Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 11:46 AM ET
Premier League Preview
Arsenal has opened contract talks bbc.com with midfielder Declan Rice, signaling their intention to secure the player's long-term future with the club. Meanwhile, the weekend's Premier League fixtures are on the horizon, with predictions suggesting Arsenal will pull further ahead skysports.com of Manchester City in the standings. Additionally, BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team has explained the reason for two 5:30pm kick-offs bbc.com on Saturday.
Champions League Updates
Real Madrid's coach Álvaro Arbeloa is confident espn.com that Kylian Mbappé will be able to travel with the team for the Champions League game at Manchester City next week. In contrast, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted he got his team selection wrong skysports.com in the defeat against Real Madrid but stood by his decisions. Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings bbc.com against Chelsea winger Pedro Neto for pushing a ball boy.
Transfer News and Rumors
The agent of Paris Saint-Germain's Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembélé met with Manchester City espn.com, sparking rumors of a potential future move. While, Manchester United are looking to scout West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, and Newcastle is eyeing Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara per the Friday newspapers skysports.com.
Managerial Decisions and Team Dynamics
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola said a decision on his future is "definitely" closer to being made regarding his future bbc.com. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe defended Anthony Gordon skysports.com after Alan Shearer's criticism of his absence from a recent game. Meanwhile, Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor said his players can "cry or fight" as they seek to avoid relegation from the Premier League bbc.com.
Football in Focus
Wrexham's celebrity owners are swapping the boardroom espn.com for the commentary booth to mark five years since their game-changing takeover of the Welsh club. Former Premier League boss Tony Pulis explains how your mindset is as important as your tactics when you are a manager battling relegation bbc.com.
League Cup Final
Chelsea is set to face Manchester United in the League Cup final on Sunday, and both teams need to win for different reasons espn.com. Manchester United has not enjoyed recent finals against Chelsea, but can they finally overcome their nemesis bbc.com in Sunday's Women's League Cup final?
International Football
Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia wants the Finalissima moved espn.com to Buenos Aires if the game is moved away from Qatar. Harry Wilson has confirmed his fitness for Wales' World Cup play-offs bbc.com.
Scottish Premiership
Rangers head coach Danny Röhl understands "it's all about winning" as his side face "nine cup finals" in the Scottish Premiership title race ahead of Sunday's visit to St Mirren skysports.com. Celtic has defended their fans over the on-pitch clashes at Ibrox while Rangers condemned the disorder after the Scottish Cup quarter-final skysports.com.
Other Football News
Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber believes the Robins need more investment bbc.com to end their 46-year top flight exile. Rwanda reappointed Englishman Stephen Constantine as head coach bbc.com on a two-year contract.
Fantasy Premier League
With gameweek 32 emerging as a popular point to wildcard for Fantasy Premier League managers, there's a chance to make short-term gains by targeting teams with good fixtures bbc.com in weeks 30 and. Every key bit of Premier League team news and the most important Fantasy Premier League statistics can be found in one place bbc.com.
Additional Football Insights
Former Aston Villa player David Villa joined the club's new-look board espn.com after investment group Apollo Sports Capital completed its majority acquisition. Additionally, the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs welcomes the ticketing arrangement bbc.com for fans in September's Nations League game in Georgia.
Boxing and Other Sports
Three-division world champion Mikaela Mayer has signed with Jake Paul’s skysports.com Most Valuable Promotions. Moses Itauma looks set to fight for a heavyweight world championship skysports.com in 2026. Former WBC Muay Thai world champion George Jarvis is determined to put the toughest moment skysports.com of his career behind him when he collides with Thailand's Sinsamut Klinmee in the main event.
Golf and Darts
Rory McIlroy made a sluggish start skysports.com to his title defence at The Players. Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen are among the star names who will compete at the 2026 Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy skysports.com.
Other Sports
Pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis set a 15th pole vault world record skysports.com after he cleared 6.31 metres in Sweden on Thursday.
Welfare and Personal Matters
Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood has spoken of his relief after his family were able to return to England skysports.com from Dubai amid the Middle East conflict. Additionally, Al-Sadd coach Roberto Mancini will miss the team's next game espn.com because of the war in the region.
Football Analysis
ESPN FC analyst and former Man City defender Nedum Onuoha reflects on how Spurs' loss in Madrid was a cruel reminder of the savage nature of football espn.com. Liverpool manager Arne Slot says it is too early to be "jumping to conclusions" about why Premier League clubs struggled bbc.com in the Champions League this week.
Team News
Newcastle United assistant Jason Tindall has stood alongside head coach Eddie Howe for the best part of two decades and is more than a wind-up merchant bbc.com.
Burnley's Situation
Burnley manager Scott Parker says this season "might be seen as a failure" with relegation looking likely bbc.com, but has said he wants to focus on the "bigger picture".
Manchester United
Michael Owen says he "can't believe people are questioning" whether Michael Carrick should become the permanent manager bbc.com of Manchester United. With multiple decisions looming, from the manager's position to potential transfers, Manchester United is facing big decisions espn.com.
Chelsea's Situation
Analysing the reasons that playmaker Phil Foden has started only four of Manchester City's past 12 games bbc.com.