Mexico 1 Honduras 0
July 2 – The question on the lips of pundits and fans at Levi Stadium, Santa Clara, was “would tonight be business as usual or unusual business?” as Mexico and Honduras met for the right to face the United States in the Concacaf Gold Cup Final on Sunday in Houston.
Spain 5 Portugal 0
July 3 – With an imperious display, world champions Spain waltzed past neighbours Portugal at the Wankdorff Stadion in Bern, winning 5-0 to back up their status as tournament favourites.
June 30 – Aston Villa are to sell their women’s team to V Sports, the club’s parent company, in a move designed to help comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR). The deal, while undisclosed in value, is expected to ease the financial strain that has impacted Villa in recent transfer windows.
June 29 – With the Club World Cup now in the last 16 stages and European clubs dominating, UEFA, supported by the European Club Association, European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe, has launched a “scientific and data-driven” study into player workload and welfare.
June 30 – Major cuts to Philadelphia’s transit system have prompted concerns over the city’s readiness to host matches during the 2026 World Cup.
June 20 – Jürgen Klopp has never been one to mince words, and the former Liverpool manager’s latest assessment of FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup is typically brutal.
June 28 – The Portuguese league – Liga Portugal – has approved a budget for the next season which forecasts record revenue of €31.8 million.
June 30 – Marseilles winger Jonathan Rowe came off the bench a minute into extra time to fire England to a second successive Uefa U21 Euro crown after a 3-2 victory over Germany in Bratislava – a result that could put a few players in the frame for 2026 World Cup selection.
June 30 – Germany’s Bayern Munich cruised past Flamengo 4-2 to reach the last eight of the Club World Cup and eliminated the Brazilians.
June 30 – Enzo Maresca didn’t hold back after Chelsea’s dramatic 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica in the Club World Cup round of 16 – and his target wasn’t the Portuguese side.
June 30 – West Ham United have announced a multi-year extension to their 5-year partnership with Jeton, which will see the brand continue as its Official Unified Finance App partner.
June 30 – Bulgaria’s Botev Plovdiv has a new owner! The former benefactor of Bulgaria’s oldest club, Anton Zingarevich, has officially stepped down from power after transferring all his shares to minority owner, the Botev Plovdiv Association.
June 30 – The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) has unveiled it new grassroots development programme, dubbed ‘Renaissance’, aimed at nurturing young talent across Greece. The program emphasises a structured organisation of football academies and is set to usher in a new era for the sport in the country.
USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
Canada 1 – Guatemala 1 (5-6 after pens)
June 29 – The Canadian fans were taking their boycott of Donald Trump’s immigration policies to heart at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, as the lack of red flags was in stark contrast to the blue and white festival that Guatemala brought to the Concacaf quarter-final tie in an epic contest that would be settled by Guatemala with the drama of penalty kicks.
June 28 – Mexico made hard work of overcoming Saudi Arabia 2-0 to book their place in the Gold Cup semi-final. Second half goals from Alexis Vega and Santiago Gimenez secured the win against the Gold Cup guests.
