Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: September 17, 2026, 6:03 AM ET

Manchester United's Carabao Cup Collapse

Manchester United surrendered a two-goal lead and crashed out of the Carabao Cup in a shambolic 3-2 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford, sending the club to a historic low under Michael Carrick. United had appeared in control before the Seagulls stormed back, and the result deepened the crisis surrounding the manager's tenure. Carrick branded the capitulation unacceptable, taking responsibility for a performance he said the club simply cannot accept. The United boss insisted he does not feel under pressure despite the shock cup exit, though the manner of the defeat has intensified scrutiny. Sky Sports described the night as more than just a defeat, noting that Carrick's Old Trafford tenure has deteriorated sharply, with United again collapsing from 2-0 up to exit the competition. The collapse capped a miserable week that also included on-field defeats, fan protests and unrest over the future of teenage forward JJ Gabriel, compounding United's problems on and off the pitch. BBC's Football Daily podcast assembled Aaron Paul, Jobi McAnuff, Clinton Morrison and John Murray to dissect the United nightmare and Sunderland's European exploits.

Carabao Cup Fourth-Round Draw

League Two side Fleetwood Town will host Arsenal in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, while Liverpool face Chelsea in a heavyweight tie, headlining the draw confirmed after the third-round fixtures. Liverpool will host Chelsea at Anfield, with Arsenal traveling to Fleetwood in one of the round's standout matchups. Fleetwood booked their place courtesy of Rhys Norrington-Davies' horror own goal that sent Sheffield United out in a 1-0 defeat. Everton struck late to beat a much-changed Wolves side, with substitute Charly Alcaraz hitting the late winner in a 1-0 home victory. Earlier, Everton's Barry was denied by a top save to keep the tie goalless before the breakthrough, as covered in the live coverage of the third-round clash. Aston Villa cruised past Coventry City 3-1, with Tammy Abraham scoring twice to book their place in the fourth round. The Coventry tie saw Barkley restore Villa's lead during the match, detailed in the match report and reaction. Brighton's comeback at Old Trafford was tracked in live coverage as the Seagulls pulled one back before completing the turnaround.

Arsenal's Teen Sensation

Arsenal prodigy Max Dowman joined Wayne Rooney as the only 16-year-olds to score in the Carabao Cup, equalling the record with a double in the competition. Midfielder Mikel Merino hailed Dowman as a special talent and compared him to Lamine Yamal, calling the youngster very similar in style and potential. Arsenal rejected loan offers for Dowman amid the growing buzz, part of Thursday's gossip roundup that also touched on Luke Shaw, Icardi and Rodrygo. The Premier League's teenage sensations are dominating headlines, with a look at which clubs boast the most valuable teens after Dowman's breakout and JJ Gabriel's desire to leave United.

Barcelona's Record Start

Barcelona sent records tumbling with a 7-2 thumping of Racing Santander, with Raphinha netting a hat trick as the club set a record start to the season. The Catalan giants have now re-signed 18-year-old Egypt striker Hamza Abdelkarim through 2030, with the forward relishing his nickname as the Haaland of the Nile. Transfer speculation continues to swirl around Barcelona and Real Madrid, who reportedly believe Erling Haaland could leave Man City next summer, while the LaLiga giants also monitor United's JJ Gabriel.

Real Madrid and the Ceuta Controversy

Kylian Mbappé explained his refusal to wear a T-shirt in support of Ceuta amid a backlash in Spain, addressing the controversy that followed the gesture. Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé and Ibrahima Konaté covered up Real Madrid's message of support for Ceuta ahead of the match at Elche, as captured in the coverage of the incident. José Mourinho said his side risked everything after going all-out attack in Real Madrid's win at Elche, explaining his substitutions in the LaLiga fixture.

Chelsea's Ownership and Squad News

Clearlake Capital has taken full control of Chelsea after acquiring the ownership stakes of Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, completing the takeover at Stamford Bridge. Midfielder Romeo Lavia says he is finally reaping the rewards of his hard work and is out to change the narrative after a string of injuries. Chelsea striker João Pedro has withdrawn from the Brazil squad because of injury, depleting the Seleção ahead of their upcoming fixtures. The club's young talent Kendry Paez is facing development setbacks, with questions over what has gone wrong for the Ecuadorian since his signing.

Premier League Managerial Pressure

The Premier League's coaching carousel is spinning again, and the latest Hot Seat Index assesses which managers will be fired first. BBC Sport columnist Tony Pulis explained why Coventry boss Frank Lampard must manage himself as much as his players, arguing that dealing with defeat is the key challenge for the former England midfielder. Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said it is quite poor that the controversy over the VAR decision in the Manchester derby has gone unaddressed, noting his club is still waiting for an apology. The VAR decision to allow Erling Haaland's winner in the Manchester derby is under fresh scrutiny, with a detailed look inside the mistake.

VAR and Officiating Debate

Soccer should learn from the NFL to fix the mess that VAR has created, argues an ESPN analysis that questions whether it is time to give VAR the red card or whether the sport actually needs the technology. Meanwhile, a deep dive examines why anyone would want to be a referee, profiling the furious fans, peeved parents and side gigs that come with officiating from the Premier League down to under-12s.

European and International Action

AC Milan kicked off their Europa League campaign with a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Benfica, with Christian Pulisic subbing on in the defeat. Cristiano Ronaldo suffered his heaviest loss since joining Al Nassr as the Saudi side were routed 4-0 in the Asian Champions League. Ange Postecoglou clashed with a reporter while staunchly defending Ronaldo after the defeat, pushing back on criticism of the Portuguese star. Sunderland secured a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar in Europe, with Le Fee hitting the post before the opener in the as-it-happened coverage of the tie.

International Squads and Farewells

Despite announcing his international retirement, Lionel Messi was included in Argentina's squad for an October 6 farewell friendly, earning the call-up for the commemorative match. Philadelphia Union attacker Cavan Sullivan, has earned his first call-up from the United States men's national team, set for the milestone after his breakout. Bundesliga breakout star Cole Campbell is committed to the United States and eyeing his first call-up, pledging his future to the USMNT. World Cup-winning head coach Luis de la Fuente has agreed a contract extension with Spain that runs until 2032, extending his tenure with the national team.

U20 Women's World Cup and NWSL Lawsuit

The United States was eliminated in the round of 16 at the U20 Women's World Cup, falling to Brazil in a penalty shootout. Racing Louisville FC midfielder Savannah DeMelo is suing the University of Louisville and doctors after suffering a cardiac arrest during an NWSL game, filing the suit over her care. The United States women's national team player is suing a hospital and doctors after the on-pitch heart attack, seeking accountability for the incident.

Scottish Football Shake-Up

Hibernian sacked head coach David Gray six games into the Scottish Premiership season, ending his tenure after a winless run. Hibernian dismissed Gray with the club ninth in the table, confirming the decision following the defeat to Kilmarnock. A club hero, Gray's time as Hibs head coach ended not to the sound of euphoria but amid a painful endgame as the side slumped. The sacking was covered in a podcast as Hibs pulled the trigger while Celtic prepared for a crucial European night, reacting to the news. Chris Sutton believes his former side Celtic have great concerns despite a winning start, with the club facing a defining week after their defeat to Rangers. Rangers will reportedly pay less than £1m for James Penrice should he sign permanently, with an £800,000 potential fee emerging in gossip alongside other Ibrox news. Rangers and Aberdeen's Premier Sports Cup semi-final will take place on 31 October, with the Edinburgh derby between Hearts and Hibs set for 1 November.

Transfer Rumors and Academy Rules

Arsenal remain in contact with the camp of Real Madrid winger Rodrygo as a potential move continues to be explored, per transfer rumors. Real Madrid have a strong interest in signing 15-year-old Manchester United forward JJ Gabriel, joining the chase alongside Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the clubs monitoring JJ Gabriel's stand-off at United, tracking the situation closely. Michael Carrick confirmed he is involved in conversations about JJ Gabriel's future and said United will be careful with the youngster, addressing the talks. On the night JJ Gabriel was supposed to become Manchester United's youngest player, the forward instead signaled he wants to leave, raising the question of what happens now. Luke Shaw could leave Manchester United next summer, according to Thursday's newspaper roundup of top stories and transfer rumors. BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team explained the Premier League rules governing academy players, covering what rules players and clubs must follow regarding pay and eligibility.

Women's Super League

Arsenal have not won a Women's Super League title in years, and questions are being asked about whether the club's amazing squad depth is really a curse, examining the drought amid the title wait.

Saudi Pro League Discipline

Saudi Pro League side Al-Taawoun have been ordered to play two matches behind closed doors and fined over Jota chants directed at Neves, receiving the punishment from league authorities. Al Taawoun must play their next two matches behind closed doors and pay a fine after the chants, per the ruling issued by the Saudi Pro League.

Aston Villa and Everton Squad News

Taylor Harwood-Bellis has a chance to make his mark at Aston Villa, with the defender poised for his debut after being left out of the club's Champions League squad and yet to feature since his arrival, as examined in the analysis. James Garner has emerged as Everton's most important player, with a profile examining how the midfielder became the club's main man and drew comparisons to a mini Valverde.

Cricket

Warwickshire boosted their Rothesay County Championship title challenge by securing a two-day win over Essex, sealing the victory in emphatic fashion.

Formula 1

World champion Lando Norris believes Formula 1 drivers will face a greater challenge at a tougher Monaco with the shock addition of a Sprint, bracing for the change in 2027. Formula 1's 2027 calendar is out, with Monaco getting its first Sprint and a total of 10 Sprints scheduled, explaining the shake-ups for next season. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies says the team will continue to prioritise Isack Hadjar's recovery over a return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, providing the injury update on the driver.

Golf

Rory McIlroy was in early action at the BMW PGA Championship, with live coverage of the Pro-Am lineup and tee times. Gareth Bale headlined a star-studded list of names at Wednesday's BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am, as McIlroy shot a low score of. The DP World Tour announced a new date for the 2027 BMW PGA Championship and other changes, unveiling the schedule for the coming season.

Tennis

Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will compete at the China Open this year, which will be shown on Sky Sports, returning after 11 years away from the tournament. The WTA Finals will be staged in Charlotte, North Carolina from 2027, with organizers aiming to build a Super Bowl for women's sports. The Laver Cup, tennis' Ryder Cup-style event, returns this month with 12 of the world's best men's players competing, and a guide explains the schedule and format.

Boxing and Darts

Britain's Marie McManamon will meet Hong Kong Muay Thai star Yu Yau Pui in a bout on the undercard of a heavyweight world title fight, set for the event. The European Elite Boxing Championships begin in Sofia, Bulgaria, with Broadhurst chasing Olympic glory and calling it her last shot at the Games. The World Grand Prix takes place at Leicester's Mattioli Arena beginning in September, with Luke Littler looking to defend his title and the schedule confirmed.

Racing and EFL

Yarmouth's three-day festival reaches its conclusion on Thursday with a seven-race card, featuring a face-off between Deep Havana and Pilu. The 72+ EFL Podcast covered Heckingbottom's sacking and the Millwall-West Ham clash, with Aaron Paul, Jobi McAnuff and Luke Chambers discussing all things EFL.

International Football and Human Stories

A documentary examines the potential of a golden generation of Israel's footballers, tracing the under-20 team's 2023 rise and the aftermath of the Hamas attack four months later, telling the story of hope and tragedy. Bayern Munich have revealed their 2026-27 Oktoberfest kit, a floral design being called their wildest yet. A ranking of the greatest all-time fantasy football icons revisits the satisfaction of unearthing picks like Michu, Salah and Kane, celebrating the legends of the game. Thomas Tuchel passionately defended his controversial defensive substitutions in England's World Cup semi-final, telling critics it is his scar, not theirs.