Ligue 1 is about to undergo a major upheaval in its schedule. Starting from the 2026–2027 season, no matches will be played during the week anymore.
Ligue 1 is trying to reinvent itself to win back its audience. The league will switch to a rhythm exclusively focused on weekends—an unprecedented decision in the recent history of French football.
The season will start around August 23, with a fully reorganized schedule designed to eliminate midweek games, which were traditionally used to make up postponed matchdays or to spread out TV broadcasts.
This new format doesn’t only apply to Ligue 1: Ligue 2 will adopt the exact same principle for the 2026–2027 season, with a more compact competition designed to take place only on weekends.
A completely revamped schedule
The goal is obviously to reduce player workload, make the calendar easier for supporters to understand, and improve the overall quality of matches. However, this decision will inevitably have consequences on the sequence of European competitions and domestic cups.
Revealed by L’Équipe, this reform profoundly changes club habits, as they will have to manage their season without these midweek slots, and it could also alter broadcasters’ programming grids. A shift in tempo that marks an important turning point for French football.
Related Posts:
