Guatemala 0-1 Panama:
June 20 – Friday night at Q2 Stadium bore no resemblance to the venue that hosted football just 24 hours earlier. The transformation was complete, and the catalyst was simple: unbridled passion provided by the hordes of Guatemala supporters who descended on Austin. Stark contrast to the lack of interest shown by US fans on Thursday.
June 18 – After the shambles surrounding the use of VAR at CAF’s Champions League final the confederation has chosen Mediapro as the provider responsible for VAR at the African Cup of Nations that runs June 21 to July 19.
June 18 – The United States women’s national soccer team (USWNT), in dispute with their national federation (USSF) over equal pay and conditions, generated more revenue than the men’s side in the three years after their 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup win according to analysis of US Soccer’s audited accounts for the past three years.
June 18 – Former UEFA president and French football legend Michel Platini has been detained for questioning on suspicion of corruption over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, according to reports.
By Samindra Kunti in Rio de Janeiro
June 18 – Seemingly dispensable at his club PSG, out of the Copa America and accused of rape, the career of Neymar is sliding rapidly and on Monday the Brazil star was faced with even more legal entanglements as local justices in froze 36 of his properties for alleged tax evasion.
June 18 – Three games, three wins. Long way to go of course but as 100 percent starts go, host nation France have laid down a marker in the women’s World Cup in their bid to snatch the trophy away from the United States.
June 18 – Ukraine won a maiden U-20 word title after rallying from a goal down to defeat South Korea 3-1 in Poland. Korea’s Kangin Lee won the tournament’s golden ball as best player.
June 18 – Manchester City owner City Football Group has added an unual partnership in the form YuYuan Art with will become the club’s Official Art, Culture & Football Education Partner.
By Paul Nicholson at the Allianz Field, Saint Paul, Minnesota
June 17 – When the US kick off their Gold Cup campaign against Guyana at the Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota, tomorrow (Tuesday) they will be marking the competitive start of a new era for the team under Gregg Berhalter.
June 17 – The threat of another damaging FIFA suspension that would have seen them thrown them out of the forthcoming African Cup of Nations has been avoided in the nick of time by Mali after it agreed to implement fresh statutes.
June 17 – A six-month ban meted out to Egypt’s top referee Gehad Grisha has been overturned amid the ongoing chaos and inconsistency within Africa’s football administration.
In the three decades I’ve covered African football, I have gone through the entire gamut of emotions: exhilaration – over some of the continent’s great moments at the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup; frustration – over the comedic errors our football governors repeatedly make; and deep despair, as one continually questions whether the custodians of a game that means so much, to Africa’s one billion people, will ever live up to their responsibilities and do their darned jobs diligently.
By Paul Nicholson
June 15 – It would not be a major football tournament these days if it wasn’t being stolen for television by a Saudi-based broadcaster. The country that doesn’t allow women in its stadiums is nevertheless taking the women’s World Cup so seriously that it is allowing the piracy of every game from France 2019 on the beoutQ channels.
June 17 – After just one season in charge, Maurizio Sarri has formally left Chelsea to return home and take over as Serie A champions Juventus, it was officially announced after weeks of reports that a deal was being concluded.
By Samindra Kunti in Rio de Janeiro
June 17 – Brazil kicked off the Copa America with a subdued 3-0 win against Bolivia. High tickets prices led to many empty seats during the opening weekend which saw Argentina’s misery continue with a 2-0 defeat by Colombia and Asian champions Qatar battle back to draw 2-2 with Paraguay.
June 14 – Zvonimir Boban, Gianni Infantino’s personal adviser and a member of the FIFA president’s closely guarded inner circle, has quit after just two years to return to AC Milan as the club’s chief football officer.