Some leagues are on break but the Premier League -- led by Villa's impressive comeback win at Chelsea -- and Serie A are still in full swing. Gab Marcotti breaks down the weekend.
Morocco and Mali played to a 1-1 draw on Friday in their second AFCON Group A match, with both sides converting penalties awarded after VAR interventions.
Aitana Bonmatí said that breaking her leg is giving her the chance to relax for the first time in five years after topping ESPN FC Women's Rank for the third time in a row.
Marseille midfielder Darryl Bakola is attracting interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea. Transfer Talk has the latest news and rumors.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said it was "emotionally tough" to accept Crystal Palace's stoppage-time equaliser before his team went on to win 8-7 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in their Carabao Cup quarterfinal.
Liverpool could activate Antoine Semenyo's £65 million release clause in January following Alexander Isak's injury setback. Transfer Talk has the latest news and rumors.
Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players that if they overindulge over their Christmas break they risk being dropped from the squad for the next game against Nottingham Forest.
Aston Villa started poorly but they're now in running for the Premier League title. Can they sustain a challenge, and are they the 2024 Kansas City Chiefs of soccer?
Arsenal may be top of the Premier League at Christmas again, but Mikel Arteta's team are beginning to resemble one of those toys whose batteries have a frustratingly short lifespan.
Phil Parkinson defended "colossus" Arthur Okonkwo after the Wrexham goalkeeper's 90th-minute howler gifted Swansea a 2-1 victory in a hard-fought Welsh derby.
Manchester United have been put on alert as Al Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves wants to return to the Premier League. Transfer Talk has the latest news and rumors.
- American winger Cade Cowell returned to Major League Soccer on Wednesday when he was loaned to the New York Red Bulls from Chivas Guadalajara for one year.
Soccer player Mario Pineida was shot and killed Wednesday in an apparent attack amid escalating violence in Ecuador, the country's Interior Ministry and his club, Barcelona de Guayaquil, said.
Botafogo has sacked 36-year-old Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti, just five months into his first head coaching role following the club's failure to defend its league and Copa Libertadores titles.
Veteran defender Thiago Silva saw his stay at Fluminense come to an end on Wednesday and reportedly wants a move back to Europe to revive his hopes of playing for Brazil at the World Cup.
Nigeria are hoping to revive their hopes of appearing at the 2026 World Cup with complaint to FIFA over the use of at least nine ineligible players by Congo DR.
Former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey said Pumas terminated his one-year contract unexpectedly after just six injury-hampered matches with the Mexican side.
Manchester United and Bournemouth played out to an entertaining match, but Ruben Amorim's side will need to improve ahead of next month's transfer window.
United States midfielder Tyler Adams has suspected medial collateral ligament damage after limping out of Bournemouth's 4-4 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League on Monday.
Toluca defeated UANL Tigres on penalty kicks 9-8 on Sunday night to win the Apertura tournament title and became the fifth team since 1996 to win back-to-back titles in the Mexican league.
Scott Parker said the sound of Burnley fans booing at the final whistle of Saturday's 3-2 home loss to Fulham "breaks my heart" after his relegation-battling side fell to a seventh straight Premier League loss.
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos' straight-talking approach has usually worked out well, but his recent comments on Mbekezeli Mbokazi were not only factually incorrect, but out of touch with Mzansi.
Ángel Correa scored a second-half goal on Thursday, and the Tigres UANL defeated reigning champion Toluca 1-0 in the first leg of the Liga MX Apertura final.
The NWSL's Board of Governors has approved a new roster mechanism to pay select star players above and beyond the current salary cap, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.
Man United may want to be a domestic and European powerhouse but, on Wednesday, the ever-impressive OL Lyonnes showed Marc Skinner's side just how far they have to go.