“The 2026 tournament is the 10th since it was expanded in 2017, from 38 to 47 teams. And it wasn’t just an expansion of teams in the tournament, it was also an expansion of the tournament’s length. 10 years ago, the Libetadores’ schedule was expanded from a 6 month-time-frame to a whopping and roster-depleting 11 month-long tournament (to the detriment of smaller clubs). Since then, no team from a country other than Brazil or Argentina has won the title. Brazilian teams have won it 8 times since the tournament-expansion, and an Argentinian team has won it once since then. And Brazilian sides have won the last 7 titles. (Copa Libertadores winner in 2025 was Flamengo, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; it was the club’s 4th Libertadores title. Copa Sudamericana winner in 2025 was Lanús, a club from the southern suburbs of Buenos Aires, Argentina.) …”
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W – 2026 Copa Libertadores
2026 Copa Libertadores
2026 Copa Libertadores Map (47 teams), with club histories (Libertadores appearances & titles listed).
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“The 2026 
“Pep Guardiola was defiant in his press conference after Manchester City threw away a two-goal lead to draw with Spurs, but he did admit his side have ‘difficulties for many things’. They are the kind of things that mean City’s latest dropped points cannot be explained by the unusual Tottenham curse, which has seen them win just four of their 12 matches against the Londoners since the start of the 2021-22 season. If there is an underlying reason for that poor head-to-head record then it may be that Spurs, seemingly no matter how much they may be struggling, relish the opportunity to hit teams on the break, and have been able to turn over City when they have been trying to find some momentum themselves. …”
Manchester United owners Avram Glazer, Jim Ratcliffe, Joel Glazer and Malcolm Glazer on a devil’s fork held by a protestor in May 2025
Dominic Solanke scores his spectacular second goal as Spurs fight back from two down to draw with Manchester City
Jagiellonia Bialystok fans at a Conference League game. Their club is one of three from Poland to have made the knockout phase this season.
“… Striker Omar Bogle, who plays for Crewe Alexandra in League Two, is recalling to The Athletic the frightening moment last year when he became addicted to sleeping pills and painkillers. He initially started taking the pills after suffering a back fracture during pre-season in the summer of 2024. Bogle described the back fracture as the worst pain he’d ever felt. In agony and struggling to sleep, he turned to sleeping pills and, similarly to the painkillers he was taking, at the beginning, he found them helpful. …”
Coventry players celebrate during their Championship win over Leicester this month
“When UEFA changed the format of the Champions League, it was for nights like this. The Swiss model, now more famous than Swiss Cottage station on the London Tube network but not yet as famous as Swiss cheese, replaced the old eight groups of four model (less catchy) in 2024. The final day was pretty good last year, with 64 goals in the 18 games, but no big teams dropped out and the big will-they-won’t-they? of the night saw Paris Saint-Germain stroll past Stuttgart 4-1 to avoid an early elimination (wonder what happened to them). …”
“Liverpool had just secured a 3-0 win away at Marseille in the UEFA Champions League last Wednesday when the text message landed on Jamie Carragher’s phone. The former Liverpool defender was in the middle of post-match analysis on CBS Sports in the United States but his mother, Paula, stole the show. ‘Oh my god,’ she wrote. ‘What a win! Been at the theatre, just seen the score, made up!’ Encouraged by his co-analyst Micah Richards (known as Big Meeks at CBS towers), 
A protester wearing a placard and distributing leaflets against the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan and advocating for the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympic Games
“Anyone not plugged into football’s online discourse may have missed it, but the analytics community was rocked by a seismic event last week. FBref.com, once the great Alexandrian library of free football data, has been stripped of its advanced metrics after announcing on January 20 that Stats Perform, the company behind Opta, had informed them it was terminating their data agreement. Why did this happen? What does it mean for the availability of advanced football data, or for informed, independent football analysis? And can we enjoy expected goals anywhere else online? Here is an attempt to explain… ”
“Whatever Hansi Flick said in the Barcelona dressing room at half time, it worked wonders. Having gone 1-0 down to Copenhagen in the fourth minute, goals from Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford steered the Catalans into the Champions League last 16 with a 4-1 home victory on Wednesday night. It means Barca avoid having to contest a play-off to reach the knockout stages proper, after a win that moved them up into the top eight of the league phase table. For Copenhagen, a spirited and battling display ultimately ends with defeat and elimination. …”
“A 3-2 Chelsea win in Naples has sealed a top-eight finish in the Champions League for the Premier League side and eliminated their opponents from the competition, as Liam Rosenior’s promising start at the club continues. It was advantage Chelsea early on, after Enzo Fernandez’s 19th-minute penalty put the London side 1-0 up. Napoli were unhappy with the decision to penalise Juan Jesus — jumping up from his position in a defensive wall — for handball. And the home side seemingly used that sense of injustice to shake off their lethargy, with the rest of the first half a consistent stream of Napoli attacks. …”
“Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain are both now in the Champions League knockout phase play-offs after a tense 1-1 draw at Parc des Princes. Both went into the game in the top eight teams — who go straight to the last 16 — but results elsewhere mean they will need two-legged play-offs to advance further. Vitinha put PSG ahead with a beautifully-placed finish after Ousmane Dembele had missed an early penalty given harshly against Lewis Miley for a handball. And though the hosts dominated the majority of the first half, Joe Willock headed in an equaliser just before the break with Newcastle’s first shot on target. …”
“It was four days after Christmas, and 58 years after he started supporting Bristol Rovers, when Mike Jay snapped. Rovers were at home to Barnet in League Two and in the seconds before half-time, Barnet went 1-0 up. Rovers falling behind was not news to Jay, and he got his half-time cup of tea as usual. But then he did something truly unusual. He did not re-take his seat. Instead, Jay walked up the slope, through the blue gates at the top of the Memorial Ground, and went home. …”
Qarabag celebrate their win against Eintracht Frankfurt
“Although Senegal’s AFCON final victory against Morocco drew a full crowd, the tournament confirmed a persistent reality. Outside of host-nation matches, stadiums stands remained sparse. With twenty-four teams competing, representing nearly half of Africa’s nations, one might have expected significant traveling support for each country’s games. Yet, even with impeccable organization and world-class facilities, attendance remained sparse, revealing deeper, systemic issues that extend well beyond sport. This phenomenon is not new. In Egypt (2019), to fill empty stands, organizers had recourse to soldiers dressed in team colors (BBC Sport, 2019). The sparse stands that television production cannot hide are a recurring characteristic of many AFCON matches. …”
“Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season. Every week, we will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust. The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at the Spanish champions, all of whom wanted to speak anonymously to protect relationships. …”
“Two sensational finishes from Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha gave Manchester United a shock 3-2 win against Arsenal in an incredible game at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta’s side went into the weekend seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, but they now lead by just four after defeat to United and City beating Wolves on Saturday. Cunha scored from distance after Mikel Merino had equalised for Arsenal late on. This followed Dorgu’s strike that had put United ahead after Bryan Mbeumo had equalised following an error from Martin Zubimendi. Arsenal felt they could have had a penalty when the ball struck a diving Harry Maguire on the hand, but nothing was given. Arsenal had initially gone in front through a Lisandro Martinez own goal. …”
“So much for Liverpool having turned a corner. The hope provided by an impressive Champions League triumph over Marseille in midweek was whipped away by a dismal Premier League defeat at the hands of Bournemouth. One step forward, two steps back. This was another act of self-sabotage for their collection as Arne Slot’s side rallied from 2-0 down to restore parity, only to capitulate late on when Amine Adli bundled home the winner from a long throw-in. It’s the fifth time this season Liverpool have conceded a result-defining goal deep into stoppage time, with a total of seven points frittered away. How costly they could prove to be. …”
Amine Adli scores from a tight angle to seal Bournemouth’s win
“Ali Radjel’s teeth are stained yellow and brown but he does not mind showing them because it gives him an opportunity to talk about the disputed territory he represents as a footballer. Dentists in Spain, where Radjel now lives, have told him the discolouration is a consequence of drinking too much salt water (fluoride) as a child in Tindouf, a refugee camp associated with Western Sahara, a region also known as the last colony of Africa. He says many of his friends from the same camp have this problem: ‘It is like a tattoo — it tells everyone, ‘We come from the desert… where it is hard to survive…’ …He loves Spain for giving him a future, but he longs for Western Sahara, even though he has never been able to truly call it home. Spain withdrew from the territory after 92 years of control in 1975, transferring power initially to Morocco, located to the north, and Mauritania to the south. …”
“Real Madrid and Barcelona were football’s top-earning superpowers last season, according to Deloitte’s latest Football Money League report. Madrid topped the annual listing of club revenues for the third year running and 15th time in 21 seasons, generating £975million ($1.309bn) in 2024-25, leading second-placed Barcelona by more than £150m. Liverpool became the second English club to book more than £700million in revenue during their charge to the Premier League title, yet their income last term was only enough to rank them fifth worldwide. It is the first time in the report’s 29-year history that no English side has featured in the top four. …”
“Change is the only constant in football. In the modern game, players can reasonably expect to meet new team-mates, new managers (or head coaches), and fulfil new tactical demands within an average two-year cycle. Combine that with an ever-congested fixture calendar, and it can be difficult to keep up with the physical requirements that are placed on a professional footballer. …”
Galatasaray should now make the play-offs, despite a tricky-looking final-day trip to Manchester City “We are down to next Wednesday’s final-day bonanza in the Champions League, with 18 simultaneous games to close out the initial league phase. Seven matchdays in, only Arsenal and Bayern Munich have guaranteed spots in the round of 16 in March. Third-placed Real Madrid and Juventus in 15th are separated by just three points, and with some of the teams in-between them playing each other in the final round of matches, expect the table to undergo a bewildering amount of change during Matchday 8. …”
Brahim Diaz’s missed Panenka penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final 
Perez, pictured at the Bernabeu on Saturday
“It is almost three years since a stark verdict was delivered on the chaotic scenes that preceded the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. ‘It is remarkable that no one lost their lives,’ concluded an independent review of that fraught evening that ended with Real Madrid beating Liverpool. UEFA, as event organisers, was found to 
“On the patch of grass where it all began, it’s amazing how little has changed in the 60 years or so since the people in this street could look out their front windows and, unbeknown to them, watch a wonderful story taking shape. If you have never been to Viewpark, 10 miles east of Glasgow, you might not appreciate the history. You might barely notice the rectangular strip of grass, surrounded on three sides by pebbledashed terraced houses, in a street called Woodview. The entire scene might seem insignificant — until, that is, you consider the identities of some of the players who used to trample down the grass here as young boys. …”
“Welcome to the latest edition of Inside Barcelona, our weekly series to follow throughout La Liga’s 2025-26 season. Every week, we will bring you key information and analysis on the biggest talking points, cutting through the noisy world of all things Barca with reporting you can trust. The information contained in this article reflects multiple conversations with various sources at the Spanish champions, all of whom wanted to speak anonymously to protect relationships. …”
“… Two Liverpool fans are walking towards Turnstile E for The Kop and are met with a line of people which is building beyond the flagpole that stands at the corner of Anfield’s most famous enclosure and the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand. It is 7.17pm last Monday, with less than half an hour to go until the FA Cup third-round tie against Barnsley kicks off, and it is already clear that some of these fans are not going to see the game begin. It is equally bad in other areas: at Turnstile W, the line stretches so far that it reaches the club shop …”
“Youssou N’Dour’s ‘Gaindé’ is the perfect music to listen to during a trophy ceremony. It is rhythmic, uplifting, and irresistibly catchy. That’s what I was thinking to myself as it blared through the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium sound system and confetti cannons blasted golden ribbons into the rainy Rabat night. Moments later, Sadio Mané lifted the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in front of the photographer corps furiously clicking their shutters, immortalizing the 35th champion of our continent’s flagship tournament. To be honest, the rest of the night feels like a fever dream. I only remember flashes burned into my mind like overexposed film. …”
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Lailah Khallouk, left, and Saoud Talsi outside Trellick Tower. Football ‘has completely united the Moroccan diaspora’.
“Reading the Africa Cup of Nations through its stands alone means missing what it produces socially. The stands give the tournament a visible form, but they offer only a partial account of how the tournament is lived. The stands bring together, in a single place, gestures that give meaning to the tournament. Michel Kuka Mboladinga’s performance, which reproduced the posture of Lumumba, is a striking illustration of this. Such a scene resonates because it condenses, in a single moment, a political memory and a sporting event. The stadium offers a stage to gestures that then take on a different dimension. It concentrates, and makes legible what would otherwise remain diffuse. This is why the stands continue to occupy a central place in how a tournament is perceived, evaluated, and judged. But a decisive part of the tournament’s experience unfolds in more ordinary spaces, where engagement takes other forms. In cafés, public spaces, and informal settings, often well before the question of going to the stadium even arises. …”
“Nigeria ended their penalty hoodoo by beating Egypt in a shootout to claim third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a goalless draw. Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali brilliantly saved efforts from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, allowing Ademola Lookman to settle it despite attempted mind games from Pharaohs keeper Mostafa Shobeir. The West Africans had 
“What is it really like to be a football manager? How do you escape the pressure? What impact do results have on your family? How long are the hours? Where do your best ideas come from? Do players still get a rocket at half-time? Can you wear what you want on the touchline? And, most importantly of all, how do you choose from 17 different varieties of cider? To find out the answers to all those questions and more, The Athletic spent a month with a head coach in the most volatile and unpredictable league in English football: the Championship. Gerhard Struber, a 48-year-old Austrian, took over at Bristol City last summer after spells with Koln, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls, and Barnsley. …”
“It is coming up to two years since Sir Jim Ratcliffe got his hands on a piece of Manchester United and set about his mission to restore the club to ‘the top of the game’. It would not be a quick fix, the petrochemicals billionaire said, given the sense of decline and drift that had taken hold over the previous decade. It wasn’t a case of flicking a switch or waving a magic wand. ‘We have to walk to the right solution,’ he told the 
“The dominant reaction to Liverpool’s season has been one of disbelief. Seven consecutive wins to start the campaign were followed by nine defeats in their subsequent 12 across all competitions, with few reigning Premier League champions experiencing such a sharp decline in such a short space of time. Arne Slot’s second season was always likely to come with choppier waters. Becoming the hunted league champions, reshaping a playing squad and experiencing an incomprehensible summer of loss is enough to unsettle any club. Still, no one anticipated the events that have occurred in recent months. Still, despite some disappointing draws, there have since been green shoots of recovery with Liverpool currently on an unbeaten run of 11 games in all competitions. …”
“The best thing about the Africa Cup of Nations is its ability to shrink our vast continent. It spins connections between places assumed to be distant and disconnected, only to reveal how deeply Africans are bound by shared dreams and struggles. The semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations between Senegal and Egypt does precisely that, drawing an unlikely line from Bambali, Senegal, to Nagrig, Egypt. Until recently, both villages were unknown even to most Senegalese and Egyptians, let alone the wider footballing world. It was only with the rise of their most famous sons, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, into global stardom that their names began to circulate beyond borders. …”
“There is a class of footballer, to which Victor Osimhen now unmistakably belongs, against whom the only useful preparation is a steeling of the mind. To face up against those in this cadre is to know what is coming, but be powerless to prevent it. Against Algeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal, poor Ramy Bensebaini had the best view in Stade Marrakech, bearing witness as the striker took flight, laughed in the face of gravity, and headed home. As has been his wont for half a decade now. Dread it, run from it, Osimhen arrives just the same, with the certitude of destiny. …”
“‘We see potential spies and enemies everywhere,’ says David. ‘It can be at border control or it can be in a cafe. The other day, a guy was looking at me strangely, so I left without finishing my breakfast, and jumped in a taxi — asking the driver to take me to the wrong address.’ David is an Eritrean footballer, a refugee who — when we speak in late 2023 — thinks government agents are still watching him even though he fled the country a long time ago and is now thousands of miles away. Though he has claimed asylum abroad, his fears mean he often sleeps with a chair pressed against the door of his bedroom. Sometimes he will have nightmares about a group of men armed with weapons bursting in and taking him away. …”
Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou makes a crucial penalty save against Nigeria Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou makes a crucial penalty save against Nigeria
“It was a bolt from the blue. Xabi Alonso’s position as Real Madrid head coach had been in danger for some time, but the brutal manner of his sacking on Monday evening still shocked. Almost nobody knew it was coming. Players and staff were not told to expect the club’s announcement — nor were the communications team. One figure involved every day at Madrid’s training ground found out when reading the news on his phone in the supermarket. Alonso’s time at the Bernabeu has been incredibly short. The former Madrid, Liverpool and Spain midfielder was only hired in May, but by December there was real pressure on him — before a series of victories seemed to buy him some breathing space. Sunday’s 3-2 defeat by Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final followed five wins in a row, including a 5-1 success against Real Betis in La Liga the previous weekend. …”
Scissors Kick 