Football/Soccer 8-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 14, 2026, 7:39 PM ET
Major League Soccer
Lionel Messi will be rested for Saturday's match as Inter Miami travels to face Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium, according to sources confirmed to ESPN. The Argentine superstar's absence comes as Miami looks to manage his workload during the MLS regular season.
LaLiga
Federico Valverde's golden scoring streak continued as he netted his fourth goal in nine days during Real Madrid's 4-1 victory over Elche. The Uruguayan midfielder played a starring role in the win that moves Los Blancos within a point of league leaders Barcelona. Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid climbed to third place in the LaLiga table with a 1-0 victory over Getafe on Saturday.
Premier League
Newcastle United boosted their European hopes with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, injecting life into their bid for European qualification. The Magpies' match-winner Anthony Gordon responded to pundit criticism, calling comments from Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer "complete nonsense" after his decisive goal.
Arsenal secured a vital late win over Everton with a standout performance from 16-year-old Max Dowman, who has been breaking records since first pulling on the Gunners' shirt. The teenager played a key role in what could prove to be a season-defining moment for Mikel Arteta's side. However, the victory was marred by controversy as Jamie Redknapp blasted VAR's inaction over a denied penalty claim for Kai Havertz, labeling the decision "a disgrace."
Chelsea's preparations for the Newcastle match were overshadowed by an unusual pre-match incident involving referee Paul Tierney, who found himself at the center of the Blues' pre-match huddle. Manager Liam Rosenior later criticized the referee, saying Tierney should focus on his job rather than participating in team rituals.
Championship
The promotion race took another twist as Ipswich Town climbed to third place with a 2-0 victory over relegated Sheffield Wednesday, capitalizing on slip-ups from their rivals. Goals from Ivan Azon and Jack Clarke secured the win for the Tractor Boys.
Norwich City comfortably defeated Preston 2-0 in a predictable outcome between two sides at opposite ends of the Championship's form table. Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers boosted their survival hopes with a dramatic 2-1 victory over promotion-chasing Millwall, as substitute Mathias Jorgensen scored twice in the final 10 minutes.
Struggling West Bromwich Albion claimed their first win of 2026, sweeping aside play-off hopefuls Hull City 3-0 at The Hawthorns to breathe life into their survival chances. The Baggies had gone 14 matches without a Championship victory before Saturday's result.
Leicester City's relegation worries deepened further as Queens Park Rangers ended their own four-match losing streak with a 3-1 comeback victory at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes remain in serious danger of dropping to League One.
Scottish Premiership
Celtic threw down the gauntlet to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership title race, coming from behind to beat 10-man Motherwell 3-1 at Celtic Park. Hyun-jun Yang sparked the comeback with a decisive impact off the bench, helping the Hoops close to within two points of the league leaders.
Leaders Hearts dropped three valuable points in their title bid, suffering a 1-0 defeat to an inspired Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The loss opened the door for Celtic to apply pressure in the title race heading into the final stretch of the season.
Transfer Market
Liverpool have triggered Alisson Becker's contract extension, exercising the 12-month option to keep the Brazilian goalkeeper at Anfield until 2027, sources have confirmed to ESPN. The move secures Liverpool's No. 1 keeper for the foreseeable future.
Real Madrid are open to offers for Camavinga, with Premier League clubs showing interest in the French midfielder. Meanwhile, Arsenal are in talks for Castello Lukeba, while Adam Wharton is wanted by multiple top-flight clubs according to the latest transfer rumors.
Other European Action
Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich played out a dramatic draw that saw both Nicolas Jackson and Luis Díaz sent off in a fiery encounter. The result dropped points for both sides in their respective European ambitions.
Brighton & Hove Albion edged past Sunderland with a 1-0 victory courtesy of a winning goal from Yankuba Minteh, continuing their solid form in the Premier League.
NWSL
Boston's arrival in the National Women's Soccer League marked a historic moment after roughly three years of planning, stadium renovation setbacks, and branding adjustments. The Legacy's opening match, despite being a loss, represented a significant milestone for both the club and the league as they celebrated the culmination of their journey to NWSL membership.