Football/Soccer 8 Hours

Last updated: August 9, 2026, 9:16 PM ET

Premier League & English Clubs

Jose Mourinho has revealed in a documentary that he signed a contract to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013, only to tearfully turn back on the deal and return to Chelsea. The Portuguese manager confirmed Mourinho had a deal in place. The BBC also reports that Mourinho agreed to replace Ferguson before changing his mind. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford is set to rejoin Manchester United's squad at their preseason camp in Ireland, with sources telling ESPN that he will begin preparations for the new season. At Manchester City, Enzo Maresca expects Rodri to return to the club next week, despite ongoing speculation over the Spain midfielder's future. Chelsea's pre-season campaign under new manager Xabi Alonso has offered insights into his style and philosophy. Xabi Alonso has been bonding with his squad and building a new system. Arsenal suffered a second successive preseason defeat, losing a thrilling 3-2 match to Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Arsenal slipped to another loss despite a spirited fightback. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola lamented his side's inability to sustain their level after throwing away a two-goal lead for the second match in a row. Andoni Iraola said they cannot keep the required intensity for 90 minutes and hope the preseason builds towards the Premier League, adding that the team must improve defensively.

Scottish Football

Heart of Midlothian finally secured their first win under new head coach Wouter Vrancken, with statistics suggesting it was only a matter of time. The victory came after early losses revealed hidden potential, and the team now looks to build momentum. At Celtic, Kasper Hogh earned rave reviews after scoring his first goals — and a hat-trick — in Saturday's 5-1 thrashing of Kilmarnock. He is making his mark, and fans are expected to fall in love with him, according to pundits. Meanwhile, Rangers boss Derek McInnes believes his team are not as bad as people think despite his winless start. He remains confident after the loss to Hibernian, insisting the squad is better than results show and that they will turn it around.

International Football & Women's Game

Nigeria suffered their worst-ever WAFCON performance, losing 1-0 to Cameroon in Sunday's quarterfinal in Casablanca. The Indomitable Lionesses secured their berth at next year's Women's World Cup, while Nigeria are out of the tournament in a shock result. Cameroon will be joined by Algeria, Morocco, and Malawi, who all qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil by reaching the WAFCON semi-finals. The African quartet will represent the continent in Brazil. In the Americas, Inter Miami paid tribute to their absent captain Lionel Messi in Saturday's Leagues Cup loss to Monterrey, following the death of his father earlier in the day. He was honored by the club and fans. In Europe, Cristiano Ronaldo laughed at false reports that he was to marry partner Georgina Rodríguez in his hometown, which caused hundreds of fans to flock to a cathedral in Funchal. He dismissed the wedding rumors as nonsense. At Real Madrid, new coach Jose Mourinho criticized summer signing Bernardo Silva's fitness, saying he needs to improve after returning for preseason out of shape. He has been told to work harder to meet the club's standards. Meanwhile, LaLiga president Javier Tebas claimed Gianni Infantino is destroying the very essence of football and believes his time as FIFA president has come to an end. He declared the Infantino era is over. FIFA hit back at what it called a concerted effort to undermine the world soccer governing body and its president. The organization defended Infantino, slamming the campaign as misguided.

Transfer Gossip

Manchester United and Arsenal are both chasing Club Brugge full-back Seys, according to Monday's newspaper reports. The transfer buzz continues as the January window approaches. Meanwhile, Aston Villa are interested in a loan deal for Real Madrid's Endrick, while Harry Kane is expected to extend his Bayern Munich deal and Arsenal have made contact with Bradley Barcola. He is one of several names in the Monday gossip column, which also includes potential moves for Kane and Barcola.