Iraq and the UAE will finally settle the final place from AFC World Cup qualifying on Wednesday, heading into the tie locked at 1-1. Meanwhile, Asian domestic leagues will conclude in the coming weeks with Kevin Muscat eyeing silverware, and Melbourne City look to have their act together in the ACL Elite. The Asian Game’s Scott McIntyre is the man for a comprehensive wrap.

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Ruben Amorim looks to have steered Manchester United to calmer, more optimistic waters after the end of a brutal first year in the job. The Athletic’s United correspondent, Carl Anka, returns with England also having flown through World Cup qualification.

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To England, where Arsenal were pegged back to a 2-2 draw with Sunderland, but lost no admirers in what was an exceptionally difficult trip away. The Athletic’s Arsenal correspondent, James McNicholas, returns with the Gunners again leading the table in pursuit of an extremely elusive Premier League title.

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The draw for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will be held on December 5, with Seattle among sixteen host nations waiting to see which countries are headed their way. Jeremiah Oshan (Sounders At Heart) has been a football journalist in the city for many years, and returns to the show (after a long absence!) with anticipation building.

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To Scotland, where Hearts are on track for their first title since 1959/60 (with Socceroo Cam Devlin in midfield), and Rangers and Celtic find themselves in differing degrees of crisis. Andy Newport of Glasgow’s Daily Record discusses whether the Jambos can go the distance, and whether the Old Firm can sort themselves out.

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Sydney FC entered the A-League Men’s season facing plenty of questions, but provided a few answers with a thumping 4-1 win over the heavily fancied-Newcastle Jets on Saturday. Captain Rhyan Grant knows what it is to play in title-winning sides; he returns to Box2Box for the first time since 2019 to ponder whether this group could have what it takes.

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Mark Milligan has wasted no time in his start to life as Newcastle Jets manager, ending a long trophy drought in winning the Australia Cup, blooding the kids, and engendering spirit among the active support. He joins Box2Box for the first time, following Friday’s thumping 5-2 win over Melbourne Victory.

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The Championship table is led by Frank Lampard’s Coventry, but propped up by battling former powerhouses in Sheffield Wednesday & United. The Atletic’s Rob Tanner returns to wrap up the second division, with Leicester in mid-table.

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