Must-Watch Soccer Games - 16 September 2026

⚽ Must-Watch Soccer Games

Here are the standout must-watch soccer games around Wednesday, 16 September 2026, plus the immediate weekend slate. Kick-off times are approximate and given in local stadium time unless noted; check a live schedule for your time zone and broadcast.

Tonight (Wednesday 16 September)

AC Milan vs Benfica

UEFA Europa League league phase, Matchday 1
San Siro (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza), Milan, Italy
Evening kick-off (around 21:00 local / 20:00 BST).

Two former European champions who both missed the Champions League. Milan are adapting to Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1; Benfica arrive in excellent form under Marco Silva, with Vangelis Pavlidis in prolific scoring form. Expect an open, high-quality game between sides that both attack well.

Barcelona vs Racing Santander

La Liga, Matchday 6
Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
Around 20:30–21:30 local.

Barcelona are 5–0–0 and top of the table with 21 goals scored. Newly promoted Racing have been entertaining and attack-minded but leaky at the back. Barça should dominate possession and chances; the question is how many they score.

Manchester United vs Brighton

Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) third round
Old Trafford, Manchester, England
20:00 BST.

United are coming off a 1–0 derby loss to Manchester City and will likely rotate. Brighton are in sharp form (including a 5–0 league win) and have historically given United trouble. A lively cup tie with goals likely at both ends.

Other notable games tonight

• Atlético Madrid vs Osasuna (La Liga, Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid).
• Several other Europa League openers (Anderlecht–Lyon, Leverkusen–Celje, Sunderland–AZ Alkmaar, etc.).
• Copa Libertadores quarter-final second legs: LDU Quito vs Palmeiras and Corinthians vs Estudiantes.
• Copa Sudamericana: Atlético Mineiro vs Santos.
• Campeones Cup: Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul (Miami).

This weekend (Premier League Matchweek 5)

• Friday 18 Sep: Brentford vs Chelsea (Gtech Community Stadium).
• Saturday 19 Sep: Tottenham vs Aston Villa; Brighton vs Arsenal; Everton vs Ipswich; Newcastle vs Hull; Nottingham Forest vs Coventry (later kick-off).
• Sunday 20 Sep: Bournemouth vs Liverpool; Fulham vs Manchester United.

Brighton–Arsenal and Bournemouth–Liverpool look like the highest-quality league fixtures of the weekend.

Looking a little further

The Champions League league phase already began 8–10 September. The next matchdays are mid-October. The 2026/27 final is scheduled for 5 June 2027 at the Metropolitano in Madrid.

If you want lineups, TV channels for a specific country, or a deeper preview of one of these games, say which one.