Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said the country’s national team cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup following recent military conflict involving the United States and Israel. Speaking on Iranian state television, Donyamali said the current circumstances mean participation in the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, is not possible.
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has painted a bleak picture of the current state of affairs at the club following a humiliating 5-2 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid. The Dutch centre-back did not hold back in his assessment of a match that saw Spurs trail by four goals within the opening 22 minutes, describing the collapse in the Spanish capital as nothing short of a "doomsday scenario" for the Premier League side.
The Bafana Bafana legend spent five seasons in the English Premier League but never realised his dream of turning out for one of the league’s heavyweights. A move to a so-called big club never materialised during his time in England despite an opportunity presenting itself. That missed chance hurt his chances of forcing his way into the South Africa squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup held on home soil.
Munich's mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) has resigned from his positions on the supervisory board and administrative advisory board of FC Bayern Munich with immediate effect.
The Brazilians were back to their dominant best in beating the Mswenko Boys in a PSL clash on Tuesday, despite resting several players ahead of their CAF Champions League quarterfinal on Friday. The regulation 2-0 win moved former Amakhosi winger and now vocal pundit Junior Khanye to declare the title race with the Buccaneers was as good as over before they even kicked a ball in their own mid-week league assignment against Richards Bay.
Antoine Griezmann rolled back the years on Tuesday night, spearheading a 5-2 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League round of 16. Despite the emphatic scoreline, though, Griezmann noted that Diego Simeone’s side were able to exploit a "slippery pitch" that caused Spurs to make high-profile errors throughout the first leg.
Antonin Kinsky's name will live in Tottenham and Champions League infamy for ever more. The Spurs goalkeeper was thrust into the line-up for Tuesday's last-16 first leg at Atletico Madrid, only to last just 17 minutes after twice gifting goals to Diego Simeone's side in what will go down as one of the worst goalkeeping performances in the history of Europe's premier club competition.
Victor Osimhen was overcome with emotion ahead of Galatasaray's Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash against Liverpool on Tuesday night. Moments before kick-off at a raucous Rams Park, the home supporters unveiled a massive, poignant tifo featuring a portrait of the Nigerian striker alongside his late mother. The banner was accompanied by a powerful message that clearly resonated with the 27-year-old forward: "We are family and family is everything."
The yellow cards deliberately earned by Kimmich and Olise were a curious side note to Bayern's gala performance in Bergamo. It would be easy to prevent this from happening again. A commentary.
Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino has sensationally defended his tactical approach despite witnessing his side suffer a devastating 6-1 loss at home to Bayern Munich. The Champions League round of 16 first leg turned into a nightmare for the Bergamo outfit, but the manager remained steadfast in his footballing philosophy, refusing to entertain the idea of adopting a more defensive setup against the German giants.
Wrexham's dreams of a historic rise to the Premier League have been hit with a major setback following the news that star striker Kieffer Moore is set for a spell on the sidelines. The Wales international, who is the Red Dragons' leading marksman with 13 goals this term, sustained a hamstring injury during the thrilling 4-2 FA Cup fifth-round defeat to Chelsea. The 33-year-old missed Tuesday's defeat to Hull City and is expected to sit out at least another three crucial Championship fixtures, leaving a significant void in Phil Parkinson's attacking arsenal.
GOAL gives you the details to follow the Soweto giants' hosting of the Natal Rich Boyz in a Premier Soccer League clash at Orlando Amstel Arena on Wednesday. After Mamelodi Sundowns went to the top of the PSL table on Tuesday evening, the Buccaneers are out to reclaim their place at the summit by boosting their goal difference and collecting maximum points from their visitors from KwaZulu-Natal.
Michael Olise was named player of the match at FC Bayern's gala in Bergamo, establishing himself as a contender for the Ballon d'Or. English TV experts actually made him laugh afterwards, with coach Vincent Kompany comparing him to a fellow countryman.
Former Premier League striker Troy Deeney has pulled no punches in his assessment of Antonin Kinsky’s conduct during Tottenham’s 5-2 Champions League collapse against Atletico Madrid. The 22-year-old goalkeeper was hauled off after just 17 minutes following a series of high-profile errors, but rather than taking a seat on the bench, he headed straight for the dressing room.
FC Bayern celebrates an impressive victory against Atalanta in the Champions League round of 16. The press has nothing but praise for Munich's performance, but also harshly criticises Bergamo.
Tottenham's crisis has deepened following their humiliating 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The result has left the club's fanbase in open revolt, with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) demanding "emergency action" as the side endures the worst losing streak in its entire 143-year history.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone admitted he was left shocked after seeing Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor substitute goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky just 17 minutes into their Champions League clash. The 22-year-old Czech shot-stopper endured a nightmare evening at the Metropolitano, committing massive errors that left Spurs trailing 3-0 in under a quarter of an hour. Simeone, usually known for his own touchline intensity, confessed that the decision to haul off a goalkeeper so early was a first for him to witness in the dugout.
Eden Hazard has predicted that Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior could retire from football early, drawing startling comparisons between the Brazilian’s current experience and his own time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite injuries limiting their time on the pitch together to just 27 matches, Hazard spent four seasons sharing a dressing room with Vinicius and believes he has a unique insight into the player's mindset.
Bayern's Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich each received yellow cards in the first leg of the round of 16 against Atalanta Bergamo and are therefore suspended for the second leg. But when are yellow cards actually cleared in the Champions League? Here you can find the rule.
Arsenal FC does not play fast or particularly attractive football – yet still wins games at a high rate. The controversy surrounding the appropriateness of the playing style under manager Mikel Arteta, which has been dubbed "terror ball", has reached a new dimension.
The Brazilians have been balancing responsibilities between the Premier Soccer League and the CAF Champions League. That continental involvement gives Masandawana a heavier schedule than their domestic rivals, with frequent travel and high-intensity fixtures adding to their workload. Their coach has called on the league to give them more breathing space in the fixture schedule as they juggle both competitions. But there have not been positive responses from the PSL, and that has angered their Portuguese coach.
