Finding live football on TV in the UK today can feel like navigating a maze of channels, kick-off times, and subscription services. With matches spread across Sky Sports, TNT Sports, BBC, ITV, and streaming platforms, knowing exactly what to watch and where to tune in requires a clear, up-to-date guide. This article provides the full schedule for Tuesday, 5 May 2026, along with practical details to help you plan your viewing.
Today’s lineup spans the Premier League, Championship play-offs, League Two play-offs, and more. Whether you are searching for a free-to-air option on BBC or a pay-TV blockbuster on Sky Sports, the information below covers every confirmed broadcast.
Live football on TV today
Today’s football coverage is concentrated in two main windows. The early kick-off at 12:30pm is followed by a busy evening block from 19:30 onwards. Most matches require a subscription, but the Scottish Premiership semi-final is available free-to-air via BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website.
Key insights for today’s schedule
- Most matches are on Sky Sports (multiple channels) and TNT Sports; free-to-air options are limited to BBC Scotland’s coverage of the Scottish Premiership semi-final.
- Peak viewing hours are 12:00–13:00 for the early Premier League match and 19:30–22:00 for the evening cluster of games.
- Users searching for ‘free’ and ‘UK free’ options will find only one match on BBC today, highlighting the dominance of pay-TV for live football.
- The Championship play-off semi-final second leg between Southampton and Middlesbrough kicks off at the same time as several other matches, creating a clash for Sky Sports viewers.
- DAZN carries the National League North play-off final at 12:30pm, offering a rare non-league fixture on an international streaming service.
| Match | Kick-off (BST) | Competition | Channel | Free/Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Shields v Kidderminster Harriers | 12:30 | National League North Play-Off Final | DAZN | Subscription |
| Liverpool v Chelsea | 12:30 | Premier League | TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, HBO Max | Subscription |
| Scottish Premiership Semi-Final 1st Leg | 19:45 | Scottish Premiership | BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Website | Free |
| Birmingham City v Preston North End | 19:45 | Championship | Sky Sports+ | Subscription |
| Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town | 19:45 | Championship | Sky Sports+ | Subscription |
| Leicester City v Hull City | 19:45 | Championship | Sky Sports+ | Subscription |
| Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday | 19:45 | Championship | Sky Sports+ | Subscription |
| Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers | 19:45 | Championship | Sky Sports+ | Subscription |
| AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City | 19:30 | Premier League | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Ultra HDR | Subscription |
| Southampton v Middlesbrough | 20:00 | Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd Leg | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Ultra HDR | Subscription |
| AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United | 20:00 | Championship | Not specified (likely Sky Sports+ or main channel) | Subscription |
| Notts County v Chesterfield | 20:00 | League Two Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd Leg | Sky Sports Football | Subscription |
| Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers | 20:00 | League of Ireland Premier Division | LOITV | Subscription |
| Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur | 20:15 | Premier League | Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Ultra HDR | Subscription |
What time is football on today UK
Kick-off times today are spread across three distinct periods: midday, early evening, and late evening. Understanding the exact start times helps you plan which matches to watch without missing the opening minutes.
12:30pm early kick-offs
Two matches begin at 12:30pm BST. The Premier League sees Liverpool host Chelsea on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, and HBO Max. At the same time, the National League North play-off final between South Shields and Kidderminster Harriers kicks off on DAZN.
19:30–20:15 evening block
The busiest period starts at 19:30 with AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City on Sky Sports Main Event. At 19:45, five Championship matches begin simultaneously on Sky Sports+, plus the Scottish Premiership semi-final on BBC Scotland. At 20:00, three more matches start: Southampton v Middlesbrough (Championship play-off), Notts County v Chesterfield (League Two play-off), and AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United. The final match of the evening, Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur, kicks off at 20:15 on Sky Sports Premier League.
All times listed are British Summer Time (BST). If you are watching from outside the UK, adjust accordingly. The schedule updates automatically on trusted sources like footballontv.uk.
Sky Sports live football today
Sky Sports is the dominant broadcaster today, carrying nine of the twelve matches across its various channels. Viewers will need a Sky Sports subscription to access the Premier League games, Championship matches, and play-off fixtures.
Which Sky Sports channels are showing live football?
- Sky Sports Main Event: AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City (19:30) and Southampton v Middlesbrough (20:00)
- Sky Sports Premier League: Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (20:15)
- Sky Sports Football: Southampton v Middlesbrough (20:00) and Notts County v Chesterfield (20:00)
- Sky Sports Ultra HDR: AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City (19:30), Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (20:15), and Southampton v Middlesbrough (20:00)
- Sky Sports+: Five Championship matches at 19:45 (Birmingham City v Preston North End, Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town, Leicester City v Hull City, Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers)
If you are specifically looking for live football on TNT today, the only TNT Sports match is the 12:30pm early kick-off between Liverpool and Chelsea. The match also streams on HBO Max in some regions.
At 20:00, three matches start simultaneously across Sky Sports: Southampton v Middlesbrough (Main Event, Football, Ultra HDR), Notts County v Chesterfield (Sky Sports Football), and AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United (channel not confirmed). You may need to use the red button or stream one match online if you want to watch more than one.
Today’s football match times and kick-off schedule
- 12:30 – South Shields v Kidderminster Harriers (National League North Play-Off Final) – DAZN
- 12:30 – Liverpool v Chelsea (Premier League) – TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, HBO Max
- 19:30 – AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City (Premier League) – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Ultra HDR
- 19:45 – Scottish Premiership Semi-Final 1st Leg (opponents TBC) – BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Website
- 19:45 – Birmingham City v Preston North End (Championship) – Sky Sports+
- 19:45 – Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town (Championship) – Sky Sports+
- 19:45 – Leicester City v Hull City (Championship) – Sky Sports+
- 19:45 – Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday (Championship) – Sky Sports+
- 19:45 – Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers (Championship) – Sky Sports+
- 20:00 – Southampton v Middlesbrough (Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd Leg) – Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Ultra HDR
- 20:00 – AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United (Championship) – channel not specified
- 20:00 – Notts County v Chesterfield (League Two Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd Leg) – Sky Sports Football
- 20:00 – Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers (League of Ireland Premier Division) – LOITV
- 20:15 – Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League) – Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Ultra HDR
Is the schedule certain? What could change?
All matches listed above are confirmed as scheduled for today. Broadcasters very rarely change the lineup on the day itself. However, postponements can occur due to adverse weather, fixture congestion, or unforeseen circumstances (such as COVID-19 outbreaks in previous seasons).
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| All kick-off times and channels are confirmed by broadcasters and aggregators. | Late cancellations are announced on official club or broadcaster social media accounts; these cannot be predicted in advance. |
| Sky Sports and TNT Sports rarely drop or move matches on the day. | For AFC Bournemouth v Leeds United, the specific Sky Sports channel was not listed in available sources. |
| Free-to-air matches (BBC) are stable and do not change last-minute. | The opponents for the Scottish Premiership semi-final first leg were not confirmed at the time of publication. |
Why is the UK football TV schedule so fragmented?
The UK football TV market is dominated by two main pay-TV providers – Sky Sports and TNT Sports – plus free-to-air offerings from BBC and ITV. The number of live matches per day varies from 2 to 15 depending on the season. Saturdays typically carry the heaviest load. This guide helps viewers navigate the fragmented landscape by consolidating all confirmed broadcasts for today into one place.
For those without a Sky or TNT subscription, free options are limited. Today only the Scottish Premiership semi-final on BBC is free. Live Football on TV is a useful aggregator that updates daily, but users should always verify listings on official broadcaster sites before tuning in.
Where can I find the most reliable live football TV schedule?
Official broadcaster websites are the most authoritative sources. For today’s matches, the following sources provide verified schedules:
- BBC Sport – Football Fixtures – official fixture list with real-time scores
- Sky Sports – Watch Football on TV – official schedule for all Sky Sports channels
- TNT Sports – Football Scores & Fixtures – TNT Sports coverage
- ITV Sport – Schedule – ITV’s football offerings
“The schedule updates automatically to reflect the latest match times and channel information.”
– footballontv.uk
Football on TV today UK: a quick recap
Today’s live football in the UK features 14 confirmed matches across five competitions. The early kick-off at 12:30pm is Liverpool v Chelsea on TNT Sports. The evening block from 19:30 to 20:15 is packed with Premier League, Championship, and play-off action on Sky Sports and BBC. Only one match is free-to-air. For tomorrow’s schedule, check Live English Football on TV after midnight.
Frequently asked questions about football on TV today UK
Is there any football on BBC today?
Yes. The Scottish Premiership Semi-Final 1st Leg kicks off at 19:45 on BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website. No other BBC channel has live football today.
How can I watch football for free legally?
Today only the BBC match is free. ITV does not have live football today. For future matches, check the BBC Sport and ITV Sport schedules.
What channel is the football on today?
Matches are spread across Sky Sports (Main Event, Premier League, Football, Ultra HDR, Sky Sports+), TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, HBO Max, DAZN, LOITV, and BBC Scotland.
Is Match of the Day on tonight?
Match of the Day is not listed on BBC today. The programme typically airs on Saturday nights. Check the BBC schedule for the next broadcast.
Can I watch AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City without Sky Sports?
No. The match is exclusive to Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. A subscription is required.
Are there any League of Ireland matches on TV today?
Yes. Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers at 20:00 is available on LOITV, a subscription streaming service.
Why are so many matches at 19:45?
19:45 is a standard midweek kick-off time for Championship matches. Today five Championship games start simultaneously on Sky Sports+.
Do I need a separate subscription for TNT Sports?
Yes. TNT Sports is a separate pay-TV package, often bundled with Sky or available via BT TV and streaming.
Freddie Harry Cooper Bennett is a staff writer for DailyPressUK.co.uk, covering UK news, politics, business and culture. He works under Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Whitmore and UK Managing Editor Eleanor Grant, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.