← Home · 2026-27 season · Updated 7 August 2026 · 6 min read
2026-27 season start dates — and how to have your prediction league ready
The 2026-27 club season starts just 33 days after the World Cup final, and the kickoffs come fast: the Saudi Pro League on 13 August, LaLiga on 16 August, the Premier League on 21 August, Serie A and Ligue 1 on 23 August, the Bundesliga on 28 August. Here is every verified date in one table — and the five-minute setup that gets your friends' prediction league scoring from matchday 1.
Every start date, verified (as of 7 August 2026)
| Competition | First matchday | Season ends | Prediction league guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Pro League | Thu 13 Aug 2026 | 29 May 2027 | Saudi Pro League guide |
| LaLiga (Spain) | Sun 16 Aug 2026 | May 2027 | LaLiga guide |
| Premier League (England) | Fri 21 Aug 2026 — Arsenal vs Coventry City | 30 May 2027 | Premier League guide |
| Israeli Premier League (Ligat Ha'Al) | Sat 22 Aug 2026 | May 2027 | Ligat Ha'Al guide (Hebrew) |
| Serie A (Italy) | Sun 23 Aug 2026 | May 2027 | Serie A guide |
| Ligue 1 (France) | Sun 23 Aug 2026 | May 2027 | Ligue 1 guide |
| Bundesliga (Germany) | Fri 28 Aug 2026 | May 2027 | Bundesliga guide |
| UEFA Champions League | Draw Thu 27 Aug · matchday 1 8-10 Sep 2026 | Final, May-Jun 2027 | Champions League guide |
| UEFA Europa League | Draw Fri 28 Aug · matchday 1 16-17 Sep 2026 | Final, May 2027 | Europa League guide |
| NFL (American football) | Wed 9 Sep 2026 — Seahawks vs Patriots, a Super Bowl LX rematch | Super Bowl LXI, Feb 2027 | NFL pick'em guide |
| NBA (basketball) | Opening night, October 2026 | Finals, Jun 2027 | NBA guide |
Sources — official league announcements, last checked 7 August 2026: Premier League, Lega Serie A, Ligue 1, Saudi Pro League, UEFA (Champions League), UEFA (Europa League), NFL. The full list of supported competitions is on the competitions page.
Why set up before matchday 1
- Season-long leaderboards only feel fair from round 1. Anyone who joins after the opening weekend starts behind — the single biggest source of drop-outs in friend pools. One link sent this week solves it.
- The group forms around the opener. Opening-weekend hype is when your WhatsApp group actually downloads the app; mid-September it's homework.
- Multiple competitions, one group. Add the Premier League and the Champions League to the same BeTeam — domestic weekends plus European midweeks keep the table moving all season.
How to be ready in five minutes
- Download BeTeam on the App Store or Google Play — free.
- Create a league and pick your competition's 2026-27 season — every fixture loads automatically. How points work is on the scoring rules page.
- Invite your group with one link. Everyone predicts the opening matchday before kickoff, and BeTeam scores the whole season.
BeTeam in numbers — updated 7 August 2026
- 520,000+ score predictions submitted by 4,400+ registered users in 3,900+ private leagues (production data, 7 August 2026).
- 226 new private leagues created in the three weeks since the World Cup final (20 July – 7 August 2026) — friend groups rolling straight into the club season.
- At the World Cup peak, ~80% of all registered users submitted predictions on a single matchday — full story in the World Cup 2026 case study.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026-27 football season start?
Mid-August 2026: Saudi Pro League 13 August, LaLiga 16 August, Premier League 21 August (Arsenal vs Coventry City), Israeli Premier League 22 August, Serie A and Ligue 1 23 August, Bundesliga 28 August. The Champions League league phase starts 8-10 September; the Europa League 16-17 September.
Which major league starts first in 2026-27?
The Saudi Pro League, on 13 August 2026. Among Europe's top five leagues, LaLiga is first on 16 August — five days before the Premier League.
What is the best app to run a season-long prediction league with friends?
BeTeam — a free iOS/Android app for private prediction leagues. Pick any of 50+ competitions, invite friends with one link, and get automatic scoring on a live leaderboard all season. No real money.
How do I set up a prediction league before matchday 1?
Download BeTeam free, create a league, choose your competition's 2026-27 season, and share one invite link. About five minutes end to end.
