If you’re hunting for what time is the football game today on tv, you’ve likely realized we are in that weird, beautiful pocket of January. The NFL Wild Card dust has finally settled. The College Football Playoff is currently holding its breath before the National Championship.
It's Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
Usually, Wednesdays are for mid-week chores or staring at the wall, but today actually has a sneaky-good lineup of soccer (the other football) and some massive international matchups. If you came here looking for the NFL, I’ll be honest: you’re a few days early. But if you want to see some high-stakes knockout ball from across the pond or the Africa Cup of Nations, today is actually kind of loaded.
The Best Football Games Today (Wednesday, Jan 14)
Since the American gridiron is currently on a mid-week break, the world’s most popular sport is taking over the airwaves.
Honestly, the biggest game on the planet today is the EFL Cup Semi-Final. We’ve got Chelsea vs. Arsenal kicking off at 3:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. local time). You can catch this one on ESPN+ or the Sky Sports networks if you're across the Atlantic.
London derbies in a semi-final? That’s basically as good as it gets for mid-week drama.
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Then you have the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). These games are always chaotic and incredible to watch. Today, we have a massive heavyweight clash: Nigeria vs. Morocco at 3:00 p.m. ET. Earlier in the day, Senegal faces Egypt at 12:00 p.m. ET. These are essentially the playoffs for an entire continent. Most of these air on beIN Sports in the U.S.
In Spain, the Copa del Rey is in full swing. Real Madrid is traveling to face Albacete at 3:00 p.m. ET. Don’t expect a blowout—the "King’s Cup" is famous for small teams playing out of their minds against the giants.
European League Action & Times
- Italian Serie A: Inter vs. Lecce starts at 2:45 p.m. ET. You can find this on Paramount+.
- German Bundesliga: RB Leipzig vs. Freiburg and FC Köln vs. Bayern Munich both kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET. Check ESPN+ for these.
- Portuguese Cup: A massive "O Clássico" matchup between FC Porto and Benfica happens at 3:45 p.m. ET.
Why Is There No NFL Football Today?
It's a common question this time of year. People see "Playoffs" on the calendar and assume there's a game every night.
Basically, the NFL schedule is strictly weekends-only once we hit the Divisional Round. We just wrapped up a wild Monday Night Football game between the Texans and Steelers (where Houston absolutely dominated, by the way).
Today, January 14, is a travel and practice day for the teams. The league actually uses today as the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft. So, while there’s no game to watch on TV, the "administrative" football world is moving fast.
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The NFL Divisional Round officially starts this coming Saturday, January 17.
When Are The Next Huge Gridiron Games?
If you're only here for the pigskin, you need to mark your calendar for this weekend. The matchups are set, and the times are locked in.
- Saturday, Jan 17 at 4:30 p.m. ET: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (CBS/Paramount+).
- Saturday, Jan 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (FOX).
- Sunday, Jan 18 at 3:00 p.m. ET: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (ABC/ESPN).
- Sunday, Jan 18 at 6:30 p.m. ET: LA Rams at Chicago Bears (NBC/Peacock).
As for the college kids? The College Football Playoff National Championship is the grand finale. That goes down Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. It’s No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami. Yeah, Indiana. It's 2026, things have gotten weird.
Quick TV Guide for Today’s Matches
- 12:00 p.m. ET: Senegal vs. Egypt (AFCON) – beIN Sports
- 2:30 p.m. ET: FC Köln vs. Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) – ESPN+
- 3:00 p.m. ET: Chelsea vs. Arsenal (EFL Cup) – ESPN+
- 3:00 p.m. ET: Albacete vs. Real Madrid (Copa del Rey) – ESPN+
- 3:00 p.m. ET: Nigeria vs. Morocco (AFCON) – beIN Sports
Actionable Tips for Watching Today
If you’re trying to find these games and your cable package is lacking, remember that FuboTV and YouTube TV usually carry beIN Sports and the local networks.
For the European games, ESPN+ is almost a requirement these days. It’s $11.99 a month, but it’s the only place you’re going to see the EFL Cup or the Bundesliga.
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Make sure your streaming apps are updated at least 20 minutes before kickoff. There is nothing worse than clicking "Join Live" and seeing a spinning "Updating App" wheel while a goal is being scored.
If you're specifically waiting for American football, use today to set your fantasy lineups or check the injury reports for the Bills-Broncos game. Saturday is going to be here before you know it.
Keep an eye on the weather for those Saturday games too. Denver is looking cold, and that usually changes how you'll want to bet the over/under.
Check your local listings if you're in a specific regional market, as some of the smaller Italian or Spanish matches might be shifted to secondary digital channels at the last minute.