Argentina are having a successful World Cup. While they haven’t been at their very best, they’ve done enough to progress to the semi-finals of the competition.

Lionel Scaloni’s side won all three of their group matches as they qualified for the knockout rounds in style. They have since beaten Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland to reach the last four of the competition, where they will face England.

However, their campaign has been overshadowed by several off-field controversies. Last week, reports emerged claiming that the FBI were investigating the Argentine FA over possible money laundering.

Hundreds of millions of dollars, estimated at around $300 million in total, are believed to have been channelled. The investigation, which is headed by federal prosecutors Patrick Gushue and Christopher Ting, focuses on whether these alleged operations may have resulted in crimes.

Why Argentina and Mexico’s Pre-Tournament Friendly Was Cancelled

REUTERS/Carlos Perez Gallardo via Action Images

Mexico and Argentina were due to play each other in a friendly ahead of the World Cup, with an agreement between the two nations reached.

However, the agreement fell through when Mexico pulled out over eye-opening demands made by the Argentine FA, according to journalist Carlos Ponce de León.

He told Récord, per Marca: “Mexico, while looking for opponents to finalise its preparation ahead of the 2026 World Cup, ended up finding Portugal and Belgium, but it had already made contact with Argentina. There was already an agreement with Argentina to play against the reigning world champions.

“The problem was that from the Argentine Federation, they told the Mexican Federation (FMF): ‘You know what, it’s $6 million dollars for the match.’ It’s crazy. They are the national team that charges the most to play a soccer match, even more expensive than Portugal.

“The Mexican Federation said: ‘I’ll give you the money and you can distribute it however you want.’ The response was: ‘No, we need your help with this, etc.’ That’s when the warning signs appeared, and the FMF said: ‘We are not going to get involved in problems.’”

Mexico played a total of eight warm-up matches in the six months leading up to the World. Cup. They faced Panama, Bolivia, Iceland, Portugal, Belgium, Ghana, Australia and Serbia.

Lionel Scaloni Speaks Out Ahead of England Clash

REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

Argentina will play England for a place in the final on Wednesday, July 15. Speaking ahead of the match, Argentina manager Scaloni said:

“What this team has achieved is historic, even though we could have played better. It’s historic to be in a semi-final again. It’s a privileged space in football, not an easy feat. We’re happy and excited now, and we will try to make it to the end with every last drop of sweat.”

Scaloni also played down the rivalry between the two nations. He said: “It’s a football match, ok? The ­message is this is a football game. That is what I can say. Let’s not look for anything else. It’s a football match.

“We are going to play a football match against a great national team, which has a great manager [Thomas Tuchel], whom I appreciate and admire a lot. And it’s a football match. There is nothing more to it than that.”

The victor will face Spain or France in the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19.

An expanded 48-team World Cup has dominated the summer months and will push the entire European schedule back to allow time for player recovery. Due to the very nature of the international competition, there is a week’s delay to proceedings to allow players ample time to travel back, recover and then join up with their club’s pre-season training.

Granted, that varies from player to player, as some won’t have participated in the World Cup, meaning recovery periods will be a case-by-case issue. Some individuals will have been eliminated before July, with the elite nation players, or whoever reaches the latter stages, expected to be afforded a different personal schedule to others. All of this will impact teams differently in the build-up to the 2026/27 campaigns.

Here’s your full guide to when every major competition kicks off and when they end, all in one place.

Premier League

• August 21, 2026 – May 30, 2027

For England‘s top-flight, the Premier League will only begin a week later than usual due to the World Cup, beginning with a Friday Night Football clash between champions Arsenal and the newly promoted Coventry City.

That takes place on August 21, with the rest of the games occurring on that weekend. It runs until May 30, as all fixtures traditionally take place at the same time on that day.

The traditional curtain-raiser of the Community Shield, featuring Arsenal and Manchester City, takes place on August 16 at the Prinicipality Stadium in Cardiff.

Scottish Premiership

• July 31, 2026 – May 16, 2027

In Scotland, it all gets underway well before the English top-flight breathes into life. The first round of the 2026/27 Scottish Premiership is due on the weekend of August 1–2.

The opening fixtures will take on July 31 and the season ends on May 16, 2027. As ever, it features a trademark split: the league is divided into a top six and bottom six after the weekend of April 10-11.

Celtic enter as reigning champions after an incredible fight last season with Hearts and Rangers. It means the champions head straight into the Champions League qualifying stage.

EFL Championship

Andrew Couldridge via Reuters

• August 14, 2026 – May 31, 2027

Traditionally, England’s lauded second tier is among the earliest to begin. The 2026/27 EFL Championship opening round takes place between August 14 and August 17 across 46 matchdays.

However, there is a significant structural change this year to note. The playoffs are being expanded from four teams to six.

It means the regular season runs to early May, before the eventual playoff final, dubbed the richest game in football, takes place over the weekend of May 29-31.

Champions League

• September 8, 2026 (League Phase) – June 5, 2027

Europe’s premier club competition retains its 36-team league phase that was introduced in the 2024/25 campaign.

The first round of those games begins on September 8-10, following the draw on August 27.

That phase ends on January 27, 2027, with the top eight sides earning a bye to the Round of 16. The teams within the 9–24 positions contest the knockout playoff odds and the rest are eliminated.

Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain will be favourites once again to triumph in the final on June 5, 2027, held at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid.

• November 7, 2026 – May 15, 2027

The world’s oldest cup competition enters its 146th edition this year. Clubs at the bottom of the football pyramid will all be contesting for a place in the First Round, which is scheduled for November 7.

After that, the second is scheduled for December 5 before the Premier League and Championship clubs enter the Third Round stage, over the weekend of January 9-10, 2027.

The fourth round and beyond continue in mid-February and the final culminates at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2027, as Manchester City look to defend their crown.

Serie A

REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

• August 23, 2026 – May 30, 2027

Italy’s top-flight isn’t too heavily affected, shifting just a week later than usual with a beginning date for the Serie A campaign scheduled for August 23.

It will conclude on May 30 with Inter Milan looking to defend their 21st league triumph. A winter break will halt the schedule before returning in January,

• August 28, 2026 – May 22, 2027

Germany’s elite league is the final league of the big five to begin, scheduled for an August 28 start and ending on May 22, 2027.

A winter break ensues from Matchday 14, allowing a break for the players and teams before resuming on January 8. Bayern Munich start as defending champions, Schalke 04 return after a three-year absence, and debutants SV Elversberg bring a fresh feel to the top-flight.

First up is the Supercup on August 22, between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

• August 16, 2026 – May 30, 2027

In Spain, they are among the earliest continental starters, beginning on August 16 and ending on May 30, 2027.

El Clásico is played twice: the first at Camp Nou on October 25, whilst the return is played in the run-in, at the Bernabeu on May 9.

Ligue 1

• August 22, 2026 – May 29, 2027

The French league begins on the weekend of August 22–23, with PSG kicking off the league with a home game against Rennes.

It is said to end on May 29, 2027, with 18 teams and 34 matchdays with, unusually, no midweek fixtures to help ease the post-World Cup load.

These are the key competitions that also include the start of the Women’s Super League, as well as start and end dates. However, some schedules are still being finalised.

Celtic and Wolves are both in the market for a new winger in the summer transfer window, with Sky Sports reporting that they are both battling for an Englishman.

Celtic have confirmed just one new addition in the summer window so far, as they look to reinforce Martin O’Neil’s squad after he was appointed as permanent manager.

Camilo Duran has arrived from Azerbaijan side Qarabag to strengthen their forward options.

The Colombian attacker scored five goals in the Champions League last season, providing 25 goals and assists in all competitions.

The Glasgow Club are likely to be in the market for further reinforcements over the coming weeks and months as they look to win the Scottish Premiership title once again.

Celtic and Wolves in winger battle

According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Celtic and Wolves are among the clubs interested in signing Utrecht winger Adrian Blake in the summer transfer window.

Blake made the move to the Netherlands back in 2023 after leaving Championship side Watford.

The English winger even scored against Celtic in the Europa League last season, and he now has just one year remaining on his contract.

Celtic could have advantage in race

Celtic might feel that they have an advantage over Wolves in the race to sign Blake during the summer transfer window.

Wolves were recently relegated to the second tier of English football, whereas Celtic lifted the Scottish Premiership title and will be competing in the Champions League.

Celtic being in Europe will likely offer Blake more opportunities for regular minutes, although he may be attracted to join Wolves due to the prospect of eventually playing in the Premier League.

It’s already looking to be a competitive race for his signature, especially at an asking price of just £2.5 million due to his contract expiring.