Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: May 12, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

LaLiga & European Titles Conclude

Securing a Champions League return after a two-decade drought, Real Betis clinched fifth place in LaLiga following their victory against Elche on Tuesday. This success follows Barcelona's confirmation as LaLiga champions, achieved via a decisive El Clásico victory over rivals Real Madrid, marking a night of stark contrasts between the two giants . New Barça coach Hansi Flick agreed to a contract extension immediately after leading the team to their 29th league title, a campaign where he also managed to maintain focus despite the recent passing of his father. The ongoing turmoil at the Bernabéu saw Real Madrid president Florentino Perez call for elections during a tense press conference, coming off the back of a season entirely devoid of major silverware, further exposing internal strife.

Premier League Title Race & VAR Fallout

Arsenal edged closer to their first Premier League title in 22 years following a dramatic late victory over West Ham United, a result that prompted strong reactions regarding officiating. Pundits like Jamie Carragher asserted that only dissenters didn't want Arsenal to win, referencing the contentious disallowed Hammers equalizer. Referees' chief Howard Webb later confirmed that the decision to disallow the West Ham goal was correct, though he also addressed another contentious moment, stating that VAR could not overturn Benjamin Sesko’s goal for Manchester United against Liverpool due to insufficient evidence of a handball. Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted he has "never trusted anything" regarding referees and VAR, a sentiment echoed by West Ham’s intent to formally contact the referees' body, PGMO, over the incident.

Relegation Battles & Championship Drama

The fight for Premier League survival created further tension as Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United, leaving Roberto De Zerbi’s side only two points above the drop zone with two fixtures remaining. De Zerbi subsequently suggested the referee in the Leeds match was "not calm" following the prior VAR controversy at West Ham, while Tottenham had earlier missed a chance to all-but secure safety when they were denied a potential late penalty against Leeds. In the Championship play-offs, Southampton dramatically booked their spot in the final after edging out Middlesbrough 2-1 in extra-time, a match overshadowed by Middlesbrough’s "Spygate" allegations, prompting Saints to request more time to complete their internal review into the claims. Hull City later advanced to face Southampton in the final by producing a clinical 2-0 win over Millwall, leaving Millwall to reflect on a season of progress despite the semi-final defeat.

Managerial Movements & Transfer Rumors

The search for new management continues across Europe, with Chelsea reportedly contacting several candidates, including Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso, though no frontrunner has emerged. Alonso faces a significant decision should he be officially offered the Chelsea role, balancing it against the prospect of the "dream" Liverpool job. In Madrid, Jose Mourinho is becoming an increasingly likely candidate to take the helm at the recovering Real Madrid. Elsewhere, former England boss Steve McClaren is contemplating a move into a technical director role at Rotherham United, while Michael O'Neill declined the Blackburn Rovers permanent position to remain with Northern Ireland.

MLS & North American Soccer

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi maintains his position as Major League Soccer's top earner for the third consecutive year, receiving a substantial raise this season to bring his annual salary to $28M, which translates to £18.5M and is more than double the amount earned by the league's second-highest player. In NWSL news, Racing Louisville FC’s ownership group has initiated exploratory talks to divest a partial stake in the team, according to sources familiar with the transaction. On the entertainment front, Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernández has officially joined the professional ranks, signing with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive following a successful two-month trial period, 21.

International Squad News & World Cup Preparations

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, nations are finalizing preliminary rosters, with Qatar including 42-year-old striker Sebastián Soria, who could break the age record for an outfield player. Edin Dzeko, 40, is also slated to join the exclusive list of centenarians playing in the tournament, while Dick Advocaat, 78, returns to manage Curacao following his successor's resignation. Argentina included Lionel Messi in their 55-man provisional squad, though Brazil had to omit the injured Estêvão from their list, despite including Neymar. On the injury front, Arsenal's Ben White is a major doubt for the tournament after suffering a medial ligament injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the season. Sweden’s squad, headlined by Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, 52, features in the mix as reporters finalize their top 15 contenders 30 days out from the tournament start.

Player Focus & Personal Stories

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal faced scrutiny after waving a Palestinian flag during the team’s celebratory parade; coach Hansi Flick defended the player, stating the star was "old enough" to make his own political decisions. Meanwhile, US international Giovanni Reyna expressed satisfaction after scoring a goal that broke a year-long scoreless streak as he makes his case for World Cup selection. In a striking personal account, Alex Batty shared his story after vanishing at age 11 while on what he believed was a holiday, only to reappear six years later.

Domestic & League Updates

In Scotland, Kilmarnock’s win pushed St Mirren into the relegation play-off picture, while Dundee United battled to a goalless draw with already-relegated Livingston. Manchester United loanee Jacob Devaney is having an impactful second half of the season on loan with St Mirren in the Premiership. In the Women's Super League, Forest Women parted ways with head coach Carly Davies after finishing seventh in WSL 2.