HOOLIGAN SOCCER

International Break Games Sept. 5-7 Where to Watch

Hooligan’s Guide to the International Break, Sept 5-7

Raul Jimenez of Mexico, who take on Japan in a friendly match Saturday night.

Josep Packsten

In which we cover the essential games taking place across the globe during the International Break on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday, September 5

If you’re an insomniac, or hail from either of the antipodean nations, Australia will host a match with New Zealand. It’s billed as a “friendly,” though little resembles that word when these two sides square up on the pitch. The game has a 5:45am ET kickoff.

  • UEFA
    • Of the ten group stage matches, these are the ones that offer the best chance of good competition. All games kickoff at 2:45pm ET.
      • Switzerland vs. Kosovo
      • Denmark vs. Scotland
      • Ukraine vs. France
      • Montenegro vs. Czech Republic
    • There are also 22 U21 Euro qualifying matches, if you follow that sort of thing.
  • CAF (Africa)
    • Big day in their World Cup qualifying, with 14 matches scheduled. These are the ones that drip with import.
      • Senegal (12 pts.) hosts Sudan (12 pts.) at 3:00pm ET.
      • Morocco (15 pts.)  can clinch Group E with a win over Niger (6 pts.).
        • Kickoff at 3:00pm ET
      • In Group F, Cote d’Ivoire (16 pts.) can leap over Gabon (18 pts.) by defeating Burundi (10 pts.).
        • Kickoff at 3:00pm ET
      • Namibia (12 pts.) must defeat Malawi (6 pts.) to stay within striking distance of group leaders Tunisia (16 pts.).
        • Kickoff at 9:00am ET.
  • CONCACAF
    • Four Round 8 matches kick off for Groups B & C today:
      • Bermuda vs. Jamaica. Kickoff at 6:00pm ET
      • Trinidad & Tobago vs. Curaçao. Kickoff at 6:00pm ET
      • Haiti vs. Honduras. Kickoff at 6:00pm ET
      • Nicaragua vs. Costa Rica. Kickoff at 6:00pm ET

Saturday, September 6

CONMEBOL and CONCACAF both take the day off, but there’s still plenty of action elsewhere.

There are two big international friendlies taking place in the United States. In New Jersey, the US Men’s National Team hosts South Korea (featuring Son Hueng-Min). Kickoff is at 5:00pm ET. Later that day, Mexico battles Japan at the Oakland Coliseum. That kickoff is 10:00pm ET.

In terms of CAF World Cup qualifying, Nigeria vs. Rwanda is the only match. UEFA has six group stage fixtures, including England vs. Andorra (noon ET kickoff, this should be a slaughter).

U.S. League Games

With a hard end date on October 18, MLS has no choice but to schedule three matches to keep everyone on schedule (all kickoffs at 8:30pm ET)

  • Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy 
  • Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution
  • St. Louis CITY vs. Dallas

The USL Championship features nine fixtures, including some cross-conference battles like Sacramento Republic at Tampa Bay Rowdies, El Paso Locomotive hosting Loudoun United, and Orange County at Detroit City.

The NWSL pits the North Carolina Courage against the Utah Royals (7:30pm ET), and Bay FC takes on Kansas City Current (10:00pm ET). Both matches are broadcast on the ION network.

Sunday, September 7

  • UEFA
    • Many of the big nations play today.
      • Lithuania host the Netherlands (noon ET kickoff)
      • Turkïye host Spain (2:45pm kickoff)
        • This should be a spicy one
      • Belgium host Kazakhstan  (2:45pm kickoff)
        • Forget the Borat jokes, Kazakhstan have substantially improved the past decade
      • Germany take on Northern Ireland (2:45pm kickoff)
  • CAF
    • Central African Republic battles Comoros.
      • The latter are making a push to overtake Ghana in Group I
  • NWSL
    • Four games scheduled here, with two of them getting national ESPN broadcasting.
      • Chicago Stars vs. Orlando Pride (3:00pm ET)
      • Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign (4:00pm ET)
      • Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC (5:00pm ET) – On ESPN
      • San Diego Wave vs. Houston Dash (8:30pm) – On ESPN
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