vs. Monterrey and Pachuca vs. León.
Basically, if you’re looking for what football games on today, just turn on the TV and pick a continent. Between the English League Cup and the French Coupe de France (Marseille is playing Bayeux tonight, by the way), there isn't a single hour of the day without a whistle blowing somewhere.
The smartest move for today is to prioritize the Newcastle vs. Man City match if you want high-level intensity, or keep an eye on the Bundesliga scores if you’re looking for high-scoring chaos. Make sure your streaming apps are updated because several of these cup ties are exclusive to platforms like Paramount+ or ESPN+ depending on your region. Check your local listings for the exact channel as these midweek cup rights can be a bit of a mess to navigate.