Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: May 16, 2026, 11:59 AM ET

WSL Title Race

Manchester City signed off their league campaign in style with a 4-1 victory over West Ham, with Bunny Shaw's double taking her tally to 21 goals for the season as they celebrated WSL glory. Arsenal secured second place despite Alessia Russo's double in a 3-1 win at Liverpool on the final day, while Chelsea finished third despite Sam Kerr's stunning winner in her farewell appearance against Manchester United. Khadija Shaw leads the player of the season shortlist on an eight-strong list, though Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe will leave Arsenal when her contract expires at season's end.

Scottish Title Drama

Celtic are champions of Scotland again after a dramatic season that saw Martin O'Neill rescue their campaign from early chaos, though Hearts threatened to disrupt Scottish football's natural order for 250 days before the title went to a final-day decider. Hearts boss Derek McInnes called the controversial 99th-minute penalty that secured Celtic's winner "disgusting," insisting his side are "up against everybody" as the title race went to the wire. O'Neill acknowledged that everybody wants Hearts to win in what would be their first league title since 1960.

FA Cup Final Preview

Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane believes his team have the blueprint to beat Manchester City after their strong showing at the Etihad in January, with Marc Guéhi branding his FA Cup journey "crazy" after a rollercoaster 12 months in the competition. Pep Guardiola has insisted the FA Cup final will not be his last Wembley trip as manager despite mounting speculation over his future, while Phil Foden warned that anything can happen on the final day as City look to keep Arsenal on their toes in the Premier League title race. Jeremy Doku has emerged as a key player for treble-chasing City, with Enzo Fernandez shaping as Chelsea's match-winner after his semi-final heroics against Leeds.

Liverpool's Collapse

Aston Villa secured Champions League qualification at Liverpool's expense, with Arne Slot's side forced to wait on a top-five finish after being "taken to the cleaners" in a 4-2 defeat that the manager admitted his team "crumbled" through. Jamie Carragher lambasted Liverpool for having "too many weak players" after the loss, while Mohamed Salah returned to the squad for the Villa clash though Alexander Isak was ruled out through injury. Slot believes he will still be in charge next season despite the pressure, though Liverpool face a sweat to qualify for Champions League football heading into the final week.

Manchester United Appointment

Michael Carrick has agreed a two-year deal to remain as Manchester United's permanent head coach after his impressive caretaker spell, with the former England international included on the Manager of the Season shortlist after just 15 league matches in charge. Kobbie Mainoo admitted he considered leaving Old Trafford when Ruben Amorim initially froze him out, though his priority was always to stay at the club.

World Cup Squads

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt will miss the World Cup after undergoing back surgery that will keep him sidelined until the start of the 2026-27 season. South Korea captain Son Heung-min was picked for his fourth World Cup, while Romelu Lukaku's efforts to recover from injuries paid off as he made Belgium's squad. France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga was left out of Deschamps' squad despite his Real Madrid form, and Wilfried Zaha was omitted from Ivory Coast's squad though four current Premier League players were included. Carlo Ancelotti has extended his Brazil contract through to the 2030 World Cup.

Transfer Market

Liverpool are targeting RB Leipzig duo Yan Diomande and Antonio Nusa as they look to strengthen, while Newcastle are holding firm on Anthony Gordon's valuation amid interest from other clubs. Tottenham are pursuing Aston Villa forward Kirsty Hanson for the summer window, and Barcelona chief Deco has met with Joao Pedro's agent as the club plan for life after Robert Lewandowski, who announced he will leave when his contract expires. Real Sociedad forward Ander Barrenetxea is on Chelsea's radar according to reports.

Real Madrid Situation

Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa would be "very happy" to see José Mourinho return to take charge of the club, saying the former manager is "one of us." The comments came as Kylian Mbappé revealed he was told he was the team's "fourth-choice forward" after being benched and booed by fans, with the France international confirming Álvaro Arbeloa had dropped the bombshell.

Play-off Finals

Notts County secured their place at Wembley after a 0-0 draw with Chesterfield saw them progress 1-0 on aggregate, with Nick Tsaroulla admitting he "cherishes" the play-offs after surviving a car crash that nearly ended his career as a teenager. Salford City reached the League Two play-off final after Kallum Cesay's late extra-time winner sealed a 4-3 aggregate win over Grimsby, while the Championship play-off final may be delayed due to the Spygate investigation surrounding Southampton.

Elsewhere

Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer has signed a new 12-month contract at age, extending his stay at the Bundesliga club. Seamus Coleman will end his 17-year Everton playing career when his contract expires, while Argentina defender Marcos Senesi will leave Bournemouth in the summer. Sir David Beckham has become Britain's first billionaire sportsman according to the 2026 Sunday Times Rich List, and U.S. Soccer has engaged in preliminary discussions about an interleague competition between the NWSL and USL that could begin as early as 2028.