Soccer: The Biggest Stories Right Now

By Alexander Davis — September 22, 2026

The soccer world is heading into another international break, but there is still plenty to talk about after an exciting start to the European club season. Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, and several other major clubs are already making headlines, while players prepare to represent their countries.

One of the biggest stories in the Premier League is Manchester City's strong start. City currently sits at the top of the table after defeating Sunderland 5–3 in an eight-goal thriller. Erling Haaland has continued his impressive scoring form, with seven goals in seven games across competitions. New manager Enzo Maresca has also started his City career with seven wins in his first seven matches.

Arsenal has also been one of the major teams to watch. The defending Premier League champions started the season with four straight league victories before suffering a surprising 3–0 loss to Brighton. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has also agreed to a new contract with the club. Arteta led Arsenal to its first Premier League title in 22 years last season.

Another major storyline is the return of the UEFA Women's Champions League. The new league phase has begun, featuring teams such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Juventus, and Real Madrid. Defending champion Barcelona will begin its title defense against Paris FC. Barcelona won last season's final 4–0 against OL Lyonnes.

In Spain, Atlético Madrid defeated Real Madrid 2–1 in the first Madrid derby of the season. The result adds another early storyline to La Liga, while Real Madrid will look to recover during the upcoming portion of the season.

The international break will now shift attention from club soccer to national teams. Several countries are preparing for upcoming matches, while injuries have already forced some changes to international squads. England, France, and other European teams are dealing with players withdrawing because of injuries.

With the European season still young, there is plenty left to be decided. Manchester City's fast start, Arsenal's attempt to defend its title, Barcelona's Women's Champions League campaign, and the upcoming international matches should give soccer fans plenty to watch over the next few weeks.