The 20 Participating Clubs
A total of 20 clubs will battle it out in the 2026-27 Premier League season. Joining the top flight from the Championship are newly promoted sides Coventry City, Hull City, and Ipswich Town.
Meet the Promoted Teams
- Coventry City: Making their return to the Premier League after 25 years. Managed by Frank Lampard, they dominated the Championship to secure promotion by an impressive 11-point margin.
- Hull City: Returning to the Premier League stage for the first time in 10 years. They secured their dramatic promotion by defeating Middlesbrough in the Championship Play-off Final.
- Ipswich Town: Bouncing back to the Premier League just one year after their relegation in the 2024-25 season. They showcased great resilience by overcoming an early-season slump to clinch automatic promotion.
The remaining 17 clubs completing the lineup are Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, and Sunderland.
What's New for the 2026-27 Season?
The new season introduces several key changes to match operations and refereeing standards. The most notable updates include:
Match Time & Anti-Delay Regulations
- Injury Treatment: Players who receive medical treatment on the pitch must now remain off the field for at least 1 minute (increased from the previous 30 seconds).
- 5-Second Countdown: A 5-second countdown will be applied to throw-ins and goal kicks. Exceeding this time limit will result in possession being turned over to the opposing team.
- Substitutions: Substituted players must exit the pitch within 10 seconds. Failure to do so means the incoming sub cannot enter until 1 minute after the next stoppage in play.
Stricter Refereeing Standards
- The threshold for VAR intervention remains unchanged, stepping in only for "clear and obvious errors."
- Holding in the Box: Holding fouls inside the penalty box will be penalized more strictly, particularly during set-pieces where defenders obstruct opponents while looking only at the ball.
- Clear instances of attackers obstructing goalkeepers will face severe penalties.
- Hair-Pulling Rule: Regulations regarding hair-pulling have been clarified. Actions involving excessive force and brutality will result in a red card, while less severe offenses will warrant a yellow card.
- Enhanced measures against time-wasting and delaying tactics will continue to be strictly enforced.
VAR Efficiency Improvements
- The league will focus on reducing VAR delays by more efficiently utilizing Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT).
- Incidents leading to a red card from a second yellow card will now also be subject to VAR review.
How to Watch the Premier League in South Korea
South Korean football fans can watch all 2026-27 Premier League matches live through Coupang Play. Coupang Play signed an exclusive broadcasting rights agreement starting from the 2025-26 season and will serve as the official broadcaster in South Korea until the 2027-28 season.
For those looking for a free viewing option without a subscription, Cool TV offers comprehensive coverage. It broadcasts not only the Premier League but also major English tournaments like the EFL Championship, FA Cup, and EFL Cup (Carling Cup), alongside Europe’s top four leagues including La Liga, the Bundesliga, and Ligue 1, cementing its leadership in domestic sports broadcasting. Korean fans can catch real-time action of Korean stars such as Son Heung-min, Yang Min-hyuk, Hwang Hee-chan, Kim Ji-soo, and Yoon Do-young via Cool TV.
Getting access is straightforward: fans can stream the Premier League and a wide range of other sports content on the Cool TV website without any additional fees.
Conclusion
Despite a delayed start due to the World Cup, the 2026-27 Premier League promises to be one of the most competitive and thrilling seasons yet. Alongside the fresh energy brought by newly promoted Coventry, Hull City, and Ipswich Town, new regulations aimed at player protection and improving match flow will shape the game. South Korean football fans can experience every ounce of Premier League excitement anytime, anywhere via Coupang Play & Cool TV. With global anticipation building, all eyes are on the August 21 kickoff to see if Arsenal can secure back-to-back titles or if a new challenger will rise to the occasion.