Team USA takes centre stage on Friday evening as the 2026 World Cup's third opening ceremony unfolds at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, featuring pop star Katy Perry. The USMNT faces Paraguay in their tournament opener, a moment of reckoning for American soccer on home soil amid visa concerns, soaring ticket prices, and competing sports dominating the conversation. Follow our blog to learn more.
The FIFA World Cup returns on June 11 and for the very first time, three countries will host the tournament across 16 different locations. Lionel Messi will look to defend his country’s title for Argentina, as 47 other teams look to depose them over the stretch of 39 days across the North American continent. Fans […]
A stoppage-time eruption and a crying Manolo González means the Catalan club’s long-awaited victory changes everythingAfter 143 days and many more sleepless nights Manolo González was liberated, if only for a little while. In the 92nd minute of the 19th game of 2026, something amazing happened: Espanyol won and Espanyol went wild. A goal up against Athletic Club, a late Gorka Guruzeta header had shaken them more than the post it hit, a familiar fatalism refusing to leave, and they were desperately hanging on to what they had now and had lost too many times before, whistling for this suffering to finally end, when at last they could let go. “You have to be strong in life but, bloody hell, we all have limits,” González said, and they had reached theirs but now, on a Wednesday evening in May, they were released.Ramon Terrats, a boyhood Espanyol, nodded the ball on. Kike García, the only member of the squad born in the 80s and a man with a bit of the 80s about him, a 36-year-old, 6ft 1in, 12-stone striker they call the “labourer of goals”, a sub who had only been out there six minutes, ran on to it. Keeping his head, he guided a shot past Unai Simón so everyone else could lose theirs. The clock said 91.06. The scoreboard said 2-0. The table said: 14th, 42 points, 11 wins. And 29,943 people said: argrhjrfujhkngsafkjhfskljdzrogjdgixjkgjhlkbxcfh. As for González, he broke down and cried. Continue reading...
With the game against FC Barcelona up next, Kylian Mbappe has reportedly raised some discomfort among some Real Madrid teammates over his recent trips outside Spain. Kylian Mbappe has found himself at the center of controversy despite his contributions throughout the 2025-26 season, with his recent travels outside of Spain drawing scrutiny from within the dressing room. Reports have now surfaced suggesting that his behavior ahead of the El Clasico against FC Barcelona has unsettled some of his Real Madrid teammates. In last week’s match against Real Betis, Mbappe was forced off in the 81st minute with what was later described as a muscle strain in the semitendinosus muscle of his left leg. The injury ruled him out of the subsequent game against Espanyol, and cast serious doubt over his availability for the Clasico. With Real Madrid sidelined from all other competitions and Barcelona on the cusp of clinching La Liga, images of Mbappe enjoying time in Cagliari and Sardinia, Italy, went viral over the weekend. The sight of the injured forward vacationing abroad while his teammates prepared for the Espanyol fixture did not go down well with fans, and it appears the reaction inside the locker room was not much warmer. According to Spanish outlet El Mundo, Mbappe’s decision to travel during his recovery has generated friction within Real Madrid’s squad. Given that the injury was described publicly as relatively minor, a number of players are reported to have taken issue with the timing and optics of his latest getaway. Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid runs with the ball while under pressure from Ricardo Rodriguez of Real Betis. It was not the first time Mbappe’s travel habits had drawn attention. Earlier in the year, he had made a trip to Paris to undergo treatment for a knee injury, with two Real Madrid physiotherapists accompanying him and the full backing of the club and his teammates at the time. However, the latest episode has proven more divisive, particularly with the squad already staring down a trophyless season. Real Madrid got past the Espanyol test on Sunday with a 2-0 win, with Vinicius Junior shouldering the attacking responsibility in Mbappe’s absence and scoring both goals. The El Clasico, the match that could officially hand the La Liga title to Barcelona, is scheduled for Sunday, May 10, and expectations remain high that Mbappe will be fit to feature, though the consequences of his recent trips have yet to fully play out within the squad. Arbeloa backs Mbappe amid the scrutiny While speculation over Mbappe’s future at the club continues to swirl, head coach Alvaro Arbeloa remains focused on steering Real Madrid through the final weeks of a challenging season. The latest controversy has added yet another layer of turbulence to an already difficult campaign. When asked about the situation in his post-match press conference following the Espanyol win, Arbeloa defended Mbappe’s right to manage his recovery as he sees fit: “All planning for injured players is supervised and handled by Real Madrid’s medical services; they are the ones who control when someone should go to Valdebebas and when they shouldn’t. Beyond that, everyone does what they deem appropriate in their free time; I cannot interfere there.” Pressed further on the question of Mbappe’s commitment to the club, Arbeloa did not waver in his support. “I don’t doubt the commitment of any of my players; I believe they all know how important these matches are for us. When you defend the Real Madrid shirt, when you are in this house, you understand the demands of this club. It’s as if they understand what they represent, where they are, and how important it is. And the luck they all have — that we all have — to be at Real Madrid,” he concluded.
Espanyol host Real Madrid for a Matchday 34 clash in the 2025/26 La Liga campaign. Here’s all the key information, including kickoff times and how to watch the action live on TV and streaming platforms. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Espanyol vs Real Madrid on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Espanyol vs Real Madrid WHAT Spanish LaLiga WHEN 3:00pm ET / 12:00pm PT • Sunday, May 3, 2026 WHERE ESPN+, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes STREAM WATCH NOW Match Overview With the La Liga title race nearing its conclusion, Real Madrid find themselves under intense pressure. Kylian Mbappe and company know very well that a victory is essential to keep their slim championship hopes alive. However, Espanyol won’t make it easy as they continue their push to secure safety, sitting five points above the relegation zone, all while Barcelona edges closer to lifting the trophy after a 2–1 win over Osasuna, leaving virtually no margin for error for Real Madrid. More details on how to watch With ESPN+, you can watch Espanyol vs Real Madrid and tons more soccer games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, Apple, Android, and Amazon Fire devices, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Oculus Go. Now with ESPN+, you can stream Bundesliga, LaLiga, FA Cup, Eredivisie, NWSL, USL and more. ESPN+ is only $10.99/month. Even better, ESPN is now offering The Disney Bundle that includes ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ for only $14.99 per month. Not only do you get all of the soccer with ESPN+, but you also get hit movies and TV shows with Hulu AND you get Disney+ that features Star Wars, Marvel movies, Disney movies and shows, films from Pixar and feature documentaries from National Geographic. In addition to all of the soccer coverage, ESPN+ also includes UFC, MLB, MLS, NHL, select PGA TOUR golf, Top Rank Boxing, cricket and Grand Slam tennis from Wimbledon to the US Open and Australian Open. Plus you get instant access to your favorite college sports like football, basketball, lacrosse, softball and more. There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more. If you’re planning to follow more games on this platform, you can check out the full ESPN+ soccer schedule to stay up to date with upcoming matches available via the service. SEE MORE: Schedule of Spanish La Liga games on US TV and streaming How to watch anywhere with VPN If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out World Soccer Talk’s guide to the best VPNs for streaming soccer. Free resources for you Courtesy of World Soccer Talk, download a complimentary copy of The Ultimate Soccer TV And Streaming Guide, which features details on where to watch all of the leagues from around the world on US TV and streaming. To find out when soccer games are on, download the free Soccer TV Schedules App which includes listings of all of the live soccer matches available in the United States (available on Apple iOS devices and Android devices).
