Los Angeles FC co-owner Larry Berg has been appointed as the next commissioner of Major League Soccer following a vote by league owners in New York.
He will officially assume the top executive role on 1 January 2027, succeeding long-serving incumbent Don Garber.
Garber, who has stewarded the North American top flight since 1999, will transition to the position of league chairman once the handover is complete.
Navigating a new calendar and media landscape
The incoming leader takes charge at a pivotal juncture for the rapidly expanding competition.
Following a transitional shortened season in 2026, the league is set to pivot to a radical summer-to-autumn calendar format for the 2027-28 campaign.
The former private equity and finance executive will also be immediately tasked with managing negotiations for the next broadcasting cycle.
The competition’s current global media rights deal with Apple TV is scheduled to conclude in 2029.
I’m honored to lead Major League Soccer into its next era.
Larry Berg
The new appointee expressed immense excitement for the future, highlighting opportunities to strengthen the competition’s quality and develop more world-class talent.
Divesting from a Californian powerhouse
To ensure total impartiality in his new governing role, the future commissioner will divest his ownership stake in LAFC through an established transition process.
Since their debut in 2018, the Californian franchise have established themselves as a dominant force in the domestic game.
Under his partial stewardship, the black-and-gold outfit claimed an MLS Cup, two Supporters’ Shields, and a US Open Cup trophy.
Jimmy Haslam, co-chair of the MLS succession committee, praised the newly appointed executive’s lifelong connection to the sport and global perspective.
Throughout our process, it became clear that Larry is uniquely qualified to lead MLS through one of the most significant periods in its history.
Jimmy Haslam
Garber’s eventual departure from the commissioner’s desk marks the end of a transformative 28-year reign.
During his tenure, he oversaw the project balloon from a fragile 10-team setup into a robust 30-club enterprise stretching across the United States and Canada.
Fulham have completed the double signing of Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid on five-year contracts.
The Spanish pair arrive at Craven Cottage in a move that reunites them with former Bernabeu coach and newly appointed Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa.
Garcia, a 22-year-old forward who recently earned his first senior international cap for Spain, joins for a reported fee of £34m following an impressive campaign.
The versatile attacker made 39 appearances and scored eight goals across all competitions last season, notably finishing as joint-top scorer at the Club World Cup.
Reunion with Arbeloa in the Premier League
The highly rated forward expressed his immense delight at making the permanent switch to English football.
“I’m very grateful, very happy to be here,” Garcia said.
“I have to thank the board and Arbeloa for the trust they’ve put in me, and I’m very, very excited to start.”
Joining him in west London is 21-year-old attacking midfielder Palacios, who provides further creative reinforcement for the Cottagers ahead of the upcoming domestic season.
Long-term commitment to young talent
The Spanish Under-20 international made five substitute appearances for Los Blancos’ senior side before opting to seek regular first-team opportunities in England.
Both prospects have committed their futures to the club with long-term agreements running until the summer of 2031.
The Premier League side also hold options to extend both contracts by a further 12 months, underlining a clear strategy to develop elite European talent.
The Boston Red Sox have acquired three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles in a significant Major League Baseball trade.
The 28-year-old is currently sidelined on the injured list with left wrist inflammation.
Despite his recent injury setbacks, the switch-hitter remains one of the premier defenders at his position and has regained his formidable presence at the plate.
His departure from Maryland follows the Orioles’ decision to secure young slugger Samuel Basallo to a long-term contract earlier this year.
Contract control and statistical impact
Boston has secured a highly valuable asset, as the former number one overall draft pick remains under team control through the end of the 2027 season.
Advanced metrics highlight his continued excellence in the batter’s box, with his expected offensive output at the mid-season break trailing only his remarkable 2023 campaign.
During that standout year, the American League star accumulated an impressive 5.5 Wins Above Replacement.
Injury concerns shadow recent production
Physical ailments have severely disrupted his current campaign.
The talented backstop has already served three separate stints on the injured list since April, suffering from left ankle inflammation, a concussion, and most recently, a wrist issue.
When fully healthy this season, he has compiled a .251 batting average alongside eight home runs and 47 runs batted in.
Across five major league seasons spent entirely in Baltimore, he boasts a career .254 average with 69 home runs and 277 RBIs.
Alexandra Eala has made history as the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour singles title after defeating world number three Jessica Pegula 4-6 6-4 6-0 in the Washington Open final.
The 21-year-old completed a remarkable comeback on Monday following severe weather delays that had suspended play overnight.
Resuming the match trailing by a set but leading 2-1 in the second, the left-hander proceeded to win 10 of the next 13 games.
She claimed the final nine games in succession, dropping just eight points in a completely dominant deciding set.
A formidable path to a maiden trophy
The world number 28 navigated an extraordinarily difficult draw to secure her breakthrough victory on the American hard courts.
Her spectacular run included victories over reigning Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng and four-time major winner Naomi Osaka.
Defending Washington champion Leylah Fernandez and two-time grand slam semi-finalist Elina Svitolina also fell victim to the rising star earlier in the tournament.
This monumental win extends her impressive streak to five consecutive victories against top-10 opponents, a run featuring recent triumphs over Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.
Pegula praises ‘amazing’ opponent
Despite playing on home soil, top seed Pegula could not halt the relentless momentum of her younger opponent after the restart.
The American had been chasing a third crown at this event, having previously lifted the trophy in 2019 and 2021.
“I want to congratulate Alex on an amazing tournament,” Pegula said during the trophy presentation.
“To see how far you’ve come over the last couple of years when we first played, to see the amazing fans that follow you every place you go, it’s not fun to play against but I think it’s amazing.”
Rankings boost follows historic milestone
Supported by a highly vocal and passionate crowd, the newly crowned champion expressed immense gratitude following the match.
“I feel so much love. My first chance at a title knowing it won’t be the last and already having achieved this milestone for my career,” Eala reflected.
“I knew whatever happened after this match would have already been a win for me.”
The landmark triumph will now propel the breakout talent to a career-high ranking of world number 20 when the updated WTA standings are released.
The family of Kevin Keegan have announced plans for a private funeral and charity fundraiser following the former England manager’s death from stomach cancer on 20 July.
The 75-year-old passed away last month, prompting an unprecedented outpouring of tributes from across the global footballing community.
A heartfelt statement released via the League Managers Association expressed profound gratitude for the immense support received by his relatives.
“As a family we have been truly overwhelmed by the volume of tributes and are grateful for them all.”
The loved ones of the double Ballon d’Or winner requested ongoing privacy as they navigate this extremely difficult period.
Charity fundraiser launched
Instead of floral tributes, relatives have established a fundraising page to support causes deeply important to the former Liverpool and Hamburg striker.
Donations will be split evenly between The Christie Charity and Football Families for Justice.
The latter organisation, established by John Stiles, supports ex-players suffering from neurodegenerative diseases linked to heading footballs during their careers.
“A sporting superstar, but also a husband, father, grandfather and friend – Kevin gave so much to us all.”
Public memorial planned
While the initial service will remain small, supporters will have the opportunity to pay their respects at a later date.
Newcastle United are scheduled to host a large-scale memorial service at St James’ Park to celebrate their legendary former manager.
The former Southampton forward remains an iconic figure on Tyneside, having completely transformed the club’s fortunes during the 1990s.
“Kevin was more than a legendary footballer and manager. He was the beating heart of Newcastle United for generations of supporters.”
The Magpies praised the infectious ambition and world-class talent that the 63-cap international brought to the North East.
Former Miami Heat star Chris Bosh has urged San Antonio Spurs centre Victor Wembanyama to strictly manage his blood clot diagnosis to avoid a premature end to his NBA career.
Wembanyama suffered a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder in February 2025, temporarily halting his highly anticipated second season in the league.
The Frenchman eventually returned to action, helping his team reach the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, but Bosh remains highly cautious about the ongoing risks.
‘I almost dropped dead’
Bosh famously saw his own illustrious basketball career cut short after just 13 seasons following repeated clotting issues that began in 2015.
“Take your medicine,” Bosh told HoopsHype.com.
“Make sure that he’s staying on top of his regimen to make sure that doesn’t happen again, because it only takes one more time.”
The two-time NBA champion revealed the terrifying reality of the condition by disclosing a recent near-fatal medical emergency of his own.
“I had an episode in January, I almost dropped dead, pretty much, and came back to life,” he explained.
Wembanyama’s ongoing health battle
Deep vein thrombosis is traditionally managed with blood-thinning medication, a treatment that frequently prevents athletes from participating in full-contact sports.
Despite the frightening initial setback, the towering prodigy made a successful return to the court, playing 64 games during the most recent campaign.
However, the San Antonio talisman has openly admitted that the severe medical diagnosis took a significant emotional toll on him.
“When I first learned the news, I broke down. I didn’t know how long I was going to be out for,” he told Love Magazine.
The former number one overall draft pick now relies on a dedicated team of medical professionals to rigorously monitor his physical condition.
Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the upcoming US Open on medical advice as she continues to recover from a stress fracture in her lower right leg.
The world number 49 will miss her second consecutive Grand Slam tournament, having also pulled out of Wimbledon on the eve of the event earlier this summer.
The former champion has not played a competitive match since finishing as runner-up at the Queen’s Club almost two months ago.
Injury frustrations continue for British number one
It has been five years since the 23-year-old made history at Flushing Meadows by becoming the first and only qualifier to win a major title.
However, the national star will not be present in New York to mark the half-decade anniversary of her spectacular triumph.
Since withdrawing from her home tournament, the historic Grand Slam winner has been photographed wearing a protective boot on her right leg.
Despite sharing recent footage of modified practice sessions – including hitting tennis balls while seated – medical professionals have advised against competing.
A severely disrupted season
This latest physical setback continues a heavily disrupted 2026 campaign for the talented baseline player.
She previously missed over two months of competition between March and May following a debilitating post-viral illness.
Furthermore, a severe bone bruising injury in her foot entirely wrecked her pre-season preparations.
Her prolonged recovery means she has also been omitted from the Great Britain squad for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen this September.
Raducanu’s initial diagnosis
The stress fracture originally forced her late withdrawal just hours before her scheduled first-round match at the All England Club.
Announcing her decision at the time, the despondent athlete expressed her profound disappointment to her supporters.
I’ve done everything possible to try to get to the start line tomorrow but after a final scan tonight, the niggle I’ve been managing has developed into a stress fracture and I’ve been medically advised to stop pushing through.
Playing at Wimbledon, in front of a home crowd, means everything to me, so this is really difficult to process. I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement.
Liverpool have highlighted a pressing need for defensive reinforcements after suffering a 4-2 pre-season defeat by Leeds United during their tour of the United States.
Head coach Andoni Iraola admitted the Chicago friendly was both useful and revealing.
“Obviously it’s not the result you want but I think it was probably the most useful friendly we played,” he said.
The Spaniard noted his side learned valuable lessons from a collapse that saw four goals conceded in just 25 second-half minutes.
Youthful backline brutally exposed
The Premier League giants fielded a highly experimental defence featuring Luke Chambers and Milos Kerkez.
While a similarly inexperienced rearguard kept a clean sheet against Wrexham days earlier, top-flight opposition proved far less forgiving.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin ruthlessly exploited the gaps, brutally cutting open the makeshift back four.
Only Hungarian international Kerkez is currently expected to start when the upcoming league campaign begins.
Transfer market demands grow
Club captain Virgil van Dijk has returned to training, but depth remains a critical issue for the Anfield outfit.
The Dutch stalwart will require a reliable partner when the Merseyside club face Newcastle United in less than three weeks.
Current options are severely limited, with experienced regulars Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate having recently departed.
Injuries to Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni have further depleted the squad, while new arrival Jeremy Jacquet is having his minutes carefully managed.
Seeking experienced solutions
Sporting director Richard Hughes attended earlier tour matches and will be acutely aware of the mounting defensive crisis.
At least one versatile centre-back is urgently required, especially with Conor Bradley remaining far from a first-team return.
Last season, Arne Slot was forced to deploy midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones as emergency full-backs.
“Last season I played a lot of positions,” Szoboszlai noted following the defeat.
“Hopefully he puts me in midfield but if he needs me at right-back, I am happy to do that.”
Former skipper Phil Thompson believes the current setup must lean heavily on their remaining senior figures.
He noted that previous title-winning iterations of the squad relied on a fantastic leadership group to navigate difficult periods.