World Soccer news

• Pitch change an expensive step in right direction

  04-08-2026 16:09 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  [BBC]There are plenty of uncertainties in the new campaign, but one thing certain is this will be Falkirk's final season playing on an artificial surface at the Falkirk Stadium.Top-flight clubs agreed last year synthetic pitches would be phased out, with grass becoming mandatory from summer 2027.That decision means clubs with existing artificial pitches can continue using them until then, but the direction of travel is clear.Kilmarnock have already moved ahead of schedule, ripping up their plast
  
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• Sampdoria set to bring in two players from the Belgian Pro League

  12-08-2026 15:25 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Sampdoria set to bring in two players from the Belgian Pro LeagueAs reported by HLN, Sampdoria are set to bring in two players from the Belgian Pro League. The sides recruitment is led by former Anderlecht Sporting Driector Jesper Fredberg, who appears to be using his connections and knowledge of Belgian Pro League football to sign players for the side currently competing in Serie B.The first player Sampdoria look set to bring in is former Anderlecht midfielder Yari Verschaeren. Once tipped to b
  
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• Return after 16-month absence 'amazing' - Townsend

  12-08-2026 15:24 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Until Albion's Carabao Cup win at Rotherham, Conor Townsend had not kicked a ball in competitive action since Ipswich's 2-2 draw at Chelsea on 13 April 2025[Adam Fradgley - Getty Images]West Bromwich Albion's Conor Townsend has said it was an "amazing" feeling to make his first competitive appearance for 16 months, after what he described as "mentally the most difficult season of my career".The 33-year-old left-back, who returned to Albion in July after two years with Ipswich Town, missed all of
  
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• Lincoln promotes Copping & Seaborne to leadership team

  12-08-2026 15:23 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Dan Seaborne played for Southampton between 2010 and 2013 [Getty Images]Lincoln City have appointed Bobby Copping as the club's new chief commercial officer and Dan Seaborne as chief operating officer.Copping, 24, began a playing career in the Norwich City youth academy but was forced to retire at the age of 19 after suffering a mini-seizure during a training game while in action for Peterborough United in July 2020.He has been with the club since last July when he was appointed head of commerci
  
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• Mourinho and Real Madrid’s six new signings could be unveiled together in a grand presentation – report

  12-08-2026 15:20 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Mourinho and Real Madrid’s six new signings could be unveiled together in a grand presentation – reportReal Madrid could be preparing an unusual unveiling for Jose Mourinho and all the new signings they have made this summer.Rather than presenting their summer arrivals one by one, the club is reportedly considering bringing Mourinho and all six new signings together for a single event.According to journalist Melchor Ruiz, as reported by Defensa Central, Real Madrid have struggled to
  
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• Report Gimenez could join FC Porto on loan with €20m option, no Milan guarantee

  12-08-2026 15:15 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Report Gimenez could join FC Porto on loan with €20m option, no Milan guaranteeA significant shift is reported in Portugal, suggesting Milan would loan Santiago Gimenez to FC Porto with an option to buy for €20m, not an obligation.The negotiations had stalled for the Mexico international, who was a very big investment when the Rossoneri paid €30.2m plus add-ons to get him from Feyenoord in February 2025.MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 17: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates with
  
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• Bundesliga clubs stand firm as Hull and Ipswich chase Mert Kömür and Exequiel Palacios

  12-08-2026 15:15 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Bundesliga clubs stand firm as Hull and Ipswich chase Mert Kömür and Exequiel PalaciosTwo Bundesliga clubs have rejected significant approaches from newly-promoted Premier League sides, with FC Augsburg continuing to resist Hull City’s pursuit of Mert Kömür while Bayer Leverkusen have turned down a €20m Ipswich Town bid for Exequiel Palacios.Hull have now reportedly submitted four offers for Kömür. According to Sky Germany and the Augsburger AllgemeineZei
  
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• Barcelona winger receives support from former club after ACL injury: ‘You did it before, you can do it again’

  12-08-2026 15:15 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Barcelona winger receives support from former club after ACL injury: ‘You did it before, you can do it again’Roony Bardghji’s story took a drastic turn in recent days, and the Barcelona player will not be leaving the club this summer.The club’s decision to sign Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon left no doubt that the Swedish winger would be asked to leave. After all, the club are stacked in the department and Hansi Flick even exempted the player from the first-team dynamic
  
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• Gateshead swoop for defender Lankshear

  12-08-2026 15:12 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Gateshead have signed defender Alex Lankshear on a one-year contract with an option for an additional year.The 23-year-old, who is the older brother of Middlesbrough striker Will Lankshear, played 35 games for Boston United last season before going on loan to Ebbsfleet.He cited the presence of manager Lee Cattermole as one of the attractions for the move to the north-east."I'm a defender that loves to defend his goal but also attack the goal," he told the club website."One of my goals this year
  
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• South Korea crisis deepens over sexual favours scandal

  12-08-2026 15:11 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  South Korea's football association is facing enormous scrutiny over a variety of scandals [Getty Images]South Korea's football association has apologised for "various controversies" including a scandal surrounding alleged payments made for sexual favours for foreign referees.A report by the nation's ministry of culture, sport and tourism regarding the allegations was compiled in 2016 and made public last week after it was obtained by South Korean media organisation JTBC.According to JTBC's inves
  
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• Simeone reiterates Atletico Madrid’s stance in meeting with Barcelona target Julian Alvarez – report

  12-08-2026 15:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Simeone reiterates Atletico Madrid’s stance in meeting with Barcelona target Julian Alvarez – reportAs reported before, Julian Alvarez has spoken directly with Diego Simeone about his future at Atletico Madrid, but the Argentine striker appears to have received little encouragement from his manager regarding a potential move to Barcelona.According to Javi Gomara in Mundo Deportivo, the conversation between the two was cordial, with Alvarez explaining his situation before Wednesday&rs
  
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• Piccoli agreement with Bologna at €18m plus bonus sparks Serie A domino effect

  12-08-2026 15:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Piccoli agreement with Bologna at €18m plus bonus sparks Serie A domino effectThe domino effect is in progress, with Mateo Pellegrino joining Fiorentina for €25m, Roberto Piccoli to Bologna for €18m plus add-ons, and Thijs Dallinga to FC Koln.FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 24: Roberto Piccoli of ACF Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Cagliari Calcio at Artemio Franchi on January 24, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty I
  
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• Manchester United lead Arsenal in race for Leicester signing

  12-08-2026 15:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Manchester United lead Arsenal in race for Leicester signingManchester United are leading the race to sign Louis Page from Leicester City, despite Arsenal showing an interest in the young midfielder.Photo by Michael Regan/Getty ImagesFor the second time in one summer, Arsenal look set to miss out on a Leicester City teenager to a Manchester-based club.The Gunners have already seen their pursuit of young winger Jeremy Monga ending with the player joining Manchester City, and it looks like similar
  
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• La Liga to inspect Celta Vigo's pitch after fungus outbreak

  12-08-2026 15:03 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The Estadio de Balaidos is scheduled to host Celta Vigo's La Liga 2026-27 season opener against Osasuna on Sunday [Getty Images]La Liga officials are set to carry out a pitch inspection at Celta Vigo's Estadio de Balaidos following a suspected fungus outbreak.Celta are due to host Osasuna on Sunday night in their opening match of the 2026-27 season, kicking off at 20:30 BST.Following reports in Spain of the outbreak, sources close to La Liga have told BBC Sport that the league are due to visit t
  
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• Salech 'improving a lot' - Barry-Murphy

  12-08-2026 14:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  [Huw Evans Picture Agency]Brian Barry-Murphy believes Yousef Salech is continuing to improve following the Cardiff City striker's lengthy spell on the sidelines last season.The 24-year-old missed 12 league games after sustaining a neck injury during the Bluebirds' 1-1 draw against Stockport County on 24 January.Despite his spell out of action, the Danish forward ended the 2025-26 season with 15 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions as Cardiff won promotion from League One .Salech's rut
  
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• Luis Enrique refuses to discuss Bradley Barcola’s future amid Liverpool interest

  12-08-2026 14:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Luis Enrique refuses to discuss Bradley Barcola’s future amid Liverpool interestBradley Barcola Future Latest as Luis Enrique Keeps PSG Selection Decision OpenBradley Barcola has been included in the squad for PSG’s UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday, despite Liverpool’s interest in the forward. At a time when speculation can quickly gather pace around key attacking players, his presence in the group offers an important clue, even if it stops short of providing certainty.Barcola
  
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• Warning Roma will lose Mora unless giving FC Porto €50m guarantee

  12-08-2026 14:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Warning Roma will lose Mora unless giving FC Porto €50m guaranteePortuguese reports insist Roma are not that close to securing Rodrigo Mora, because the deal will fall through without sufficient purchase guarantees for FC Porto, so they are at an impasse.PORTO, PORTUGAL – JANUARY 29: Max Aarons of Rangers passes the ball whilst under pressure from Rodrigo Mora of FC Porto during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between FC Porto and Rangers FC at Estadio do Dragao
  
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• Report: Arsenal star set to reject departure

  12-08-2026 14:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Report: Arsenal star set to reject departureMyles Lewis-Skelly Focused on Arsenal Future Amid Transfer InterestMyles Lewis-Skelly’s stance is clear as Arsenal continue shaping their squad for the new season. Despite external attention and growing interest in his situation, the 19-year-old “wants to stay at Arsenal and is fully focused on establishing himself in Mikel Arteta’s first-team plans for the upcoming season”.According to The Athletic, there is no indication the m
  
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• Jose Mourinho has already decided Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid role for 2026/27 season

  12-08-2026 14:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Jose Mourinho has already decided Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid role for 2026/27 seasonJude Bellingham has only just returned to Real Madrid training, but Jose Mourinho already appears to have a clear idea of how he wants to use the England international.According to AS, the Portuguese manager plans to move Bellingham into a more advanced position as part of his preferred 4-2-3-1 system. Rather than asking the midfielder to spend most of his time deep, as he did last season, Mourinho
  
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• Fabrizio Romano confirms bombshell Liverpool deal has moved closer

  12-08-2026 14:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Fabrizio Romano confirms bombshell Liverpool deal has moved closerA bombshell Liverpool transfer has just taken a major step closer. Fabrizio Romano confirms the news.Liverpool have a few weeks remaining and then the transfer window closes and their squad is locked in. But ridiculously, that squad could look like just about anything at this point.We fully expect both incomings and outgoings, potentially high-profile in each direction. Liverpool have simply been slow to get things together, relyi
  
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• European Super Cup: the competition's records 🏆

  12-08-2026 14:47 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  European Super Cup: the competition's records 🏆Back-to-back, episode 2?This Wednesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa kick off the 2026-2027 season with the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg.The Champions League winner against the Europa League winner. The traditional big European clash of August!With a win, Paris would secure another historic double after its victory over Tottenham last year.By the way, what are the current UEFA Super Cup records? The answer is here:Most successfu
  
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• Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur’s transfer to Celtic imminent

  12-08-2026 14:45 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur’s transfer to CelticimminentSC Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur appears to be closing in on a move to Celtic after the Bundesliga newcomers released the 22-year-old from training on Wednesday in order to conduct transfer talks. SCP head coach Ralf Kettemann now appears resigned to losing his established playmaker.According to the Neue Westfälische, Baur could undergo his medical with the Scottish champions as early as Wednesday as the two clubs work t
  
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• Official | Manchester City sign Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli

  12-08-2026 14:45 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Official | Manchester City sign Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo RulliManchester City have signed Olympique de Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli (34), both clubs have announced. City have identified the Argentina international as their preferred option to become Gianluigi Donnarumma’s understudy following James Trafford’s departure for Leeds United.Enzo Maresca’s Cityzens reached a €3,8m agreement with Les Phocéens to sign the former Montpellier and Villa
  
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• Chavarria's unconventional route to Stamford Bridge

  12-08-2026 14:44 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  [Getty Images]Pep Chavarria's path to Stamford Bridge has been anything but conventional.Unlike many players who reach elite clubs through prestigious academies or early top-flight breakthroughs, Chavarria had to take the longer route.He did not make his La Liga debut until the age of 24 - an age when many players have already established themselves at the highest level.Born in Figueres, a city in Catalonia in north-eastern Spain, Chavarria played for his hometown club before moving to Olot, whe
  
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• 'Second season syndrome is lazy punditry'

  12-08-2026 14:44 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  "I don't think Sunderland will be anywhere near the relegation zone," says sports journalist Ian Murtagh, despite Regis le Bris' side "entering the unknown" after securing European football.The Black Cats have gone from the third tier of English football to the Premier League, and now the Europa League, in just four years."Sunderland are entering the unknown in the sense that they won't just be playing 40 to 42 games this season, they will be playing over 50 games," Murtagh explained. "But it is
  
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• Aston Villa in pole position to sign Arsenal target Aaron Wan-Bissaka

  12-08-2026 14:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Aston Villa in pole position to sign Arsenal target Aaron Wan-BissakaAston Villa are ahead of Arsenal in the race to sign West Ham United star Aaron Wan-Bissaka, per the Daily Mail. Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes have already left the London Stadium following the Hammers’ relegation to the Championship. West Ham are expected to lose more players, with Wan-Bissaka among those pushing for a summer exit. Arsenal have been linked with an interest in the 28-year-old.
  
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• Barcelona Move to Reward Marc Bernal After Breakthrough Season

  12-08-2026 14:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Barcelona Move to Reward Marc Bernal After Breakthrough SeasonBarcelona are preparing to open fresh contract negotiations with Marc Bernal, despite the teenage midfielder having signed a long-term renewal only five months ago, according to Marca. The move signals how quickly the Blaugrana’s view of the 18-year-old has shifted since he returned from a serious knee injury.Why Barcelona are revisiting a deal signed last SeptemberBernal put his name to a contract running until 2029 in Septembe
  
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• 'Oxford are not quite a crisis club despite embargo'

  12-08-2026 14:31 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Oxford United start their season on Saturday at home against MK Dons [Shutterstock]At the start of the season we think we know what the narrative will be; we're not always right, but we think we know.For the last two seasons in the Championship it was obvious. Can Oxford stay up? For more than a decade before that, it was "Can Oxford go up?"This season? Insert your own IDK (I don't know) emoji here.Oxford's particular set of circumstances is unique in the modern professional era; they go into th
  
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• Real Madrid talisman finally returns to training as Mourinho gets full group together

  12-08-2026 14:30 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Real Madrid talisman finally returns to training as Mourinho gets full group togetherJose Mourinho finally has his full Real Madrid squad back together after Jude Bellingham returned to training following his extended summer break.The England international completed his commercial commitments in London before making his way back to the club, becoming the final World Cup international to report for duty.As the clubBellingham took part in the afternoon session alongside the players who were not se
  
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• Official | Mainz 05 seal €4m deal for veteran Bundesliga defender Stefan Posch

  12-08-2026 14:30 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Official | Mainz 05 seal €4m deal for veteran Bundesliga defender Stefan PoschMainz 05 have officially completed the permanent signing of Austria international Stefan Posch from Serie A side Como following the defender’s successful six-month loan spell at the MEWA Arena. The 29-year-old returned to the Bundesliga in January and quickly established himself as an automatic starter under Urs Fischer. According to media reports, Mainz will pay Como approximately €4m for the
  
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