Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: August 2, 2026, 8:31 PM ET

Pre-Season Friendlies and Tours

Liverpool suffered a spectacular collapse in their final United States tour match, throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 against Leeds United. This result leaves manager Andoni Iraola with much to consider during the flight back to England. Manchester City their first match under new manager Enzo Maresca 1-1 with Inter Milan in Hong Kong, ultimately losing the penalty shootout 3-1. Defender Josko however, believes Maresca is the "perfect one" for Manchester City. Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina in a friendly that marked José Mourinho's first game as their new coach. Bryan Mbeumo twice to help Manchester United rally for a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in Stockholm. Robert Lewandowski both goals, including the winner, in his home debut for the Fire, securing a 2-1 win against Charlotte FC. concluded their pre-season campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Sunderland in Philadelphia.

Scottish Premiership Kicks Off

The Scottish Premiership season commenced with several notable results. Newly-promoted St made a thrilling return to the top flight, winning a goal-laden match against Kilmarnock. St Johnstone surrendered a lead but ultimately secured a 4-3 victory in a seven-goal thriller at home. Motherwell also their season with a victory, with Ibrahim Said netting a late winner to secure a 1-0 away win against Hibernian. New Motherwell Alfred Johansson has started in fine style despite significant departures at the club. Both St and Motherwell have started their campaigns with wins.

Transfer Rumors and Signings

Tottenham Hotspur reportedly made an approach for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. There are also rumors that Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has had positive discussions with Spurs. Manchester United said to be edging closer to securing a deal for youngster Hall. Atletico Madrid considering a move for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish. Bournemouth are finalizing an £11.1 million move for Sevilla right-back Juanlu. Arsenal manager Arteta was non-committal regarding links to Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior but anticipates further transfer activity for his club. Celtic are reportedly preparing a new bid for Serie A midfielder, while Rangers are in talks for a winger from a newly-promoted Premier League team. Former Liverpool Mohamed Salah is rumored to be heading to Turkish club Trabzonspor. USMNT midfielder Adams is also being linked with a move to Newcastle United. Argentina international Barco has officially joined Chelsea from Strasbourg. Inter Miami confirmed they are not pursuing Colombian midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero.

Club Statements and Managerial Focus

Real Madrid expressed their gratitude to UEFA for helping to "protect football" following FIFA's decision to abandon plans to sell stakes in a World Cup company to private investors. Chelsea's new Xabi Alonso stated that the "scar" from his brief tenure at Real Madrid has healed, allowing him to focus entirely on the upcoming Premier League season with his new club. New Motherwell Alfred Johansson has started his tenure impressively, navigating a challenging situation at the club. Martin O'Neill vowed to "drive forward together" and "not rest on past success" as he looks ahead to a full season at the helm.

Other Football News

FIFA president Infantino's past gambles on questionable ideas have been overshadowed by his recent World Cup plans, which are described as ham-fisted and delusional from both a business and political standpoint. The 2027 Women's World Cup was slated to be the first major tournament impacted by these controversial plans, which have been criticized for their disregard for the women's game. A new form of soccer called Omega Ball, played on a round pitch with three teams, is being introduced as a way to create chaos and guarantee goals. NWSL midseason have been released, evaluating the performance of all 16 teams at the halfway point of their season.

Golf and Other Sports

Shiho Kuwaki a dramatic play-off victory at the AIG Women's Open, narrowly defeating Esther Henseleit after an extraordinary finish. Charley Hull Lottie Woad will regret a "missed opportunity" for their maiden major wins, according to Dame Laura Davies. Kuwaki is noted for using a yellow ball. In horse racing Blue Bolt continued her undefeated streak with a victory in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville. England's netball will depart the Commonwealth Games without a medal after a significant 68-50 defeat to Australia in the bronze-medal match. Pierce O'Leary his first professional defeat when he was stopped by Mark Chamberlain in a thrilling fight in Dublin. cricket, Ben Duckett's half-century and crucial late wickets from Mohammad Amir helped Trent Rockets secure a five-run win over Sun Risers Leeds in The Hundred. Sophia Dunkley starred for Trent Rockets with a 56 off 33 balls in their victory over Sun Risers Leeds. Jack Draper requested patience from his supporters regarding his return to the court, citing an arm injury that led to his withdrawal from the DC Open.