Football

Tom Hamilton Close Tom Hamilton Senior Writer • Joined ESPN in 2011• Covered two Olympics, a pair of Rugby World Cups and two British & Irish Lions tours• Previously rugby editor, and became senior writer in 2018 Emily Keogh Close Emily Keogh Correspondent Jan 22, 2025, 05:49 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Chelsea are closing in on the

Open Extended Reactions LIVERPOOL, England — It took Mohamed Salah just 34 minutes to weigh in on a debate that had been raging for days in the build-up to Liverpool‘s UEFA Champions League clash with Lille. After the Egyptian’s teammate Curtis Jones, during a grilling by former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, admitted that he

ESPN Jan 21, 2025, 11:09 AM ET Email Print Open Extended Reactions Welcome to Matchday 7 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season! Europe’s premier club competition returns in its new format with nine matches across the continent on Tuesday, providing exciting matchups, top talent and drama. Enjoy the play-by-play from all the games as

Open Extended Reactions Arsenal have been here before. The present and fierce debate over whether they should sign a striker in January is similar to the mood around the club three years ago, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was abruptly transferred to Barcelona and the Gunners pondered signing a replacement. Steadfast in their belief that the ideal

Gabriele Marcotti, Senior Writer, ESPN FCJan 20, 2025, 09:14 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Another European soccer weekend is in the books, and as always, we have plenty to unpack. Manchester United turned in another brutal home performance in defeat to Brighton, a result that prompted Ruben Amorim to take the criticism for a team

Jan 20, 2025, 10:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Al Hilal forward Neymar is still recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up in November but is set to leave the club after his coach, Jorge Jesus, recently said that the 32-year-old “can no longer play at the level we are used to” and would

Open Extended Reactions Ruben Amorim thought he was taking charge of one of the world’s biggest football teams when he accepted the role of head coach at Manchester United last November. But now he has pulled back the curtain at Old Trafford, he has discovered the reality of a club that have been allowed to

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 19, 2025, 12:53 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MANCHESTER, England — The most shocking aspect of Manchester United‘s dismal 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday is that there was little surprise at all. Anyone who watched the first 80 minutes against Southampton — the Premier League‘s worst team —

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 19, 2025, 12:31 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Ruben Amorim has said his Manchester United team might be the worst in the club’s history following their 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. United failed to register a shot on target in open play as Brighton dominated at Old Trafford.

Danny Lewis Jan 18, 2025, 06:55 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Al Hilal have identified Mohamed Salah and Rodrygo as possible replacements for Neymar, while Manchester United are reportedly ahead of Manchester City in the race to sign Nuno Mendes. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe. Transfers

A heavily-rotated United States men’s national team earned a 3-1 victory over Venezuela in the first of its two international friendlies this month. Saturday’s U.S. squad was made up almost entirely of players from Major League Soccer due to the game falling outside of a FIFA international window. Jack McGlynn and Patrick Agyemang scored about

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJan 18, 2025, 11:01 AM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Open Extended Reactions Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has been voted the 2024 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, capping off a year that saw her win an Olympic gold

Lizzy Becherano Jan 17, 2025, 04:30 PM ET Open Extended Reactions United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino insists American players can compete with the likes of Spain and Argentina in terms of talent, but must be “a little more arrogant” with their mentality when approaching the game. “There is still a gap

Julien Laurens, CorrespondentJan 17, 2025, 03:30 PM ET Open Extended Reactions On Friday morning in some areas of Paris, you could already see some PSG shirts with his name on it. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia‘s move to the French capital from Napoli hadn’t yet been made official, yet some of the fans could not wait. The thirteen

Multiple contributors Jan 17, 2025, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The transfer window is open across Europe as clubs look to do some mid-season business. But what are ESPN’s reporters hearing about some of the deals that could be done, and which clubs are hoping to make moves? Every Friday during January we’ll bring

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 17, 2025, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Erling Haaland has signed a mammoth 10-year contract at Manchester City. Editor’s Picks 2 Related The striker was under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2027, but has extended his deal until 2034. The exact numbers involved have not been made public by City,

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentJan 16, 2025, 06:44 PM ET Open Extended Reactions MANCHESTER, England — Ruben Amorim has inherited a mess at Manchester United. But amid the rubble at Old Trafford, the manager found Amad Diallo and at least for now, that’s enough to keep him, and United, going. For much of the game against Southampton

Tor-Kristian Karlsen, ESPNJan 16, 2025, 04:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Liverpool are facing a problem. In six months they could lose three of their best players — Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk — for nothing when their contracts expire. The chances are that at least one of the high-profile trio will