The ongoing security situation in Saudi Arabia makes it difficult for the country to host next year's Asian Cup as scheduled, according to Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, president of the Japanese Football Association.
Several major sporting events in Saudi Arabia have been cancelled or postponed amid escalating attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, raising doubts over whether the continental soccer tournament can take place as scheduled in January and February next year.
"Based on what I've learnt from the news, the situation is still unsafe, so at this point, I don't think it would be easy to hold the AFC (Asian) Cup there," Miyamoto told reporters at the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) extraordinary congress in Tokyo.
"I just had a meeting with the Saudi side and they said that their top priority is the safety of the players, the fans, and everyone who would be attending the tournament.
"They said they would work with the AFC to decide whether the tournament can go ahead, so they did mention that it would take some time (to make that decision)."
AFC chief Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said last week a postponement until 2028 remained a possibility if necessary, but the local organising committee later said it was sticking to the original schedule.
Frank Lampard has been talking about Frank Lampard's Coventry ahead of the Sky Blues early-season basement battle with Fulham. Namely, Lampard has been talking up the work ethic of Gus Hamer after the 29-year-old rejoined Coventry from Sheffield United in the summer for a reported £6million.
So far, fan-favourite Hamer been restricted to four appearances off the bench on his return to the Premier League. Following his latest cameo role in Monday night's 3-1 defeat at Tottenham, Hamer asked to play for the under-21s on Tuesday lunch-time and Lampard was impressed. "He wanted to play. It was a personal decision and I like that," Lampard said at his pre-match press conference. "He wanted to play and get minutes because Gus has been used to playing minutes regularly, pretty much.
"And these days at Coventry from his days at Sheffield United we've got a competitive squad now and his area of the pitch is competitive.
"But Gus has been very, very good to work with since he's come back to us. Myself and my staff have been really, really impressed by his approach, his training, his ethic and what he wants to do. And Gus is going to help us.
"We all know, everyone in the building and at the CBS knows that he's a really talented player who's going to help us. So he's just staying ready, and I'm very pleased with how Gus has been. He's a good example."
Hello, happy Friday. Have we had football every day this week? I think we have… Monday night football, three nights of European games and now Friday night at Portman Road. What a world.
Right, that's my stint done. Time to hand over to Tom Bassam for the next wee while. Bye.
"Surely the most popular request for Uniteds new stadium will be 'seats facing the other way'?" honks Tim Woods. I have to say, as a stadium nerd and stadium aesthete, that were I given a vote I'd opt to mothball the whole thing as it's quite the ugliest new arena design I've seen in a while.
Álvaro Arbeloa's been talking ahead of Fulham's trip to Coventry on Saturday, and buoyed up by last weekend's much needed win over Hull. "Nothing has changed for us," insisted the manager, "we were not winning games but we believed in ourselves, we were doing so many things well,
"The most important thing [about the Hull win] is we were in same situation against Manchester United and Ipswich but didn't win but now we had to improve in our transition and did. We controlled the ball in their half better than before."
As for that first win lifting pressure off him, Arbeloa said: "It's not about me, it's about my players and the supporters because they were behind us and the players because of the work they've done."
In Spain, it's the Clásico on Sunday at the Camp Nou, with leaders Barcelona having made the better start to the season, though Real Madrid – six points behind – have begun to hit their straps. But is it still the world's biggest match? Here's Graham Ruthven:
As the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry faded, though, so too did the 's relevance. This isn't to say matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid no longer matter. They always have and always will. In 2026, however, it's difficult to measure a 's standing. Is it still the sport's biggest fixture?
Sunday's match at Camp Nou will be watched by hundreds of millions of viewers all over the world. A always carries significance, but this weekend's edition will be especially significant. A Barça win would move them nine points clear of their rivals at the top of La Liga. A Real Madrid victory could be a catalyst for the rest of their season.
At the risk of sucking all the air out of the room with more Manchester United chat, Marco Rose has inevitably been asked for his two pennorth given his Bournemouth side visit Old Trafford on Sunday. And he reckons his buoyant side will face "angry and intense" opponents. "I'm quite sure [Michael Carrick] will tell his players it's all about mentality, effort and attitude," said Rose. "You hear all the voices and noises but I don't know it helps us and it's up to us to go there and be focused, react well. They're going to be angry and intense and we have to face it."
Three games ago we were talking about Bournemouth possibly having a bit of a hangover season – and they're still lowly placed in the Premier League – but they're pretty perky right now.
Manchester United are inviting fans to offer their views via a survey on the design of the proposed new 100,000-seat stadium.
Colette Roche, United's CEO New Stadium Development, said: "Our proposed new stadium is one of the most significant projects Manchester United will undertake in the next 100 years, and it is vital that we shape it together with our fans. Above all else, this is a football stadium built for them, so getting the details right matters."
Supporters have until 6 November to take the survey, with subjects including: "creating a world-class football stadium and match-day experience for all fans"; "heritage and legacy"; "atmosphere"; "the wider campus"; and "getting to and from the stadium."
The survey will be sent to season ticket holders, cup season ticket holders, executive club members, official members, supporters who have purchased hospitality at Old Trafford within the past three years and season ticket waiting list members, a press release stated.
It's north London derby day in the Women's Super League tomorrow, with Arsenal arriving at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium under considerable pressure after their poor start. Derby passions will run high with Spurs' Cathinka Tandberg, for one, bang up for it, as she explains in this interview with Sophie Downey:
"It means more than just three points. It's for the whole club. It's for the whole place. It's for the whole of Tottenham." One only needs to be in the presence of Tottenham Hotspur's Cathinka Tandberg for a few minutes to feel the passion that emanates from her when it comes to this weekend's north London derby. As a lifelong Spurs fan, the forward understands more than most the intensity of the rivalry that exists between her side and Arsenal, one that she cannot wait to experience once again on Saturday.
"It will just be an incredible feeling," she tells Moving the Goalposts. "I think you will feel a few nerves that you maybe don't feel in a normal game but that's good."
"All the Spurs fans hate Arsenal and Arsenal hate Spurs. That's how it is. You want to show that you're the best team. Simple as that. You just want to fight for the club, the badge and for the people around you."
The noise continues. Eddie Howe is the under-fire Jason Wilcox's choice as next cab off the rank should Michael Carrick be binned. Jamie Jackson has all the latest:
Eddie Howe is the current preferred candidate of Jason Wilcox to replace Michael Carrick should Manchester United decide to change manager, with the director of football believing Howe's extensive Premier League experience places him ahead of other potential targets.
Howe left Newcastle in late July to take a break from the game but would seriously consider a return for the United role, it is understood, should this be offered.
In Manchester City on-field news, Erling Haaland is back fit to face Aston Villa at Villa Park tomorrow, PA reports. The Norway striker was not risked in City's Champions League victory over AEK Athens in midweek after a blow to the foot in the previous game against Ipswich.
City will continue to assess Nico O'Reilly, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes, who also suffered knocks in the same game. The manager, Enzo Maresca, said: "They could all be available or not. There are still doubts. Erling is the only one who is 100 per cent available and for the other three we need to wait."
Jonathan Liew's column on how Brazil's footballing and political dysfunction feed each other is a good read:
We hear a lot about football's power to unite a nation. Perhaps we underestimate the extent to which it can also divide; the way it can reflect the very worst of ourselves, our greed and vindictiveness, our lust for feuds and, petty entertainment. There is a Women's World Cup being hosted in Brazil next summer and while Lula has sought to fast-track the professionalisation of women's football, Bolsonaro's only public utterances in the field of women's sport have been to assert his opposition to trans athletes playing it.
In courage of their convictions news, the Asian Football Confederation has decided to endorse Gianni Infantino's Fifa presidential re-election bid.
The AFC president, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa, speaking at the body's extraordinary congress in Tokyo on Friday, embraced Infantino with a large hug in front of the membership as he delivered his endorsement.
"We affirm our full commitment to supporting you and your leadership as you seek a new mandate as the Fifa president." Sheikh Salman said. "You've visited a lot of countries in Asia. I've spoken to a lot of members within this continent. I know your feeling and I think your commitment is clear as well."
Morning everyone. What about them Cherries eh? Before we dive deep into weekend previews, Manchester United melodramas and what have you, some moments to reflect on last night's action. Chief among them was the continuation of Bournemouth's European fairytale – a deserved 3-0 Europa League shellacking of Milan, a result barely conceivable two decades ago, but, as Nick Ames sagely points out in his match report, not a great surprise given the resources even mid-ranking Premier League clubs can now command compared to fading Serie A giants.
Elsewhere, Sunderland dug in for a draw at Lech Poznan, Crystal Palace's mixed start to Europa League life continued in a 2-2 draw at Besiktas, and … oh Celtic. A third European defeat on the spin for Martin O'Neill's side as they surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose the Celt derby 2-1 to Celta Vigo, who brought 3,000 fans to Glasgow – reportedly their biggest ever European away turnout – for a cultural love-in.
Anyway, we'll have pre-match news, interviews and comment through the day, and feel free to mail in your thoughts. Off to a game this weekend? Tell us your hopes for it. In the meantime, to get in the mood, here's 10 English top-flight things to look out for.