Also known as: Aston Villa FC
Aston Villa — Premier League club appearing in coverage of World Cup squad selection, UEFA Super Cup participation, and Manchester City's managerial transition.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
… Before Messi’s second, Austria – managed by former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick – had a chance to make it 1-1, but Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez pushed away a powerful free-kick from Marcel Sabitzer. …
2026 World Cup: Messi scores twice as Argentina beat AustriaJoy Online
… The 33-year-old produced several fine saves in the first half – including one at the near post to deny Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans – before making one of the saves of the tournament five minutes after the restart, scrambling across the turf to deny Maxim de Cuyper’s lo …
Ten-man Belgium held by Iran in second World Cup drawJoy Online
… times BST Friday, 21 August Arsenal v Coventry (20:00) Saturday, 22 August Hull City v Manchester United (12:30) Everton v Crystal Palace (15:00) Ipswich v Sunderland (15:00) Nottingham Forest v Leeds (15:00) Brentford v Tottenham (17:30) Sunday, 23 August Brighton v Aston Villa …
Thomas-Asante’s Coventry play champions Arsenal in Premier League openerJoy Online
… Toney scored a hat-trick while Aston Villa duo Rogers and Ollie Watkins were also on target as England ran out comfortable winners. …
Tuchel throws first pitch as England enjoy downtimeJoy Online
… One of the main talking points around selection before England’s first group game against Croatia was whether boss Thomas Tuchel would select Real Madrid’s Bellingham or Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers in the number 10 role behind captain Harry Kane. …
‘Chip on shoulder’ may help Bellingham to best formJoy Online
… like one of my greatest achievements is to keep coming back from those setbacks, no matter how big they are and being on top form and going back into games and playing at such a high level.” Tuchel ‘saw the kid inside’ when he summoned Stones Stones started alongside Aston Villa …
Stones goes from brink of retirement to World Cup ‘pure joy’Joy Online
… Adept at playing centre-back or left-back, he returned to Premier League action in May by featuring in 58 minutes against Crystal Palace and the last 12 minutes in the final game of the season against Aston Villa.
Gvardiol agrees new Man City deal until 2031Joy Online
… Artan, the 2025 Confederation of African Football (Caf) men’s referee of the year, has since been invited to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria, on 12 August. …
FIFA to pay Somali referee Artan full World Cup feeJoy Online
… McGinn could have added a second to his tally after finding himself in space in the Haitian penalty area, but the Aston Villa man fired wide under pressure from Ricardo Ade. …
McGinn the hero as Scotland clinch memorable victoryThe Ghanaian Times
… European soccer body UEFA said Artan will referee the August 12 game between Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, the Europa League winner. …
Sacked ref Artan to officiate UEFA Super Cup gameLionel Messi scored twice against Austria to reach 18 World Cup goals, breaking Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16, as Argentina advanced to the last 32 of the 2026 tournament. Messi now has five goals in two matches, having scored a hat-trick in Argentina's opening 3-0 victory over Algeria.
22 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Lionel Messi scored twice against Austria to reach 18 World Cup goals, breaking Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16, as Argentina advanced to the last 32 of the 2026 tournament. Messi now has five goals in two matches, having scored a hat-trick in Argentina's opening 3-0 victory over Algeria.
22 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Belgium and Iran drew 0-0 in a World Cup Group G match in Los Angeles, with Belgium reduced to ten men when defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off for a professional foul on Mehdi Taremi. Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made several key saves to secure the draw, which marks Iran's first time avoiding defeat in their opening two World Cup matches.
21 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Newly promoted Coventry City will travel to champions Arsenal on Friday, 21 August in the opening match of the 2026-27 Premier League season, marking the Sky Blues' first top-flight match in 25 years.
19 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Thomas Tuchel threw the first pitch at Kansas City Royals' stadium as England's squad enjoyed downtime following their 4-2 victory over Croatia. Squad members not used in the match played a separate 5-1 friendly against Sporting KC, with Ivan Toney scoring a hat-trick.
19 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Jude Bellingham said external pressure over his England selection may help him perform at his best during the World Cup. The 22-year-old started against Croatia and scored England's third goal in a 4-2 win, saying he felt "fresh and sharp" after a tougher season marked by injury and his club Real Madrid finishing eight points behind Barcelona.
17 June 2026 · Joy Online →
England defender John Stones, 32, has been selected for the World Cup squad after considering retirement last October due to injuries. Stones credits his mental strength for overcoming the difficult period and says he is proud of his ability to recover from setbacks and return to top form.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Defender Josko Gvardiol has agreed a new contract with Manchester City until summer 2031, extending his previous deal that was set to expire in 2028, and ending speculation about moves to Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup after US authorities cited his alleged "association with suspected members of terror organisations," but FIFA will pay him his full tournament fee despite his inability to participate.
14 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Scotland beat Haiti in their second Group C match at the FIFA World Cup 2026, with a first-half goal from John McGinn in the 29th minute proving decisive. Despite Haiti creating some chances in the second half, Scotland held on for the victory in a match played in Boston.
14 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Somali referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry to the US and barred from World Cup duty by American authorities, has been selected by UEFA to officiate the August 12 UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria.
12 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
England midfielder Jude Bellingham has emphasised the need for players to "feel loved" as the team prepares for the World Cup in North America this summer. Bellingham, who was part of the Euro 2024 final squad, acknowledged that the group did not connect as well as it could have during the Euros and says there is a different feel around the camp now.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, barred from the World Cup by US authorities despite holding a valid visa, has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, following a cooperation agreement between European soccer's governing body and the Confederation of African Football.
12 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Omar Artan, a Somali referee barred from entering the United States for World Cup duty due to visa and vetting concerns, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the UEFA Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on August 12 in Salzburg, Austria.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Roy Keane and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes have reconciled after Keane misquoted Fernandes on a podcast, leading Fernandes to accuse him of lying. The pair had what Keane described as a "lovely chat" to resolve the matter.
11 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Barcelona has made 20-year-old Roony Bardghji available for transfer as the club strengthens its attacking options; six Premier League clubs including Aston Villa, Sunderland, and Brighton are reported to be interested, with Bardghji preferring a loan move to prove his value to Barcelona.
4 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
England has announced its squad numbers for the World Cup, with Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham receiving the No 10 shirt, potentially signalling his role in the central attacking role ahead of Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers.
3 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Former England international James Milner has retired after a 24-year Premier League career at age 40, leaving Brighton after three seasons. The versatile forward holds the record for most Premier League appearances and won three league titles and the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019.
2 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Former England international James Milner has retired at age 40 after 24 years in the Premier League, during which he broke the record for most Premier League appearances, won three league titles and the 2019 Champions League with Liverpool, and earned 61 caps for England.
1 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Forbes' annual list values Real Madrid as football's most valuable club at $9.5bn, with Barcelona second at $7.5bn and Manchester United third at $7.2bn. The Premier League has the most clubs in the top 30 with 11 sides.
29 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Pep Guardiola shed tears during his final match as Manchester City manager when captain Bernardo Silva was substituted out in the 59th minute. City lost to Aston Villa, marking the end of Guardiola's decade of dominance at the club.
24 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Manchester City confirmed that manager Pep Guardiola will depart after Sunday's final match of the season, ending a 10-year tenure in which he led the club to 17 major trophies including six Premier League titles. Enzo Maresca, a former Chelsea manager who worked under Guardiola at City, is the frontrunner to replace him.
22 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Juaben, a Ghanaian village home to about 1,000 Aston Villa supporters, will celebrate the club's 3-0 Europa League victory over Freiburg with a parade of 30 motorcycles and a minibus through the community. The village's passion for Villa stems from Owusu Boakye's grandfather Daniel, who heard stories about the club from a Birmingham family, including tales of player Paul McGrath.
22 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final in Istanbul on Wednesday, securing their first European trophy since 1982. Prince William, a Villa fan, celebrated the victory and posted congratulations to the team.
20 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Aston Villa defeated Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final in Istanbul, claiming their first European trophy in 44 years. Manager Unai Emery claimed his fifth Europa League title as Villa dominated the match with goals from Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, and Morgan Rogers.
20 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Manchester City are preparing for a new era, with Enzo Maresca poised to replace Pep Guardiola as manager ahead of the 2026-27 season. Guardiola is expected to step down after City's final Premier League game of the season, with discussions already at an advanced stage for the 46-year-old Italian to take over.
20 May 2026 · Daily Guide →
Arsenal's 22-year wait for the Premier League title is over after Manchester City drew at Bournemouth, leaving the Gunners four points clear before the final round of games. Mikel Arteta's side are set to lift the trophy at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
19 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Enzo Maresca is expected to replace Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager for the 2026-27 season following Guardiola's departure after this Sunday's final game. The former Chelsea head coach, who previously worked under Guardiola during City's 2022-23 treble-winning campaign, has been identified as the leading contender, with talks at an advanced stage.
19 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Wayne Rooney has called Mohamed Salah "selfish" and said he should be dropped from Liverpool's final match against Brentford, criticizing Salah's public comments about the club needing to return to "heavy metal attacking football" as a dig at manager Arne Slot.
18 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Manchester City is preparing for Pep Guardiola's exit at the end of the season, with sources telling BBC Sport the managerial great is expected to leave Etihad Stadium. Enzo Maresca, a former Chelsea manager who worked under Guardiola at City, is the front-runner to replace him.
18 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Mohamed Salah has called for Liverpool to return to a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear" following a 4-2 defeat to Aston Villa that has left their Champions League hopes uncertain. Salah, who will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years and six major trophies, appeared to criticise head coach Arne Slot, saying their identity under former manager Jurgen Klopp must be "recovered and kept for good."
17 May 2026 · Joy Online →