Match

Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim has welcomed the public backing he recently received from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in spite of the team's ragged results this season. The Portuguese claimed he already felt supported by the club's hierarchy even after losing four of United's opening eight games in all competitions. And he revealed the person who puts him under the most pressure.

The two Masandawana stars were not involved in the later stages of the qualifiers as South Africa withstood pressure to qualify for the global showpiece. To be part of the World Cup-going squad, the duo has been told what to do.

Arne Slot has urged the Anfield crowd to play their part when Liverpool host Manchester United in Sunday's highly-anticipated Premier League clash. The Reds boss is wary of the threat posted by the Red Devils, and he believes the league table - that has United sitting in 10th spot - doesn't accurately reflect how well Ruben Amorim's side have started the 2025-26 campaign.

Mexico’s poor results during the recent FIFA window sparked criticism of several players, including Toluca forward Alexis Vega, who has been questioned for his lack of impact. His club coach, Antonio Mohamed, defended him and expressed confidence that Vega will prove his worth when the 2026 World Cup arrives. The former Chivas player was booed by fans.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been handed a major boost in his bid to face former club Liverpool, with the Real Madrid defender’s recovery from a hamstring injury progressing ahead of schedule. The 27-year-old England international has returned to light training and could feature at Anfield on November 4, seven weeks after suffering an injury against Marseille.

Cavan Sullivan and Mathis Albert are among the headliners on a 21-player squad that will represent the United States in the upcoming U17 World Cup. Gonzalo Segares announced his squad on Thursday, and it includes plenty of firepower, headlined by the Philadelphia Union midfielder and the rising Borussia Dortmund star. The roster features players from 15 clubs.

América striker Henry Martín has overcome the knee sprain that has kept him sidelined since Matchday 8 against Chivas. But while he has returned to light training, he is still not fully recovered or match-fit - and therefore will not be included in the squad for Saturday’s clash with Cruz Azul. The Águilas will look to stay near the top of the Liga MX table.

Thibaut Courtois has offered an unusual piece of advice to Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens ahead of his daunting Anfield test against Premier League champions Liverpool. With Anfield remaining one of the most intimidating venues in world football, the 23-year-old faces a true baptism of fire as Ruben Amorim's struggling side face Arne Slot's free-scoring Reds.

The Glamour Boys resume their CAF inter-club journey this weekend with a tricky trip to Lubumbashi where they will play the Congolese outfit in the first leg of the second preliminary round. This will be a massive game for either side in their bid to make the group stage of the annual competition and will go a long way towards whether their seasons are considered a success.

The Glamour Boys made 11 new signings in the most recent transfer window, but some have not yet made their debut for the Soweto giants. This weekend, that might change as Amakhosi tackle the Democratic Republic of Congo outfit in their first leg CAF inter-club outing.

The Urban Warriors have been in and out of dispute resolution committees seeking compensation from the Glamour Boys for the duo. The Soweto giants have been chasing the players for the last three seasons, and the recent demotion of Spurs to the amateur league meant Amakhosi could get the youngsters without paying a penny.

The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder has been trending for the last six or so months after being fielded against Lesotho despite being suspended. It almost cost the national team a ticket to compete with the best in the world, but the players fought to ensure it wasn't the case as South Africa eventually topped Group C to get an automatic slot.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Clásico Joven, Cruz Azul manager Nicolás Larcamón said the rivalry between La Máquina and América continues to grow in importance - and is now the biggest fixture in Mexican football. Los Azulcremas enter the weekend sitting second in the table with 27 points, while the Celestes are in fourth with 25.

Thomas Tuchel delivered a rousing team talk as England booked their place at the 2026 World Cup, saying he accomplished a “childhood dream” following the emphatic 5-0 victory over Latvia. The Three Lions will compete at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States after powering through their qualifying group with two games to spare.

The results didn’t go Mexico’s way under Javier Aguirre during this FIFA window. El Tri had a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Colombia at AT&T Stadium and then drew 1-1 with Ecuador in Guadalajara - two potential World Cup opponents. Despite that, San Diego FC winger Hirving Lozano offered a positive assessment and highlighted some encouraging signs.

The Bafana Bafana star left Amakhosi for their PSL rivals, and now the move has been described as a mistake on the part of the Glamour Boys. After just one season with his current club, he is tipped to be the next top defender for the national team.

South Africa will be part of the global competition once again for the first time since 2010, when they hosted it. However, this achievement came against some odds, as Mzansi were faced with what appeared like an insurmountable challenge, which, in the end, they overcame.

Harry Kane moved into an elite goalscoring club as he scored twice to help England qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The Bayern Munich striker bagged a first-half brace to help the Three Lions defeat Latvia 5-0 and book their place at next summer’s tournament, continuing a rich vein of form which has seen him score 21 goals in just 13 games for club and country this season.

Trinity Rodman is set to return to the U.S. women's national team as Emma Hayes has named a 26-player squad for the upcoming three-match October window. The U.S. will take on Portugal twice, and also play New Zealand during the window. With the call-up, Rodman returns to the USWNT for the first time since April after dealing with back issues.

The Spaniard left the Sea Robbers after three years, and the club's skipper says it was a good decision for both parties. Although he has been described as a tired figure by the end of last season, he went on to coach African giants Al Ahly straight away after leaving the Bucs, which saw him getting sacked after just seven games in charge.

After being defeated 3-0 and seeing their own World Cup dreams extinguished, Rwanda's coach Adel Amrouche felt he had an important message to deliver to Hugo Broos on the age of the Belgian's squad and the need for young players to be integrated ahead of major tournaments.

Although he did not earn a direct call-up to Bafana, after filling in for the injured Maswanganyi, Mbule went on and featured in the crucial qualifiers that South Africa needed to win. His determination to grab his 'second chance' has been lauded by his coach, who has challenged him to keep working hard ahead of future international assignments.

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo finally made good on a promise in the wake of his team's 2-2 draw with Hungary in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night. The Al-Nassr forward had long promised to swap his shirt with Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai, and the midfielder confirmed after the match that he had finally got his hands on the Portugal icon's jersey.

The Mswenko Boys are among the new teams that were promoted to the ongoing 2025/26 South African top-flight football after a successful stint in the lower tier. They have been bringing in players they feel will bring much-needed experience in their bid to sustain their position in the top league beyond this season.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed how captain Harry Kane delivered a rousing speech to his team-mates after Tuesday's emphatic 5-0 win over Latvia in World Cup qualifying. Kane scored twice in the win as the Three Lions booked their place at World Cup 2026 with two games to spare. Tuchel's side also have a perfect record in qualifying so far, winning all six games and are yet to concede a single goal.

The veteran tactician has hinted he might not consider any other coaching offer after reaching several milestones with South Africa in both the continent and the world at large. The former Cameroon coach has been at the helm of the national team since May 2021, when he replaced Molefi Ntseki, who had failed to deliver the set objectives.

The 73-year-old has been a rock in Mzansi football, where he has ensured the national team gets back to its rightful place, not only on the continent but the world at large. He has explained how he had to give his best to get players with the right attitude to represent the country and ensure they deliver consistently across all competitions.

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has sent out a strong message after scoring twice for his country in a 2-2 draw with Hungary in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night. His brace means that the 40-year-old superstar has now scored 41 times in World Cup qualifying history, moving past the record of 39 previously held by Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz, but Portugal still have work to do to qualify.

“Complicated” is the best word to describe this FIFA window for Javier Aguirre and the Mexican national team. El Tri wrapped the October break with a 4-0 loss to Colombia and a 1-1 draw with Ecuador. As Mexico looks ahead to November’s friendlies against Uruguay and Paraguay, Aguirre is expected to present a clearer idea of his World Cup squad.