The World Cup has done a fantastic job of filling the Premier League void, but there is nothing quite like club football.
As the tournament in North America heads towards its climax and England supporters' disappointment sinks in, there is a Bournemouth fanbase waiting for the 2026-27 season with anticipation.
So, it has got us thinking: what are you looking forward to most about club football resuming?
Image source, Getty ImagesBournemouth's academy has been awarded Category One status in a development owner Bill Foley says "demonstrates the progress we are making", just four years on from being in Category Three.
A club statement read: "The achievement marks a landmark moment in the club's continued development and reflects years of sustained investment, planning and commitment to providing the very best environment for young players to develop."
Category One status is the highest within the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), granting better opportunities for academy players to compete against the strongest opposition and supporting the development of homegrown talent into first team squad members.
"The new status also strengthens the club's ability to attract, develop and retain talented young players and staff as part of its long-term football strategy," the club statement continued.
Foley said: "From the very beginning, out ambition has been to build a football club that can compete sustainably at the highest level and a world-class academy is central to that vision.
"While today is an important milestone, it is on the beginning. We will continue investing in our people, our facilities and our pathway, ensuring the academy plays a vital role in the future success of the club."
Bournemouth underwent a "rigorous assessment process", which looked at every aspect of the academy's operation including coaching, education, player care, performance, medical provision, recruitment and facilities, to achieve their new Category One status.
Everton are considering a move for Manchester City right-back Rico Lewis, with Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Fulham also interested in the 21-year-old Englishman. (Teamtalk), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked you which players you have watched at the World Cup that you think would be a great fit at Bournemouth.
Here are some of your comments:
Matt: Haissem Hassan of Egypt. Unheralded pre-tournament, playing in the Spanish second-tier, he burst into action in the round-of-32 as a substitute before almost stealing the show from Lionel Messi in the last-16 match against Argentina. Sign him up!
Brad: Mbekezeli Mbokazi of South Africa. We need a left-sided young centre-back and he has been superb at the World Cup and at Afcon recently.
Kirsi: Although he remained on the bench in all four games, Senegal right-back Antoine Mendy would be a nice fit. Looking at how he performed at Nice, he is a very physical player and he gives 110% in defence. Additionally, he would be an ideal pairing with Adam Smith as he nears retirement, with his presence on the team giving Marco Rose the opportunity to give Smith a lower load while still ensuring valuable minutes. Overall, Mendy seems to bring a lot of value to the table and, if signed, he could become another hidden gem found by the Cherries.
Steve: John Stones on a 'pay-as-you-play' deal would be shrewd business. He could provide leadership to what is likely to be a very young defence.
Terry: Richard Rios of Colombia. He looks handy and a good prospect. We need a playmaker and he may fit the bill.
Back of the Net podcaster Sam Davis has been speaking to BBC Radio Solent about Bournemouth confirming the signing of striker Alvaro Rodriguez from Spanish club Elche, in a deal worth up to £25.7m.
"The one thing that really struck out for me was the fact he's six foot four. So that is a modern centre-forward profile that I think we could do with. It'd be great to get a bit of height, but it sounds like his main and best position is centre forward and he excels as a central reference point and attack as well," he said.
"Evanilson, the one thing that maybe let him down last season were his numbers. But when you ask many a Cherries fan, they'll have been so impressed with all of his performances.
"His hold-up play was brilliant, got loads of assists. You know, the way we play, it is really pivotal to have him in the side, and I think that's probably testament to Evanilson that he kept his standards so high without having that competition. So hopefully the introduction of Rodriguez can help him maybe push higher.
"Whilst Rodriguez doesn't have any direct European experience playing himself, playing for Madrid, I think seven appearances for them, he's obviously been in and around a squad that does.
"So he'll have experience of travelling. Hopefully, he can get some minutes in the Premier League for us and show Marco Rosa exactly what he can do, and then maybe get a few games in Europe as well."
Listen below or on BBC Sounds here
Image source, Getty ImagesNew Bournemouth signing Alvaro Rodriguez says his "dream has become reality" after making the switch to the Premier League from La Liga side Elche.
The striker has signed a five-year-deal with the Cherries on his 22nd birthday.
"It feels like a great privilege to be here," Rodriguez said. "I've always wanted to play in the Premier League and now, on my birthday, that dream has become reality.
"It has been a dream since I was a child. When my agent told me Bournemouth were interested, I couldn't believe it.
"Everything I've experienced so far has prepared me for this next chapter, and now I want to keep improving and show what I can do."
Bournemouth head of football operations Tiago Pinto added: "We're really pleased to strengthen our attacking options with such a talented young forward.
"For someone so young, Alvaro already has a good amount of experience at a very high level and arrives after playing an important role for Elche in La Liga last season.
"We believe he has outstanding pedigree and enormous potential, while also being capable of making an immediate impact as we prepare for an exciting campaign that includes European football."
Bournemouth are eyeing a move to sign Hearts and Scotland Under-16s goalkeeper Finlay Jamieson. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
When the World Cup ends, regardless of who wins, we'll still have loads of great content every day as we build up to the new Premier League season.
We're already working on some exciting new things for 2026-27.
As well as all the fallout and reaction to the tournament, we'll quickly shift back towards club football, with pre-season coverage and all the latest transfer gossip and stories.
BBC Sport and teams across BBC Nations and Regions cover all 20 Premier League sides and we have dedicated club reporters, who will be travelling to bring you behind-the-scenes insights from pre-season tours.
We'll also have live pages for selected pre-season matches, as well as in-depth features and storytelling, giving you the latest updates before the new campaign.
Once the World Cup ends, some of the standout players will be hot property in the transfer market, with top clubs chasing their signatures.
Our reporters, including senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, will be breaking the big transfer stories on our website and app.
We'll also have our daily transfer gossip column, wrapping up all the rumours from across the football world.
For fans of World Cup Predictor, a new weekly game will be launching immediately after the tournament, with five fixtures a week to predict the outcomes of. You'll be able to build up your streaks and share your results with friends and family.
Our quizzes will also continue to be available to play so you can test your knowledge of the beautiful game.
Our new Shorts tab in the BBC Sport app will be the home of sport videos with content throughout the week from your club, including explainers, pundit analysis, interviews and behind-the-scenes content. We'll also be starting to include more reaction from fans so you can see the latest hot takes and debate the biggest talking points from your club.
Live pages are going to get bigger and better with more interactive elements, more conversation and improved functionality. They'll have BBC Radio 5 Live audio commentaries for the Premier League and Champions League, as well as live video for FA Cup.
Remember, the best way to get all of this content is to download the BBC Sport app and follow your favourite teams and sports using the My Sport tab.
Once you've set this up, you'll have quick access to those pages at the top of your Home tab and we'll be able to serve you better, more personalised, experiences in future.
And when following your Premier League team, from the start of the 2026-27 season you'll also get Live Notifications, which give you score updates directly on your phone's lock screen during a match.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on which players you're most excited to see in action during pre-season.
Here are some of your comments:
Ross: It will be good to see a lot of players who didn't fit into Andoni Iraola's system given a second chance - for example, Bafode Diakite and Julian Araujo.
Kirsi: I am very excited to see Ben Gannon-Doak back on the pitch. While his play was limited because of a hamstring injury, his involvement with Scotland at the World Cup is a very promising sign. With a good pre-season, he can definitely make a good impression, get more minutes next season and potentially start.
Malcolm: Still over a month to wait but already getting excited. Looking forward to seeing Remy Rees-Dottin and hopefully he will spend more time around the first team. Would be great if Jonny Day can also break through as he's a very talented youngster. More minutes please for Gannon-Doak, Alex Toth and, hopefully, Veljko Milosavljevic too.
Robert: No one player. Just waiting to see who emerges as a goalscorer who can be sold for management.
Jon: Not a player - but Mainz, which was Marco Rose's main club as a player. Not far from Frankfurt so worth checking out in case Bournemouth play there in next year's Europa League final.
Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, Getty ImagesAlex Paulsen was part of New Zealand's 2026 World Cup squad
Motherwell have signed New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen on loan from Bournemouth, two years after he made a reported £2m move to the Premier League side.
The 24-year-old, who was part of his nation's 2026 World Cup squad but did not feature, caught the attention of the English top-flight club after a breakout spell at Wellington Phoenix.
However, he is yet to play for Bournemouth and has spent the past two seasons out on loan, firstly at Auckland before a stint at Lechia Gdansk last term.
He played 24 times in Poland's top tier, suffering relegation as Lechia finished 16th in the 18-team division.
Paulsen arrives following fellow goalkeeper Calum Ward's move from Fir Park to Queens Park Rangers and joins international team-mate Elijah Just in Lanarkshire.
"I've got a great feeling coming in here," Paulsen said. "Obviously, I've been able to speak to Elijah about the club, and everything he has said has got me excited about what's to come.
"I've had a wonderful summer with my country at the World Cup and feel fresh coming into this season. We have some huge matches just around the corner, and we all need to be ready for the competitive action.
"I've spoken to the manager and have been so impressed with the way he has spoken to me. There is a clear vision, and I hope I can help the team achieve that."
Motherwell boss Alfred Johansson added: "Alex had a hugely successful spell in Australia and New Zealand, where he received a number of personal accolades. He was also part of teams that liked to play a certain style of football, and they achieved their targets.
"With Calum moving on, it was obvious that we needed to recruit in this position. We see Alex as a very similar type of goalkeeper in terms of his strengths."
Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic remains a target for Premier League clubs with Bournemouth, Leeds, Newcastle and Sunderland all keen on the 23-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina international. (Corriere dello Sport via Football Italia), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
Pre-season is just around the corner and the Premier League returns in less than 50 days.
Here is Bournemouth's pre-season schedule - with kick-off times in BST.
24 July v St Pauli (Saalfenden, Austria) - 15:00
30 July v Augsberg (Saalfenden, Austria) - 15:00
4 August v Genoa (H - behind closed doors)
8 August v Real Betis (A) - 19:00
Which players, including young prospects from the academy, are you most looking forward to seeing in action?
Image source, Getty ImagesPlenty of players have made names for themselves at this World Cup, from goalkeepers like Cape Verde's Vozinha and Paraguay's Orlando Gill to New Zealand midfielder Elijah Just.
But though they might not have been familiar to fans, the extent of modern scouting means clubs all over the world will already have known about many of them – so how have their heroics at the tournament affected their standing in the game, and their value in the transfer market?
More than the Score's Mani Djazmi is joined Ben Littlemore from Transfermarkt, one of the world's foremost football databases. Lutz Pfannenstiel, sporting director at Aberdeen, also shares his footballing knowledge in today's episode.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland senior reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesScotland ended a 28-year wait for a place on international football's biggest stage, but there was disappointment following a group stage exit.
"It was an amazing experience," Bournemouth midfielder Christie, who played in all three group matches, told BBC Scotland.
"Seeing all the Scotland fans over there was incredible. The atmosphere was electric.
"The first 72 hours afterwards, you feel a bit gutted because we were desperate to get out of the group and it wasn't to be.
"But I had such a good time with that bunch of boys that have been together for so many years now.
"When you finish, you're just hungry for more.
"I'm desperate now to go to more tournaments, just thinking when's the next one?"
Barcelona have shortlisted Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi, but could face competition from Paris St-Germain, Arsenal and Tottenham. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external
Dundee manager Steven Pressley is looking to add six more players to his squad and is keen to take trialist defender Owen Bevan on loan from Bournemouth. (The Courier - subscription required), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Tottenham are preparing an £85m offer for Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi. (TalkSport, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on which free agents Bournemouth could target this summer and whether there is one player the Cherries are linked with but you hope they never sign.
Here are some of your comments:
Peter: Unlikely any of those mentioned would move to the south coast, but I'd happily take Dusan Vlahovic. The big Serb started well at Juventus but seemed to lose his way.
David: Those 'free' agents come with wage demands that are not compatible with the Cherries' strict wage structure. And besides, they're all too old!
Robert: No players signed this coming season. Our priority should be a large new stadium - Dean Court is 'boys' size'. A new one, perhaps in Canford or the New Forest for better access, is needed. Let's have a stadium worthy of Premier League football.
Drew: We already have Fraser Forster - what more can you want from a free transfer?!
Alek: Julian Brandt on a free would be amazing.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe're now well into the knockout rounds of the biggest World Cup ever and we want to know who has grabbed your attention - especially with the summer transfer window open since 15 June.
Which player has raised your eyebrows? Who has exceeded your expectations? Has there been a player you had no knowledge of consistently impress you?
Ultimately, who would you realistically like to see lining up for your team in the Premier League next season?
This is your opportunity to show off your talent-spotting skills - the floor (pitch) is yours...
Tell us the players you want, with your reasoning, here
Enjoy the World Cup across BBC Sport
Image source, BBC SportFrom live TV coverage to highlights, analysis and reaction, our dedicated team will ensure you don't miss a kick of the biggest World Cup yet.
And there's more - the BBC has launched live match updates so you can see the score directly on your lock screen through the full 90 minutes and beyond.
This means you can keep track of every game wherever you are - whether you're on the move, at work, or away from a TV. With live match updates on your lock screen, the score is always just a glance away.
This feature will also extend into the 2026-27 Premier League season, so you're never out of the loop.
A new predictor game has been introduced to cover this year's World Cup, allowing users to pick what they think will be the result from every match.
The game also features streaks, so make sure to check in each day and make your predictions.
Ever wanted to see a World Cup match from every angle? How about a full-pitch tactical view? Or even see the match through the eyes of a player?
Well, now you can with Fifa World Cup 3D Experience, which is a UK-first that is only available on BBC Sport.
The interactive game experience gives viewers more choice to explore the match both in real time, highlights and full-match replays.
Finally, here are some more handy links:
We have been asking you questions about Bournemouth all summer. Our latest is a two-pronged query...
First, is there anyone on the free transfer list you think makes sense or is realistic as a signing?
Mohamed Salah, John Stones, Solly March, Fabinho, Leon Goretzka, Dusan Vlahovic, Jadon Sancho, Daichi Kamada and Yves Bissouma are just some of the names currently available - and you can see a list here of the 15 free agents involved at the World Cup.
And secondly, is there a player Bournemouth are constantly linked with but you hope they never sign? If so, who and why?
Bournemouth sign Alvaro Rodriguez. Audio, 13 minutes
Back of the Net presenter Sam Davis reacts to Bournemouth signing Alvaro Rodriguez
Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper depart Bournemouth. Audio, 5 minutes
Warren Cummings spoke to Ian Wilding after the pair followed Andoni Iraola to Liverpool.
Bournemouth in talks to sign La Liga forward. Audio, 5 minutes
The Cherries are reportedly in talks with Elche over an £18m move for Alvaro Rodriguez.
Jim Frevola: 'We're doing it for the community' Audio, 6 minutes
The Bournemouth President of Business explained more about the Vitality Stadium revamp.
