INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Belgium captain Youri Tielemans was a late scratch from Belgium’s lineup for their World Cup quarterfinal match against Spain on Friday. The Aston Villa midfielder was listed in Rudi Garcia’s starting XI when the lineups came out, but he picked up an undisclosed injury during warmups and was replaced by Hans Vanaken when the players took the field at SoFi Stadium. – Follow live: Spain, Belgium meet…
England defender Ezri Konsa believes Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland could cement a Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi-like rivalry over the next two decades. The former Borussia Dortmund team-mates will have to set their close friendship aside when England and Norway clash in Miami on Saturday for a spot in the World Cup semifinals. Konsa, the only outfield player to have featured in every minute of England’s campaign, agreed the…
KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin confirmed that attacking midfielder Johan Manzambi won’t be available for Saturday night’s FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina. Manzambi missed their round-of-16 win over Colombia with a knee injury, and it continues to keep him out of action. His injury is a costly one for the Swiss attack. The 20-year-old was a breakout star in the group stage — in his…
Barcelona are closing in on the signing of Karim Adeyemi after a breakthrough in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund, sources confirmed to ESPN. ESPN revealed Thursday that Barça had made a first offer for the versatile Germany forward of around €20 million ($22.8m). Dortmund knocked back that proposal, but the two clubs are now finalising an agreement which will be worth an initial €22m ($25m), with another €7m ($7.9m) due in…
Vinícius Júnior has apologised to Brazil‘s supporters and admitted feeling an “enormous” sense of frustration following the country’s elimination from the World Cup by Norway. A brace from Erling Haaland sent Carlo Ancelotti’s team home at the round-of-16 stage and meant Brazil’s wait for a sixth World Cup will last at least 28 years. The team was beset by injuries with several key attacking players such as Rodrygo and Estêvão…
FIFA had nearly 1,200 category two tickets priced at $7,380 on sale Friday for the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The governing body’s last-minute tickets sales site, which at times had listed the game as sold out, had 1,178 seats available across five sections of the top deck along the sidelines: 282 in section 344, 299 in section 343, 139 in…
Real Madrid coach José Mourinho said he is “on a mission” as he completed his first day Friday at Valdebebas to continue planning the 2026-27 season. Madrid, who kick off preseason on Monday, announced they will play Fiorentina in a friendly in Klagenfurt, Austria, on Aug. 1, in what will be Mourinho’s first game back. “I have great confidence and a strong feeling that I love this club,” Mourinho, 63,…
The South African Football Association (SAFA) have denied that Hugo Broos has left his role as head coach. Belgian publication Voetbalnieuws reported this week that 74-year-old Broos had described the decision to bring his five-year stint in charge to an end following the World Cup round-of-32 exit as “irreversible.” They had quoted Broos as implying that SAFA president Danny Jordaan was considering another role for him. The association did not…
Portugal have appointed Jorge Jesus as national team head coach on a four-year contract to run through the 2030 World Cup. The 71-year-old was unveiled on Friday afternoon at Portugal’s Football Federation (FPF) headquarters in Lisbon. Jorge Jesus succeeds Spaniard Roberto Martínez, who departed after his contract expired following Portugal’s elimination from the World Cup. The Portuguese manager was available after leaving Al Nassr in May having guided the team…
Liverpool are facing a period of significant behind-the-scenes upheaval following the departure of Michael Edwards, the chief executive officer of football for owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG). Edwards, who served as sporting director under Jurgen Klopp until 2022, returned to FSG in 2024, with a view to lead the ownership’s operation to acquire a second club. However, with no discernible progress on that front, Edwards has tendered his resignation and…