If your question is “when will football start next season,” the short answer is that NFL regular-season games usually begin in early September, after preseason games in August. College football typically starts in late August or early September.
The exact date depends on the league and season, and the NFL’s full schedule is announced separately each year. Here’s how the main football calendars differ, what counts as a season opener, and where to look for the date that applies to your team.
when will football start next season? The short answer
If you mean the NFL, expect the regular season to start in early September. Training camps and preseason games take place beforehand, usually during the summer and August. College football generally begins a little earlier, with some games in late August and the bulk of the opening weekend around the end of August or start of September.
There is no single start date for all football. The NFL, college leagues, the Canadian Football League (CFL), high school programs, and soccer competitions follow different calendars. Even within one league, the opening date changes from year to year.
For a precise date, first identify the league and season you mean, then check its official schedule. A preseason exhibition, a college Week 0 game, and an NFL regular-season opener are all football, but they are not the same event.
How the NFL season calendar works
The NFL calendar has several stages. The date most fans mean by “football starts” is the first regular-season game, but teams return to football activities well before that. Knowing the difference helps you avoid mistaking a practice or exhibition for the start of the standings race.
| Stage | Usual timing | What happens | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offseason and draft | Spring | Teams add players, hold workouts, and prepare for training camp. | Following roster changes |
| Training camp | Summer | Players practice and compete for roster spots. | Watching team preparation |
| Preseason | August | Teams play exhibition games; results do not count toward the regular-season standings. | Seeing new players and lineups |
| Regular season | Early September onward | Games count toward playoff qualification. | Following the official season |
| Playoffs and Super Bowl | Winter | Teams compete in elimination games for the championship. | Watching the title run |
Preseason is not the regular-season opener
NFL preseason games usually take place in August. Coaches use them to evaluate players, test combinations, and prepare for the regular season. Teams often limit the playing time of established starters, so the game experience can differ from a typical regular-season matchup.
Preseason scores do not count in the regular-season standings, and a team’s preseason record does not determine its playoff chances. If you are looking for the first game that counts, look for the regular-season schedule rather than the preseason schedule.
The first regular-season game can be on a Thursday
The NFL typically opens its regular season with a Thursday night game. The rest of the opening weekend follows, with games spread across several days. That means the season’s first kickoff may come before the Sunday games many viewers associate with the opening weekend.
The precise opening date shifts from one year to another. The league’s schedule is set around the calendar, broadcast arrangements, stadium availability, and other events. Do not assume that last season’s opening date will repeat.
When does college football begin?
College football usually starts in late August. Some seasons include a small opening slate known as Week 0, followed by a larger opening weekend. Many teams play their first game around the end of August or the beginning of September, but the dates differ by school and competition.
Unlike the NFL, college football does not have one league-wide schedule release that gives every team the same kind of start date. Conferences and schools have their own schedules, and teams may begin on different weekends. A school’s first game could be a nonconference matchup, a conference game, or a neutral-site event.
To find a college team’s opening date, search for that school’s official football schedule and check the season year. Confirm the listed kickoff time near game day, because television selections can affect the time. Also check the time zone shown on the schedule; a listed local time may not match the time where you live.
Football start dates depend on which sport you mean
In the United States, “football” often means American football. In many other countries, it means soccer. The seasons are different, so a search for a start date can return answers for the wrong sport or league.
| Competition | Typical season start | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| NFL | Regular season usually opens in early September; preseason is in August. | The NFL regular-season schedule |
| U.S. college football | Late August or early September | The school’s schedule and its first game |
| CFL | Usually begins earlier in the summer than the NFL. | The CFL schedule for the season |
| High school football | Often begins in August or early September, depending on the state. | The school or state association calendar |
| Major European soccer leagues | Many begin in August, though dates vary by league and season. | The specific league’s fixtures |
These are broad calendar patterns, not guarantees for a particular team. A league can adjust its schedule, and a school or club may start later than others. If you mean soccer, name the country or competition when checking the dates; “football season” does not have one worldwide start.
Why the opening date changes each year
Football schedules must fit around more than a convenient weekend. The NFL coordinates games across a long season, stadiums, travel, television windows, and league events. The opening date can shift with the calendar, including the timing of the Labor Day holiday in the United States.
College schedules have their own constraints. Schools arrange matchups with conference opponents and nonconference teams, and some games take place at neutral venues. The result is a staggered start rather than one national kickoff for every college team.
Soccer calendars can be shaped by domestic competitions, international matches, and tournament schedules. In addition, leagues in different countries may use different season formats. That is why an answer that is correct for the NFL may be wrong for a European club competition.
How to find the exact kickoff date and time
- Name the league and season. Decide whether you mean the NFL, college football, the CFL, high school football, or a soccer competition. Include the season year in your search.
- Look for the official schedule. Use the league, school, or team’s own schedule page for the most reliable listing. A search result or fan calendar may be useful, but it can be incomplete or out of date.
- Find the first game that counts. Check whether the listing says preseason, exhibition, Week 0, or regular season. This matters if you want the first meaningful game rather than the first time a team takes the field.
- Confirm the date and time zone. Schedules may list local stadium time or another time zone. Convert it if you are watching from elsewhere.
- Check again near kickoff. Game times can be selected or adjusted after schedules are first posted. Recheck the official listing before making travel or viewing plans.
A useful search includes the team and the season, such as “Team name 2026 schedule” or “NFL regular-season opener 2026.” If you do not yet know the year, search the league’s current schedule page rather than relying on a date from an older article.
Common mix-ups about football’s first game
Confusing training camp with the season
Training camp is when players practice and prepare. It is a real part of the football calendar, but it is not a game and does not mark the start of the regular season. Camp dates also vary by team and are not a reliable substitute for the opening-game date.
Assuming the first TV game is every team’s first game
A nationally televised opener may draw the most attention, but it does not mean all teams play that night. The NFL schedules games across an opening weekend, and college teams may begin on different dates. Check your team’s own schedule if you want its first matchup.
Using last season’s date for the new season
The first game can move by several days from one season to the next. Holiday timing and scheduling decisions are among the reasons. Treat dates from a prior season as a rough clue, not confirmation.
Overlooking local calendars for school football
High school schedules are set locally and can depend on state rules, school calendars, and weather. A national football calendar will not reliably tell you when a particular school plays. Check the school or state athletic association’s schedule for that team.
What to expect before the first game
If you follow the NFL, you can use the summer to track training camp reports, roster decisions, and preseason games. These can offer clues about new players and team plans, but they do not reliably predict regular-season results. A standout preseason performance may come against backups or in a limited role.
Before buying tickets or planning a watch party, verify the venue, date, and kickoff time on the official schedule. Early listings can change, and ticket sites may display dates before all game-time details are final. For a game involving travel, leave room for schedule changes and confirm the stadium’s entry policies separately.
If you follow a college team, check whether its first game is home, away, or at a neutral site. A neutral-site game may be played far from either school, even though one team appears first in the listing. Also check whether the kickoff is scheduled or still listed as “TBA,” meaning the time has not been announced.
For soccer fans, confirm the competition rather than relying on the word “football” alone. A league’s opening weekend, a cup match, and an international tournament can all fall under football coverage while following different calendars. Adding the league or club name to your search makes the result much more useful.
Which date should you use?
For a general NFL answer, use early September as the regular-season starting point and August as the usual preseason period. For college football, expect the first games in late August or early September. Those windows help with planning, but only the official schedule can provide the confirmed date for a particular season or team.
If you are asking about a team rather than the league, its first scheduled game is the clearest answer. That game may not be the league opener, and it may not take place on the first weekend of the season. Separate the league’s opening date from your team’s opening date before booking anything or setting a reminder.
For the NFL, the regular season usually begins in early September, with preseason games in August. College football commonly starts in late August or early September, while other leagues follow their own calendars.
To pin down when will football start next season for your team, check its official schedule and confirm the season year, whether the game is preseason or regular season, and the kickoff time. Recheck the listing before making plans.