Football

3:06 PM ET Defender Dani Alves has completed a shock return to Barcelona and becomes the first signing under new head coach Xavi Hernandez, the club announced on Friday. The Brazil international had been a free agent since leaving Sao Paulo in September. – Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)– Don’t have ESPN?

8:54 AM ET Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Barcelona are in advanced negotiations to bring Dani Alves back to the club following his departure from Sao Paulo, sources have told ESPN. Alves, 38, has been a free agent since cutting his ties to the Brazilian club in September. – ESPN+ viewers’ guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA

4:00 AM ET Antonio Conte may face a fight on his hands to keep Harry Kane from Manchester City — ESPN’s Insider Notebook has the latest. PLUS: How Xavi is making his mark at Barcelona already. Jump to: Xavi lays down the law | Sterling exit blocked | City’s derby destruction over United | Newcastle’s

12:35 PM ET It’s been a decade, but David Ochoa still can picture the details of the scene in his mind. “I remember it perfectly,” said Ochoa, a 20-year-old goalkeeper for Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake. “It’s a carne asada and all my cousins are there, all my uncles and aunts are there. My

9:30 AM ET It’s finally here! ESPN’s Battle of the Leagues, presented by EA Sports FIFA 22, began with eight teams, all-star selections representing some of the best leagues in the world, and we’re down to the final two. The French Ligue 1, defending champions from 2020 and wonderfully coached by Julien Laurens, take on

6:10 AM ET With two rounds remaining in European World Cup qualifying, the race is hotting up for a place at Qatar 2022. In October Germany became the first country to book a place at the finals, quickly followed by Denmark. That leaves eight automatic qualification spots still up for grabs for group winners, along

5:00 PM ET Jeff Carlisle Close U.S. soccer correspondent Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Eric Gomez The games between Mexico and the United States have emerged as some of the most heated on the soccer calendar. Who can forget Rafa Marquez’s harsh red on Cobi Jones at the

5:00 AM ET The two-week international break might mean a pause for clubs, but it’s all systems go around the globe with World Cup qualifying and every continent is approaching the end of the road to Qatar 2022. Only three teams — including hosts Qatar, who qualify automatically — have already punched their tickets to

3:34 PM ET United States international striker Ricardo Pepi said it will be a “special feeling” for him when the U.S. takes on Mexico in World Cup qualifying on Friday (stream LIVE on ESPN2, 9 p.m. ET). Growing up in El Paso, Texas, the United States-Mexico soccer rivalry was always appointment viewing in Pepi’s household.

9:00 AM ET The United States and Mexico face off in World Cup qualifying this Friday at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium (stream LIVE on ESPN2, 9 p.m. ET). Stakes and emotions are always high when these sides clash, especially after two epic summer matches in tournament finals. Will the U.S. make it three in a row

9:55 AM ET We’ve reached the nail-biting conclusion of the group stage in ESPN’s Battle of the Leagues, presented by EA Sports FIFA 22, and after bidding farewell to the four eliminated teams after the group stage — LaLiga, Eredivisie, Major League Soccer and Liga MX — we are ready for the semifinals. Mark Ogden’s

1:27 PM ET Yunus Musah had only heard about it. The fire. The intensity. The bags of urine flying from the stands like gross, golden grenades. Tall tales, you know? Lore. Musah had heard stories, but it wasn’t until this summer that he finally saw a sliver of it with his own eyes. It wasn’t

10:01 AM ET It seems like we say this every weekend, but this weekend’s European soccer slate brought plenty of drama, joy, pain and talking points. Manchester United were woeful against City in the derby, Milan and Inter shared the points in their derby, and there were remarkable comebacks (and lessons) as Barcelona and Atletico

9:00 AM ET Forget the race for the Premier League title: the stakes are at their highest in the battle to finish fourth. Three huge clubs — Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur — appear locked in a race for the final spot in next season’s Champions League after all being plunged into crisis this

10:37 PM ET Major League Soccer loves to tout how chaotic Decision Day is. The reality is that sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn’t. But on Sunday, this was one instance where the chaos-meter redlined, and that was especially true in the Western Conference. For most of the day, it seemed like the LA

3:28 PM ET Jurgen Klopp has accused referee Craig Pawson of “making it easy for himself’ by “hiding” behind VAR as Liverpool were beaten 3-2 by West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday. Liverpool fell behind after just four minutes as goalkeeper Alisson diverted a Pablo Fornals corner into his own net under pressure

1:23 PM ET Barcelona kicked off the Xavi era by blowing a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Saturday. The former Barca midfielder was announced as the club’s new manager early on Saturday, though he was not in dug-out at Balaidos to watch his new side earn a first league

11:00 AM ET Austin LindbergESPN FC Major League Soccer fans are in for a real treat. Decision Day is upon us, with Eastern Conference clubs kicking off Sunday at 3:30 PM ET and Western Conference sides taking the field at 6 PM ET (stream games LIVE on ESPN+), and there are still 12 teams vying