Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: September 23, 2026, 6:07 AM ET

USMNT & International Friendlies

Ricardo Pepi has downplayed the injury that forced him out of the United States men's national team camp, calling it a minor setback as the striker eyes a swift return to action with PSV Eindhoven. With several senior figures absent, Sebastian Berhalter and Giovanni Reyna have embraced veteran roles for a youthful USMNT squad navigating a transitional window. The former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is preparing for his Germany debut, and players have lined up to praise the appointment, describing the incoming boss as "special" after he called up 16 uncapped players in a supersized first squad.

Premier League & Managerial Moves

Mikel Arteta has agreed a new deal to extend his stay at Arsenal, with the club confirming an improved contract for the manager who delivered the Premier League title. The agreement keeps Arteta at the champions on fresh terms, ending speculation over his future. Wayne Rooney has weighed in on Manchester United's squad situation, saying it would be "disappointing" if the club were to lose young talent, with the former striker urging the hierarchy to keep hold of its emerging players.

La Liga & Refereeing Controversy

La Liga president Javier Tebas has dismissed Real Madrid's refereeing conspiracy claims as "another galaxy" thinking, insisting there is no institutional bias against the club. In a separate appearance, Tebas described the conspiracy talk as a "smokescreen" designed to deflect from other issues. Spain's Technical Committee of Referees has backed Real Madrid's position on a controversial incident, stating that Lee Kang-In should have been sent off for his tackle on Federico Valverde.

Women's Football & WCL

Manchester City fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Bayern in their eventful return to the Women's Champions League, while Arsenal also picked up a win on the night. In a separate WCL fixture, Chloe Kelly had a strike ruled out by VAR as Arsenal pushed for an opener in a tense contest. Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has told ESPN that pain has delayed her return after a broken leg, revealing she has not played this season as she works toward full fitness.

NWSL & Player Development

The NWSL has launched a new player development mechanism that will allow teams greater flexibility in nurturing and retaining young talent, in a move aimed at strengthening the league's pipeline. The rule change is expected to give clubs more control over emerging prospects as the NWSL continues to expand its competitive footprint.

Scottish Football

Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson has backed manager Martin O'Neill despite what he described as a "painful" week for the club. The show of support comes as Celtic announced a loss after tax of £4.8m for the year ending June 30, with revenue dropping 22.7% over the same period. New Scotland head coach Sébastien Pocognoli has told Sky Sports it was time for change and that he has a "good mix" in his squad as he eyes a winning start to his reign. Luis Binks, who once went searching for pizza with Thierry Henry and now captains a Danish Superliga side, has earned a Scotland chance as he steps into the international setup.

Transfers & Player News

Kylian Mbappé has revealed he was close to joining Liverpool in 2016, saying his mother was a "big fan" of Jürgen Klopp and wanted her son to make the move to Anfield. In a separate account, Mbappé described how his mother "fell in love" with Anfield during the courtship, underlining how seriously the family considered the switch. Switzerland have dropped Granit Xhaka from their squad after he admitted to using a fake vaccine certificate, a decision that removes the Sunderland midfielder from international contention. Returning Italy coach Roberto Mancini said he hopes to win back fans who felt "betrayed" by his earlier departure, as he begins his second spell in charge of the Azzurri.

Governance & Controversy

Irish taoiseach Micheál Martin has described comments made by the Israel Football Association as unacceptable, adding political weight to the dispute surrounding the Republic of Ireland's fixtures. BBC Sport has explored the backdrop to the Republic of Ireland's matches against Israel, examining how neutral venues and the absence of away fans turned the fixture into one of the most contentious in recent memory. Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney has challenged Gianni Infantino's claims about Fifa reform, questioning the governing body's assertions on governance changes.

Rugby League

Leigh Leopards and Wigan Warriors will be subject to an independent investigation by the RFL following conduct issues, with the governing body confirming it will examine events surrounding the fixture.

Cricket

England continued their white-ball dominance over Sri Lanka as an 89-run victory at Durham in the first ODI was powered by a starring performance from Will Jacks, who anchored the innings and helped the hosts take an early series lead.

Darts

Players Championship 29 winner Cameron Menzies has revealed he feared he was suffering a heart attack before the incident that overshadowed his World Matchplay appearance, opening up about the health scare. Sky Sports Darts' Mark Webster believes Luke Littler won't walk away from the sport despite being booed by crowds, backing the teenager to ride out the treatment.

Boxing

Johnny Fisher has fired back at Michael Pirotton's "mental frailty" jibe, facing off with his opponent outside the Copper Box Arena ahead of their bout as the war of words escalated.

Horse Racing

Hurricane Fly, the Willie Mullins-trained dual Champion Hurdle winner, has died at the age of 22, prompting tributes across the racing world for one of the most decorated hurdlers of his generation.

Tennis

Great Britain's stay at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals lasted only one match as Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal were both beaten in a knockout defeat by the Czech Republic, ending the team's campaign at the first hurdle.

NFL & Other

Tom Brady's involvement with the Raiders is drawing fresh attention as the team's surprise 2-0 start, powered by Kirk Cousins and rookie Mendoza, raises questions about what the legendary quarterback saw in the franchise when he bought his stake.

England & International Setup

As England prepare to face world champions Spain on Saturday, BBC Sport's experts have projected a starting XI for Euro 2028, offering an early look at how the squad could line up at the next home tournament.

Grassroots Oddity

A 10th-tier English club has signed a player named Taylor Swift — not the pop star — and the namesake duly marked his debut with a goal, giving the lower-league side an unexpected slice of viral attention.