From the World Cup to the Premier League: A new fan's guide to the 2026/27 EPL season
By Erin Arends
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was a celebration of football, bringing together 48 nations and attracting millions of viewers worldwide. From watching players represent their countries on the world stage to choosing a new favourite player, the tournament can turn casual viewers into devoted football followers. However, when the final whistle blew, signalling the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football didn’t end. Just over a month later, many of those familiar faces will return to the pitch, this time representing the best clubs that English football has to offer. The 2026/27 Premier League season offers new fans the chance to see their favourite World Cup stars week in and out, while discovering rivalries, clubs, and storylines that make English football so entertaining. For those who are new to the league, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. From understanding how the table works to knowing which fixtures are a must-watch, here is everything new football fans should know about the Premier League before the season gets underway.
Unlike the World Cup, which brings together national teams from across the globe, the Premier League consists of the top 20 teams in England, with each team playing 38 matches throughout the season. The point system is simple: three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. At the end of the season, the team with the most points is crowned Premier League champion, while the three teams at the bottom of the table are relegated to the EPL Championship, England’s second tier. Additionally, the top five teams qualify for European competitions, such as the Europa League and the Champions League, depending on their final positions. If teams finish the season level on points, goal difference, which is the difference between the number of goals scored and goals conceded, is used to determine their final position on the table. The 20 teams for the 2026/27 season include Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, and Tottenham Hotspur. Coventry, Ipswich, and Hull are the three newly promoted sides, replacing the three clubs relegated at the end of the previous season.
One of the easiest ways for new football fans to find their feet is by following the players they discovered during the World Cup. Many of the tournament’s biggest names will return to English football, giving fans the opportunity to watch them regularly at a club level. Erling Haaland, who represented Norway at the World Cup, remains one of Manchester City’s biggest attacking threats and one of the league’s most prolific goal scorers, while Arsenal fans can continue watching England internationals Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka’s amazing on-pitch chemistry. Veteran and captain of Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk, returns to lead the Mighty Reds to a terrific new season after captaining the Netherlands at the World Cup. Following your favourite player makes it easier to decide which team to follow and which fixtures to watch, while also helping you discover the different personalities within the league.
One of the things that makes the Premier League so exciting is its fierce rivalries, in which matches are worth far more than the three points. These are fixtures that every football fan circles on their calendars, regardless of the club they support. The Manchester Derby sees Manchester United take on Manchester City and is easily one of the most iconic derbies in English football. The North London Derby, between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, is another fiercely contested fixture on the calendar. Over in the city of the scousers, the Merseyside Derby sees Liverpool face Everton, as the clubs are only separated by a few kilometres. However, despite Everton moving their home ground after 133 years to Hill Dickinson, the Merseyside Derby remains one of the oldest English derbies. The North-West Derby is deeply rooted in history as Liverpool and Manchester United, two of England’s most successful clubs, face off to claim victory. London also has its share of rivalries, with Chelsea, Fulham, Brentford and other London clubs regularly competing for local pride. For new fans, understanding these rivalries adds another layer to the Premier League, as history, geography, club identity and bragging rights can make these fixtures feel just as important as the result itself.
For new football fans, it is impossible to know everything before the season starts. You don’t need to know every tactical decision, know every player or immediately pick a club to support. With 20 clubs, 380 matches, fierce rivalries, and some of the world’s biggest football stars, the 2026/27 Premier League season promises plenty of opportunities for new fans to find their place in the beautiful game. Catch the first Premier League match of the season on Friday, 21 August 2026, where defending champions Arsenal face newly promoted Coventry City at 21:00 SAST.
Comments