Manchester City and Sunderland meet on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at the Etihad Stadium in Matchweek 5 of the 2026/27 Premier League. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Brasília time, which is 2:00 p.m. in the United Kingdom. In Brazil, the listed coverage is ESPN on television and Disney+ on streaming. The league schedule confirms the Sunday fixture after the match was moved because of City's League Cup commitment.
Manchester City vs Sunderland: kickoff time and how to watch
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 20, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 10:00 a.m. Brasília time |
| Venue | Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England |
| Competition | 2026/27 Premier League, Matchweek 5 |
| How to watch in Brazil | ESPN and Disney+ |
The kickoff time and venue are listed in Manchester City's official match guide and the Premier League fixture list. For viewers in Brazil, ge's broadcast guide lists ESPN and Disney+.
Confirmed starting lineups
Both teams released their starting elevens before the match. Manchester City made ten changes from the side that started the League Cup win over Norwich, largely restoring the lineup used in the Manchester derby.
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi, Gvardiol; Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernández; Iliman Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki, Antoine Semenyo; Erling Haaland.
Sunderland: Roefs; Meunier, Mukiele, Ballard, Danso, Methalie; Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fée, Angulo; Brobbey.
The full official squad lists, including substitutes, are available in Manchester City's team announcement.
Confirmed absences and situations that changed before kickoff
- Phil Foden, Manchester City: suspended. The club says he is serving the second match of a three-game ban following his red card in the Manchester derby.
- Reinildo Mandava, Sunderland: suspended after his dismissal against Arsenal and not included in the matchday squad at the Etihad.
- Habib Diarra, Sunderland: remains out with a hamstring injury.
- Romaine Mundle, Sunderland: remains out with a knee problem.
Two players who appeared as doubts before the teams were released should not be treated as confirmed absentees. Jérémy Doku returned to Manchester City's squad and starts on the bench, while Omar Alderete is also among Sunderland's substitutes. This matters because some earlier previews still listed Doku as out and Alderete as doubtful. The earlier injury and suspension picture can be checked in ESPN's preview, while the official team sheet provides the latest status for both players.
Where the teams stand before the match
Before kickoff, Manchester City are top with 12 points from four matches, four wins, eight goals scored and two conceded. Arsenal also have 12 points but have already played five matches after losing 3-0 to Brighton. A City win on Sunday would therefore create a three-point lead before the international break.
Sunderland begin the matchweek in 14th place with four points from four matches: one win, one draw and two defeats. They have scored three goals and conceded five. The pre-match standings are shown on Sunderland's official website and in City's preview material.
Sunday fixtures in Premier League Matchweek 5
| Brasília time | Match |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Bournemouth vs Liverpool |
| 10:00 a.m. | Leeds United vs Crystal Palace |
| 10:00 a.m. | Manchester City vs Sunderland |
| 12:30 p.m. | Fulham vs Manchester United |
The schedule above follows the official Premier League programme for September 20. Times have been converted from BST to Brasília time.
What the late confirmations change
Manchester City's main adjustment is Iliman Ndiaye replacing Foden, exactly as the club stated when it announced the lineup. Doku, meanwhile, returns as a bench option after being unavailable since the Community Shield. For Sunderland, Dayann Methalie starts in the defensive line on a day when Reinildo is suspended. Alderete, who had been a doubt, is available among the substitutes.
Those confirmations resolve the gap between early team news and the final matchday squad. The service information remains straightforward: Manchester City vs Sunderland on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Brasília time at the Etihad Stadium, with ESPN and Disney+ carrying the match in Brazil.
Sources: Premier League, Manchester City match preview, Manchester City team news, Sunderland AFC, ge and ESPN.
