Having started back in November, the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to a conclusion on Tuesday. With the Asian Football Confederation now guaranteed eight spots in the expanded 48-team World Cup, the third round of Asian qualifiers will also see an increase to 18 hopefuls from the previous 12. Even with one game still to play in the second round, 13 teams are…
Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has reiterated his desire to bring Gareth Bale to the club and said “the offer is still on the table” for the former Real Madrid star. Bale had turned down McElhenney’s earlier overtures to coax him out of retirement for “one last magical season,” after Wrexham secured promotion to the English Football League in 2023. Following Wrexham’s second successive promotion this season that saw them climb…
Vincent Aboubakar scored twice as Cameroon put weeks of turmoil around their national team behind them to beat the Cape Verde Islands 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Yaounde on Saturday. The win, which also saw André Onana save a stoppage-time penalty from Kevin Pina, moved Cameroon level with Libya at the top of Group D on seven points from three matches. In Saturday’s other qualifier in Africa, Gambia…
PERTH, Australia — Football Australia has said it is aware of Palestine Football president Jibril Rajoub being denied permission to enter the country to attend a World Cup Asian qualification match but said that border controls are a matter for the Australian federal government. Members of the Palestinian squad flew into Perth on Saturday morning in preparation for their World Cup qualifier against Australia at HBF Park next Tuesday. But…
Jamie Vardy has extended his contract with Leicester City to June 2025 as he prepares to play one more season in the Premier League, the promoted club said on Friday. Vardy netted 20 times in all competitions, including 18 goals in the second-tier Championship as Leicester won the league and gained automatic promotion to the top flight. The 37-year-old, who won the Premier League in 2015-16 and the Golden Boot…
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez has underlined the importance of Cristiano Ronaldo to the national team by describing the veteran forward as unique in what he brings to the locker room. Ronaldo, 39, joined Portugal’s squad on Friday for the upcoming Euro 2024. “There is no other player in world football who can bring what Cristiano can bring to the locker room,” Martínez said in Friday’s news conference. “It’s going to…
Wolverhampton Wanderers have failed to receive any support from other teams in the Premier League in their bid to get VAR scrapped, with clubs voting 19-1 on Thursday to keep the video assistant. Wolves lodged a motion for consideration at the end-of-season AGM stating that “the price we are paying for a small increase in accuracy is at odds with the spirit of our game, and as a result we…
A 43-year-old man was convicted on Thursday for head-butting former Manchester United captain Roy Keane following a Premier League match. Scott Law was found guilty of assault following a trial at Highbury Magistrates’ Court. The incident took place on Sept. 3 last year after Arsenal’s 3-1 win over United at the Emirates. The television pundit was forcefully head butted near doors at the Emirates while on his way to complete…
Napoli have hired Antonio Conte as their new manager on a three-year contract following their disastrous title defence in the 2023-24 Serie A season. “Napoli is a place of global importance,” Conte said. “I am happy and excited at the idea of sitting on [their] bench. I can certainly promise one thing: I will do my utmost for the growth of the team and the club. My commitment, together with…
Borussia Dortmund have been fined €20,000 ($21,762) by the German Football Association (DFB) for causing a one-minute delay to the start of a Bundesliga match. The DFB had filed a formal complaint against Dortmund after captain Gregor Kobel was late to the coin toss at the Red Bull Arena for their encounter against RB Leipzig on April 27. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Dortmund said in a…