Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: May 13, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Premier League Title Race & Relegation Battles

The Premier League title race remained tense as Manchester City started key players on the bench—omitting stars like Erling Haaland and Jérémy Doku—for their crucial match against Crystal Palace, with City still fighting to keep the title race alive. Meanwhile, the relegation scrap intensified as Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds, leaving them only two points clear of the drop zone with two games remaining, while West Ham also fumbled a chance to move further clear after a draw against Leeds. Elsewhere in football governance, former Spurs chief Daniel Levy expressed shock that the club found itself in a relegation fight after his departure, stating it was a scenario he "never imagined" when he stepped down as executive chairman.

Championship Play-Offs & Spygate Fallout

The Championship play-offs saw high drama and controversy, with Southampton's hero Shea Charles scoring a memorable winner against Middlesbrough to secure their place in the final against Hull City, a moment he called unforgettable. However, the semi-final series was overshadowed by the "Spygate" allegations, leading Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg to slam Southampton's actions as "disgraceful" and state the saga "breaks my heart" over the semi-final defeat. The fallout continues, as a photograph reportedly showing a man with a camera outside Middlesbrough’s training ground has emerged amid the ongoing investigation, raising questions over whether Southampton could ultimately be ejected from the play-offs. West Bromwich Albion, avoiding similar uncertainty, confirmed they will not challenge the two-point penalty handed down by the EFL for financial breaches, stating an appeal was "not in their best interests" and they wish to move on.

Managerial Merry-Go-Round & Club Stability

In managerial news, Real Madrid is reportedly preparing for the return of Jose Mourinho, with Spanish football expert Guillem Balague analyzing the move as "an iron fist joining a broken club" following a trophyless season for the Spanish giants amid internal strife. This follows an earlier tense press conference where furious President Florentino Perez called for elections, arguing with journalists after claiming he was "not going anywhere" before issuing the election call. Across Manchester, Manchester United executives are planning to recommend Michael Carrick for the permanent manager role to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with sources indicating formal talks are imminent regarding his continuation as head coach, a move Darren Fletcher believes is inspiring the club's youth setup as seen in the FA Youth Cup. Separately, Motherwell firmly dismissed reports linking their manager Jens Berthel Askou to Toulouse, insisting no official bid had been lodged amid the French interest.

International Football & World Cup Preparations

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, nations are finalizing squads and handling administrative issues. United States forward Christian Pulisic has offered a positive update on his lower back injury, suggesting he should be fit for AC Milan's penultimate Serie A fixture this weekend providing a boost for both club and country. In a rare managerial appointment, 78-year-old Dick Advocaat is returning to manage Curaçao, putting him on track to become the oldest World Cup coach, while the nation's president denied that his predecessor Fred Rutten left due to internal "friction" following the unexpected resignation. Mexico has added a third alternate kit to their wardrobe following a recent FIFA rule change, while Giovanni Reyna is making his case for inclusion after ending a yearlong scoreless drought as he pushes for a final roster spot. Furthermore, the Trump administration has suspended the bond requirement for foreign visitors holding confirmed World Cup tickets, potentially easing entry for fans from certain nations after the original requirement reached $15,000.

NCAA Shifts & US Soccer Developments

In a structural change for American collegiate soccer, the NCAA announced that the Division I men's soccer season will be divided between fall and spring semesters starting in the 2027-28 academic year, with the national tournament moving to the spring as approved by the governing body Wednesday. Meanwhile, actor Cristo Fernández, known for playing Dani Rojas in Ted Lasso, has officially signed to play professional soccer for USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive, moving from his fictional career to the pitch as the club confirmed the signing Tuesday. In MLS salary news, Lionel Messi maintains his status as the league's highest earner for the third consecutive year, commanding a salary of $28M which is significantly more than his nearest competitor.

European Football Controversies & Achievements

In Spain, Real Madrid lost their appeal to UEFA at the highest sports court after being penalized for fans directing an anti-gay chant toward Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during a Champions League match forcing the club to accept the fine. Barcelona secured the LaLiga title after triumphing over Real Madrid in El Clásico, a victory that sealed the championship and left the rivals reeling from a trophyless campaign prompting Perez to call elections. On the injury front for the upcoming World Cup, Chelsea's injured forward Estêvão was excluded from Brazil's preliminary 55-man roster, though coach Carlo Ancelotti noted that Neymar has "improved a lot" recently but his inclusion is not yet guaranteed. In LaLiga, Real Betis celebrated securing a Champions League berth for the first time in two decades after clinching fifth place with a victory over Elche marking a significant return to European competition.

Other Sports Crossover & Updates

While primarily focused on football, other sports news saw notable developments. Darts professional Andrew Gilding finally captured his first Pro Tour title after 442 attempts, defeating Jonny Clayton 8-3 in Players Championship 16 in Leicester culminating a long career pursuit. In boxing, Dave Allen volunteered to serve as an opponent for Tyson Fury's tune-up bout ahead of his later showdown with Anthony Joshua securing his role for the preparatory fight. Furthermore, the RFU has submitted plans to dramatically increase the number of non-sporting events held at the Allianz Stadium, seeking permission to host 15 concerts annually instead of the current limit of three as part of commercial expansion efforts.