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    Premier League

    20 clubs · Aug–May · home tickets mostly via club memberships

    Twenty clubs, 380 matches from August to May, and a ticket system built on memberships and ballots that works nothing like an American stadium.

    Clubs and related pages

    Abstract football field illustration representing Arsenal F.C.
    Premier League Club

    Arsenal F.C.

    Arsenal for traveling fans: how memberships and ballots work, where to sit at Emirates Stadium, derby days and US tour history.

    London, England
    Abstract football field illustration representing Arsenal F.C.
    Premier League Club

    Arsenal F.C.

    Arsenal for traveling fans: how memberships and ballots work, where to sit at Emirates Stadium, derby days and US tour history.

    London, England
    City

    Atlanta

    Atlanta explained: which venue fits which show, the Punchline and other comedy clubs, the teams, and MARTA versus driving.

    Atlanta, GA
    City

    Chicago

    Where Chicago's teams play, which rooms host concerts and comedy, and which L line reaches each venue.

    Chicago, IL
    Venue

    Lincoln Financial Field

    Where to sit at the Linc: Eagles and visitor sidelines, covered rows, the club level, tailgate lots and the subway ride.

    Philadelphia, PA
    Venue

    Mercedes-Benz Stadium

    Downtown Atlanta's 71,000-seat retractable-roof stadium: where to sit for football, soccer and concerts, and how to get in and out.

    Atlanta, GA
    Venue

    SoFi Stadium

    Seating levels, shade, transit and entry rules for SoFi Stadium, home of the Rams and Chargers and host of Super Bowl LXI.

    Inglewood, CA
    Abstract trophy illustration representing Wimbledon
    Major Event

    Wimbledon

    How Wimbledon tickets really work: the public ballot, the overnight Queue, grounds passes, debentures and which courts to aim for.

    London, United Kingdom
    By the Good Seats editorial teamUpdated How we research

    How the Premier League works

    The Premier League is the top division of English men's soccer: 20 clubs, each playing 38 matches (home and away against every other club) between August and May, with the three lowest finishers relegated to the EFL Championship and three clubs promoted in their place. For a US fan, the key fact is that most home tickets are sold by each club to its own members through ballots and allocations, not on an open public sale, so planning starts months ahead.

    The league was founded in 1992 and is the most widely broadcast sports league in the world, shown in 212 territories. Manchester United hold the record with 13 Premier League titles. Liverpool won the 2024–25 title, and Arsenal F.C. won in 2025–26.

    • 2026–27 dates: the season opened Friday, August 21, 2026, with Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City, and every club plays its final match simultaneously on Sunday, May 30, 2027.
    • Promoted for 2026–27: Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City, replacing West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
    • Holiday fixtures: a full round is traditionally played on Boxing Day (December 26), one of the most atmospheric dates of the season.

    How tickets are sold: memberships, ballots and hospitality

    Demand at the bigger clubs exceeds supply by a wide margin, and clubs ration seats with a tiered system. The details differ club by club, but the structure is similar.

    • Season ticket holders hold most of the seats, often with long waiting lists for new season tickets.
    • Paid memberships give the right to enter a ballot (a lottery) or buy in a priority window for individual matches. Higher tiers usually mean better odds. At Arsenal, for example, Silver and Red members enter separate ballots about four to six weeks before each match, and the club has published success rates showing Silver members winning far more often than Red members.
    • Club ticket exchanges let season ticket holders resell seats they cannot use, at face value, to other members, usually after the ballot closes.
    • General sale, open to anyone, happens only when seats remain, which at the most popular clubs is rare except for some cup matches.
    • Official hospitality packages (a seat plus dining, sold directly by the club) are usually the one route that does not require a membership, which makes them the most dependable option for a visitor on a fixed trip.

    Tickets are usually tied to a named member and delivered to a club app or membership card, so a ticket bought from someone else may not scan.

    UK resale rules every US fan should know

    Ticket resale for English soccer is governed by law in a way American fans do not expect. Under section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, it is an offense for anyone without written authorization from the match organizer to sell or otherwise dispose of a ticket for a designated football match, a category that covers Premier League matches. Clubs also state that tickets bought from unofficial websites, agencies, social media or touts (the British term for scalpers) are invalid and that holders can be refused entry or ejected.

    In practice, that means the safe routes for a Premier League home match are the club's own sales, its official ticket exchange and its official hospitality, and you should read a club's ticketing terms before buying from anyone else. The full text of the law is on legislation.gov.uk. US-based preseason tours are different: those matches are sold under US rules, and resale is a normal part of that market.

    Traveling to England for a match

    • Entry paperwork: US citizens visiting the UK usually need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), obtained online before travel, rather than a visa. Check the UK government's current requirements before you book.
    • Fixture changes: the league publishes the season's fixtures in June, but dates and kickoff times are moved for television, often only a few weeks ahead. Book flexible travel, or plan a trip of several days around the original date.
    • Time difference: a traditional 3 p.m. Saturday kickoff in England is usually 10 a.m. Eastern.
    • Getting there: most grounds are served by rail or the London Underground, and many restrict parking on matchdays, so public transit is the norm.
    • Bag rules: grounds commonly refuse bags larger than A4 paper size (roughly 8.3 by 11.7 inches) and offer no storage, so leave luggage at a station or hotel.
    • Combine the trip: London has several Premier League clubs, and a summer visit for Wimbledon falls in the off-season, so football and tennis rarely overlap.

    Where to sit in an English ground

    English grounds are built close to the field with steep stands, so even upper tiers feel nearer than in an NFL stadium. Each stand usually has a traditional name, such as the North Bank and Clock End at Emirates Stadium.

    • Sideline (the main or side stands): the best view of the match and where most hospitality is located.
    • Behind the goals (the ends): the home end is typically where the loudest home supporters gather and sing; expect to stand at key moments.
    • The away section: visiting fans are grouped in one corner or end, with tickets sold through the visiting club. Avoid wearing the away team's colors in a home section; stewards may move you.
    • Lower front rows: very close but low, and some are uncovered and exposed to rain.

    Most Premier League grounds are all-seated, though several have introduced rail seating for safe standing.

    Premier League clubs in the US

    The easier way to see Premier League clubs for many fans is at home in the US. The league ran a Premier League Summer Series in 2023 (Chelsea, Newcastle United, Brighton, Aston Villa, Brentford and Fulham, at venues including Lincoln Financial Field and Mercedes-Benz Stadium) and in 2025 (Manchester United, West Ham, Everton and Bournemouth, in Atlanta, Chicago and East Rutherford); the 2024 edition was canceled. Clubs also tour on their own: Arsenal F.C. played Manchester United at SoFi Stadium and Liverpool at Lincoln Financial Field in July 2024.

    These are preseason friendlies in large NFL stadiums, sold by the promoter, often with broad availability and a resale market. Starters play limited minutes, so treat a tour match as a chance to see the club and its supporters rather than a competitive match. The Soccer page covers US leagues, national teams and the stadiums that hosted the 2026 World Cup.

    Frequently asked questions

    How can a US fan buy Premier League tickets?

    Most home tickets go to club members through ballots and priority sales, so the usual routes are buying a club membership, using the club's official ticket exchange, or booking official hospitality, which typically needs no membership.

    Is it legal to resell Premier League tickets in the UK?

    Selling a ticket for a designated football match without the organizer's written authorization is an offense under section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, and clubs treat such tickets as invalid.

    When does the Premier League season start and end?

    The 2026–27 season began August 21, 2026, and ends with every club playing on May 30, 2027.

    Do Premier League clubs play in the US?

    Yes, in preseason. The league held a US Summer Series in 2023 and 2025, and individual clubs such as Arsenal have toured US stadiums.

    Do I need a visa to visit England for a match?

    US citizens usually need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rather than a visa for a short visit. Check the UK government's current rules before you travel.

    Sources

    Card and header photos come from Wikimedia Commons contributors under Creative Commons or public-domain terms. Artist and license for each one are listed on the photo credits page.