2026 in association football
The following are the football (soccer) events in the year 2026 around the world.
Events
January
- 1
- The government of Gabon suspends the country's national football team, which means that manager Thierry Mouyouma is fired. They also banned captain Bruno Ecuele Manga and top goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from playing for the national team.[1]
- 7
- Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Kevin Keegan announces that he was diagnosed with cancer.[2][3]
- 9
- Manchester City signed Ghanaian winger Antoine Semenyo for £64 million.[4] This is currently the most expensive transfer of 2026.
- 10
- In the 2025–26 FA Cup third round, defending champions Crystal Palace lost 2–1 to non-league team Macclesfield.[5] This is the largest upset by league position in the FA Cup's history, and the first time a defending champion has lost to a non-league team since 1909.
- 18
- The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final is played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. In the final, Senegal beat Morocco 1–0, with Segenalese midfielder Pape Gueye scoring the only goal in extra time.[6]
- 28
- In the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League league phase, Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a goal in a 4–2 win against Real Madrid.[7] He became the first goalkeeper to score a goal for Benfica,[8] and the fifth goalkeeper to score in the UEFA Champions League.[9]
Tournament winners
Clubs
Clubs founded
| Date Founded | Club | Country | Current League | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 January | Yongin FC |  South Korea | K League 2 | |
| 22 April | Piratas F.C. |  Mexico | Liga de Expansión MX |
Clubs folded
| Date Folded | Date Founded | Club | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 November 1920 | NK Domžale |  Slovenia.svg.png){kind=small} Yugoslavia (formerly) | 2-time Slovenian PrvaLiga winner 2-time Slovenian Football Cup winner 2-time Slovenian Supercup winner |
| 25 April | 2 June 2020 | Mazatlán F.C. | Mexico | |
| 2026 | 1922 | IF Sylvia |  Sweden | Merged with Lindö FF |
Births and deaths
Deaths
| Date of Death | Player | Nationality | Played For | Managed | Notable For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 3 | Dimitar Penev (80) |  Bulgaria | |||
| January 7 | Martin Chivers (80) |  England | |||
| Terry Yorath (75) |  Wales | ||||
| January 20 | Lucien Muller (91) |  France | |||
| Tommy Wright (81) | England | ||||
| Janaury 31 | Fathi Kameel (70) |  Kuwait |
January
- 1
- Alan Baker (81), English footballer (Aston Villa, Walsall).
- Colin McDonald (95), English footballer (Burnley, Oxford United, Altrincham, England) and manager (Wycombe Wanderers).
Mukhsin Mukhamadiev (59), Soviet-born Tajik and Russian footballer (Pamir Dushanbe, Pakhtakor, Lokomotiv Moscow, Ankaragücü, Spartak Moscow, Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod, Austria Wien, Torpedo Moscow, Shinnik Yaroslavl, Buxoro, Dinamo Samarqand, Arsenal Tula, Vityaz Podolsk, Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda, Tajikistan, Russia), assistant manager (Ordabasy), manager (Vityaz Podolsk, Tajikistan, Istiklol, Bukhara), and sporting director (Rubin Kazan).
- 2
Horst Witzler (93), German football manager (SV Meppen, Arminia Hannover, Schwarz-Weiß Essen, Borussia Dortmund, Rot-Weiss Essen, 1. FC Mülheim, Alemannia Aachen, SC Herford, Eupen).
- 3
- John Meredith (85), English footballer (Doncaster Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Chesterfield, Gillingham, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic) and player-manager (Hastings United).
Ahmed Moujahid, Moroccan footballer (Wydad Casablanca, Morocco).
Dastagir Hossain Nira (60), Bangladeshi footballer (Victoria SC, Brothers Union, Dhaka Abahani, Dhanmondi Club, Mohammedan SC, Bangladesh) and assistant manager (Muktijoddha SKC).- Dimitar Penev (80), Bulgarian footballer (Lokomotiv Sofia, CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria) and manager (Dimitrovgrad, Al-Yarmouk, CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria, Al-Nassr, Spartak Varna, Liaoning).
- Terry Wharton (83), English footballer (Wolverhampton Wanderers, Los Angeles Wolves, Bolton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Durban City, Walsall, Kidderminster Harriers).
- 4
Bobby Holmes (93), Scottish footballer (St Mirren, Scottish Football League XI).[n 1]
Milorad Kosanović (75), Yugoslav and Serbian footballer (Borovo, Proleter Zrenjanin, Vojvodina, Kikinda, Novi Sad) and manager (Vojvodina, Borac Čačak, Malta, Red Star Belgrade, Wuhan Hongtao, Dalian Shide, Serbia and Montenegro U21, Shaanxi Zhongjian Chanba, Olimpija Ljubljana, Novi Pazar, Radnik Surdulica, Napredak Kruševac, Radnički Niš, Mladost Lučani).
- 5
José Mingorance (87), Spanish footballer (Recreativo Granada, Granada, Córdoba, Espanyol, Calella, Spain), assistant manager (Granada), and manager (Recreativo Granada, Loja, Granada).
- 6
- Robert Vicot (94), French footballer (Toulon), player-manager (Châteauroux), and manager (Paris Saint-Germain youth, Paris Saint-Germain, Rouen, Paris FC, Gabon, Béziers).
- 7
- Martin Chivers (80), English footballer (Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Servette, Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Dorchester Town, Frankston City, Vard Haugesund, Barnet, England).
Ángel Coerezza (92), Argentine referee (AFA, FIFA, IOC).- Tony Field (79), English footballer (Halifax Town, Barrow, Southport, Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United, New York Cosmos, Memphis Rogues) and indoor soccer player (New England Tea Men).
- Terry Yorath (75), Welsh footballer (Leeds United, Coventry City, Tottenham Hotspur, Vancouver Whitecaps, Bradford City, Swansea City, Wales) and manager (Swansea City, Wales, Bradford City, Cardiff City, Lebanon, Sheffield Wednesday, Margate). Father of Welsh presenter and former rhythmic gymnast Gabby Logan.
- 8
- Howard Riley (87), English footballer (Leicester City, Walsall, Atlanta Chiefs, Barrow).
Mojtaba Tarshiz (47), Iranian footballer (Esteghlal Ahvaz, Tractor Sazi, Mes Sarcheshmeh, Fajr Sepasi, Mes Kerman, Gostaresh Foulad). Killed during the 2026 Iran massacres.[10]
- 9
Zelico Petrovic (78), Yugoslav and Italian footballer (Novara, Catania, Taranto, Rimini, Lanerossi Vicenza, Jesina, Cosmos).
Jaro Zawislan (59), Polish-born American soccer player (Clemson Tigers, Columbia Heat, Arka Gdynia, Atlanta Silverbacks), indoor soccer player (Detroit Neon, Toronto Shooting Stars), assistant manager (Creighton Bluejays, Stanford Cardinal, Syracuse Orange), and manager (Cornell Big Red, Le Moyne Dolphins womens).
- 10
- Willie Allan (83), Scottish footballer (Aberdeen, St Mirren, Falkirk, Durban City, Greenock Morton, Cowdenbeath, Alloa Athletic, Bo'ness United, Scottish Football League XI).
Mario Jacquet (79), Paraguay footballer (Club Olimpia, Cerro Porteño, Burgos, Real Oviedo, Real Valladolid, Elche, Orihuela) and manager (Club Nacional, Cerro Porteño, Paraguay U20, Alianza Atlético, Sportivo Luqueño, Club Guaraní, 12 de Octubre, Barcelona SC, Macará, Liga de Portoviejo, Sportivo Carapeguá, Elche Ilicitano, Deportivo Capiatá, Sol de América, Rubio Ñu, Guaireña).- Włodzimierz Jakubowski (86), Polish footballer (Lech Poznań, Polonia Poznań), assistant manager (Lech Poznań), and manager (Polonia Poznań, Mieszko Gniezno, Lech Poznań, Stal Mielec, Bałtyk Gdynia, GKS Bełchatów, Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Olimpia Poznań).
- Alberto Pla (93), Spanish footballer (Rayo Vallecano, Mestalla, Valencia, Sporting Gijón, Castellón, Gandía).
- 11
- Thierry Steimetz (42), French footballer (Lens B, Roye, Forbach, Grevenmacher, Amnéville, Metz, F91 Dudelange, FC Homburg).
- Robert Hopkins (64), English footballer (Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Shrewsbury Town, Instant-Dict, Colchester United, Solihull Borough).
Eugen Pojoni (84), Romanian footballer (Avântul Reghin, Viitorul București, Bihor Oradea, UTA Arad).
- 12
- Rolland Courbis (72), French footballer (Marseille, Ajaccio, Olympiacos, Sochaux, Monaco, Toulon) and manager (Toulon, Marseille Endoume, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, Lens, Ajaccio, Al Wahda, Spartak Vladikavkaz, Montpellier, Niger, Sion, USM Alger, Stade Rennais).
- Eddie McCreadie (85), Scottish footballer (East Stirlingshire, Chelsea, Memphis Rogues, Scotland) and manager (Chelsea, Memphis Rogues, Cleveland Force).
Alain Orsoni (71), Corsican politician, separatist militant, and football club president (Ajaccio).
Benjaminas Zelkevičius (81), Soviet and Lithuanian footballer (Banga Kaunas, Žalgiris Vilnius, Shakhtar Donetsk), assistant manager (Šviesa, Austria Wien, Rotor Volgograd), and manager (Žalgiris Vilnius, Lithuania, KAMAZ-Chally, Metallurg Lipetsk, Shinnik Yaroslavl, Baltika Kaliningrad, Liepājas Metalurgs, Luch-Energiya Vladivostok).
- 13
- Paola Cardia (74), Italian women's footballer (Cagliari, ACF Milan, Gamma 3 Padova, Bologna CF, Jolly Catania, Italy).
Ali Hassan (61), Mozambican footballer (Sporting CP, Vitória de Setúbal, Amora, Académico de Viseu, Mozambique).- Ivan Onufriyev (58), Soviet and Russian footballer (Geolog Tyumen, Uralets Nizhny Tagil, MTsOP-Metallurg Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Dynamo Stavropol).
- Renzo Ragonesi (83), Italian footballer (Bologna, Catanzaro, Alessandria, Venezia, Reggiana, Brescia, Cesena, SPAL, Parma, Modena), assistant manager (Reggina, Vicenza, Ascoli, Bologna), and manager (Forlì).
- 14
- Layonel Adams (31), Russian footballer (CSKA Moscow, Yenisey Krasnoyarsk, Volga Tver, Banants, Cerceda, Isloch Minsk Raion, Caspiy, Turan, Budućnost Podgorica, Khujand, Zhetysu, Shakhter Karagandy). Brother of Russian Olympic triple jumper Lyukman Adams.
- Dmitri Akimov (45), Russian footballer (Zenit-2 Saint Petersburg, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Dinamo Minsk, Tyumen, Metallurg Lipetsk, Sibir Novosibirsk, Rostov, Fakel Voronezh, Dynamo Saint Petersburg).
- Sergio Pensotti (90), Italian footballer (Pro Vercelli, Atalanta, Siena, Pisa, Chieti, Torres, Viareggio, Borgosesia).
- Maxi Rodríguez Callejón (77), Spanish footballer (AD Almería, Real Oviedo).
- 15
- Anouschka Bernhard (76), German women's footballer (VfL Sindelfingen, FSV Frankfurt, Germany) and manager (FSV Frankfurt, Germany U16, Germany U17).
- 16
- Rocco B. Commisso (76), Italian and American billionaire, founder of Mediacom, and football club owner (New York Cosmos, Fiorentina).
- Artur Shamrin (56), Soviet and Russian footballer (SKA Odesa, Lokomotiv Moscow, Metallurg Lipetsk, Druzhba Maykop).
- Giancarlo Tacchi (69), Italian footballer (Sulmona, Avellino, Paganese, Genoa, Arezzo, Lecce, Pescara, Foggia, Padova).
- 17
- 18
- Joe Gadston (80), English footballer (Brentford, Corby Town, Cheltenham Town, Bristol Rovers, Exeter City, Aldershot, Hartlepool United, Wimbledon, Hillingdon Borough, Walton & Hersham, Slough Town, Hayes), player-manager (Ruislip Manor), and manager (Hanwell Town, Swanage Town & Herston).
Kuncoro (52), Indonesian footballer (Arema Malang, Assyabaab, Mitra Surabaya, Persija Jakarta, PSM Makassar, Gelora Putra Delta, Perseden Denpasar, Persik Kediri, Persijap Jepara, Persegi Gianyar, Persipro Probolinggo, PSIR Rembang, PSMP Mojokerto, Persikubar West Kutai/Bhayangkara FC, Indonesia) and assistant manager (Arema).- David Young (80), English footballer (Newcastle United, Sunderland, Charlton Athletic, Southend United).
- 19
Mladen Bartolović (48), Bosnian footballer (Segesta, Cibalia, 1. FC Saarbrücken, Dinamo Zagreb, NK Zagreb, Hajduk Split, Foolad, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and manager (Bedem Ivankovo, Cibalia).- Piero Cucchi (87), Italian footballer (Piacenza, Savona, Varese, Lazio, Ternana, Arezzo, Derthona) and manager (Arezzo, Derthona, Sangiovannese, Vogherese, Potenza, Turris, Giarre, Latina, Ischia Isolaverde, Juve Stabia, Catania, Montevarchi, Nocerina, Savoia
- Roy Erskine (94), Scottish footballer (Hibernian, Stirling Albion, Cowdenbeath). Father of Scottish tennis coach Judy Murray, and grandfather of tennis players Jamie and Andy Murray.
Gert Jüsgen (85), East German footballer (1. FC Neubrandenburg 04, 1. FC Magdeburg, BSG Turbine Magdeburg, FV Preussen Eberswalde).
- 20
- Paolo Ferrario (84), Italian footballer (AC Milan, Lazio, Simmenthal-Monza, Varese, Cesena, Bologna, Perugia, Ternana, Bellaria, Novese) and manager (Cesena, Messina, Teramo, Venezia, Ravenna, Ospitaletto, Rondinella, Trento, Modena, Rimini, Novara, Brescia, Triestina, Olbia).
- Lucien Muller (91), French footballer (Strasbourg, Toulouse, Stade de Reims, Real Madrid, Barcelona, France) and manager (Castellón, Burgos, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Mallorca, AS Monaco).
- Michael Opitz (63), German footballer (Schalke 04, Sportfreunde Siegen).
- Tommy Wright (81), English footballer (Everton, England).
- 21
Yuriy Chonka (34), Ukrainian footballer (Metalist Kharkiv, Naftan Novopolotsk, Balmazújvárosi, Uzhhorod).- Ian Macowat (60), English footballer (Everton, Gillingham, Crewe Alexandra, Northwich Victoria).[n 1]
- 22
- Marcel Loncle (90), French footballer (Angers, US Saint-Malo, Stade Rennais, France).
Ilyas Pasha (61), Indian footballer (Mohammedan, East Bengal, India).- Manolo Toledano (60), Spanish footballer (Recreativo de Huelva, Linares, Málaga, Xerez) and manager (Atlético Onubense).
Niels Tune-Hansen (73), Danish footballer (Holbæk B&I, FC St. Pauli, VfL Osnabrück, Denmark).
- 23
- Giancarlo Cella (85), Italian footballer (Piacenza, Torino, Novara, Catania, Atalanta, Inter Milan) and manager (Piacenza, Suzzara, Inter Milan youth, Pavia, Carpi, SPAL). Brother of Italian footballer Albino Cella.
- Mario Vignoli (85), Italian footballer (Lazio, Arezzo, Tevere Roma, Valdagno) and manager (Ostiamare, Tevere Roma)
- 24
- Bruno Canto (85), Italian footballer (Novara, Verbania, Vigevano, Pavia) and manager.
- Nazzareno Canuti (70), Italian footballer (Inter Milan, AC Milan, Genoa, Calcio Catania, Solbiatese).
- 25
- Dede Sulaeman (69), Indonesian footballer (Persija Jakarta, Indonesia Moeda, Indonesia).
- 26
- 27
- Eddo Carlet (76), Italian footballer (Vittorio Veneto, Torino, Novara, Perugia, Grosseto, Sorrento).
- Klaus Hartenstein (96), German footballer (VfL Neustadt/Weinstraße, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, FC Schalke 04, 1. FC Köln).
- Boris Ignatyev (85), Soviet and Russian footballer (Dynamo Moscow, Izhevsk, Raketa Sormovo, Volga Gorky, Dynamo Makhachkala, Dynamo Tselinograd, Stroitel Ufa), assistant manager (Russia, Spartak Vladikavkaz, Saturn Moscow Oblast, Dynamo Kyiv, Lokomotiv Moscow), manager (Torpedo Vladimir, Soviet Union U18, Iraq Olympic, Soviet Union Olympic, Russia U21, Russia, Torpedo-ZIL Moscow, Shandong Luneng, Saturn Moscow Oblast, Torpedo Moscow), and vice-president (Torpedo Moscow).
- Eugen Strigel (76), German football referee (DFB, UEFA).
Tato (64), Brazilian footballer (Coritiba, Internacional, Goiânia, Fluminense, Elche, Vasco da Gama, Sport Recife, Santos, Grêmio, Brazil)..svg.png)
Rado Vidošić (64), Yugoslav-born Australian soccer assistant manager (Brisbane Roar, Sydney, Melbourne Victory, Wellington Phoenix), and manager (Queensland Lions, Brisbane Roar Youth, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City womens, Melbourne City).
- 28
Eli Carrasco (76), Chilean footballer (Naval, Deportes Linares, Malleco Unido, Regional Antofagasta, Deportes Iberia) and manager (Malleco Unido).
- 29
- 30
- Hernán Rodríguez (92), Chilean footballer (Naval de Talcahuano, Colo-Colo, Bádminton, Rangers de Talca, Chile) and manager (Rangers de Talca).
- David Triesman, Baron Triesman (82), British politician, merchant banker, trade union leader, and chairman of The Football Association (2008–2010).
- 31
- Spiro Debarski (92), Bulgarian footballer (Pirin Blagoevgrad, Rozova Dolina, Lokomotiv Sofia, Bulgaria), assistant manager (Lokomotiv Sofia), and manager (Nea Salamis Famagusta, Yantra Gabrovo).
- Fathi Kameel (70), Kuwaiti footballer (Al-Tadamon, Kuwait).
Notes
References
- ↑ "Government suspends Gabon team and bans Aubameyang". BBC. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
- ↑ "A statement from the family of Kevin Keegan". Newcastle United FC. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Football legend Kevin Keegan diagnosed with cancer, family says". Sky News. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ Pollard, Rob. "City seal Semenyo signature". Manchester City FC. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
- ↑ "Non-League Macclesfield knock holders Crystal Palace out of FA Cup". Sky News. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
- ↑ "Senegal face punishment after 'shameful' walk-off protest in chaotic Afcon final – latest". The Independent. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ↑ "Benfica 4–2 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Trubin faz história e torna-se o primeiro guardião a marcar pelo Benfica". SAPO (in Portuguese). 2026-01-28. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Benfica keeper makes UCL history with dramatic goal". OneFootball. 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Iranian footballers killed in protests as former national team captain slams FIFA silence". Euronews. 15 January 2026.