Several kinds of football start in August, but they do not all begin the same way. In the United States, NFL preseason games and college football season openers usually arrive that month; in many countries, top-flight soccer leagues also begin their seasons in August.
The exact answer depends on which sport, league, and country you mean. Here’s how to tell preseason from regular-season play, when the main competitions usually begin, and where to check a specific team’s first game.
What football starts in august?
August is a transition month for football: NFL teams play preseason games, some college teams play their first games, and many European soccer leagues begin their campaigns. It is not one universal start date, and an August game may be an exhibition, a regular-season contest, or the opening match of a league season.
In the United States, people asking this question often mean American football. NFL training camps and preseason games take place in August, while the NFL regular season typically starts in September. College football generally begins in late August, with some opening games scheduled before the main Labor Day weekend slate.
If you mean soccer, the answer depends on the competition. Several major European domestic leagues start in August, while other leagues begin at different times of year. International tournaments and individual club schedules can also affect when a particular team takes the field.
Which football seasons begin in August?
The simplest way to avoid confusion is to identify the league and whether you mean its preparation period or its official competition. This table summarizes the usual pattern, not a promise about any specific season’s calendar.
| Competition | What usually happens in August | Is it regular season? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | Training camps and preseason games | Usually no; regular-season games generally begin in September | Fans tracking NFL teams before the season |
| College football | Some opening games, often in late August | Yes, for teams whose scheduled opener falls then | Fans looking for the first college matchups |
| High school football | Practices, scrimmages, and some season openers | It depends on state and school schedules | Families and local supporters |
| European soccer leagues | Many domestic league seasons begin | Often yes | Supporters following club soccer abroad |
| Other soccer leagues | Some are underway; others are in a different part of their calendar | It depends on the country and competition | Fans checking a specific league or club |
NFL preseason is not the regular season
NFL training camp is the preparation period when teams practice and evaluate players. Preseason games follow. They are official scheduled games, but they do not count toward the regular-season standings in the same way as regular-season games.
The regular season usually opens in September. So if someone says “NFL football starts in August,” they may mean that teams are back on television and playing preseason games, not that the race for the regular-season standings has begun.
College football may have real games in August
College football’s season commonly starts in late August. Some teams play an early opener, while many others begin on the first major weekend around Labor Day. A team’s first game can therefore fall in August even when most of the familiar schedule is still ahead.
College schedules are set by the schools and conferences, so there is no single date that applies to every team. Check the team schedule rather than assuming that all college football starts on the same weekend.
Soccer has a different calendar
In many European countries, domestic soccer leagues begin in August and run through the following spring. That can make August the start of the competitive season for clubs, not merely a warm-up period. Cup competitions and international fixtures may follow their own schedules.
Soccer calendars vary around the world. Some competitions run mainly within a calendar year, while others span two years; weather, local traditions, and tournament formats all play a part. A league’s official schedule is the best way to confirm when its season starts.
How to tell whether an August game counts
A date alone does not tell you what kind of game you are watching. Look at the competition label and the stakes. The words “preseason,” “friendly,” or “exhibition” usually indicate preparation rather than a league match that counts in the standings.
- Identify the sport and competition. “Football” can mean American football or soccer, and both have multiple leagues and levels. Find the team and league name first.
- Check the event type. An NFL preseason game differs from an NFL regular-season game. A soccer friendly differs from a domestic league fixture.
- Look at the standings or schedule. If the game is listed as a league fixture and affects league points or records, it is competitive season play. If it is listed as an exhibition, it generally is not part of the regular standings.
- Confirm the date and time zone. A match listed late at night in one time zone may appear on the next calendar day elsewhere. This matters for international broadcasts and travel plans.
One common mistake is treating the first televised game as the start of the regular season. Networks often show preseason games, friendlies, or early tournament matches before league competition begins. Check the event label before using a result to judge a team’s season position.
Why NFL teams play preseason games in August
Preseason games give teams a chance to prepare for the regular season. Coaches use them to evaluate players, test combinations, and give newcomers experience in a game setting. The final score matters less than the evaluation and preparation behind it.
Preseason lineups may differ substantially from regular-season lineups. Coaches often limit how long established starters play, and roster decisions can shape which players get more opportunities. That is why a preseason result does not reliably predict how a team will perform once the regular season begins.
For fans, August preseason still offers useful clues. You can watch for position battles, promising young players, and whether a team’s offense or defense appears to be settling into its system. Treat those observations as early signals, not firm proof of how the season will go.
What to expect from college football in late August
College football’s first weekend can be smaller than the busy schedule that follows. Some teams open early, and the rest of the schedule builds toward the first full weekend of games. This staggered start can make the season feel as if it begins in stages.
Opening-week matchups may include teams from different conferences or games at neutral sites. A neutral-site game is played somewhere other than either team’s home stadium, often as a featured opener. The setting does not change whether the game counts; the schedule and competition rules determine that.
College schedules can also include a “Week Zero,” a label used for games played before the traditional opening weekend. Not every team plays then, and the label does not mean those games are exhibitions. If a matchup is a scheduled regular-season contest, it counts for the teams involved.
To find your team’s first game, use the school’s athletics schedule or its conference schedule. These sources can show kickoff time, broadcast details, venue, and whether a game is a home opener. They are more reliable than assuming that a national season-opening date applies to every school.
When August soccer seasons usually start
Many well-known European club competitions begin around August, but dates differ by league and year. Clubs may also play qualifying rounds or domestic cup matches before or alongside league fixtures. Those games can be competitive without being league matches.
Before following an August match, check whether it is a league fixture, a cup tie, a qualification match, or a friendly. The type of match explains what is at stake. For example, a cup result may affect advancement in that cup without changing a club’s league position.
International breaks can interrupt domestic schedules during the season. A club may have fewer league games in a particular period because players are away with national teams. Those breaks do not mean the league has ended; they are pauses in its calendar.
If you follow a club in a league outside Europe, do not assume its season follows the same August-to-spring pattern. Some leagues use a calendar-year season, split their schedule into stages, or adjust the calendar for local conditions. Check the competition’s own fixture list for the correct opening date.
How to find the first game for a team you follow
Use this quick process to get a dependable answer rather than relying on a general season-start headline:
- Search the team name and official schedule. Start with the team’s own website or its league’s fixture page.
- Choose the right season. Some schedule pages keep results from previous years visible, so confirm that the season label is current.
- Read the competition name. A preseason game, friendly, cup match, and league opener may all appear in the same calendar.
- Check whether the time is local. Convert it if you are watching from another region, especially for overseas matches.
- Recheck close to game day. Kickoff times and broadcast arrangements can change, and weather or other disruptions may affect a fixture.
For the NFL, the league schedule distinguishes preseason from regular-season games. For college football, the school or conference schedule identifies each team’s opener. For soccer, look for the specific league’s official fixtures and match labels.
Common August football questions
Does the NFL season start in August?
NFL teams usually begin training camp and play preseason games in August. The regular season generally starts in September, so an August NFL game is usually not a regular-season contest.
Does college football start in August?
Yes. Some college teams play their first regular-season games in late August. Many others open around Labor Day weekend, so the exact start depends on the school’s schedule.
Does soccer start in August?
Many European domestic soccer leagues begin in August. Soccer has no single worldwide start date, however, and other leagues may begin in another month or follow a different calendar.
What is Week Zero in college football?
Week Zero is a common name for college football games played before the traditional opening weekend. These can be regular-season games that count, not preseason exhibitions. Check the specific matchup listing to confirm its status.
Why are there football games in August if the season starts later?
For the NFL, August games are usually part of preseason, which helps teams prepare and evaluate players. For college football and some soccer leagues, August may include actual season games. The answer depends on the competition.
What most fans get wrong about August kickoffs
The phrase “football starts in August” can be accurate and misleading at the same time. It is accurate for some college openers and many soccer leagues; it is misleading if it suggests that the NFL regular season normally starts that month.
Another easy-to-miss distinction is that “first game” and “season opener” do not always mean the same thing. A team may play a preseason game before its first regular-season game, or it may have a cup match before its league opener. When the type of event matters, use the official competition label rather than the date alone.
For viewing plans, confirm the matchup and the local start time close to the event. For standings or season records, confirm that the game belongs to the relevant regular-season competition. That small check prevents the most common confusion around August football.
So, what football starts in august depends on the competition: NFL preseason is usually underway, some college football teams have regular-season openers, and many European soccer leagues begin their campaigns. The NFL regular season typically follows in September.
Pick the team or league you mean, then check its official fixture list and the event label. That will tell you whether an August game is preseason, a friendly, or a match that counts.