Barcelona is racing against the clock, as the Liga F titan asked FIFA for an extension meet its new gender staffing rules ahead of January’s Champions Cup.

Since March, FIFA has required each club to employ at least two women staffers at its sanctioned events, with at least one filling a head or assistant coach role.

Barcelona lists women on its medical staff but none under head coach Pere Romeu, with the team telling The Athletic its hiring search is ongoing.

The mandate aims to close the sideline gender gap ahead of next summer’s World Cup, after just 12 of 23 teams were led by women in 2023.

Barcelona opens its Champions Cup run on January 27th in Miami. The 2025/26 UWCL champion joins Liga MX’s Club América Femenil and two other federation representatives in the global club semifinals.

No. 1 Spain isn’t giving up the throne, as La Roja strengthened its grip on this week’s FIFA World Ranking update after a win and a draw against the USWNT.

The US remained at No. 2 — some 80 points below Spain— while Germany moved to third behind recent friendly wins, followed by No. 4 England, No. 5 Japan, and No. 6 France.

No. 10 Denmark returned to the Top 10 for the first time since 2010, rising two places after a successful two-friendly trip to Canada.

No. 104 Malawi made the list’s biggest leap, soaring 49 spots on a record 158.44 points after August’s historic 2026 WAFCON run.

Egypt suffered the sharpest fall, dropping 14 spots to 113th after losing all three of its WAFCON group-stage matches and missing the knockouts.

“The whole world didn't believe in us,” KC Current and Malawi star Temwa Chawinga told ESPN after qualifying for the 2027 World Cup. “So [now] the whole world will know this team from Malawi, the Scorchers national team.”

The road to Rio runs through Rabat, as FIFA tapped the Moroccan capital to host the preliminary phase of its 2027 World Cup playoffs late next month.

Six countries — Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and Uzbekistan — will kick off the eight-day tournament on November 28th, with the top two finishers advancing to February’s final phase.

The opening field spans four confederations, as World Cup hopefuls from Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania battle it out for a ticket to Brazil.

The event adds to Morocco’s women’s soccer lineup, with this year’s WAFCON and U-17 World Cup also landing in the North African nation.

England is keeping its boss. The FA extended women’s national team manager Sarina Wiegman’s contract through 2029.

Wiegman’s previous contract was set to expire after the 2027 World Cup. Her new deal — reportedly the most lucrative in Lionesses history — lasts through the 2029 Euros.

“I am honoured by their trust, which I never take for granted and want to keep this great partnership going,” said Wiegman.

Wiegman took over in 2021. She has since led England to back-to-back Euros titles in 2022 and 2025 while finishing second at the 2023 World Cup.

“We will all remember the trophies and thrilling moments she has given us,” added FA CEO Mark Bullingham. “I know she is only looking forward.”

Atlanta City is getting organized, as the 2028 NWSL expansion side named Richard Gunney as its inaugural Chief Soccer Officer.

Gunney served as Gotham FC’s Director of Scouting and Recruiting from 2022-2026. He helped the Bats win two league titles in 2023 and 2025.

“As an expansion club, we have a unique chance to establish a lasting identity, high-performance culture, and clear soccer philosophy from day one,” said Gunney.

Atlanta joins NWSL Columbus in bringing on veteran executives. The league’s newest teams are looking to fill their front offices ahead of roster building.

Gunney begins his Atlanta City tenure on November 1st, the last day of the NWSL’s 2026 regular season.

The young USWNT is flying high, kicking off its 2026 U-17 World Cup campaign with Monday’s 17-0 rout of Samoa — the two nations’ first WWC meeting.

Forward Maddie DiMaria scored a record six goals in the clash, as the team’s 17-goal tally marks the highest single-game total across all World Cup levels.

“I wasn’t aware [of the record], but I’m super proud of this group and it’s nice that they have something like that behind their name,” US head coach Ciara Crinion said.

The US will continue making its way through Group E, facing Kenya and China PR in pursuit of a first-ever U-17 World Cup title.

The team’s best finish came in 2024, when future pros like Melanie Barcenas, Kennedy Fuller, and Kimmy Ascanio took third.

“It’s about how we rest, recover,” continued Crinion. “We know it’ll be a different game, a different challenge, and we’ll start from square one again.”

The U-17 USWNT takes on Kenya on Thursday at 2 PM ET (FS2).

Man City built a 3-0 lead in under 20 minutes of WSL soccer action on Sunday, but Brighton made them sweat for every point in their 3-2 thriller at Joie Stadium.

Bunny Shaw Powers Man City Goals in 1st Half

All three of Manchester City women's goals came in the first-half blitz led by top-scorer Bunny Shaw.

The Jamaican forward finished a Lauren Hemp cross from the left in the fifth minute, then made it 2-0 with a header off another Hemp delivery just 11 minutes later. The brace brought her WSL tally to this season to seven. Teammate Niamh Charles piled on moments later with a driven strike from inside the box, her first since joining City.

Brighton, though, answered back fast. Olivia Garcia got the Seagulls on the board in the 31st minute before Caitlin Hayes nodded in off a set piece six minutes later, narrowing the gap to 3-2 before halftime.

Despite sustained second-half pressure from Brighton, goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita and a disciplined City backline held firm. Shaw nearly completed her hat trick twice, only for keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to deny her both times.

The result keeps Manchester City Women atop the WSL standings with a clean 18 points from six matches, two clear of Chelsea. Brighton, the last club to beat City at the end of last season, came closer than most to ending that run.

Real Sociedad stunned FC Barcelona 2-1 at Zubieta on Sunday, ending Barça's perfect start to the 2026/27 Liga F season.

The defeat is the first for Pere Romeu's squad after five straight wins, though the stadium is becoming a familiar headache — Real Sociedad got them there last year, too.

Real Sociedad Nets Win Against Barça in 1st Half

Patri Guijarro gave Barcelona an early advantage just 60 seconds into the match, but the lead was short-lived. Cecilia Marcos leveled the score for Real Sociedad in the 13th minute. Then, deep in first-half stoppage time, Ainhoa Marín found the winner to complete the comeback before the break.

After halftime, Barcelona pressed hard for an equalizer. Brugts appeared to win a penalty inside the box, yet VAR overturned the call after review. Ewa Pajor also threatened late, but Real Sociedad's defense held through the final whistle.

The upset shakes up the Liga F standings. Barcelona entered Sunday atop the table with a flawless 15 points from five matches, while Real Sociedad sat in 15th with just two points from two draws and no wins.

The victory, which doubled as Real Sociedad's first of the season, now opens the door for Real Madrid, currently on 13 points, to narrow the gap at the top.

Orlando Pride closed out a 2-1 road win over Houston Dash on Sunday, only to see their NWSL playoffs hopes crushed hours later. Seattle Reign's 3-1 victory over Chicago Stars earlier in the day officially knocked Orlando out of contention, dropping them to 11th in the NWSL standings.

Orlando's Late-Season Surge Against Houston Not Enough for Playoffs

Despite the bigger postseason picture, there was plenty for Orlando to be happy about on the field. Rookie Solai Washington drove the attack for the Pride from the opening whistle.

She drew a 15th-minute penalty that Luana put away to open the scoring, then netted her first career NWSL goal in the 31st minute off a feed from Brazil legend Marta. Houston pulled one back after halftime, though Orlando held firm to close out the win.

Still, the result only underscored how far the defending champions have fallen. Orlando captured the NWSL Shield and Championship double in 2024, yet a midseason coaching change this year sent the club tumbling in the standings.

Interim head coach Yolanda Thomas has steadied the ship at 3-2-1 since taking over, but not quickly enough to keep Orlando in the postseason race.

Two matches remain against Gotham FC and Seattle Reign, giving Orlando a chance to dent the postseason hopes of two contenders before looking ahead to 2027.

Seattle Reign FC locked down a crucial NWSL playoffs slot Sunday with a 3-1 road win over Chicago Stars FC. Midfielder Maddie Mercado broke the deadlock in the 38th minute after Jess Fishlock picked her out with a delivery from the wing.

Despite controlling possession for most of the first half, though, the Reign couldn't extend their lead before the break.

Reign Dominates in Chicago Behind Maddie Mercado

That changed quickly after halftime. Substitute Nerilia Mondesir wasted no time off the bench, finishing inside the six-yard box in the 80th minute.

Just four minutes later, Mercado headed home a cross from fellow sub Brittany Ratcliffe to complete her brace. The two goals pushed her season tally to 10. They also made her one of just 14 players across the NWSL to reach that mark this year.

Chicago's Simone Charley scored a consolation in the 90th minute. But, despite the goal, Chicago had no answer for Seattle's second-half surge.

Where the Win Puts Seattle in the NWSL Standings

With 43 points, Seattle Reign FC now sits eighth in the NWSL standings, just on the right side of the playoff line heading into the final stretch. The Reign will next visit the sixth-place Utah Royals on October 23rd.