Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: August 17, 2026, 3:05 AM ET

Transfer News

Juventus have stepped up their pursuit of Guglielmo Vicario, while pulling out of a move for Emiliano Martinez. Manchester City face competition for Pedro Neto, and Real Madrid have set their sights on Martin Zubimendi. Barcelona have agreed an £87M deal for Rodri from Manchester City, with João Cancelo set to join for a third time after terminating his Al Hilal contract. PSG have signed Belgium winger Mika Godts from Ajax for $64M, and Tottenham are close to finalizing a deal for Liverpool's Cody Gakpo.

Community Shield

Arsenal secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield, with Mikel Arteta declaring the win sets the standard for the upcoming season. The emphatic performance raised questions about whether Arsenal are now significantly ahead of their rivals. Enzo Maresca will wait until the transfer window closes to finalize his leadership group at City, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding his squad's final composition.

Preseason Results

Real Madrid wrapped up their preseason with a 3-0 win over Schalke, with Kylian Mbappé leading the charge. Barcelona dominated Basel 5-2, with Lamine Yamal scoring and Jesse Bisiwu netting a late brace. AC Milan defeated Manchester United 4-2 in a preseason friendly, with manager Ruben Amorim expressing that he felt "nothing" facing his former club. Chelsea 's Morgan Rogers scored just nine minutes into his debut as the Blues beat Real Sociedad 3-1.

Player Performances

Cavan Sullivan provided two assists for the Philadelphia Union in their 3-2 comeback victory over New York FC. Scottie Scheffler claimed an eight-shot victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, while Rory McIlroy finished 66th, admitting he is "so far away from where I need to be." Jeff Winther ended a four-year drought to claim his second DP World Tour title at the Danish Golf Championship.

Manager Updates

Michael Carrick insisted there were "no excuses" after Manchester United's 4-2 preseason defeat to AC Milan. Xabi Alonso offered a glimpse of his blueprint for Chelsea during their 3-1 win over Real Sociedad. Sebastien Pocognoli has been named Scotland's new head coach, with the club confirming his appointment.

Women's Football

Cameroon claimed their first-ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations title with a 3-0 victory over Malawi. Marie Ngah Manga scored twice in the final, while goalkeeper Michaely Bihina became a national hero after saving four penalties against Morocco in the semi-finals. Malawi 's remarkable run to the final has been hailed as one of the most remarkable performances in major tournament history.

League Action

Burnley came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with West Ham on the opening day of the Championship season. St Helens kept their slim play-off hopes alive with a stunning 46-16 victory over Wakefield Trinity. In League One, Stockport secured a 3-1 win at Plymouth, while Huddersfield defeated AFC Wimbledon 3-0.

Individual Awards

Jack Whaley won the US Amateur Championship, defeating Jay Leng Jr. in a grueling 36-hole final to book his place at The Open. Claressa Shields stopped Kaye Scott in the sixth round to reclaim the WBC and WBA middleweight titles in Atlanta. Eleanor Givens broke her LET duck at the 210th attempt with a one-shot victory at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.

Injury Updates

Jamal Musiala remains without an update from Bayern Munich after collapsing during a friendly against Leipzig. Novak Djokovic revealed he has been dealing with an ongoing health condition that affected his performance at the Cincinnati Open, where he suffered a surprise second-round defeat.

Retirement News

Cristiano Ronaldo has given his clearest indication yet that this will be his final season, stating it is "probably my last year" as a player. The Portuguese forward has had a glittering career spanning over two decades.

Racing and Other Sports

Rayif bounced back to form to win the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, repelling a strong field. Jonny Clayton defeated Gerwyn Price 8-4 to win the New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland. The RFU has postponed the start of the competitive community rugby season in England until September 21 due to player welfare and pitch condition concerns.

Youth and Development

Christos Tzolis continued his impressive preseason form with a standout performance against Manchester City in the Community Shield. The young Arsenal forward has been a star performer throughout the summer campaign.

Club Business

West Ham broke the EFL transfer record by paying £22M for Celtic's Arne Engels. Sunderland have agreed a £25.6M fee for Toulouse left-back Dayann Methalie. Burnley dropped their shirt sponsor just 42 days after signing the deal, doing so two days before their opening Championship match.