The start of football season varies depending on the league, country, and level of competition. Here’s a breakdown of when different football seasons typically start:
National Football League (NFL)
- Preseason: Usually begins in early August, with the exact date varying from year to year.
- Regular Season: Typically starts on the first Thursday after Labor Day in the United States, which places it in early September.
- Postseason: Starts in January with the Wild Card Round, leading up to the Super Bowl, which is usually played on the first Sunday in February.
College Football
- NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS): The season generally starts on the last weekend of August or the first weekend of September, depending on the schedule for that year.
- NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, and Junior College Football: These levels also start their seasons around late August or early September, though the exact dates can vary.
European Football (Soccer)
- English Premier League (EPL) and Other European Leagues: Most top European leagues start their seasons in mid-to-late August. For example, the English Premier League typically begins in the second weekend of August.
- Champions League and Europa League: Group stages for these competitions usually start in September, following a qualifying phase that begins in June or July.
- La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1: Like the EPL, these leagues commence around mid-August.
High School Football
- United States: High school football seasons vary by state but generally start in late August or early September, with the regular season concluding in October or November, followed by playoff games.
Canadian Football League (CFL)
- Regular Season: Typically starts in mid-June and runs through to early November.
- Playoffs: Begin in November, with the Grey Cup championship game usually played in late November.
Australian Football League (AFL)
- Regular Season: Starts in mid-March and runs through to late August.
- Finals Series: Begins in early September, culminating in the AFL Grand Final, which is usually held on the last Saturday in September.
Other Leagues and Competitions
- XFL: Re-launched in 2020, it starts in February, but its future and exact schedule might vary.
- Arena Football League (AFL) and Indoor Football League (IFL): These indoor football leagues typically start their seasons in the spring, around March or April.
Given the vast array of football leagues and competitions, the start of the “football season” can vary significantly from one region and type of football to another. This overview should help navigate the start dates for various professional, collegiate, and amateur levels of football around the world.
