If you're anything like me, your weekends (and let’s be real, half your weekdays) basically revolve around the Etihad outfit. It's a full-time job keeping up with Pep Guardiola's rotation and the sheer volume of games this squad plays. You've probably found yourself frantically Googling when is man city playing just to make sure you haven't missed a random 12:30 kick-off or a Tuesday night trip to some corner of Europe you can't pronounce.
Well, the Manchester Derby just wrapped up on January 17th, and honestly? It wasn't the result anyone in sky blue wanted. A 2-0 loss at Old Trafford hurts, especially with the title race being as tight as it is. But there’s zero time for the team to sit around and mope.
The schedule for early 2026 is absolutely relentless. We're talking three different competitions in the span of about two weeks. If you’re trying to plan your life, here’s exactly where the boys are going to be.
When Is Man City Playing Next? The Immediate Fixtures
The turnaround is brutal. Like, actually insane. City has to fly out to Norway almost immediately for a Champions League clash. If you missed the memo, the "League Phase" of the new CL format means these January games are actually high-stakes for seeding.
- January 20, 2026: Away vs. Bodø/Glimt (Champions League). This kicks off at 17:45 GMT. It’s going to be freezing, and that artificial pitch in Norway is always a nightmare.
- January 24, 2026: Home vs. Wolves (Premier League). 15:00 GMT. After the derby loss, the Etihad needs to be loud for this one.
- January 28, 2026: Home vs. Galatasaray (Champions League). 20:00 GMT. This is the final game of the CL league phase.
Why the February Run is the Real Season-Definer
If you think January is a headache, February is basically a migraine. We've got Spurs and Liverpool back-to-back. If City wants to close that gap on Arsenal—who are currently sitting 7 points clear at the top of the table—they basically have to go perfect in February.
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Most people don't realize how much the EFL Cup (Carabao Cup) messes with the rhythm here too. City is scheduled to face Newcastle in the semi-finals on February 4th. It's a home game at 15:00, but depending on how the first leg went, that could be a very tense afternoon.
Then comes the big one. February 8th. Away at Anfield. 16:30. That match usually decides where the trophy ends up in May, or at least who gets to keep dreaming about it.
The Full 2026 Spring Schedule at a Glance
Don't bother looking at a calendar; I've parsed through the mess of "TBC" dates for you. Keep in mind that FA Cup progression always tends to move these Premier League games around at the last minute.
February 2026
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- Feb 1: Tottenham (Away) - 11:30 EST / 16:30 GMT
- Feb 4: Newcastle (Home) - EFL Cup Semi-Final
- Feb 8: Liverpool (Away) - 11:30 EST / 16:30 GMT
- Feb 11: Fulham (Home) - 14:30 EST
- Feb 15: Salford City or Swindon Town (Home) - FA Cup 4th Round
- Feb 21: Newcastle (Home) - Premier League
- Feb 28: Leeds United (Away) - 12:30 EST
March 2026
- Mar 4: Nottingham Forest (Home) - 15:00 EST
- Mar 14: West Ham (Away) - 11:00 EDT
- Mar 21: Crystal Palace (Home) - 11:00 EDT
If the team finishes outside the top 8 in the Champions League league phase, they'll also have play-off games on February 17-18 and 24-25. That would be a disaster for the squad’s fitness.
What’s Going on With the Table?
Right now, the pressure is on. Arsenal is leading with 50 points after 22 games. City is sitting in second with 43 points. We're level with Aston Villa, but our goal difference ($+24$) is keeping us in that second-place spot for now.
Losing to United on the 17th was a massive blow. It means the Wolves game on the 24th isn't just a "should win"—it’s a "must win." You can't drop points to 20th-placed Wolves when you're chasing a juggernaut like this Arsenal side.
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How to Watch and Where to Listen
Honestly, the TV rights are a mess these days. In the UK, most of the big February games (Spurs, Liverpool) are on Sky Sports. The Champions League matches have moved over to TNT Sports (and discovery+).
If you're in the US, most Premier League games are still on USA Network or Peacock, but the Champions League is a Paramount+ affair. I always tell people to check the official Man City app about 24 hours before kick-off because they’re usually the first to update when a game gets moved for TV.
Actionable Steps for the Matchday
- Sync your digital calendar: The official City website has a "Sync Fixtures" button. Use it. Between the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and the new CL format, you will forget a game.
- Watch the "League Phase" standings: Don't just look at the score. Since this is the first year of the new CL format, every goal against Galatasaray and Bodø/Glimt matters for the final ranking.
- Check the FA Cup draw: The Salford/Swindon game on February 15th is a classic "banana skin" game. If City wins that, expect the March 21st game against Palace to be rescheduled.
- Priority Tickets: If you’re planning on going to the Arsenal home game on April 18th, start looking at hospitality or membership options now. That game is going to be impossible to get into.
The title race isn't over, but the next four weeks are going to tell us everything we need to know about whether this squad has another trophy in them.