Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: August 4, 2026, 2:31 PM ET

FIFA and World Cup Developments

FIFA's chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger, stated that President Gianni Infantino's decision to withdraw from plans to sell stakes in a World Cup company to private investors was "absolutely necessary." FIFA has been accused of "blackmailing" Jordan over World Cup funding in exchange for their support for Gianni Infantino's continued presidency. Infantino's previous to monetize the World Cup were described as ham-fisted and delusional from both a business and political standpoint.

Club Transfers and Player Movements

Real Madrid scheduled to meet with Vinícius Júnior's representatives this week to continue contract renewal discussions. United States midfielder Gio Reyna has completed a move to Strasbourg from Borussia Mönchengladbach. Liverpool's preseason in the U.S. highlighted that coach Iraola & Co. still have significant work to do before the 2026-27 campaign. Washington's loss to San Diego resulted in the Spirit surrendering the No. 1 spot in ESPN's NWSL Power Rankings, with Utah now claiming the top position. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is planning to commence its 2027 season on February 11th in Los Angeles, aligning with the Super Bowl taking place across town three days later. Fenerbahce is reportedly preparing an ambitious offer to sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. Ajax has finalized the signing of Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen on a season-long loan agreement. Larry Berg, a co-owner of LAFC, has been appointed as the next commissioner of MLS, succeeding Don Garber on January 1, 2027. Neymar has not ruled out the possibility of retiring from football after his contract with Santos concludes at the end of the year. Former British No. 1 Annabel Croft suggests that Emma Raducanu could benefit from concluding her season early to focus on recovery and secure a protected ranking before returning in 2027. Manchester United admitted to making errors in the execution of their ticket touting investigation, though they maintain the underlying reasons for it are valid. Boreham Wood has rejected a £1 million bid for one of their forwards, with the player being a highly-rated non-league talent. Sacha Lewis sister of England international Rico Lewis, has signed her first professional contract with Women's Super League club Manchester City. Premier League must adhere to new financial regulations, including SCR, PSR, and adjusted revenue rules. Retired referee Anthony Taylor has been appointed as the director of elite refereeing for the Turkish Football Federation. Chelsea goalkeeper Jorgensen is reportedly close to sealing a season-long loan move to Strasbourg, a club under the same ownership group as Chelsea. West Ham Daniel Kretinsky's sale of a small stake in the club could potentially hinder Amanda Staveley's investment prospects. Rangers have reportedly agreed to a deal for Hannover winger Daisuke Yokota and are also said to be competing with Celtic for Fares Ghedjemis. Mykhailo Mudryk make his return to action on Wednesday after a 20-month suspension, having been included in Chelsea's squad for a friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong. Arsenal has initiated direct discussions with Newcastle United regarding the potential signing of their captain, Bruno Guimaraes. Bernardo Silva he "didn't think twice" about joining Real Madrid after participating in his first training session with the club. A club source confirmed to ESPN that Inter Miami has not expressed any interest in signing Kevin De Bruyne. MLS has launched an investigation into alleged antisemitic and discriminatory language directed at New England Revolution striker Dor Turgeman by fans during a recent match. United defender Gabby George is reportedly nearing a move to Brighton before the start of the Women's Super League season. Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes believes his team's "chip on their shoulder" mentality will be instrumental in their pursuit of winning the Championship. Ben Stokes expressed his desire to coach England in the future and questioned the decision to overlook Harry Brook for captaincy. Moses Itauma set to challenge for the vacant IBF world heavyweight title against Filip Hrgovic in London on August 29th. Arsenal has unveiled its new third kit for the 2026-27 season, which bears a resemblance to a previous design. EAFC video game franchise, which is now a central part of soccer culture, traces its origins back to the unexpected success of FIFA International Soccer. Celtic secured a 1-0 victory over Dundee in their opening match of the Scottish Premiership title defense, with Nygren scoring the decisive goal. Ham's co-owner is reportedly advised to stay away from home matches due to concerns about fan unrest following sexual misconduct allegations.

International and National Team News

Cape Verde coach Bubista, who guided the team to a historic World Cup debut, has joined Moroccan club RS Berkane. departs Cape Verde after leading them to the last 32 of the World Cup, while Ivory Coast has reappointed two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner Herve Renard as their coach. The United States men's national team is scheduled to play their first matches since the 2026 World Cup during the September/October FIFA international window, hosting Peru, Chile, Canada, and Mexico. Mauricio Pochettino set to remain as the U.S. men's national team coach through the 2030 World Cup, with questions remaining about his future should a major club team make an offer before then. A decade after Euro 2016, key figures are sharing the inside story of how that summer transformed Welsh football.

League and Competition Updates

Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos has stated that Luis Suárez is irreplaceable as the team prepares to compete in the Leagues Cup without the suspended forward. Washington's loss to San Diego saw the Spirit relinquish the No. 1 position in ESPN's NWSL Power Rankings, with Utah now occupying the top spot. NWSL plans to begin its 2027 season on February 11th in Los Angeles, coinciding with the Super Bowl three days later. The qualifying process for Luke Donald's 2027 European Ryder Cup team will commence this month at the British Masters. Formula 1 Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that contingency plans are in place for the 2027 F1 calendar should the conflict in the Middle East persist.

Other Sports News

Riders participating in the Tour de France Femmes will undergo additional clothing checks before Tuesday's stage due to allegations of some competitors using extra padding in their bras for aerodynamic advantage. A superb unbeaten half-century from Matt Short guided Welsh Fire to a six-wicket victory over Southern Brave in The Hundred, leveling them on points at the top of the table.