St Mirren, Rangers and the Premier Sports Cup
Sunday

Holders St Mirren have been drawn away to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup last 16. Celtic will visit Dundee United, while Aberdeen host Dundee in two other all-Premiership ties from the second-round draw this month.

St Mirren still topped their group on goal difference but lost seeding after a late defeat at Dunfermline. The last-16 ties will be played on the weekend of 15-16 August, with several European clubs entering.

Egyptian FA, Zamalek, Pyramids and Al Ahly
Saturday

The Egyptian Football Association has confirmed its clubs for next season’s African competitions. Zamalek and Pyramids will enter the CAF Champions League, while Al Ahly and Zed will play in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.

The decision came during an EFA board meeting that also addressed Hossam Hassan’s contract renewal and refereeing appointments. Al Ahly’s Confederation Cup placement is especially notable given their usual status in Africa’s top club competition.

Senegal, CAF, Morocco and the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Friday

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has set 8 October for Senegal’s appeal against being stripped of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. Morocco were declared winners after CAF ruled Senegal forfeited the final.

Senegal are seeking to overturn CAF’s decision and be reinstated as champions after their players walked off over a late penalty call. The hearing will be held behind closed doors, with no same-day verdict expected.

Liga MX Femenil, Liga Femenil BBVA and Mexican clubs
Friday

Liga MX Femenil has rebranded as Liga Femenil BBVA and changed its regular-season format. The competition will move from one 18-team table into two groups of nine based on Elo rankings and geography.

Teams will play eight matches inside their own group and six against the other group before revised play-offs. The change keeps the Apertura and Clausura structure while reshaping Mexico’s women’s top-flight competition.

Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibernian, Motherwell and the SPFL
Friday

Scotland’s European representatives have opted to postpone Premiership matches scheduled for Saturday, 22 August. The affected weekend falls between two-legged European qualifying play-offs across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

Since April 2025, Scottish clubs involved in Europe can unilaterally delay domestic games instead of needing opponent approval. Rearranged fixtures are expected in September, giving clubs more recovery and preparation time during crucial European qualifiers.

FIFA, national teams and domestic clubs
Late September to early October

FIFA’s calendar will now include a three-week international break across late September and early October, with countries playing four matches instead of two. The change replaces the usual September and October two-week windows.

FIFA approved the move after discussions on player welfare, travel reduction and the late 2026 World Cup final. The change also gives domestic leagues an extra week of club football later in the calendar.

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and CAF
Tuesday

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have submitted a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations. The Niger Football Federation said CAF has approved the trio’s expression of interest.

The three Alliance of Sahel States countries are the first declared candidates for the 2032 edition. Their bid would bring Africa’s biggest football tournament to a new collective host group if successful.

CAF, Morocco and 16 African women’s teams
From Sunday, 26 July

The delayed 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will now begin on 26 July in Morocco after a late CAF schedule change. The tournament was originally scheduled for March but was postponed just 12 days before kick-off.

The expanded 16-team event will run until 16 August and double as World Cup qualifying. All four semi-finalists will reach the 2027 tournament in Brazil, while losing quarter-finalists enter an intercontinental play-off route.

Spain and Luis de la Fuente
After Sunday’s World Cup final

Spain set an all-time international football unbeaten record after beating Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final. La Roja extended their run to 38 matches without defeat, surpassing Italy’s previous mark of 37.

Spain’s streak began after a friendly defeat to Colombia in early 2024 and now includes Euro 2024 and World Cup triumphs. Their final win also made them the first World Cup winners to concede only once.

Hearts, Fenerbahce, Gornik Zabrze and Sturm Graz
Monday

Hearts will face Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze in Champions League qualifying if they beat Sturm Graz. The third-round ties are scheduled for 4 or 5 August and 11 or 12 August.

The draw also mapped possible routes for Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian in European qualifying. Hearts last played Champions League qualifiers in 2006-07, making this route a significant early-season test for the Edinburgh club.