Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: May 16, 2026, 8:56 AM ET

FA Cup Final Buildup

Pep Guardiola insisted he will return to Wembley as Manchester City manager despite ongoing speculation about his future, setting the stage for Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea. Interim Chelsea boss Calum McFarlane believes his side can replicate their strong January performance against City at the Etihad, though the Blues face questions about whether an FA Cup victory would mask underlying issues after a turbulent season featuring two manager departures and fan protests. Marc Guéhi described his FA Cup journey as "crazy" after Crystal Palace's remarkable run to the semi-finals, while Enzo Fernandez emerged as Chelsea's key player with his semi-final winner against Leeds demonstrating his ability to perform on the biggest stages.

Manchester United Transition

Matthijs de Ligt underwent back surgery that will sideline him until the 2026-27 season, ruling the Dutch defender out of the World Cup and dealing a significant blow to Manchester United's defensive plans. Manager Ruben Amorim faces questions over his treatment of Kobbie Mainoo, with the midfielder admitting he considered leaving Old Trafford after being frozen out, though he ultimately chose to stay. Michael Carrick entered contract negotiations with United over a potential two-year deal to become permanent head coach, following positive feedback from the club's hierarchy about his interim leadership. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich agreed to a move for Anthony Gordon, with Eddie Howe acknowledging the Newcastle winger could have played his final match for the club amid growing transfer speculation.

World Cup Squad Announcements

Robert Lewandowski confirmed he will leave Barcelona when his contract expires this summer, ending his three-year spell at Camp Nou as the Spanish giants prepare for a significant rebuild. Belgium included Romelu Lukaku in their World Cup squad despite the striker's ongoing injury struggles, while South Korea named Son Heung-min as captain for what will be his fourth World Cup appearance. Japan omitted Kaoru Mitoma from their 26-man roster after the Brighton winger suffered a hamstring injury, and France made late changes with Camavinga ruled out and Mateta called up. Ivory Coast left out Wilfried Zaha from their World Cup squad, selecting four current Premier League players instead, while Tunisia excluded Ferjani Sassi despite his 101 caps for the North African side.

Scottish Premiership Title Race

Hearts moved within 90 minutes of their first Scottish title since 1960 as the Edinburgh club prepared for Saturday's decisive fixture, though Celtic maintained pressure with Martin O'Neill suggesting "everybody wants Hearts to win" in a league traditionally dominated by the Old Firm. Kelechi Iheanacho's controversial 100th-minute penalty secured Celtic a dramatic 3-2 victory over Motherwell, sending the title race to the final day in extraordinary circumstances. Hearts beat Falkirk but still faced a final-day showdown for the championship, while Wilfried Nancy described his 33-day Celtic tenure as "beautiful" but acknowledged he needed more time to implement his vision. The club's owners called for "fair opportunity" in the title finale, insisting the destination of the trophy should be "decided by the players on the pitch."

Liverpool's Champions League Uncertainty

Liverpool's 4-2 collapse against Aston Villa left them sweating on Champions League qualification for next season, with Arne Slot admitting his side "crumbled" during the defeat that saw them lose ground in the top-five race. The Reds included Mohamed Salah in their squad for the crucial Villa clash, though Alexander Isak missed out through injury, while Jamie Carragher criticized Liverpool's "weak" players after being "taken to the cleaners" by Villa. Arne Slot maintained he expects to remain Liverpool manager next season despite growing fan unrest, while Unai Emery called Harvey Elliott's lack of involvement "embarrassing for everyone involved" during the Aston Villa loan spell.

Women's Football

Mallory Swanson returned from maternity leave as the Chicago Stars activated the U.S. international ahead of their match against North Carolina Courage, potentially marking her first NWSL appearance since 2024. Sam Kerr confirmed she will leave Chelsea when her contract expires this summer, ending her record-breaking spell as the club's all-time WSL top scorer and leaving a significant void in attack. Gemma Bonner and Gemma Evans will depart Liverpool at the end of the season, while Stina Blackstenius scored a controversial late winner for Arsenal against Everton in the Women's Super League. Sam Coffey began rehabilitation after minor knee surgery, with Manchester City confirming the USWNT midfielder's recovery timeline remains uncertain.

Transfer Market Activity

Liverpool targeted RB Leipzig duo Yan Diomande and Antonio Nusa as the club looks to strengthen ahead of next season, with Diomande committing to Leipzig while acknowledging interest from multiple clubs. Tottenham showed interest in Aston Villa forward Kirsty Hanson for the summer window, while Arsenal joined Manchester United in pursuing Nottingham Forest's Neco Williams. Paris Saint-Germain expressed interest in Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, with Manchester City and PSG also monitoring Real Madrid's Federico Valverde. Manchester United monitored Sporting Lisbon midfielder as part of their rebuilding plans, while Celtic faced European competition for Hibernian midfielder Emmanuel Chaiwa.

International Competition

U.S. Soccer engaged in preliminary discussions with the NWSL and USL about interleague play that could begin as early as 2028, potentially creating new competitive opportunities for players across both leagues. The FA commissioned artist Ben Mosley to create personalized portraits of England players for their World Cup base, adding a cultural element to the team's preparations. Shakira and Burna Boy released the official World Cup song "Dai Dai", providing the soundtrack for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.