The football season of 2026/27 is starting to form, and there is no dearth of stories to look out for. Whether it is the fight for the Premier League and La Liga crowns, or for another Champions League trophy, this upcoming season of football will surely throw in some surprises.
Now that the Champions League campaign has begun and the domestic campaigns have been initiated, here are 10 things to look out for during the 2026/27 football season.
1. Can Arsenal Finally Win the Champions League?
Arsenal are back as one of the strongest teams in Europe once again. Following their achievement of reaching the Champions League final in the previous season, Arsenal has been made the favourites by Opta to clinch the Champions League trophy, having a 21% chance of winning.
The challenge is enormous. They have proven themselves worthy contenders, but the Champions League is still the one trophy they lack.
2. Barcelona’s Title Defence in La Liga
As we move into the season, Barcelona aim to keep up their dominance in the Spanish league. This is because Real Madrid will be working hard to beat them, while José Mourinho has come back to coach them once more.
Barcelona have also made some changes to their team. They have signed Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal.
3. The Premier League Title Race
The English Premier League may not be settled early. One of the favorites is Arsenal who have started well, but Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and other big clubs will work hard.
The summer transfer window changed the balance of power. Manchester City made significant investments, while many others made drastic changes to their squads. However, the important question is whether Arsenal can convert their good start into a new Premier League title.
4. The Rise of the Next Generation
For the 2026/27 season, many promising young players might have defining years. European teams have continued to lean on developing players, and there are currently many young players being noticed for their talents.
One season can make a whole world of difference to a player’s career. It might also reveal many more young talents to the rest of the world.
5. Manchester City’s New Era
Manchester City are entering a very crucial era for themselves. They have kept up with their heavy spending policy, making significant investments in the likes of Enzo Fernández and Elliot Anderson. According to reports, the summer expenditure has been approximately £457.5 million.
However, the question now is how soon will that heavy investment turn into titles. They have one of the most talented teams in Europe but the competition surrounding them has increased.
6. Can Deportivo Stay in La Liga?
Undoubtedly one of the most promising tales from the early days of Spanish football is the rise of Deportivo back into La Liga. The team have begun well since their promotion and are still unbeaten after their first four games.
The changes have been substantial, as the team has made some key additions to its roster including José María Giménez, Marc Casadó and Adama Traoré. The estimated expenditure of the team on the summer transfer window was approximately €26 million.
7. Aubameyang’s Age-Defying Season
Aubameyang is already shaping up to be one of the best individual stories of the season. Aubameyang, at the age of 37, has managed to score in all of his first four games in La Liga for Deportivo, surpassing a club record that was previously held by Bebeto.
These kind of performances have the potential to be one of the best storylines of 2026/27. With these kinds of stats, Aubameyang’s return to Spain might end up being one of the best comebacks in recent times.
8. The Champions League Battle
The Champions League sees Europe’s top teams face each other once again, and the tournament appears to be incredibly unpredictable.
Currently, Arsenal tops the list of Opta’s predictions, followed by Bayern Munich and Manchester City, while Barcelona and PSG, who won last season, are also strong contenders.
The introduction of a league stage format ensures that every game will count. The draw has already generated some big matchups like Bayern Munich vs Arsenal, plus others featuring PSG and Barcelona
9. Can PSG Defend Their European Crown?
PSG are Champions League defending champions coming into the competition and are looking to keep their title.
It is extremely hard to repeat European success. According to Opta, PSG have a much less likely chance of lifting the trophy compared to Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.
This is why PSG are one of the most interesting teams to watch. Will they be able to defy all odds and become the first team to dominate Europe in this generation?
10. Which Surprise Team Will Break Through?
Each football season always provides us with an unpredictable team, and 2026/27 will not be an exception.
As Deportivo have demonstrated, it doesn’t take long for a newly-promoted team to turn into the most interesting team of the league. There may also be other teams with similar intentions and ideas in Europe.
What makes football special is that you never know what will happen next. Even a couple of injuries, a promising youngster making it through, or an outstanding form period might completely alter the season’s script.
The 2026/27 Season Has Only Just Begun
The basis for making a successful campaign has been laid. The Arsenal side has aspirations of achieving glory in Europe; the Barcelona team has to maintain its status in Spain; Manchester City is creating yet another squad, while Deportivo has made its comeback to the limelight.
Not forgetting Aubameyang, at 37 years old he has already shown that age can still play a major role.
There will certainly be some surprises in store in the coming days. But judging from how things have started, the football season of 2026/27 will be something to remember for many years to come.
