Football: the main stories of 18.09.2026

Nike has lost the most valuable football name on its books. Kylian Mbappé has ended a 20-year association with the American brand and will wear On boots instead, taking a shareholding in the Swiss company as part of the agreement. On is known for running shoes and has almost no footprint in the game, so this reads less like an endorsement than a brand buying its way into football through one player. "We have a shared dream, and this is only the beginning," Mbappé said. Hours later Zinedine Zidane confirmed he will wear the France captain's armband.

Four countries named squads under men who were not in charge at the World Cup. Zidane's first France list takes in Olise, Dembélé, Camavinga and Cherki, with a maiden call for Lepaul. Roberto Mancini, back in the Italy job, went wide with 34 names, Donnarumma, Barella, Bastoni and Maldini among them. Jorge Jesus kept Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, in his first Portugal group and said the five Ballons d'Or change nothing: "There is a result, he plays; there isn't, he doesn't." Xavi Hernández left Memphis Depay, the Netherlands' record scorer, out of his.

• Uefa and Concacaf jointly asked Fifa to hand $10m from its reserves to each of the 211 member associations — pressure that follows the FA's Debbie Hewitt demanding Infantino release the World Cup files earlier this week; one outlet reports that DFB vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke has gone further and called on him to resign.
• Brentford beat Chelsea 2-0 in west London and moved third; it was a 22nd successive league game in which Xabi Alonso's side conceded, and their 43 goals shipped in 2026 are the most in the division.
• Harry Kane reached 100 Bundesliga goals on his 98th league appearance for Bayern, faster than anyone before him.
• Thomas Tuchel recalled Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer for England and said the door is always open; Harry Maguire was not included.
• The FAI says Uefa turned down its request to keep the Republic of Ireland and Israel apart in future draws.
• Elche won 3-1 at Espanyol despite losing Redondo in the 6th minute; Fer Niño scored twice.
• Monaco held their nerve to beat Lens 2-1 and stay top of Ligue 1 going into the break.
• Patrick Vieira's first Senegal squad leaves out Sadio Mané.
• CSKA's medical chief says Dmitry Barinov faces around six months out after knee surgery.
• Alexander Isak says the move from Newcastle was an easy decision; his manager Andoni Iraola defended Florian Wirtz before returning to Bournemouth, where he worked from 2023 to 2026.
• Oxford United apologised for a shirt advert carrying the call sign of one of the aircraft used in the 9/11 attacks.
• Porto play Benfica on Sunday; one outlet reports the home end will stage a choreographed display, with the gates open at 18:30.