Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: March 28, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

International Friendlies & World Cup Build-up

National teams continued their preparations for the upcoming World Cup, with Argentina securing a narrow 2-1 victory over Mauritania Friday night, propelled by goals from Enzo and Paz, though Lionel Messi only appeared as a second-half substitute. Meanwhile, France edged out Brazil 2-1, a match where Kylian Mbappé netted the opener and edged closer to a national goal-scoring record, prompting Mbappé to state he cannot imagine the tournament without Neymar. In contrast, the United States faces fitness concerns as Miles Robinson is sidelined with a groin injury and Chris Richards nursing a knee issue, leaving Christian Pulisic to admit feeling pressure but asserting he is capable of handling the expectation. In a more unusual story, one team must voyage into the future for every match they play, with their fans following along from the previous day.

Germany staged a thrilling 4-3 comeback win against Switzerland, fueled by Florian Wirtz, who delivered two assists in the first half and two goals in the second, showcasing an explosive performance leading the German charge. Elsewhere, Spain registered a convincing 3-0 win over Serbia, highlighted by Mikel Oyarzabal’s brace, marking Rodri’s first start for the national side since 2024 in the dominant victory. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti sought to deflect attention from external noise, choosing to focus only on the players present following chants regarding Neymar during their friendly loss to France. Separately, Sweden's Viktor Gyokeres starred with a sensational hat trick in a 3-1 playoff semi-final victory over Ukraine securing their passage to the final.

World Cup qualifying play-offs saw Italy advance to the final after goals from Tonali and Kean, meaning the four-time winners must win one more match to avoid a third consecutive qualification failure reaching the decisive fixture. Bosnia-Herzegovina eliminated Wales following a tense match, leading their manager to make controversial claims that a club manager deliberately sabotaged the Welsh side, though he has since refused to issue an apology. The Republic of Ireland boss, Heimir Hallgrimsson, expressed "big respect" for veteran defender Seamus Coleman after his World Cup dream concluded, while also finding reasons for optimism despite the shootout loss to the Czech Republic, seeing growth in his squad.

England Camp & Selection Headaches

England's recent 1-1 friendly draw with Uruguay proved contentious, featuring significant VAR confusion where Manuel Ugarte appeared to receive two yellow cards without being sent off, leading Ian Wright to claim the referee "made it up as he went along" during the bizarre officiating night. Manager Thomas Tuchel publicly defended Ben White after sections of the Wembley crowd booed the Arsenal defender upon his recall, stating White needs to clear the air with his teammates. The friendly also served as a final audition for fringe players, with Phil Foden delivering another subdued display leading to questions over whether he has squandered his last opportunity for a World Cup spot, while others, like Fikayo Tomori, who was in line to start, may have boosted their prospects alongside the returning White.

The USMNT squad depth is considered perhaps the strongest ever, raising hopes that the team can achieve its best-ever World Cup result, as Giovanni Reyna admitted feeling "fortunate" to receive his call-up amid limited club minutes assessing the squad's potential. Scotland coach Steve Clarke faces a key tactical decision regarding the preferred central defensive pairing ahead of their friendly against Japan, a match Liam McLeod notes will provide a true test against a Japanese side that was the first nation to qualify. Meanwhile, Scotland captain Andy Robertson acknowledged that the high of their World Cup qualification success has been a major factor keeping him motivated during a difficult season at Liverpool sustaining him through tough patches.

Club Finance & Management Turbulence

Scottish club Hibernian faces financial scrutiny as Chief Executive Dan Barnett declared that the club's current run of financial losses is "not sustainable," outlining an immediate need to transition toward a more stable long-term financial structure. In the Championship, Leicester City reported a substantial pre-tax loss of £71.1 million stemming from their season spent outside the top flight during their relegation year. Wrexham's recent financial accounts revealed record revenue figures, though the implications of these bumper wages on their overall stability were being closely examined following the release of figures. Furthermore, in a shock managerial move, 78-year-old Roy Hodgson has returned to the dugout as interim manager for Championship side Bristol City following the dismissal of Gerhard Struber taking the reins unexpectedly.

Transfer Speculation & Contract News

Speculation continues to swirl around major European clubs, with Arsenal monitoring Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and assessing Manchester United's Myles Lewis-Skelly as potential left-wing and left-back targets, respectively scouting multiple high-profile targets. Manchester City faces potential upheaval as questions remain over the futures of both manager Pep Guardiola and captain Bernardo Silva beyond the summer, prompting discussions on how they might find a replacement for Silva. At Manchester United, Harry Maguire has confirmed he is engaged in contract negotiations with the club, stating a decision on whether he remains at Old Trafford will be made public while also praising former manager Ruben Amorim for his great ideas at the club.

Mohamed Salah's impending departure from Liverpool has prompted analysis of his next destination, with the Saudi Pro League and MLS listed among the potential options for the forward, whom Jurgen Klopp labeled "one of the all-time greats" whose records will likely remain unmatched at Anfield. Klopp also suggested that Salah possesses the capability to continue playing at the highest level for another seven years, potentially playing into his age of 40 if he maintains his form. In other club news, Tottenham bolstered their setup ahead of a major derby clash by securing a new long-term contract for manager Martin Ho, who described the club as a sleeping giant in women's football.

Rugby League & Women's Football

In Super League action, Wakefield solidified their third-place standing with a 26-14 away victory over York, driven by two second-half tries from Tom Johnstone clinching the crucial league points, while Hull KR delivered a dominant 52-10 demolition of St Helens at Sewell Group Craven Park, scoring nine tries in the process overwhelming their opponents. The Rangers women's team, preparing for the Sky Sports Cup final against Glasgow City, believe a recent league victory over the same opponent will help "calm the nerves" before the silverware showdown, as captain Nicola Docherty stressed that winning a trophy is necessary for the season to be deemed successful. Meanwhile, Motherwell midfielder Callum Slattery received a four-game suspension for simulation, an action that resulted in the controversial sending off of St Mirren defender Richard King receiving the lengthy ban.

Motorsports & Tennis Updates

The Japanese Grand Prix saw McLaren outperform early championship leaders Mercedes in practice sessions, with Oscar Piastri topping the timesheets on Friday, even as Lewis Hamilton admitted he is still "figuring out" his Ferrari while identifying a "north star" for improvement amidst the testing sessions. George Russell voiced frustration, claiming it is "not right" that rivals are actively attempting to slow Mercedes down, particularly after scrutiny fell upon their front wing component ahead of Sunday’s race protesting rival tactics. In tennis, Jannik Sinner moved within one victory of achieving the 'Sunshine Double'—a feat last accomplished by Roger Federer in 2017—after defeating Alexander Zverev in straight sets to reach the Miami final one win from historic success. Coco Gauff also advanced to the Miami final, setting up a rematch with Sabalenka after ruthlessly dispatching Karolina Muchova cruising into the championship match.

Other Sports Notes

The return of Flat turf racing was headlined by the William Hill Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, where analysts were deep-diving into the competitive field, while attention also turned to the Dubai World Cup where Forever Young was slated to compete for glory kicking off the turf season. In boxing, Tommy Fury is slated for a return bout against former World's Strongest Man Eddie Hall on June 13 in Manchester, while Jake Paul anticipates a boxing return later this year, contingent upon a full recovery from his recent broken jaw planning his respective comebacks.