Diego Forlan has embarked on his first international assignment as Uruguay interim head coach without key midfielder Federico Valverde. The Real Madrid star was ruled out of the Asian tour due to a severe ankle injury, prompting Forlan to draft in Palmeiras midfielder Emiliano Martinez.
Son Heung-min represents “money very well spent” for MLS and LAFC, Shaka Hislop has told GOAL, with the former Tottenham star helping to open up new markets for North American soccer. The South Korea international moved to the United States in August 2025 and has made a positive go of making it big in Hollywood while operating under the brightest of spotlights.
Asian football is enjoying an unprecedented boom across Europe's top five leagues, driven by massive contingents from Japan and South Korea. Indonesian talents have also made historic inroads by featuring in four of the top five divisions alongside representatives from Thailand, China, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.
Asian footballers have dominated headlines during a record-breaking summer transfer window across Europe's top leagues. From high-profile Premier League moves to major Champions League switches, the region's top talents are making historic strides on the global stage.
The Korea Football Association has named former Spain boss Robert Moreno as interim head coach following their disastrous group-stage exit at the World Cup. The 48-year-old takes over a side in turmoil after Hong Myung-bo stepped down, with the KFA confirming his deal could be extended for the upcoming Asian Cup subject to performance reviews.
Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.
Reims Murigny FP
