GM football fans. It’s Monday, August. 4 - the Premier League refuses to reduce its size, Brazil women continue to dominate the Copa America Femenina, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
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TOP TALKING POINTS
Prem Rejects Sizing Down
The Premier League has ruled out reducing the size of the league from 20 to 18 clubs, amid tension between the league and Fifa over the congested international calendar. Richard Masters, the Premier League's chief executive, says that the league will not be "forced into that decision," asserting that the growth of global football should not come "at the expense of domestic football." While the Premier League was originally designed to be reduced from 22 clubs to 18 when it was founded three decades ago, the change stuck at the 20 sides agreed for the 1995-96 season.
France’s Ligue 1 reduced from 20 to 18 teams for the 2023-24 season, partly due to fixture congestion. It’s also thought that reducing the number of clubs in the top flight increases the broadcast revenue per club.
To ease fixture congestion, the Premier League has stopped scheduling clubs for Saturday lunchtime kick-offs after playing Wednesday night European fixtures. They’ve also increased recovery time during the Christmas period. However, the English top flight has denied Manchester City and Chelsea’s request to delay their start to the season following their involvement in the Club World Cup.
See the Premier League’s opening weekend fixtures here.
Son Heung-min Leaves Spurs
Tottenham captain Son Heung-min says he will leave the club this summer after 10 years. Son joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in August 2015 for £22m, and has scored 173 goals, the fifth-highest for the club, in 454 competitive matches. In May, he captained his side to Europa League victory, their first trophy in 17 years.
The South Korean international played his final game for Spurs yesterday in a 1-1 pre-season friendly draw with Newcastle in his home country. Players from both teams gave Son a sending off–watch here.
The 33-year-old is in advanced talks to join MLS side Los Angeles FC. The United States is home to the largest Korean population outside of Asia, with the biggest cohort residing in LA. While Spurs are reportedly willing to be flexible with their transfer fee, reports claim LAFC will pay around £15.1m for the winger.
In related news, Spurs have signed Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha on a season-long loan deal. Dive deeper into what Palhinha offers Spurs’ midfielder here.
Brazil Secure Copa Femenina
Brazil women came from behind three times before winning the penalty shootout 5-4 after a 4-4 draw against Colombia to secure their ninth Copa America Femenina title. The Brazilian women have won eight of the nine editions and have now secured their fifth consecutive title.
Six-time Fifa Female Player of the Year Marta came off the bench to score twice, including an out-of-the-box volley in stoppage time to take the match to extra-time–watch the goal here. The 39-year-old retired from international football after Brazil won silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but manager Arthur Elias recalled her to his squad for pre-tournament friendlies in May.
Despite their continental dominance, Brazil have yet to win a Fifa Women’s World Cup or an Olympic gold. Their best finishes remain runners-up at the 2007 World Cup and silver medals at the 2004, 2008, and 2024 Olympics.
POLL
Are you in favour of domestic leagues reducing their size to ease fixture congestion?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Huddersfield Town end Matchday 1 as League One leaders following their 3-0 win over Leyton Orient (More); see full results (More) | Wrexham have signed former England international Conor Coady from Leicester for £2m (More) | Dive deeper into a full EFL round-up (More)
> Rangers drew their first match of the new Scottish Premiership season 1-1 away at Motherwell (More); see full results from Matchday 1 (More)
> Novak Djokovic has become an investor of Ligue 2 club Le Mans FC through a Brazilian investment firm (More)
> Thomas Partey, who has been charged with sexual assault, is set to join Spanish side Villarreal after completing his medical (More)
> Dele Alli, 29, is considering retirement after being told by Cesc Fabregas that he’s not part of Como’s plans (More) | Ademola Lookman says he has handed in a transfer request at Atalanta after accusing the club of "breaking promises" to him (More)
Americas
> Manchester United have won the Premier League Summer Series hosted in the United States (See Results)
> Messi injured his hamstring in Inter Miami’s 5-4 penalty shootout win over Necaxa following a 2-2 draw in Matchday 2 of Leagues Cup Phase One (More) | Leagues Cup results (More) | Lionel Messi’s bodyguard has been suspended for the rest of the Leagues Cup tournament for pushing two Atlas players (More)
> NWSL: Kansas City Current extend their NWSL lead with a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville; KC Current bought forward Ally Sentnor from Utah Royals for an intra-league transfer record of $600,000 (More); see NWSL standings (More)
> USL: A stoppage-time winner by Giordano Colli saw FC Tulsa extend its lead at the top of the USL Championship’s Western Conference with a 3-2 victory against Loudoun United (More); see USL Championship results (More)
Rest of the World
> Wellington Phoenix have signed CJ Bott on a two-year deal from WSL side Leicester City (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Friday’s Poll: Are you worried about the travel bans ahead of the 2026 World Cup?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👍 Yes (55%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ 🙅♂️ Nope (45%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (5%)
Your punditry takes:
👍 S.B: “It’s a very big concern, in my opinion. Things are so up in the air right now, with decisions being made that lack any clear thought behind them. Can’t imagine a World Cup without those wonderful supporters from Brazil and other countries.”
👍 L: “I think the travel bans will greatly affect the economic impact that the tournament might otherwise have. I also think it will lower the overall atmosphere and importance of what is meant to be a global event.”
🙅♂️ D.B: “Just like everything else these days, threats are mostly hollow and ultimately what needs to happen will end up happening, especially if money’s involved. Fifa has some leverage, but I’ll bet it won’t be well deployed to influence the powers that be.”
EXTRA TIME
Every transfer in Europe’s top five leagues. (live tracker)
The best announcement video in the transfer window.
Goal of the Year contender in the Leagues Cup.
Fan steps in as linesman after injury in League Two match.
Bayern release all-black third kit.
Why Australia’s top clubs are losing millions every month.
Will Gyokeres solve Arsenal’s problems? (analysis)
GAME FACE ON
Guess the players from their transfers:
PSV (2019), Chelsea (2022), Arsenal (2025)
Ajax (2019), Bayern Munich (2022), Liverpool (2023)
Chelsea (2017), Bayer Leverkusen (2022), Nottingham Forest (2023)
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
Scottish Premiership
Hearts vs. Aberdeen (20:00)
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
Noni Madueke. Ryan Gravenberch. Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal. You have to earn the right to train with us.
