Bayern Munich begin their defence of the Bundesliga title on Friday, 28 August, hosting VfB Stuttgart in the opening fixture of the 2026/27 season at the Allianz Arena. Kick-off is at 7:30pm BST, with fans in the UK able to watch the match live and free on BBC iPlayer.

How to watch the game

UK viewers can stream the match without paying a penny via BBC iPlayer — a BBC account and a valid TV licence are all that is required. The BBC has secured the rights to all Friday-night Bundesliga fixtures throughout the season, making this the first of many free top-flight German football nights for British audiences.

Viewers in the United States can also tune in at no cost through Fandango, which has struck a deal to broadcast roughly 270 Bundesliga matches free of charge this season as part of a rights agreement running until 2031. Fans in Australia will find the game on beIN SPORTS and its Connect streaming platform, at a monthly cost of $15.99 — rising to $16.99 from 1 September.

A title favourite against a rising force

Bayern, managed by Vincent Kompany, arrive into the new campaign having swept to the league and cup double last season. Their attack was historically prolific, scoring 122 goals across 34 Bundesliga matches. England captain Harry Kane was at the centre of that destruction, netting 61 goals in all competitions to claim his third consecutive Torjägerkanone award.

Kane was not among the scorers as Bayern edged Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in last weekend's German Supercup, but summer signing Nathaniel Brown — who arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt — opened his competitive account in that game. Morocco international Ismael Saibari, newly recruited from PSV Eindhoven, is expected to make his Bundesliga debut in this fixture. Meanwhile, 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer prepares to begin his 16th season at the Allianz Arena.

Stuttgart's credentials

VfB Stuttgart are no soft opener. Sebastian Hoeness's side finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season, returning to the Champions League and reaching their second successive DFB-Pokal final. Their 71 league goals placed them second only to Bayern in the scoring charts, with striker Deniz Undav contributing 19 of those. Undav carried that momentum into FIFA World Cup 2026, where he scored three times for Germany.

Hoeness has further strengthened his forward line this summer. Centre forward Dzenan Pejcinovic has arrived from Wolfsburg, while attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss has joined from Leicester City — two additions who will be thrown straight into the deep end against the Bavarian giants.

Prediction

Both sides carry genuine goalscoring threat, but Bayern's depth and firepower are expected to prove decisive. FourFourTwo predicts a 3-1 win for Bayern Munich.