The decisive knockout matches will take place on Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, across venues in Morocco, with defending champions Nigeria, hosts Morocco, Ghana, Cameroon, Malawi, Algeria, Ivory Coast and South Africa all remaining in contention for continental glory.

The action begins on Saturday, August 8, when Ivory Coast face Algeria at the Casablanca venue in a highly anticipated North African-West African encounter. The match is scheduled for 17:00 GMT.

Later the same day, hosts Morocco will take on South Africa in Rabat at 20:00 GMT in what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the quarter-final round.

Morocco will be hoping to continue their strong home campaign, while South Africa arrive with ambitions of challenging for the title.

Sunday’s fixtures will see another set of heavyweight clashes. Cameroon will meet defending champions Nigeria in Casablanca at 17:00 GMT in a battle between two of Africa’s most successful women’s football nations.

The final quarter-final tie will feature Ghana against Malawi in Rabat at 20:00 GMT. The Black Queens secured their place in the last eight after drawing 1-1 with Mali in their final Group D match, a result that was enough to send them through.

Ghana will now look to overcome Malawi and move closer to a historic WAFCON achievement, but they face a determined opponent that has impressed during the tournament.

Malawi’s qualification has been one of the surprises of the competition, adding further excitement to the knockout stage.

The quarter-final schedule is as follows:

Saturday, August 8, 2026

• Ivory Coast vs Algeria — Casablanca, 17:00 GMT
• Morocco vs South Africa — Rabat, 20:00 GMT

Sunday, August 9, 2026

• Cameroon vs Nigeria — Casablanca, 17:00 GMT
• Malawi vs Ghana — Rabat, 20:00 GMT

The winners of the quarter-final matches will advance to the semi-finals and continue their pursuit of the WAFCON 2026 crown.

The tournament also carries significant importance as it serves as part of Africa’s qualification route for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

He insists the ultimate goal remains winning the title for the first time, but reaching the group stage is the first step.

Medeama SC were drawn against five- time winners of the CAF Champions League in the preliminary round, with the first leg to take place at the TnA Stadium on the weekend of September 4-6, 2026.

Reacting to the draw done in Cairo on Thursday, Benjamin told Luv FM that the team’s focus has not changed, regardless of the strength of the opposition.

“If you’ve listened to my president, Mr Moses Parker, he has told you several times in the media that his dream is to win the competition this year. His hope is that we are going to go to the group stages. That is the current strategy. That is the current target for us.

“No matter the obstacle we face or the position we find ourselves in, our main target is to get to the group stages. So we just have to prepare adequately and meet the target that we have set for ourselves,” he said.

Ideally, clubs expect a negotiable opposition at the preliminary stage, but the Ghana Premier League champions, who are ranked 54 in Africa, will have to face a side ranked 20 in the latest CAF rankings. 

When asked whether the draw feels unlucky, Benjamin replied: “I wouldn’t use the word luck. TP Mazembe was not ranked, same as Medeama.”

“Even if he had qualified, or perhaps we beat TP Mazembe, the next stage is also going to be a tough side. So, however you look at it, you’re still going to meet, and that’s why it is a Champions League- there are surprises. It depends on your preparation. If you prepare well, you are able to meet any obstacle that you face. If we beat it, Mazembe, I’m sure it’s not going to be a big surprise,” he added.

If they qualify, Medeama will face either Tunisia’s Club Africain or Mali’s Djoliba AC in the second preliminary round.

Medeama S.C. are currently in the Ivory Coast for their pre-season campaign.

Ghana went into Thursday night’s final Group D fixture at the Moulay Rashid Stadium in Casablanca needing just a point to secure progression to the quarter-finals.

Evelyn Badu put the Black Queens ahead before half-time, but Mali fought back through Diabite to earn a share of the spoils.

Despite the late pressure from the Malians, Björkegren was pleased with Ghana’s overall display and felt his side could have won the game comfortably had they been more clinical.

“Yeah, I mean, to go to the playoff was one of the three targets that we had this summer with the Black Queens. The game is the best that we have played – the only thing I can be disappointed over is the fact that we were nervous in the end. We should have closed this game way earlier,” Björkegren said after the game.

The Swedish coach pointed to Ghana’s attacking numbers as evidence of their dominance, noting that the Black Queens created enough chances to have secured a much bigger victory.

“We’re having like an xG – there is a 3.3 almost against 0.6. I mean, it’s a normal game that you win with 3-0 or something like that. But in the end, you need to be nervous. So that’s the only thing I can complain about; otherwise I think we played really good football,” he explained.

Björkegren was particularly impressed with the way Ghana approached the match from the opening whistle, describing the first half as their best football of the tournament so far.

“I think we were ready from the start today. The first half, like I said, this is probably the best one we have played. But at the end of the day, we needed one point, and we took it, and now we are in a good position,” he said.

The draw was enough to send the Black Queens into the quarter-finals, keeping alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Björkegren is fully aware of the significance of Ghana’s next match, with victory in the quarter-final enough to secure a place at the global tournament.

“Because this quarter-final is only one game from the World Cup,” Björkegren stressed.

Ghana will now face Malawi in the quarter-finals, with a place in the semi-finals and a ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup at stake.

Victory over Malawi would take the Black Queens into the semi-finals and move them closer to securing a return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The result was enough to see Kim Lars Björkegren’s side advance to the knockout stage, where they will face Malawi for a place in the semi-finals.

Ghana went into the decisive fixture needing a positive result after suffering a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their previous outing. Björkegren responded by naming a strong starting lineup as the Black Queens sought to keep their tournament hopes alive.

The West Africans endured a difficult opening spell but gradually grew into the contest. They came close to taking the lead when Doris Boaduwaa’s powerful effort crashed against the crossbar.

Their persistence was rewarded deep into first-half stoppage time when Evelyn Badu connected with a precise cross from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah to give Ghana a deserved lead heading into the interval.

The Black Queens dominated possession for much of the opening half and looked in control before the break.

However, Ghana suffered an early setback after the restart when experienced defender Portia Boakye was forced off through injury.

Mali capitalised on the momentum shift and restored parity in the 50th minute, with Diabate finding the back of the net from a well-taken free kick.

Both teams continued to create opportunities in an entertaining second half, but neither could find a winning goal as the contest ended level.

The draw was sufficient to send Ghana into the last eight, where they will take on Malawi with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

Victory in that encounter would not only secure a place in the final four of WAFCON but also earn the Black Queens qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, marking Ghana’s first appearance at the global tournament since 2007.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Luv FM, Duku acknowledged that the timing of Tinkler’s appointment and the club’s injury concerns make the task a difficult one.

“It will be difficult for Eric Tinkler to win the league this season, considering the timing and injuries,” Duku said.

However, he stressed that Kotoko’s fortunes could change if the players demonstrate greater commitment and adopt the right mentality for the remainder of the campaign.

“However, if the players change their attitude, he can win it for Asante Kotoko,” he added.

Eric Tinkler, who recently took charge of the record Ghana Premier League champions, has been tasked with restoring the club’s title ambitions. His arrival comes at a crucial stage of the season, with Kotoko battling injuries to key players ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Sarfo Duku also hinted that he strongly advocated for the appointment of a foreigner due to the indiscipline in the camp of Asante Kotoko before his departure. 

“Things were not going well between the playing body and the technical team. I believe we needed somebody to change the attitude of the boys, and the coaches were struggling to take some bold decisions.”

Asante Kotoko SC will begin their season with a trip to newly promoted Debibi United FC in the Ghana Premier League in early September before hosting Hearts of Lions. a

This despite widening revolt from Europe, North and Central America, the international players’ union and several national federations over the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.

In a statement issued after a meeting of its Executive Committee in Rabat, CAF endorsed the joint update issued by Infantino and FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström, which acknowledged mistakes in the handling of the now-abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project and apologized for excluding FIFA Council members and national associations from the process.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the continental body welcomed FIFA’s admission that mistakes had been made and backed its commitment to review the process.

“For us in Africa, adherence to governance, due process and transparency is crucial and non-negotiable,” Motsepe said.

“We are committed to continue working together with FIFA, its Member Associations, other Football Confederations and stakeholders to safeguard and adhere to governance, due process and transparency.”

The CAF Executive Committee also unanimously reconfirmed its support for Infantino, thanking him for what it described as his long-standing commitment to African football, and praising FIFA’s organization of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The endorsement represents one of the strongest public votes of confidence Infantino has received since FIFA was forced to abandon plans to create the FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial vehicle that would have sold stakes in the future revenues of the World Cup to private investors. FIFA admitted the proposal had been mishandled, although it insisted it complied with its regulatory framework.

CAF’s position has been reinforced by several influential African football leaders, each issuing separate statements backing Infantino in recent days.

Morocco Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, along with fellow council members Egypt Football Association president Hany Abo Rida, Niger Football Federation president Hamidou Djibrilla, and Mauritania Football Federation president Ahmed Yahya all issued similarly-worded statements of support for the FIFA president.

Former CAF general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, who was recently elected president of the Congo DR football federation FECOFA, also publicly backed Infantino, with whom he went to university in Switzerland.

Africa’s backing is particularly significant. CAF’s 54 member associations, second only to Europe’s 55, account for more than a quarter of FIFA’s 211 votes, making the confederation one of the most influential voting blocs at any FIFA presidential election.

CAF’s member associations had already unanimously endorsed Infantino’s bid for another term in April, and Motsepe recently told reporters he would not stab Infantino in the back.

“I personally support Gianni Infantino,” said the CAF president. “He’s not just a good friend, he’s a loyal friend. He’s loyal to Africa. I come from a background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back.”

The support from Africa contrasts sharply with opposition elsewhere.

UEFA has maintained that its members remain prepared to boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, arguing that Infantino’s apology does not go far enough because the governance failures that produced the proposal have not been adequately addressed. Europe’s governing body said it still has no confidence in Infantino’s presidency.

CONCACAF, which first called for a “comprehensive reckoning” over FIFA’s leadership, has also maintained its criticism, while the Asian Football Confederation publicly sided with UEFA during the controversy over the privatization proposal before separately reiterating its long-term backing for Infantino’s presidency.

The backlash has extended beyond the confederations.

World players’ union FIFPRO released a statement on Thursday accusing Infantino of a “profound abuse of presidential power,” saying confidence in FIFA’s governance had been fundamentally broken and demanding sweeping institutional reforms.

England’s Football Association has withdrawn its support for Infantino’s re-election, joining the Football Association of Wales, Serbia, Sweden and Finland in publicly breaking ranks.

Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, president of the Jordan Football Association, has also remained an outspoken critic after accusing FIFA of using financial leverage in its dealings with his federation. Amnesty International has meanwhile used the controversy to renew calls for governance reforms inside world football.

Infantino has nevertheless continued to consolidate support outside Europe.

South America’s CONMEBOL has rejected any attempt to remove the FIFA president outside the formal electoral process, while Argentina’s Football Association and the Mexican Football Federation have both issued statements backing his leadership despite criticism from their respective regional confederations.

The Mexican Football Federation (FMF), co-hosts of the recently concluded World Cup, has broken ranks with its own regional confederation by backing Infantino after CONCACAF called for a “comprehensive reckoning” with his presidency.

On Thursday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously backed Infantino’s leadership, but European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it remained committed to ​boycotting the World Cup and other FIFA competitions.

Asia’s confederation said it “stood in solidarity” with UEFA and CONCACAF, which runs football ​in North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.

However, South America’s CONMEBOL issued a statement on Thursday ⁠rejecting any attempt to oust Infantino that did not involve a vote of all 211 members.

Mexico’s federation echoed those sentiments.

“The FMF will ​neither recognise nor approve any process convened outside of that institutional framework, and it joins the call made … by President Infantino to collectively ​continue developing football for the benefit of the 211 member associations,” it said in a statement.

“The FMF supports President Infantino’s leadership in continuing to promote the development of football through institutional strengthening.”

Following a meeting in Rabat this week, FIFA said it had apologised to its members for mistakes around the proposal to sell ​a slice of the World Cup’s commercial future.

It also pledged to review the processes that led to the controversy.

AFA ACKNOWLEDGES FIFA ERRORS

The fallout ​from the proposal has cast a shadow over Infantino’s bid for reelection for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March, which had ‌looked like ⁠a foregone conclusion two months ago.

No clear candidate to stand against Infantino in March’s election has yet emerged, however, and the Swiss administrator still enjoys considerable support, including on Thursday from 2022 world champions Argentina.

In a letter to Infantino, Argentina’s football association (AFA) expressed its support for FIFA’s work over the last 10 years, saying it had “centred on the development of soccer worldwide and institutional strength based on a ​clear, stable, and transparent governance model”.

While ​the AFA acknowledged that the ⁠proposal generated far more uncertainties than certainties and that errors had been made, it said that the way forward was to continue working under FIFA’s leadership ahead of next year’s Congress.

CONMEBOL’s earlier statement ​expressed concerns over the “repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue,” stressing the importance of institutional reforms ​FIFA introduced more ⁠than a decade ago to promote transparency.

The Croatian Football Federation were among the individual national associations to withdraw support for Infantino, following similar moves from England and Albania.

“This decision followed a thorough reassessment within the federation in light of recent developments surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026 and ⁠discussions within ​our governing bodies,” Croatia’s federation said.

On Thursday, players’ union FIFPRO said Infantino’s proposal ​was not just a governance failure but a “profound abuse of presidential power”.

FIFA has said that all actions taken over the commercial rights proposal complied with its regulations and ​stressed that mistakes related to process and communication rather than breaches of governance rules.

Forlan succeeds Marcelo Bielsa, who stepped down after Uruguay failed to qualify from the group stage at the World Cup.

The 47-year-old is set to be in charge for the national team’s friendlies this autumn before a permanent manager is appointed at the end of this year or the start of 2027.

Forlan has also been named coach for Uruguay’s Under-20 team, alongside the senior first team.

Ex-Leeds United boss Bielsa became Uruguay boss in May 2023 but they won 15 of his 39 games in charge and, after their disappointing early exit from the World Cup, the 70-year-old Argentine said his tenure “left nothing behind”.

Forlan scored 36 goals in 112 games for Uruguay, and won the Golden Ball as they reached the semi-finals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

He announced his retirement from international football in March 2015.

He ended his playing career in 2018 after appearing for 10 clubs, with his most memorable spells at Spanish clubs Villarreal and Atletico Madrid.

His coaching career so far consists of brief stints with Uruguayan clubs Penarol and Atenas.

The 26-year-old had entered the final 12 months of his contract and attracted interest from Arsenal in recent weeks.

However, Real Madrid announced on Thursday that the two parties have agreed to extend his deal to 30 June 2032.

Vinicius posted on Instagram: “Eight years at the Bernabeu are too short… Six more years, and then forever.”

“Vinicius Jr has become one of the most important players in one of the most successful periods in our history,” said the club in a statement.

Talks over a deal were at an impasse until Real made a new offer on Wednesday, with Vinicius understood to be appreciative of the fresh terms.

He joined Real from Brazilian side Flamengo in 2018 and signed a contract extension three years ago.

Real and his representatives have been in talks over a fresh deal for the past 18 months but he has now extended his stay at what he has previously called the club of his “dreams”.

He returned to the club on Monday for his first pre-season training session and medical assessment following his World Cup campaign with Brazil.

Vinicius has scored 128 goals in 375 appearances for Real across all competitions, while he has 13 goals in 54 caps for Brazil.

He has helped Real win two Champions League titles, three La Ligas and one Copa del Rey during his time at the club.

It is understood Arsenal would have accelerated their interest in the Brazilian if he had rejected Real’s terms but the Premier League champions must now look elsewhere as they target a left-sided forward.

Vincius’ contract extension comes on the same day Real announced the signing of Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for a fee worth up to £120m (140m euros).

Diomande is Real’s sixth summer signing under new head coach Jose Mourinho, joining Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Carlos Espi.

Real are also targeting Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri but now face competition from bitter rivals Barcelona.

Arsenal are set to complete their protracted £75m move for the midfielder after a breakthrough in discussions.

Jaissle briefly spoke to Guimaraes at the club’s training camp in Spain earlier this week, but the 28-year-old went on to bid an emotional farewell to his team-mates and club staff.

“I met him quickly, but the decision was already made,” Jaissle said in his first meeting with reporters following his appointment as head coach.

“It was a nice conversation. He’s a fantastic player and a great human being. It’s tough, but for him now it’s the next challenge, and we need to deal with it at a later stage.

“We trust the players who are here already, but we will also see some changes.”

Guimaraes is set to become the fourth key player to leave Newcastle in less than a year.

Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali moved to Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur respectively earlier in the window, while Alexander Isak joined Liverpool last summer.

Club legend Alan Shearer has sent Jaissle his “very best wishes”, but previously warned it could be a “tough season” with some “very challenging times ahead” in a column for BBC Sport.

Jaissle, though, sees the club’s rebuild as an opportunity to start a new cycle and mould a young, hungry side after succeeding predecessor Eddie Howe.

“This is a challenge, and there are so many transitions at the moment,” he said. “Many big players left – legends of the club – but we need to see it as a chance.

“Not having too many excuses now, just thinking forward about what we can influence.

“Control the controllables, I used to say, and I’m sure there will be progress this season.”

Jaissle has been focused on coaching the players currently at his disposal on the training pitches, but Newcastle are working on further additions before the start of the season.

Newcastle have shifted policy this summer, targeting younger players on the Continent, with Lukas Hornicek the club’s oldest arrival by a reasonable distance at 24 years of age.

The club have spent around £146m to date on goalkeepers Hornicek and Ewen Jaouen, midfielders Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur and winger Bazoumana Toure.

The quintet, like Jaissle, have never experienced life in the Premier League before.

However, following trophy-laden spells in Saudi Arabia and Austria with Al-Ahli and RB Salzburg, the 38-year-old is relishing the challenge ahead.

“This is something I don’t have on my CV, but that’s normal in football,” he said.

“At one point it has to be your first step and I’m now at that moment after being successful in Saudi Arabia and Austria.

“Everyone was dreaming about being a part of the Premier League and now here we are.”

Newcastle start the new campaign against Liverpool at St James’ Park on 23 August.

The English FA has sent a letter withdrawing its support for Infantino in reaction to the plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

European governing body Uefa said in a statement its conditions had not been met, despite Infantino’s plan being aborted.

“First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly,” Uefa’s statement said. “Assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.

“These conditions have not been met.”

Uefa has already said it has lost confidence in Infantino, calling the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal a “shabby, back room, opaque deal”.

But on Thursday, Conmebol, the South American confederation, and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) backed Infantino, as did the football associations of World Cup co-hosts Mexico and tournament runners-up Argentina.

for private investment in its tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, through the FFE subsidiary.

World governing body Fifa said during Wednesday’s meeting “mistakes” regarding FFE were “acknowledged”, saying it was “not the intention” for the Fifa Council and members association to “feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently”.

Uefa’s statement in response added: “Uefa made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.

“Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the Fifa president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing.”

Fifa has been approached for comment.

Why Fifa’s statement did not impress Uefa

Infantino arrived at Fifa’s offices in Rabat, Morocco on Wednesday in now-familiar fashion, chauffeured to the building in a motorcade, sitting in the back of a Mercedes with blacked out windows.

Some questioned whether he would still be the Fifa president when he left.

Yet if anything, on the surface at least, Infantino appears emboldened.

This was not the 56-year-old being ordered to a hearing to explain his actions.

It was Infantino who summoned members of the Fifa management board to sit around the table with him, to talk through the events of the last week.

Secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, Infantino’s right-hand man, had been critical in an internal memo to staff, calling the FFE proposals “a sad and reproachable series of events”.

After the meeting finished it appeared to be water under the bridge, with Infantino and Grafstrom pictured sat next to each other and smiling at a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match between Malawi and Zambia.

If there were clear-the-air talks, they appear to have worked.

Other members of the Fifa management board to attend the meeting included finance chief Thomas Peyer, legal chief Emilio Garcia Silvero, chief of staff Daniel O’Toole, chief of member associations Elkhan Mammadov and media relations director Bryan Swanson.

BBC Sport has been told that Fifa’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, was not invited.

Lamour strongly criticised Infantino’s FFE plan, saying it was “the project of one person”, and “the time has now come for football’s political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions”.

He added: “I lose my job, then so be it. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.”

Lamour has declined to comment to the BBC. Fifa has been approached for comment.

What concerns Uefa is that this meeting was a gathering of employees who are themselves part of the regime.

It is unknown if Infantino was forced to answer difficult questions about his plan. Questions such as: who was involved? Whether there was a competitive tender process? And if he stood to benefit personally?

While Fifa said “mistakes made were acknowledged” and an “apology was made”, there was no direct accountability for the controversy.

Uefa still wants answers to those key questions and will not be content until it gets them – or Infantino leaves.

A boycott remains Uefa’s one key asset

Uefa is in something of a pickle as it tries to get rid of Infantino.

The easiest route to success was the slow turning of the vice throughout this week, hoping to exert enough pressure to force him to quit.

Yet the Swiss appears to have no intention of walking away.

European football looks like an outlier, struggling to gain enough support to topple him.

On Thursday, Lamin Kaba Bajo, the president of the Gambia Football Federation, praised Infantino’s “courage” and for the U-turn, and said he was “willing to give him my support more than ever”.

Only Jordan, one of the few countries which did not back Infantino before last week, has publicly stated it will not vote for his re-election in March.

Concacaf, which oversees football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, also issued a public statement after the proposal was aborted but, unlike Uefa, it did not go as far as to say it had lost confidence in the Fifa president.

Conmebol said on Thursday it would not support “any action or procedure that disregards” Fifa’s mechanisms before the presidential election.

Similarly, the Mexican Football Federation shared a statement to X expressing their support for Infantino, saying it would not recognise or approve any process convened outside of Fifa’s institutional framework.

The Argentine Football Association also published a letter in support of Infantino and the Fifa board, which it said had provided “institutional solidity” with its current “stable and transparent” business model.

Caf said its executive committee “unanimously reconfirmed” its support for Infantino and thanked him for his support for African football over the years.

Ideally, Uefa would force an emergency meeting of the Fifa Council, to provide what it would consider to be a true chance to hold Infantino to account.

But getting the necessary 19 of 36 confederation and football association heads to support it has proven to be exceptionally difficult.

Uefa has also kept on the table the option of a vote of no confidence, which it can trigger via an extraordinary congress any time it wishes.

However, it would need a majority of Fifa’s 211 member associations – 106 votes – to pass the motion. It would be a de facto presidential election without a second candidate.

If Uefa does not think it can get to 106, which looks a stretch, then there is little point in triggering the vote.

The other option is to try to find a unity candidate to stand against Infantino in the election next March. The favourite would be Concacaf president Victor Montagliani.

Any option which takes time gives Infantino space to build bridges, and with Fifa due to announce new funding to member associations by the end of the year he could dangle another carrot for his re-election.

Unless Uefa sticks by the nuclear option – and goes through with its threat of a boycott.

This has issues, and it is not a lever you can pull very often, otherwise it gives the impression of riding roughshod over the rest of the world.

It is one thing to use it to jettison the FFE proposal, another entirely to effectively dethrone the president with it.

Uefa’s stance will soon be tested, with the Fifa Women’s U20s World Cup kicking off in Poland on 5 September. Six European countries are due to take part, including England.

Bidding for their first World Cup final since 1966, England took the lead in a tense affair in Atlanta through a 55th-minute Anthony Gordon finish.

But with Thomas Tuchel’s side sitting deep, Argentina struck in the 85th and 92nd minutes to break English hearts and claim a 2-1 win.

The victory came 40 years after Argentina’s previous big World Cup win over England in the controversial quarter-final victory at the 1986 tournament.

After Argentina’s latest win the political tensions surrounding the fixture were fuelled as some of their players celebrated while holding a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.

The Falklands, a British Overseas Territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina.

Argentina, ruled at the time by a military junta led by General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded the islands, situated 300 miles off Argentina’s east coast, in 1982.

The conflict, which lasted for 74 days between April and June 1982, led to the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen. Three people from the islands also died.

In a 2013 referendum, 99.8% of Falkland Islanders voted to remain a UK territory.

Argentina went on to lose 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 final, while England beat France 6-4 to claim third place.

Madrid had been in talks with the player’s representatives since last month but, after several days without any progress, Barça had now taken the lead in the race to sign Spain’s World Cup-winning captain, the source said.

Another source told ESPN that Rodri’s camp believed Madrid had shown the necessary commitment to reach an agreement.

Madrid cannot be entirely ruled out of the race to sign the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, sources said.

Rodri was keen to return to Spain this summer rather than renewing his contract with City, and the midfielder has been open to the possibility of joining either of the LaLiga giants.

The player is a fan of Barça’s style of play, sources said, and has already spoken to coach Hansi Flick, who explained how the midfielder would fit into his vision.

By contrast, Rodri was concerned that Madrid coach José Mourinho had not been entirely convinced about his signing from the beginning, another source said.

Madrid believe Rodri’s signing is now complicated, given competition from Barcelona, but the club are willing to make one last effort to get a deal back on track.

Rodri, 30, underwent minor surgery on a back problem last week, and is currently on holiday after Spain’s victory in the World Cup final on July 19.

He excelled at the tournament, picking up the Golden Ball for Best Player, having previously struggled for fitness and form since suffering an ACL injury in September 2024.

A source told ESPN that Barcelona believe there is room in their midfield given the injury suffered by Frenkie de Jong, while Rodri has good relationships with the dressing room at Camp Nou.

Real Madrid have invested heavily in this summer’s transfer market, signing Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Espí, and announced the signing of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig on Thursday.

Barcelona have signed Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, and have been heavily linked with a move for Atletico Madrid’s Julián Álvarez.

Diomande is the La Liga club’s fifth summer signing, after the arrivals of Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Marc Cucurella.

The Ivory Coast international, who had also been linked to European champions Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League outfit Liverpool, is widely reported to have cost Real up to £120 million.

“Moving to Real Madrid is a childhood dream come true for me,” Diomande told RB Leipzig’s website. “I am all the more grateful to the management at RB Leipzig for making this move possible despite my current contract.

“Today, a new chapter begins. Saying goodbye is never easy, but I am looking forward to what lies ahead and will always be incredibly proud.

“Looking back on my time in Leipzig, this club will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to follow RB’s progress closely.

“Who knows? Maybe we’ll see each other again soon in the Champions League. Thank you for everything.”

Diomande joined RB Leipzig last summer after half a season at Leganes. 

The 19-year-old netted 13 goals and registered 10 assists in his debut campaign in Germany, while he impressed in Ivory Coast’s World Cup campaign.

On the move, Leipzig’s managing director for sport, Marcel Schafer, said: “From day one, Yan impressed us with his fearless approach, his willingness to learn and the courage he showed on the pitch.

“In next to no time, his pace, dribbling ability and eye for goal saw him establish himself at the highest level.

”We’re proud that Yan’s performances for RB Leipzig attracted so much attention internationally. It shows how much young, hungry players with the potential to improve can develop at our club.

Diomande will provide competition on Real’s right flank, a problem position since Rodrygo ruptured the ACL in his right knee six months ago.

Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono have all featured on the right wing at various points.

The teenager could also replace Vinicius Junior, a target for Arsenal, if the Brazilian leaves Real this month.

The draw, conducted at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo on Thursday, sets up a mouth-watering contest between two of the continent’s established clubs.

Medeama will host the first leg at the TNA Stadium before travelling to Kinshasa for the return fixture, where the tie will be decided.

The winner of the two-legged encounter will progress to the next stage of the competition, where they will face either Tunisian side Club Africain or Malian champions Djoliba AC for a place in the group stage.

CAF has scheduled the first-leg matches of the preliminary round to take place between September 4 and 6, with the return legs set for September 11 to 13.

The second preliminary round will then be played from September 14 to 16, while the return fixtures are scheduled for September 23 to 25 as clubs continue their quest to reach the lucrative group phase of Africa’s premier club competition.

Medeama will be aiming to make a strong impression on their return to the CAF Champions League after reclaiming the Ghana Premier League title and earning the country’s sole qualification spot in the competition.

The pairing was confirmed following the preliminary round draw conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo on Thursday.

Nations FC will travel to Mali for the first leg, which is scheduled to take place between 4 and 6 September 2026, before hosting the return fixture between 11 and 13 September.

The Ghanaian side will be hoping to secure a positive result in the opening encounter as they seek to advance to the next stage of the competition in their first-ever continental appearance.

If Nations FC overcome FC Diarra, they will face the winner of the tie between Nigerien club AS Zam and Togo’s ASKO De Kara in the next round.

The debutants earned their place in the CAF Confederation Cup after lifting the 2025/26 Ghana FA Cup title, marking a historic achievement for the club.

Their participation adds another Ghanaian representative to CAF’s inter-club competitions, with Nations FC now aiming to make a strong impression on the continental stage.

The Porcupine Warriors, according to Nhyira FM checks, have terminated the contracts of striker Kwame Poku, winger Elvis Kyei Baffour, left-back Francis Acquah, and goalkeeper Benjamin Twum.

Although the club has not officially disclosed the reasons behind the departures, Sarfo Duku believes issues of indiscipline may have influenced the decision.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nhyira FM, the former Kotoko management member revealed that the previous administration had encountered similar disciplinary challenges but failed to act decisively.

“Let me admit that it wasn’t the best. I strongly believe that we should have taken some bold decisions to ensure the best of discipline in the team, but at a point, we were not men enough to take those bold decisions, and it also affected the club.

“I am aware of the bold decisions they have taken [parting ways with new players]. It’s something we should have done at a point in time, but because of the way we have been brought up [we couldn’t].

“We had a terrible season though we started so well. You cannot talk about the playing body without talking about the technical handlers because I think their tactics might not have worked.

“But to the extent that things didn’t work, you cannot put the blame squarely on the players; even management had a part to play. It means we also didn’t recruit the best for the club; we have to admit,” he concluded.

Speaking to Nhyira FM on the rationale behind his support for the appointment, Duku said Ghanaian coaches often face challenges in commanding authority due to their familiarity with players and the country’s cultural dynamics.

According to him, local coaches frequently struggle to instil discipline because of close personal relationships and societal expectations, making it difficult to enforce strict standards within the team.

“So far I am impressed with the appointment of the director of football and the coach [Eric Tinkler]. I strongly advocated for the appointment of a foreign person to fill those gaps.

“In view of several disciplinary issues, I believed it was time for Kotoko to bring an expatriate for us to see if things would be done the same way, because, to be honest with you, things were not going well at a point between the technical team and the playing body, and I believed that we needed somebody who could change the attitude of the boys.

“You can’t rule out the issue of familiarity; you will not be surprised that local coaches have their boys, so it will be difficult, and also the way we do our recruitment, we allow them to bring their boys, and it’s a fact nobody can deny,” he added. 

Asante Kotoko, now under the guidance of head coach Eric Tinkler, will begin their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign with a home fixture against newly promoted Debibi United.

The Black Queens will face Mali in a decisive Group D encounter at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tonight, with the final quarter-final spot and hopes of reaching the FIFA Women’s World Cup at stake.

The two West African rivals will meet at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT, as they battle for the second automatic qualification place in the group.

Group leaders Cameroon have already secured their place in the knockout stage after collecting six points from their opening two matches.

The remaining quarter-final berth will be decided between Ghana and Mali, who are both tied on three points.

The Black Queens made a strong start to their campaign, defeating Cape Verde 2-0 in their opening fixture.

However, their momentum was halted by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, leaving Ghana needing a positive result in their final group match to advance.

Mali, meanwhile, revived their qualification hopes after recovering from a 2-1 loss to Cameroon with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Cape Verde.

Ghana currently sit second in Group D due to a superior goal difference and know that a draw will be enough to secure their place in the last eight.

Mali face a tougher task, as they must secure all three points against the Black Queens to overtake Ghana and claim automatic qualification.

The encounter carries significance beyond the immediate fight for a quarter-final place, as the four teams that reach the WAFCON 2026 semi-finals will qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

For Ghana, the match presents an opportunity to move closer to a return to the global tournament after missing out on recent editions.

The Black Queens will be aiming for a composed performance against a Mali side determined to keep their own World Cup ambitions alive.

With both teams level on points and everything to play for, the Casablanca showdown promises to be one of the most decisive fixtures of the group stage.

The two sides will face off at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.

Speaking ahead of the crucial fixture on Wednesday, the Swedish tactician said Ghana’s expected goals (xG) statistics show the team has created enough opportunities to secure qualification for the quarter-finals but has struggled with finishing.

“If you’re looking at our XG [expected goals], I think it’s close to 6, and we have scored just one goal. I wish we had scored closer to our XG, and if we did, we would have already qualified for the quarter-finals,” he said.

Despite the frustration, Björkegren remains optimistic that the team can improve as the tournament progresses, stressing that converting chances requires quality, confidence and a bit of luck.

“Sometimes it’s about qualities, and maybe a little bit of luck, and hopefully when we find the luck, and we do the hard work, then the snowball effect will be there that we are just going to perform better and better, and hopefully we are going to improve in this tournament as we did in the previous WAFCON,” he added.

The Black Queens have endured a mixed campaign so far, opening their WAFCON journey with a victory over tournament debutants Cape Verde before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, which delayed their qualification for the quarter-finals.

With the decisive group-stage encounter against Mali approaching, Ghana will be hoping to turn their attacking dominance into goals as they fight for a place in the knockout stage and boost their chances of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT.

Ghana will be seeking to bounce back from a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon when the Black Queens face Mali in a decisive 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) group-stage encounter.

The defeat delayed Ghana’s qualification for the quarter-finals and left their fate to be determined by the final group match against Mali.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday ahead of the game, midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe acknowledged that the two teams are familiar with each other but stressed that the upcoming fixture will present a different challenge.

“We’ve played them before; they are a good team. We played them last year. We will approach it how we are approaching it, making sure we do what is right. It is not going to be the same as last year,” Cudjoe said.

Ghana last faced Mali on July 11, 2025, in a WAFCON group-stage fixture, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw. The Black Queens dominated possession and recorded 18 shots but were unable to secure a victory.

Cudjoe believes the squad has the quality to respond under pressure and show their true character when it matters most.

A win against Mali would guarantee Ghana a place in the quarter-finals and keep alive their hopes of winning the continental title.

The Black Queens are also aiming to end Ghana’s World Cup qualification drought by reaching the WAFCON semi-finals, a feat that would secure a place at the global tournament.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT.

Salah, 34, scored 257 goals at Anfield and won two Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League to establish himself as one of the Merseyside club’s all-time greats.

Trabzonspor said in a statement: “A two-year agreement has been reached with professional footballer Mohamed Salah.”

The announcement was followed by pictures of Salah, dressed in a Trabzonspor kit, signing his contract alongside the club’s president, Ertugrul Dogan.

On Wednesday, Salah arrived in Trabzon and was welcomed by thousands of fans at the airport.

While fireworks and flares were let off, the Egyptian led the supporters in a chant as his first act as a Trabzonspor player.

Before he had even arrived, Trabzonspor’s official social media accounts had posted a link to a live tracker following his flight as he prepared to touch down to seal his move.

In his first photos in the Trabzonspor kit, Salah wore the No. 61 on the back rather than the usual No. 11 shirt he wore for years at Liverpool, or the No. 10 jersey he regularly dons for Egypt.

The choice was no coincidence. Trabzon’s area code, written on vehicle number plates in Turkey, is 61, and it has become a symbol of the city in north-eastern Turkey.

Salah had been linked to Trabzonspor’s Turkish rivals Besiktas earlier this transfer window, as well as a potential move to MLS or Saudi Arabia.

Trabzonspor are managed by former Turkey international Fatih Tekke, and the team boasts a number of international players.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana recently rejoined on loan from Manchester United for the second season in a row, while Stefan Savic, Paul Onuachu and John Lundstram have all had stints in the Premier League.

Trabzonspor finished third in the Turkish top-flight last season, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League as a result, and also won the Turkish Cup.

During the summer, Salah captained Egypt to the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they were eliminated by eventual runners-up Argentina.

World Cup heroics have transformed players’ lives in the past, and Vozinha’s recent move to Chilean side Colo-Colo after an impressive tournament with Cape Verde is the latest reminder that the competition still has the power to change careers.

At the age of 40, the goalkeeper’s journey from the Portuguese second division to Chile’s biggest club may be unique, but he is not the first to get a big move after starring on the global stage.

Here are some of the players whose standout performances at the World Cup earned them a big move.

Marc-Vivien Foe – Canon Yaounde to Lens

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Marc-Vivien Foe earned a move from Cameroon to France after the 1994 World Cup

Similar to Vozinha, Marc-Vivien Foe was an unknown name before the 1994 World Cup.

Despite Cameroon’s disappointing World Cup campaign in the USA, compared to their historic run in 1990, Foe emerged as one of the team’s best performers during his debut tournament.

A standout game against Brazil caught attention, which then led to a free transfer from Cameroon’s Canon Yaounde to French side Lens.

Foe spent four years at Lens and helped them achieve their first league title in the 1997-98 season.

He also played for West Ham United, Manchester City and Lyon, where he won the French League Cup and Lyon’s first Ligue 1 title in 2002.

Foe tragically passed away in June 2003 after he collapsed during a Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia.

Gilberto Silva – Atletico Mineiro to Arsenal

Image source: Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Image caption: Gilberto Silva moved to Arsenal after winning the 2002 World Cup

Gilberto Silva’s first appearance at a World Cup came in 2002, when the tournament was hosted in South Korea and Japan.

The 25-year-old, who played in Brazil’s top division for Atletico Miniero, returned home as a World Cup winner who played every minute of every game for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team.

Silva was only brought into the starting XI because Brazil captain Emerson was ruled out by injury.

But, after playing a key role in Brazil’s triumph, the midfielder earned a move to Premier League champions Arsenal.

Nicknamed ‘The Invisible Wall’, the defensive midfielder joined the Gunners from Atletico Mineiro for about £4.5m.

During his six years in north London, Silva won two FA Cups and played a key role in the famous 2003-04 Invincibles side that went unbeaten to claim the Premier League title.

Javier Mascherano – Corinthians to West Ham

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Javier Mascherano moved to the Premier League after reaching the quarter-final of the 2006 World Cup with Argentina

At the age of 22, Javier Mascherano announced himself on the global stage at the 2006 World Cup, where he helped Argentina reach the quarter-finals.

His performances for both his club back in Brazil and at the World Cup drew the attention of European clubs.

Mascherano initially expressed his desire to remain at Corinthians and help the club in their relegation battle.

However, he soon made the move to West Ham United in the summer of 2006 alongside his Argentina team-mate Carlos Tevez, who also impressed at the World Cup in Germany.

Mascherano had a brief spell with the Hammers until the beginning of 2007, leaving to join Liverpool, where he featured in their 2007 Champions League final defeat by AC Milan.

Mascherano then played for Barcelona from 2010, winning the Champions League twice and being part of squads that won La Liga on five occasions.

Mesut Ozil – Werder Bremen to Real Madrid

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Mesut Ozil moved to Real Madrid after reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2006

At the age of just 21, Mesut Ozil emerged as one of the world’s most exciting young players after he helped Germany finish third at the 2010 World Cup.

After registering four goals and four assists in seven games, Ozil was able to show off his quality and prove he was a standout performer.

Big clubs took note, and by August 2010, Ozil switched Werder Bremen for Real Madrid, for a fee of about 15m euros (£12.4m).

Copa del Rey, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles were to follow during his three year stay in Madrid, before becoming Arsenal’s record signing for £42.4m in 2013.

James Rodriguez – Monaco to Real Madrid

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: James Rodriguez’s heroics for Colombia made him a standout player at the 2014 World Cup

James Rodriguez became one of the stars of the 2014 World Cup, scoring six goals for Colombia and winning the Golden Boot after a memorable run to the quarter-finals.

His excellent performances, including his famous volley against Uruguay, earned him a spot in Fifa’s team of the tournament.

The volley against Uruguay was later voted as the best goal in the tournament by more than four million people on Fifa’s website and won the Fifa Puskas Award for the best goal of the year.

Real Madrid decided to sign Rodriguez from Monaco for about 75m euros (£71m) after the tournament – a move that led to him winning multiple trophies with Los Blancos, including two Champions Leagues.

Vozinha – Chaves to Colo Colo

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Vozinha kept a clean sheet on his World Cup debut against eventual champions Spain

Well, you knew this one was coming.

Vozinha became a cult hero when Cape Verde claimed their first World Cup point against Spain in the group stage and his social media fame has exploded from 50,000 Instagram followers to nearly 30 million.

After helping his team reach the knockout stages, taking finalists Argentina to extra time in the last 32, Vozinha was named in Fifa’s team of the tournament and even had a newly discovered species of sea slug named after him.

Vozinha’s career has taken him to Slovakia, Angola, Moldova, Cyprus and, until recently, Portuguese second division side Chaves, but he has always believed himself to be a “big club player”.

Joining Colo Colo, the most successful team in the Primera Division (34 titles) and Copa Chile (14), is his career “highlight”.

Honourable mentions

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Keylor Navas, Edinson Cavani and Enzo Fernandez also gained big moves after strong World Cup performances

• Gheorghe Hagi – Brescia to Barcelona (1994)
• Dejan Stankovic – Red Star Belgrade to Lazio (1998)
• Carlos Salcido – Guadalajara to PSV Eindhoven (2006)
• Nicolas Otamendi – Velez Sarsfield to Porto (2010)
• Edinson Cavani – Palermo to Napoli (2010)
• Sami Khedira – Stuttgart to Real Madrid (2010)
• Alexis Sanchez – Udinese to Barcelona (2010)
• Keylor Navas – Levante to Real Madrid (2014)
• Enner Valencia – Pachuca to West Ham United (2014)
• Enzo Fernandez – Benfica to Chelsea (2022)

Police said David Owori was fatally assaulted after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone and other belongings, prompting an outpouring of grief and renewed public anger over violent crime in Uganda.

Owori captained Sports Club (SC) Villa, the Uganda Premier League record champions, where he played both as a right-back and midfielder. He also represented the country’s national team – the Cranes.

“We have lost more than a player – we have lost a leader, brother and friend,” SC Villa said in a statement.

Witnesses said a group of attackers hit the footballer with paving stones on Tuesday night before robbing Owori of his belongings and fleeing, leaving him unconscious.

SC Villa spokesperson Asan Kasingye told journalists that Owori was targeted just outside his home in Makindye, a Kampala suburb.

“The player was ambushed by thugs as he approached his home, leaving him with life-threatening injuries before he was rushed to the medical facility,” Kasingye said.

Owori was rushed to a nearby medical clinic and then transferred to a private facility in the city, but he died of his injuries on Wednesday.

Local police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said detectives were pursuing leads to identify those responsible.

“The scene of the incident has been documented and processed to ensure that all relevant evidence is collected and preserved,” Kawala added.

Owori’s murder has sent shockwaves across Uganda, with the football community, including fans and teammates, and politicians demanding justice.

Tributes are continuing to pour in for the defender, who was popularly known as Colgate.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) described Owori as “a true leader on and off the pitch”.

“David was not just a footballer. He was both a leader and an inspiration to a generation,” it said in a statement.

The national side, the Cranes, said the team had lost a football star who “carried the hopes” of Uganda.

Parliament on Wednesday observed a minute’s silence in honour of Owori and called for a quick investigation.

The versatile player, renowned for his tactical discipline and ability to feature across midfield, returned to SC Villa in 2023 – after two years in Spain for a second spell – becoming one of the club’s longest-serving players.

He helped lead the high-profile team to their first league title in 20 years securing a record 17th top-flight crown in 2024.

His influence on and off the pitch earned him a contract extension until January 2027 with the team.

Owori also featured in the national team during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and was regarded as a strong contender for future call-ups to the Cranes.

His death has triggered anger on social media, with many Ugandans questioning the level of violent crime in Kampala and calling for tougher action against criminals.

The killing comes just weeks after the death of another Ugandan sports star – rugby international Sydney Gongodyo – who was also fatally attacked by a mob in Kampala.

Infantino summoned members of the management board to Fifa’s Africa office in Rabat on Wednesday following mounting criticism of his aborted proposals, with world football’s governing body releasing a statement of support four hours after the meeting ended.

European football’s governing body Uefa said at the weekend that it has lost confidence in Infantino, calling the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal a “shabby, back room, opaque deal”.

Much criticism has come from within Fifa, including secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, who was at Wednesday’s meeting. In an internal memo sent to Fifa staff on Tuesday, he wrote that the situation is “a sad and reproachable series of events”.

However, in a statement following the meeting, Grafstrom and the managament board “reaffirmed their full support” for Infantino as president.

Infantino and Grafstrom also sent a signed letter – seen by the BBC – to Fifa’s vice-presidents, council and 211 member associations saying they “sincerely apologise” for their errors and “commit to them not happening again”.

The two were pictured attending a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match together in Rabat after the meeting.

Infantino had offered all associations $40m (£30m) if they backed a proposal for private investment in its tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, through a new subsidiary, FFE.

Fifa said that during Wednesday’s meeting “mistakes” regarding FFE were “acknowledged”, saying it was “not the intention” for the Fifa council and members association to “feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently”.

The governing body added it “acknowledged that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media” – with the Times breaking the story of Infantino’s plan on 28 July.

However, the statement also said the organisation “will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation”.

Earlier, Fifa denied a story in the Times that Infantino had promised Morocco it will host the 2030 World Cup final in exchange for its support.

Fifa said it was a “false and misleading” claim and that a decision on where to hold the final, with the tournament also hosted by Spain and Portugal, will be made “in due course”.

Internal support after more criticism

Infantino will hope that this begins to draw a line under the latest, and perhaps biggest, controversy that has beset his 10-year tenure.

However, this show of support from Fifa executives followed yet more stinging criticism of the Swiss.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country hosted the recent World Cup with the United States and Mexico, said he no longer had confidence in Infantino.

Former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Portugal winger Luis Figo, who ran for the Fifa presidency against Infantino’s predecessor Sepp Blatter in 2015 before withdrawing, called on him to immediately resign.

Figo said: “Infantino has debased the office that he promised to elevate.

“It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football.”

But Infantino, 56, looks set to fight for re-election for a fourth term.

Rivals have until 18 November to put their names forward to stand against him, with the election to be held at the Fifa Congress in Morocco in March 2027.

A candidate requires 106 votes from Fifa’s 211 members to win.

Uefa, however, may well have other ideas.

At the weekend, European football’s governing body said it had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership and threatened legal action against Fifa.

Earlier this week several member associations – including Wales, with England set to follow suit – withdrew support for his re-election.

Fifa also said that although “mistakes were made, everything that was done was done in full compliance with the Fifa regulatory framework”. It added it felt the outcomes of the meeting will “strengthen Fifa’s governance” and “restore confidence in the organisation”.

It is unlikely that such statements and the approval of a group of executives will dampen Uefa’s anger.

How could Uefa react?

Uefa has been quick to react to every twist and turn ever since Infantino’s FFE plan emerged.

From the initial rejection of FFE, to the seismic moment when all 55 member associations threatened to boycott Fifa’s competitions, through to the effective vote of no confidence.

But Uefa has a problem, and it is not an insignificant hurdle to overcome.

Since Infantino performed his U-turn, only Concacaf as a confederation has criticised the Fifa president. But, unlike Uefa, it did not go as far as to say it had lost confidence in him.

While the Asian confederation did reject the plan, there has been no blanket statement since Infantino aborted it.

Uefa has a great deal of power, but it cannot realistically overthrow Infantino on its own. It needs more global support.

Outside of Europe, so far only Jordan – one of a handful of the 211 member associations not to have signed a letter of support for Infantino’s re-election before this controversy – have publicly called for him to go.

The list of countries who have underscored their support is much longer – admittedly from within Infantino’s firm power base in Asia and Africa.

In recent days Egypt, Morocco, Niger, Mauritania, DR Congo and the Philippines have all backed Infantino.

Such countries have benefited from funding via Infantino’s Fifa Forward programme, the forerunner to FFE, to the tune of $8m (£5.94m) in each three-year cycle.

Uefa has to find a way to persuade such countries that another presidential candidate can offer the same financial programmes, but with greater transparency and reform.

Infantino, however, already has their loyalty.

How can Infantino turn things around?

All the other recent controversies could not touch Infantino – from the way Saudi Arabia won the hosting rights to the 2034 World Cup, to US President Donald Trump’s Fifa Peace Prize, to Folarin Balogun’s escape from suspension at the World Cup.

This time, an attempt to sell off a slice of the commercial and ticketing rights of Fifa’s competitions was a step too far for many.

Not simply because of the optics of such a move, but also that it was kept secret from other senior members of the Fifa hierarchy and that the beneficiary of the deal would have been Joshua Kushner – the brother of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

So Infantino had bridges to build with those closest to him, not just with the 211 national associations.

Carlos Cordeiro, Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, quit over the plan.

Others who were critical opted not to tender their resignations, such as Grafstrom, chief of global football development Arsene Wenger and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour.

It is likely there will be others within the corridors of power at Fifa who kept their counsel.

On top of this, Infantino may also have to map out – or could offer – a route for reform.

This may involve putting additional checks and balances in place that would make it impossible for such a plan to be devised and presented in this way again.

Perhaps he could shelve his plans for a 64-team World Cup? Or offer to open up Fifa’s cash reserves?

The 26-year-old has entered the final 12 months of his contract and has attracted interested from Arsenal in recent weeks.

Talks over a new deal at Real were at an impasse but the Spanish side have now made a new offer to Vinicius, who is understood to be appreciative of the fresh terms.

Real now await Vinicius’ decision, but senior managers – including returning head coach Jose Mourinho – are now hopeful he will renew.

It is understood Real are expecting a response within hours rather than days.

If Vinicius rejects the contract, Arsenal are willing to accelerate their interest in the Brazilian.

Vinicius signed a contract extension at Real three years ago which runs until 2027, and the club and his representatives have been in talks over a fresh deal for the past 18 months.

He returned to the club on Monday for his first pre-season training session and medical assessment following his World Cup campaign with Brazil.

Vinicius, who has made 375 appearances for Real in all competitions, scoring 128 goals, is believed to want recognition as Los Blancos’ top star financially.

However, Real are traditionally strict about maintaining their salary structure under president Florentino Perez.

Vinicius has publicly described Real as “the club of my dreams” and said he hopes to remain there “for many years”.

Arsenal have identified the Brazilian as their priority left-wing target should his position change.

“It won’t be easy to succeed Eddie [Howe],” a source said.

Just like Newcastle’s moves to sign young players from the continent, there is an element of risk with this appointment as the club bring in a manager who has never coached in the Premier League before.

German Jaissle delivered success in Saudi Arabia and Austria – with Al-Ahli and Red Bull Salzburg respectively – but this will be the first time he has sampled life in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

He becomes the Premier League’s second-youngest current head coach, at 38, and his first competitive game is against Liverpool on Sunday, 23 August.

In the statement announcing his appointment on Wednesday, Jaissle said it was an “incredible honour” to become head coach of “one of the biggest clubs in European football”.

“My teams are built on togetherness, hard work, intensity and a passion to improve every single day,” he added.

“I believe there is enormous potential within this squad and throughout the football club.

“I give my complete commitment and total energy to bringing further success to Newcastle United.”

There has been no time to waste since Jaissle arrived at Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in Spain at the weekend.

“He will try to understand the culture, what Newcastle means to the community, as soon as possible,” added a source.

“That’s what he will live by.”

‘He called out anyone who wasn’t giving their all’

Howe certainly set the standard.

The Englishman took charge of a side in relegation trouble, kept them up, then went on to end Newcastle’s long wait for silverware by winning the EFL Cup in 2025 – and also qualified for the Champions League on multiple occasions.

However, last season was a bruising one domestically – Newcastle finished in 12th place – and Howe watched Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon leave within a year.

Newcastle are set to lose a fourth key player too, with captain Bruno Guimaraes heading to Arsenal.

They need a progressive manager to start a new cycle following Howe’s decision to step down – and build on what he did at the peak of his reign.

Effectively, Jaissle’s remit will be to develop players and outperform clubs with bigger wage bills. And Newcastle’s squad should expect him to be just as demanding as his predecessor in training.

“We did lots of small-sided games to keep the intensity high and if someone had not been giving it their all, he called them out on it,” said former Salzburg midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic.

“He’s not afraid to address things head-on.”

Jaissle has quickly had to get to know a new set of players, but he will encounter a group who are already used to similar principles from their time under Howe, as well as new young signings who are eager to learn.

He also brings with him a group of coaches and analysts who will look to quickly get his message across.

Al-Ahli defender Merih Demiral knows that better than most.

“Looking forward to going to training every day was so important,” he added. “They paid great attention to every detail and always made sure we were fully prepared.

“Matthias has built a really strong team around him and they played a huge role in our success.”

Jaissle and his staff will be working with a squad whose average age has dropped significantly this summer.

However, the German will still rely on experienced heads such as Dan Burn and Fabian Schar in the dressing room.

Jaissle, a former defender with Hoffenheim, was a few months younger than Junuzovic when he took charge of Salzburg in 2021.

But he did not shirk in telling the midfielder he would find it difficult playing alongside the younger players in the side.

Jaissle challenged Junuzovic to improve and earn his place in the starting line-up, and “kept his word” when he did.

“He understands the players’ language,” the former Austria international said.

‘He never lost his belief’

It is a little telling that Red Bull Salzburg have not won the league since Jaissle departed following his second successive triumph three years ago.

The Austrian club have not reached the Champions League knockout stage, either, since doing so for the first time ever under Jaissle in 2022, even if they were ultimately hammered 8-1 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the last 16.

Jaissle went on to show an ability to adapt at Al-Ahli with a different profile of player, winning back-to-back Asian Champions League titles.

As much as his aggressive side pressed high and got the ball forward quickly, they also had solid defensive foundations and no other team conceded fewer goals in the Saudi Pro League last season.

Such a balanced approach will be needed if Jaissle is to succeed in the Premier League, which is a different beast altogether, as he will soon find out.

But Newcastle’s new boss will certainly back himself.

“The best way to describe him is his mentality,” said Turkey international Demiral.

“Even if we were losing 2-0 or 3-0, he never lost his belief. He always believed in his players and prepared us with the same mindset in training.

“This is one of the main reasons why we managed to come back and win so many matches.”

It’s a very different league, and challenge, but Newcastle will hope it’s a sign of things to come.

Figo, widely considered one of the best players of his generation with trophy-laden stints at Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, has joined a growing chorus of voices who want Infantino to resign.

On Tuesday, former Arsenal manager and current FIFA chief of global football development distanced himself from Infantino’s plan, which was blocked by FIFA confederations including UEFA, who threatened to boycott the World Cup if the plan went ahead.

In a scathing statement released on social media on Wednesday, Figo insisted the FIFA president remove himself from his post.

“Today I join others from across our game and call for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA President,” Figo said.

“Infantino has debased the office that he promised to elevate. He has lied, deceived and tried to feather his own nest at the expense of the game he is supposed to serve.

“He has lost the support of his senior staff, his closest advisers, the vast majority of people who devote their lives to this sport and even, it would seem, the FIFA Peace Prize winner [Donald Trump].

“It is too late to save his dignity but it is not too late to save football. He should go. Now.”

UEFA have also raised the prospect of legal action against Infantino over the plan, sources have told ESPN.

The English and the Welsh Football Associations are among the governing bodies who have withdrawn their support for Infantino.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside Ataturk Airport in Istanbul on Wednesday as Salah emerged wearing Trabzonspor colours before engaging with the excited crowd.

The 34-year-old forward left Liverpool at the end of last season after nine years on Merseyside, scoring 257 goals.

It is unclear what Salah will earn at Trabzonspor, but as he is a free agent, the Super Lig club will have been able to commit more of their budget towards Salah’s wages.

Salah, who has scored 50 Champions League goals, will play European football with Trabzonspor next season after they finished third, eight points behind champions Galatasaray.

If they fail to progress to the league phase of the Europa League via the play-offs, they will drop down to the Conference League.

Salah became Liverpool’s highest earner in their history when he signed a reported £400,000-a-week contract in April 2025.

Nicknamed the Black Sea Storm, Trabzonspor have won seven league titles, six of which came between 1976 and 1984.

In 2022, they claimed their most recent league success, ending a 38-year wait.

Based in the north-eastern city of Trabzon, they are one of only six teams to have won the Turkish Super Lig.

Salah’s signing will go down as the club’s biggest as he joins former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe in donning the claret and sky blue shirt.

He helped the Liverpool to win two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, FA Cup and two EFL Cups.

During his time in England, the Egyptian won the Premier League Golden Boot on four occasions and was named the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year three times – in 2018, 2022 and 2025.

But despite scoring 29 goals and making 18 assists in Liverpool’s 2024-25 title-winning season, Salah’s minutes diminished the following campaign after a falling out with former Reds head coach Arne Slot.

Salah fever takes over Turkey

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Salah will go down as one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players

Since announcing he would be leaving Liverpool a year before his two-year contract extension ended, the football world has been wondering where he would next be playing.

After a successful World Cup campaign where Egypt reached the round of 16 for the first time before narrowly losing to Argentina, Salah was reported to be close to an agreement with a different Turkish club, Besiktas.

With a deal breaking down reportedly because of finances, Salah reached an agreement instead with Trabzonspor.

The Turkish side took to their social media on Tuesday night to tease the arrival of Salah with the Pyramids being shown on a video next to Papara Park.

But, following swiftly was another post stating “negotiations had begun” between Salah and Trabzonspor before showing how Salah’s Wednesday flight into Istanbul could be tracked.

“Trabzon, are you ready? See you very soon,” he said in a video onboard a private jet and posted on social media.

Trabzonpor’s flight tracking came in handy as a huge amount of fans gathered outside the airport to welcome Salah, who was greeted like a movie star.

As one of sport’s biggest global stars, this transfer for Trabzonspor is huge.

Their current squad includes on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, as well as a couple of Cape Verde’s World Cup stars in Wagner Pina and Sidny Lopes Cabral.

Ghana face Mali on Thursday, knowing that victory will secure a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.

The Black Queens opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over tournament debutants Cape Verde before suffering a narrow defeat to Cameroon, leaving qualification to be decided in their final group match.

The crucial encounter will be played at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.

Despite the setback against Cameroon, Cudjoe remains optimistic about Ghana’s chances of progressing and achieving their goals at the tournament.

“We want to be the best. We want to get to the World Cup and also get to the final,” she told the media on Wednesday.

“It is always good to hear the feedback from the fans. We are going to show up and prove to them that we are here, and they should trust us,” she added.

A win over Mali would send the Black Queens into the WAFCON quarter-finals and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ghana have not appeared at the Women’s World Cup since 2007, missing the last four editions of the tournament.

To end that long absence, the Black Queens must reach the semi-finals of WAFCON, with the tournament’s four semi-finalists earning qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Cudjoe and her teammates will be aiming to deliver a convincing performance against Mali and move one step closer to returning to football’s biggest stage.

Ghana face Mali in a crucial Group D fixture, with qualification for the knockout stage on the line on Thursday.

The Black Queens’ journey at the tournament has been mixed so far, as they began with a victory over tournament debutant Cape Verde before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, denying Ghana an early place in the quarter-finals.

Despite the setback, Bjökegren, speaking ahead of the game, believes they have handled the situation well and are not feeling the weight of expectations ahead of their decisive encounter against Mali.

“We don’t have any pressure at all, not for a single second,” he said while addressing the media.

“I think for the girls, I can’t talk for them, but they look pretty relaxed, and we have been, of course, talking about football and things like that, but we also try to relax a little bit and talk about other things,” the Swedish trainer added.

A victory over Mali would send the Black Queens into the WAFCON quarter-finals and keep their ambitions of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup alive.

Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.

Coventry are set to pay €27 million for the services of the highly-rated midfielder, with €3 million included in performance-related add-ons. The move is expected to become the biggest sale in the history of the Danish Superliga.

The 20-year-old is believed to have chosen Frank Lampard’s Coventry City project due to the promise of a significant role in the team and guaranteed playing opportunities.

The club are prepared to break their existing transfer record to secure the signature of the talented Ghana international.

Only a successful medical examination and the completion of contract formalities remain before Yirenkyi officially becomes a Coventry player on a long-term deal.

The midfielder is expected to travel to England soon to undergo his medical before being unveiled by the club by the close of the week.

FC Nordsjælland will benefit greatly from the deal, having built a reputation for developing and selling top talents.

The Danish club have previously produced players such as Mohammed Kudus, Patrick Dorgu and Sindre Walle Egeli, who have gone on to play in the Premier League.

Yirenkyi’s move comes after an impressive spell with Nordsjælland, where he established himself as one of the club’s key players. Last season, he made 30 appearances across competitions, scoring two goals and providing six assists.

The midfielder also represented Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, further raising his profile on the international stage.

The newly released kit combines the Phobians’ traditional colours with a modern design, featuring a dominant purple base complemented by bold red and yellow patterns across the front of the shirt.

The jersey also carries the club’s crest on the left chest and the mark of kit partner, The Hope Brand.

The design preserves Hearts of Oak’s historic identity while introducing a fresh look ahead of a season in which the club will be aiming to compete strongly on the domestic front.

The unveiling comes as the Phobians continue their preparations for the new Ghana Premier League season, with the club focused on strengthening its squad and improving performances after a challenging period.

Supporters of the 112-year-old club are expected to embrace the new strip as they rally behind the team’s ambitions for the 2026/27 campaign.

Hearts of Oak, one of Ghana’s most successful football clubs, will be aiming to return to the top of Ghanaian football and challenge for major honours when the new league season gets underway.

Meanwhile, the Rainbow Club will open their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign with a home game against Berekum Chelsea.

The team is scheduled to open a training camp in Accra on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, as preparations intensify for the qualifiers set for the September/October international window.

The selected players, drawn from Ghana Premier League and Division One League clubs, have been instructed to report to the Erata Hotel in East Legon at 4:00 pm to begin camping activities.

The squad announced by Coach Ofei represents the local component of the team, with arrangements expected to be made for the integration of foreign-based U-23 players ahead of the qualifiers.

Ghana will receive a bye in the opening phase of the U-23 AFCON qualifiers and will begin its campaign in October.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is yet to announce the qualifying pairings.

The Black Meteors will be hoping to secure qualification for the U-23 AFCON, a tournament that also serves as the pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The current group of players will form the foundation of Ofei’s squad as Ghana begins its quest for continental success and a return to the Olympic football stage.

Squad below:

Speaking in an interview with Medeama FM, Armah said the Ghana Premier League champions held discussions with Agbesi’s representatives as part of efforts to strengthen the squad ahead of the 2026/27 season.

According to him, the negotiations broke down because the midfielder’s financial demands exceeded what the Tarkwa-based club was prepared to spend.

“We contacted Solomon Agbesi’s camp regarding a possible move from Hearts of Oak to Medeama Sporting Club, but his asking price was above our budget,” Armah said.

He stressed that while Medeama remain committed to strengthening the squad, the club will not compromise its financial principles in pursuit of new signings.

Armah said the decision to walk away from the deal reflects the club’s commitment to responsible spending as it prepares to compete on both the domestic and continental fronts.

Medeama qualified for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League after winning last season’s Ghana Premier League title and are expected to bolster their squad ahead of the new campaign.

The Yellow and Mauve will represent Ghana in CAF’s premier club competition after winning the Ghana Premier League last season.

Speaking ahead of the club’s preparations for the continental competition, Mr Armah said management is determined to strengthen the squad and create the right environment for the technical team to compete at the highest level.

He noted that the club’s ambition is not only to represent Ghana with pride but also to make a significant impact in the tournament.

According to him, management will work closely with the coaching staff to address the team’s needs, including player recruitment and logistical support.

“We are committed to equipping the head coach [Ibrahim Tanko] with everything necessary to build a competitive team. Our goal is to have a successful CAF Champions League campaign and make our supporters proud,” he said.

Medeama will be aiming to improve on their previous performances in continental football as they prepare to face some of Africa’s top clubs.

The club believes that with thorough preparations, quality additions to the squad, and the backing of management and supporters, it can compete strongly on the continental stage.

The Blues, who have already agreed personal terms with the 28-year-old, are finalising a move worth about £16.3m plus further add-ons, with all parties increasingly confident about striking a deal.

Left-back Chavarria is a key target for new manager Xabi Alonso having faced him while he was in charge of Real Madrid last season.

It has been almost a month since Chelsea had an initial £15m bid rejected by the La Liga club when talks began at the end of June.

Negotiations became protracted amid a belief at Chelsea that Rayo were raising their valuation during the process, asking as much as the full £42.8m release clause at one stage.

Chavarria made it clear to Rayo, who lost to Crystal Palace in the Conference League final in May, that he wanted to move to Stamford Bridge.

Alongside new right-back Marco Palestra, who joined Chelsea for £47m from Atalanta in July, Chavarria’s arrival would give Alonso the chance to replicate his wing-back system that helped Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title in 2024.

His signing also adds depth to the left-back position after Marc Cucurella joined Real Madrid in June for £51.8m.

It is also another player with experience added to the squad, along with the signings of striker Danny Welbeck, 35, from Brighton and Jordan Henderson, 36, after he cancelled his contract with Brentford.

Chelsea have also signed club-record £117m forward Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace for £52m, with midfielder Valentin Barco expected to join from partner club Strasbourg imminently.

They are expected to focus on player sales in the coming weeks having reached an agreement to sell Trevoh Chalobah to Italian club Como 1907 for about £31m.

BBC Sport reported on 30 July that Guimaraes was expected to move to the Premier League champions following a breakthrough in talks.

And a full agreement is now almost done, with Guimaraes waiting for permission to leave Newcastle’s training base in La Manga, in Spain, to finalise the formalities of his move to Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are now making preparations for the Brazil midfielder’s medical this week. There is no confirmation of a fee but sources are indicating it could reach £80m.

Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle from Lyon in 2022, has made clear his intention to join Arsenal as the 28-year-old has emerged as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice central midfield target.

Newcastle and Arsenal have been discussing the finer terms of the deal this week with a final agreement now considered a formality.

The 40-year-old signed a six-month contract with the Chilean Liga de Primera side on Monday after garnering global acclaim for his performances at the World Cup.

Under league rules, he is required to play under his legal name Josimar Jose Evora Dias, with ANFP regulations stating “nicknames, appellations or sobriquets will not be permitted” on playing shirts.

However, Colo Colo have successfully secured permission for him to play under his famous moniker, which means ‘granny’ in Portuguese.

“It is the name I have used my entire life,” Vozihna said in a news conference. “In Cape Verde, it holds great significance and a rich history, and now it does globally as well.

“If my grandmother were alive today, I think she would be proud. I hope to keep using it for the rest of my career as a tribute.”

Vozinha arrived in Santiago on Sunday to a lively reception from Colo Colo’s fans and joined his new team-mates in training two days later.

The veteran goalkeeper became a cult hero when Cape Verde claimed their first-ever World Cup point against Spain in the group stage and has seen his social media fame explode from 50,000 Instagram followers to nearly 30 million.

After helping his team reach the knockout stages, taking finalists Argentina to extra time in the last 32, Vozinha was named in Fifa’s team of the tournament and even had a newly discovered species of sea slug named after him.

Vozinha’s career has taken him to Slovakia, Angola, Moldova, Cyprus and, most recently, Portuguese second division side Chaves, but he has always believed himself to be a “‘big club’ player”.

Joining Colo Colo, the most successful team in the Primera Division (34 titles) and Copa Chile (14), is his career “highlight”.

“The decision was very clear. Despite playing in smaller leagues for clubs that weren’t exactly giants, deep down I always told myself I was a ‘big club’ player,” Vozinha said.

“So when Colo Colo came calling, there was no doubt. From day one, I knew where I wanted to play. I received many offers but Colo Colo was always the priority.

“The World Cup was the best thing that ever happened to me in football, but that is in the past now. Being here representing Colo Colo – a massive club with a rich history – is the highlight of my club career.”

Five of the continent’s influential football leaders have issued statements that offer Infantino support while also welcoming the decision to drop his controversial plan to sell a stake in future World Cup revenue.

Their messages came ahead of a meeting of the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee on Thursday at which they will discuss ​the abandoned plan to raise $4.2 billion from a new commercial rights body.

While Asia, Europe and CONCACAF, which runs the game in North and Central ​America and the Caribbean, all said over the weekend they had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership, CAF has kept its counsel, ⁠offering Infantino hope he can count on the support of its large membership as he looks to hold on to power at next March’s FIFA presidential ​election.

CAF only released a statement last Wednesday saying it would study Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative, but he abandoned the project under intense pressure on Friday.

It remains ​an item on the agenda for the CAF meeting, although there is no guarantee African football’s governing body will take any stand on Infantino’s future.

But leading committee members say they are backing Infantino, including CAF Vice President Fouzi Lekjaa from Morocco and fellow FIFA Council members Hany Abo Rida (Egypt), Hamidou Djibrilla (Niger) and Ahmed Yhaya (Mauritania).

There has also been a statement of support ​from Veron Mosengo-Omba, recently elected president of the football federation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and former CAF general secretary, who studied at university in ​Switzerland with Infantino.

All released similarly worded messages welcoming Infantino’s decision to abandon the project before praising him and expressing support.

African countries helped Infantino to his election success in 2016 on ‌the back ⁠of his promises to more than double development money dispensed to FIFA’s member associations.

It is this largesse that has helped keep him popular among African members, many of whom struggle financially and now largely depend on FIFA money to compete.

“Our problem is how to obtain money. Right now, we have no sponsors. So how do we compete? The richest nations can train players, have infrastructure and equipment, and it’s no coincidence that they then achieve results. Most European countries don’t have ​these problems,” said Saïd Ali Athouman, ​the president of the Comoros Football ⁠Federation.

“Our government is not able to make sure that they have medical supplies in hospitals and at the same time to look at football. Malawi needs money. Malawi needs stadiums,” added Fleetwood Haiya, president of the Football Association of Malawi.

FIFA ​baseline funding guarantees each of its 211 member associations $8 million over a four-year cycle, plus CAF also now offers ​an annual grant to ⁠its members.

GIFTING GRANTS

Gifting grants to member associations was first floated by Infantino’s predecessor, Sepp Blatter, when he stood for election against Lennart Johansson in 1998, and he won with backing from most African countries, who had never before received financial help from world football’s governing body, even though CAF formally endorsed the Swede, who was then ⁠UEFA president.

Infantino ​continued Blatter’s idea, although he renamed it from the Goal Project to FIFA Forward, and exponentially ​increased the monies.

Motsepe was effusive in his praise for Infantino days before the World Cup sell-off scandal broke.

“I personally support Gianni Infantino,” he said. “He’s not just a good friend. He’s a loyal friend. ​He’s loyal to Africa. I come from a background where when people have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back.”

In a scathing post on his X feed on Tuesday, Prince Ali, the JFA president, wrote that his organisation has asked FIFA for its assistance with three separate issues this year but was told he needed to endorse Infantino first.

According to Prince Ali, the first of these issues was related to the difficulties Jordan, who qualified for their first ever World Cup this summer, had in securing visas for their fans, even those who had bought tickets “at exorbitant prices”.

The second request was for help with the American taxes that Jordan’s players and staff are liable for after their stay in the U.S., which the JFA had not budgeted for and would not have faced if they had been based in co-hosts Canada or Mexico.

Finally, Prince Ali claims that Jordan are still owed prize money from the December’s FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar, where they went unbeaten to the final before losing 3-2 to Morocco.

“It is clear the problem really is with (the) leadership,” continued Prince Ali, who ran unsuccessfully against Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency in 2015 and then against Infantino and Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa in 2016.

“For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters until it was verbally communicated to me, during the World Cup, that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out.

“We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that.”

FIFA has not responded to a request for comment.

Who is Prince Ali and why is his intervention significant?

The third son of Jordan’s former king and half-brother of the current ruler, Prince Ali has a voice that carries a lot of weight in Asian football, where he is also the founder and president of the West Asian Football Federation that currently has 12 FIFA nations as members.

He was also a FIFA vice-president between 2011 and 2016 when he was ousted by Sheikh Salman, but not before he had championed the lifting of FIFA’s ban on the hijab in women’s football and creating a development programme to raise money for better football facilities in the Middle East.

He is a formidable opponent, then, at the worst possible time for Infantino, who is still fighting for his survival as FIFA boss after the implosion of his plan to create a subsidiary that owns the commercial rights to FIFA’s competitions and then sell a 20 per cent stake in the new business to private investors.

That project united the Asian, European and North and Central American confederations in opposition to Infantino last week, with UEFA, European football’s governing body, saying it had also lost confidence in his leadership.

The Asian Football Confederation and Concacaf, the confederation that hosted this summer’s World Cup, have not gone quite as far as Europe in calling for change at the top, but both are seeking urgent answers from Infantino as to why he developed this plan in secret, who appointed the various banks and funds involved and why he thinks FIFA needed to sell a stake to anyone, particularly as it is sitting on estimated reserves of $7billion.

Infantino is yet to respond to these questions but did withdraw his “FIFA Forward Enterprise” project in a public statement on Saturday.

Since then, various UEFA member associations have publicly withdrawn their support for him to stand for a fourth four-year term as FIFA boss next year, while several senior FIFA executives, including his number two Mattias Grafstrom and chief of global football development Arsene Wenger, have also issued statements to say they had been deceived by Infantino and knew nothing about the FFE project.

Fifa’s chief of global football development Arsene Wenger, secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, and Prince Ali, president of the Jordanian Football Association, all made clear their opposition to Infantino’s Fifa Forward Enterprise.

Infantino, who has been in Morocco over the past week, called an executive meeting in Rabat as he attempts to find a solution to the controversy.

Wenger said in a statement issued through Fifa that scrapping the plan was “absolutely necessary and beyond question”.

Grafstrom called the last week “a sad and reproachable series of events” in an internal email to Fifa staff.

Prince Ali, meanwhile, accused Fifa of creating a situation which “amounts to blackmail” over unpaid prize money and support for Infantino’s re-election.

Wenger has been in a role which encompasses data analysis of the game, Fifa’s online training and youth competitions, since 2019.

The former Arsenal boss previously supported Infantino’s proposal to play the men’s World Cup every two years.

A week after Infantino’s investment plan was first released, the Frenchman issued a statement through Fifa in which he demanded “transparency and integrity” from the body.

“The recent events at Fifa deserve some clarity from my side,” Wenger’s statement read.

“I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports.

“The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent Fifa that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.”

Wenger is one of 18 Fifa officials named in a document preservation letter Uefa sent to Fifa threatening legal action.

Carlos Cordeiro – Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance – is the only Fifa official to resign over the scandal, saying the proposal was “a bad deal for football” and would “mortgage football’s future”.

The problem is with leadership – Prince Ali

Meanwhile, Prince Ali has accused Fifa of withholding prize money earned from being runners-up at the Fifa Arab Cup in December.

Before the World Cup final, Infantino said he had received more than 200 letters of support from the 211 member associations for his re-election – Jordan being one of the few not to back him.

Prince Ali, writing on X, claimed prize money had not been paid and Fifa tried to use this to gain support for Infantino.

“It is clear the problem really is with leadership,” he wrote. “For months, Fifa has been refusing to help us – until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out.

“We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now.

“But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that.”

Prince Ali has twice run for the Fifa presidency. In 2015, he lost out by 133 votes to 73 to Sepp Blatter – who resigned nine days later. In 2016, he finished third in the election in which Infantino become Fifa president.

He also alleged in the social media post that Jordan supporters with tickets had been denied visas to enter the United States this summer to watch their debut World Cup appearance.

Fifa has been approached for comment.

Difficult to comprehend and accept – Grafstrom

Grafstrom joined the criticism of the plan, writing in an internal memo to staff that last week had been “difficult to comprehend and accept”.

The Swede is seen as a close ally of Infantino, becoming Fifa’s chief of staff after the Swiss was elected president in 2016. He was elevated to secretary general, one of the most powerful positions in Fifa, in 2024.

“A sad and reproachable series of events – which were thankfully concluded with the project permanently abandoned – for as much as we feel dismayed by them, should not overshadow this reality,” Grafstrom wrote.

“We have all been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept.

“I urge you to remain focused on what has always united us: serving football and serving our 211 member associations, hand in hand with all relevant stakeholders and in full compliance with the Fifa statutes and Fifa regulations.

“I assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience. You do not need to worry.

“Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue, and that is why we should always keep our professionalism, sense of perspective and composure.”

The American company is known for making and publishing best-selling games such as EA FC, formerly known as Fifa, The Sims and Mass Effect.

The investors, who include Affinity Partners – led by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner – are taking EA private, meaning all of its public shares will be purchased and it will no longer be traded on a stock exchange.

It is thought to be the largest leveraged buyout in history, meaning a significant part of it is paid for with borrowed money, which the company will have to pay back.

This is because as well as the $36bn it has already put into the deal, PIF needs to borrow $20bn from investment bankers JPMorgan to close it, with the business taking on the debt.

How paying back this debt will affect EA as a business has been the source of much speculation from journalists and analysts.

Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier surmised it could lead to “mass layoffs, more aggressive monetization, and other big cost-cutting measures”, for one of the industry’s biggest companies.

Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief and co-founder of the Game Business, said the nature of the buyout was also likely to mean “a very hands-on approach from the investment group”.

“Private equity firms are typically aggressive in their management of companies,” he said.

The deal caused concern amongst some fans of EA’s massive library of games, particularly as games like The Sims champion inclusivity and LGBT+ relationships.

In Saudi Arabia, consensual same-sex sexual conduct can be punishable by death or flogging under interpretations of Sharia law.

In protest at the deal to sell EA to the PIF, the advocacy group Players Alliance HQ has asked gamers to petition their local politicians and speak out against it.

“Video games are a reflection of culture and people through their storylines, characters and representation,” the campaign’s website reads.

“With the PIF being the majority owner in the potential buyout, there is a large concern that creative decisions could be influenced by these outside factors, leading to themes such as free speech, gender, LGBTQI+ and other aspects of Western politics being reduced or fully censored across major franchises.”

Electronic Arts

Communities from EA’s games such as The Sims, which aims to champion inclusivity, have started petitions against the deal

PIF is a £514bn pot of money used by the government of Saudi Arabia to invest in many different kinds of ventures – such as football club Newcastle United.

The deal ranks as the second-biggest acquisition in gaming history, after Microsoft’s $69bn purchase of Activision Blizzard, the company behind Call of Duty.

At the initial deal announcement, EA’s chief executive Andrew Wilson, who will retain his position, said the firm plans to “create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come”.

“I am more energized than ever about the future we are building,” he said.

Why does Saudi Arabia care about EA?

The question as to why Saudi Arabia in particular has spent an astronomical amount to buy EA has been a hot topic since news of the deal broke in September 2025.

George Osborn, journalist and author of Power Play: Video Games, Politics and the Battle for Global Influence, said it was still an “appealing” financial opportunity to PIF despite the enormous price tag.

He pointed to the longevity of the 35-year-old business and its “seemingly evergreen” live-service games which are continuously updated after release.

Despite the company facing many of the similar setbacks felt across the industry over the past few years, such as layoffs and game cancellations, it has had a strong financial performance more recently.

Last year EA generated revenue of $7.5bn, and the October release of Battlefield 6 broke franchise records with over 7 million copies sold in its first three days. Despite this, more layoffs for the teams involved followed.

But Osborn said EA’s value to the PIF was “not purely economic” – instead, it was about “owning a soft power asset that is quietly entrenched in the sporting community”.

FIFA

Saudi Arabia has hosted a range of esports tournaments including the FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League

From the £300m takeover of Premier League club Newcastle United to its acquisition of four football clubs in the Saudi League, the money from PIF has especially been used to fund large sporting ventures and grow its influence in that world.

In the crossover between gaming and sport, Saudi Arabia has also hosted major esports tournaments, including the Esports World Cup in 2025.

But the huge purchases have also often drawn accusations of sportswashing – sponsoring or hosting sporting events to promote a positive public image and distract attention from human rights issues.

While the Saudi Arabian government has spent years denying such claims, Osborn said the EA deal could present another way of allowing it to project its influence.

“If the PIF’s football strategy limited them to ownership of Newcastle United and some Saudi Pro League teams, owning EA hands them a relationship with the 20,000 players, 750 clubs and 35 leagues at the top of the professional game,” he said.

“What is clear is that a state seeking to shape perceptions now owns an asset with proven reach to billions of people.

“How it uses it in the years to come is something we should watch closely.”

PIF is controlled by Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose government has been accused of human rights violations.

A 2019 UN report stated “the state of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is responsible” for the death of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist who was critical of the country’s government.

Saudi Arabia has always denied this.

United began the process last month, having identified a number of accounts they said had activity which warranted further investigation.

According to the club, in one instance, 1,088 accounts had been accessed on a single device.

However, it soon became clear a number of genuine fans were left fearing they were going to have their season tickets confiscated without knowing why.

United defended their actions in private but, after a fans forum on 30 July in which concerns were outlined, have now accepted they made mistakes in how they chose to execute their investigation.

“Manchester United accepts that the process may have caused distress for some loyal supporters, underestimated how common sharing account usernames and passwords was, and recognises that some fans may have felt they were being treated unfairly,” the club said.

“We recognise that many supporters have shared account login details in circumstances they regarded as legitimate, and we did not anticipate the extent to which this was occurring.”

United say a “satisfactory explanation” has been provided in a “substantial number of cases” and that restrictions had been removed from those accounts.

The club have assured supporters season tickets will only be confiscated in “cases where evidence indicates organised touting, systematic misuse or activity for financial gain”.

They also feel the underlying reasons for their investigation were valid, due to a growing touting issue which, they say, deprives supporters of the opportunity to buy tickets.

“There is no doubt at all this process has uncovered significant and organised touting which will enable us to remove tickets from touts and place them back in the hands of genuine fans,” United said. “We believe this is something we are all aligned on.

“One example has uncovered 1,088 accounts accessed on a single device.

“However, we recognise the way this process was communicated, and the impact it has had on some loyal match going supporters, has caused genuine upset and distress.”

BBC Sport reported how ‘thousands’ of fans had their accounts restricted, while a mother said her six-year-old son has had restrictions put on his season ticket as part of the club’s crackdown.

United say the threshold used for their review was seven or more accounts being accessed from a single device within the review period of March to June 2026. The club say the average number used by ticket holders is 1.2.

“Many supporters told us this was done for practical reasons, including helping friends, family members or fellow supporters manage applications and tickets,” added the club.

“However, sharing full account access creates a number of risks. It removes control from the account holder, compromises account and data security, bypasses safeguards built into approved ticketing processes and can make it difficult for the club to understand who is controlling accounts and ultimately using tickets.”

United say their investigation is ongoing and fans should respond within the 14-day deadline.

They also stress, amid claims to the contrary, that any season tickets that are confiscated will be repurposed as season tickets and not sold as a corporate hospitality package.

The incident came after the 1-0 pre-season win against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Following the full-time whistle Jones, Szoboszlai and later Tsimikas argued with each other as the team walked across the pitch to applaud supporters.

During the match Szoboszlai gave the captain’s armband to Tsimikas rather than Jones when he was subbed off, and during the argument the Greece left-back was filmed throwing it to the floor.

In the 4-2 defeat by Leeds on Sunday, Szoboszlai gave the armband to Jones.

“It was never a debate between us three,” said the Hungary captain. “We just discussed something on the pitch. Which actually, after, you guys [the media] make it very big. But next time we will manage to do it in the changing room. Nobody was angry at no-one. It’s all cleared – we are cool.”

With regular captain Virgil van Dijk absent for the United States tour and Joe Gomez injured in the first game, Szoboszlai led the side for the majority of their trip.

Szoboszlai also said that new manager Andoni Iraola is yet to discuss the vice-captaincy, with the vacancy open following the departure of Andy Robertson to Tottenham Hotspur.

“No, there hasn’t been any conversation. Obviously we have Virgil as the captain. We have Ali [Alisson]. We have Joe Gomez. So there was no conversation at all. Obviously Ali is not here and Joe is injured. It was a very proud moment to have it and let’s see. It’s not my choice. It’s not fixed,” the 25-year-old said.

“If you get offered the vice-captaincy at Liverpool, you’re going to take it. It would be a proud moment for me. But I respect everybody, so either way, whoever it’s going to be we’re going to follow them.”

Speaking to the media in Chicago shortly before the Reds travelled back to the UK, Szoboszlai said he “can’t wait” for the new season.

“I feel we are ready to go again and take motivation from the last season, because it was not the best,” he said. “We didn’t end up where we wanted to, so now we’re going to go for it again.

“It’s not my job to tell you who we have to sign or if we have to sign someone. If the guys above and the manager decide to sign someone, we are very happy and will welcome them. If they decide not to, then we have to do something special with this squad.”

‘Mac Allister definitely coming back’

The Liverpool players return to training from Wednesday before taking on Monaco in a friendly at Anfield on Sunday (14:30 BST).

Szoboszlai was full of praise for 19-year-old Trey Nyoni, who has been one of the standouts of pre-season so far. The midfielder only managed 229 minutes under former boss Arne Slot last season but has put himself in line to play a more prominent role under Iraola.

“I always knew that he’s a good player. In training, he showed his quality many times,” said Szoboszlai. “Also when he had the chance to play in some cup games or even in the Premier League. He’s a very good player. The squad is short, so we need everybody.”

And Szoboszlai agreed it is a clean slate for everyone in the squad before Liverpool begin their Premier League season at Newcastle United on 23 August.

“It’s a new manager. Everyone is motivated. I think I see in everybody’s eyes that he wants to play – and if you want to play, you have to give your best,” he said.

“And from there on, the manager is going to decide who is going to play. But everybody is on zero right now.”

Szoboszlai also clarified he did not mean to cause confusion when he said “if Alexis [Mac Allister] comes back” in a media conference on Thursday.

“That’s my English, guys. It’s not ‘if’ – it’s ‘when’ he comes back. So now I make it clear. He’s coming back and he’s going to be part of the team as much as I know.”

The Premier League is not far away, with reigning champions Arsenal hosting newly promoted Coventry City on Friday, 21 August.

We have picked 20 prospects, one from every Premier League club, who will be looking to enjoy a breakthrough season.

Who knows, some of these listed could provide a real bargain for you Fantasy Premier League managers out there.

Arsenal – Max Dowman (attacking midfielder/forward)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Max Dowman became the youngest scorer in the Premier League when he netted against Everton in March at the age of 16 years and 73 days

It feels strange to say that a player who has already scored a goal in the Premier League is about to have a breakthrough season – but that is exactly the case for Max Dowman.

He broke the record to become the youngest scorer in Premier League history last season and made his first league start on the final day of last campaign, too.

The attacker is still only 16 years old, and made six appearances in the league last season, but after being given a taste of first-team action is set to be more involved this time around.

Dowman scored in a pre-season friendly win over Girona and going forward is likely to be a legitimate option for manager Mikel Arteta, both on the wing and as a number 10.

Arteta will still protect the highly rated youngster, but this season could be the time we see Dowman in the Arsenal first team on a regular basis.

Aston Villa – George Hemmings (midfielder)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: George Hemmings made two substitute appearances for Aston Villa in the Premier League last season

The midfielder has been highly rated at Villa Park for some time and is considered the best of their recent crop of talent to come through the academy.

He made his first-team debut at Arsenal last season and made four appearances for Unai Emery overall, including two in the Europa League.

A strong start to pre-season, including a goal in the defeat by Real Sociedad, underlines the 19-year-old’s potential.

Bournemouth – Veljko Milosavljevic (defender)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Veljko Milosavljevic made his international debut for Serbia aged 17

Centre-half Veljko Milosavljevic is already a Serbia international and became the youngest Bournemouth player to start a Premier League match when he played against Brighton in September.

Milosavljevic, who turned 19 on 28 June, featured in seven Premier League games in 2025-26, with the Cherries winning four and drawing one.

However, the 6ft 4in defender has not featured since January because of a knee injury, but will be hoping to get back to his best and continue his impressive start at Vitality Stadium.

He joined the Cherries from Red Star Belgrade on deadline day at the start of September in 2025, for an initial fee of £13m.

Brentford – Kaye Furo (striker)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Kaye Furo has made one substitute appearance for Brentford in the Premier League

In January, Brentford paid £8m to sign Belgian striker Kaye Furo from Club Brugge.

A 6ft 3in quick and powerful striker, Furo had played in the Champions League against Arsenal before moving to west London with Bees boss Keith Andrews saying: “Kaye is someone we have tracked for a while that we are really excited about bringing to the club.

“His attributes are ones I like and feel we can develop within the environment we have created. I have no doubt he will be a big player for us.”

Furo played two FA Cup ties for Brentford before making his Premier League debut in May, coming on as a late substitute in a 3-0 victory over West Ham, and Andrews will be hoping for a big season from the 19-year-old.

Brighton – Zadok Yohanna (winger)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Zadok Yohanna became the most expensive player to be sold by a Swedish club when he moved to Brighton in June

Brighton have established a reputation for finding exciting young talent and Seagulls fans will be hoping they have done it again with the purchase of 19-year-old Nigerian right-winger Zadok Yohanna.

The club agreed a £21.5m deal to sign Yohanna from Swedish club AIK Stockholm, where he scored five goals and provided four assists in 18 appearances.

Former Brighton midfielder Warren Aspinall, speaking on the Albion Unlimited podcast, felt the club’s fans had every reason to be optimistic.

“It’s a little bit of a scalp because two other big clubs in England were chasing him in Chelsea and Newcastle, so they got ahead of them which is very good,” said Aspinall.

“It might be the right price and the going rate for an up-and-coming, good player.

“Have we got another diamond to polish up? That’s what we’re looking for – these rough diamonds to polish up and sell on for big money.”

Chelsea – Dastan Satpaev (forward)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Dastan Satpaev joined Chelsea for £3m from Kairat Almaty

Kazakhstan striker Dastan Satpaev, 17, appears the most likely of Chelsea’s young prospects to break through, having received praise from new manager Xabi Alonso.

Satpaev opened the scoring against Western Sydney Wanderers with a powerful near-post finish and looks quick, powerful and capable of finding the net regularly.

He already has Champions League experience and is a superstar in his homeland, winning nine caps since 2025.

There have also been impressive cameos from midfielders Landon Emenalo, who has been converted into a left-back, Reggie Walsh, Reggie Watson and Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli.

Coventry City – Kai Andrews (midfielder)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Kai Andrews has played three times for the Wales senior team

Central midfielder Kai Andrews made his Coventry City debut aged 17 at the start of the 2023 season.

Andrews, now 19, can also play on the left and featured 10 times for the Sky Blues last season before spending the second half of 2025-26 on loan at Hibernian.

That was his second spell in the Scottish Premiership after a loan spell at Motherwell the campaign before. He scored his first senior goal in Hibernian’s 2-1 league victory at Celtic in February, and he has already been capped three times by Wales.

Andrews has been back in Coventry colours in pre-season and will be hoping to force his way into Frank Lampard’s Premier League line-ups.

Crystal Palace – Joel Drakes-Thomas (winger/wing-back)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Joel Drakes-Thomas has played in two Premier League matches, one FA Cup game and one in the Conference League

Crystal Palace’s successful Conference League campaign, which ended with the Eagles winning their first European trophy, provided an opportunity for young players to impress.

Joel Drakes-Thomas was one of those to shine as, aged 16 years and 192 days, he made his senior debut in the 2-2 draw with Finnish side KuPS, producing a player-of-the-match performance.

He played against Leeds two days after the KuPS match, becoming the youngest player to turn out for the club in the Premier League.

Drakes-Thomas, who can play as a right wing-back or on the wing, turned 17 in June and signed his first professional contract with the Eagles at the beginning of July after being with the club since the age of six.

He has already made four senior appearances and will be hoping for many more in 2026-27.

Everton – Harrison Armstrong (midfielder)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Harrison Armstrong started six Premier League matches in 2025-26 and made a further seven substitute appearances

Central midfielder Harrison Armstrong has been with Everton since the age of five and established himself as a key member of the first team in the second half of last season.

He made his Toffees Premier League debut early in the 2024-25 campaign and has now played 16 times in the top flight as well as having half-season loans in the Championship, firstly with Derby County and then Preston North End.

His performances led to him being named Everton’s young player of the season and he has regularly featured for England Under-19s. The 19-year-old can play either as a defensive midfielder or in a more advanced role.

“He’s not looked out of place in the Premier League. That’s the biggest compliment I could give Harrison,” said Everton boss David Moyes in January.

Fulham – Jonah Kusi-Asare (forward)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Jonah Kusi-Asare made two Bundesliga appearances for Bayern Munich before joining Fulham

It promises to be a big season for exciting forward Jonah Kusi-Asare after he completed a £5m permanent move to Fulham in the summer

The Swede, who turned 19 in July, joined on a five-year deal with an option for a further 12 months after he had played 10 times for the Cottagers while on loan from Bayern Munich last season.

Kusi-Asare is 6ft 5in and has represented Sweden at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.

He made seven substitute appearances in the Premier League last season. However, with last season’s top scorer for Fulham, Raul Jimenez, moving to Wolves in the summer, expect Kusi-Asare to play a larger role this term.

Hull City – Calvin Okike (left-back/central defender)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Calvin Okike played five games on loan at Hartlepool United to gain some first-team experience earlier this year

Eighteen-year-old Nigerian defender Calvin Okike is tipped for a bright future at Hull City and signed his first professional contract in the summer, a two-year deal with the option of a third.

He largely featured for the under-21s last season, but was an unused substitute in a 2-0 win over Norwich City in the Championship.

Okike had a loan spell at National League club Hartlepool United this year, scoring within a minute on his senior debut. Although expected to stay largely with the under-21s in 2026-27, he has featured in Hull City’s friendly victories over Turkish sides Konyaspor and Caykur Rizespor, 3-0 and 2-1 respectively.

Okike won the academy player of the year award in 2025-26 and will be looking to push on into the first team this campaign.

Ipswich Town – Luca Fletcher (winger/forward)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Luca Fletcher played in the 2025 FA Youth Cup final as Manchester City lost to Aston Villa

Nineteen-year-old striker Luca Fletcher joined Ipswich Town on a permanent deal in the summer after a successful loan spell from Manchester City.

While at City, rapid forward Fletcher, an England Under-17s international, helped the club reach the FA Youth Cup final in 2024 and 2025 before impressing at Ipswich, scoring six times in the Premier League 2.

He is yet to play a senior game, but has been training with Ipswich’s first team, with new boss Gary O’Neil saying he has been impressed by the youngster.

Town’s attacking options look limited with unproven Brazilian striker Emersonn, 22, joining for £24m, and Japan’s Daizen Maeda also signing in an £8m move from Celtic.

In the Championship, the centre-forward duties were shared between George Hirst and on-loan Spaniard Ivan Azon.

However, Hirst, an unused member of Scotland’s World Cup squad, only scored 11 league goals, while Azon only got five and has returned to parent club Como.

Leeds United – Alfie Cresswell (midfielder)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Alfie Cresswell was an unused substitute in Leeds’ Premier League games against Brighton and West Ham at the end of the season

When 19-year-old midfielder Alfie Cresswell makes his senior debut for Leeds, he will be the third member of his family to do so.

His dad Richard was a striker for the Whites from 2005 to 2007 and older brother Charlie, a defender who has represented the England Under-21s, came through the ranks at Elland Road and made 14 senior appearances before a £3.8m move to French side Toulouse in 2024.

Alfie Cresswell is the captain of the under-21s, featuring in the Vertu Trophy last season, and was an unused substitute in Leeds’ last two Premier League matches of 2025-26.

But a first senior Leeds start is not too far away, as he was included in their squad for the tour of the United States, playing in the 3-2 friendly loss to Wrexham in Florida and the 1-0 win over Sunderland in New Jersey.

Liverpool – Trey Nyoni (midfielder)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Trey Nyoni has made six substitute appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League

Given last season was Rio Ngumoha’s breakthrough year and the 17-year-old is expected to play a much more prominent role this season, the focus must go on Trey Nyoni, who has been one of the standouts of Liverpool’s pre-season.

Nyoni, 19, was considered one of the players who could play in the first team under Arne Slot but was not given the opportunity he desired.

“Even when he [Trey] has one opponent quite close, he asks for that ball, and he’s confident; he doesn’t rush. For me, that is very valuable,” new Reds manager Andoni Iraola said.

With that in mind, the chances of the midfielder getting more game time this season have definitely increased.

Manchester City – Ryan McAidoo (winger)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Ryan McAidoo helped Manchester City win the FA Youth Cup in May

Winger Ryan McAidoo, 18, scored on his first-team debut in the FA Cup last season, one of two appearances in the competition, and he may thrive in Enzo Maresca’s system if given the opportunity.

McAidoo was a real livewire in the friendly against Inter Milan, coming close to scoring the winner, and the manager was suitably impressed afterwards saying the youngster is the type of winger he “loves”.

The Italian will be watching his development closely in pre-season before making a decision whether to keep him with the first team or grant a loan move away to aid his development.

Notable mentions go to midfielders Divine Mukasa, 18, and Floyd Samba, 17.

Manchester United – Shea Lacey (forward)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Shea Lacey came off the bench in the Premier League to play against Aston Villa, Burnley and Brighton in 2025-26

Shea Lacey was on the fringes of the first team towards the end of Ruben Amorim’s time at Manchester United, sparkled immediately after the Portuguese’s dismissal at Burnley, then got sent off in the FA Cup against Brighton.

Although it was the final game of the season – also against Brighton – before he played senior football again, he did score a hat-trick on Premier League 2 duty. This pre-season he has been one of United’s best players.

He was outstanding against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, winning the penalty Bryan Mbeumo scored to level and putting Atletico’s defence on the back foot. Best at starting on the right and cutting in, expect to see a lot of him being introduced from the bench.

Newcastle – Sam Alabi (midfielder)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Sam Alabi was an unused substitute for Newcastle in their FA Cup third-round tie against Bournemouth in January

Sam Alabi only signed his first professional contract in July, but the 17-year-old has his sights set on a senior debut for Newcastle this season.

The dynamic midfielder was named on the bench on a handful of occasions in the previous campaign after fearlessly holding his own in training with the first team.

Alabi went on to suffer a season-ending shin injury in January, but former head coach Eddie Howe backed the teenager to have a bright future if he continued to work hard.

Although Newcastle have since spent £57m on a couple of young midfielders in Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, Alabi is one to watch as someone who has already captained England at youth level.

Honourable mention for Mason Miley (17, defender or midfielder).

Nottingham Forest – Azae Bonnick (midfielder)

Midfielder Azae Bonnick is a rising star in Forest’s academy and scored 39 goals and provided 14 assists, playing up an age group for the under-16s last season.

He has also earned a call-up to the England Under-15s.

Bonnick made his under-18s debut for Forest against Sunderland in March, just a week after turning 15.

Sunderland – Chris Rigg (midfielder)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Chris Rigg scored his first Premier League goal in April during a 4-3 loss to Aston Villa

Although only 19, English midfielder Chris Rigg is closing in on 100 appearances for the Sunderland first team.

He played an integral part in helping the Black Cats get into the Premier League with 42 league appearances in 2024-25, including starting the Play-Off final win over Sheffield United at Wembley.

Rigg, who can operate as a defensive or attacking central midfielder, then made the step-up impressively, starting 11 Premier League matches, with a further seven appearances from the bench.

Already a regular for England Under-19s, Rigg will expect to play a vital role for his club this season, especially with Sunderland having more games as they will be playing in the Europa League – their first major European campaign since the 1970s.

Tottenham – Luca Williams-Barnett (forward)

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Luca Williams-Barnett made his senior Tottenham debut in September when he came on as a late substitute in the 3-0 Carabao Cup third-round win over Doncaster

Bubista guided the island nation to the last 32 of the World Cup last month, where the Blue Sharks were beaten 3-2 by eventual runners-up Argentina after extra time.

The 56-year-old also reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with Cape Verde, having taken charge in January 2020.

He has signed a two-year deal with RS Berkane, who finished second in the Moroccan top flight last season, and replaces Moin Chaabani, who has been appointed as Tunisia’s new head coach.

Renard has won the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) twice as a coach including with Ivory Coast in 2015. He previously led Zambia to a fairy tale title in 2012.

The Ivorians lost 2-1 to Norway in the last 32 at the World Cup and decided not to renew Emerse Fae’s deal when it expired at the end of last month.

The former Nantes and Reading midfielder took over the reins midway through the 2023 Afcon – after the Elephants had failed in a bid to reappoint Renard – and the tournament hosts were crowned champions following a remarkable run through the knockout stage.

Renard has had stints with Morocco, Saudi Arabia (twice) and France’s women since leaving Ivory Coast in May 2015, and was in the dugout for Tunisia for two games at this year’s World Cup.

The length of the 57-year-old’s contract has not been disclosed and the Frenchman is expected in Abidjan “in the coming days” to take up his official duties.

Bubista hailed for ‘dedication’

Bubista’s sustained success with Cape Verde has raised his profile across the continent.

And while RS Berkane, from the north-east of Morocco, are not traditionally seen as one of the kingdom’s big clubs they have enjoyed success in recent years.

They claimed their first domestic league title in 2024-25 and are three-time winners of the Caf Confederation Cup, Africa’s second tier continental club competition.

Berkane caused controversy in 2024 by wearing a shirt in the Confederation Cup which featured a map of Morocco including the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

Cape Verde qualified for the World Cup for the first time ahead of Cameroon and the debutants proved to be the underdog story of this year’s finals.

Cape Verde’s football federation thanked Bubista for his “dedication, professionalism, and contribution to the development of the national team’s sporting project” before wishing him “much success” in his future endeavours.

Another African World Cup manager departs

Bubista becomes the latest coach to leave one of the 10 African sides which appeared at the World Cup.

Vladimir Petkovic parted company with Algeria, who exited against Switzerland in the last 32, by mutual consent on Monday.

The 62-year-old Bosnian, who was appointed in February 2024, had extended his contract with the Desert Foxes until 2028 earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Hugo Broos stepped down as South Africa boss when his contract expired at the end of July, with the 74-year-old deciding to retire from management.

Senegal sacked Pape Thiaw in the wake of their dramatic last-32 exit against Belgium, with the country’s football federation saying it had made the decision “in the best interests of Senegalese football”.

The Teranga Lions have been linked with former France and Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira as a possible replacement.

Elsewhere, Tunisia appointed Chaabani on a four-year deal last month.

The 45-year-old replaced Renard, who himself took over the Carthage Eagles one game into their Group F campaign when Sabri Lamouchi was removed after a 5-1 defeat by Sweden.

Internal discussions are continuing at the Ghana Football Association after Carlos Queiroz led the Black Stars to the last 32, where the West Africans lost 1-0 to Colombia.

Queiroz appeared to announce his own departure on social media shortly after that defeat.

The clubs are understood to be in formal discussions regarding the midfielder, with previous discussions being done through intermediaries.

Guimaraes, 28, wants to join the Premier League champions.

Whether a deal will be agreed remains to be seen, but those involved feel the transfer is moving towards a resolution.

BBC Sport previously reported that Arsenal would need to increase a £70m bid they made through intermediaries last month.

One source at Newcastle has since said the club have rejected an offer from Arsenal.

Although Arsenal have failed with an unspecified offer – neither side has disclosed the amount – it is expected they will return with an improved bid.

Guimaraes has travelled to Spain for Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in La Manga, as planned, following his post-World Cup break.

The Brazil midfielder has been a priority target for Arsenal as the club look to further strengthen after winning the Premier League last season.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would not be drawn directly on Guimaraes over the weekend, but said the club were “very active” and “very ambitious in what we want to do”.

“We need to increase the competition internally,” he added.

“We need to make sure we identify the things that we don’t have in the team.”

Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season, with Guimaraes providing nine goals and eight assists across all competitions.

The former Nigeria captain was unveiled at a well-attended ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday, where senior media figures, football enthusiasts and representatives of the company gathered to welcome the latest high-profile addition to 22Bet’s expanding African ambassador programme.

Amokachi joins a growing list of celebrated former footballers associated with the brand, including Togo great Emmanuel Adebayor and former Kenya captain Victor Wanyama, underlining 22Bet’s determination to deepen its presence and community impact across Africa.

Adebayor, the 2008 African Footballer of the Year, has served as a 22Bet ambassador since 2022, while Wanyama entered a two-year partnership with the company in July 2026 that also includes support for his foundation and football academy in Kenya.

A decorated African football icon

Amokachi arrives with a reputation built at the highest levels of African and international football.

Nicknamed “The Bull” for his strength and direct style of play, he was part of Nigeria’s celebrated generation that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 before securing Olympic football gold in Atlanta two years later.

At club level, the powerful forward represented Ranchers Bees, Club Brugge, Everton and Beşiktaş. He won the English FA Cup with Everton in 1995 and enjoyed further domestic success in Turkey with Beşiktaş. His career later expanded into coaching, football administration and youth development. 

Amokachi’s profile, leadership experience and long association with Nigerian football are expected to place him at the centre of 22Bet’s community programmes, particularly those involving grassroots football, education and support for less-privileged communities.

The partnership is also expected to support football clinics, youth talent identification, healthy-living campaigns and projects promoting Nigeria’s local culture and traditions.

‘This is a family relationship’

Amokachi said the agreement was designed to go beyond a conventional commercial endorsement and create measurable benefits for communities across Nigeria and Africa.

“I am delighted to join the 22Bet family. This is not an ordinary relationship but a relationship that is designed to make a positive impact on the lives of people in Nigeria and the whole of Africa,” the AFCON winner and Olympic Games gold medallist said at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday.

“I am more interested in doing something in Nigeria and Africa where we can make a big impact on the lives of people through CSR programmes that I have been doing already and also 22Bet have been doing already, especially in Nigeria and Africa.

“It is gratifying to make an impact on the lives of your own people especially through football that gave me a lot as a footballer. This is a family relationship so I am happy to join and look forward to making an impact on the lives of people.”

Amokachi has remained involved in social-impact initiatives since retiring, including youth empowerment, education and inclusion projects through his development foundation and his work with the United Nations’ Football for the Goals initiative. 

Football development at the heart of partnership

Oluwafemi Olobayo, Director of Operations for 22Bet Nigeria, said Amokachi’s experience and standing within African football made him ideally suited to support the company’s community-focused programmes.

“We are happy that Daniel Amokachi has agreed to join the 22Bet family to support our CSR programmes while we also support his programmes so we can make an impact on needy communities while also using his platform you unveil new football talents for Nigeria and beyond. Amokachi is a highly respected football figure in Nigeria and Africa and he is the right person for this role.”

The company intends to use the partnership to create opportunities for young footballers who may otherwise lack access to professional coaching, equipment, mentorship and scouting platforms.

Football clinics are expected to give emerging players direct contact with experienced coaches and former professionals, while education and lifestyle programmes will emphasise discipline, physical fitness and responsible personal development.

Amokachi’s journey from Nigerian domestic football to major European clubs is expected to provide a powerful example for young players hoping to build professional careers.

‘A strong winning mentality’

Ogunfuye Fikayo, Country Manager of 22Bet Nigeria, said the former Super Eagles captain’s leadership qualities were central to the agreement.

“We are delighted to have Daniel Amokachi on board as our Pan African Ambassador. It is more than this as Daniuel Amokachi is joining 22Bet to be part of the family. We are keen on making a positive impact on society not just in Nigeria but across Africa. As former captain of the Nigeria national football team Amokachi has demosntrated strong winning mentality and leadership skills which we are tapping into to make an impact on sociaty through our mutual CSR ptogrammes. We have the right person and profile for the task ahead.”

His appointment further strengthens a 22Bet ambassador network built around prominent African sports figures with strong connections to their communities.

Adebayor’s work has given the company a recognisable presence in West Africa, while the Wanyama partnership has been linked to grassroots development and the construction of a football academy in Kenya’s Busia County. 

With Amokachi now joining that group, 22Bet is signalling an ambitious Pan-African strategy that combines brand growth with community initiatives led by former players who have represented the continent at football’s highest level.

For Amokachi, however, the success of the partnership will be measured less by its visibility than by the opportunities it creates.

The challenge now is to translate the goodwill generated by Wednesday’s unveiling into sustained football-development programmes, support for vulnerable communities and meaningful pathways for the next generation of African talent.

His remarks come in the wake of Ghana’s group-stage elimination from the regional tournament after the Black Satellites finished third in Group B with just two points from three matches, missing out on a place in the knockout stage.

Ghana’s campaign got off to a difficult start with a 4-2 defeat to Nigeria before the team played out a 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso.

A goalless draw with Togo in their final group fixture was not enough to keep their hopes alive.

Speaking to Citi Sports upon the team’s return to Ghana, Konadu acknowledged the intense scrutiny that accompanies coaching the national team but stressed that criticism from supporters should be embraced as part of the game’s development.

“Without pressure from fans, football won’t get to where it needs to be. The only thing is that some people take things too personally,” Konadu said.

The former Black Stars assistant coach noted that high expectations are inevitable in a football-loving nation such as Ghana, where supporters are deeply passionate about the success of the country’s national teams.

Despite the disappointing tournament, Konadu believes constructive criticism can help raise standards and push teams to perform better, rather than being viewed as a personal attack.

The Black Satellites will now shift their attention to preparations for the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which Ghana is set to host as part of the country’s 70th Independence Anniversary celebrations.