Premier League returns: Opening weekend schedule, new teams and rule changes

NEW YORK - The Premier League’s 2026/27 season begins Friday, bringing several rule changes aimed at cutting down on time-wasting and making officiating more efficient.

How the Premier League season begins

Arsenal enters the 2026/27 season as defending Premier League champion and opens its title defense Friday against newly promoted Coventry City.

Coventry, Hull City and Ipswich Town are the three clubs joining the Premier League this season.

Here’s the opening weekend schedule, with all times Eastern:

• Friday: Arsenal vs. Coventry City, 3 p.m.
• Saturday: Hull City vs. Manchester United, 7:30 a.m.
• Saturday: Nottingham Forest vs. Leeds United, 10 a.m.
• Saturday: Everton vs. Crystal Palace, 10 a.m.
• Saturday: Ipswich Town vs. Sunderland, 10 a.m.
• Saturday: Brentford vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 12:30 p.m.
• Sunday: Manchester City vs. AFC Bournemouth, 9 a.m.
• Sunday: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Aston Villa, 9 a.m.
• Sunday: Newcastle United vs. Liverpool, 11:30 a.m.

The opening round wraps up Monday with Fulham hosting Chelsea at 3 p.m.

What are the new Premier League rules?

What we know:

The new rules include shorter time limits for restarts and substitutions, a new VAR review provision and a trial designed to prevent goalkeeper injuries from becoming tactical breaks.

The changes come as Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champion, opens the season at home against newly promoted Coventry City on Friday. The Premier League schedule has the first match kicking off at 8 p.m. local time in London.

Delayed throw-ins and goal kicks

Timeline:

Players who clearly delay a throw-in or goal kick will face a five-second countdown.

If a player exceeds the limit on a throw-in, possession will be awarded to the opposing team. If a goalkeeper delays a goal kick beyond five seconds, the opposing team will receive a corner kick.

Substitutions must happen faster

Players being substituted have 10 seconds to leave the field.

If they take longer, the replacement player cannot enter until the first stoppage after one minute has passed.

Injured players must stay off longer

When play is stopped for an on-field injury, the injured player will now have to remain off the field for at least one minute after play restarts.

That doubles the previous 30-second requirement.

VAR can review clearly wrong second yellow cards

Big picture view:

VAR will be able to review a second yellow card that results in a red card — but only when the second yellow was clearly wrong.

The system will not review whether a player could have been shown a second yellow card in the first place.

Goalkeeper injury rule goes on trial

The Premier League is also testing a new procedure for goalkeeper injuries.

If play stops because a goalkeeper is hurt, the manager or head coach must immediately choose an outfield player to leave the field. That player must remain off for at least one minute after the restart.

The league said the trial is meant to address injuries used to slow the game, disrupt momentum or create a chance for tactical instructions.

What else will fans notice?

Why you should care:

Referees will continue to use a high threshold for calling fouls, while VAR will only overturn decisions deemed clear and obvious errors.

The league also said it will continue working to speed up VAR reviews through improved use of semi-automated offside technology. Referees will put greater emphasis on unfair challenges on goalkeepers, impactful holding and hair-pulling.

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