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Africa’s two top-ranked teams have done what this tournament so rarely allows: they have justified the favorites’ tag. Morocco and Senegal meet Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern in Rabat in a final that feels less like a surprise and more like a culmination. The Atlas Lions needed penalties to edge Nigeria after a tense scoreless draw, while Senegal punched their ticket with a disciplined 1–0 win over Egypt, sealed late by Sadio Mané. In a competition known for chaos, hierarchy has finally held and the result is a final worthy of the stage.

For Morocco, this moment carries the weight of history and expectation. Hosts and continental No. 1 since their breakthrough World Cup run in 2022, Walid Regragui’s side has grown stronger as the tournament has unfolded. After early nerves, they have leaned into their identity: aggressive pressing, tempo in possession, and defensive control that has allowed just one goal in six matches, and that came from the penalty spot. The emergence of midfielder Neil El Aynaoui has symbolized this evolution. Trusted in every minute of the knockout rounds, the 24-year-old has provided balance, composure, and a decisive spot kick in the semifinal, earning praise across Europe as one of the revelations of AFCON 2025.

Across from them stands a Senegal side that knows exactly how to navigate this terrain. This is their third final in four editions, and Pape Thiaw has once again shown his tactical flexibility, outmaneuvering Egypt with a blend of structure and vertical threat. Idrissa Gana Gueye anchored the midfield battle, Nicolas Jackson’s pace stretched the back line, and Mané delivered when it mattered most. The challenge now is depth: captain Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Habib Diarra are suspended for the final, forcing Thiaw to reshuffle against a Moroccan team that will arrive at full strength.

The narratives are as compelling as the tactics. Morocco are chasing a first continental title since 1976, buoyed by home support and a sense that this generation has unfinished business. Senegal, champions in 2021, are playing with the confidence of a side that believes finals are not occasions to admire but moments to seize. Mané said it plainly after the semifinal: finals are meant to be won and this will be his last AFCON chance to add another medal to his legacy.

Even the numbers underline how tight this will be. Opta’s simulations give Morocco a narrow edge, 55.36 percent to Senegal’s 44.64, reflecting just how evenly matched these sides have been across the tournament. Add in the broader backdrop of the tournament, AFCON 2025 is setting commercial records for CAF, expanding into new global markets, and cementing its place as a truly international property.

Sunday’s final feels like more than a match. It is a showcase of where African football stands in 2026: confident, competitive, and increasingly central to the global game.

A quiet but historic shift in the global game begins this weekend in Auckland, where Vanuatu United and Fiji’s Bula FC will contest the first match in the Oceania Football Confederation Pro League. For the first time, the only confederation without a professional club competition now has one and with it, a long-awaited platform for player development, competitive consistency, and regional visibility. Eight clubs from seven countries will take part in a three-month season designed not just to crown a champion, but to fundamentally change the pathway for footballers across the Pacific.

The logic behind the league is simple and overdue. Many OFC nations are too small to sustain fully professional domestic competitions on their own, leaving elite players with limited opportunities to test themselves at a higher level. The Pro League answers that gap by pooling talent and resources into a cross-border competition that guarantees meaningful matches every week. It is a model that mirrors conversations happening in other parts of the world, from the Baltics to Southeast Asia, but in Oceania it feels especially transformative. As league project manager Stuart Larman put it, this is the starting point for players in the region to grow up inside a professional football environment, not just dream of one.

We have already seen how seriously this moment is being taken. On SDH AM this week, Auckland FC director of football Terry McFlynn spoke about the responsibility that comes with building something new in a region that has long been under-represented in the global game, a conversation that set the tone for what this league is trying to achieve. The human side of that vision came through even more clearly in our feature on South Island United striker David Yoo, whose journey into the Pro League reflects what this competition can mean for players who suddenly find themselves on a professional stage that simply did not exist a year ago.

The structure of the season underscores the ambition. The opening round in Auckland alone features 12 matches in just over a week, with storylines everywhere. Roy Krishna returning to the region with Bula FC, South Melbourne FC re-entering OFC competition for the first time since 1999, and new rivalries taking shape between clubs from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and beyond. Over the coming months, the league will travel across Oceania before returning to New Zealand for the finals, and by the end, one club will not only lift a trophy but also earn the right to represent the region at the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, with all the sporting and financial implications that brings.

Just as important as what happens on the pitch is what is happening off it. Every match in the inaugural season will be streamed live and free worldwide on FIFA+, with strong local broadcast partnerships across New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Tahiti. For a region that has often struggled for visibility, that global access matters. It signals that Oceania football is no longer content to exist on the margins. The OFC Pro League is not just a new competition, it is a declaration that the Pacific wants to be seen, heard, and taken seriously in the modern game.

The National Women’s Soccer League pulled back the curtain on its 2026 schedule Thursday, and the message is clear: this season is designed to keep the league front and center on the national sports calendar. Year 14 kicks off March 13 with all 16 clubs in action, highlighted by a marquee opening-night clash between Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns on Prime Video and a Saturday showcase on ABC featuring Boston Legacy FC’s debut against defending champions Gotham FC. From Rivalry Week in July to the return of Decision Day in November, the calendar leans into the moments that have helped define the league’s rapid growth.

That growth is matched by unprecedented visibility. Under the NWSL’s landmark four-year media rights deals, more than 220 matches will air across CBS Sports, ESPN, ION, Prime Video, Victory+, and NWSL+, ensuring fans can find the league on virtually every major platform. Friday nights belong to Prime Video, Saturdays feature ION doubleheaders and national windows on ABC, while Sundays bring a weekly showcase on Victory+. It is a distribution model that reflects how far the league has come — from fighting for airtime to commanding it.

The league has also built in space to meet the moment of 2026 globally. Competition will pause through most of June to accommodate the FIFA Men’s World Cup being staged across North America, before returning with the NWSL Challenge Cup on June 26 in Columbus, Ohio. It’s a first for the city and a celebratory kickoff to the second half of the season. July then delivers Rivalry Week, with must-see matchups like Orlando vs. Kansas City and the Cascadia showdown between Seattle and Portland, before the playoff race intensifies down the stretch.

And when the season reaches its crescendo, the spotlight only gets brighter. Decision Day on November 1 will see every team play simultaneously, with ESPN as the exclusive U.S. home, before the playoffs roll into a November 21 championship game airing in primetime on CBS. For a league that continues to set records in attendance, viewership, and engagement, the 2026 schedule feels less like a routine release and more like a statement of intent: the NWSL is not just growing, it is shaping how women’s soccer is experienced in North America.

Houston Dynamo Circle Mateusz Bogusz
Houston is closing in on a potential marquee addition, with Cruz Azul midfielder Mateusz Bogusz reportedly the subject of a $10 million offer that would fill the Dynamo’s open Designated Player slot. Sporting director Pat Onstad stopped short of confirming a deal but acknowledged the club’s advanced interest, signaling that negotiations are moving toward a decisive phase.

FC Cincinnati Add Ecuadorian Standout Bryan Ramírez
Cincinnati have completed the signing of Bryan Ramírez from Liga de Quito, bringing in a dynamic wing-back on a contract through 2029 with an option year beyond. LDU retained more than 15 percent of a future transfer fee, underscoring both clubs’ belief that Ramírez’s move to MLS could be a springboard to even bigger opportunities.

Orlando City Lock in Martín Ojeda Long-Term
Orlando City secured one of the league’s most productive attackers by extending Martín Ojeda through the 2028-29 season with an additional option year. The Designated Player is coming off a career-best 2025 campaign and remains central to the Lions’ attacking identity as they plan their next competitive cycle.

Vancouver Whitecaps Bring in Oliver Larraz
Vancouver added depth and upside in midfield with the free-agent signing of Oliver Larraz, who arrives after four seasons with Colorado. The 24-year-old is under contract through June 2027 and gives the Whitecaps another young piece to develop within their system.

Sporting Kansas City Sign Calvin Harris
Sporting KC bolstered its attack by landing free-agent forward Calvin Harris, who brings MLS experience from Cincinnati and Colorado. Harris joins on a deal through 2027 with an option year and will count as a domestic player, offering flexibility as SKC reshapes its roster.

Charlotte FC Claim David Schnegg
Charlotte strengthened its back line by claiming Austrian international David Schnegg off waivers from D.C. United. The 27-year-old brings both MLS and European experience and is under contract through 2026, providing immediate competition at left back.

AC Milan Manage Christian Pulisic’s Load
Milan opted to rest Christian Pulisic in a 3–1 win over Como, prioritizing long-term health for the American star amid a packed schedule. With lingering hamstring concerns from October, the decision reflects the club’s focus on preserving one of its key contributors as the Serie A title race intensifies.

Nike Partners with U.S. Soccer on New Training Center
Nike will serve as a founding partner of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia, set to open this spring. The facility will house all 27 U.S. national teams and include a performance innovation lab, deepening the long-standing relationship between U.S. Soccer and its apparel sponsor.

A big morning ahead on SDH AM, starting at 10 a.m. with Macclesfield majority owner Rob Smethurst joining the show to talk about a weekend that put his club in the history books. Macclesfield pulled off the biggest FA Cup upset ever, and Smethurst will take us inside what that moment meant for the players, the supporters, and the future of the club.

Jon Nelson will also bring more sound from Atlanta United sporting director Chris Henderson as preseason continues to take shape. That conversation ties directly into our feature from Wednesday’s press conferences, Reclaiming the Protagonist Role, as the club lays out its vision for resetting identity, structure, and expectations heading into the new season.

Barcelona March On in the Copa del Rey
Barcelona extended their winning streak to 11 matches with a composed 2–0 victory over Racing Santander to reach the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, but Hansi Flick downplayed the milestone as “nothing,” focusing instead on progress. Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal delivered the goals, while keeper Joan García preserved a crucial clean sheet in a match that briefly threatened to turn into a cup upset.

Vinícius Júnior Contract Talks Back on the Table
With Xabi Alonso gone, Real Madrid are considering reopening negotiations with Vinícius Júnior, whose current deal runs out in 18 months. Talks had stalled over salary demands, but the club remains confident that the Brazilian star ultimately wants to stay at the Bernabéu.

Mexico Call Up Dual-Nationals for January Friendlies
Javier Aguirre named Richy Ledezma and Brian Gutiérrez to Mexico’s January squads for matches against Panama and Bolivia, continuing El Tri’s push to secure top dual-national talent. Both players have represented the United States previously and must complete FIFA one-time switches to be eligible.

Donyell Malen Heads to Roma Netherlands forward Donyell Malen has left Aston Villa after a year to join AS Roma on loan with an option — and likely obligation — to buy. The move could be part of a wider shuffle, with Tammy Abraham reportedly linked to a return to Villa.

Manchester City Move for Marc Guéhi
City are preparing a £30 million bid for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi after agreeing personal terms with the England center back. With his contract running to 2026, Palace now face a major decision on one of their most valuable assets.

Jamal Musiala Nears Bayern Return
After nearly seven months out with a serious leg and ankle injury, Jamal Musiala could return to Bayern Munich’s squad this weekend at RB Leipzig. Vincent Kompany stressed patience with the 22-year-old, whose comeback adds another weapon to a Bayern side already setting scoring and points records.

Thiago Almada’s Future Uncertain at Atlético
Thiago Almada’s role at Atlético Madrid remains unclear after limited minutes under Diego Simeone, sparking transfer speculation despite his long-term contract. With the 2026 World Cup looming, the Argentine international is eager for a situation that offers regular playing time.

Women’s AFCON Draw Sets the Stage in Morocco
Nigeria begin their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title defense in a tough Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt, and newcomers Malawi. The March tournament in Morocco doubles as qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, raising the stakes across all four groups.

Luis Enrique Floats Sin-Bin Idea
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has voiced support for exploring a sin-bin-style punishment in soccer, arguing that temporary dismissals could improve fairness and attacking play. While still theoretical, his comments add to growing conversations about how the sport might evolve its disciplinary system.

From Rabat to Auckland, from NWSL kickoff plans to preseason conversations in Atlanta, this weekend is a moment when the game reminds us how wide and connected its world really is. Africa crowns a champion, Oceania launches something entirely new, and North America keeps building toward a summer that will redefine the sport here in 2026. Different stages and different stories, all pointing in the same direction of growth, opportunity, and ambition.

However you’re taking it in, on the couch, at the stadium, or with us on SDH AM, enjoy every minute of it. Have a great soccer weekend!

Jason