Page 11 - Football

Argentina football team deceived Kerala by not coming to play: Abdurahiman

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman on Thursday said that the Argentina football team allegedly deceived the state by not coming to play a match even after receiving money for it. Abdurahiman said that he had really wanted the Argentina football team and Lionel Messi to come to Kerala and play a match in the state. "For that, I had held several discussions. It was also not an easy task to find sponsors to arrange the Rs 250 crore to be paid to the international football team. "But, after receiving the money, the Argentine football team cheated us. We did not expect such a betrayal from them. Not coming after promising to do so," the minister told a TV channel here. He said that when he enquired, he found out that Argentina had done this to five other countries. "They took money from those countries, but never went there to play. It is a situation where a case will have to be filed against the Argentine football team, and they will have to pay us compensation," Abdurahiman said.

Here's why Italy failed to qualify despite a 48-team FIFA World Cup

Even the largest-ever World Cup, expanded to 48 teams, could not accommodate the storied Azzurri. A nation that once defined footballing excellence now finds itself absent from the global event.

Portugal beat USA 2-0as Americans lose 8th straight game vs European teams

Francisco Trincao scored in the 37th minute, Joao Felix added a goal in the 59th and Portugal beat the United States 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday night to deal the Americans their eighth consecutive defeat against European opponents. U.S. star Christian Pulisic was moved from a wing to the top of the attack but failed to convert a pair of good scoring chances. Pulisic, who played only the first half, is scoreless in eight national team games dating to November 2024 and in 12 games with AC Milan since Dec. 28. Preparing to co-host the World Cup, the U.S. has been outscored 22-6 during its losing streak against Europe and is winless against the continent in 10 matches since 2021. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino announces his World Cup roster on May 26, and the Americans play their last warmups against Senegal five days later and Germany on June 6. The Americans open the World Cup on June 12 against Australia, face Paraguay a week later and close the first round vs. Turkey on June ...

Iran soccer team honors victims of deadly missile attack on school children

Players held small backpacks as Iran's national soccer team used a match against Nigeria on Friday to honor the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school. More than 165 people were killed, most of them children, when a Feb. 28 strike, likely launched by the U.S., hit the school in southern Iran. Neither the United States nor Israel has accepted responsibility for the attack, which has come under staunch criticism from the United Nations and human rights groups. The U.S. military is investigating and has said it would never target civilians. During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them. Video of the ceremony also showed the players wearing black armbands in remembrance of those killed since the war began. The match was played in Antalya, southern Turkey. Nigeria won 2-1 in a game that was a World Cup tuneup for Iran, ahead of the tournament being co-hos

Mbappe shines as France beat Brazil 2-1 in 2026 FIFA World Cup warmup

The traffic on the way to France's World Cup tuneup against Brazil was a problem. Kylian Mbappe's knee was not. The former Paris Saint-Germain and current Real Madrid star showed no ill effects from his knee injury on Thursday when he broke free for a goal to give France an early lead on its way to a 2-1 victory in a friendly between two of the world's top teams. Mbappe missed almost a month with a left knee sprain for Real Madrid before coming on as a substitute in the last two matches. France coach Didier Deschamps started Mbappe but had him on a limit of about an hour; he came off for a substitute in the 65th minute. "He has a lot of desire, a lot of soreness in his legs," Dechamps said. "Beyond that - the quality to make to make a difference, he's always had." With a crowd of 66,215 heavily favoring Brazil, Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike gave France a 2-0 lead on the same pitch where they will play their final group stage game of this summer's World Cup, against Norway and Erling ...

Italy seal 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in WC qualification playoff semis

Italy finally won a match in the World Cup playoffs. Now the four-time champion needs to win one more to avoid failing to qualify for a third straight time. The Azzurri beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in the European semifinals on Thursday. Sandro Tonali broke the deadlock with a half-volley early in the second half for Italy at home in Bergamo and then set up another goal for Moise Kean. "After taking the lead, we cleared our minds," Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said. "We put in a good performance. This should be a confidence boost for Tuesday. We have to win. We have no other choice." Also advancing to the playoff finals scheduled for Tuesday were Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Poland, Turkey, Kosovo, Denmark and the Czech Republic. Italy next visits Bosnia and Herzegovina needing another victory to reach the upcoming tournament in North America and avoid going at least 16 years without even playing a match at soccer's biggest event. Bosnia beat Wales, and the Czech Republic beat Ir

Ireland suffer blow as Szmodics stretchered off in World Cup playoff tie

Ireland midfielder Sammie Szmodics was stretchered off after being left unconscious following a heavy collision with an opponent in a World Cup qualification playoff game against the Czech Republic on Thursday. Szmodics collided with Czech player Stepan Chaloupek as they both moved toward a high ball. Szmodics collapsed to the ground immediately and seemed to display involuntary arm movement. Medical staff treated Szmodics on the ground for several minutes before he was moved onto a stretcher with support for his head and neck. Fans sang and applauded as Szmodics was carried off. "He was knocked out cold," Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said. "At least he's conscious now. He will stay here tonight." Hallgrimsson was hopeful that Szmodics would fly back on Friday. Szmodics, who plays for Derby in England, had only been on the field for less than two minutes after coming off the bench for Ireland in the 115th minute of extra time before the incident happened. He was replaced by .

Mexico set for Portugal test at Azteca despite injury concerns

Mexico's Javier Aguirre prefers not to dwell on absences and instead focus on players he has available for two warmup matches ahead of the World Cup. Mexico is missing 12 regular call-ups including captain Edson Alvarez and five other starters as the team prepares to face Portugal on Saturday and Belgium three days later. The match against Portugal marks the reopening of the iconic Azteca Stadium, which has been closed since May 2024 for renovations to host the third World Cup in its history. The game against Belgium will be played at Soldier Field in Chicago. The absences include six players from the team that won the regional Nations League and the Gold Cup last year. "Half of the team that won two titles, with whom you forged a family bond and a commitment, and who lifted a trophy today, are not with you," Aguirre said at a press conference Thursday. "It's by no means an excuse because other Mexicans are emerging in the same positions and they will try." Among the injured playe

FIFA scraps 2000 hotel bookings in Philadelphia before 2026 WC; here's why

FIFA has said that the cancellations should not be interpreted as a reduction in planning or scale. Instead, it is part of a structured process followed in the lead-up to major tournaments

Mohamed Salah's top 5 iconic moments during his time at Liverpool FC

From crucial goals to historic performances, here are five of Salah's most memorable contributions in a Liverpool shirt.

Mbappe played on despite injury after Real Madrid scanned wrong knee

Mbappe's problem began after a knock during Madrid's La Liga defeat to Celta Vigo last December

Pep's Man City dominate Arsenal to win English League Cup at Wembley

The first major domestic trophy of the season is Manchester City 's. And after a dominant 2-0 win against Arsenal in the English League Cup final on Sunday, it may not be the last. Manchester-born Nico O'Reilly sealed victory with both goals in the second half at Wembley Stadium. The win could also have delivered a psychological blow in the race for the Premier League title as Pep Guardiola aims to chase down Arsenal's nine-point lead at the top of the standings. "(It's an) unbelievable feeling to win a final and to beat this team. We know how good they are," O'Reilly told Sky Sports. "We need to build on it now, it'll give us momentum." This was serial trophy-winner Guardiola flexing his muscles. It was his 16th major trophy as City manager and a record fifth League Cup. He has won 34 career titles as a manager including his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. And, once again, he was stamping out Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's own ambitions, having twice beaten his former assista

La Liga: Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid preview and live streaming details

With both teams in top form and crucial points at stake, the latest Madrid derby promises to be a gripping encounter that could have major implications in the title race.

EFL Cup final: Arsenal vs Manchester City preview and streaming details

For Arsenal, this final represents a chance to end a decades-long drought in the competition, having last lifted the trophy back in 1993.

ISL 2026: Punjab FC secure 3-1 win over Kerala Blasters FC in clash

Samir Zeljkovic, Bede Osuji and Dani Ramirez struck once each in the first half as Punjab FC defeated Kerala Blasters FC 3-1 for a third consecutive triumph in their Indian Super League here on Saturday. Punjab FC climbed to fifth place in the table with eight points from five matches, while Kerala Blasters remained 13th with just one point from six outings. Zeljkovic was adjudged Player of the Match for his performance. Kerala Blasters head coach David Catala named an unchanged starting XI for the first time this season, while his opposite number Panagiotis Dilmperis made three changes, two of them enforced. Pramveer Singh came into defence in place of Pablo Renan Santos, Osuji started up front for the suspended Nsungusi Effiong, and Muhammad Suhail returned in place of Leon Augustine. Punjab FC started with high intensity and kept their opposition under sustained pressure, which paid off with an early breakthrough. Khaiminthang Lhungdim spotted Zeljkovic and lofted a pass into

Japan clinch Women's Asian Cup, beat Australia 1-0 in final encounter

Maika Hamano took a pass from the left with her back to goal, turned and launched a powerful strike from outside the area in a moment of individual brilliance that secured Japan a third Women's Asian Cup final with a 1-0 win over Australia. The 21-year-old Hamano, on loan at Tottenham from Chelsea, scored in the 17th minute to almost silence the crowd of 74,397 at Sydney's Stadium Australia on Saturday night. The Australians applied all the pressure in the last 10 minutes pressing for an equalizer but were continually denied by Japan's defense, including Alanna Kennedy's close-range header with two minutes left in regulation. Japan had beaten Australia in finals to win back-to-back Women's Asian Cups in 2014 and 2018 and has now won the title three times in the last four continental championships. "I just want to enjoy it today because it's only the third time that Japan actually managed to win this tournament," Japan coach Nils Nielsen said. "(We) really deserve it, I mean we won

IPL 2026: Virat Kohli, Iyer sweat it out during RCB's 1st practice session

The start of the session had Andy Flower addressing the side followed by a pep talk by none other than Kohli who told the players that defending the title is going to be even a tougher than winning it

AFC pauses Asian Cup 2031, 2035 bids amid international calendar review

For the 2031 Asian Cup, six bids had been submitted - Australia, India, Indonesia, Kuwait and South Korea, along with a joint bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Arsenal vs Man City clash holds bigger meaning than just Cup final

When Arsenal and Manchester City lock horns in the English League Cup final on Sunday there will be more at stake than the first domestic silverware of the season. The trophy is the tangible reward. The intangibles could ripple further, especially on the Premier League title race. With all due respect, the League Cup would have ranked at the bottom of the priority list for Arsenal and City when the season began. The Premier League and the Champions League would rank at the top and the FA Cup somewhere in between. The League Cup, however, has taken on greater significance given both finalists' rivalry in the context of the season. The winner at Wembley Stadium could deal the loser a huge psychological blow. For Arsenal - top of the table and nine points ahead of City - there would be further confirmation of its superiority over its main title rival. That is important for a team that has appeared to have an inferiority complex when it comes to City, after losing the title twice in .

Iran women's football team receive grand welcome ceremony in Tehran

Members of Iran's national women's soccer team were greeted with a welcome ceremony upon their return to the Islamic Republic after several of the players sought asylum in Australia. "First of all we are so happy to be in Iran, because Iran is our homeland," midfielder Fatemeh Shaban said. People in the crowd waved flags while some of the players held bouquets of flowers and signed what appeared to be mini-soccer balls. Iranian media had reported that the team returned on Wednesday. "I wasn't expecting this many people to come to welcome us, and I am happy to be the daughter of Iran," Shaban said in translated comments. Two Iranian female players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, chose to remain in Australia and have been training with the Brisbane Roar club. Others who initially sought asylum after the team was knocked out of the Women's Asian Cup later changed their minds and said they would return to Iran. Iran's squad arrived in Australia for the tournament shortl