… He reached a historic milestone by managing five consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments since South Africa 2010 when he led his native Portugal to a Round of 16 showing. …
… The African side, buoyed by their opening 1-1 draw with Portugal, threatened sporadically through Edo Kayembe, Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa but lacked a clinical finish. …
… Ochoa is in his sixth World Cup campaign, matching Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, although he has only appeared in four of them as he was an unused squad member at the 2006 and 2010 tournaments.
… There were also reports that Portugal and Italy were considering exempting British nationals from EES checks at their airports, but the European Commission claimed there were no such plans in place.
Portugal will look to course correct their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign when they face Uzbekistan in their second Group K match, set for the Houston Stadium today. …
Carlos Queiroz has managed Real Madrid, Portugal, and Iran. He has handled dressing rooms filled with global superstars and navigated the political minefields that come with managing national teams across three continents. …
Portugal winger Francisco Conceicao insists his teammates felt no pressure to pass to Cristiano Ronaldo following scrutiny of the veteran superstar’s role in their lacklustre World Cup opener. …
FIFA announced plans to sell off stakes in its football competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors associated with US President Donald Trump, which Infantino characterizes as democratisation of football but which has met criticism from fans, politicians and regional governing bodies. The plan would distribute $40m in funding to FIFA member associations, with a deadline of 19 September for federations to accept in order to access an initial $20m.
FIFA announced plans to sell off stakes in its football competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors associated with US President Donald Trump, which Infantino characterizes as democratisation of football but which has met criticism from fans, politicians and regional governing bodies. The plan would distribute $40m in funding to FIFA member associations, with a deadline of 19 September for federations to accept in order to access an initial $20m.
Spanish authorities have allowed thousands evacuated by wildfires to return home in Toledo, Madrid, Ávila, and Castellón regions, with 24,000 people in Madrid alone cleared to return. Spain and France now face a fourth heatwave this summer, with some fires still burning and warnings of dry winds and temperatures up to 41°C in south-west France.
Zinedine Zidane was confirmed as France's head coach on a four-year deal running until the 2030 World Cup, replacing Didier Deschamps who left after France finished fourth at the recent World Cup. Zidane, 54, had long been the leading candidate and said he turned down club offers to pursue the France role.
The World Bank projects Morocco's economic growth will decelerate to 4.2% in 2026 from 4.9% last year, driven by 2030 World Cup infrastructure investment and agricultural rebound, though drought and European economic recovery remain risks.
Portuguese club Marítimo have expressed interest in signing 19-year-old Ghanaian winger Nana Kofi Donkor following an impressive season in the Georgian top flight on loan at Dinamo Tbilisi. His attacking style and ability to beat defenders have made him one of Georgia's standout young players.
Jurgen Klopp, appointed Germany's head coach on a four-year deal, warned he will quit if the media does not respect his family's privacy, calling the role "the absolutely high point" of his coaching career and his first job since leaving Liverpool in 2024.
French authorities have ordered evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula with hundreds fleeing by boat as a wildfire consumes 8,700 hectares in the Gironde region. Spain has also declared a national emergency as wildfires burn near Madrid, while a separate major fire in France's Landes region has prompted evacuation of more than 23,000 people.
AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric, 40, has signed a one-year contract extension with the Italian club after joining on a one-year deal last summer following 13 years at Real Madrid. Modric scored two goals in 37 appearances for Milan last season as they finished fifth in Serie A.
Anthony Taylor, 47, has announced his immediate retirement from refereeing after 20 years spanning 831 matches, citing intense pressure and constant scrutiny as contributing factors. His final match was Spain's 1-0 World Cup win over Portugal on 6 July.
Anthony Taylor, 47, has retired from refereeing after 20 years and 831 matches, with his final game Spain's 1-0 World Cup win over Portugal on 6 July. Taylor officiated 432 Premier League matches and 163 international games across two decades.
Anthony Taylor, 47, has announced his immediate retirement from refereeing after a 20-year career spanning 831 matches, citing the intense pressure and constant scrutiny of elite-level officiating. Taylor officiated 432 Premier League matches, every major domestic cup final, and 163 international matches across 14 years on Fifa's list, with his final match being Spain's 1-0 World Cup win over Portugal on 6 July.
Premier League side Ipswich Town has signed 22-year-old Ghanaian winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester City on a five-year contract through 2031. Fatawu has 32 caps for Ghana and scored nine goals in 44 appearances for Leicester during 2025/26.
Spain claimed the top spot in the FIFA men's rankings after beating Argentina 1-0, with Morocco reaching a record-high sixth place. Ghana moved up eight places in the latest rankings.
Portugal and Morocco are asking the European Commission to consider a power interconnector between the two countries for EU funding and private investment. A power blackout in Spain and Portugal in April 2025 revived the project, which would strengthen energy security for both countries by diversifying electricity sources beyond limited existing European connections.
Portugal and Morocco will ask the European Commission to fund a long-planned power interconnector between the two countries and explore private-sector investment, following a blackout in Spain and Portugal in April 2025 that exposed the Iberian Peninsula's weak electricity connections to the rest of Europe.
Morocco plans to expand hotel capacity by 60,000 beds—about a fifth of its current total—by the time it co-hosts the 2030 World Cup. The government is investing more than 190 billion dirhams in infrastructure including rail, road, airports, and stadiums, aiming to attract 26 million visitors by 2030.
Kevin Keegan, a double Ballon d'Or winner who played for Liverpool and managed England, has died at 75 after being diagnosed with stage four cancer in January.
The EU's new Entry Exit System has nearly tripled waiting times for non-EU citizens at passport control in some airports, including Rome, with Ryanair warning passengers to prepare for extended delays. Border police reported technology bugs, though the European Commission said disruption is limited in most airports.
Joao Gomes, a Brazil international, is set to join Aston Villa from Wolves in a deal worth £38m (£34m initial plus £4m in add-ons), having left Wolves' training camp in Portugal for a medical on Thursday. Villa are addressing midfield gaps following the sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and Amadou Onana's serious knee injury.
Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes is poised to join Aston Villa in a deal worth £38m (initial £34m plus £4m in add-ons), with the 25-year-old Brazilian international set to undergo a medical on Thursday. Villa are reinforcing midfield after losing Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and having Amadou Onana sidelined with injury.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said officials will examine the possibility of expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams before the 2030 event, noting that growing the tournament gives smaller nations the incentive to improve and allows every nation to dream of participation.
Morocco lost 2-0 to France in the World Cup quarter-final but will focus on the 2030 tournament, which they will co-host with Portugal and Spain. As co-hosts, Morocco are already qualified for 2030.
Wizkid sparked a fresh supremacy row with Burna Boy by suggesting he was scheduled to close Afronation Portugal because he is "the best," after Burna Boy performed on the opening day. Fans have since debated the performance order on social media, with the remark reviving tensions between the two artists.
Nine of Africa's ten World Cup teams advanced past the group stage, with Morocco reaching the quarter-finals before elimination by France, and Egypt winning a World Cup match for the first time while advancing to the last 16. Several African sides came close to major upsets but were unable to hold leads late in their matches.
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said plans to expand the World Cup to 64 teams will be examined after the 2026 tournament, citing the success of the expanded 48-team format. Infantino stated that expanding the tournament ensures it is "for the whole world" and gives smaller nations incentive to improve.
A British couple were found badly burned and semi-conscious in a ravine after being caught in wildfires that swept through Spain's Almeria province on Thursday. The blaze has claimed 12 lives, including four believed to be Britons, and burned through 6,600 hectares.
A major wildfire in south-eastern Spain around the village of Bedar in Los Gallardos has killed 12 people, including four Britons, with 23 still missing and local officials warning the death toll could rise. The fire spread rapidly on Thursday amid a heatwave with temperatures around 40°C, with authorities attributing the cause to a fallen power line, though local electricity companies have denied this.
A wildfire in southern Spain's Andalusia region, apparently sparked by a downed power line, has killed at least 11 people and left 19 missing; four of the victims are believed to be British. The fire spread rapidly through a wooded area near Los Gallardos, driven by extreme heat from a sustained heatwave affecting southern Europe.
Jorge Jesus, 71, has reached full agreement with the Portuguese Football Federation to become Portugal coach after Roberto Martinez stepped down following a 1-0 World Cup last-16 loss to Spain. Jesus will sign a four-year contract running until the 2030 World Cup co-hosted by Portugal, Spain, and Morocco.
Spain face Belgium in a World Cup quarter-final with Spain unbeaten in 35 matches under manager Luis de la Fuente, while Belgium advance after a 4-1 victory over the United States.