Annual European club competition, the pinnacle of club football in Europe.
City maintains a perfect start with a 1-0 win over Coventry. Haaland scores, Enzo Fernandez provides a timely debut assist, and Gianluigi Donnarumma makes crucial saves to preserve the lead. Coventry pressure intensifies but cannot find a leveller, leaving Lampard's side still searching for a first top-flight goal this season.
Arsenal have secured Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United for £75m on a four-year deal with an option for a further year. The transfer closes a long-running saga and strengthens Arsenal’s midfield as they move to defend their title. Newcastle accept a fee around £75m as they look to replace him with younger options.
The 47-year-old referee has retired from English football after officiating 668 pro matches, including 163 international fixtures and all major domestic cup finals. He will direct elite refereeing in Turkey and has criticised media scrutiny, saying balance is needed in officiating analysis.
Celtic has moved ahead in their Champions League play-off after a 3-0 first leg in Glasgow, with Nygren and Durán scoring and Duran adding a third. LASK created chances; Celtic are in a strong position for the return leg in Linz.
Kasper Hogh scores a hat-trick as Celtic outclass Kilmarnock, with Duran providing a superb assist and Nygren adding a third. Maloney and O’Neill are absent due to unrelated matters as Celtic dominate in Ayrshire, while questions linger over Kilmarnock’s defensive shape ahead of the season's tougher tests.
A three-part Netflix series on Jose Mourinho examines a career marked by spectacular highs and ferocious rivalries. While the director highlights personal vulnerability, reviewers say the documentary covers only part of Mourinho’s story, leaving tactical details and early life largely unexplored.
Paris Saint-Germain has beaten Aston Villa 2-1 in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened, Villa teenager Brian Madjo levelled, and Desire Doue scored the winner after a VAR review awarded the goal. Somali referee Omar Artan, controversially denied a US World Cup visa, officiated the match.
El Mala has extended his contract with Cologne to 2031, retaining the No. 10 jersey amid transfer talk. He confirmed his commitment, saying he aims to build on last season’s 13 goals and five assists as the club hopes to fend off interest from Dortmund and others.
Cristiano Ronaldo has said this season is likely to be his last as a player, aiming to leave a spectacular legacy. He notes his future is mapped out, with plans to stay busy beyond football, including travel, padel and family time. He remains under contract with Al-Nassr through 2027 and is nearing 1,000 career goals.
BBC and Al Jazeera report Manchester City are negotiating the transfer of Bouaddi from Lille to strengthen midfield, while Rodri’s exit to Barcelona is set to proceed on a four-year contract. City’s midfield overhaul appears imminent as Reijnders moves elsewhere.
Tottenham Hotspur have acquired Omar Marmoush from Manchester City on an initial loan, with a 60m pounds option to buy next summer, amid a flurry of summer signings that have put Spurs over 300m in expenditure. Marmoush joins Savio in a City-to-Spurs reshuffle as Roberto De Zerbi rebuilds his attack.
Paris Saint‑Germain has moved its Ligue 1 opener against Rennes to Roazhon Park after declaring the Parc des Princes pitch unsafe following a scorching summer. The club has also completed major summer sales — including Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye in high‑value deals — and has generated roughly €400m from departures while recruiting selectively.
Celtic has built a commanding 3-0 lead over LASK Linz after the first leg of the Champions League play-off. The second leg at the Raiffeisen Arena will determine whether they advance to the league phase or drop into the Europa League.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has opened a new chapter with Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool, telling the Mirror that the booing there hurts but that he understands fan disappointment. He stresses he remains committed to his club and his international hopes, while acknowledging the online abuse surrounding his transfer has a darker side.
Fifa has shelved the Forward Enterprise plan amid fierce opposition from UEFA and other bodies. Ceferin calls for Infantino to quit; EU associations warn against selling football to private investors. The plan is dead, but governance tensions persist as Infantino seeks support ahead of a potential fourth term.
Multiple Champions League playoff ties have produced tense finishes, with Sabah overturning a late deficit against Hapoel Beersheva to reach the group stage; other ties see Glimt and Celtic maintaining leads as Monaco prepares the draw.
Celtic have surrendered a four-goal aggregate lead to LASK Linz, crashing to a 5-1 defeat in Linz and losing Champions League group-stage progression. The comeback keeps Celtic in European football via the Europa League, while coaching staff face scrutiny over squad depth and defensive resilience.
Celtic has collapsed from a 4-0 aggregate lead to a 5-4 loss in Linz, exiting the Champions League playoff. Manager Martin O’Neill has taken responsibility, while players defend the team as they face a costly European setback.
English clubs Bournemouth, Sunderland and Crystal Palace are set for European action this season after the Europa League draw placed them in pots with Juventus, Milan and Olympiacos among others. The field features Celtic, Real Sociedad and Marseille as the tournament grows more competitive. The draw determines fixtures for the group phase, with teams facing two from each of four pots and hosting half the matches.
Hearts have qualified for the Conference League play-off after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Rapid Vienna, then winning 4-3 on penalties. A red card to Tomas Magnusson forced a reshuffle, with Pierre Kabore and Calvin Miller delivering equaliser and stoppage-time drama. Beau Reus saved twice in the shoot-out as Hearts advance.
The Champions League league phase draw has placed PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid and others into eight-match groups for the 2026–27 campaign, with fixtures kicking off in September 2026 and Madrid hosting the final on 5 June 2027. Arsenal and Liverpool face stern tests as they bid to advance to the knockout rounds.
Fenerbahce has advanced to the Champions League group stage after a 2-1 win at Lyon, sealing a 3-2 aggregate and a dramatic night that ended in clashes between players and staff as Matteo Guendouzi provoked home fans.
Julian Álvarez remains at Atletico Madrid as the transfer window closes, with Arsenal monitoring a potential move; Atletico insists there is zero chance of selling to Barcelona, while Alvarez misses training amid illness and tension.
HMRC has filed a bankruptcy petition against Jamie Carragher in the Insolvency and Companies Court over an unpaid tax bill. Carragher’s representatives say the matter is private and will be settled imminently. The case was filed Wednesday and the HMRC notes offer support to debtors and stress bankruptcy is a last resort.
Josh Kushner has issued his first public statement on the collapsed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, saying he still supports its aims but would not have invested had he known how the process would unfold. UEFA has filed US court papers seeking document production and depositions from Kushner and Thrive as it prepares possible criminal mismanagement claims against FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Northern Ireland clubs face a potential loss of a European slot as Larne exits and Rangers miss out; the play-off system and finances come under scrutiny, with implications for coefficients and domestic competition this season.
Liverpool has secured a transfer for Barcola from PSG, valued at about £106m with add-ons up to £17m. A five-year contract is expected, with a medical soon. Barcola, who has starred for PSG, will bolster Liverpool’s attack after Salah’s departure as the club eyes a new forward line.
Barcelona has opened its Champions League campaign with a 5-1 win over Feyenoord; PSG has beaten Slovan Bratislava 6-1 as Ousmane Dembélé and Torres scored early and Torres completed a hat-trick; Real Betis has beaten Lille 3-2 with Donald Parrott scoring the winner on his Champions League debut and Lille finished with ten men after Ethan Mbappé’s red card.
Isak scores twice in the opening nine minutes as Liverpool beat Ipswich 2-1, with Gakpo assisting both goals. Barcola debuts, strong pressing from Isak, and looming transfer talk around Gakpo and Barcola.
Liverpool has paid a record transfer fee for Barcola, a France international who has helped PSG win back-to-back Champions League titles. The move signals a shift in the market as Liverpool builds a high-priced attack around Isak and Wirtz, while PSG posts a hefty profit from Barcola’s sale.
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team in a handwritten Instagram statement published on 31 August 2026. The 39-year-old has said he has "nothing left to give" after leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and to the 2026 final. Tributes and plans for a farewell match are under way; Argentina will meet friendly opponents in September.
Napoli's Scott McTominay has undergone a pulsed field ablation for a mild benign arrhythmia and will rest for two weeks before resuming training, keeping him out through the international break and affecting Scotland duty.
Manchester City’s new midfield trio—Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi—have arrived as part of a high-spending window, with City aiming to rebuild after core departures. Dias has been named captain as the club seeks to sustain its winning culture under Maresca.
Guendouzi and Greenwood have been fined and banned for their roles in a mass brawl after Fenerbahce’s Champions League play-off win over Lyon. UEFA has imposed bans and fines on both players and others involved, with further sanctions on the clubs and a Lyon coach.
Real Madrid, under Jose Mourinho, has faced a setback in La Liga as they chase a Champions League title, while PSG, Bayern and Barcelona push for dominance in Europe. The season opens with high stakes as teams recalibrate after summer moves including Mourinho’s return to Madrid.
Mbappé has won the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals and now leads all-time World Cup goals with 22. He says a Ballon d’Or win could be possible this year despite Real Madrid’s lack of major trophies, as Madrid prepare for Inter Milan in the Champions League. Mourinho and Chivu reflect on past glory as Madrid look to rebound from a setback.
Sabah’s historic Champions League debut at Old Trafford is underway as Valdas Dambrauskas’s remarkable journey from a Lithuanian Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? contestant to a top coach underscores a broader rise of Azerbaijani football.
Liverpool has secured a five-year shirt sponsorship with Turkish Airlines, replacing Standard Chartered from June 2027. The deal is worth more than £60 million per season and includes Turkish Airlines as the club’s main partner on front-of-shirt across men’s, women’s and academy teams, with Standard Chartered moving to global partner status from 2027-28.
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister has expressed sadness at not receiving a new contract, while teammates Szoboszlai and Gravenberch have extended deals. He has options to leave, and recent results show his form remains pivotal as Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid to start their Champions League campaign.
Como is set to host RB Leipzig in the club’s maiden Champions League campaign amid reduced capacity at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. President Mirwan Suwarso and directors have given up their seats to allow elderly supporters to attend, as the club negotiates a sell-out crowd and a tight schedule.
Liverpool has hosted a busy start under Andoni Iraola, drawing with Fulham and sharing points as the Spaniard adapts to a congested schedule. The team shows signs of improvement but still seeks sharper attacking output after a mixed run of results.
Carrick has led Manchester United back into the Champions League and now faces Azerbaijani champions Sabah in the group stage. United are balancing European ambitions with a busy domestic schedule and injuries, while Carrick stresses urgency to advance beyond the group stage.
Arsenal travel issues from a technical air-traffic disruption have delayed their Napoli trip as they prepare for a Champions League clash. Jurrien Timber is nearing a return, while Napoli announce Scott McTominay’s ablation procedure and rest. Arsenal sign teenager Mylo Bernard for their academy intake.
Liverpool has defeated Atletico Madrid 3-2 in a Champions League clash, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring a stoppage‑time winner after Szoboszlai and Barcola goals. Barcola also debuts but exits with a calf injury amid a high-stakes night for new signings.
Ismail Kartal has announced his resignation after Fenerbahce’s 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League. The club says he remains in charge as preparations continue for a Turkish Super Lig game against Gaziantep FK. The resignation followed a bottle-throwing incident and media pressure; the club asserts he will continue in his post.
Liverpool have seen Alexander Isak hit three goals in three Premier League games after a record transfer from Newcastle. Andoni Iraola’s side are aiming to build on a bright start, with Isak leading the line as Barcola gains minutes and Cody Gakpo remains pivotal.
Forest have clinched a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa in a dramatic Premier League fixture, with Delap’s early second-half strike and Igor Jesus’s late winner securing the points for Oliver Glasner’s side as Villa fail to win in the league this season.
Arsenal have beaten Sunderland 2-1 after a dramatic second half. Bruno Guimarães scores from outside the area after a Le Fée saved penalty by David Raya, while Saka seals it with a stoppage-time penalty after Reinildo Mandava is sent off. Arsenal maintain perfect league start while Sunderland push for consistency.
Lionel Messi has helped Inter Miami win the Campeones Cup with a 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul, sealing the club’s first Campeones Cup trophy and adding another trophy to Messi’s MLS era. Casemiro’s late header secures the win after Messi’s early headed goal; the ceremony also marks new coach Cristian Gonzalez’s first game in charge.
UEFA has announced 2028, 2029 finals across Europe. The Allianz Arena will host the 2028 Champions League final; Camp Nou will host in 2029. Barcelona continues reconstruction at Camp Nou, while Madrid’s Metropolitano hosts the 2026-27 final. Women’s final lands in Lyon in 2028 and Cardiff in 2029. London misses 2029 World Athletics and Wembley remains a historic host.