Arsenal will be relieved to have hit the international break after their sluggish form continued on Thursday, albeit in a 2-0 victory at Benfica that got their Champions League title defence up and running. The Gunners have found things tough as of late, winning just one of their last five games coming into this fixture, and those struggles continued in a rather toothless performance in Portugal despite goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo.
It's unlikely that Maya Le Tissier didn't see the discourse around her going into Manchester United's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. After Sarina Wiegman said she saw the Red Devils' captain as more of a right-back, rather than a centre-back, the conversation was unavoidable, with everyone from Ian Wright to the Man Utd social media admin getting involved to wonder just why the England boss doesn't see Le Tissier as a serious contender for a starting role in the heart of the Lionesses defence. Perhaps it even served as fuel for the player herself, because she was outstanding in the 1-0 win in Spain that maintained United's perfect start to their first ever UWCL campaign.
With two open-play goals in their last three games, a lot of the talk coming into Chelsea's Women's Champions League clash with Paris FC on Wednesday night was about the dominant force in English football, and one of the front-runners for this trophy, not being quite themselves in front of goal. But Sonia Bompastor's Blues were able to quieten those doubters in their final game before the international break, with a 4-0 victory over the Parisians at Stamford Bridge.
Portugal failed to wrap up 2026 World Cup qualification after conceding a late Hungary equaliser to draw 2-2 in Lisbon. Roberto Martinez's side had initially come from behind to get in front, courtesy of two Cristiano Ronaldo goals that set a new all-time World Cup qualifying record, and were on the brink of booking their ticket to North America thanks to Armenia's defeat to Ireland providing the extra nudge required. But Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai intervened at the death and it means Ronaldo and co. must now wait until November for their next chance instead.
A typically insatiable Harry Kane fired England to the 2026 World Cup as the captain scored twice in the 5-0 hammering of Latvia which extended the Three Lions' 100 percent record in qualifying. Kane, who had missed Thursday's friendly win over Wales with an ankle injury, returned to set a new England record by scoring more than once for the 13th time in international football to move on to 76 goals for his country.
Brazil surrendered a two-goal lead as a complete second-half collapse resulted in a humiliating 3-2 friendly defeat to Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday. Carlo Ancelotti's side had looked supremely comfortable at the break courtesy of fine strikes from Paulo Henrique and Gabriel Martinelli, but they conspired to throw away their advantage - crumbling under pressure from their spirited hosts. The second defeat of his tenure already, Ancelotti has his work cut out as preparations for the 2026 World Cup ramp up.
Didier Deschamps' men were held to a 2-2 draw by a brave Iceland side in Reykjavik, as an experimental XI floundered under the pressure of their bold opponents, who belied their pre-match underdogs tag. France did score twice, coming from behind in the process, but a lack of concentration allowed the hosts to take a well-deserved point from a breathless encounter.
Manchester City made it six successive wins in all competitions as they came from behind to defeat Liverpool 2-1 in the Women’s Super League on Sunday evening. Second-half goals from Iman Beney and Aoba Fujino cancelled out Cornelia Kapocs’ opener and saw Andree Jeglertz’s side close the gap on title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United at Anfield.
Arsenal's run of four games without a win came to an end on Sunday, albeit only thanks to an own goal from Brighton's Marisa Olislagers in a narrow 1-0 victory. The Gunners will be relieved to have avoided extending their barren streak to what would've been their worst in 11 years but the same sluggishness in attack persisted, with Daphne van Domselaar's terrific second half save to deny Carla Camacho proving to be particularly important come the final whistle.
Manchester United came from behind to win in convincing fashion as Everton were put to the sword 4-1 in the first Women's Super League fixture to take place at Hill Dickinson Stadium, largely thanks to goals by Melvine Malard and substitute Jess Park. The Toffees had taken the lead in the first half through Honoka Hayashi, but Malard equalised before Hikaru Kitagawa put through her own net to turn the game around. It would then be Park who sealed the day with two strikes off the bench.
Keira Walsh's stunning strike gave Chelsea a 1-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday as the defending Women's Super League champions maintained their position at the top of the table. The Blues huffed and puffed a lot in this game, producing a lot of nice build-up play without the incisive final ball. And so, up stepped Walsh just past the hour mark to rifle an effort from range into the bottom corner of Lize Kop's goal and secure all three points in some style.
Lionel Messi scored twice and added an assist, while Jordi Alba also found the net as Inter Miami cruised to a 4-0 win over Atlanta United on Saturday night. Messi was a threat from the start, skipping Argentina duty to feature for the Herons - and showing exactly why that decision paid off. Miami remain in the hunt for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
Ruben Neves rose highest to nod in a late winner for Portugal to beat a resilient Irish defence 1-0 in Lisbon. The Portuguese midfielder was the hero for the hosts who had looked as if they would never beat the superb Caoimhin Kelleher in the Irish goal, particularly after their captain Cristiano Ronaldo had his penalty saved by the Brentford shot-stopper.
Gio Lo Celso grabbed the only goal as Argentina eased to a 1-0 win over Venezuela in a rather drab international friendly held at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. The World Cup holders were a little languid as the game wore on in the absence of Lionel Messi, who was rested, but did enough in the first half to secure a narrow win.
Kylian Mbappe’s stunning solo goal helped France ease to a comfortable 3-0 victory and take another giant step towards qualifying for next years’ World Cup with victory over Azerbaijan in Paris. Adrien Rabiot and Florian Thauvin were also on target, but there were worrying scenes towards the end as talisman Mbappe signalled to come off with what looked like an ankle injury.
Brazil delivered the most convincing performance of Carlo Ancelotti's reign so far as they overcame some challenging conditions to thrash South Korea 5-0 in a friendly in sodden Seoul, with Real Madrid's Rodrygo starring on his return to the squad. After an underwhelming start to his tenure, the Italian tactician will be a much happier man as the Selecao's World Cup preparations begin in earnest.
England warmed up for next week's World Cup qualifier away at Latvia with a 3-0 thrashing of rivals Wales in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Thursday night. Thomas Tuchel had the perfect response to any critics who have taken aim at his team's style of play or his squad selection, with the Three Lions quickly racing into an unassailable lead and flexing their strength at picking holes in deep blocks.
It was by no means a classic but Manchester United will certainly never forget the events of Wednesday night, as the Red Devils beat Valerenga 1-0 to secure their first-ever win in the Women's Champions League proper. While their formal European journey might not have started with the sort of glamour fixture many would associate the competition with, it was one that felt important to emerge from with all three points given some of the challenges ahead and United did exactly that, thanks to a first-half penalty from captain Maya Le Tissier.
Chelsea made a surprisingly sloppy start to their Women's Champions League campaign on Wednesday night, dropping two points away to a Twente side that featured just one senior international in its starting line-up. The Blues are expected to be one of the main contenders for the trophy this season but they didn't look like it here, as Sonia Bompastor's much-changed team was made to work, and work hard, for a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands.
Just six months after Arsenal stunned Lyon on their own patch in the Champions League semi-finals on their way to a second European triumph, the French giants got some revenge on Tuesday night as they spoiled the start of the Gunners' title defence with a 2-1 victory that, in truth, flattered the holders. Alessia Russo gave the hosts the lead with seven minutes on the clock but once Melchie Dumornay had quickly cancelled that out, it was all Lyon as two goals from the Haitian star secured all three points for the eight-time winners.
A first-half strike from Erling Haaland was all that settled the two sides as Manchester City ran out 1-0 winners at Brentford on Sunday evening. The Norwegian continued his freakish scoring form with an extremely well-taken goal to move his side up to fifth in the Premier League table heading into the October international break, sitting three points behind early leaders Arsenal.
Marcus Rashford's stunning volley proved to be a consolation goal for Barcelona, who were hammered 4-1 in Seville. The defeat was compounded after Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty, but Sevilla were well worth the scoreline and it was only a fine performance from Wojciech Szczesny which kept the scoreline down.
Inter Miami conceded five goals in a humbling defeat to the Chicago Fire on Tuesday, putting manager Javier Mascherano’s tactics under scrutiny. But the Herons made sure there wouldn’t be a repeat, allowing just one goal while Lionel Messi proved the catalyst with three assists in a convincing 4-1 win over the struggling New England Revolution on Saturday night.
Vinicius Jr scored twice and Kylian Mbappe was on target yet again as Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid saw off Villarreal to avoid consecutive league defeats and secure a convincing 3-1 win over the 10 men at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening. The visitors were reduced 10 men in the second half when Santiago Mourino was sent off, while Mbappe was forced off late on through injury.
Liverpool fell to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that means Arne Slot is now on his worst run as Liverpool manager. The result ensures Arsenal will head into the international break leading the way in the Premier League table, a point clear of the Reds, with Mohamed Salah's wayward shooting proving a decisive factor in the dismal loss in the capital.
Chelsea struck deep into stoppage time at the end of the second half to beat Liverpool 2-1 and continue the Premier League champions' miserable run. Goals at either end of the match proved decisive for Enzo Maresca's men, who have put the pity and woe of an injury crisis behind them to come away with three massive points at the very last.
Ruben Amorim can put his feet up and enjoy the international break knowing his job is safe for now after Manchester United enjoyed a surprisingly comfortable 2-0 win over Sunderland. Mason Mount struck early to get the Red Devils off on the right foot before Benjamin Sesko pounced after waves of pressure from the hosts, who deservedly won a third home game in a row.
Declan Rice came back to haunt West Ham once again as the former Hammer opened the scoring against his old club to help Arsenal to a 2-0 victory which sent them to the top of the Premier League table. Bukayo Saka was also on target but there was to be more injury agony for Martin Odegaard, as he once again had to leave the pitch prematurely in what's proving to be a bit of a nightmare start to the season on a personal level.