Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

European Club Triumphs & Managerial Shifts

Real Betis secured a long-awaited return to the Champions League, clinching fifth place in LaLiga after a two-decade absence following their victory over Elche on Tuesday. This achievement contrasts sharply with the troubles at Real Madrid, whose president Florentino Perez staged a tense press conference demanding elections following a trophyless season marked by internal disputes and disarray. Meanwhile, in Spain's capital, new Barcelona coach Hansi Flick agreed to a contract extension immediately after leading the club to their 29th LaLiga title, sealing the championship by winning El Clásico against rivals Real Madrid. Flick also acknowledged star player Lamine Yamal, stating the youngster was "old enough" to make his own decisions after he waved a Palestinian flag during the celebratory bus parade.

Managerial Gossip & Future Moves

The managerial merry-go-round continues, as sources indicate Chelsea is considering both Xabi Alonso and Iraola for their vacant head coach position, although neither is considered a firm frontrunner yet, presenting Alonso with a dilemma between Chelsea and a potential "dream" Liverpool role. At Manchester United, internal debate persists over the next permanent manager, with suggestions that appointing Michael Carrick may overlook key factors while the club also shows interest in signing Federico Valverde, Ederson, and Mateus Fernandes. Elsewhere, Craig Bellamy's commitment to the Wales national team appears secure, as FAW bosses expressed confidence that he will reject reported interest from Burnley, and Michael O'Neill similarly confirmed he will continue as Northern Ireland manager after declining the Blackburn Rovers opportunity.

World Cup Preparations & Squad News

National teams are finalizing their provisional rosters ahead of the tournament, with Argentina including superstar Lionel Messi in their 55-man preliminary list, while Chelsea's injured forward Estêvão was notably omitted from Brazil's 55-man selection, despite Neymar making the cut. Sweden's squad, announced by new manager Graham Potter, will be spearheaded by forwards Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, 58, and Qatar may see 42-year-old striker Sebastián Soria set an age record for outfield participation after his inclusion in the preliminary squad. Injury concerns remain significant, as Arsenal's Ben White is now a major doubt for the World Cup after sustaining a medial ligament injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season.

Domestic Leagues & Playoff Drama

The English Football League play-offs provided high drama, as Southampton edged out Middlesbrough 2-1 in extra-time to secure a place in the Championship play-off final, a victory overshadowed by the ongoing 'Spygate' scandal that saw Middlesbrough's rivals request more time to investigate the spying allegations, 80. The fallout from the spying allegations continued, with Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg calling the saga "disgraceful". In the Scottish Premiership, the title race remains tight, with Hearts facing Celtic on Wednesday with the possibility of ending a 66-year wait for the championship, while St Mirren faces a relegation play-off after Kilmarnock's victory. In the Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr were forced to wait for their trophy celebration after conceding a late equalizer to Al Hilal, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Player Earnings & Media Notes

Lionel Messi continues to dominate MLS earnings reports, maintaining his status as the league's highest-paid player for the third consecutive year with an annual base salary of $25M (equivalent to £18., which is more than double the next highest earner in the North American league, 26. In an unusual crossover, actor Cristo Fernández, known for portraying Dani Rojas in "Ted Lasso," has officially signed a professional contract with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive after completing a two-month trial, 27. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé secured the Ligue 1 Player of the Season award for the second year running, despite only making nine starts during the campaign.

Refereeing Controversies & Technical Reviews

Controversies surrounding Video Assistant Referee (VAR) continue to dominate discourse, with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola stating he has "never trusted anything" related to the system following a critical decision in the title race. Referees' chief Howard Webb weighed in on two recent incidents, confirming that while a handball by Benjamin Sesko in the Manchester United versus Liverpool match occurred, VAR could not overturn the goal due to insufficient evidence, but he maintained that the decision to disallow a late West Ham equalizer against Arsenal was correct, 41. Furthermore, referees are scheduled to discuss methods for penalizing penalty-area grappling at the conclusion of the season.

Other Sports & Personnel Updates

In boxing, Derek Chisora revealed that his wife has given him the "green light" to pursue a highly anticipated rematch against Deontay Wilder. In golf, Rory McIlroy cautioned that LIV Golf's future is in a "precarious position," admitting he was mistaken in hoping for investment from the Public Investment Fund, though he remains optimistic about his own major championship prospects ahead of the PGA Championship. Separately, former England boss Steve McClaren is reportedly considering taking on the role of Technical Director at Rotherham United.