Friday football is usually the stepchild of the weekend. We're all basically just waiting for the NFL Divisional round or the chaotic Saturday morning Premier League slate. But honestly, today—Friday, January 16, 2026—is actually pretty loaded if you know where to look. While the American gridiron is quiet today as teams prep for the massive Bills vs. Broncos and 49ers vs. Seahawks matchups tomorrow, the rest of the world is basically in full sprint.
You’ve got heavyweights like PSG and Sporting CP taking the pitch, plus a sneaky good Bundesliga clash. It's a weird transition day. The vibe is very much "the calm before the storm," but there's still plenty of live action to keep your parlay alive or just give you an excuse to stay on the couch.
When are the football games today across Europe?
If you're looking for the biggest names, you have to look toward France and Portugal tonight. Ligue 1 is giving us a massive doubleheader. Monaco takes on Lorient early on, but the real ticket is Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs. Lille at 8:00 PM local time. That’s about 3:00 PM ET for those of us on the East Coast. Lille is always a thorn in PSG’s side, and watching whatever version of the Parisian superstars is on the field today is usually worth the price of admission.
Over in Portugal, Sporting CP faces Casa Pia at 8:15 PM (3:15 PM ET). Sporting has been a juggernaut lately, and they’ll be looking to solidify their spot at the top of the Primeira Liga.
Here is how the European schedule looks for the main leagues:
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- German Bundesliga: SV Werder Bremen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt kicks off at 8:30 PM local (2:30 PM ET). This is a classic mid-table scrap that usually ends up being more entertaining than the standings suggest.
- Spanish La Liga: Espanyol vs. Girona at 9:00 PM local (3:00 PM ET). This is a gritty Catalan derby. Don't expect a lot of friendly handshakes in this one.
- Italian Serie A: Pisa takes on Atalanta at 7:45 PM local (1:45 PM ET). Atalanta's high-press style is always a fun watch for neutrals.
- French Ligue 1: Monaco vs. Lorient (6:00 PM local / 12:00 PM ET) followed by the PSG vs. Lille match.
The British Isle and Beyond
The Premier League is dormant today, but the Championship is filling the void. West Brom vs. Middlesbrough is the headliner there, starting at 8:00 PM GMT. It’s a massive game for the promotion race. If you're a fan of the "pure" English game—lots of rain, hard tackles, and desperate lunges—this is your 3:00 PM ET appointment.
In Scotland, the Cup is in full swing. Rangers vs. Annan is the late game at 7:45 PM local. Honestly, Rangers should walk away with this one, but the Scottish Cup is famous for the kind of upsets that make grown men cry in pubs.
What about the NFL and College Football?
Here’s the deal: there are no NFL games today. I know, it sucks. We’re currently in the gap between the Wild Card round and the Divisional playoffs.
The NFL is saving the fireworks for tomorrow, Saturday, January 17. If you're looking for the schedule for tomorrow's big ones, the Buffalo Bills (12-5) travel to Denver to take on the Broncos (14-3) at 4:30 PM ET on CBS. Later that night, the San Francisco 49ers face the Seahawks in Seattle at 8:00 PM ET on FOX.
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College football is also in a bit of a holding pattern. We just finished the quarterfinals on New Year's Day—where Indiana actually beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl (seriously)—and we are now just three days away from the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 19. It’s Indiana vs. Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. If you told me that lineup three years ago, I would’ve asked for whatever you were drinking.
Watching the global game
If you’re an early riser or just a degenerate for global soccer, the A-League in Australia already got things started. Melbourne City played Auckland and Perth Glory took on Brisbane Roar earlier this morning.
In the Middle East, the Saudi Pro League has a few fixtures as well. Ittihad vs. Ettifaq is the big one there, kicking off at 5:30 PM local time. The level of talent in that league now means you're seeing legitimate international stars on a Friday afternoon.
How to watch today's games
Most of the European action is scattered across a few streaming services.
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- ESPN+ is your home for La Liga (Espanyol/Girona) and the Bundesliga clash.
- BeIN Sports usually carries the Ligue 1 matches like PSG vs. Lille.
- Paramount+ is where you'll find the Italian Serie A coverage for the Atalanta game.
The surprising depth of Friday's slate
Most people think "when are the football games today" and assume if it's not Sunday, there's nothing on. That's a mistake. While the American sports media cycle is hyper-focused on the Bills-Broncos matchup tomorrow, the betting markets are actually moving most on the PSG game and the West Brom vs. Middlesbrough match.
There’s also the Women’s FA Cup to consider. Newcastle vs. West Ham kicks off at 7:30 PM local. The growth of the women's game in England has been astronomical, and the atmosphere at St. James' Park for a Friday night cup tie is going to be electric.
Actionable steps for your Friday viewing
If you're trying to plan your afternoon or evening around the matches, here is how you should handle it:
- Check your subscriptions now: Don't wait until 2:55 PM to realize your ESPN+ login expired before the La Liga kickoff.
- Set your DVR for the NFL previews: Since there's no live NFL today, use the time to catch the deep-dive analysis shows on NFL Network or ESPN to see how the weather in Denver is going to affect Josh Allen tomorrow.
- Monitor the injury reports for Monday: If you're planning on watching the National Championship, today is the day "probable" tags turn into "questionable." Keep an eye on Miami's secondary.
- Look at the Belgian and Portuguese leagues for value: If you're into the betting side of things, Sporting CP and Club Brugge (playing RAAL La Louvière today) are heavy favorites that often anchor Friday parlays.
Basically, today is about variety. You won't get the 100,000-seat stadium roar of a Saturday in the SEC, but you get the tactical chess match of European league play. Grab a coffee for the afternoon matches or a beer for the nightcaps in Europe. Tomorrow is for the gridiron, but today belongs to the pitch.
Get your remote ready and make sure your streaming apps are updated. The weekend starts now.