The Guardian: Latest Football News & Analysis (RSS)

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

De Zerbi looks past Simons, Arsenal fans are not helping their team and Ngumoha can give PSG something to think aboutFootball is such that, when you’re down, there’s a good chance the game boots you in the solar plexus, and that’s exactly what happened to Tottenham at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland’s winner coming by way of a deflection. But you can also take steps to help yourself and, though Roberto De Zerbi’s midfield setup made some sense – he picked three hard-runners in order to compete with Sunderland’s physicality – even pre-match, it wasn’t clear who would create their chances. It’s..

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:00:40 GMT

Welcome to Pep in April – the serial title avenger with Arsenal in his sights | Barney Ronay

Manchester City’s unbeaten April record in the past four years bodes well for their end-of-season pursuit for glory“I have a particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. I may stumble a little in the autumn. I may get a little caustic with a TV camera crew or sarcastically applaud a referee. But I will pursue you. I will hunt you down. I will, in all likelihood, narrowly pip you to the line in an agonising title chase.”Welcome to Pep in April, the franchise. In which a furiously intense, bald, skinny man becomes a serial springtime league title avenger. At the fini..

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 20:25:30 GMT

‘Sunderland made us suffer’: De Zerbi desperate to boost Spurs’ confidence

1-0 defeat at Sunderland leaves Tottenham in bottom three‘Win a game, everything will be different,’ De Zerbi saysRoberto De Zerbi diagnosed a lack of confidence as the root cause of Tottenham’s ills after his first match as manager ended in a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. The result leaves Spurs in the relegation zone, two points adrift of 17th with six games remaining.“We didn’t deserve to lose,” said De Zerbi after a match decided by Nordi Mukiele’s deflected second-half winner. “We played a good game, but maybe not good enough to win. Continue reading.....

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:36:01 GMT

Owners treat many WSL clubs as ‘an afterthought’, Angel City’s co-founder says

Kara Nortman talks Monarch Collective’s sports ownership portfolio and potential investment in EnglandMany Women’s Super League clubs are treated as “an afterthought” by their owners according to Kara Nortman, the co-founder of the women’s sport investment fund Monarch Collective and Angel City FC.Monarch last month became the first women’s multi-sport group by buying a minority stake in Cleveland WNBA, the basketball franchise joining an ownership portfolio that includes the NWSL teams San Diego Wave and Boston Legacy, and the German club Viktoria Berlin. Continue reading.....

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:00:39 GMT

Aston Villa frustrated as Neco Williams’s strike bolsters Forest’s survival hopes

On a typically nervy afternoon on the Trent, one of the biggest cheers of the afternoon arrived in the seconds after the final whistle, news over the speakers that Tottenham were still trailing at Sunderland. For Nottingham Forest, a creditable draw against Aston Villa takes them another precious point towards Premier League safety, Neco Williams’s low strike cancelling out Murillo’s own goal; confirmation that Forest are now three clear of the relegation zone was greeted as warmly as one would expect.These teams could meet again at the end of the month in a Europa League semi-final but, for n..

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 15:10:14 GMT

Jean-Philippe Mateta spot on to give Crystal Palace comeback win against Newcastle

Last April Newcastle brought the thrills against Crystal Palace, putting five past Oliver Glasner’s side at St James’ Park, the victory closed by an Alexander Isak special. How things have changed. At Selhurst Park this time round, the visitors succumbed to a third successive defeat, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty in injury time adding to the misery for Eddie Howe and his team.William Osula’s close-range finish before half-time, against the run of play, had put Newcastle in front if not in control. They looked short of rhythm even with the lead, still on the mend from sapping defeats last mont..

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 15:08:26 GMT

Kobbie Mainoo close to signing new Manchester United contract, says Michael Carrick

Midfielder expected to earn £120,000 a weekNew deal marks turnaround for Mainoo under CarrickMichael Carrick has indicated Kobbie Mainoo is moving closer to signing a new contract with Manchester United, saying negotiations are “in a good place”. The 20-year-old, whose deal expires in the summer of 2027, is expected to earn about £120,000 a week, a marked increase on his current terms, which are in the region of £25,000 a week.“It’s getting closer, so we’re positive about that,” said Carrick. “We’re calm with it, but we’re positive with it and time will tell how it goes. But at the moment, we ..

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:30:28 GMT

European football: Inter close in on title after beating Como in seven-goal thriller

Inter move nine points clear of Napoli after late 4-3 winUnion Berlin make Eta Bundesliga’s first female managerInter put one hand on the Serie A title on Sunday after coming back from two goals down to win 4-3 in a thrilling match at Como and move nine points clear of Napoli, who could only draw 1-1 at Parma.Two goals down in the dying moments of the first half due to goals from Álex Valle and Nico Paz, Inter looked set to give champions Napoli hope that their Scudetto defence might still be alive. Continue reading.....

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:23:00 GMT

Luton break Stockport hearts in Vertu Trophy final to give Wilshere first silverware as manager

Final: Luton 3-1 StockportScorers: Lawrence, Wells (2); SidibehLuton have had bigger days at Wembley, more glorious Hatters’ tea parties. They retain a chance of returning for League One’s playoffs in May. If this did not match 1988’s League Cup final, Brian Stein and all that, or 2023’s promotion from the Championship, it can signpost the club’s current road to recovery. For Jack Wilshere, six months and 38 games into his managerial career, at the club he played for until joining Arsenal at seven, it was a first trophy of a second footballing life, Nahki Wells’ double securing victory. This w..

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:19:08 GMT

Wasted weekend takes wind out of WSL’s sails … and get ready for more

With the season reaching its climax and weather improving, it’s ideal for attracting fans, but the fixture list is blankMomentum can be extremely powerful. Just ask Wrexham, anyone involved in English women’s football in the aftermath of Euro 2022 or the scientists calculating Artemis II’s route for Nasa.The climax to the domestic women’s football season in England, and around Europe, has lost its momentum as an extended international break has arrived. That, coupled with the Easter weekend’s Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals before the international window, means there will be nearly four weeks w..

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:00:11 GMT

Premier League top scorers 2025-26: who is leading race for golden boot?

See which hot shots are leading the way in the English top flight’s goalscoring charts this season Continue reading.....

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 15:23:51 GMT

Sign up for the Moving the Goalposts newsletter: our free women’s football email

Get our roundup of women’s football for free twice a week, featuring the insights of experts such as Ada Hegerberg and Magdalena ErikssonJoin us as we delve deeper into the wonderful world of women’s football in our weekly newsletter. It is informative, entertaining, global, critical – when needed – and, above all, passionate. Written mainly by Júlia Belas Trindade and Sophie Downey, expect guest appearances from stars such as Anita Asante, Ada Hegerberg and many more.Try our other sports emails: as well as the occasionally funny football email The Fiver from Monday to Friday, there are weekly..

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:57:35 GMT

Sign up for the Football Daily newsletter: our free football email

Kick off your afternoon with the Guardian’s take on the world of footballEvery weekday, we’ll deliver a roundup the football news and gossip in our own belligerent, sometimes intelligent and – very occasionally – funny way. Still not convinced? Find out what you’re missing here.Try our other sports emails: there’s weekly catch-ups for cricket in The Spin and rugby union in The Breakdown, and our seven-day round-up of the best of our sports journalism in The Recap.Living in Australia? Try the Guardian Australia’s daily sports newsletter Continue reading.....

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 09:05:50 GMT

Sign up to the Sport in Focus newsletter: the sporting week in photos

Our editors’ favourite sporting images from the past week, from the spectacular to the powerful, and with a little bit of fun thrown in Continue reading.....

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:00:23 GMT

Sign up for the Recap newsletter: our free sport highlights email

The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend’s actionSubscribe to get our editors’ pick of the Guardian’s award-winning sport coverage. We’ll email you the stand-out features and interviews, insightful analysis and highlights from the archive, plus films, podcasts, galleries and more – all arriving in your inbox at every Friday lunchtime. And we’ll set you up for the weekend and let you know our live coverage plans so you’ll be ahead of the game. Here’s what you can expect from us.Try our other sports emails: there’s daily football news and gossip in..

Mon, 15 May 2017 11:00:43 GMT

Birmingham’s Vicente and Klarer deliver huge blow to Wrexham’s playoff hopes

Wrexham missed the chance to move within a point of the Championship playoff places after they suffered a 2-0 defeat by Birmingham at St Andrew’s. The visitors’ hopes of an unprecedented fourth straight promotion were dealt a massive blow after they were beaten for a second consecutive match which leaves them four points behind sixth-placed Hull with four games to play.After their 5-1 defeat by Southampton, Wrexham have now suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since August. Phil Parkinson, the Wrexham manager, said: “We’ve had a tough week this week. But we’re not down and out yet...

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:36:45 GMT

Scottish Premiership: Rangers hit Falkirk for six to keep pace with Hearts and Celtic

Danny Röhl’s side storm back to win 6-3 after trailing 2-0Saturday scores: Hearts 3-1 Motherwell, Celtic 1-0 St MirrenRangers fought back from two goals down to keep their Scottish Premiership title charge alive with a frenetic 6-3 win at Falkirk.Danny Röhl’s side trailed to goals from Ben Broggio and Finn Yeats in a shambolic first-half performance but Tochi Chukwuani gave Rangers hope with a controversial goal just before the interval. Three goals in 11 minutes early in the second half then turned the tide in Rangers’ favour. Youssef Chermiti equalised and Nicolas Raskin put Rangers ahead be..

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:31:40 GMT

European football: Bayern break Bundesliga goals record and close on title

Goretzka hits leaders’ 102nd goal in 5-0 win at St PauliFerran Torres double helps Barcelona beat Espanyol 4-1Bayern Munich crushed hosts St Pauli 5-0 in the Bundesliga to set an all-time season scoring record while also extending their lead at the top to 12 points with five games left to play.The Bavarian club, who host Real Madrid on Wednesday in their Champions League quarter-final second leg after their 2-1 win in Spain, are within touching distance of the league title on 76 points, with second-placed Borussia Dortmund stuck on 64 after their 1-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen. Continue rea..

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:08:50 GMT

Rio Ngumoha sparks Liverpool win over wasteful Fulham with first Anfield goal

At the end of a stormy week for Arne Slot there was respite in the form of a morale-boosting display from Rio Ngumoha. Liverpool’s 17-year-old winger marked his second Premier League start with an exquisite goal and a key role in the second from Mohamed Salah as the troubled champions celebrated a first league win since February.Liverpool seemed vulnerable after painful cup quarter-final defeats at Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain had intensified the pressure on Slot. The ingredients were in place for Anfield to turn toxic. Fulham never put that fragility to the test. Marco Silva’s team..

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:34:32 GMT

CF Montreal fire head coach Marco Donadel after terrible start to season

Philippe Eullaffroy takes over as interim head coachMontreal are joint-bottom of MLS with three pointsCF Montreal have fired head coach Marco Donadel, the club announced on Sunday. The move comes after Saturday’s 2-1 loss against the Philadelphia Union kept the club joint-bottom of the MLS standings.Philippe Eullaffroy, who rejoined the club this year as an assistant coach after founding the club’s academy in 2010, will serve as interim head coach “until a permanent head coach is hired,” the club said in a brief statement. Continue reading.....

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 15:42:04 GMT

Liverpool leave Paris empty-handed and Atlético stun Barça | Football Weekly – video

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Philippe Auclair, Lars Sivertsen and Sid Lowe after a disappointing Liverpool performance at PSG.On the podcast today: Liverpool are outplayed by PSG from the start, creating almost nothing all game and possibly fortunate to leave Paris only two goals down.Elsewhere, in Barcelona, the whole game changes in a minute. Barcelona were on top before Pau Cubarsi’s red card and a stunning Julián Alvarez free-kick … meaning it’s advantage Atlético for the second leg in Madrid.Plus, there’s a Premier League preview with huge games at the top and the bottom, F..

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:24:38 GMT

Bournemouth expose Schrödinger’s Arsenal, a team that could be either dead or alive | Paul MacInnes

Mikel Arteta urged fans to bring ‘your lunch, bring your dinner’ but when the set pieces fail to fire his side are short of a full plateIt was another one of those games where Arsenal had found it necessary to rouse the troops beforehand. Mikel Arteta, in his occasional, unusual jokey mode, had urged Arsenal fans to “bring your lunch, bring your dinner” and make this 12.30 kick-off an occasion.The players, meanwhile, had been training under the eye of a big screen broadcasting footage of Arsenal in happy, successful moments, presumably to encourage the creation of more. “Every game, we have to..

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:03:03 GMT

Real talk: Chelsea punished Enzo Fernández for exposing project’s fatal flaw | Jonathan Wilson

Manchester City can brush off Rodri’s comments but Chelsea’s existential angst helps explain suspension of midfielderEnzo Fernández and Rodri would quite like to move to Madrid; many people would. They both said as much in the international break, those special parts of the season when players join up with their national teams and give interviews while apparently unaware that media are global these days: a whisper on Luzo TV can soon become a hurricane in London. But Rodri will line up for Manchester City at Chelsea on Sunday, while Fernández will not, suspended by the club for “crossing a lin..

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:00:01 GMT

Lotte Wubben-Moy finds ‘perfect storm’ to show she is more than England stand-in

Arsenal defender on embracing her England chance, maintaining self-belief and sharing training tips with her cyclist partner, Tao Geoghegan HartLotte Wubben-Moy pauses, then says: “I’d be lying if I said there weren’t doubts.” The Arsenal and England defender has just been asked whether, during her stop-start journey, she had questioned herself or her chances of getting to show what she can do.Wubben-Moy has had to bide her time with club and country. Having made her debut for England in February 2021, she has picked up only 16 caps despite being almost ever-present in the squad. Even when lef..

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:00:44 GMT

Goodbye and thanks to Aaron Ramsey, a shoo-in for all-time Wales XI | Elis James

The retired midfielder’s absence for the semi-final of Euro 2016 was the great ‘what-if’ of Welsh football, but even so his brilliant career managed to transform a footballing public for everIf some footballers take time to reach their potential, others seem to be the finished article before they’re able to drive. A teenage Aaron Ramsey was firmly in the latter camp. After only 11 league starts for Cardiff he had made his international debut for Wales against Denmark, turned down Manchester United in favour of Arsenal, and given Cardiff fans one of the great what-ifs of their club’s modern age..

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:20:01 GMT

‘Hyperactive’ Marcus Rashford showing his class, but could Barça be getting even more?

English forward has been the perfect loan signing. And yet, there is an ‘and yet’, absurd though that can seemAt the end of Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Atlético Madrid on Saturday night, as the players stood celebrating before the small pocket of supporters applauding them from high in the north-west corner of the Metropolitano, Diego Simeone approached Hansi Flick, shook his hand and reminded him of something: “You’ve got to come back.” It came as an invitation, born of admiration, and also a warning. This was only the start of a trilogy in which they face each other three times in 10 days, and th..

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:59:08 GMT

Up the Minstermen? York close on promotion in epic National League battle

After last season’s near-miss, the leaders are two points clear of Rochdale, who they play in what could yet be a final-day shootoutYork is a city famed for centurions of the Roman kind, but now its football club are centurions too. With 101 points on the board and 109 goals scored, the Minstermen have a Football League return firmly in their sights after a decade away.It has been a gruelling journey, punctuated by a near miss last season. The job isn’t done, but Monday’s last-gasp win against Altrincham put them two points clear of Rochdale at the top of the National League with three games t..

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:00:15 GMT

Mircea Lucescu, former Romania football captain and coach, dies aged 80

Bucharest hospital confirms his death after heart attackCoach led team to Euro 84 and won multiple club titlesMircea Lucescu, the Romanian football great who was a serial trophy winner as a player and a coach, has died aged 80.Lucescu’s death was confirmed by Bucharest university emergency hospital on Tuesday. He had been taken to hospital after reportedly having a heart attack on Friday morning. Continue reading.....

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:55:43 GMT

Harry Kane gives Bayern Munich edge despite Real Madrid fightback in thriller

“This is why you guys come to these games,” Vincent Kompany had said, and especially here. For the quality, the chaos and the goals, the edge, the drama and the history that invades every moment. Another wild Champions League night had this place believing in another crazy comeback, the noise level rising towards what appeared destined to be one, last thunderous crescendo as Real Madrid rose again and went for their biggest European rivals. In the end, though, Bayern Munich held on for a win that sets up another, definitive battle at the Allianz Arena next week.Strikes from Luis Díaz and Harry..

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:12:18 GMT

Napoli president says he would allow Antonio Conte to leave for Italy job

Conte says he should be considered to succeed GattusoMilan coach Massimiliano Allegri also linked with roleNapoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has said he would not stand in Antonio Conte’s way if the coach asked to take the vacant Italy job, after Conte said he ought to be under consideration to succeed Gennaro Gattuso.Gattuso resigned as the Azzurri’s coach on Friday after Italy failed to reach the World Cup for a third straight time. Conte’s deal at Napoli runs until 2027 and the Italian champions are seven points off the Serie A leaders, Inter, with seven matches remaining. Continue..

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:13:57 GMT

Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg manufacture ‘the wildest plastico of all time’ | Andy Brassell

Two ‘factory’ teams of German football proved that there is plenty at stake in the Bundesliga after a 6-3 win for LeverkusenThey said nobody cared enough for the stakes to be this high. If discussion over the destination of the title (and second place for that matter) has been and gone, there is plenty more in the Bundesliga tank and for Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, two clubs who will never hold universal approval despite producing teams to thrill us and break the Bayern monopoly in the last two decades, that is truer than for most. Before RB Leipzig were around to corral all the disapprov..

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:59:48 GMT

PSG ramp up the style to leave Slot and Liverpool looking like yesterday’s men | Barney Ronay

Another Anfield miracle in the second leg will be talked up, but the gulf in class between the two sides was undeniableThese are strange times for Liverpool Football Club, still, and until anyone specifically says otherwise, the champions of England. It is a mark of where the team is that on an oddly tension-free night in Paris there were reasons to be pleased, but also not to be pleased about being pleased.Pleased that Liverpool’s players didn’t give up or stop trying. So that’s a tick. Pleased that they only lost 2-0 against a Paris Saint-Germain team who were able to approach this first leg..

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:05:37 GMT

‘Something you only see in films’: Czech case yet another example of sexual abuse crisis

Petr Vlachovsky’s non-contact sexual abuse has had long-term effects and could finally be the catalyst for safeguarding policy change for women and girls in the sportKristyna Janku answered the phone to a police officer, not sure what she was going to hear. She had heard the rumours, the gossip, and was not sure what was true and what was not.The defender’s former coach Petr Vlachovsky, who coached women and girls at FC Slovacko for almost 15 years and was once voted the best women’s football coach in the Czech Republic, had been arrested and she was about to find out why. Continue reading.....

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:30:41 GMT

Restored David Raya makes the difference to help Arsenal shake off their angst | Jacob Steinberg

Mikel Arteta discovered that playing your best goalkeeper can be a good idea as his side recovered from cup exits with late win in LisbonThere was a temptation to fixate on the moment when Arsenal won this game with a goal that could change their season. Mikel Arteta had urged his players not to panic, not to sink away with hopes of a quadruple long gone, and Kai Havertz got the memo. Gabriel Martinelli crossed from the left and, as the ball dropped, Havertz caught the Sporting defence napping at last, controlled with a feathery touch, took a breath and rolled a finish past Rui Silva to give A..

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:48:01 GMT

If Newcastle really want to be taken seriously, then Eddie Howe must join the exodus | Jonathan Wilson

Most of what has gone wrong this season can be put down to poor recruitment – but the manager must share the blame Even when the fixture list was revealed last summer, it was perhaps predictable that the middle of March would represent the crisis point for Newcastle. If they had reached the Champions League quarter-finals and won the Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park, a lot of other frustrations could have been forgotten. Even better, that game against Sunderland would have had to be postponed had Newcastle reached a third Carabao Cup final since 2023.Those days of celebration a year ago feel ..

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:00:26 GMT

David Squires on … the shocks and flops from the FA Cup quarter-finals

Our cartoonist on humiliating exits for Arsenal and Liverpool, low-hanging fruit and Hugo Ekitike’s shirt swapBuy this cartoon here | His favourites from 2025And his latest book, Chaos in the Box: get it now Continue reading.....

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:06:56 GMT

Doing the 92: how football changed during my groundhopping odyssey

During my 43-year adventure I saw pubs close, standing on terraces return and big flags fly all over the countryBy When Saturday ComesIt was bound to end like this: a long and arduous odyssey that started in 1982 on a crumbling terrace culminated on a grey, drizzly afternoon in December watching my team get hammered 3-0 in a brand spanking new stadium named in conjunction with an international commercial law firm. A glorious away win thanks to a last-minute winner would have been somehow too poetic. This was how it was meant to be, when I finally completed the 92.As with that game at Everton, ..

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:47 GMT

Nike’s high-tech 2026 World Cup jerseys have a shoulder problem

The sportswear giant says it’s aware of the strange seam on some of the new shirts, and is looking into how to address itWhen Nike rolled out its collection of World Cup kits in late March, fans and pundits alike largely approved. The US men’s national team got arguably their most distinctive pair of shirts in decades, while other federations – France, England, Canada and Uruguay among them – earned strong reviews.Over the last international break, when players took the field in the kits for the first time, many fans couldn’t help but become fixated on one singular detail of the new shirts: a ..

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:00:31 GMT

Harry Kane, England’s Ballon d’Or hopeful, is finally getting the love he deserves | Barney Ronay

Sublime stint at Bayern Munich has made home audiences appreciate a man who isn’t flash or twinkly but is his country’s best footballer Everyone has their favourite mental comfort food, the stuff that makes you feel good in troubled times. Maybe you like baking bread and listening to history podcasts about Nazi atrocities. Maybe it’s watching Notting Hill in a Hugh Grant mask.Perhaps you love to unwind by sitting in your walnut-panelled library and reading Catullus, naked, covered in Doritos crumbs, with a plastic bag over your head. Or enjoy nothing better than doomscrolling in a state of lat..

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 19:00:01 GMT

World Cup power rankings: France lead the way with Senegal and Japan in top 10

From Algeria to Uzbekistan, our writers and contributors from around the world assess the state of the 48 nations to qualify for the tournament“There’s more talent and potential than in 2022,” Kylian Mbappé said ominously this week after France had beaten Brazil 2-1 despite having Dayot Upamecano sent off after 55 minutes. He may well be right. For the second game of this window, against Colombia, Didier Deschamps changed the entire starting XI but was still able to field an attack of Marcus Thuram, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche. Doué scored two in a comfortable 3-1 victory. ..

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:30:07 GMT

Football Daily | Enzo Fernández and Chelsea’s very English approach to playing happy families

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!Discipline has long been one of the cornerstones of a successful dressing room in England. If John Eustace’s Birmingham City players did not wish the training ground reception staff “good morning” they were issued with a £250 penalty. Steven Gerrard implemented a variety of fines when manager of Aston Villa for players leaving flip-flops in the shower (£50), forgetting to bring a cake for a birthday (£50, Yaya Touré: look away now), leaving plates and cups on the dining table (£100 an item). When Frank Lampard replaced Maurizio Sarri in 2019-2..

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:52:46 GMT

American Samoa’s Women’s World Cup fairytale takes them from ‘underdog to dark horse’

Alma Mana’o, the captain, reflects on their journey from a 21-0 defeat in 1998 to a place in the final round of qualificationThe American Samoa women’s team has lived through a scarcely believable tale littered with upsets, and their story is still unfolding. At the end of last year, they entered a World Cup qualification tournament containing the lowest-ranked teams in the smallest federation, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). At 153rd in the world rankings, American Samoa ranked the lowest of the low. With an estimated population of 45,319, the island’s entire population would not se..

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:47:37 GMT

Barcelona’s Vicky López: ‘I think I bring a lot of joy, youth and playfulness’

Winger explains her rapid ascent from shy 16-year-old Barça signing to a record-breaking heroAt 19 years, eight months and 12 days Vicky López is a history maker, record breaker and Barcelona hero. The Spaniard has played more than 120 matches for the club of her dreams, scoring 32 goals along the way.López signed in July 2022 at 16, making her first-team debut that season under Jonatan Giráldez and leaving no doubt she belongs among the best. No Barcelona player, male or female, has made their Camp Nou, Champions League or el clásico debut as young as López. The following season she became th..

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:41:42 GMT

The FA Cup still has an important place. This weekend was proof

From exposed anxieties to unexpected heroes, this weekend’s cup contests papered over a weird three-week Premier League breakSign up for our World Cup newsletterLive in a World Cup host city? Tell us your storiesThe soccer calendar has been particularly quirky this year. There’s always an international break in March, but because this year’s edition involved World Cup qualifying playoffs, most games were scheduled for the Thursday and the Tuesday, which meant there was very little soccer played over the weekend; barely even a smattering of friendlies.For a Saturday in early spring, it all felt..

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:45:23 GMT

Premier League news: Fernández ‘hurdles to overcome’ at Chelsea; Arteta rallies Arsenal for run-in

Guardiola says City must win every game, Howe ‘aligned’ with chief executive and Pereira wants fixture help Continue reading.....

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:32:14 GMT

Champions League review: a brilliant Georgian, Bayern’s regret and Arsenal refind their faith

This week’s quarter-finals provided some classic action as this season’s competition hurtles towards its conclusionBayern Munich had not won at the Santiago Bernabéu since May 2001, when they beat Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final on their way to becoming European champions. Tuesday night’s match changed all that. The 29th Champions League meeting between the teams lived up to its heavyweight billing, though Bayern, superior on the night, may rue their failure to extend their 2-1 lead. Real Madrid meanwhile could point to Manuel Neuer making nine saves – not bad for a 40-year-old...

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:16:08 GMT

Which team has gone furthest in Europe while being relegated in the same season? | The Knowledge

Plus: teams who went out of Europe without losing a game, and rare competitive meetingsMail us with your questions and answers“What’s the furthest a team has gone in Europe while being relegated in the same season?” wonders Matt Reilly.This question was probably asked in reference to Tottenham, who were still in the Champions League at the time, but it’s still relevant to some of this year’s quarter-finalists. Nottingham Forest are three points above the relegation places in the Premier League; Fiorentina only have a five-point cushion in Serie A.Real Zaragoza 2001-02, first round; 2007-08, fi..

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:00:18 GMT

Liverpool leave Paris empty-handed and Atlético stun Barça: Football Weekly Extra – podcast

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Philippe Auclair, Lars Sivertsen and Sid Lowe after another disappointing Liverpool performance at PSGRate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email.On the podcast today: Liverpool are outplayed by PSG from the start, creating almost nothing all game and possibly fortunate to leave Paris only two goals down. Continue reading.....

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:38:45 GMT

The 100 best male footballers in the world 2025

Ousmane Dembélé becomes our seventh winner as he beats Lamine Yamal into second and Vitinha into third on our list of the best players on the planetPremier League dominates list | How every judge voted | Our methodology | The top 100 female players for 20252024 edition | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 Continue reading.....

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:04:51 GMT

Ousmane Dembélé quietly becomes the main man after long journey to the top

The Frenchman, who has been named the best male footballer in the world by the Guardian, has benefitted from PSG’s focus on the team rather than individualsWhat makes a good player great, and a great player the best? This question has been occupying me since 2014, when the Guardian first asked me to contribute to its inaugural Next Generation feature. My job was to look for a France-based talent born in 1997 who could go on to have a stellar career.After a great deal of research, I narrowed it down from my shortlist of five by asking questions not about the players’ football ability,..

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 08:00:25 GMT

The 100 best female footballers in the world 2025

Aitana Bonmatí has been voted the best female player on the planet by our panel of 127 experts ahead of Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo2024 list | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018Meet the judges | See how every judge votedSubscribe to Moving the Goalposts, our free newsletter Continue reading.....

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:00:22 GMT

Aitana Bonmatí makes Guardian top 100 history with third title in a row

The margin may have got smaller but the brilliant Spanish midfielder makes it a hat-trick of No 1 finishesThey say the best things come in threes, and Aitana Bonmatí has written herself into the Guardian’s top 100 history as the first player to finish at the top of the tree for a third consecutive year.Last year the majestic midfielder emulated her Barcelona and Spain teammate Alexia Putellas by winning for a second year running, but the 27-year-old has now gone one better, establishing herself once again at the top of the women’s game. Continue reading.....

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 08:00:42 GMT

Next Generation 2025: 60 of the best young talents in world football

From PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye to Brazil’s next hope, we select some of the most talented players born in 2008. Check the progress of our classes of 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 … and go even further back. Here’s our Premier League class of 2025 Continue reading.....

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:59:56 GMT

Next Generation 2025: 20 of the best talents at Premier League clubs

We pick the best youngsters at each club born between 1 September 2008 and 31 August 2009, an age band known as first-year scholars. Check the progress of our classes of 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 … and go even further back. Here’s our 2025 world picks Continue reading.....

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:10:16 GMT

📰 The Guardian Latest Football News > 54 Article