Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: August 26, 2026, 8:37 AM ET

Carabao Cup Roundup

The Carabao Cup second round delivered drama across the board, with Leeds United registering a second win at Nottingham Forest in three days to book their spot in the third round. Callum Wilson scored just six minutes into his full debut and captain Nathan Collins converted two headers as Brentford routed Championship side Birmingham 6-1. Teenager Josh Ayala scored twice on his full professional debut as West Ham came from behind to thrash Southampton 4-1. Marcelino Nunez scored a sensational goal from the halfway line to help Ipswich claim a hard-fought 3-1 win over Leicester. Premier League new boys Coventry survived an EFL Cup second-round scare at League One Plymouth before easing through 4-2 at Home Park. Hull City followed up their 2-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday by knocking Stoke out on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Cardiff City's Noah Anyadike, became the youngest player in EFL Cup history after starting their second-round defeat against Norwich City.

Champions League Fallout

Celtic suffered a stunning Champions League play-off collapse as LASK overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to win 5-4 after extra time and sent the Scottish champions crashing into the Europa League. When Callum McGregor eviscerated his own team-mates in the wake of the collapse, he delivered their one coherent moment of a spineless night. The 65-year-old supporter who took ill during the first leg in Glasgow last week was honored with a silence before the return fixture. The Champions League's feel-good story Bodo/Glimt are back for a second season joined by two debutants, Sabah of Azerbaijan — formed just nine years ago — and remarkably, LASK Linz of Austria. What does Celtic's exit mean for Scottish football? The Scottish Football Podcast examines the fallout.

Transfer Window News

The summer transfer window is entering its final week, and clubs are scrambling. Nottingham Forest have agreed a club-record £50m deal to sign Liam Delap from Chelsea, with sources confirming the $68M move for the forward. Manchester United have signed Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton in a £70m deal. After spending £155m on three midfielders, United must now decide whether to try to buy a left-back. Nico González's transfer from Manchester City to Newcastle United has been agreed for $71M, sources told ESPN. Liverpool are holding further talks with PSG for Bradley Barcola. Aston Villa have made a move for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Nicolas Jackson, while Manchester City aren't ready to give up on signing Enzo Fernandez, according to Wednesday's gossip.

Transfer Saga: Julián Álvarez

Julián Álvarez, wanted by the champions of Spain and England, has faced a backlash from Atlético Madrid fans over his desire to leave. He must take one of two paths before the transfer deadline: stay at Atletico Madrid and try to rebuild his connection with the fans, or get his head around a potential move to Arsenal. The saga continues to dominate headlines as the window winds down.

Premier League Analysis

Liverpool's draw at Newcastle emphasised their midfield fragility once again, raising questions about whether they will act in the market and bring in a defensive-minded player. The new European season is here, and with it the triumphant return of Gab Marcotti's Monday Musings — this week, Liverpool and Man United still look half-baked, and Mourinho gets a vintage kind of win in his season opener. The first week of the Premier League is over, and overreactions abound about how Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United and the rest will fare this season. BBC Sport takes a look at what each Premier League club still needs before the window shuts in seven days. Arsenal's desire to defend their crown will be a much tougher challenge — just ask former title winners.

Premier League News and Notes

Bournemouth's Junior Kroupi continues to attract interest from several clubs across the Premier League, with Liverpool and Arsenal among those monitoring the young forward. Joao Pedro took just 31 seconds to score his opening goal of the season — will the new number nine reach the 20 he scored last season while wearing the number 20 shirt? BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team explains why Crystal Palace are wearing a white home shirt during the 2026-27 season.

Awards and Recognition

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been crowned the men's PFA Players' Player of the Year for the 2025/26 season, as Manchester City's Bunny Shaw won the women's award for a second time. Ashley Cole leaves his role as England Under-21 coach after five years in the position.

Women's Football

Chelsea, PSG and Wolfsburg are one two-legged defeat from being dumped out of the Women's Champions League before it's even begun. Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a successful first season under manager Martin Ho, and now they're planning to break into the WSL's elite clubs. Olivia Smith's career has been in the limelight since she was 15 — but she had been preparing herself for it even before she was a professional footballer, with taekwondo, stats and a £1m record in her rise at Arsenal. NY Gotham FC had a disappointing 0-0 draw with Angel City, but are still top of the NWSL and ESPN's Power Rankings. MVPs and Golden Boots are no longer enough for NWSL star Temwa Chawinga, who now targets a title.

MLS News

Are Inter Miami officially in a slump? Can any team lay a glove on Nashville SC? All that and more in this week's edition of ESPN's MLS Power Rankings. New Atlanta United striker Breel Embolo said he's excited about "a new start in my life," even as people in Europe are "shocked" at his decision to move to MLS.

International Football

Xavi Hernandez said he was unfazed at being third choice for the job of Netherlands national team head coach, as he was unveiled in his new role. The Irish Football Association says it is "time for change" at Fifa and they will not be voting for president Gianni Infantino's re-election next year. Ethiopia submits a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations despite lacking enough stadiums to host a 24-team tournament.

Other Football News

Raheem Sterling will appear in court next month to face charges of dangerous driving after crashing his car into motorway barriers in May. BBC Sport NI examines the Irish League's ever-changing relationship with gambling, from changing culture to investment and criticism. Boreham Wood forward Abdul Abdulmalik says he is "capable of reaching the top" after the National League side reject a £1.5m offer from Swedish club Djurgarden.

Boxing and Combat Sports

Mikaela Mayer says she feels "unbeatable" and that her blockbuster unification fight against Chantelle Cameron for the world super welterweight titles won't be close.

Racing and Other Sports

We have a busy day's racing on Wednesday with flat action from Newbury and Wolverhampton, live on Sky Sports Racing. St Helens legend Jonny Lomax is to retire at the end of the 2026 Super League season, he announced on Tuesday. Luke Littler's bid to qualify for the Players Championship Finals, and keep alive his hopes of claiming a historic clean sweep of PDC major titles in 2026, suffered a blow with a quarter-final exit at PC27.

Tennis

Roger Federer made a triumphant return to the US Open court with a pair of exhibition victories in front of an adoring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd in New York. Star pairing Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz reached the quarter-finals of the US Open mixed doubles before being beaten by fourth seeds Belencic and Cobolli.

Formula 1 and Rugby

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff says he is "not at all" disappointed by Max Verstappen having committed to Red Bull with a new contract that runs until 2030. New Zealand fought back from an 18-point deficit in the second half to beat the Lions 41-35 and avoid a shock defeat at Ellis Park.

Transfer Rumors

The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday's newspapers include Man City set for a late Fernandez move as Chelsea's replacement emerges. French forward Christopher Nkunku returned on a loan deal Tuesday to RB Leipzig where he had the most prolific seasons of his career.