Lightning and Tessa Wullaert strike twice as Belgium repeat 3-2 home win over England
By Samindra Kunti in Leuven
April 9 – Belgium upset injury-hit England 3-2 with a brace from Tessa Wullaert in the Nations League.
Why is the US men’s team so unloved with domestic fans compared to their all-conquering women?
April 9 – SoFi Stadium, in Inglewood, has seen two different faces to America’s relationship with their respective men’s and women’s national teams over the last two weeks, and the differences could not be starker.
Club World Cup referees to trial new goalkeeper time-wasting rule and bodycams
April 9 – FIFA has stepped up preparations for the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup this summer by holding a series of referee seminars around the world, as the governing body seeks to ensure officiating standards match the scale and profile of its newest tournament.
PepsiCo renews UEFA Women’s Football sponsorship to 2030
April 9 – PepsiCo, who have been a supporter of UEFA Women’s Football since 2019, have renewed their sponsorship until 2030.
Concacaf W Champions Cup final four confirmed; Club World Cup slot at stake
April 9 – The draw for the semi-finals of the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup will see two Mexico vs USA match-ups with Tigres Femenil to play Thorns FC and America Femenil to meet Gotham FC.
French FA commits to MoU with Egyptian FA to help develop women’s game
April 9 – The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and the French Football Federation (FFF) have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the growth of women’s football in Egypt.
Players at Turkish second tier club Gençlerbirligi persuaded to return to training despite unpaid wages
April 9 – Players at Turkish second tier club Gençlerbirligi have refused to train over unpaid wages. Told to report for training at 12:00 on Tuesday, they failed to show on the training ground, instead protesting over the club’s ongoing financial malaise.
NWSL expansion could hit 32 teams, say commissioner Berman
April 9 – Jessica Berman, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) commissioner, speaking at the SheBelieves Summit, said that the US women’s league could expand to 32 teams.
Brazil mourns loss of goalkeeping legend Manga, aged 87
April 9 – Manga, one of Brazil’s goalkeepers at the 1966 World Cup, has died at the age of 87 following a battle with prostate cancer.
Keeping it local. Centreville Bank takes naming rights to Rhode Island FC’s new stadium
April 9 – Rhode Island FC, who debuted in the US’s second tier USL Championship in 2024, will open their second season in their new stadium with a new corporate partner, Centreville Bank, who have bought the stadium naming rights.
CR7 empire expands with flagships store and museum in Hong Kong
April 8 – Cristiano Ronaldo’s off-pitch brand continues to expand with the launch of the first CR7 LIFE flagship store and museum in Hong Kong, marking the footballer’s most ambitious commercial move in Asia to date.
Northern Super League pens landmark ESPN deal
April 8 – The Northern Super League, Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, will make its debut on U.S. screens this month through a landmark multi-year media partnership with ESPN, significantly expanding its international reach ahead of its inaugural season.
UEFA releases tickets for men’s and women’s club competition finals
April 8 – UEFA has officially opened ticket sales for its 2025 men’s and women’s club competition finals, offering fans across the globe the chance to attend European football’s biggest nights.
In line with its ongoing ‘Fans First’ initiative, UEFA is once again putting supporters at the heart of the allocation process. The majority of tickets for the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League finals will go to fans of the finalist clubs and the general public.
Southampton sack Ivan Juric following club’s English Premier League relegation
April 8 – Southampton have sacked manager Ivan Juric just 107 days into his tenure as the club fights to avoid going down in history as the English Premier League’s (EPL worst outfit.
Court dismisses A-Cap’s calls to halt Genoa takeover by Dan Sucu
April 8 – The Court of Genoa has dismissed an attempt by A-Cap, creditor of 777 Partners which owned Serie A outfit Genoa before collapsing, to halt a takeover of the club by Romanian businessman Dan Sucu.