The 2023/24 football season is just around the corner and clubs across the world are dreaming about enjoying successful campaigns.
The Premier League will once again be the domestic competition that generates the most interest worldwide, leaving its European counterparts in the shade.
This season will also be the final time the Champions League features 32 teams, with UEFA adding another 16 into the mix for the 2024/25 campaign.
Read on as we look at some of the key dates for next season, expected revenues and what to watch out for over the coming months.
Football Season 2023/24 – Key Dates
The 2023/24 football season in England starts in early August and runs until next May. The Champions League final is at the start of June. Here are the key dates you need to know.
England
- Premier League: August 11 – May 19.
- English Football League: August 4 – May 26.
- League One play-off final: May 18.
- League Two play-off final: May 19.
- Championship play-off final: May 26.
- Carabao Cup: August 8 – February 25.
- FA Cup: August 4 – May 25.
European Competitions
Champions League
Group Stage
- Matchday 1: September 19/20.
- Matchday 2: October 3/4.
- Matchday 3: October 24/25.
- Matchday 4: November 7/8.
- Matchday 5: November 28/29.
- Matchday 6: December 12/13.
Knockout Stage
- Round of 16: March 5/6/12/13.
- Quarter-finals: April 9/10 & April 16/17.
- Semi-finals: April 30/May 1 & May 7/8.
- Final: June 1.
Europa League
Group Stage
- Matchday 1: September 21.
- Matchday 2: October 5.
- Matchday 3: October 26.
- Matchday 4: November 9.
- Matchday 5: November 30.
- Matchday 6: December 14.
Knockout Stage
- Knockout round play-offs: February 15 & 22.
- Round of 16: March 7 & 14.
- Quarter-finals: April 11 & 18.
- Semi-finals: May 2 & 9.
- Final: May 22.
Europa Conference League
Group Stage
- Matchday 1: September 21.
- Matchday 2: October 5.
- Matchday 3: October 26.
- Matchday 4: November 9.
- Matchday 5: November 30.
- Matchday 6: December 14.
Knockout Stage
- Knockout round play-offs: February 15 & 22.
- Round of 16: March 7 & 14.
- Quarter-finals: April 11 & 18.
- Semi-finals: May 2 & 9.
- Final: May 29.
Football Season 2023/24 – Expected Revenues
Premier League club revenues rose by 12 percent to a record £5.5 billion in 2021/22 and will likely be around the £6bn mark for last season.
By contrast, La Liga generated around £2.75bn in 2021/22 – highlighting the disparity between the English top-flight and other top European leagues.
UEFA’s new ‘sustainability regulations’ passed in 2022 will limit teams to spending no more than 70% of their revenue on their squads by the end of a three-year transition period.
Broadcasting revenue and prize money account for a significant portion of revenue in the Premier League – a point highlighted by the figures generated last season.
Every team splits base payments of the broadcasting rights each season before additional revenue is added based on how often their matches are broadcast live.
Here’s a look at the estimated Premier League prize money and broadcasting revenue for the 2022/23 season:
- Manchester City – £170m
- Arsenal – £167.8m
- Manchester United – £165.5m
- Newcastle United – £163.4m
- Liverpool – £161.2m
- Brighton & Hove Albion – £159m
- Aston Villa – £156.8m
- Tottenham Hotspur – £154.6m
- Brentford – £152.4m
- Fulham – £150.2m
- Crystal Palace – £148m
- Chelsea – £145.8m
- Wolverhampton Wanderers – £143.6m
- West Ham United – £141.4m
- Bournemouth – £139.2m
- Nottingham Forest – £137m
- Everton – £134.8m
- Leicester City – £132.6m
- Leeds United – £130.4m
- Southampton – £128.2m
When you factor in other sources of income such as Champions League revenue and commercial takings, it is easy to see why top clubs such as Man City are in a healthy financial position.
It is not unreasonable to imagine that the total revenue figures will be even higher for 2023/24, given the current upwards trajectory of professional football.
Football Season 2023/24 – What to Watch
There will inevitably be plenty of focus on Man City next season as they strive to win the Premier League title for the fourth time in a row, with demand for live soccer streams increasing every year.
They may have a tough task on their hands, with Arsenal and Manchester United strengthening their squads in the hope of mounting a sustained challenge.
Liverpool and Chelsea will be desperate to bounce back after disappointing campaigns in 2022/23, while Aston Villa could emerge as serious top-four contenders.
The newly-promoted clubs face a tough task to stay in the top flight, and it would be no surprise to see Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton make an immediate return to the Championship.
Leeds United will fancy their chances of climbing back into the Premier League at the first attempt following their recent takeover by 49ers Enterprises.
Further down the scale, it will be intriguing to watch how Wrexham perform after regaining their League Two status by winning the National League last term.
The disparity of wealth in the Scottish Premiership will once again skew the outcome north of the border, with Celtic and Rangers expected to finish miles clear of the rest.
It is likely to be a similar story in Germany and France, with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain expected to dominate their domestic competitions.
Barcelona and Real Madrid will probably contest the La Liga title again, but predicting the winner in Serie A is a little more tricky.
Reigning champions Napoli should be in the mix, while Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus and Roma are among the other clubs who could challenge.
Man City will be hot favourites to win the Champions League for the second successive season, while Liverpool’s efforts in the Europa League should be interesting to watch.
Villa could be the team to beat in the European Conference League, particularly given manager Unai Emery’s record in UEFA competitions.
Heading further afield, Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami is the big story to follow in Major League Soccer over the next few months.
The Saudi Pro League will also be worth monitoring despite the tendency of their clubs to target largely underwhelming signings from European football.
With the 2024 European Championships scheduled to take place in Germany next summer, football fans have plenty to look forward to over the next year.
