Last updated: August 7, 2026, 5:56 AM ET

Football/Soccer Briefing: The Latest from the Beautiful Game

FIFA in Crisis

Gianni Infantino faces the biggest crisis of his presidency as FIFA's executive committee gathers for a crisis meeting in Morocco following his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. The embattled president has apologized for "errors" made over the abandoned private equity proposal, though senior staff at the summit reaffirmed their support. Top executives including Arsène Wenger and Mattias Grafström have distanced themselves from their boss's controversial plan, with Wenger calling the sell-off a necessary U-turn. Canada PM Mark Carney said he no longer has confidence in Infantino, while Portugal great Luís Figo has joined calls for him to step down. The players union FIFPRO slammed the FIFA president's "abuse of power," and the European Leagues association called for governance reform. UEFA's boycott of FIFA tournaments still stands, with the FA joining in opposing his re-election next year.

However, Argentina's FA has thrown its full support behind Infantino while praising FIFA for owning up to mistakes, and Mexico broke ranks with Concacaf to publicly back him. An ex-FIFA vice president has accused the organization of blackmailing Jordan over World Cup money in return for support. Rivals are reportedly circling to unseat Infantino following his disastrous plan to bring private equity into the World Cup, with the FA now joining UEFA in opposing his re-election. FIFA has scrapped the private investment plan after criticism, and Infantino will face senior leaders of football's world governing body. The key questions facing Infantino include whether he can survive the backlash from the failed World Cup stake sale.

Transfer Window: The Rodri Saga

Rodri has given Barcelona the go-ahead to begin talks with Manchester City as they try to beat Real Madrid to a deal for the midfielder. Barcelona are set to approach Man City for the Spain captain and are hopeful they can beat their LaLiga rivals to the signing. The midfielder may have a huge decision to make this summer on whether to join Real Madrid or Barcelona, should he decide to leave Manchester City. Manchester City are already eyeing Enzo Fernández as a replacement, with the Chelsea midfielder emerging as a main candidate to replace Rodri at the Etihad.

Transfer Window: Arsenal's Spending Spree

Arsenal have agreed a £75m fee with Newcastle for captain Bruno Guimaraes, and the midfielder's future was "already made" by the time new Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle first met him. The Gunners have opened direct talks with Newcastle to sign the Brazilian, who would fit in at the Emirates given their midfield needs. Where Guimaraes would slot in at Arsenal is easy to understand, with the club desperate for a defensive midfielder of his calibre. Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior has signed a new six-year Real Madrid contract to end Arsenal's pursuit of the forward. Arsenal feel Vinicius Jr increasingly likely to stay at Real Madrid, with crunch talks scheduled this week to resume contract renewal negotiations. With no Morgan Rogers and no Vinicius Junior, Arsenal must look elsewhere to improve their forward line this summer.

Transfer Window: Salah, Rashford & More

Mohamed Salah has joined Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor on a free transfer, trading the Premier League for Türkiye's fourth-most popular club. The move leaves Liverpool without their star as the transfer window winds down, with the Egyptian's departure raising questions about their attacking depth. Marcus Rashford's future at Manchester United is at a crossroads, with Barcelona declining to execute a permanent transfer. Rashford is expected to return to Manchester United training in the coming days as debate continues over whether that is a good thing. Fenerbahce are prepared to break the bank for Rashford, with the Turkish club readying a huge offer for the England international. Liverpool are also exploring a deal for PSG's teenage winger Ibrahim Mbaye, while they are prepared to make Bradley Barcola their third £100m signing this summer.

Transfer Window: Other Notable Deals

Leeds United have signed goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City in a club-record deal, with a shortlist drawn up for Trafford's understudy. Hull City have signed Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis from Olympiacos on a five-year deal for a club-record fee. Bournemouth have announced the signing of right-back Juanlu Sanchez from Sevilla in a deal worth up to £11.1m. Chelsea are set to clinch a deal to sign Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria for a fee of around £16.3m plus add-ons. Crystal Palace are set to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu on a free transfer following a successful trial and are considering a move for winger Solly March. Gio Reyna has completed a move to Strasbourg from Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Marc-André ter Stegen has joined Ajax on a season-long loan from Barcelona. Wrexham have signed midfielder Ben Whiteman from Preston on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Millwall have signed Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes on a one-year deal following the end of his contract with Charlton Athletic. Swansea City have signed free agent Ross Stewart on a three-year deal following the Scotland striker's departure from Southampton. Everton have completed the signing of Denmark international Christian Nørgaard from Arsenal, while Liverpool have signed Spanish midfielder Natalia Ramos from CD Tenerife Femenino. Micky van de Ven is close to agreeing a new five-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur, while Jeremy Doku is the latest Manchester City player to commit his future to the club after signing a new contract until 2031. Franco Mastantuono is set to join Fiorentina from Real Madrid on a season-long loan, while Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is set to seal a season-long loan to Strasbourg. Coventry City have confirmed the permanent signing of goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from Brighton, while Ipswich Town have completed the signing of Portuguese midfielder Florentino Luis from Burnley. Cardiff City have signed Lincoln midfielder Jack Moylan for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal, and Birmingham City have signed France youth international Chancelle Effa Effa from Le Havre. Former Mexico star Hirving "Chucky" Lozano is finalizing a deal to join the LA Galaxy on loan from San Diego FC, while Crystal Palace are in advanced talks to sign Real Salt Lake's 19-year-old wing-back Zavier Gozo.

USMNT & Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino will remain USMNT coach through 2030, but the team hasn't meaningfully improved since he was first hired. The USMNT hasn't really gotten better under Pochettino, and his new contract raises questions about what changes he must make before the next World Cup. The first fixtures after his new deal see the US host Peru, Chile, Canada and Mexico in the September/October window. The 2026 summer transfer window is well underway with several U.S. players finding new homes, and ESPN set out to grade the biggest deals including Arfsten's B+ for his Boro move. Manchester United are reportedly looking at a move for USMNT's Antonee Robinson, while Spurs are eyeing USMNT star Balogun alongside Osimhen and Jackson.

Preseason Friendlies

Mikel Arteta said his Arsenal players were "fuming" after defensive errors saw them fall to a 3-1 preseason defeat to Real Betis in Dublin. The Gunners produced a sloppy performance that showed their need for midfield reinforcement, with the defeat raising questions about their readiness. Chelsea failed to ramp up their pre-season preparations as Xabi Alonso's side suffered a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in Hong Kong thanks to Edon Zhegrova's stunning strike. Enzo Maresca won his first game in charge of Manchester City with a 3-1 win over the K-League All Stars in Seoul, with Reijnders and Semenyo shining in the Italian's tactical set-up. Liverpool's time in the U.S. showed that coach Iraola & Co. still have work to do ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, with injuries and squad depth a concern. Liverpool are short in a number of positions just three weeks out from their Premier League opener and seemingly no closer to bringing in additions, with Ian Rush urging patience for new boss Andoni Iraola. Liverpool legend Ian Rush says new boss Andoni Iraola deserves time to succeed at Anfield but should target winning silverware in his debut campaign.

Scottish Football: European Heartbreak

Rangers' Europa League hopes were dealt a blow as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok, with Derek McInnes still looking for his first win as manager. McInnes said Rangers were "guilty of beating ourselves" as his side conceded cheap goals in the first-leg defeat, with old habits haunting the club in his early tenure. Hearts endured a predictably bruising evening in Lisbon as their hopes of progressing were all but ended by a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Benfica. Hibernian secured a vital win while Motherwell were held in Helsinki in a night of mixed European results for Scottish clubs. Rangers have completed the signing of winger Daisuke Yokota from Hannover 96, who was handed his debut against Jagiellonia Bialystok. The Scottish Premiership opening weekend featured four days, six matches, 18 goals, and one weekend full of unmissable drama. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill remains in hospital after undergoing a "small procedure", the club announced, while Rangers and Celtic both submitted offers for wingers as Anderlecht hold advanced talks with Dundee United over Will Ferry.

NFL Notebook

Jahmyr Gibbs is set to become the highest-paid running back in NFL history having agreed to a new three-year deal worth up to $75.7m with the Detroit Lions. The Atlanta Falcons have also agreed to a three-year contract extension with Bijan Robinson that will make him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. Undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King ran in on the final play to give the Carolina Panthers a 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame game that kicked off the NFL preseason.

Tennis: Norrie's Resurgence

Cameron Norrie has found his form to dump out third seed Alex de Minaur and reach the fourth round of the National Bank Open in Montreal, five years on from winning his biggest title in Indian Wells. The British No 2 claimed a comfortable victory at the National Bank Open to set up the meeting with Katie Boulter's new husband De Minaur. Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open due to an ongoing wrist injury, increasing worries over his US Open title defence which begins on August 30. Jack Draper was left in tears after losing to Terence Atmane as the Brit's long-term arm injury appeared to resurface and hamper him on his return to action at the Canadian Open. Emma Raducanu could benefit from ending her season early to focus on recovery and secure a protected ranking before making her return in 2027, according to former British No 1 Annabel Croft.

The Hundred: Cricket Updates

Sikandar Raza's masterclass inspired MI London to jump to second in The Hundred table and condemn London Spirit to elimination from the competition. Melie Kerr's defiant half-century and decisive death bowling from Hayley Matthews helped MI London women to a belated first win of the season against capital rivals London Spirit. Trent Rockets extended their lead at the top of The Hundred table with a fifth win in six games, leaving Birmingham Phoenix rooted to the bottom. Sun Risers Leeds posted 241-2, the highest score in the history of The Hundred, before cruising to a comfortable victory over London Spirit. Sun Risers Leeds also kept their faint hopes of progression alive with a hard-fought five-wicket victory over London Spirit at Headingley, while Trent Rockets went top of The Hundred women's table after a fourth win on the bounce against Birmingham Phoenix.

Boxing: Big Fights Loom

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is still expected to be announced in August, even if the all-British heavyweight clash is relocated to America, according to Eddie Hearn. Jake Paul's rematch with Tommy Fury "makes most sense" as the American star targets a return to boxing by January, says Most Valuable Promotions partner Nakisa Bidarian. Former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker claimed a failed drugs test was caused by exposure to cocaine being used by his nutritionist, according to reports. British boxer Raven Chapman underwent emergency surgery for a bleed on her brain after collapsing following a sparring session in Denmark. Aaron McKenna is not short of ambition as the Irish middleweight fights for the world title this Saturday, live on Sky Sports, with dreams of unifying at 160lbs and then fighting at heavyweight. Eddie Hearn believes Henry Pollock has the superstar status to awaken the sleeping giant that is rugby union, but insists the England and Lions flanker must be rewarded in line with his value, taking aim at the "terrible" salary cap.

Women's Football

Emma Hayes urged US Soccer to prioritize the U.S. Under-20 Women's national team at this year's World Cup to help American youth players match the development of top European teams. Mariona Caldentey explains why Arsenal, strengthened by seven new players, are talking up their chances of winning the Treble this season. Manchester United have appointed Eva Olid to take over as women's manager, swapping Marc Skinner for the former Hearts boss who has no WSL experience. Defender Gabby George has completed a move to Brighton from Manchester United before the start of the Women's Super League season. Sacha Lewis, sister of England international Rico, has signed her first professional contract with Women's Super League side Manchester City. Kerolin only joined the Women's Super League from the NWSL 18 months ago, and she now leaves as the English top-flight's most expensive export after Barcelona broke transfer records to sign her. The new season of "Ted Lasso" was filmed in the U.S. at a real-life NWSL club for a cameo that serves as a key plot point of the show, boosting women's soccer visibility.

Around the World of Sports

Lionel Messi scored a stellar pair of goals to guide his team to a come-from-behind 4-2 rout of Atlético de San Luis in its first game of the 2026 Leagues Cup, while Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos said Luis Suárez cannot be replaced as the team navigates the tournament without the suspended forward. The NWSL plans to begin its 2027 season on Feb. 11 in Los Angeles to coincide with the Super Bowl across town three days later. Utah took the top spot on ESPN's NWSL Power Rankings as Washington surrendered the No. 1 position after their loss to San Diego. Larry Berg will succeed Don Garber as new MLS commissioner beginning next year, with the LAFC co-owner facing questions about what he should do to improve the league. Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel has been given a trading card made with real 24-carat gold days after making his unofficial senior debut for the club. Spain "deserves" to host the 2030 World Cup final, according to the country's sports minister Milagros Tolón. Cape Verde coach Bubista, who led the World Cup debutants to a stellar tournament, has joined Moroccan club RS Berkane, while Ivory Coast have reappointed two-time Afcon winner Herve Renard. Former England defender Kyle Walker says he is "at ease" with his decision to quit international football and hoped it could lead to an extended club career similar to that enjoyed by James Milner. The Argentine Football Association has announced 15 July as National Football Teams Day to mark Argentina's 2026 World Cup semi-final victory over England. Retired referee Anthony Taylor has been appointed as director of elite refereeing for the Turkish Football Federation. The qualifying process to make Luke Donald's 2027 European Ryder Cup team will start at the British Masters later this month. The Paddy Power PDC World Championship dates have been confirmed for Friday December 11 to Sunday January 3 with a record 180,000 tickets on offer. Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors will make history in 2027 when they play the first-ever Super League fixture to be played in Ireland in Dublin. South African, New Zealand, Australian and Argentina Rugby (SANZAAR) and Sky Sports have agreed a deal for international rugby rights from 2026-2030, extending an over-three-decade-long partnership. The West Ham United Fan Advisory Board has called on David Sullivan not to attend the club's home matches, warning his presence could become a "distraction" and a potential security concern. West Ham co-chair Daniel Kretinsky has sold a small stake in the club in a move that could end Amanda Staveley's hopes of investment. Former AC Milan and Brazil forward Alexandre Pato is a member of a consortium which is set to buy a majority stake in Northampton Town, BBC Sport understands. Manchester United have admitted making mistakes in the execution of their ticket touting investigation but insist the reasons for it are valid. Pakistan ended their eight-match away Test losing streak in emphatic fashion on Wednesday, securing an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies. Jacob Bethell will miss the entirety of England's upcoming Test series against Pakistan, while Ollie Pope and Brydon Carse have been named in the 16-man squad. Returning captain Joe Root and England have named their 16-man squad for the opening two Tests against Pakistan, with Pope returning and Stokes' replacement questioned. Max Verstappen has praised the "rock solid" performances that have taken Kimi Antonelli to the top of Formula 1's Drivers' Championship over the first half of the 2026 season. Eve Muirhead has come out of retirement to chase another Winter Olympics gold in mixed doubles at the 2030 Games. Several athletes are "unaccounted for" after the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, according to Police Scotland. Riders at the Tour de France Femmes will be subject to extra clothing checks before Tuesday's stage following claims that some could be using extra padding in their bras to seek an aerodynamic advantage. Charley Hull is buoyed by how well she has played this season but admitted injuries have prevented her from performing at her best in 2026.