Football competitions explained: a supporter's guide to the 2026/27 season
Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Champions League, Europa League. If you're planning a trip to see a match, it helps to know what each competition actually is, when it's played and what kind of day out it gives you.
This guide explains every competition in plain English, shows how the season fits together and helps you pick the right fixture for your trip.
The quick version
| Competition | Who plays | Format | When | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 20 top-flight English clubs | League, 38 games each | August to May | No final: most points wins |
| FA Cup | More than 700 clubs from across England | Knockout | August to May | Wembley, May |
| Carabao Cup | The 92 Premier League and EFL clubs | Knockout | August to March | Wembley, late February or March |
| Champions League | Europe's top 36 clubs | League phase, then knockout | September to June | Madrid, 5 June 2027 |
| Europa League | 36 European clubs | League phase, then knockout | September to May | Frankfurt, 26 May 2027 |
| Nations League | European national teams | Groups, then knockout | International breaks | Summer 2027 |
| La Liga | 20 top-flight Spanish clubs | League, 38 games each | August to May | No final: most points wins |
The Premier League
The Premier League is the top division of English football and the most watched league in the world.
How it works: 20 clubs play each other twice, once at home and once away, for 38 matches each. A win earns three points and a draw earns one. The club with the most points in May is champion, the top finishers qualify for Europe and the bottom three are relegated to the Championship.
What it's like to attend: this is the week-in, week-out heartbeat of English football. Every weekend from August to May there's a fixture somewhere, which makes it the easiest competition to plan a trip around.
Good to know: fixtures are released in June, but most are moved for live TV, usually around five to six weeks before the match. Our guide to why Premier League kick-off times change explains how it works.
Explore Premier League fixtures.
The FA Cup
The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world, first played in 1871. It's famous for one thing above all: the chance of a giant-killing.
How it works: more than 700 clubs enter, from the Premier League right down to local amateur sides. It's a straight knockout, and every tie is decided on the day. There are no replays from the first round onwards, so a draw goes to extra time and penalties.
When the big clubs enter: Premier League and Championship clubs join in the third round, played in early January. That's when the draw throws up mismatches between top-flight giants and lower-league clubs.
The final: played at Wembley in May, and still one of the great days in the football calendar.
Read the full story in our guide to the FA Cup.
The Carabao Cup
The Carabao Cup, officially the EFL Cup, is the second major domestic cup in England.
How it works: it's open to the 92 clubs in the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two. It's a knockout competition, with ties decided on the night by extra time and penalties if needed. Clubs playing in Europe join in the third round. The semi-finals are played over two legs, home and away.
What it's like to attend: most rounds are played midweek under the lights, often at great value compared with a league weekend. The first trophy of the season is decided at Wembley in late February or March.
Find out more in our Carabao Cup guide.
FA Cup or Carabao Cup: what's the difference?
- Who can enter: the FA Cup is open to more than 700 clubs. The Carabao Cup is only for the top 92.
- When it's played: Carabao Cup rounds are mostly midweek. FA Cup rounds are mostly at weekends.
- The final: both finals are at Wembley. The Carabao Cup final comes first, in late winter, and the FA Cup final closes the English season in May.
The Champions League
The Champions League is Europe's elite club competition, and the biggest club trophy in world football.
How it works: 36 clubs play in a single league phase. Each club plays eight matches, four at home and four away, against eight different opponents. The top eight go straight into the last 16. Clubs finishing 9th to 24th play a two-legged play-off for the remaining places, and clubs from 25th down are knocked out. From the last 16 onwards it's two-legged knockout ties, up to a single final.
When it's played: league phase matches run from September to January, mostly on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The knockout rounds run from February to May.
The 2027 final: Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium, home of Atlético Madrid, hosts the final on 5 June 2027.
What it's like to attend: European nights have an atmosphere all of their own, with the anthem, the lights and visiting supporters from across the continent.
Explore Champions League fixtures.
The Europa League
The Europa League is Europe's second club competition, and it has become a serious trophy in its own right. The winner also earns a place in the following season's Champions League.
How it works: it follows the same format as the Champions League, with 36 clubs, eight league phase matches each, a play-off round and two-legged knockout ties.
When it's played: mostly on Thursday nights, from September to May.
The 2027 final: Frankfurt Arena, Germany, on 26 May 2027.
Good to know: because Europa League clubs play on Thursdays, their league match that weekend is usually moved to the Sunday.
Explore Europa League fixtures.
The Nations League
The UEFA Nations League is a competition for European national teams, including England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
How it works: teams are split into leagues by ranking, then into small groups. Group winners can win promotion to a higher league, and the top teams go on to the knockout rounds, with finals in summer 2027.
When it's played: during international breaks, when the club season pauses for international football.
What it's like to attend: it's a chance to see international football in a competitive setting, often at lower prices than major tournament qualifiers.
Explore Nations League fixtures.
La Liga
La Liga is Spain's top division, home to Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Sevilla.
How it works: exactly like the Premier League, with 20 clubs, 38 matches each and the most points winning the title.
What makes it different: later kick-offs, often 9pm local time, and fixture times confirmed only three to five weeks before each round. A La Liga weekend is a match and a city break in one.
Read our guide to your first La Liga match, or explore La Liga fixtures.
How the 2026/27 season fits together
| Month | What's on |
|---|---|
| August | Premier League and La Liga begin. Early Carabao Cup rounds |
| September | Champions League and Europa League league phases begin. Nations League games during the international break |
| October to November | League football every weekend. Carabao Cup fourth round. More Nations League games |
| December | Busy festive schedule, with Premier League matches on Boxing Day and over New Year |
| January | FA Cup third round, when the big clubs enter. European league phases finish |
| February to March | Carabao Cup final at Wembley. European knockout rounds begin |
| April | Title run-ins and FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley |
| May | League seasons end. FA Cup final and Europa League final |
| June | Champions League final in Madrid on 5 June |
Which competition is right for your trip?
- First match, or taking the family: the Premier League. There are fixtures every weekend and plenty of choice of club and city.
- Best value: the Carabao Cup, whose midweek rounds often cost less than a league weekend.
- Cup drama: the FA Cup third round in January, when giant-killings are most likely.
- A night to remember: the Champions League, with European football under the lights.
- Football and a city break: La Liga, with late kick-offs, warm evenings and a completely different matchday culture.
Planning around fixture changes
Whichever competition you choose, fixtures move. TV selections, cup runs and European matches all shift dates and kick-off times throughout the season.
That's why every SEESPORTS package includes Kick-off Cover. If the date or kick-off time of your match changes, we rearrange your tickets and hotel at no extra fee.
Your questions answered
What's the difference between the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup? The FA Cup is open to more than 700 clubs and is mostly played at weekends. The Carabao Cup is only for the top 92 clubs in England and is mostly played midweek. Both finals are at Wembley.
How does the new Champions League format work? 36 clubs play eight matches each in a single league table. The top eight go straight to the last 16, clubs finishing 9th to 24th go into a play-off, and the rest are knocked out.
Where is the 2027 Champions League final? At the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, on 5 June 2027.
What day are Champions League and Europa League matches played? Champions League matches are mostly on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Europa League matches are mostly on Thursday nights.
Are there still replays in the FA Cup? No. Since the 2024/25 season there have been no replays from the first round onwards. Drawn ties go to extra time and penalties.
Which football competition is best for a first trip? The Premier League is the easiest to plan, with fixtures every weekend from August to May and the widest choice of clubs and cities.
Find your match
Browse every football fixture on sale, from the Premier League to the Champions League. Every SEESPORTS package includes official tickets, seats together, a hotel and Kick-off Cover.
Got a question first? Chat to Sid on the Live Desk, any time, or explore all questions on the Support Bench.
Your passion; our goal.
