Soccer

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentOct 23, 2024, 09:38 AM ET Open Extended Reactions ISTANBUL, Turkey — It’s about 40 minutes before kick-off on Sept. 21 when Jose Mourinho steps out at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium and braces himself for a taste of the atmosphere ahead of his first Intercontinental Derby as Fenerbahçe manager. Fenerbahçe vs. Galatasaray is one

Adriana Garcia Oct 23, 2024, 05:52 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Vinícius Júnior has made the declaration that he wants to stay at Real Madrid “forever” amid ongoing reports linking him with a move to Saudi Pro League. The Brazil forward, who is the favourite to lift the Ballon d’Or award on Oct. 28, has

Alex Kirkland, ESPN FCOct 22, 2024, 06:12 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MADRID — “Our crown, our trophy,” read the banner, held up by fans behind the Santiago Bernabeu’s south goal before kickoff. Real Madrid are the reigning European champions, the 15-time UEFA Champions League winners, and, of course, the comeback kings, as they showed

Graham Hunter, Spain writerOct 22, 2024, 09:42 AM ET Close Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based freelance writer for ESPN.com who specializes in La Liga and the Spanish national team. Open Extended Reactions The rarified atmosphere around Barcelona which encompasses their often myopic, hysterical media, their downtrodden and traumatised fans, plus a directorate which has spent

Oct 22, 2024, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions We are still only two gameweeks into the new 36-team, one-group UEFA Champions League format, but it has already caused quite a stir. Change can be difficult to process for soccer fans, especially to longstanding mechanisms in the game, and this latest one has been seismic.

Adam Brown Oct 21, 2024, 06:45 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The winter transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for a while yet, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! TOP STORY:

Open Extended Reactions This is a big week for Arsenal, and another which they will have to take on without at least one of their top players. Whether it be through injury or self-inflicted disciplinary problems, Mikel Arteta’s squad is being tested like never before and the strain is already beginning to show. The 2024-25

Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondentOct 20, 2024, 07:04 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said the reception given to Gavi gave him goosebumps as the midfielder returned from an 11-month injury layoff during Sunday’s 5-1 win over Sevilla in LaLiga. Gavi has not played since tearing his ACL while playing for Spain last

Oct 20, 2024, 07:12 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Another topsy-turvy weekend of football is in the books and some of Europe’s top clubs are beginning to look ominous. Liverpool and Manchester City both eked out important, closely fought wins to steal a march on title-rivals Arsenal in the Premier League, while Real Madrid and

Manchester City defender John Stones headed a last-gasp winner in a 2-1 victory at Wolves on Sunday that took them top of the Premier League and set a club record of 31 league games unbeaten. Champions City dominated possession from start to finish at Molineux, but were shocked in the seventh minute when a perfect

Adam Brown Oct 19, 2024, 03:13 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Arsenal suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday as they fell 2-0 to Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. The Gunners had control of the game until the 30th minute, when Leandro Trossard‘s careless pass left William Saliba in trouble before earning red

Lizzy Becherano Oct 19, 2024, 08:14 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Lionel Messi scored a stunning 11-minute hat trick to help Inter Miami break the Major League Soccer record for most points in a single season, after defeating the New England Revolution 6-2 Saturday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miami concluded the MLS

Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund got on the scoresheet as Manchester United bounced back after conceding a controversial goal to beat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday for their first victory in more than a month. The win meant United climbed to 10th in the standings on 11 points after eight matches and eased

Lizzy Becherano Oct 18, 2024, 01:45 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Inter Miami is set to be announced as the final Major League Soccer participant for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, sources told ESPN. Official announcement of the team’s involvement in the tournament is expected in the coming week. The 2025 Club World Cup

Oct 18, 2024, 10:40 AM ET Open Extended Reactions If he didn’t know before, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is finding out just how hard it is to be the man in charge of Manchester United. Three months into his first full season at Old Trafford, results are poor, pressure is mounting on coach Erik ten Hag

Open Extended Reactions Jack Wilshere has coached at Arsenal since 2022. David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images Former England midfielder Jack Wilshere is set to join Norwich City as a first-team coach, sources have told ESPN. The Championship club are in advanced talks with Arsenal in a move which would see him leave his post as

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentOct 17, 2024, 04:54 PM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Open Extended Reactions Gregg Berhalter acknowledged that his firing in August as U.S. men’s national team coach was “a really difficult moment,” but said he’s now hungry and motivated again to take

Oct 17, 2024, 09:40 AM ET Open Extended Reactions It has been nearly a decade since Jürgen Klopp last worked full time for a German football entity, but he remains the most ubiquitous face on television in the Bundesrepublik. Switch on ARD/ZDF breakfast television any weekday morning and you’ll see segments of the show sponsored