Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: September 16, 2026, 6:02 AM ET

Premier League & Carabao Cup

Liverpool edged Tottenham 3-1 in their Carabao Cup third-round tie, with Dominik Szoboszlai's stunning strike proving decisive. Andoni Iraola lauded Szoboszlai for the "worldie" that sealed the win over Spurs. Alexis Mac Allister had fired Liverpool ahead before the visitors responded, but the Reds held firm to advance.

Fulham edged West Ham 3-2 in a five-goal London derby thriller to reach the fourth round. Jarrod Bowen had levelled for West Ham before Fulham's late winner. Brentford overcame Reading to reach the fourth round, though head coach Keith Andrews hit out at VAR, saying officials should "let them ref the games and be humans."

Arsenal's teenage sensation Max Dowman scored twice against Ipswich as the Gunners cruised, with Mikel Arteta urging caution over the 16-year-old's development. Dowman and Noni Madueke had given Arsenal a two-goal lead at Ipswich. Arteta insisted Dowman must earn his minutes despite his breakout display. The prodigy equalled a Wayne Rooney record, becoming only the second 16-year-old to score a Carabao Cup double.

Peterborough beat Barnsley on penalties after a six-goal thriller, reaching the fourth round for the first time since 2014. Lincoln won at Bristol City to haunt former boss Michael Skubala, with Draper sealing the 1-0 victory.

Championship

Middlesbrough missed the chance to go top after a 2-2 draw with Millwall at the Riverside. Millwall had led at the Riverside before Boro battled back for a point. Highlights from both Championship fixtures are available to watch.

Manchester United Crisis

Manchester United's week went from bad to worse with defeats on and off the pitch, protests from supporters, and the JJ Gabriel unrest dominating headlines. The 15-year-old wonderkid has asked to leave the club, with sources indicating he is on the brink of an exit. The teenager is set to depart Old Trafford amid interest from rivals. United are reportedly fearful of a Man City swoop for the young forward, according to Wednesday's papers. Contract talks with captain Bruno Fernandes have also stalled, adding to the club's mounting concerns.

VAR Controversy

The Manchester derby mess proved that VAR's quest for perfection is doomed to fail, as Erling Haaland's goal exposed the system's limitations. Pro Ref chief Howard Webb said VAR had tunnel vision on Haaland which led to the Enzo Fernández offside error. Webb also backed Phil Foden's red card as justified, though he noted Bruno Fernandes escaped a yellow for a "petulant" kick. The VAR from the derby, Matt Donohue, has been stood down from duty following his error of judgement.

Premier League Analysis

The title race may already be down to two teams after Arsenal and Manchester City's early-season form, prompting questions about scrapping VAR. Liverpool cannot take Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo for granted — they remain match-winners despite a bumpy 2025-26 campaign. Leeds United sit third in the Premier League, and Daniel Farke has turned the team around with an impressive run of form. The Hot Seat Index ranks all 20 Premier League managers by their likelihood of being fired first.

Scotland

Sebastien Pocognoli's bold Scotland squad has created serious intrigue, with the new era already generating debate. Oli McBurnie has been called up for the first time in five years alongside seven uncapped players. McBurnie's return can be a new experience, with a former Celtic captain expressing high hopes for the squad. The squad announcement and a night of SPFL coupon busters are discussed in a podcast, as Aberdeen hammered Motherwell. Scotland fans will be allowed to buy alcohol at upcoming games following a successful trial earlier this year.

David Gray says he will continue until told otherwise as Hibernian head coach, but pressure continues to mount after another defeat. The pressure on Gray intensified following Tuesday night's Scottish Premiership action. All of Tuesday's Scottish Premiership goals are available on Sportscene, featuring Falkirk v Hearts, Motherwell v Aberdeen, and Hibs v Kilmarnock. Celtic and Scotland legend Danny McGrain, described as "Scotland's greatest-ever full-back," has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Wales & Northern Ireland

Craig Bellamy says he is committed to Wales after turning down the chance to return to club management with Burnley. The Wales boss faces a fan trust test after a "sleepless night" led to his decision to reject the Burnley approach.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill insists his squad is picked only on merit and not eligibility, saying he would never take FIFA eligibility rules lightly. O'Neill added that eligibility rules are not particularly fair. Ceadach O'Neill and Braiden Graham have retained their places in the Northern Ireland squad for the Nations League.

European & International Football

José Mourinho said Real Madrid risked everything with his attacking substitutions in their win over Elche. Cristiano Ronaldo suffered his heaviest loss with Al Nassr as the Saudi side were routed 4-0 in the Asian Champions League. Barcelona have re-signed Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim to a deal running to 2030, with the teenager relishing his "Haaland of the Nile" nickname. Barcelona are also monitoring Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, while Nick Woltemade could be on the move.

Rodri revealed he called José Mourinho this summer after choosing Barcelona over Real Madrid. Philippe Coutinho said Neymar played a key role in his Santos transfer, crediting his former Brazil teammate. James Rodríguez has retired from Colombia's national team after a 15-year international career. Lionel Messi, despite announcing his international retirement, has been named to Argentina's squad for an October 6 farewell game.

Cristian "Kily" González said he feels blessed to take charge of Inter Miami and Lionel Messi. The Munich Football Arena and Barcelona's Spotify Camp Nou will host the 2028 and 2029 Champions League finals respectively. Cardiff has been confirmed to host the 2029 women's Champions League final, with UEFA announcing a number of host appointments. Bayern Munich have unveiled their floral Oktoberfest kit, their wildest special jersey yet.

MLS & NWSL

Gotham FC have risen to the top of ESPN's NWSL Power Rankings, taking advantage of the Washington Spirit's slip. In MLS, Nashville have cemented top spot while the Chicago Fire's slide continues, with the club winless in more than three weeks.

Racing Louisville FC midfielder Savannah DeMelo is suing the University of Louisville health system over a cardiac arrest she suffered during an NWSL game. Real Salt Lake and U.S. midfielder Diego Luna is expected to be sidelined for months with a knee injury, sources said.

Cavan Sullivan recorded his first two-goal game in MLS and added an assist as the Philadelphia Union crushed San Diego. Inter Miami midfielder Alexander Shaw has been contacted by Colombia after playing for the U.S. U20 side, with both nations targeting the dual national.

Women's Football

Over a dozen top current and former women's soccer players, including Alex Morgan and Marta, have signed a letter to FIFA seeking changes to the U20 Women's World Cup. The players are calling for reform to the tournament's structure and scheduling.

Australia & A-League

New Melbourne Victory boss Giovanni Savarese said Greek flags and Grand Finals make Melbourne feel like home, reflecting on his journey from New York to Australia.

Boxing

Caroline Dubois is targeting an undisputed showdown with American Alycia Baumgardner, whom she described as "jealous." Conor Benn could skip the queue for a middleweight world title shot if he returns to action at 160 pounds, according to promoter Bentley.

Formula 1

Fernando Alonso's future in Formula 1 is up in the air after he revealed news about his Aston Martin contract, raising the possibility of rule changes to prevent his retirement. Nico Rosberg believes George Russell's painful losses to Kimi Antonelli will motivate the Mercedes driver rather than discourage him.

Golf

Rory McIlroy is unconcerned about the PGA Tour's new criteria for membership, downplaying the impact on the DP World Tour. Jon Rahm said LIV Golf's schedule changes can allow the DP World Tour to gain some strength. Team Europe's early Ryder Cup trip to "immaculate" Adare Manor set the stage for their 2027 bid, with the Irish course impressing the players. England Golf have reignited their push to bring the Solheim Cup to England in 2030, urging government support.

Tiger Woods has shared footage of himself hitting balls for the first time since his car accident, marking a significant step in his recovery.

Racing

Fairy Glen is well fancied in the John Musker Fillies' Stakes, the Listed feature on day two of the Yarmouth Eastern Festival.

Rugby League

England head coach Brian McDermott has confirmed George Williams as captain for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup. Hull KR head into the Super League play-offs as defending champions, but Willie Peters said his side must improve to make history from a sixth-place finish.

Cricket

Harry Brook and Jos Buttler went berserk again as England thrashed Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the first T20 at Southampton, with Brook smashing a 42-ball century. England faced Sri Lanka with Donald making his debut in the first T20 international. The latest score from the first T20 between England and Sri Lanka at Southampton confirmed the hosts' dominance.

Ben Stokes made a half-century for Durham as Surrey were skittled for, battling for Division One survival in the County Championship. Stokes no longer plays for England, but that has not stopped him from rating Harry Brook above Kevin Pietersen in a bold statement about the batter's talent.

Athletics

Nairobi has won the right to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, bringing the event to Africa for the first time as London missed out.

NFL

Justin Herbert has been tipped to be the best ever, but questions persist over whether the Chargers quarterback is the NFL's best underachiever despite his elite physical tools.

Legal & Misc

Raheem Sterling has admitted to dangerous driving after crashing a Lamborghini into motorway barriers in May. The former England winger pleaded guilty to the charge. Former Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma is on the verge of joining Ajax on a free transfer.

Thomas Tuchel said he regrets not eating the Azteca turf after England's win over Mexico at the iconic stadium. The coach of Bolivian club Guabirá said sport has been "tainted" after his goalkeeper received death threats. Two Scottish teenage brothers, Olly and Seb Fisher, are closing in on their dream of representing Uganda internationally.