Football Articles | Mail Online

• FA to review rules around FA Youth Cup final after the furious row which broke out between Man United and Man City18 May 2026, 1:58 pm
  Under current rules, the team which is drawn first hosts the showpiece fixture. However, this year City decided to switch the game to their 6,447-capacity women's ground.
  
• Jose Mourinho RETURNS as Real Madrid manager - despite Iker Casillas's attempts to block his comeback18 May 2026, 1:57 pm
  Mourinho, who is currently manager at Benfica in his native Portugal, is making a controversial return to the Bernabeu - despite the protests of club legend Iker Casillas.
  
• OGC Nice ultras storm the pitch in ugly scenes after the Ineos-owned side are condemned to Ligue 1 relegation play-off18 May 2026, 1:22 pm
  The French side needed a victory at the Allianz Riviera to ensure they kept their place in the top flight for another season, after a dismal campaign that has been littered with ugly scenes .
  
• The BBC's work-from-home World Cup squad: Beeb unveil Gary Lineker-less line-up with two new former Premier League stars signed up - and a brand new studio is being built to make up for not travelling to America18 May 2026, 1:22 pm
  The BBC is set to show 54 matches across the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico and will have several star names among their roster.
  
• Xabi Alonso inherits one of the most unpleasant players in Chelsea's mess, the relegation-threatened star Liverpool should buy - and Sky's dreadful interview choice: IAN LADYMAN on My Football Weekend18 May 2026, 1:15 pm
  Xabi Alonso is to be the next man to try and fix Chelsea's problem and at least there are early signs of a shift in the way things will work off the Kings Road. It's a start.
  
• Man United stars and their WAGs head for a night out at plate-smashing Greek bar to celebrate last home game of season - but with one player missing18 May 2026, 1:14 pm
  Michael Carrick's side edged an entertaining five-goal thriller with Nottingham Forest in their final home game of the season at Old Trafford, earlier in the day.
  
• The not-so-supercomputer! Football fans call out AI-powered Premier League prediction which now looks set to be wrong over EVERY position18 May 2026, 1:14 pm
  The supercomputer is a predictive AI model which determines the likelihood of match results and end-of-season standings, with it becoming increasingly popular over recent years.
  
• Erling Haaland to make ACTING debut with the Man City striker set to voice himself as a Viking in new animated film18 May 2026, 1:13 pm
  The Manchester City striker will voice a character described as 'an animated version of himself', in the upcoming animated film Viqueens .
  
• Xabi Alonso's first moves as manager of Chelsea: SIX players who are likely to be on a transfer list and a wake-up call for the 'untouchables' while creating a new culture18 May 2026, 12:17 pm
  Chelsea secured their top choice in Xabi Alonso as their new manager and here, Daily Mail Sport lists his most pressing items of business as he prepares to officially start work on July 1.
  
• Aston Villa players 'didn't know who Prince William was' before he met his footballing heroes, reveals England star Ezri Konsa, as they head to Europa League final with Royal approval18 May 2026, 11:14 am
  Victory against Freiburg would be the first time Aston Villa have lifted the European Cup since 1982.
  
• Mohamed Salah's vindictive, bitter and petulant attack on Arne Slot made him look like a bully. And the irony is the departing striker's woeful form is partly to blame for Liverpool's miserable season, writes OLIVER HOLT18 May 2026, 11:00 am
  Mohamed Salah is a giant of a player who has trailed joy and triumph in his wake at Anfield. But what he did on Saturday made him look like a little man, not a hero.
  
• Choose YOUR England World Cup squad: With one week to go until Thomas Tuchel announces his 26-man team, which stars get a seat on the plane and who is left to watch from the sofa?18 May 2026, 10:49 am
  Does Alexander-Arnold deserve his place on the plane? Has Gibbs-White's recent form convinced you he should be part of Tuchel's squad? Now it's time to have your say and pick your 26-man squad...
  
• 'I was thinking I wasn't going to see my family again': Footballer who was stabbed during horrific train attack speaks out for the first time18 May 2026, 9:29 am
  The date was Saturday, November 1, when the 23-year-old was sitting on a train bound for the capital from Doncaster.
  
• Wayne Rooney tells Arne Slot to BAN 'selfish' Mohamed Salah from his own Liverpool farewell and 'have him nowhere near the stadium' after his 'grenade' social media post18 May 2026, 9:25 am
  Salah, who returned from injury as a late substitute on Friday, is set to leave the club at the end of a campaign where his relationship with Slot has been tested.
  
• Bruno Fernandes opens up on Premier League assist record - after Man United captain drew level with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne in history books ahead of final day18 May 2026, 9:25 am
  NATHAN SALT AT OLD TRAFFORD: Fernandes teed up Mbeumo in the second half of the pulsating 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, taking him to 20 Premier League assists this season.