Match

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has returned to the matchday squad and is among the substitutes for the Herons’ Eastern Conference matchup against the Columbus Crew. Messi hasn’t appeared for the South Florida side since Argentina’s World Cup final defeat on July 19. His international teammate Rodrigo De Paul, however, has slotted straight into the starting XI.

Tottenham secured a dramatic 2-1 pre-season victory over London rivals Chelsea at Accor Stadium despite playing almost the entire second half with ten men. Richarlison poked home a last-minute winner after Xabi Alonso's side had dominated the contest following Kevin Danso's controversial sending off.

Marcus Rashford has been left out of Manchester United's pre-season squad to face Atletico Madrid in Stockholm as he completes a mandatory rest period following the World Cup. The forward is taking his three-week post-tournament break after representing England in North America, keeping him sidelined from early friendly preparations.

Joao Pedro scored a dramatic late hat-trick as Xabi Alonso kicked off his Chelsea tenure with a chaotic 6-4 pre-season victory over Western Sydney Wanderers. The Blues showed incredible attacking flair in a 10-goal thriller, but defensive vulnerabilities left the new manager with plenty to ponder.

Ange Postecoglou's opening game in charge of Al-Nassr ended in embarrassment after the Saudi champions were beaten by Benfica's B team in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Lisbon. The result offered an early test for the Australian coach as he begins building his squad for the new campaign, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing the pre-season opener.

Luis Suarez stepped up in the absence of Lionel Messi to score twice and guide Inter Miami to a 3-2 victory over Chicago Fire, spoiling Robert Lewandowski's MLS debut. After the match, Herons manager Guillermo Hoyos praised the Uruguayan veteran, comparing his tactical intelligence to that of his iconic Argentine team-mate.

Pride and happiness overwhelm the Spanish coach

An Unexpected Blow Throws the Calculations into Disarray

The German star reignites controversy once again after the end of the World Cup

Will the Special One succeed?

The Australian coach led "the international side" for the first time.

A new decision from the African Confederation

The Argentine Football Association takes action following the controversial events

Mexico's legendary goalkeeper brings an end to his playing career

The deal is done, only the official announcement remains.

The Brazilian star repeats the same behaviour

Manchester United's Management Move Sparks Fans' Anger

Can the German coach restore Al Ahly to its former glory?

Argentina's Catastrophic Performance Sparks Speculation

Argentina's manager is still reeling from the shock.

Portugal's new coach discusses his plan

Leo lands in Rosario

A Dialogue Between the Present and the Future

Nicolas Otamendi targeted his former club team-mate Rodri following a chaotic end to the showpiece event in New York. The Argentina centre-back felt the Spanish squad spent the build-up deliberately applying pressure on the officials, suggesting these complaints directly contributed to their heartbreaking extra-time defeat.

Spain's extra-time hero Ferran Torres has reflected on his historic contribution after firing his nation to global glory in a tense encounter in North America. The forward believes their dramatic triumph was predestined, praising his team-mates' resilience against formidable opponents before acknowledging the divine strength that guided them to ultimate victory.

The bronze-medal match tends to be one of the highest-scoring games of the tournament, and this one certainly didn't disappoint. England manager Thomas Tuchel called it a fixture “nobody wants to play in” earlier in the week, but that didn't appear to be the case as the Three Lions and France battled in the highest-scoring third-place match in World Cup history, with England edging a wild 6-4 win

Barcelona sporting director Deco has admitted he faces a deep conflict of loyalties ahead of Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. The former midfielder has travelled to New York for the showpiece event, which will prominently feature both Catalan club icon Lionel Messi and a strong contingent of current Blaugrana players.

Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller have shared a light-hearted reunion on social media following the sudden postponement of their scheduled MLS encounter. The veteran Polish striker was due to make his competitive debut for Chicago Fire against the Vancouver Whitecaps before dangerous air quality levels forced league officials to call off the fixture, forcing the former Bayern Munich stars to meet up off the pitch.