… g Russia after 2022 should not hold national office,” said Carlo Calenda of the centrist Azione party. “After learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italian national team, I feel it is my duty to clarify some aspects,” Pirlo, a former Internazionale, Juventus …
… The 28-year-old, who joined from Juventus in a deal worth £12.5m in 2024 and is contracted until 2028, told La Gazzetta dello Sport, external in June: “If I don’t find consistency in the Premier League, I’ll have to look elsewhere.” But after scoring in the first friendly of the …
… I’m looking forward more to signing new players rather than losing the ones we have here.” Alisson has a year left on his contract at Anfield and has been linked with a move to Juventus, but Iraola is keen to bank on the 33-year-old Brazilian’s experience in the forthcoming seaso …
… His competitive mindset was so clear.” Zinedine Zidane (centre) and Didier Deschamps (right) were team-mates for France and Juventus ‘Guy who will come in will find it hard’ Former France full-back Gael Clichy, who played in the first year of Deschamps’ reign, praised his former …
… Former Three Lions striker Rooney likened Bellingham’s performance to Gerrard’s in helping Liverpool come from 3-0 down in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, and to Keane’s renowned display against Juventus, which inspired Manchester United to reach the 1999 Europe …
… But Canada, for all their effort, lacked the quality to break down the solid Moroccan defence as Juventus striker David ended his below-par tournament on another quiet note. …
… naldo is seen as “just another member of the squad”, which needs “every individual for the collective to function”. “Cristiano is an example because of his career and the hunger he still possesses at 41 years of age… an example of leadership and the goals he scores,” the Juventus …
Andrea Pirlo has withdrawn as a candidate to coach the Italian national football team following backlash over his ties to Russian betting company Fonbet and appearances alongside pro-Kremlin figures. The controversy also prompted two senior Italian Football Federation officials, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, to resign.
Andrea Pirlo has withdrawn as a candidate to coach the Italian national football team following backlash over his ties to Russian betting company Fonbet and appearances alongside pro-Kremlin figures. The controversy also prompted two senior Italian Football Federation officials, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo, to resign.
England defender John Stones is in advanced talks with Inter Milan about joining on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City. The 32-year-old centre-half, who has also attracted interest from Chelsea and Juventus, is understood to be leading Inter's race to sign him on a two-year contract.
Federico Chiesa says he is "only thinking about Liverpool" after scoring in a friendly under new manager Andoni Iraola, though the Italian forward has started just one Premier League game in two seasons and previously stated he would look elsewhere if he couldn't find consistency in the league.
Major League Soccer is investigating allegations of tampering by Inter Miami after the club signed 34-year-old Brazil midfielder Casemiro from Manchester United on a deal running to the end of 2027, with an option to extend until June 2029. The investigation concerns Inter Miami's acquisition of Casemiro's discovery rights from LA Galaxy, an MLS regulation that gives a specific club first refusal over a player.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has expressed his desire to retain midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and goalkeeper Alisson amid speculation about their futures. Mac Allister has two years remaining on his contract and has not begun new deal talks, while Alisson has one year left and has been linked with Juventus.
Emi Martinez says he is considering whether it is "time to step aside" from international football after Argentina's 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Spain. The 33-year-old has won 67 caps and was a 2022 World Cup winner and two-time Yashin Trophy recipient.
France lost 2-0 to Spain in the World Cup semi-final, ending Didier Deschamps' 13-year tenure as manager. Deschamps, who won the World Cup as both player (1998) and manager (2018), will manage his final match in Saturday's third-place play-off.
Wayne Rooney compared Jude Bellingham's two-goal performance in England's 3-2 World Cup victory over Mexico to Steven Gerrard's Champions League final heroics and Roy Keane's inspired display against Juventus, saying Bellingham "dragged" the team through with his timing, desire, and work rate.
Morocco defeated Canada 3–0 in Houston to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice and Soufiane Rahimi adding a third in stoppage time. Canada, who were the stronger side early on, became the first co-host to exit the tournament.
Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao said teammates feel no pressure to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting he passes to whoever is in the best position. Conceicao defended Ronaldo as "just another member of the squad" while acknowledging criticism of the 41-year-old's mobility following Portugal's 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Manchester City and Chelsea remain in talks over Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola at City, with negotiations at an advanced stage over a compensation package. Chelsea expect payment under Maresca's contract terms, as he left Stamford Bridge in January despite being contracted until 2029.
Turkey qualified for the 2026 World Cup after a 24-year hiatus, ending their absence by eliminating Romania and Kosovo in playoff matches. Coach Vincenzo Montella has assembled what is considered their strongest squad ever, featuring young talents Arda Guler of Real Madrid and Kenan Yildiz of Juventus.
Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the 2026 World Cup under new coach Sergej Barbarez, who took over in 2024 and rebuilt the squad with 16 debut players, eliminating Wales and Italy in playoffs to reach only the second World Cup in the country's history.
Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti agreed in May 2025 to lead Brazil as their first-ever foreign coach at a World Cup, and has prioritized learning Portuguese through intensive lessons to win over the fanbase and local staff.
Paris St-Germain beat Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Champions League final in Budapest, becoming only the second club to win back-to-back titles and the first since Real Madrid's three-peat from 2016 to 2018. Since the start of last season, Luis Enrique's team have won eight of the ten trophies available to them.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al-Nassr clinched the Saudi Pro League title with a 4-1 win over Damac on the final night of the season, ending his wait for domestic silverware since winning Serie A with Juventus in 2020. Al Hilal finished two points behind.
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.
Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace have all reached the finals of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League respectively in the same season for the first time. Villa will face Freiburg in the Europa League final on 20 May, and Crystal Palace will play Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on 27 May.
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a four-year drugs ban imposed by the FA following an adverse finding in a routine urine test in December 2024. The 25-year-old Ukraine international has been sidelined for nearly 18 months, with the ban potentially backdated to December 2028 unless the appeal succeeds.
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has appealed his Football Association drugs ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after an adverse finding in a routine urine test in December 2024. The Ukraine international, who has not played since November 2024, claims he came into contact with the cardiovascular medication meldonium while on duty with his national team and has maintained he never knowingly used banned substances.
Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk has appealed his four-year Football Association ban for a banned substance to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The 25-year-old tested positive for meldonium in October 2024 and has not played competitively since November 2024; his ban could be backdated to December 2028 unless the appeal succeeds.
Luka Modric underwent surgery for a broken cheekbone sustained in a collision during AC Milan's 0-0 draw with Juventus. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic expressed confidence that the 40-year-old will be fit to lead his side at the World Cup, which begins on 11 June, with Croatia opening their campaign against England on 17 June.