As a cultured Texan, I used to spend my Thanksgivings watching Texas A&M play football against Texas. Alas, this tradition died when the Longhorns, upset over the Aggies leaving for a new conference, refused to continue the tradition with a nonconference game nearly 10 years ago. Instead, my Thanksgiving football tradition has been replaced by watching Arsenal play in the Europa League, for better or worse. Fortunately, there are countless soccer games on Thanksgiving week this year, even if you aren’t a fan of teams with high expectations that will inevitably never be met (you can decide if I’m talking about Arsenal, UT or A&M).
Most Americans are hopefully staying home for Thanksgiving this year instead of visiting family. With the Covid-19 pandemic raging worse than it ever has, everyone must be responsible to prevent further unnecessary death — 250,000 is 250,000 too many.
So while you’re staying home, we’ve compiled a list of the best soccer games on Thanksgiving week for you to devour as a side dish to your turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.
(Full list of soccer games on Thanksgiving week 2020 below.)
Technically, Thanksgiving week starts on Sunday, and there are some tasty appetizers that day including Liverpool-Leicester City, Napoli-AC Milan and a trio of MLS Cup playoff games. Turkey week continues with a spotlight game from Turkey on Monday: Galatasaray vs. Kayserispor.
One thing I’ll be thankful for this Thanksgiving is the Champions League matches on Tuesday and Wednesday. PSG-RB Leipzig on Tuesday and Inter Milan-Real Madrid are the games I’ll be keeping an eye on most.
Then comes the actual soccer games on Thanksgiving day 2020. I’m biased so I’ll be watching Arsenal-Molde, but Lille-AC Milan and Rangers-Benfica will also be worth a glance up from your pumpkin pie.
If you aren’t too busy browsing online Black Friday deals, you’ll definitely want to check out the Netherlands vs. USWNT friendly that day. It’ll be the first time we see the two-time defending world champs in action since March.
Finally on Saturday, you can take a break from soccer. Naw, just kidding, there’s plenty more action to finish the week, highlighted by Gremio-Flamengo in Brazil.
Here’s a full list of the games you should be watching on Thanksgiving week.
Soccer Games On Thanksgiving Week 2020
Sunday, Nov. 22
- Premier League: Fulham vs. Everton, 7 a.m. ET (Peacock)
- LaLiga: Cádiz vs. Real Sociedad, 10:15 a.m. ET (beIN Sports)
- Eredivisie: Twente vs. PSV, 10:45 a.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Premier League: Leeds vs. Arsenal, 11:30 a.m. ET (NBCSN)
- Premier League: Liverpool vs. Leicester City, 2:15 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
- Serie A: Napoli vs. AC Milan, 2:45 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- MLS Playoffs: Sporting KC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 4 p.m. ET (FS1)
- MLS Playoffs: Minnesota United vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Liga MX: Tigres vs. Toluca, 8 p.m. ET (TUDN)
- MLS Playoffs: Portland Timbers vs. FC Dallas, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Liga MX: Monterrey vs. Puebla, 10:10 p.m. ET (FS1)
Monday, Nov. 23
- Turkish Super Lig: Galatasaray vs. Kayserispor, 11:30 am. ET (beIN Sports)
- Premier League: Wolves vs. Southampton, 3 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Tuesday, Nov. 24
- Champions League: Rennes vs. Chelsea, 12:55 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Krasnodar vs. Sevilla, 12:55 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Lazio vs. Zenit, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Borussia Dortmund vs. Club Brugge, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Juventus vs. Ferencváros, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Dynamo Kyiv vs. Barcelona, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: PSG vs. RB Leipzig, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Manchester United vs. Istanbul Basaksehir, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- MLS Cup Playoffs: Toronto FC vs. Nashville, 6 p.m. ET (FS1)
- MLS Cup Playoffs: Philadelphia Union vs. New England, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- MLS Cup Playoffs: Seattle Sounders vs. LAFC, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Wednesday, Nov. 25
- Champions League: Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Shakhtar Donetsk, 12:55 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Olympiakos vs. Manchester City, 12:55 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Bayern Munich vs. RB Salzburg, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Atlético Madrid vs. Lokomotiv Moscow, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Inter Milan vs. Real Madrid, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Marseille vs. Porto, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Liverpool vs. Atalanta, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Champions League: Ajax vs. Midtjylland, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Liga MX: Chivas vs. Club America, 10:06 p.m. ET (Telemundo)
Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving!)
- Europa League: Molde vs. Arsenal, 12:55 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Europa League: Lille vs. AC Milan, 12:55 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Europa League: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Hapoel Be’er Sheva, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Europa League: Rangers vs. Benfica, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
- Europa League: Tottenham vs. Ludogorets, 3 p.m. ET (CBS All Access, TUDN)
Friday, Nov. 27
- Women’s International Friendly: Netherlands vs. USWNT, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
- CAF Champions League Final: Zamalek vs. Al Ahly, 2 p.m. ET (beIN Sports)
- Women’s Euro Qualifying: Portugal vs. Scotland, 2 p.m. ET
- Bundesliga: Wolfsburg vs. Werder Bremen, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Women’s Euro Qualifying: France vs. Austria, 3 p.m. ET (fuboTV)
- Premier League: Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle United, 3 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 28
- Bundesliga: Stuttgart vs. Bayern Munich, 9:30 a.m. ET (ESPN+)
- LaLiga: Valencia vs. Atlético Madrid, 10:15 a.m. ET (beIN Sports)
- LaLiga: Real Madrid vs. Alavés, 3 p.m. ET (beIN Sports)
- Brasileirão: Gremio vs. Flamengo, 3 p.m. ET
- Liga MX: Club America vs. Chivas, 10:06 p.m. ET (Univision)
