FIFA is to stage the World Cup final news conference in front of paying fans with supporters having to pay in excess of $80 (£60) to watch the coaches and players from the two finalists, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, talk about Sunday’s game in New Jersey. News conferences ahead of major football finals including the World Cup and Champions League are traditionally held the day before the game —…
Nottingham Forest are set to complete the signing of Austria international Xaver Schlager, sources have told ESPN. Schlager joins as a free agent after his contract with RB Leipzig expired at the end of June, with the news first reported by The Athletic. The 28-year-old will sign on a two-year deal with the option of a third year. The signing comes as a coup for Forest — Schlager was Leipzig’s…
Morgan Rogers is set to start for England in Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal against Argentina, sources have told ESPN. The Aston Villa midfielder has only started one other game at the tournament — England’s final Group L match against Panama — but is expected to be given the nod in a surprise call by head coach Thomas Tuchel. Rogers is set to start on the right wing with sources indicating…
Milan’s public prosecutor has dismissed the case against former Italian referee designator Gianluca Rocchi and his deputy Andrea Gervasoni for alleged sports fraud. Rocchi, who was the head of referees in Serie A and Serie B, was placed under criminal investigation in April. He was accused of influencing VAR decisions and altering the selection of referees. However, a statement issued by the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday said that…
Roberto Di Matteo — who led Chelsea to their first UEFA Champions League title in 2011/12 — has backed new manager Xabi Alonso to lead the Blues back to Europe’s premier competition in his first season at the helm. Chelsea had a dismal 2025/26 season, finishing 10th in the English Premier League after sitting near the top of the table for much of the first half of the season. A…
Lamine Yamal is looking forward to taking New York by storm after helping Spain reach the World Cup final with a 2-0 win against France. The Barcelona star — who turned 19 on Monday — earned a first-half penalty that teammate Mikel Oyarzabal converted before Pedro Porro added a second after the break. Yamal, referencing the song ‘NUEVAYoL’ by Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny, wrote on Instagram: “Nuevayol [New York]…
England have been described as “invaders” and “usurping pirates” by Argentina’s vice-president ahead of the teams’ World Cup semifinal clash in Atlanta on Wednesday. Political tensions linger between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falkland Islands, which boiled over into conflict in 1982. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said it would be “madness” to mix up sport and politics ahead of the match, but his country’s vice-president Victoria Villarruel stoked up…
Dan Burn fell in love with football after watching David Beckham’s dramatic winner against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup and now has the chance to create a lasting memory of his own against England‘s great rivals. Burn was a 10-year-old watching with his dad in a Florida pub when Beckham’s penalty earned redemption following his 1998 red card, when Glenn Hoddle’s team bravely lost in the round of 16.…
ATLANTA — Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni shut down criticism over the way his team has played throughout the FIFA World Cup ahead of the semifinal against England on Wednesday. “The team isn’t playing as bad as people say. We must have done something right to reach this stage,” Scaloni said on Tuesday in response to suggestions his team hasn’t been at its best. “I’m grateful to the players. They’ve led…
ATLANTA — Marc Guéhi said all the pressure is on Argentina ahead of England’s semifinal against the reigning champions on Wednesday, while Ezri Konsa added the team must ignore the external noise over the rivalry between the two countries. England landed here on Tuesday afternoon as they prepared to face Argentina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and book a spot in the final against Spain. Much of the talk this week has…