UK Football Round-Up: 4 October 2026

England supplied the week’s most emphatic scoreline, but the international window also brought important wins for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In the women’s game, Manchester City strengthened their early league lead, while English and Scottish clubs faced a demanding week in Europe.

England turn a win into a rout

England followed Tuesday’s 2-0 Nations League win away to ten-man Czechia with a remarkable 7-0 victory over Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scored twice each, with Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers also on target. Thomas Tuchel called it a “complete performance”, although England still trail Spain in their group.

Three home nations find a response

Scotland’s week changed course in Skopje. After losing 3-0 at home to Switzerland on Tuesday, they beat North Macedonia 2-0 on Saturday through an early Kieron Bowie strike and a John McGinn penalty. Andy Robertson marked his 100th Scotland appearance with a win, despite Scott McKenna’s late dismissal.

Wales earned their first Nations League League A victory on Thursday, recovering from Oscar Bobb’s opener to beat Norway 2-1 in Cardiff. Dan James equalised before the break; Neco Williams struck the winner from the free kick awarded after Torbjørn Heggem was sent off.

Northern Ireland drew 0-0 with Hungary on Monday, then produced their standout result of the campaign on Friday. Ciaron Brown scored twice and Isaac Price added another in a 3-0 win over Ukraine, played in Slovakia. Michael O’Neill’s side finished the match top of Nations League Group B2 with seven points from three games.

City win a WSL thriller

Manchester City’s women made it five league wins from five on Sunday, coming from behind twice to beat Arsenal 4-2. Lauren Hemp scored twice, with Kerstin Casparij and Bunny Shaw also on target. Arsenal have taken only five points from their first five matches, while Chelsea remain City’s nearest challengers after a 3-0 win at West Ham. Manchester United beat Liverpool 1-0 on Saturday, and London City Lionesses’ 6-1 victory over Tottenham was another striking result.

Europe proved less decisive for the English sides. Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Paris FC, Chelsea held OL Lyonnes 0-0, and Shaw earned Manchester City a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League. Scotland’s representatives exited the Women’s Europa Cup: Hearts lost 4-0 at Real Sociedad, while Rangers’ 3-0 home defeat to Hammarby completed a 5-0 aggregate loss.

Cup dreams and domestic form

The FA Cup’s third qualifying round gave two ninth-tier clubs landmark victories. SE Dons beat Weymouth 5-1 in their debut FA Cup campaign, while Tadley Calleva came from behind to beat Dartford 2-1. Both reached the fourth qualifying round for the first time. In the Women’s FA Cup, Leeds United beat Stockton 12-1 and Gwalia United won 6-0 at Stoneham.

The international break reduced the English league programme, but Plymouth Argyle still climbed to the top of League One with a 2-0 win at Leyton Orient. Huddersfield Town won 3-1 at Burton Albion, while Salford City moved top of League Two by beating Fleetwood Town 1-0. In Scotland’s Championship, Raith Rovers won 2-1 at Greenock Morton and Partick Thistle beat Arbroath 3-0.

Wales’s domestic headlines belonged to The New Saints, who beat Cambrian United 9-0, and Connah’s Quay Nomads, whose late 1-0 win ended Penybont’s unbeaten start. In Northern Ireland, Glentoran beat Dungannon Swifts 2-0 for a third consecutive league victory, while Portadown claimed their first league win of the season, 3-1 against Limavady United.

Wales’ Sunday evening match against Denmark was still in progress when this round-up was prepared.