FPL Gameweek 1 deadline set for 6.30pm Friday as Premier League season opens

The Fantasy Premier League deadline for Gameweek 1 is 6.30pm on Friday evening, 90 minutes before Arsenal kick off against Coventry City at 8pm in the opening fixture of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

The 90-minute cut-off is now the standard FPL deadline, applied 90 minutes before the first match of every Gameweek. The timing shifts week to week depending on whether games begin on a Friday or Saturday, and moves further when European fixtures or rescheduled kick-offs alter the calendar.

The rule was changed from the previous one-hour deadline after team news began leaking before managers had the chance to finalise their squads. Premier League clubs were previously prohibited from releasing their starting line-ups and substitutes any earlier than 60 minutes before kick-off. A rule change introduced last season allowed clubs to publish team news up to 75 minutes before the first whistle — meaning the old one-hour FPL deadline no longer gave managers enough protection against last-minute selection surprises.

By moving the cut-off to 90 minutes before kick-off, FPL players now have a clearer window in which to make transfers, but must do so before official team sheets are released, preserving the competitive integrity of the game.

For subsequent Gameweeks, managers should check the specific deadline each week, as Friday-night fixtures, midweek European rounds, and broadcaster-driven kick-off changes all affect when the window closes.