Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 6:14 PM ET

Real Madrid Friendly

Real Madrid edged Deportivo La Coruña 1-0 in their latest pre‑season friendly on Wednesday, with Brahim Díaz scoring just before halftime. Silva and Dumfries started the match as the squad continues to build fitness ahead of the new campaign.

PSG Win Second Straight UEFA Super Cup

Paris Saint‑Germain beat Aston Villa 2‑1 to lift the UEFA Super Cup for a second consecutive year, with Désiré Doué scoring the decisive second‑half goal. Doué’s winner silenced the Villa support and underlined the French champions’ European pedigree. Aston Villa were appearing in the Super Cup for the first time since 1982, but manager Unai Emery will feel his side competed well in Salzburg.

Arsenal Preseason Draw with Como

Myles Lewis‑Skelly scored and set aside transfer speculation as Arsenal were held to a 1‑1 draw by Como in their final pre‑season friendly. Bruno Guimaraes made his Arsenal debut, delivering an assured performance at the Emirates, while the match also featured a penalty shootout that Arsenal won 4‑3.

Chelsea Set Deadline for Fernandez

Chelsea have given interested clubs until Friday to submit offers of £120m for midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with Manchester City given a 5pm deadline on that day. The Blues have been the Premier League’s top summer spenders and are now focusing on sales, with several stars potentially available.

Atletico Agree Deal for Romero

Atletico Madrid have agreed a £34.2m fee with Tottenham to sign captain Cristian Romero. The move will reunite Romero with Diego Simeone, who has also held talks with Julián Álvarez about the forward’s situation at the club.

Man Utd Draw with Leeds; Tielemans Arrives

Manchester United played out a 1‑1 draw with Leeds in a Dublin friendly, then won 5‑4 on penalties; Marcus Rashford did not feature. Youri Tielemans gave his first extended interview after his £35m move from Aston Villa, admitting he did not expect to leave Villa Park this summer.

Messi Tributes and Retirement Speculation

Lionel Messi paid an emotional tribute to his late father on Instagram, sparking renewed speculation about his playing future. BBC Sport looked back at some of his most iconic moments as the Argentinian considers retirement.

NWSL and American Soccer

The Chicago Stars fired head coach Martin Sjögren with the club bottom of the NWSL. Olivia Moultrie of Portland Thorns and the USWNT has been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury. Alexis Sánchez joined CF Montréal on a Designated Player contract, while Chucky Lozano was pushed out of San Diego and is now a “perfect fit” for the LA Galaxy.

International and Women’s Football

The Netherlands appointed Barcelona legend Xavi Hernández as national team coach through the 2030 World Cup. Malawi’s fairy‑tale run at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations continued as sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga shared three goals in a 3‑1 semi‑final win over Algeria. Georgia Stanway explained why she “wasted no time” getting an Arsenal tattoo after her move from Bayern Munich.

Other Transfers and Deals

Fenerbahce signed Romelu Lukaku from Napoli for €6m, while Celtic added winger Haissem Hassan from Real Oviedo on a four‑year deal. Wrexham signed Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson in a deal that could break the club’s record. Hull City confirmed the signing of defender Nobel Mendy from Rayo Vallecano for a club‑record fee. Crystal Palace re‑signed Evann Guessand on a season‑long loan from Aston Villa, and Ipswich agreed a fee for Paraguay forward Julio Enciso from Strasbourg.

Premier League and EFL News

The EFL returns with Championship play‑off changes, new managers, and star players. Birmingham City have sold over 20,000 season tickets as Chris Davies changes his approach. Coventry City re‑signed Gustavo Hamer from Sheffield United on a long‑term deal. Three relegated sides – West Ham, Burnley, and Wolves – will navigate the Championship next season.

Club Friendlies and Manager Movements

Everton cruised past Newcastle 3‑1 at Murrayfield, giving new Magpies boss Matthias Jaissle a taste of the task ahead. Jose Mourinho is back at Real Madrid, but can he restore the club to former glory? Craig Bellamy’s move to Burnley collapsed, leaving Wales in a difficult position. Paul Pogba is expected to have his Monaco contract terminated.

Other Stories

Liverpool signed Barcelona captain Ronald Araújo on loan with a €55m option. South Korea’s FA apologised amid a sexual favours scandal and police raid. La Liga will inspect Celta Vigo’s pitch after a fungus outbreak. Memphis Depay slammed Corinthians for “unacceptable behaviour” after his contract ended. Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari will leave his role at the end of the 2026/27 season.