Global diary
Games and dates to pencil in for the month ahead
(All kick-off times, if stated, are BST) Friday March 18
SWITZERLAND: It’s the draw for the quarter and semi-finals of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
Saturday March 19
SPAIN: The Bernabeu hosts the Clasico. Elsewhere, Sevilla take on Real Sociedad and Rayo Vallecano play Atletico Madrid. ITALY: In Serie A, the Rome derby gets underway as Roma play Lazio. ENGLAND: The 2021-22
FA Cup quarter-finals begin. ARGENTINA: River Plate face Boca Juniors in the Superclasico and Independiente take on Racing Club in the Avellaneda derby.
Sunday March 20
FRANCE: In Ligue1, Monaco and PSG meet at the Stade Louis II, while top-four rivals Marseille and Nice also face off.
QATAR: Oceania World Cup 2022 qualifying continues.
AFRICA: The preliminary round of qualifying for AFCON 2023 takes place with Botswana, Lesotho and Gambia among the teams involved.
NETHERLANDS: Ajax host archrivals Feyenoord in De Klassieker.
Monday March 21
QATAR: New Zealand are in action in Oceania World Cup qualifying.
Tuesday March 22
WOMEN: In the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Real Madrid face Barcelona and Bayern Munich meet PSG.
Wednesday March 23
WOMEN: The Champions League last eight continues with Juventus v Lyon and Arsenal v Wolfsburg.
SOUTH AMERICA: Fourth-placed Uruguay face Peru in fifth for the continent’s key World Cup qualifier. Third-placed Ecuador can secure qualification with a win in Paraguay.
CONCACAF: Canada will secure their place in Qatar with victory in Costa Rica, while Mexico face USA.
Thursday March 24
ASIA: Australia take on Japan in a massive, must-win World Cup qualifier for the Socceroos.
EUROPE: The World Cup play-off semi-finals commence, with Italy v North Macedonia, Portugal v Turkey, Scotland v Ukraine, Sweden v Czech Republic and Wales v Austria all scheduled for a 7.45pm kick-off. In the Nations League relegation play-outs, it’s Moldova v Kazakhstan and Estonia v Cyprus.
QATAR: The Oceania World Cup qualifying group stage concludes with every team in action.
Friday March 25
AFRICA: In a repeat of the AFCON final, Egypt meet Senegal in the first leg of the World Cup qualifying play-offs. Elsewhere, Cameroon face Algeria, Ghana meet Nigeria, DR Congo host Morocco, and Tunisia visit Mali.
Saturday March 26
WOMEN: It’s the WSL North London derby between Arsenal and Spurs. ENGLAND: Wembley hosts England and Switzerland’s friendly fixture.
Sunday March 27
QATAR: The final four teams meet in the semi-finals of Oceania World Cup qualifying in Doha.
Monday March 28
ASIA: In the final match of AFC World Cup qualifying, Saudi Arabia v Australia is the standout fixture.
SOUTH AMERICA: There’s plenty to play for in Peru v Paraguay, Chile v Uruguay and Venezuela v Colombia.
Tuesday March 29
EUROPE: The WC play-off finals are scheduled to take place, and the Nations League relegation playouts conclude. Elsewhere, England v Ivory Coast and Netherlands v Germany are the standout friendlies.
AFRICA: The second legs of World Cup qualifying play-offs take place.
CONCACAF: World Cup qualifying concludes with Costa Rica v USA.
Wednesday March 30
WOMEN: The Champions League quarter-final second legs take place over the next two days.
QATAR: A place in the interconfederational play-offs is up for grabs in the final of the Oceania World Cup qualifiers.
Thursday March 31
AFRICA: The CAF Champions League group stage concludes.
Saturday April 2
SPAIN: Barcelona host Sevilla. ITALY: At the top of Serie A, Internazionale travel to Juventus and Atalanta clash with Napoli. AFRICA: The group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup concludes.
Sunday April 3
SCOTLAND: Rangers and Celtic meet at Ibrox, with visiting fans allowed inside the ground for the first time this season.
Tuesday April 5
EUROPE: The Champions League quarter-final first-leg ties take place over the next two days.
SOUTH AMERICA: The group stages of both the 2022 Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana commence.
Wednesday April 6
ASIA: The group stage of the 2022 AFC Champions League begins.
Thursday April 7
EUROPE: It’s the first legs of the Europa League and Europa Conference League quarter-finals.
Friday April 8
WOMEN: Qualification for the 2023 World Cup continues, with England in action away to North Macedonia, Wales hosting France and Scotland visiting Ukraine.
Saturday April 9
ENGLAND: Manchester City host Liverpool in a key clash at the top of the Premier League.
TURKEY: Fenerbahce take on Galatasaray in one of the world’s biggest grudge matches.
Sunday April 10
USA: The Los Angeles derby – dubbed “El Traffico” – between LA Galaxy and LAFC takes place.
BELGIUM: The regular topflight season concludes with the top four heading into the Championship play-off round.
Tuesday April 12
WOMEN: In World Cup qualifying, Wales travel to Kazakhstan and Scotland host Spain, while Northern Ireland meet England.
EUROPE: The Champions League quarter-final second legs take place.
Wednesday April 13
EUROPE: The two remaining Champions League semifinalists will be decided.
Thursday April 14
EUROPE: The second legs of the Europa League and Europa Conference League quarterfinals take place.