World Soccer Results: Champions League Qualifiers, Europa League Drama and Mbappé Hat Trick

The world soccer results from August 26–27, 2026, featured Kylian Mbappé’s three-goal performance for Real Madrid, the completion of UEFA’s Champions League field, several Europa League comebacks and Tottenham’s five-goal Carabao Cup victory.

The global soccer calendar produced two eventful days on Wednesday and Thursday as European clubs fought for places in UEFA’s league phases, Real Madrid made an early statement in La Liga and English teams navigated the Carabao Cup.

Fenerbahçe, Viking, Slovan Bratislava and AEK Athens secured Champions League qualification Wednesday. A day later, Viktoria Plzeň and Omonia completed dramatic Europa League turnarounds while Benfica, Salzburg and Ferencváros advanced convincingly.

Mbappé Hat Trick Powers Real Madrid Past Real Sociedad

Kylian Mbappé scored three times as Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 4-1 in its first home match of the La Liga season.

Real Sociedad created several early opportunities before Mbappé broke through in the 40th minute. Luka Sučić answered quickly, sending the teams into halftime tied at 1-1.

Madrid took control after the break. Mbappé restored the lead in the 60th minute, Vinícius Júnior made it 3-1 eight minutes later and the French forward completed his hat trick with a composed finish.

Jude Bellingham supplied two assists during Madrid’s decisive second-half surge. The result also gave José Mourinho a victory in his first match at the Santiago Bernabéu since returning as Real Madrid’s manager. 

Final score: Real Madrid 4, Real Sociedad 1

Fenerbahçe Eliminates Lyon to Reach Champions League

Fenerbahçe secured one of Wednesday’s most significant results by defeating Lyon 2-1 in France and advancing 3-2 on aggregate.

The Turkish club entered the second leg with the tie level and handled the pressure of playing away from home. Its victory completed an 18-year journey back to the main stage of the Champions League.

Lyon’s elimination sent the French club into the Europa League, while Fenerbahçe joined the 36-team Champions League field.

Final score: Lyon 1, Fenerbahçe 2
Aggregate: Fenerbahçe advanced 3-2

Viking Knocks Out Dinamo Zagreb

Viking continued Norway’s impressive European qualifying campaign with a 3-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb.

The result gave Viking a 5-3 aggregate win and a place in the Champions League league phase. Viking joined Bodø/Glimt in the competition, placing two Norwegian clubs in Europe’s top club tournament for the first time.

Dinamo Zagreb could not erase the two-goal deficit it carried into the second leg and will continue its European season in the Europa League.

Final score: Viking 3, Dinamo Zagreb 1
Aggregate: Viking advanced 5-3

Slovan Bratislava Survives Extra Time Against Celje

Slovan Bratislava defeated Celje 2-1 after extra time to claim a 3-2 aggregate victory.

The playoff remained level through regulation before Slovan found the decisive goal in the additional period. Celje’s determined performance kept the outcome uncertain until the closing stages, but the Slovenian club ultimately fell one goal short.

Final score: Celje 1, Slovan Bratislava 2 after extra time
Aggregate: Slovan Bratislava advanced 3-2

AEK Athens Cruises Into Champions League

Greeks completed the most comfortable victory of Wednesday’s Champions League playoff schedule, defeating Levski Sofia 4-0.

AEK entered the second leg without an aggregate advantage after a scoreless opening match but quickly established control at home. Four unanswered goals carried the Greek club into the league phase.

Final score: AEK Athens 4, Levski Sofia 0
Aggregate: AEK Athens advanced 4-0

The four results completed the final group of Champions League qualifiers from Wednesday’s schedule. 

Champions League Draw Creates Blockbuster Matchups

UEFA conducted its 2026-27 Champions League league-phase draw Thursday, producing several heavyweight matchups.

Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain will meet Barcelona and Manchester City. PSG’s eight-game schedule also includes Roma, Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Villarreal, Slovan Bratislava and Como.

Real Madrid will face Arsenal, Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Roma, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, LASK and AEK Athens. Arsenal’s schedule includes both Madrid and Bayern Munich, while Liverpool drew Atlético Madrid and Inter.

Manchester United, returning to the Champions League after a two-year absence, will face Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Roma and Villarreal among its eight opponents.

Under the league-phase format, each of the 36 clubs plays eight games against eight different opponents. The top eight advance directly to the round of 16, while teams placed ninth through 24th enter the knockout playoffs. Competition begins September 8, with the final scheduled for June 5, 2027, at Atlético Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium. 

Viktoria Plzeň Produces Stunning Europa League Comeback

Viktoria Plzeň delivered the most dramatic result from Thursday’s Europa League playoffs, overcoming a three-goal first-leg deficit against Red Star Belgrade.

Plzeň won the second leg 5-1 after extra time, reversing a 3-0 defeat and advancing 5-4 on aggregate. The Czech club forced the tie beyond 90 minutes before scoring the goal that completed its remarkable turnaround.

Final score: Viktoria Plzeň 5, Red Star Belgrade 1 after extra time
Aggregate: Viktoria Plzeň advanced 5-4

Omonia Overturns Deficit Against Sint-Truiden

Omonia Nicosia also mounted an impressive comeback, defeating Sint-Truiden 4-2 and advancing 4-3 on aggregate.

The Cypriot club entered the night trailing 1-0 but erased the deficit with an aggressive attacking performance. Sint-Truiden scored twice on the road, yet Omonia’s four goals proved sufficient to secure league-phase qualification.

Final score: Omonia 4, Sint-Truiden 2
Aggregate: Omonia advanced 4-3

Benfica Completes Comfortable Victory

Benfica defeated Aarhus 3-1 for the second time in the tie, completing a 6-2 aggregate victory.

The Portuguese club carried a two-goal cushion into Denmark and never allowed the hosts to create serious pressure. Benfica’s experience and attacking depth produced another controlled performance and a place in the Europa League league phase.

Final score: Aarhus 1, Benfica 3
Aggregate: Benfica advanced 6-2

Salzburg and Ferencváros Advance in Style

Red Bull Salzburg recorded a 3-0 victory over Mjällby, completing a 4-0 aggregate win. The Austrian club protected its narrow first-leg advantage before pulling away at home.

Ferencváros was equally convincing, defeating Trabzonspor 4-0 to advance 5-0 on aggregate. The Hungarian champion prevented Trabzonspor from scoring in either leg.

Anderlecht also completed a clean sweep, beating Kairat Almaty 3-0 for a 6-0 aggregate victory.

Lillestrøm Needs Extra Time to Eliminate Egnatia

Lillestrøm defeated Egnatia 2-1 after extra time following a scoreless first leg.

Neither team could separate itself comfortably during the 180 scheduled minutes. The Norwegian club finally scored the decisive goal in extra time, joining compatriots Viking and Bodø/Glimt in celebrating successful European qualification campaigns.

Elsewhere, Ararat-Armenia edged Universitatea Craiova 1-0 to advance 2-1 on aggregate. OFI Crete completed a 5-0 aggregate victory over CSKA Sofia, Jagiellonia Białystok eliminated Iberia Tbilisi 6-1 and Lech Poznań advanced past Thun 9-2.

Beşiktaş lost 1-0 to Kauno Žalgiris but progressed 3-1 on aggregate after building a commanding advantage in the opening leg. 

Major Europa League Results

• Ararat-Armenia 1, Universitatea Craiova 0 — Ararat-Armenia advanced 2-1
• Iberia Tbilisi 1, Jagiellonia Białystok 2 — Jagiellonia advanced 6-1
• Omonia 4, Sint-Truiden 2 — Omonia advanced 4-3
• Viktoria Plzeň 5, Red Star Belgrade 1 after extra time — Plzeň advanced 5-4
• Lillestrøm 2, Egnatia 1 after extra time — Lillestrøm advanced 2-1
• Salzburg 3, Mjällby 0 — Salzburg advanced 4-0
• Kauno Žalgiris 1, Beşiktaş 0 — Beşiktaş advanced 3-1
• Thun 2, Lech Poznań 2 — Lech Poznań advanced 9-2
• Aarhus 1, Benfica 3 — Benfica advanced 6-2
• CSKA Sofia 0, OFI Crete 2 — OFI advanced 5-0
• Ferencváros 4, Trabzonspor 0 — Ferencváros advanced 5-0
• Anderlecht 3, Kairat Almaty 0 — Anderlecht advanced 6-0

Tottenham Routs Charlton in Carabao Cup

Tottenham Hotspur defeated Charlton Athletic 5-1 in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup second round.

Mikey Moore opened the scoring before new signing Savinho marked his Tottenham debut with a goal and an assist. The result offered an encouraging response following Tottenham’s difficult start to the Premier League season.

The third-round draw immediately handed Spurs a much tougher assignment: a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.

Final score: Tottenham 5, Charlton Athletic 1

Everton Cruises as Newcastle Survives

Thierno Barry scored a hat trick as Everton defeated Preston North End 4-0. Brennan Johnson added his first Everton goal to complete the rout.

Newcastle United faced a more difficult evening against West Bromwich Albion but advanced with a 3-2 victory. Harvey Barnes scored the deciding goal in a match that remained competitive deep into the second half.

Bradford City produced the round’s biggest upset by eliminating Premier League club Burnley. The match ended 0-0 before Bradford prevailed 4-2 on penalties behind goalkeeper Jon McCracken. 

Wednesday’s Carabao Cup Results

• Bradford City 0, Burnley 0 — Bradford won 4-2 on penalties
• Newcastle United 3, West Bromwich Albion 2
• Tottenham Hotspur 5, Charlton Athletic 1
• Preston North End 0, Everton 4

The third-round draw includes Liverpool against Tottenham, Manchester United against Brighton, Ipswich Town against Arsenal and Manchester City against Norwich City.

Hearts Wins Conference League Shootout Thriller

Hearts advanced in UEFA Conference League qualifying after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Rapid Vienna.

The second leg finished 2-2 after extra time, leaving the clubs tied 4-4 on aggregate. Hearts then won the shootout 4-3 to continue its European campaign.

Final score: Rapid Vienna 2, Hearts 2 after extra time
Aggregate: 4-4; Hearts won 4-3 on penalties

Juventus Women Takes Commanding European Advantage

Juventus defeated St. Pölten 3-0 in UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying.

The Italian club’s road victory created a substantial advantage ahead of the second leg. St. Pölten must now score at least three times in the return match to have any chance of extending the tie.

Final score: St. Pölten Women 0, Juventus Women 3

Al-Ahli Defeats Auckland City in Intercontinental Cup

Al-Ahli began its FIFA Intercontinental Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Auckland City.

The match brought together the continental representatives from Africa and Oceania. Al-Ahli controlled enough of the contest to protect its narrow advantage and earn a place in the competition’s next round.

Final score: Al-Ahli 1, Auckland City 0

The Hearts, Juventus and Al-Ahli results added international variety to an already crowded Wednesday schedule. 

Vasco Wins Despite Early Red Card in Copa do Brasil

Vasco da Gama defeated Vitória 1-0 in the opening leg of their Copa do Brasil quarterfinal despite playing most of the match with 10 men.

Cauan Barros received a red card in the 17th minute, leaving Vasco shorthanded for more than 70 minutes. Andrés Gómez nevertheless broke the deadlock in the 58th minute with an individual counterattacking goal.

Goalkeeper Léo Jardim made several important saves as Vitória searched for an equalizer. Vasco will carry its one-goal advantage into the September 2 return match in Salvador. 

Final score: Vasco da Gama 1, Vitória 0
First leg

Two Days of Soccer Reshape the European Season

The soccer action from August 26–27 finalized the Champions League field and filled numerous places in the Europa League’s league phase.

Real Madrid’s victory demonstrated the attacking potential of a team built around Mbappé, Vinícius and Bellingham. Tottenham and Everton advanced comfortably in England, while Bradford delivered another reminder of the Carabao Cup’s upset potential.

Attention now turns to the opening rounds of Europe’s league phases, the next wave of domestic league matches and the decisive second legs of South America’s cup competitions.

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