Roundup

Ferran Torres hints at Barcelona exit

Ferran Torres hints at Barcelona exit

Speaking to NBC, Torres acknowledged having a contract but emphasized the importance of making the right decision. His comments follow earlier reports suggesting PSG's interest in signing him before Spain's World Cup debut against Cape Verde.

Barcelona now faces a dilemma: whether to sell Torres before his contract expires or keep him until the end. The price factor is crucial, as any funds from a potential transfer would be needed to secure a replacement. The club must weigh PSG's potential offer against the risk of losing the player for nothing next year. amunra.qpon

Leagues Cup Returns: What To Know, Predictions For MLS-Liga MX Tournament

The summer of soccer continues after the best World Cup ever. This time, select teams from Major League Soccer and their Liga MX counterparts will kick off the Leagues Cup in the latest edition of the tournament. Here's what to know as 36 teams featuring star players like Inter Miami's Lionel Messi square off in the Leagues Cup. The action begins on Wednesday with a full slate of games, including the Seattle Sounders taking on Toluca (10 p.m. ET on FS1). Which MLS and Liga MX Teams Are Playing? In all there are 36 teams who'll participate in the Leagues Cup. The tournament will feature 18 of the 30 MLS clubs and all 18 Liga MX squads. The 18 MLS clubs that qualified were based on the 2025 regular season table. Check out the full schedule. Each team will play three opponents from the other league for a total of 54 MLS vs. Liga MX catchups in the first phase alone. But each league will have its own specific table for this competition. The top four from each table advance to the knockout round. What Is The Competition Format? When Is The Final? This year's edition of the Leagues Cup is played in two phases. The tournament uses a no-ties format to ensure a winner in every match: • Phase One (Aug. 4–13) — 54 MLS vs. LIGA MX matchups in a round-robin format • 3 points for a regulation win• 2 points for a penalty shootout win (after a tie)• 1 point for a penalty shootout loss • Knockout Rounds (Aug. 25–Sept. 6) - Single-elimination bracket beginning with the quarterfinals and culminating in the final on Sept. 6. Will Argentina's Lionel Messi Play For Inter Miami? Following Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain on July 19 at the FIFA World Cup final, Messi took some time off before reporting back to duty with Inter Miami. He is expected to play for Inter Miami during the Leagues Cup and the rest of the MLS regular season. He'll be joined by his Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul and newly arrived Brazilian midfielder Casemiro. It was at this tournament in 2023 in which Messi made his Inter Miami debut. He and Miami went on to win the inaurgural edition, giving him his first piece of silverware stateside. Inter Miami's League Cup Schedule Aug. 5: Inter Miami vs. Atlético San LuisAug. 8: Inter Miami vs. MonterreyAug. 12: Inter Miami vs. León Any USA Stars From the World Cup Playing? Several of the players who were part of the USA's squad this summer at the World Cup are expected to play. Those include defender Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), goalkeeper Matt Freese (NYCFC) and midfielder Alejandro Zendejas (Club América). Other players from the USMNT squad include keeper Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), midfielder Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) and defender Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Two players who just missed the World Cup roster were Real Salt Lake duo Diego Luna and Zavier Gozo. Those two will be playing in the Leagues Cup as well. What Are Some Other World Cup Stars At The Leagues Cup? Plenty of international star power will be featured throughout the tournament. That includes LAFC's Son Heung-min, who has been part of several South Korea World Cup squads. Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas Mueller won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, while new Orlando City signing Antoine Griezmann lifted the World Cup trophy with France in 2018. Robert Lewandowski, who featured for Poland, will play for the Chicago Fire. The Liga MX teams feature several talents from Mexico's World Cup team, including 17-year-old Gilberto Mora (Tijuana). Four players from Chivas – Luis Romo, Roberto Alvarado, Brian Gutierrez, Armando Gonzalez – played for Mexico this summer. What's At Stake? The Leagues Cup provides three spots for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup, which involves top teams across North America. The Leagues Cup winner gets a Round of 16 spot in that tournament, which has a direct path to bigger events such as the FIFA Club World Cup. Any Predictions On Who'll Win It All? The first two editions of this tournament saw teams from Liga MX win (Cruz Azul in 2019, León in 2021). Since then, it's been all MLS with Inter Miami (2023), the Columbus Crew (2024), and the Seattle Sounders (2025) taking it all. In fact, no Liga MX team has even made the final since 2021. For this edition, expect that to change. Look for a top-tier team like Club América to try and reach the final. Pumas UNAM, Cruz Azul and Toluca have also been among the best Liga MX teams in recent seasons. On the MLS side, don't discount Messi and Inter Miami reaching the final again. Nashville tops the current MLS standing while Vancouver and LAFC are also teams primed for a deep run here.

Netflix Adds Foles, Matthews to Week 1 Studio

Netflix has added former NFL stars Nick Foles and Clay Matthews to the studio panel for the Week 1 49ers‑Rams game in Australia. The panel will be hosted by Elle Duncan with analyst Michael Irvin.

The network indicated that this lineup could return for the remaining four 2026 Netflix games, with a consistent studio presence planned across the season.

Cowboys TE Fant Carted Off with Knee Injury

Cowboys tight end Princeton Fant was carted off from Monday's practice after suffering an apparent left knee injury. Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports Fant was scheduled for an MRI to determine the extent of the damage.

The injury occurred during a knee-to-knee hit after Fant was blocked backward into running back Israel Abanikanda during the Cowboys' first padded practice of training camp. Fant was unable to put weight on his left leg. The Cowboys have other tight ends on roster including Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford and Luke Schoonmaker.

Saudi Arabia Readies for 2034 World Cup Amid PIF Shift

Designated as the 2034 World Cup host a year and a half ago, Saudi Arabia says it can meet the challenge of hosting 64 teams. The country’s Public Investment Fund has shifted strategy, dropping support for LIV golf, halting plans for artificial ski slopes and a luxury winter Games complex, and now prioritising football, sustainability and infrastructure. The league’s new top‑tier club, Al‑Kholood, is owned by foreign investor Ben Harburg, signalling growing foreign interest in Saudi football.

In brief

Los Angeles FC Co-Owner Larry Berg Appointed As Next MLS Commissioner Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg will be the next commissioner of the MLS, succeeding Don Garber.

Atkins explains why Blue Jays held on to Springer and other vets Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins discusses why the team felt comfortable not selling on key veteran pieces like George Springer, Max Scherzer, and Shane Bieber.

‘A tough day’: Blue Jays’ Schneider reflects on emotions of trade deadline Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider meets with the media after the team’s 3-1 win over the Houston Astros and discusses the emotions involved in trade deadline day and Shane Bieber’s performance after the starter was involved in rumours.

VM-sensasjonen klar for ny klubb – tatt imot som en helt Kapp Verdes VM-keeper Vozinha (40) har signert for den chilenske toppklubben Colo Colo. Keeperen fikk en heltemottakelse i Chile. Overgangen til Colo Colo har ligget i kortene i nesten to uker, men papirarbeid og innreisetrøbbel har satt en vent på signeringen. Nå har Josimar José Évora Dias, bedre kjent som