Now that the international break is upon us, there are plenty of games to look forward to. The action in Europe kicks off on Wednesday with several friendlies. Meanwhile, Thursday, September 4 will mark the start of qualifying for 54 FIFA affiliated nations of UEFA for World Cup 2018.

The nations will be divided into 9 groups of 6 nations each. The 9 group winners will automatically advance to the World Cup Finals. The top 8 of 9 second-place nations will be drawn into 4 home-and-away playoff matches with the winners advancing to the World Cup (13 total spots for the Confederation).

TV rights in the US are divided between FOX Sports and ESPN. All matches of the qualifying tournament will be available to viewers in the US.

Below is a TV listing of qualifiers as well as international friendlies to be played prior to the start of official qualifying:

All times Eastern USA

 

Wednesday, August 31 (International friendlies) –

Czech Rep. vs. Armenia, 1:15pm, ESPN3 and Sling TV (free trial)

Norway vs. Belarus, 1:30pm, beIN SPORTS Connect (#3) and fuboTV (free trial)

Denmark vs. Liechtenstein, 2:00pm, beIN SPORTS Connect (#4) and fuboTV (free trial)

Germany vs. Finland, 2:45pm, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, WatchESPN and Sling TV (free trial)

Ireland vs. Oman, 2:45pm, beIN SPORTS Connect (#5) and fuboTV (free trial)

 

Thursday, September 1 (International friendlies) –

Belgium vs. Spain, 2:45pm, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, WatchESPN and Sling TV (free trial)

Netherlands vs. Greece, 2:45pm, beIN SPORTS Connect (#4) and fuboTV (free trial)

Portugal vs. Gibraltar, 2:45pm, beIN SPORTS Connect (#5) and fuboTV (free trial)

Italy vs. France, 3:00pm, ESPN3 and Sling TV (free trial) — Also shown on delay at 4:45pm on ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN

 

Sunday, September 4 (World Cup qualifiers) –

Denmark vs. Armenia, 12:00pm, FOX Sports 2, FOX Soccer 2GO and Sling Blue (free trial)

Slovakia vs. England, 12:00pm, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, WatchESPN and Sling TV (free trial)

Lithuania vs. Slovenia, 12:00pm, FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Soccer 2GO and Sling Blue (free trial)

Kazakhstan vs. Poland, 12:00pm, ESPN3 and Sling TV (free trial) — Also shown on delay at 4:45pm on ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN

San Marino vs. Azerbaijan, 12:00pm, ESPN3 and Sling TV (free trial)

Norway vs. Germany, 2:45pm, FOX Sports 2, FOX Soccer 2GO and Sling Blue (free trial)

Czech Rep. vs. No. Ireland, 2:45pm, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, WatchESPN and Sling TV (free trial)

Malta vs. Scotland, 2:45pm, FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Soccer 2GO and Sling Blue (free trial)

Romania vs. Montenegro, 2:45pm, ESPN3, and Sling TV (free trial)

 

Monday, September 5 (World Cup qualifiers) –

Georgia vs. Austria, 12:00pm, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, WatchESPN and Sling TV (free trial)

Spain vs. Liechtenstein, 2:45pm, FOX Sports 1, FOX Soccer 2GO, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial)

Ukraine vs. Iceland, 2:45pm, FOX Sports 2, FOX Soccer 2GO and Sling Blue (free trial)

Israel vs. Italy, 2:45pm, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, WatchESPN and Sling TV (free trial)

Wales vs. Moldova, 2:45pm, ESPN3 and Sling TV (free trial) — Also shown on delay at 4:45pm on ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN

Croatia vs. Turkey, 2:45pm, ESPN3 and Sling TV (free trial)

Serbia vs. Rep. of Ireland, 2:45pm, ESPN3, Sling TV (free trial)

Albania vs. Macedonia, 2:45pm, FOX Soccer 2GO

Finland vs. Kosovo, 2:45pm, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2GO

 

Tuesday, September 6 (World Cup qualifiers) –

Sweden vs. Netherlands, 2:45pm, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN and Sling TV (free trial)

Switzerland vs. Portugal, 2:45pm, FOX Sports 1, FOX Soccer 2GO and Sling Blue (free trial)

Belarus vs. France, 2:45pm, FOX Sports 2, FOX Soccer 2GO, Sling Blue and fuboTV (free trial)

Cyprus vs. Belgium, 2:45pm, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2GO

Bosnia & Hercegovina vs. Estonia, 2:45pm, FOX Soccer 2GO

Bulgaria vs. Luxembourg, 2:45pm, FOX Soccer 2GO

Andorra vs. Latvia, 2:45pm, FOX Soccer 2GO

Gibraltar vs. Greece, 2:45pm, ESPN3 and Sling TV (free trial) — Also shown on delayed at 4:45pm on ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN)

Faroe Islands vs. Hungary, 2:45pm, ESPN3 and Sling TV (free trial)

SEE MORE:

• CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers on US TV during international break

• Schedule of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers on US TV

• European World Cup qualifying games and international friendlies on US TV

• African Nations Cup qualifiers on US TV and streaming

 

Ed Perovic is the publisher of soccertvblog.com – a source for schedules and US TV information for major European Leagues and International competitions.