Roma hosts Fiorentina to kick off the 2026-2027 Serie A season

Serie A is back, and it's starting with a genuine showcase match at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma hosts Fiorentina on Monday, August 24 in the opening round of Italy's 2026-2027 season, and there's plenty of reason to pay attention to this matchup from the opening whistle.

Kickoff times for South America are as follows: 3:45 PM (Argentina/Uruguay), 2:45 PM (Chile) and 1:45 PM (Colombia, Peru and Ecuador). The match will stream live on Disney+'s Premium Plan, available only in the South American region.

A matchup that carries weight from the start

Roma wants to make the most of home advantage and jump out early in the standings, something that can prove costly to squander in Serie A. On the other side, Fiorentina arrives with new faces and the obligation to make a leap forward after a season to forget. This is no ordinary Matchday 1 fixture: there's history between these two clubs, and the "Lupi" want to claim the first chapter of the new league in front of their own fans.

Roma boasts names that need no introduction: Paulo Dybala, always decisive when he finds space between the lines; Donyell Malen, who brings speed and unpredictability; and Matias Soule, eager to establish himself. For Fiorentina, keep an eye on Albert Gudmundsson, Franco Mastantuono and Moise Kean, the attacking engine of the Tuscan club.

How both sides arrive

Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma comes off a more than respectable year, finishing on the podium of last season's Serie A behind Inter and Napoli. Preseason brought a mixed bag, highlighted by a 2-2 friendly draw against Borussia Dortmund, though their last official outing sent a good signal with a 2-0 road win over Hellas Verona.

Fiorentina, under Fabio Grosso, arrives fresh off a 4-1 home rout of Benevento in the first round of the Coppa Italia. Their most recent Serie A campaign wasn't as kind: they finished 15th in the table, a fact that looms large heading into this new season. The need to make up ground is real, and this opener against Roma could set the tone for everything that follows.

The recent head-to-head record clearly favors the home side. On May 4 of this year, the two teams met and Roma won convincingly, 4-0 at the Olimpico, with goals from Gianluca Mancini, Wesley, Mario Hermoso and Niccolo Pisilli. That result stands as a mark Fiorentina hopes to erase as they look to turn the page.

With all the anticipation of a season opener, Roma and Fiorentina kick off Serie A in a direct clash between two projects that need results from day one.