Page 3 - Football

U.S host cities brace for uncertainty ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

Philadelphia's host city executive for the 2026 World Cup says organizers accept that an immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump's administration may be among the outside events that impact next year's tournament. "There are certainly things that are happening at the national level, the international level, there are going to be geopolitical issues that we don't even know right now that are going affect the tournament next year, so we recognize that we're planning within uncertainty, Meg Kane said Monday at a gathering of the 11 U.S. host city leaders, one year and two days ahead of the tournament opener. The World Cup will be played at 16 stadiums in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 next year, a tournament expanded to 48 nations and 104 games. All matches from the quarterfinals on will be in the U.S., with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Whether it's the Olympics, whether it's a World Cup, whether it's a Super Bowl, you name i

Spalletti bows out in style as Italy win last World Cup qualifier

With a parting gift for Luciano Spalletti, Italy beat Moldova 2-0 for its first points in the beleaguered national team's attempt to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2014. There was also a significant victory in World Cup qualifying for Belgium on Monday, with Kevin De Bruyne demonstrating his enduring class by scoring in the 88th minute to snatch a 4-3 win against Wales after his team squandered a 3-0 lead after 27 minutes. Spalletti was informed ahead of the game in Reggio Emilia that he would be losing his job as Italy coach in the wake of the team's 3-0 loss in Norway last week, which marked a dreadful way to begin its qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup. Goals by Giacomo Raspadiro and Andrea Cambiaso meant Spalletti at least departed with a victory. Yet the Azzurri remained in a perilous position in Group I, with Norway beating Estonia 1-0 thanks to Erling Haaland's 62nd-minute goal to make it four wins from four halfway through qualifying. Italy stayed ni

Brazil one win away from securing FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification

More South American teams could qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Second-place Ecuador can do it by winning in Peru on Tuesday. Fourth-place Brazil or third-place Paraguay could secure a spot at next year's global tournament with a win in Sao Paulo as long as Venezuela loses at Uruguay. If Venezuela draws, either team could also qualify with a win if defending champion Argentina, which has already qualified, beats Colombia. The most anticipated match of the round is in Sao Paulo, where Carlo Ancelotti will make his home debut as Brazil coach. Brazil, which had a 0-0 draw with Ecuador last week, is two points behind Paraguay in the standings. Lionel Messi's Argentina takes on Colombia in Buenos Aires in a match where coach Lionel Scaloni will continue adding depth to his squad. South America's last two qualifying game days are in September. The top six teams earn direct spots for the World Cup next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The seventh-place team goes into an ...

China crash out of qualifiers; Uzbekistan, Jordan seal FIFA WC berths

China slumped out of World Cup contention before Uzbekistan and Jordan qualified for the first time, taking advantage of Asia getting double the number of guaranteed entries at the first 48-team tournament in North America next year. Asian soccer power South Korea sealed an 11th straight appearance at the men's World Cup finals with a 2-0 win in Iraq. In a hectic night Thursday with a lot on the line, Australia scored late to edge already-qualified Japan 1-0 before China lost 1-0 in Indonesia. For Uzbekistan, a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates was enough to take the second automatic qualification spot in Group A behind Iran. With Asia now having eight guaranteed qualifiers after just four for the 2022 edition in Qatar Uzbekistan was a likely contender to step up. While most of its team plays in the domestic league, it includes a few Europe-based stars like Roma forward Eldor Shomurodov and Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov. In Group B, South Korea and Jordan .

Albania, Serbia clash in high-stakes, politically charged WC qualifier

The roar of the crowd or the thrill of the game are hallmarks of international soccer. But when Albania and Serbia meet Saturday in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, the energy will be different. The match in Tirana isn't just about three points as echoes of past confrontations are impossible to ignore. It's a clash deeply rooted in national identities that organizers are fighting hard to put aside. It is one of the most politically charged and emotionally intense rivalries in European football, rooted in deep historical and ethnic tensions, especially relating to the Kosovo conflict and broader Balkan history. Serbia and Albania are in the same European qualifying group alongside England, Latvia and Andorra. The last time they met on Albanian soil was in 2015, when Serbia won 2-0 even though Serbian fans were banned from the match. The 2014 Belgrade brawl fresh in memoriesA 2014 game between the teams in Belgrade was abandoned when a drone carrying an Albanian flag sparked a full-scal

Spain vs France Nations League semi-final HIGHLIGHTS: Yamal shines as Spain book final date with POR

France's Deschamp will be aiming for a strong performance in Stuttgart, site of a rematch of the 2021 Nations League final, where France emerged victorious.

Germany vs Portugal Nations League semi-final HIGHLIGHTS: Ronaldo sends Portugal to the final

The two teams last met competitively during the UEFA EURO 2020 group stage, where Germany emerged victorious with a 4-2 win, also at the Munich Football Arena.

Nations League SFs: GER vs POR, ESP vs FRA ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

The tournament kicks off in Munich on Thursday (India time) with hosts Germany facing Portugal, followed by title holders Spain meeting France in Stuttgart on Friday (India time)

Ajax hire Liverpool's John Heitinga as new manager in major reshuffle move

Ajax hired John Heitinga as head coach on Saturday to replace Francesco Farioli nearly two weeks after the Italian resigned following the team's late-season collapse. Heitinga, who had a spell as Ajax's interim manager in 2023, spent the past season as an assistant coach to Arne Slot at Liverpool, which won the Premier League title. The 41-year-old former Ajax center-back came through the Dutch club's youth program and made more than 150 appearances for the team. He also played 4 1/2 seasons at Everton. The former Dutch international takes over a team that finished second to PSV Eindhoven after squandering a nine-point lead in the Eredivisie title race. I am incredibly excited to start, said Heitinga, who was an assistant at West Ham two seasons ago. The last years in England have done me a lot of good. I've been able to develop further alongside David Moyes and Arne Slot, while also getting a behind-the-scenes look at two major clubs.

AFC U23 Qualifiers: India drawn with Qatar, Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam

The India U-23 men's national team was on Thursday drawn in Group H of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers and will play against hosts Qatar, Bahrain, and Brunei Darussalam. The draw was conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur. Qatar, the highest-seeded team among the four, will host Group H, with the matches slated to be played between September 1 to 9. A total of 44 teams were divided into 11 groups of four each. The group winners and the four best runners-up, alongside hosts Saudi Arabia, will complete the cast of 16 teams for the seventh edition of the AFC U23 Asian Cup, which will take place in January 2026. The seedings for the draw were based on a points system derived from the teams' final rankings across the previous three editions of the tournament. India were placed in Pot 3. India had earlier appointed Naushad Moosa as the head coach of their U-23 national team. Moosa takes charge from June 1, when the Blue Colts assemble in Kolkata for a training camp, before flying

Chelsea thrash Real Betis 4-1 to lift maiden UEFA Conference League title

The Conference League triumph completes Chelsea's collection of UEFA titles, adding to previous successes in the Champions League, Europa League and the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup

Conference League 2025 Final: Real Betis vs Chelsea live time, streaming

Live streaming of the UEFA Conference League final between Real Betis and Chelsea will be available on the SonyLIV app and website.

Nations League 2025: Burkardt in, Stiller out of Germany's final squad

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has called up Mainz forward Jonathan Burkardt to his squad for upcoming Nations League games after Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller dropped out with an injury. Burkardt will join the team at its training base in Herzogenaurach on Friday, the German soccer federation said Tuesday, in preparation for the Nations League semifinal against Portugal in Munich on Wednesday, and the final or third-place playoff against either Spain or France four days later. The 24-year-old Burkardt has played three games for Germany. He was the Bundesliga's top-scoring German player with 18 goals for Mainz this season. Stiller, who starred for Stuttgart as the team won the German Cup on Saturday, dropped out with a recurrence of the ankle ligament injury that had kept him out for two weeks previously. The DFB said Stiller has not completely healed. Stiller was involved in three of Stuttgart's four goals as it defeated Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 in the cup final.

Diego Maradona trial judge quits after documentary sparks outrage

One of the three judges overseeing the trial of seven health professionals accused of negligence in the death of Diego Maradona stepped down from the proceedings amid controversy over her participation in the making of a documentary about the case. Julieta Makintach withdrew from the case after the prosecutor showed footage of the documentary that spans the first moments after the soccer star's death in 2020 to the start of the trial more than two months ago, in which the judge appears as one of its lead characters. Following Makintach's resignation, the other two judges will have to decide how the case will proceed. The trial was suspended for a week after prosecutor Patricio Ferrari asked the San Isidro court to review Makintach's role in allegedly allowing the documentary to be filmed during the trial. Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's primary physician at the time of the star's death and one of the main defendants, had requested Makintach's removal from the trial. Luque's lawyer, Jul

Messi vs Yamal set as UEFA, CONMEBOL confirm ARG vs ESP Finalissima in 2026

As Argentina prepares for the 2026 edition of this prestigious fixture, all eyes will be on Lionel Messi, who is likely to feature in one of his final outings in the famous Albiceleste shirt

Which team won most Europa League titles? Full list of winners, runner-ups

With this Europa League title, Spurs have also booked a spot in next season's UEFA Champions League, adding a silver lining to a season filled with doubt

Bologna beat AC Milan 1-0 to win first Italian Cup title in 51 years

Bologna ended a 51-year wait for a major trophy when it beat AC Milan 1-0 to win the Italian Cup. Dan Ndoye returned from injury to score the only goal and help Bologna to its first Italian Cup since 1974. The club, which is owned by Canadian Joey Saputo, has only won two second-division titles in between. It was also coach Vincenzo Italiano's first win in a final, having lost back-to-back Europa Conference League title matches while in charge of Fiorentina and finishing runner-up in the 2023 Italian Cup. They were three hefty disappointments, Italiano told broadcaster Mediaset. I didn't think I could immediately come back and get my own back. But we succeeded and I'm happy. I add an important trophy to my mantlepiece and I truly dedicate it to the guys, who were extraordinary. Italiano had been flung in the air by his players in celebration immediately after the final whistle. Many of them were in tears of joy, much like some of the thousands of Bologna fans in the stands. And t

Who'll referee the UEFA Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan?

This season alone, Istvan Kovacs has been in charge of seven Champions League fixtures, notably overseeing the dramatic round-of-16 clash between PSG and Liverpool.

Ligue 1: Marseille, Monaco seal Champions League spots with impressive win

Marseille and Monaco sealed spots in next season's Champions League while Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain beat last-placed Montpellier 4-1 with a Goncalo Ramos hat trick. On the penultimate matchday of the season, Mason Greenwood's 19th league goal in the 85th minute put second-placed Marseille back in the lead at struggling Le Havre. Amine Gouiri scored twice and Marseille won away 3-1. Lagging one point behind Marseille, Monaco sealed its 18th win 2-0 over Lyon with goals from Takumi Minamino and Denis Zakaria and was also guaranteed to finish among the three best teams. The top three qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, and the fourth team grabs a spot in the qualifying rounds. Gouiri scored Marseille's opener after halftime and the match was stopped soon after because of crowd trouble. Pressing to remain in the top flight next season, Le Havre pushed hard for an equalizer and got it when Issa Soumar beat goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli from Josue Casimir's ...

India starts SAFF U19 Champions with an emphatic 8-0 win over Sri Lanka

Danny Meitei scored a hat-trick as India thrashed Sri Lanka 8-0 to kick off their SAFF U-19 Championship title defence in a spectacular fashion here on Friday. Danny scored in the 26th, 31st and 50th minutes while Prashan Jajo (17th, 62nd) bagged a brace in the comprehensive win. Md Arbash (40th), Omang Dodum (48th), and captain Singamayum Shami (81st) scored one each. India, cheered on by a raucous home crowd, showed their intent from the very first whistle. With slick passing, intelligent movement, and constant pressure, India dominated every inch of the pitch and left Sri Lanka chasing the shadows. India's midfield dictated the tempo with sharp distribution, while their forwards tore through Sri Lanka's disorganised backline. On the wings, Arbash and Rohen Singh were especially threatening, generating wave after wave of attacks. The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Prashan Jajo burst down the left flank, beating his marker with pace and precision before smashing home f