The 2026-27 Premier League season commences with an all-London matchup as Fulham hosts Chelsea on August 24 at 3 p.m. ET. This West London derby signifies a new chapter for both clubs, with Álvaro Arbeloa taking the helm at Fulham and Xabi Alonso making his debut as Chelsea manager.
The two managers, who were former teammates at Real Madrid and Liverpool, face each other on opening day following significant squad changes over the summer.
Chelsea has made substantial investments in the transfer window, highlighted by the club-record signing of midfielder Morgan Rogers for £117 million. Other notable additions include Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, and João Pedro. The team will play its home matches at Stamford Bridge in London, England.
Fulham, meanwhile, enters the new season after the departure of long-serving manager Marco Silva, along with key players Harry Wilson and Raúl Jiménez. In response, Arbeloa has recruited young talent from Spain, including forward Gonzalo García and midfielder César Palacios.
Fans in the United States seeking to watch the match can tune in via USA Network. For those without cable, DIRECTV offers a way to stream the game. A five-day free trial of DIRECTV is available, with an option to save $30 on the first month. The Choice plan, which includes USA Network among its more than 125 channels, is recommended. Alternatively, DIRECTV's MySports Genre Pack, also featuring USA Network, is available at a lower monthly price after a free trial.
The Premier League schedule for the opening weeks includes other notable fixtures. On August 24, Manchester City will play Bournemouth at 9 a.m. ET. Later in the week, Crystal Palace faces Manchester City on August 28, and Liverpool takes on Nottingham Forest on August 29, both broadcast on USA Network. Other matches on August 29 and 30 will be available on Peacock and NBC.
The article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com.