GM football fans. It’s Tuesday, August. 26 - The next edition of the Club World Cup won’t take place during the winter, Rangers have had a tough start under Martin, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY RESULT
Premier League: Newcastle United 2-3 Liverpool. Rio Ngumoha is the second 16-year-old to score a winning goal (UK link / NA link) in a Premier League game, after Wayne Rooney in October 2002 for Everton vs. Arsenal. He scored in the 90’+10 minute to make sure his side collected all three points after having lost their lead to a 10-man Newcastle side following Antony Gordon’s 45-minute red card. Liverpool have now scored in 98% of their league matches under Arne Slot (39/40), the highest percentage by any manager with 15 or more games in Premier League history. Read the full match report here.
See the Premier League table here.
Results…
Serie A: Inter 5-0 Torino | Udinese 1-1 Hellas Verona
Liga MX: Pumas 0-0 Puebla | Atlas 2-4 Club America
TOP TALKING POINTS
FIFA Reject Winter CWC
Fifa has told the continental confederations that the 2029 Club World Cup will take place in the summer, effectively ruling out a proposed bid from Qatar to host the tournament in winter. The news has eased tensions between Fifa and the European leagues, which had been concerned they would have to change their calendars to accommodate a winter edition.
Lobbying from clubs to increase the number of teams from 32 to 48 has intensified since it was first reported in June. Fifa has reportedly indicated that some expansion is likely in 2029, but a move to a 48-team model is not guaranteed.
Fifa is also considering an alternative structure for 2029 involving qualifying play-offs the week before the main tournament, with winners advancing into the group stage. The governing body believes this could generate additional hype and increase the value of its TV rights.
Rangers’ Tough Start
Scottish Premiership side Rangers have recorded their worst league start in 36 years, sitting seventh with three points in as many matches. Across all competitions, new head coach Russell Martin has just three wins from his first nine games, the worst record of any permanent Rangers manager.
After their draw to St Mirren on the weekend, Martin revealed that forward Hamza Igamane refused to come off the bench, claiming to have an injury. Igamane’s future is uncertain, having already been the subject of a failed transfer bid last week by French club Lille. Rangers started the game without a recognised centre-forward.
Celtic, who have had a perfect start to the season, can go nine points clear of their rivals if they win next Sunday’s Old Firm derby at Ibrox. Before that, however, Rangers must try to rescue their Champions League hopes in Wednesday’s trip to Club Brugge, trailing 3-1 on aggregate.
English League Cup 2nd Round
The English League Cup returns on Tuesday (August 26) for the second round of the competition. Premier League clubs who haven’t qualified for Europe enter this phase of the competition. See the fixtures here.
Manchester United, who last won the competition in 2023, enter the second round for the first time in 11 years as they face League Two side Grimsby Town. The last time they entered at this stage, they were famously beaten 4-0 by MK Dons, then two divisions below them.
There are two all-Premier League ties, with Bournemouth hosting Brentford and Wolves at home to West Ham. Meanwhile, Everton will play their second competitive match at the club’s new stadium as they welcome Mansfield Town. Fulham will welcome Bristol City, Brighton will travel to Oxford United, Burnley will host Derby, and Sunderland will entertain Huddersfield Town. The rest of the Premier League teams will enter the competitions in the next round.
There are a total of seven rounds in the EFL Cup before the final. Dive deeper into the history of the competition here.
POLL
Do you think there's a way back for Alexander Isak in the Newcastle squad if he doesn't move this summer?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Champions League qualifiers will conclude on Tuesday (Aug 26) with Kairat vs. Celtic (Agg 0-0), Pafos vs. Red Star Belgrade (Agg 2-1), Sturm Graz vs. Bodo/Glimt (Agg 0-5); here’s what to look out for (More)
> Bukayo Saka is set to be sidelined for three to four weeks with a hamstring injury and will miss matches against Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Man City, and Newcastle (More) | Everton have signed Tyler Dibling from Southampton in a deal worth an initial £35m plus £5m in add-ons (More)
> La Liga has denied Barcelona’s request to play their fixture against Valencia in September away from home, despite their temporary home stadium hosting a concert that day (More)
> Jobe Bellingham’s parents have reportedly been banned from Borussia Dortmund’s dressing room after confronting the manager for substituting him at half-time (More)
Americas
> Expansion side San Diego FC became the first team to clinch a berth in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, courtesy of a combination of results from across the league (More)
> NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman has reportedly threatened to fine the Kansas City Current following a near-three-and-a-half-hour weather delay last weekend (More)
Rest of the World
> Kyoto Sanga maintained their hold on top spot in the J.League as a Rafael Elias hat-trick helped them to a 4-0 win over FC Tokyo (More)
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ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Are you planning on attending World Cup matches?
🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ 🏟️ Yes (41%)
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅♂️ Nope (55%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (4%)
Your punditry takes:
🏟️ M.H: “I’ve bought my right to buy for six people to attend one match in Toronto. Hoping we can get those seats together, that the price won’t be too crazy, and that the seats are decent. More importantly, fingers crossed that we get lucky with a good draw!”
🏟️ K.F: “Assuming I can get some reasonably priced tickets without having to go through expensive resale, I hope to attend several games. Not like the 1994 World Cup, where I easily bought tickets from the group stage through the semi-final at great prices.”
🙅♂️ M.T: “Would love to, but ticket prices are insane. I’ll be watching from the comfort of my home.”
🙅♂️ N.G: “Don’t want to risk travel to the USA, and prices are way OTT for pensioners, and the attached costs of travel and accommodation make it really out of reach. TV and streaming may be my only option.”
EXTRA TIME
Isak’s dilemma has made its way to pro wrestling.
… and Carragher & Henry compare him to Ekitike.
What does your club need before transfer window shuts?
When is the Champions League draw and how does it work?
The weekend’s best stats from every European league.
Behind the scenes of a pre-season tour. (video)
Why Italy’s stadiums are a big problem.
GAME FACE ON
Question: Below are the names of old stadiums that have either been renamed or no longer exist. Can you name which clubs played at these stadiums?
Vicente Calderon.
Maine Road.
Westfalenstadion.
Walkers Stadium.
Stadio San Paolo.
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
UEFA Champions League Play-offs
Kairat vs. Celtic (Agg 0-0) (17:45)
Pafos vs. Red Star Belgrade (Agg 2-1) (20:00)
Sturm Graz vs. Bodo/Glimt (Agg 0-5) (20:00)
English League Cup, 2nd Round
See all the fixtures here.
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
Atletico Madrid. Manchester City. Borussia Dortmund. Leicester City. Napoli.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
Rome wasn't built in a day. But I wasn't on that particular job.
