Last updated: August 7, 2026, 1:55 PM ET
FIFA Leadership Crisis
The football world remains in turmoil as Norway's federation called for Gianni Infantino to resign, saying there is "no trust" in the embattled FIFA president. Mexico and Argentina's football associations have thrown their support behind Infantino amid the growing backlash. FIFA apologized for errors over his failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, with senior staff reaffirming their confidence in him. However, UEFA's boycott of FIFA tournaments still stands, with the FA joining the opposition to his re-election next year. Portuguese great Luís Figo has joined calls for Infantino to step down over the failed privatization plan. Canadian PM Mark Carney said he no longer has confidence in the FIFA president, adding to the mounting pressure. European soccer leagues called for governance reform of FIFA, while top executives Arsène Wenger and Mattias Grafström distanced themselves from their boss's failed plan. FIFA has been accused of blackmailing Jordan over World Cup money in return for supporting Infantino's presidency. FIFPro slammed FIFA's "abuse of power" as the crisis deepened further. Infantino held a crisis meeting in Morocco with senior staff, while rivals are reportedly circling to unseat him. The FIFA board scrapped the private investment plan after fierce criticism, though Spain "deserves" to host the 2030 World Cup final, according to the country's sports minister. Infantino faced senior leaders at Wednesday's executive meeting as the pressure intensified.
Transfer Market: Rodri Saga & Marquee Moves
Manchester City rejected Barcelona's opening offer for Rodri, though talks between the clubs will continue. Rodri has given Barcelona the go-ahead to begin talks with Manchester City as they try to beat Real Madrid. City are open to selling Rodri but would demand more than £60m for the Spain captain, with the £38.5m bid considered far too low. Chelsea's Enzo Fernández has emerged as a main candidate to replace Rodri at Manchester City. Rodri faces a huge decision on whether to join Real Madrid or Barcelona this summer, with Barcelona set to approach City for the midfielder.
Arsenal agreed a £75m fee with Newcastle for captain Bruno Guimaraes, who wanted to join Arsenal despite the club not planning to sell him. The decision about Guimaraes' future was "already made" by the time new manager Matthias Jaissle arrived, though the loss to Real Betis showed Arsenal's need for him.
Vinicius Junior signed a new six-year Real Madrid contract to end Arsenal's pursuit. The Brazilian ended weeks of speculation of a blockbuster move to Arsenal, leaving the Gunners to look elsewhere in their forward search. Real Madrid met with Vinícius' representatives to resume contract talks, with Arsenal feeling he was increasingly likely to stay.
Mohamed Salah joined Turkish side Trabzonspor on a free transfer, trading the Premier League for the Turkish Super Lig. Vozinha and Salah starred in amazing transfer unveilings as the World Cup's most-viral goalkeeper joined Colo-Colo, with Vozinha knowing he was a "big club" goalkeeper all along.
Transfer Market: Premier League & Beyond
Newcastle told Manchester United that Lewis Hall is not for sale after an initial enquiry was rejected. Atletico Madrid are in talks with Tottenham over signing captain Cristian Romero, who is expected to leave the club this summer. Micky van de Ven is close to agreeing a new five-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur.
Franco Mastantuono joined Fiorentina on loan from Real Madrid for the season, with the clubs confirming the deal on Friday. Hirving "Chucky" Lozano is finalizing a deal to join the LA Galaxy on loan from San Diego FC. Crystal Palace completed the signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu following a successful trial, and are considering a move for Solly March. Palace are also in advanced talks for Zavier Gozo from Real Salt Lake.
Leeds United signed goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City in a club-record deal, with a shortlist drawn up for his understudy. Hull City signed Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis from Olympiacos for a club-record fee, and also signed Jens Hjerto-Dahl from Tromso on a five-year deal. Ipswich completed the signing of Florentino Luis from Burnley. Bournemouth announced the signing of Juanlu Sanchez from Sevilla for up to £11.1m. Swansea signed free agent Ross Stewart on a three-year deal, while Millwall signed Lyndon Dykes on a one-year contract. Wrexham signed Ben Whiteman from Preston on a three-year deal, and Cardiff City signed Jack Moylan from Lincoln City. Birmingham City signed Chancelle Effa Effa from Le Havre for £100K.
Liverpool are prepared to make Bradley Barcola their third £100m signing, and have explored a deal for Ibrahim Mbaye of PSG. The Reds could rival Arsenal for Ezri Konsa according to Friday's papers. Chelsea are set to clinch a deal for Pep Chavarria for around £16.3m plus add-ons, and are eyeing Porto goalkeeper Costa. Chelsea will work to cut their 41-man squad before the transfer window closes.
Manchester United continue to explore a move for Antonee Robinson, while Fenerbahce are eyeing Marcus Rashford. Barcelona declined to execute a permanent transfer for Rashford, who is expected to return to training soon. Gio Reyna completed a move to Strasbourg from Borussia Mönchengladbach. Celtic and Rangers submitted offers for wingers as Anderlecht held talks with Dundee United over Will Ferry, with Celtic pushing for a Ghedjemis deal. Rangers had a bid rejected for PSV winger Driouech and completed the signing of Daisuke Yokota from Hannover.
Jeremy Doku signed a new contract until 2031 with Manchester City, while Nottingham Forest target Tijjani Reijnders and Spurs want Savinho and Nicolas Jackson. Tottenham are eyeing USMNT star Balogun alongside Osimhen and Jackson, with questions over whether Jackson is underrated. Everton completed the signing of Christian Nørgaard from Arsenal, and Liverpool signed Natalia Ramos from CD Tenerife. Liverpool have no intention of pursuing Djed Spence according to Friday's gossip. Check out all the significant done deals in the Premier League, Scottish Premiership, EFL and WSL.
Match Results & Preseason Action
Bayern Munich held off a late fightback from Aston Villa to secure a 2-1 victory in Hong Kong, with the pre-season clash streamed live. Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat to Juventus thanks to Edon Zhegrova's stunning strike. Arsenal players were "fuming" after a 3-1 preseason defeat to Real Betis in Dublin, with Arteta revealing the players' frustration. 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 team news confirmed ahead of the match. Lionel Messi scored a stellar pair of goals to guide Inter Miami to a 4-2 rout of Atlético de San Luis. Walsall stunned Bristol City in the Carabao Cup curtain raiser.
Hearts endured a bruising evening in Lisbon as their Europa League hopes were all but ended by a 6-1 thrashing by Benfica. Rangers fell to a 2-1 defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok in Europa League qualifying, with McInnes saying they were "guilty of beating ourselves". Daisuke Yokota was handed his Rangers debut in the match against Jagiellonia Bialystok. Harvey Barron scored a first senior hat-trick as Hull FC ended a seven-game losing run with a 32-18 win at St Helens. A Sikandar Raza masterclass inspired MI London to condemn London Spirit to elimination from The Hundred. Melie Kerr's defiant half-century helped MI London women to a first win of the season. Pakistan ended their eight-match away Test losing streak with an eight-wicket victory over the West Indies. SunRisers Leeds posted 241-2, the highest score in The Hundred's history, while Trent Rockets extended their lead with a fifth win in six games. SunRisers Leeds kept their faint hopes alive with a five-wicket victory over London Spirit.
USMNT & American Soccer
Mauricio Pochettino will remain USMNT coach through the 2030 World Cup after a contract extension, though the team hasn't meaningfully improved since he was hired. The USMNT returns to action in September hosting Peru, Chile, Canada and Mexico. Emma Hayes urged US Soccer to prioritize the U-20 team at this year's World Cup. ESPN graded the biggest USMNT summer transfers with Arfsten earning a B+ for his Boro move.
Celtic & Scottish Football
Martin O'Neill is out of hospital but there is "no timeline" for his return to Celtic after his procedure. Shaun Maloney revealed the Celtic boss is in "good form" after being released, though he remains in hospital following the procedure. The Scottish Premiership returned with a bang with goals in every match. Scottish clubs had a mixed night in Europe with supporters reacting to the results. Rangers and Hearts lost, Motherwell drew and Hibernian won on a night of European action. The Scottish FA scrapped its key match incident panel. Hearts and Rangers face a tough Champions League challenge as they start their qualifying group stage, with the Scottish football podcast previewing the weekend. The podcast also looks at Rangers' Polish test and Hearts' trip to Benfica, while Motherwell and Hibs face crunch time in the Conference League.
Women's Football
France are still planning to compete in the U-20 Women's World Cup despite Uefa's boycott threat. Manchester United appointed Eva Olid as their new women's manager on a two-year deal, swapping Skinner for Olid in a strategic shift. Gabby George completed a move to Brighton from Manchester United. Mariona Caldentey explained why Arsenal are talking up their chances of winning the Treble. Erica Meg Parkinson was named in England's U-20 World Cup squad. The NWSL plans to begin its 2027 season on Feb. 11 in Los Angeles. Utah took the top spot in ESPN's NWSL Power Rankings as Washington fell. Our writers look at each WSL club's transfer business and propose a big question for each. Trent Rockets went top of The Hundred women's table after a fourth straight win.
Boxing
Cherneka Johnson admits Dina Thorslund still occupies the throne of the bantamweight division. Aaron McKenna made the weight well on Friday ahead of his IBF title fight, with the weigh-in streamed free ahead of the Dublin clash. McKenna is not short of ambition as he fights for the world title this Saturday. Joseph Parker claimed a failed drug test was caused by exposure to cocaine used by his nutritionist. Jake Paul's rematch with Tommy Fury "makes most sense" as the American targets a return to boxing. British boxer Raven Chapman underwent emergency surgery for a bleed on her brain after collapsing following sparring. Sam Hickey is a real showman and Britain's best prospect. Joe Ward had the world at his feet before disaster struck repeatedly. Raymond van Barneveld has been fined and suspended by the Darts Regulation Authority. Callum Walsh doesn't shy away from danger as the unbeaten Irish contender looks to break through in the middleweight division.
Tennis
Jack Draper has been confirmed for the Cincinnati Open despite being left in tears after defeat at the National Bank Open. Draper was left in tears after losing to Terence Atmane as his arm injury resurfaced, though his clay-court comeback plans remain on track. Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Open due to an ongoing wrist injury. Cameron Norrie dumped out third seed Alex de Minaur to reach the fourth round in Montreal, having claimed a comfortable victory earlier to set up the meeting.
NFL
Jahmyr Gibbs agreed to a new three-year deal worth up to $75.7m with the Detroit Lions, becoming 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.
Other News
The FA has banned solid perimeter walls around pitches after a safety review following Billy Vigar's death. Cape Verde coach Bubista joined Moroccan club RS Berkane after leading the World Cup debutants to a stellar tournament. Argentina will not put pressure on Lionel Messi to play at the 2028 Copa América. The Argentine FA announced 15 July as National Football Teams Day to mark their World Cup semi-final win over England. Alex Hughes, son of Mark Hughes, died of sudden adult death syndrome. Uganda international David Owori was murdered in a street gang attack. Ivan Toney has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm following a nightclub incident, with the 30-year-old due in court next month. Sian Massey-Ellis announced her retirement from officiating, taking up a role with the FA. The National League kicks off on Saturday with a lot to live up to, though Ebbsfleet United's first three games are suspended over financial problems. The EFL Cup second-round draw takes place on Monday with 11 Premier League teams entering, and the first-round fixtures take place on a weekend despite tradition. David Sullivan is expected to attend West Ham's EFL Cup tie against Portsmouth despite advice to stay away, with Nuno quizzed on the Hammers' transfer business. The new season of "Ted Lasso" was filmed at a real NWSL club for a key plot point. Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel was given a 24-carat gold trading card after his unofficial senior debut. Jeremy Monga's £10m move from Leicester to Manchester City may have gone under the radar but his career is not expected to. Real Madrid spent big to add Yan Diomande to an attack featuring Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham. Tonda Eckert says he is "grateful" to owner Dragon Solak for backing him after the Spygate scandal. Dana White revealed the Fury-AJ venue saying the fight will take place "where the money is", and the fight is expected to be announced in August. Eddie Hearn believes Henry Pollock has superstar status to awaken rugby union but insists players must be rewarded. Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors will play the first Super League fixture in Ireland in April 2027. Eve Muirhead has come out of retirement to chase another Winter Olympics gold. Several athletes are "unaccounted for" after the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Larry Berg will succeed Don Garber as MLS commissioner beginning next year. Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyos said Luis Suárez cannot be replaced during his suspension. Max Verstappen praised the "rock solid" performances of Kimi Antonelli in F1's Drivers' Championship. The PDC World Championship dates have been confirmed for December 11 to January 3 with 180,000 tickets on offer. Charley Hull admitted injuries have prevented her from performing at her best in 2026. Alexandre Pato is part of a consortium set to buy Northampton Town. Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson called Matthias Jaissle a "rock star" with "no ceiling" on his career, and fans are wondering what to expect from the German. Ben Stanway signed a surprise new contract at Partick Thistle as Livingston visit. Chris Smalling is not your ordinary footballer with stories about Ferguson and Mourinho. The Afghan women's team reunited 8,000 miles away in Auckland after being banned at home. Kyle Walker says he is "at ease" with his decision to quit international football. Raul Jimenez is back at Wolves at 35 in the most romantic signing of the summer. Ian Rush says Andoni Iraola deserves time at Liverpool but should target silverware, with Liverpool's preseason showing injuries and depth concerns. Roberto de Zerbi hopes to drag Spurs up the table through the transfer window, with Gallagher ready to shine under him. Myles Lewis-Skelly broke into the Arsenal first team at left-back but prefers midfield. Mikel Arteta has "big hopes" for Ceadach O'Neill. Ferran Torres has come under fire from Barcelona supporters after leaving the door open to a move. Barcelona cancelled their pre-season friendly in Morocco because of the Ceuta border crisis. The World Cup was hard work for players with Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern battling burnout. Liverpool have big hopes for Jeremy Jacquet having invested £60m in the defender. Tomas Albornoz was suspended for four matches after a misconduct charge. Jacob Bethell will miss the Pakistan Test series while Ollie Pope was recalled, with England naming their 16-man squad for the Pakistan Tests. Emilio Gay retired hurt with a shoulder injury while batting for Durham. The Hundred is into crunch time with knockout spots up for grabs. The Carabao Cup is back for the 2026/27 season with every first-round tie live on Sky Sports. Zeph Thomas tells BBC Sport about his extraordinary career spanning 39 moves in 18 years. Simon Francis has collected more than 80 Mitre footballs which he displays above his stairs. Bill Connelly counts 10 things you need to know before the new European seasons kick off. Bangor striker Ben Arthurs is free to play having completed a three-month anti-doping ban. The president of Brazilian club Remo accused Neymar of provocation after Tuesday's Brazilian Cup game. Castleford head coach Ryan Carr will miss the Hull KR game due to personal reasons. Kate Tracey, Sam Boswell and Jamie Lynch discuss betting angles for the Shergar Cup Sprint at Ascot. Hollie Doyle runs the rule over Saturday's international contest at Ascot. Silca Bay, Sea Suite and Ben Nevis line up for the Brighton Mile live on Sky Sports Racing. We have a competitive day's racing at Brighton on Friday. Players who turned World Cup heroics into big transfers are highlighted by BBC Sport, and the EA Sports game defined soccer culture long before EAFC. Try to guess the Premier League star in today's quiz, and catch Good Morning Transfers on Sky Sports News for all the latest. The Premier League rarely attracts global superstars at their peak, and why did Real Madrid sign Yan Diomande to an attack already featuring Mbappé and Bellingham. Leicester are gearing up for League One but 10 years ago they were defending Premier League champions.