Last updated: 2026-09-18
Who We Are
Kickoff Report is an independent football media site covering how to watch football (streaming and TV guides by competition and country), competition-format explainers, and data-driven match previews and reports. It is operated by Cristian Manoliu, a software engineer and football enthusiast based in Romania.
Editorial Mission
We publish where-to-watch streaming guides, plain-English explainers of how competitions and their formats work, and in-depth match previews and reports that combine statistical modelling with contextual editorial analysis. Our goal is to give readers a clearer picture of upcoming matches — from form and head-to-head records to tactical context — without sensationalism or clickbait.
AI-Assisted Content Disclosure
We use artificial intelligence to assist with content generation. Specifically:
- Language model: Claude (by Anthropic), specifically the Claude Sonnet 4.6 model, is used to draft article bodies, FAQs, and editorial commentary from structured match data, verified broadcast information, and competition facts.
- Statistical model: A Poisson goals model calculates win/draw/loss probabilities, expected goals, and derived markets (BTTS, Over 2.5 goals). Full methodology: How Our Predictions Work.
- Data sources: Match fixtures and statistics are sourced from API-Football and football-data.org. Stadium imagery and team photos are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licences.
AI-generated content is reviewed before publication but may contain errors. Our structured data (JSON-LD) includes a machine-readable creator field identifying this site as AI-assisted to give readers transparency about how our content is produced.
Methodology
Match probabilities come from a Poisson goals model with the Dixon-Coles correction, anchored to Elo ratings. The rating gap between the two teams, plus home advantage, sets the expected goals for each side. Recent form is only a fallback when a rating is missing. Head-to-head results are a small adjustment. The model does not know about injuries, suspensions or line-ups. For neutral-venue fixtures (cup finals), home advantage is removed. Full method: How Our Prediction Model Works. Probabilities are for information only. See our Terms of Service.
Track Record
Every prediction is published before kickoff. After the match, the real result is listed next to it, and the misses stay in. The full record, with accuracy figures, calibration and a CSV download, is on the Prediction Results and Accuracy page. It updates every day.
The model was tested on five seasons of the five big European leagues, with the 2025/26 season held out (1,751 matches it had never seen). On those matches it came close to the bookmakers’ closing odds. It did not beat them. The method, the backtest report and the lessons learned are public on GitHub.
Corrections Policy
If you spot a factual error, email contact@kickoffreport.com with the article URL and the specific claim. We will review and correct or add a note within 48 hours.
Independence
Editorial content is not influenced by advertisers or affiliate partners. The site does not currently use affiliate links; if any are introduced, they will be disclosed clearly at the point of use. Predictions and match analysis are produced by our model and editorial process regardless of commercial relationships.
Contact
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Kickoff Report — AI-assisted sports content. Not betting advice.
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