5 World Football Games to Watch This Weekend

With preseason crawling to its close, some nations have already begun their seasons, meaning that the decisive start to European affairs is nigh.

However, that doesn’t mean there isn't a bounty of encounters, both competitive and otherwise, lining up for your viewing pleasure this weekend.

Whether it’s outside of the continent or inside, the following five matches can be considered must-watch as much for their competitive meaning as promise for sheer spectacle.

Birmingham City vs. Watford

When: Saturday, August 3

Kickoff: 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET

In Lee Clark’s first competitive game of the season, the Birmingham City boss promises to enact a multitude of changes in the pursuit of Premier League football.

Sky Sports say that Darren Randolph is the man set to star in the Blues’ goal after Jack Butland’s move to Stoke City in January.

Gianfranco Zola’s men come into this fixture looking to get their season off to the same bounce they managed in 2012-13, and look to be genuine title contenders this term. Again, as was the case last season, players from Granada and Udinese look to make their mark with Zola's side.

Come the end of the campaign, the championship race could well feature both of these clubs.

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bordeaux

When: Saturday, August 3

Kickoff: 7:45 p.m. BST/14:45 p.m. ET

In this season’s French Super Cup meeting, Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux prepare to re-introduce competitive football with a fixture that promises to shed light on just how this season’s French top flight may pan out.

Edinson Cavani and Marquinhos, the club’s newest signings, have not been included in the match squad for PSG, and will have to wait in making their competitive debuts for the side.

That being said, the meeting still promises to be an epic start to French football, with two of the nation’s giants going up against one another.

This campaign will see PSG try to maintain their trajectory as France’s top team, an objective that begins at the Stade d’Angondje.

Tigre vs. Velez Sarfsield

When: Saturday, August 3

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. BST/3:15 p.m. ET

In a fixture which promises to go to the Argentine wire, both Tigre and Velez Sarsfield could realistically compete for divisional honours come the end of this campaign.

Coming into the encounter, Velez will be considered favourites to come out on top of the Primera Division clash.

With Argentina’s top flight kicking off this weekend, a bevy of South American talent will be on display and the clash in Buenos Aires promises to be one of its finest.

Galatasaray vs. Porto

When: Saturday, August 3

Kickoff: 2 p.m. BST/9 a.m. ET

Another Emirates Cup at Arsenal, another extravaganza featuring some of Europe’s finest clubs in the final stages of preseason, which promises to entertain all those watching.

This season, Galatasaray and Porto have joined the North London spectacle and will hope to come out on top of one of the more glamorous preseason tournaments.

Champions of Turkey and Portugal respectively, some of the continent’s finest talent promises to be on display for two teams who hold much potential for this season’s Champions League, and their penchant for an attacking style only makes thing all the better.

Arsenal vs. Napoli

When: Saturday, August 3

Kickoff: 16:20 p.m. BST/11:20 a.m. ET

Another Emirates Cup fixture, Arsenal open their tournament account against Napoli, a side that will test the English hosts greatly in their pursuit of a home victory.

In a particularly interesting twist, Gonzalo Higuain—a player pursued greatly by the Gunners this season—will lace up for the Azzurri at the weekend.

Just how much impact the Argentine will have against the North Londoners is debatable, but the competition offers a glance at the former Real Madrid striker's services in what will be his first minutes for the club against big European opposition.

For Arsene Wenger, the pressure on him to end Arsenal's trophy drought means that an opening victory is compulsory, lest it mean that his side are already perceived as being behind some of their continental competition in the race for silverware.