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• New USA coach Pochettino aims for World Cup glory as countdown to 2026 begins

  New United States boss Mauricio Pochettino has outlined his ambition to win the World Cup with the co-hosts in two years' time and is excited by the opportunity.

  Pochettino was named the manager of the USA on Tuesday in his first role since parting company with Chelsea in May.

  The Argentine, who previously enjoyed a successful five-year spell in charge of Tottenham, leading them to a Champions League final, oversaw a sixth-placed Premier League finish in his only season at Stamford Bridge.

  And with the USA acting as hosts alongside Canada and Mexico for football's most prestigious tournament in 2026, Pochettino believes his players should harbour ambitions of winning the entire event.

  "We need to believe in big things that we can win, not only a game but the World Cup," Pochettino said.

  "If we don’t, the journey will be difficult. We have to think big. That is the only way to put your talent in the service of the team. It is a massive challenge."

  The USA women's team won the World Cup in 2015 and 2019 and claimed Olympic gold this summer in Emma Hayes' first tournament as manager.

  Pochettino, who knows Hayes from the period in which they both managed Chelsea's senior teams, reserved special praise for her, while also wanting his players to be inspired by how successful the women's team had become in recent times.

  "In Emma, we have the best coach in the world," said Pochettino.

  "The women's team has won everything. We need to match them. They need to be our inspiration, not only with results but in the way they create the philosophy to defend the country, the badge and the culture.

  "We want to create something special."

  Pochettino's first game in charge will be a friendly versus Panama at the Q2 Stadium in Austin on October 12.

• Hull City 0-2 Sheffield United: Hamer and McCallum goals send Blades third

  Sheffield United continued their fine start to the Championship with a comfortable 2-0 win away to Hull City.

  Goals from Gustavo Hamer and Sam McCallum were enough to give Chris Wilder's side victory and send them up to third in the table.

  The home side made an encouraging start to the game but fell behind after a stunning Blades counter-attack, with Callum O'Hare driving forward before playing in Hamer, who gave keeper Ivor Pandur no chance with a neat finish.

  Hull went close to equalising through Abdulkadir Omar's free-kick, but he was thwarted by a flying save from Michael Cooper in the Sheffield United goal.

  The away side doubled their advantage in the second half as substitute McCallum swept in a fine effort from Andre Brooks' cutback.

  Marvin Mehlem nearly handed the Tigers a way back into the encounter, but his header crashed against the crossbar, leaving Hull 19th in the table, still without a league win this campaign.

  Data debrief: Blades make best start in 12 years

  With three wins and two draws under their belt in the Championship, Sheffield United will be proud of how they have adapted to life back in the second tier.

  It marks their best start to a campaign since the 2012-13 season, which saw them go unbeaten in their first 16 games in League One.

  Wilder also continued his good record as Blades boss at MKM stadium, winning a fourth successive match away to Hull after losing in February 2018, in his first spell in charge.

   

   

• Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Heidenheim: Adeyemi stars with brace to inspire win

  Karim Adeyemi scored twice and set up another goal as Borussia Dortmund earned a 4-2 victory over visitors Heidenheim on Friday.

  Adeyemi first set up Donyell Malen, who drilled his low shot through Kevin Muller to give the hosts the lead in the 12th minute.

  The 22-year-old then doubled their advantage six minutes later with his first goal after completing a textbook break five minutes later.

  Heidenheim briefly cut the deficit with Marvin Pieringer's powerful header after 39 minutes, but Dortmund restored their two-goal cushion before the break with Adeyemi's low drive wrongfooting the goalkeeper.

  The visitors set up a nervy finish after being awarded a 74th-minute penalty for a foul by Niklas Sule on Mikkel Kaufmann, with Maximilian Breunig confidently hitting the back of the net.

  But Dortmund earned a spot kick themselves in stoppage time thanks to Omar Traore's handball, and Emre Can coolly slotted in to make it 4-2.

  Data Debrief: Home advantage

  While it looked like Dortmund may be in for a nervy ending after Heidenheim's late penalty, that was not the case, and it means they extend an impressive home record.

  The Black and Yellow are unbeaten in 37 Bundesliga home games on a Friday since a 1-0 loss to Schalke in January 2004, which is a league record, level with Werder Bremen between 1984 and 1991). 

  Dortmund are unbeaten so far this campaign, but Heidenheim's six-match winning run in all competitions is now at an end.