{"id":10694,"date":"2025-07-25T06:38:50","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T06:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=10694"},"modified":"2025-07-25T06:38:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T06:38:52","slug":"ten-things-expect-2025-26-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/ten-things-expect-2025-26-season","title":{"rendered":"Ten insane things to expect of the 2025\/26 season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The 2025\/26 campaign is about to explode into life, and it\u2019s shaping up to be one for the ages. From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/fc-barcelona-132\">Barcelona\u2019s<\/a> shiny new Camp Nou to a beefed-up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/fifa-world-cup-5930\">World Cup<\/a>, this season is packed with drama, fresh faces, and a few farewells that\u2019ll tug at your heartstrings. Let\u2019s break down the ten things you need to watch for in this rollercoaster of a football year. Buckle up, because it\u2019s going to be a wild ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>What&#8217;s in store for the 2025\/26 season?<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#barcelonas-ready-to-steal-the-show\">Barcelona\u2019s Ready to Steal the Show<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#football-gets-a-hollywood-makeover\">Football Gets a Hollywood Makeover<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#ronaldo-and-messi-still-the-kings\">Ronaldo and Messi: Still the Kings<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#manchester-uniteds-redemption-arc\">Manchester United\u2019s Redemption Arc<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#chelseas-ready-to-crash-the-title-party\">Chelsea\u2019s Ready to Crash the Title Party<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#afco-ns-midseason-chaos\">AFCON\u2019s Midseason Chaos<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#young-guns-ready-to-shine\">Young Guns Ready to Shine<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#saying-goodbye-to-the-greats\">Saying Goodbye to the Greats<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#a-world-cup-like-no-other\">A World Cup Like No Other<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#injuries-the-dark-side-of-a-packed-season\">Injuries: The Dark Side of a Packed Season<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"barcelonas-ready-to-steal-the-show\">Barcelona\u2019s Ready to Steal the Show<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Barcelona\u2019s been through some rough patches, but this season, they\u2019re looking like a team reborn. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/marcus-rashford-39803\">Marcus Rashford,<\/a> fresh off a loan move from Manchester United, is set to light up La Liga with his pace and flair. He&#8217;s already looked joyous in training, cherishing linking up with 17-year-old sensation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lamine-yamal-131182\">Lamine Yamal<\/a>, who\u2019s only getting better. The cherry on top is the renovated Camp Nou. Sure, there\u2019s been a hiccup with licensing and minor construction delays pushing back their return, but once those stands are packed, the atmosphere will be electric.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a heartbreaking Champions League semi-final loss to Inter Milan last year, Barcelona\u2019s got a point to prove. Tours to Japan and South Korea have fans across the world excited, with friendlies showcasing their new-look squad. Barcelona feels like a club on the up, and that\u2019s a dangerous thing for their rivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"football-gets-a-hollywood-makeover\">Football Gets a Hollywood Makeover<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/the-americanisation-of-the-premier-league\">The Premier League\u2019s going full American this season<\/a>. Half-time interviews, touchline chats with players who\u2019ve just been subbed off, and even cameras sneaking into the dressing room for a peek. Sky Sports and TNT Sports are taking a page out of the NFL\u2019s playbook, aiming to make every match feel like a Super Bowl spectacle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re broadcasting 215 games live in 2025\/26, up from 128, and there\u2019s talk of a \u201cNetflix of Football\u201d streaming service. It\u2019s a bold move to hook younger fans, especially in the US, where soccer\u2019s finally catching fire. Will it work? Some purists might grumble about the commercial vibe, but imagine hearing Pep Guardiola\u2019s half-time pep talk or catching a sweaty, grinning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/erling-haaland-65760\">Erling Haaland<\/a> joking about a missed chance. It\u2019s a game-changer, and it\u2019s happening now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ronaldo-and-messi-still-the-kings\">Ronaldo and Messi: Still the Kings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At 40, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/cristiano-ronaldo-817\">Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019<\/a>s still banging in goals for Al-Nassr, and at 38, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lionel-messi-874\">Lionel Messi\u2019s<\/a> weaving magic for Inter Miami. With the 2026 World Cup looming, these two aren\u2019t slowing down. Sure, age might creep in with the odd off day, but their hunger for one last dance on the global stage is undeniable. Ronaldo\u2019s piling up goals in the Saudi Pro League, while Messi\u2019s recent Club World Cup exploits prove he\u2019s still got it. These guys have been defying gravity for two decades. It\u2019s like watching two old rockstars still selling out arenas. You can\u2019t look away, even if you know the encore\u2019s coming soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"manchester-uniteds-redemption-arc\">Manchester United\u2019s Redemption Arc<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/manchester-united-105\">Manchester United<\/a> hit rock bottom last season, slumping to 15th in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\">Premier League<\/a>. But under new boss Ruben Amorim, things are looking up. They\u2019ve splashed the cash on Brentford\u2019s Bryan Mbeumo, who bagged 20 goals last term, and Wolves\u2019 Matheus Cunha, who\u2019s no slouch with 17 goals across all competitions. These two could be the spark United\u2019s attack needs in 2025\/26. Still, it\u2019s not all rosy. Squad depth\u2019s a worry, and the Premier League\u2019s a brutal place to climb back up. But come on, it\u2019s Manchester United. They\u2019ve got the history, the fans, and now some serious firepower. Can they turn Old Trafford into a fortress again? It\u2019s hard to imagine them doing much worse&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chelseas-ready-to-crash-the-title-party\">Chelsea\u2019s Ready to Crash the Title Party<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Chelsea\u2019s been on a tear lately, fresh off Europa Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs in 2024\/25. Now, they\u2019re eyeing the Premier League crown. With young guns like Estevao Willian, an 18-year-old Brazilian who\u2019s already turning heads, and a stacked squad featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/cole-palmer-78535\">Cole Palmer<\/a> and Nicolas Jackson, they\u2019re a force. Their transfer business adds depth to an already scary lineup. But here\u2019s the thing: the Premier League\u2019s a shark tank. Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool won\u2019t roll over. They\u2019ve got the tools, but it\u2019s going to be a dogfight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"843\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2223622695-843x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Palmer and Estevao in 2025\/26 - wow\" class=\"wp-image-10443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2223622695-843x1024.jpg 843w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2223622695-247x300.jpg 247w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2223622695-768x933.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2223622695-1264x1536.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2223622695-1685x2048.jpg 1685w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 843px) 100vw, 843px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Carl Recine &#8211; FIFA\/FIFA via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"afco-ns-midseason-chaos\">AFCON\u2019s Midseason Chaos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Hold onto your hats, because the Africa Cup of Nations is about to shake things up. Running from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco, AFCON\u2019s timing couldn\u2019t be worse for European clubs. Stars like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/mohamed-salah-1439\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> and Achraf Hakimi will jet off midseason, leaving teams scrambling. The festive period, already a marathon of matches, plus Champions League rounds &#8211; it\u2019s going to be chaos. Clubs with deep squads might weather the storm, but for others, it\u2019s a nightmare. Managers will need to get creative, and that\u2019s where the 2025\/26 drama kicks in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"young-guns-ready-to-shine\">Young Guns Ready to Shine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Every season needs fresh faces, and 2025\/26 is no different. Lamine Yamal\u2019s already a household name at Barcelona, but he\u2019s about to take it up a notch. Chelsea\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/estevao-125399\">Estevao<\/a> Willian, who cheekily scored against them in the Club World Cup while at Palmeiras, is another one to watch. Then there\u2019s Real Madrid\u2019s Endrick and Franco Mastantuono, both ready to break out. These young guns aren\u2019t just talented &#8211; they\u2019re fearless. It\u2019s like watching a new generation of superheroes step up. With packed schedules giving them more chances, expect these youngsters to steal the spotlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2212338922-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"2025\/26 YAMAL - ESTADI OLIMPIC LLUIS COMPANYS, BARCELONA, SPAIN - 2025\/04\/30: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024\/25 semi-final first leg football match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale. The match ended 3-3 tie.\" class=\"wp-image-10554\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2212338922-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2212338922-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2212338922-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2212338922-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2212338922-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Nicol\u00f2 Campo\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"saying-goodbye-to-the-greats\">Saying Goodbye to the Greats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Get your tissues ready, because some legends might be hanging up their boots.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/luis-suarez-438\"> Luis Suarez<\/a>, now at Inter Miami, is out of contract at the end of 2025, and with the club eyeing younger stars, retirement looms. Luka Modric, after leaving Real Madrid for AC Milan, wants to keep going until the 2026 World Cup, but at 40, the clock\u2019s ticking. Thiago Silva, also 40 and back at Fluminense, hasn\u2019t said he\u2019s retiring, but he can&#8217;t go on forever. It\u2019s bittersweet. These guys defined an era. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2046564395-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Machine!\" class=\"wp-image-5094\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2046564395-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2046564395-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2046564395-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2046564395-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2046564395-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Chris ARJOON \/ AFP) (Photo by CHRIS ARJOON\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-world-cup-like-no-other\">A World Cup Like No Other<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2026 World Cup is going to be bonkers. Forty-eight teams, up from 32, spread across the US, Mexico, and Canada. That\u2019s 12 groups of four, with the top two advancing, giving smaller nations a shot at glory. It\u2019s like throwing a massive party and inviting everyone. Sure, it might dilute the quality a bit, but the unpredictability? That\u2019s pure football magic. From June 11 to July 19, 2026, expect upsets, new heroes, and probably some logistical headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"injuries-the-dark-side-of-a-packed-season\">Injuries: The Dark Side of a Packed Season<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the not-so-fun part: injuries are going to be a problem. The 2025\/26 season\u2019s a beast, with the expanded 32-team Club World Cup and the 48-team World Cup stretching players to their limits. Less rest, more matches &#8211; it\u2019s a recipe for trouble. We\u2019ve seen it before: tired players, pulled hamstrings, and long spells on the sidelines. Clubs will need to rotate like never before, but even then, the risk is real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>By Nicky Helfgott &#8211; <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NickyHelfgott1\"><em>NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\">latest football updates<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\"> Premier League news<\/a> on 365Scores!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 2025\/26 campaign is about to explode into life, and it\u2019s shaping up to be one for the ages. From Barcelona\u2019s shiny new Camp Nou to a beefed-up World Cup, this season is packed with drama, fresh faces, and a few farewells that\u2019ll tug at your heartstrings. Let\u2019s break down the ten things you need &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":10553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2338,3462,2340,9],"tags":[3834,3833,3835,1095,3836,2546,10,26,3832,3831,1287,159,27,589,3538,13,2190],"class_list":["post-10694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-premier-league","category-fifa-club-world-cup","category-la-liga","category-soccer","tag-2025-26-season","tag-afcon-2025","tag-americanisation","tag-barcelona","tag-bryan-mbeumo","tag-camp-nou","tag-chelsea","tag-cristiano-ronaldo","tag-estevao-willian","tag-half-time-interviews","tag-lamine-yamal","tag-lionel-messi","tag-manchester-united","tag-marcus-rashford","tag-matheus-cunha","tag-premier-league","tag-world-cup-2026","article_type-discover","article_type-seo","entity_type-match","inspiration-365s-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10694"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10721,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10694\/revisions\/10721"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}