Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: August 21, 2026, 3:32 PM ET

World Cup Final Fallout

FIFA has banned Leandro Paredes for 10 matches over his role in the brawl that erupted at the end of last month's World Cup final against Spain. The Argentina midfielder was one of three players sanctioned for the clashes with Spanish players, though the South American nation escaped with only a fine for displaying a Falklands banner.

Premier League Curtain-Raiser

The 2026-27 Premier League season gets underway as defending champions Arsenal host newly promoted Coventry City in the opening fixture. Ian Darke has mapped out best- and worst-case scenarios for all 20 clubs after the Gunners rolled to the 2025-26 title. ESPN's mega-preview assesses the key stats, big questions and predictions for Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and every other team in the division.

Opening-Weekend Forecasts

Julien Laurens delivers his predictions for the opening weekend and beyond, headlined by Liverpool's stiff test against Newcastle and Jose Mourinho's first match of his Madrid return. Chris Sutton locks horns with Courteeners frontman Liam Fray, BBC readers and an AI model over the opening fixtures. Sky Sports' best bets back Arsenal to make a fast start on Friday Night Football, while ESPN's writers have issued their silverware calls for the Premier League, Champions League, LaLiga and more.

Spurs Win the Savinho Race

Tottenham have agreed a deal worth up to £85M ($102M) to sign Savinho from Manchester City, sources have told ESPN. Sky Sports confirms the £85M agreement between the two clubs, while BBC Sport reports an initial £75M fee after the winger told City boss Enzo Maresca that he wanted to leave. Spurs are also working on a deal for Omar Marmoush, with debate raging over whether the Manchester City forward would be a masterstroke or a risk in De Zerbi's squad.

Done Deals Across the Continent

Arsenal have completed a £51M deal to sign defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, tightening the champions' back line before the title defense begins. Thomas Partey has joined Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab on a free transfer following his exit from Villarreal. DR Congo right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has arrived at Villa Park from West Ham on an initial loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy. Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott has completed his transfer from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar to Spanish outfit Real Betis.

The Salah Sensation

Mohamed Salah was widely expected to move to Saudi Arabia or the United States after leaving Liverpool, but Turkish side Trabzonspor pulled off one of the coups of the transfer window. BBC Sport reveals the inside story of how the shock deal came together.

Summer's Spending Ranked

BBC Sport has compiled the 20 biggest transfers of the summer so far, a list that stretches from Morgan Rogers to Ismael Saibari and captures another record-breaking window of spending.

Rejected Bids

Liverpool have had a £50M ($68M) bid for Yankuba Minteh rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion, sources told ESPN. Aston Villa have also seen an offer worth around £18M plus add-ons turned down by Southampton for defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

The Rumor Mill

Arsenal are exploring a move for Kenan Yildiz from Juventus, while Al Hilal have added Gabriel Martinelli to their short list. Friday's gossip roundup adds that Atletico Madrid are trying to finalise a Nicolas Jackson signing and that Manchester City are in talks over Allan Elias. ESPN sources confirm City's negotiations for the Palmeiras winger Allan Elias. Two Premier League clubs are circling Arsenal's Jesus, according to Friday's newspaper round-up.

Liverpool's Local Problem

Liverpool are assessing alternatives for Curtis Jones, with Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton among the leading candidates as Manchester United chase Salinas amid the wider buzz. The sale of Curtis Jones means the Reds no longer have a single local player in their squad, a striking shift for a club synonymous with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

Villa's Summer of Sales

Aston Villa have already sold three key players this summer, a figure that could potentially double before the deadline, as the summer of sales leaves cracks for Unai Emery to fill. Emery concedes striker Ollie Watkins could follow several star players out of the door. Villa are expected to move for Nicolas Jackson if they sell Watkins to Al Hilal.

Delap at a Crossroads

Chelsea have made striker Liam Delap available for sale just a year into his Stamford Bridge career, and BBC Sport examines where he goes next and whether the forward can bounce back.

Mourinho's Galáctico Puzzle

New Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho insists Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe can all play together in the same team successfully. The Portuguese coach admitted that fitting Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé into his starting 11 is a "difficult" task, but he firmly rejected the idea that the trio are incompatible.

LaLiga Storylines

Barcelona and Real Madrid have both spent big in the summer transfer window, and ESPN's writers tackle the big questions as the new LaLiga campaigns begin. Having missed out on first-choice target Julián Álvarez, Barcelona must find a No. 9 elsewhere, and the stats point to several viable alternatives.

Dolan Announces Himself

English winger Tyrhys Dolan scored in Espanyol's 3-0 win over Levante on the opening LaLiga weekend and now has his sights set on a Real Madrid test. "I am not the player I was a year ago," the forward declared after a particularly sharp display.

Boars vs. Oviedo

Relegated Real Oviedo have seen their preparations for an immediate LaLiga return disrupted once again by wild boars invading their training ground, piling fresh problems onto a club trying to bounce back.

Musiala Update

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany says a "slight" change in Jamal Musiala's medication led to two collapses in four days, offering an explanation for a deeply worrying episode.

Ronaldinho's Italian Comeback

Brazil legend Ronaldinho, has landed in Ravenna to restart his career in Italy, a city more famous for its nearby beaches than its soccer team. The Euro Leagues podcast also previews the new Serie A campaign, with John Bennett joined by Julien Laurens and James Horncastle to discuss the Brazilian's return among other topics.

USMNT Tracker

United States attacker Brenden Aaronson has signed a new three-year contract to stay at Leeds United, the club announced Thursday. ESPN explains how to follow the USMNT's stars at their clubs overseas this season, and ranks the best Premier League careers in USMNT history, spanning Christian Pulisic, Brad Friedel and Clint Dempsey as several Americans prepare for big minutes in 2026-27.

U20 World Cup Watch

The United States will chase a first under-20 Women's World Cup title since 2012 next month without several of its biggest age-eligible stars, an absence described as "upsetting." England manager Lydia Bedford has named her U20 squad for the Fifa tournament amid an ongoing threat of a boycott from European nations.

Conference League Playoff Nights

Ryan Naderi struck to give Rangers a crucial but slender first-leg lead over Jablonec, though the evening ended with Devlin seeing red. Tom English branded the stodgy win under Derek McInnes a 12-course banquet of huff and puff, even if the tie remains alive. Brighton were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against a stubborn Tromso side in the first leg of their play-off. Hibs left Belgium with buckets of belief after a brilliant away performance against Gent, with everything now riding on a second leg that could mean passports out until Christmas.

Scottish Scene

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are dreaming big again after 12 months that included administration, and they host Partick Thistle in Friday's live BBC Scotland fixture. The Scottish football podcast weighs up the Dundee derby and asks which clubs will survive in Europe next week, while Girona players are being linked with moves to Glasgow as the Edinburgh clubs react to their European draws.

Women's Game

Women's Super League 2 clubs have tried everything from speed-dating to sharks and Hunted-style challenges in their pre-season preparations. Brighton midfielder Lia Walti admits she "missed the feeling of being valued as a footballer" after returning to the WSL and questioning standards in Italy. Two-thirds of the way through the season, ESPN ranks the NWSL's top 25 players, with Trinity Rodman and Rose Lavelle among those in the conversation for No. 1.

EFL Watch

West Ham and Leicester look to bounce back as BBC Sport flags five things to in this weekend's EFL schedule, from fallen giants to ambitious upstarts. Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has slammed pundits Joe Cole and Carlton Cole for their "laughable" mocking of his club's Premier League survival chances on a podcast.

Managerial Soundbites

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has branded suggestions of a favourable start to the Premier League season "ridiculous." Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola sat down with Jamie Carragher for a wide-ranging chat covering his playing style, the club's summer transfer business and the daunting season opener against Newcastle.

Chelsea Notebook

Chelsea striker Joao Pedro is set to sign a new contract with the club until 2032, with the option of two further years. Xabi Alonso has brushed off exit talk surrounding Enzo Fernández, reaffirming the Argentina star's status as a Chelsea player ahead of Monday's game against Fulham. Chelsea and Sunderland remain the only Premier League clubs without a shirt sponsor.

Swansea's Healing Effect

Marko Stamenic says the people around Swansea City have helped him rediscover his love for football during a traumatic first year at the Championship club.

FC 100 at Ten

ESPN marks the 10th anniversary edition of the FC 100 with a decade review covering the top countries, emerging trends and an all-time starting XI drawn from ten years of ranking the world's best men's players.

Brain Teasers

Supporters can test their knowledge with BBC Sport's daily football quizzes, featuring the Who Am I?, Five in Five and Brainteaser challenges.