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There was a pitch invader in Wales' game with Belgium 🐭

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his first goal for France in their 2-2 draw with Iceland.

Ukraine's victory over Azerbaijan means they're in control of second place.

Sweden's defeat to Kosovo leaves them with one point from their four World Cup qualifying games.

Cape Verde celebrate their World Cup qualification on their bus 🇨🇻

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Nick Woltemade has scored his first goal for Germany, and gives Julian Nagelsmann's side the lead against Northern Ireland.

Sweden have gone 1-0 down to Kosovo. Fisnik Asllani has scored for the away side.

As it stands, Jon Dahl Tomasson's side will have one point from four games in their World Cup qualifying group.

Kevin De Bruyne has Belgium level against Wales.

The Napoli midfielder scored from the penalty spot after a handball was given against Ethan Ampadu.

Joe Rodon has given Wales the lead against Belgium.

A defeat tonight would leave Rudi Garcia's team with lots to do to qualify for next summer's World Cup.

Cape Verde become the third first-time qualifiers for next year's World Cup:

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
🇯🇴 Jordan
🇨🇻 Cape Verde

Cape Verde have qualified for the men’s World Cup for the first time following a 3-0 win against Eswatini.

Cape Verde have just become the smallest country by area to ever qualify for the World Cup.

The nation is smaller than 49 of the 50 U.S. states and could have fit into the Soviet Union — the largest country to ever play at the World Cup — 5,554 times.

Champions League to adopt U.S.-style kick-off game with defending champions hosting standalone opener The new format will mimic that of the German Bundesliga and the United States' NFL.

European football chiefs have introduced a new format for the men’s Champions League, starting in 2027-28, that will see the competition begin with a standalone Tuesday night match at the home of the reigning champions.

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Chelsea’s Millie Bright retires from England duty "I got to a stage where I needed to make smart decisions and look after my physical and mental health," Bright said.

Millie Bright has announced her retirement from international football.

Bright played 88 times for England, scoring six goals. Bright captained her country at the 2023 World Cup and was also a mainstay in the team which triumphed at the Euros in 2021.

@charpur.bsky.social

Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch to be assessed after suffering ‘minor’ hamstring issue Gravenberch was replaced at half-time during the Netherlands' World Cup qualifying victory over Finland.

Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch will be assessed after being replaced at half-time during Netherlands’ victory over Finland on Sunday.

Ronald Koeman explained Gravenberch had been experiencing hamstring discomfort.

@jamespearcelfc.bsky.social

TAFC: Agent survey – best and worst EPL deals; has Pochettino found a formula for USMNT? Today in TAFC: Agent survey brings up a striker debate. Plus: Has Poch found a formation?

🗳️ Best and worst transfers from our agent survey
💡 Has Pochettino found a formula for USMNT?
🤯 Haaland’s ridiculous run of goals
🤔 What we know about Man Utd ownership tweet

Today's TAFC newsletter ⤵️

We need to talk about Adam Wharton.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

It took Cristiano Ronaldo 114 games to score 50 international goals. It took Lionel Messi 107.

Erling Haaland only needed 46 games to reach that milestone with Norway.

Ali Daei scored his 100th goal for Iran in his 131st cap. Few would bet against Haaland obliterating that record.

bit.ly/4nPohrm

The Athletic’s Agent Survey: From best and worst deals to selecting champions and relegation candidates Welcome to our 2025 survey, which analyses a summer transfer window that saw the 20 Premier League clubs spend £3.11bn on 155 players

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜’𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲

We asked the game’s dealmakers about:

▪️ Best and worst deals
▪️ Under-the-radar signings that could surprise people
▪️ Will more players go on strike?

Scotland get the job done against Belarus... just.

Goals from Che Adams and Scott McTominay earn them victory in their pursuit of World Cup qualification.

Belarus scored late at Hampden Park through Gleb Kuchko, had a goal disallowed in the second half, and ended the match having had 22 shots.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann is the latest high-profile figure to come to the defence of Florian Wirtz following his slow start to life at Liverpool.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Arsenal end a four-game winless run with a 1-0 win over Brighton.

Marisa Olislagers' own goal proved the difference between the two sides at the Emirates.

Werder Bremen beat Hamburg 2-0 in the Frauen-Bundesliga on Saturday.

Werder Bremen captain Medina Desic came up with a new way of goading rivals after full-time.

Manchester United win the first Women's Super League match at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Marc Skinner's side came from a goal down to record a resounding win against Everton: Melvine Malard's strike, Jess Park's double and an own goal from Hikaru Kitagawa see United leave Merseyside with a 4-1 win.

Norway vs Israel was months in the planning for authorities, but politics seeped through Officials from both teams discussed Gaza and the controversy of Saturday's game, while there were protests and a small number of arrests

This was no ordinary World Cup qualifier. Norway’s discomfort in hosting Israel was clear and an enormous security operation was deemed necessary in Oslo.

The prospect of peace in Gaza has moved closer in the last week, but Norway told the world again that its alliance is with Palestinian people.

Ireland had managed to keep Portugal out for 90 minutes, but in the first minute of added time, Ruben Neves heads home from Francisco Trincao's cross to win it for Roberto Martinez's side.

You can't say the hosts didn't deserve it.

Caoimhin Kelleher loves saving a penalty — he's just stopped Cristiano Ronaldo from the spot.

Mikel Oyarzabal doubles Spain's lead over Georgia with a thumping free-kick.

It's a fantastic finish from Viktor Popov — who stretches his foot out, makes contact with the ball, and gets the ball to loop over the goalkeeper.

Unfortunately for the Bulgarian, the goalkeeper he lobbed was his own — and his goal gives Turkey the lead.

Giorgi Mamardashvili gives a penalty away against Spain — but he redeems himself, saving Ferran Torres' penalty.