New Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli says the passionate nature of Scottish football was a key factor in him taking the job.

Pocognoli, 39, was confirmed as Steve Clarke’s successor on Sunday and introduced himself to the media on Monday.

Clarke ended his seven-year reign earlier this summer after Scotland failed to progress from the World Cup group stage after a victory over Haiti was followed by defeats to Morocco and Brazil.

Former Belgium defender Pocognoli left Monaco at the end of last season and previously led Union Saint-Gilloise to their first league title in 90 years in 2024-25.

He becomes just the second foreign boss of the Scotland men’s team, after the German Berti Vogts, and believes he has what it takes to build on Clarke’s “strong foundation”.

“I’m very proud to be here,” Pocognoli said, flanked by Scottish FA chiefs Ian Maxwell and Craig Mulholland at his introduction.

“It’s a very strong challenge, with a project to develop the future of Scottish football. There are the metrics, but the human aspect was also very important. I never go to a challenge where I can’t feel the connection.

“Scotland is a passionate country and I think also, regarding the strong foundation that Steve Clarke and his staff laid, that I can use this heritage to put the next accent on the style of play while also developing players for the future.

“That’s why I’m here.”

The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.

Good morning. RIP, Tommy John. Coming up: 

How? Daniel Jones and the bionic tendon

So many things happen during the course of an NFL season that it’s easy to forget specifics. A lot can happen in 272 regular-season games. 

So forgive me if I read this story and immediately thought: Remember when Philip Rivers came out of retirement last year? After four years away? That was wild. 

It’s not just a random memory, because why Rivers came back — to help the Colts try to limp across the playoff finish line — matters immensely this season. Indianapolis started 7-1 last season, led by a surprise MVP push from newcomer QB Daniel Jones. The Colts finished 8-9, losing their last four games after Jones tore his Achilles tendon in Week 14. 

Well under a year later, the 29-year-old is back and on track to start Week 1. Wait, what? 

• Jones, apparently, looks completely healed in practice. He is not playing the preseason out of wise precaution. Two sources told The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones that the quarterback “looked like he never suffered an injury.” To be clear: This specific ailment can end a career.
  
• There may be no more important quarterback in the league this year. Jones proved last season that his time with the Giants was merely about growth and not his fully realized form. But it’s easy to wonder if last year’s brilliant stretch was a fluke. This is a talented roster with legitimate playoff dreams, all hinging on Jones’ play. 

Take some time to read the full story this morning, including fascinating bits about how Jones is one of the fastest quarterbacks we’ve ever seen.

Details: Why did Mark Walter sell the Lakers?

Ever since the news broke, there’s been a weird pall around the Lakers sale. Sure, Mark Walter sold the Lakers at a $2.5 billion markup. But selling the Lakers? After a year? Something doesn’t smell right. 

In a big investigative piece out this morning, Alex Andrejev, Melody Gutierrez and Rebecca Tauber spotlighted some reasons why. Two things I took away: 

• Walter himself is interesting, a fabulously wealthy man with little nose for the spotlight who owned two of the world’s most valuable sports franchises. Most wouldn’t recognize him in a crowd, and yet he had amassed an incredible amount of sports capital.
  
• Now, the spotlight has found him. Two of Walter’s companies, both insurance businesses, are under federal scrutiny via both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Some of the transactions under investigation involve his sports teams. 

Read their full investigation here. And consider the story developing until further notice.

News to Know

Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images

Taurasi immortalized
The Mercury retired Diana Taurasi’s No. 3 yesterday in a heartwarming ceremony, as one of the best basketball players to ever live got her due all day. The street outside Phoenix’s arena was named after her, a mural went up over the weekend and the team inducted her into its Ring of Honor. All hail Diana.

Miller picks Dallas
As if we need a surer sign that NFL training camps are nearing their end: Seasoned veteran Von Miller agreed to sign with the Cowboys yesterday, bolstering an already impressive defensive line and Dallas’ playoff hopes this year, should Miller stay healthy. Miller, 37, was one of the big-name veterans clearly waiting out the early camp period to choose a team. Read more here.

John dead at 83
Eight days after releasing a goodbye letter, former Yankees pitcher Tommy John — most famous for the elbow surgery named after him — died at his home in Florida. He was 83 years old. John played for a stunning 26 seasons. As Ian O’Connor remembers, John was a flamethrower of a different kind.

More news:

• An absolute stunner we missed from late Saturday: Katie Ledecky lost an 800-meter freestyle race at an international meet for the first time in 14 years.
  
• Vikings safety Jamal Adams will miss the entire 2026 season with a knee injury sustained in a preseason game over the weekend. Brutal.
  
• Tough start for Highmark Stadium, the Bills’ new digs. One player’s review: “The field is ass right now.” Welp.
  
• World No. 1 men’s golfer Scottie Scheffler finally won another tournament. It had been seven whole months.
  
• Cameroon is the WAFCON champion after a 3-0 win over Malawi yesterday. Impressive, but even more so when you learn the team didn’t initially qualify.
  
• Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson is heading to the injured list with an oblique issue. It’s a tough blow for a surging Chicago crew.
  
• A jersey worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at UCLA sold for $1.25 million. It was traded for a transistor radio 50 years ago.

📰 Find more news here 24/7.

Watch Guide

📺 Soccer: Wrexham at Cardiff City
3 p.m. ET on Paramount+
Love them or hate them, Wrexham begins their second season one step away from the Premier League. It’s a long run, but this is a good opportunity to watch more soccer and tune in for one of the sport’s more interesting stories this year. 

📺 MLB: Tigers at Pirates
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
Detroit is most interesting here, 5 1/2 games back in the AL Central and just one back in the AL wild card. Pittsburgh, as we’ve noted, is fading. The Tigers desperately need a win after three straight losses. 

📺 WNBA: Wings at Valkyries
10 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBC Sports Network
We’ve been in on the Valks for a bit, but here’s a great opportunity to catch them before a playoff run. Going against Paige Bueckers and Dallas is a good matchup, too.

Pulse Picks

Want to know what life is like for college agents in the NIL era? There are no rules, as detailed in a great piece this morning. And most of them like it that way. 

I can’t get enough of Joshua Báez, who had the best MLB debut we’ve ever seen. We have a full introduction to the rookie. 

I loved this story from Fluto Shinzawa on the single test that can determine an NHL player’s future. 

One swimming name you need to remember from the Pan Pacific Championships: Kate Douglass, the fastest woman in the world. 

Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: The initial story of Báez’s MLB debut. 

Most-read on the website yesterday: Ledecky’s loss.

There is no shortage of interest in a given English Premier League season. The EPL is a cultural phenomenon and an institution of its sport, with top-line talents from all across the planet.

But this upcoming 2026-27 campaign will definitely bring in North American converts fresh off their World Cup rush. Gunners are born before our eyes, as new Erling Haaland fans go from Norway’s “Viking Row” to Manchester City’s “Blue Moon.” Some will never walk alone again. A few might even get stung by the Bees at the bus stop.

Last season’s blockbuster between Arsenal and Man City became the most-watched Premier League match in U.S. history. That record could be broken in the months to come. Haaland’s side tries to get back on top, while Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka headline Arsenal’s first championship defense bid in more than two decades. Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United start somewhere below them in the title mix, alongside brand names like Liverpool and Chelsea.

Here’s a quick rundown on how EPL broadcasts work, first in the United States and then in Canada. Be sure to follow the Premier League on The Athletic, and sign up for The Athletic FC newsletter to keep up with the beautiful game.

All times below are ET.

You can watch Premier League and other live soccer matches with Fubo (Stream Free Now).

NBC

The terrestrial channel is racking up live sports viewership this year between the Super Bowl, Winter Olympics and renewed NBA coverage. Now comes the return of the Premier League. Sometimes, NBC will get one weekend showcase (often a Saturday spot at 12:30 p.m.). Other matchweeks are confined to the cable and streaming subsidiaries.

NBC Sports’ lead studio show is “Premier League Live.” It stars host Rebecca Lowe and former players Robbie Earle, Robbie Mustoe and Tim Howard.

What you’ll need to watch these matches: NBC is free over the air with a TV antenna. It’s also included with pay TV packages (around $85-125 per month) or a Peacock subscription (the “Premium” option with live sports goes for $10.99/month).

Peacock and NBCSN

NBC coverage streams on Peacock, but the streamer has its own exclusives throughout the season. Some live Peacock matches are also on linear TV through NBCSN, or NBCSN Extra on YouTube TV.

Peacock offers a multiview option in its app, with a “key plays” feature for late viewers trying to catch up. Spanish-language coverage can also be streamed on Peacock.

“The Men in Blazers Show” is a part of Peacock’s programming. The irreverence is anchored by Roger Bennett. Last season’s many celebrity cameos included comedian Trevor Noah, rapper Big Boi and NFL coach Sean McVay. Liverpool obsessive (and penalty specialist) John Oliver has been a regular guest over the years.

What you’ll need to watch these matches: NBCSN is included with some pay TV sports packages. The matches exclusive to Peacock require an active “Premium” subscription (starting at $10.99/month). College students can get 12 months of Peacock for $5.99/month.

USA Network

A lot of Premier League matches land on USA, in addition to the network’s new deal with the German Bundesliga.

As of 2026, USA Network is now a Versant Media property and no longer under the NBC umbrella. That means its games don’t stream on Peacock. The USA app offers mobile and smart TV access for those with multichannel cable, satellite or streaming logins.

What you’ll need to watch these matches: USA is included in most pay TV bases.

Overflow networks (CNBC, Golf Channel, Syfy)

Soccer on the science fiction hub? Let’s leave “Galactik Football” out of this. It’s rare, but Versant channels like Syfy can be used for EPL coverage.

Both Syfy and CNBC had matches during last season’s “Championship Sunday” finale. In the past, Golf Channel has aired the occasional game as well. Those networks have their own apps, but like USA, they are not over-the-top services — you need pay TV credentials to use them.

What you’ll need to watch these matches: CNBC, Golf Channel and Syfy are included in most pay TV bases.

Telemundo and Universo

These two are on a hot streak. On Telemundo and Universo, the World Cup became the biggest Spanish-language sporting event in American history, per Nielsen. The networks have since added exclusive U.S. Spanish-language TV rights for UEFA competitions, which kick in for the 2027-28 season.

This is how EPL fans can see and hear Spanish broadcasts on linear TV. As always, the “gooooooool” calls for Premier League strikes are positively electric.

What you’ll need to watch these matches: Telemundo is free over the air, and Universo is available through most pay TV plans.

How to watch the Premier League in Canada

While NBC Sports has U.S. broadcasts through 2028, Fubo lands those EPL rights for Canadian audiences. The streamer’s sports bundle includes all Italian Serie A matches and some matchups in the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 (French domestic) and Concacaf (North/Central American international). The “sports pro” bundle also comes with DAZN, which has UEFA soccer.

What you’ll need to watch these matches: In Canada, Fubo’s quarterly sports plan is $44.97 total for the first three months, then $83.97 for each subsequent three-month period. The “sports pro” option is $134.97 total for the first three months and $149.97 every three months after that.

EPL Matchweek 1 on U.S. television

Here’s a look at how this all comes together for a full slate.

Friday, Aug. 21 (season opener)

• Arsenal vs. Coventry City — 3 p.m. on USA

Saturday, Aug. 22

• Hull City vs. Manchester United — 7:30 a.m. on USA
• Everton vs. Crystal Palace — 10 a.m. on USA
• Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds United — 10 a.m. on Peacock and NBCSN
• Ipswich Town vs. Sunderland — 10 a.m. on Peacock and NBCSN Extra
• Brentford vs. Tottenham Hotspur — 12:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock

Sunday, Aug. 23

• Manchester City vs. Bournemouth — 9 a.m. on USA
• Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Aston Villa — 9 a.m. on Peacock
• Newcastle United vs. Liverpool — 11:30 a.m. on USA

Monday, Aug. 24

• Fulham vs. Chelsea — 3 p.m. on USA

What you’ll need to watch these matches: Most pay TV plans include all of those networks except Peacock. A subscription is required for the Peacock exclusives.

EPL schedule overview

The Premier League has 380 total fixtures across 38 matchweeks. All 20 EPL members get one home and one road matchup against each opponent.

Breaks are built into the schedule for international play. Here’s where they fall during the Premier League season:

• Monday, Sept. 21 to Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
• Monday, Nov. 9 to Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026
• Monday, March 22 to Tuesday, March 30, 2027

This season’s winter transfer window opens Jan. 1, 2027, and closes one month later on Feb. 1. The campaign concludes on May 30, with all 10 “Championship Sunday” matches starting at the same time.

2025-26 Premier League leaders

• Goals — Erling Haaland, Manchester City, with 27
• Assists — Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United, with 21
• Clean sheets — David Raya, Arsenal, with 19
• Total tackles — James Garner, Everton, with 120

Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.