Brazilians scent blood with first win over European club side
June 20 – Botafogo stunned European champions Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to cause the first major upset of the Club World Cup.
Gold Cup 2025
USA clinch last four slot with penalty win over Costa Rica
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,
Football bodies dominate first Sports Transparency Index
June 20 – Two clubs and one league made it into the top tier of the just launched Sport Transparency Index, a benchmarking tool to assess transparency and good governance across the European Sport ecosystem.
Aivar Pohlak fights off challenge to retain Estonian FA presidency
June 20 – Aivar Pohlak has been re-elected as the president of the Estonian FA, defeating former Liverpool player Ragnar Klavan.
Somalia prepares ground for Beach Soccer’s competitive debut
June 19 – The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has launched training programs for beach soccer coaches and referees under its REACH Initiative, aimed at getting the ball rolling in all corners of the country which is now preparing for its first ever beach soccer tournament.
Soft2Bet targets growing Danish betting market with Divisionsforeningenin deal
June 20 – Online Malta-based bookmaker Soft2Bet has agreed a two-year deal with Denmark’s Divisionsforeningenin to sponsor the second, third and fourth tiers Danish football.
AFC completes 5th Coach Education Conference
June 20 – The AFC has concluded its three-day Coach Education Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it’s 5thedition, that covered a range of topics aimed at advancing coach education programmes across the confederation.
Titled ‘Shaping the Future of Coach Education’, AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh’s keynote address focussed on developing ‘Tomorrow’s Coaches’.
Unconvincing but into next round. USA dispatch Saudi Arabia, just
USA 1 Saudi Arabia 0
June 19 – American comedian Rodney Dangerfield used to say, “I don’t get no respect.” The same could be said for the United States Men’s Soccer Team as barely 10,000 fans showed up for a supporter friendly 8.15pm kickoff versus Concacaf Gold Cup, Group D opponents, Saudi Arabia in a 1-0 win that again raised more questions than answers.
Triumph and disaster as 10-man Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago battle to a draw
Haiti 1 Trinidad and Tobago 1
June 19 – Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago delivered 90 minutes of full-blooded football on a steaming hot, late afternoon in Houston at the Shell Energy Stadium battling to a draw that keeps them both in with a chance of making it into the knockout round.
Premier League warns of short-notice fixture changes as calendar pressure increases
June 19 – The Premier League has warned fans to brace for short-notice fixture changes next season, as a record nine English clubs compete in UEFA competitions during the 2025/26 campaig, increasing pressure on an already congested calendar.
Leading sports agencies dominating European football market
June 19 – The latest report from the CIES Football Observatory highlights the growing dominance of a select few major sports agencies in European football, with the top firms now representing player assets worth billions of euros across the big five leagues.
Chelsea and Ukraine’s Mudryk faces four-year suspension after doping charge
June 19 – Chelsea and Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk is facing a potential four-year suspension after being formally charged by the Football Association for a doping violation.
FIFA makes anti-racism U-turn and displays messages at Club World Cup
By Samindra Kunti in Philadephia, USA
June 19 – Countering a major international backlash, FIFA played anti-racism messages at Wednesday’s Club World Cup matches to mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
Bulgarian Football Union joins Scouty.bg platform to enhance development
June 19 – The Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) has signed a cooperation agreement with the online platform Scouty.bg. The web-based forum enables players to create professional profiles, showcasing their skills, sharing matches, and displaying various performance statistics and achievements.
Manchester United fans decry another ticket price increase despite “disaster” season
June 19 – Just when you thought the Glazers couldn’t find new ways to squeeze every last penny out of Manchester United’s supporters, along comes a substantial increase in ticket prices for high-profile fixtures.
Atlético Madrid roll out the red carpet in Tinseltown with Casa Atléti
June 19 – Atlético Madrid have pitched up in the City of Angels with “Casa Atleti,” a multi-day brand circus that’s part retail therapy, part fan festival, and cleverly designed to separate Americans from their hard-earned dollars while competing in the FIFA Club World Cup.