The first weekend of 2026 action includes a Scottish Old Firm derby with a U.S. defender and a former MLS coach. In England, one of the best U.S. national team players continues his comeback. History will be made as an American coach leads a team in LaLiga for the first time — opening against a team that includes a U.S. midfielder. And Americans face off on the field in France.
Here are the best five games to watch from an American perspective.
Celtic vs. Rangers (🏴 Premiership)
• Auston Trusty
Saturday, January 3, 7:30 am ET 📺 CBS Sports Network, Paramount+
The Old Firm is one of the fiercest rivalries in Europe. This edition is different, however, as neither of the two giants of Scotland is currently leading the standings as we now head into January. Instead, they are both chasing current leader Hearts — with Celtic three points behind and Rangers three points behind Celtic.
The key storyline in this game is which team can keep its title hopes alive.
Auston Trusty should start this game for Celtic and every game he plays over the next six months is important. For Celtic, the injury to fellow American central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers has opened the door for Trusty to be a regular starter and this is his chance to cement his starting job even when Carter-Vickers returns.
For the national team, Trusty is firmly on the bubble for a spot on the U.S. World Cup team. Chris Richards and Tim Ream have been mainstays in central defense with Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson also having improved their stock in the fall. The sudden rise of Noahkai Banks has also made the position more competitive. Trusty is in that mix, but a poor second half of the season could leave him on the outside looking in this summer.
Trusty and the Celtic defense have not posted a shutout in seven matches, and that is unacceptable among supporters who are accustomed to Celtic dominating Scotland.
Celtic has been in poor state for most of the fall and things have not improved since the club hired new manager Wilfried Nancy away from the Columbus Crew. On Tuesday, Celtic suffered a terrible 2-0 defeat away to Motherwell.
“As you know, I need time,” Nancy said to the media leading up to his first Old Firm game. “Give me time and you’ll see what I do. You can already see what I did before, because I didn’t start coaching yesterday. I’d be a liar if I said, ‘everything is happy, everything is good.’ No, that’s not the case, but I knew that before. That’s why I’m calm with all the questions you ask me. I’m not pleased to hear people don’t like me, but they have the right to say it because, in terms of results, this is not what we want.”
Of course, a win against Rangers will go a long way for Nancy and Trusty. A loss, or even a draw, at home is bad news for everyone in green and white.
Monaco vs. Lyon (🇫🇷 Ligue 1)
• Folarin Balogun vs. Tanner Tessmann
Saturday, January 3, 11:00 am ET 📺 BeIN SportsConnect
Two favorites to make the U.S. World Cup will meet this weekend in Ligue 1, when Monaco hosts Lyon on Saturday.
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