The Black Queens made a dream start, breaking the deadlock just six minutes into the contest through Doris Boaduwaa.

The forward applied a composed finish from close range after being brilliantly picked out by experienced defender Portia Boakye, giving Ghana an early advantage.

The early goal allowed Kim Lars Björkegren’s side to dictate proceedings, with the Black Queens enjoying the lion’s share of possession and controlling the tempo throughout the first half.

Cape Verde struggled to create meaningful openings as Ghana’s organised defence kept their opponents at bay.

Ghana’s pressure eventually produced a second goal nine minutes after the restart. Under sustained pressure inside the penalty area, Cape Verde defender Eleia Vieira inadvertently diverted the ball into her own net, doubling the Black Queens’ lead and putting the result beyond doubt.

The Black Queens continued to dominate the contest, moving the ball confidently and restricting Cape Verde to limited opportunities in front of goal.

Goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan was rarely called into action as Ghana comfortably managed the game.

Björkegren freshened up his side in the second half, introducing Alice Kusi, Princella Adubea, Abena Opoku and Evelyn Badu from the bench to help maintain the team’s intensity and secure a clean sheet.

Cape Verde’s difficult afternoon ended on a disappointing note when Klaydiana Borges received a straight red card deep into stoppage time, forcing the tournament newcomers to finish the match with 10 players.

The victory gives Ghana the perfect start in Group D as the Black Queens aim to better their bronze medal finish from the previous edition of the competition.

The result also underlined the experience of a side making its 12th WAFCON appearance against a Cape Verde team playing at the finals for the first time.

Despite the defeat, Cape Verde can take pride in reaching the tournament after a memorable qualification campaign, marking a historic milestone for women’s football in the island nation.

The Black Queens will now turn their attention to their second Group D fixture against Cameroon on August 2, while Cape Verde will look to bounce back in their next outing.

The national 200m record holder clocked 20.36 seconds to qualify for the semi-finals, continuing his impressive form on the international stage.

Amoah qualified with Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor in his heat, who also clocked 20.36s.

The captain, who won a 200m bronze medal for Ghana at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, controlled the race from the curve to comfortably advance as he targets another podium finish in Glasgow.

Amoah returns on Thursday for the semi-finals to secure a spot in the final and lead Ghana’s sprint campaign from the front.

The 22-year-old sprint star was unable to complete Heat 4 of the women’s 200m after feeling a sharp pain in her right knee midway through the race.

Afrifa had been recovering from an injury sustained during Team Ghana’s pre-games training camp at the Derby Arena and was making her first appearance in Glasgow.

Her latest setback casts doubt over her availability for the women’s 4x100m relay, where she is expected to play a key role.

Team Ghana’s medical staff is monitoring her condition and will assess the injury before making a decision on her availability to compete in the event.

Afrifa’s injury is a blow to Ghana’s athletics team, which has enjoyed encouraging performances in their respective events and will be hoping she recovers in time for the relay.

Pappoe’s withdrawal comes ahead of his scheduled quarter-final bout, ending a promising campaign that had raised hopes of a medal finish for Ghana at the Games.

According to CGA Ghana, the boxer underwent a medical assessment by Team Ghana’s medical team following the injury, with the evaluation determining that he was not fit to continue competing.

The decision to withdraw him was reached after consultations among the medical team, coaching staff and Games officials, who agreed that protecting Pappoe’s health and ensuring his long-term recovery was the priority.

CGA Ghana described the development as a major setback for the boxer and the team, noting that Pappoe had shown impressive form and was determined to progress to the semi-finals.

The Association commended him for his dedication, hard work and commitment throughout his preparations for the Commonwealth Games.

It also assured him of its full support during his recovery, expressing confidence that he would return to the ring stronger and continue representing Ghana at future international competitions.

“Team Ghana believes Desmond Pappoe will make a full recovery and return to the ring stronger, with the opportunity to continue representing Ghana at future international competitions,” the Association said.

CGA Ghana also praised the team’s medical personnel for their swift and professional response in managing the injury, reiterating that the welfare of athletes remains its top priority.

Although Pappoe’s withdrawal is a blow to Ghana’s medal hopes in boxing, Team Ghana has vowed to remain focused on its objectives as athletes continue competing in other events at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Queiroz, 73, was appointed on a short-term contract weeks before the tournament in North America, replacing Otto Addo as head coach.

Despite limited preparation time, the experienced Portuguese coach guided Ghana to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since the Black Stars’ historic quarterfinal appearance in 2010.

However, uncertainty has surrounded his future following Ghana’s elimination from the competition, with some supporters calling for his departure while President John Dramani Mahama has publicly backed the retention of the veteran coach.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Ghana Football Association Executive Council member Nana Oduro Sarfo said a final decision on Queiroz’s future would be made after the association reviews the technical reports submitted after the tournament.

“Carlos Queiroz’s future will be decided after the GFA reviews his reports,” he said.

The GFA Executive Council is expected to meet on Friday, July 31, to assess the reports before determining whether Queiroz will continue as Black Stars coach.

Ghana started its World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama before recording a goalless draw against England in the second group game.

A 2-1 defeat to Croatia in the final group match saw the Black Stars finish third in their group, but they advanced to the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams.

Their World Cup journey ended after a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the knockout stage.

With the tournament concluded, attention has now shifted to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September.

Ghana has been drawn in Group C alongside Gambia, Ivory Coast and Somalia as the Black Stars seek to return to the continental competition after missing the previous edition.

The Minister paid a morale-boosting visit to the team’s training session in Morocco on the eve of Wednesday’s Group C encounter.

He delivered messages of encouragement on behalf of the Executive, Parliament and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

Addressing the players and technical team, Hon. Adams assured the Black Queens that the entire nation stands firmly behind them as they embark on their quest for continental success.

“I bring you warm greetings and the unwavering support of the Executive and Parliament. The whole nation is behind you, believing in your talent and your ability to make Ghana proud.

The Minister urged the players to approach every match with belief and determination, reminding them that they carry the hopes of millions of Ghanaians.

“When you step onto that pitch, play with courage, play for one another and play for the millions of Ghanaians who believe in you. Leave everything on the field and let your performances speak for the nation.”

He also challenged the team to embrace the opportunity before them and write a memorable chapter in Ghana’s football history.

“This tournament is your stage to inspire a generation. You have been here before last year, and you performed. We are back to do it again and even better than last year. Go out there, compete fearlessly and show Africa the true spirit of the Black Queens.”

Hon. Adams commended the players and technical staff for their commitment throughout preparations and expressed confidence that their hard work would translate into positive performances during the tournament.

The Black Queens will kick off their WAFCON 2026 campaign against Cape Verde on Wednesday, July 29, at the Moulay Rachid Stadium.

Ghana will begin their Group D campaign against tournament debutants Cape Verde today at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with the Swedish tactician backing his players to make a positive start.

Speaking at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, Björkegren praised the commitment, tactical awareness and determination within his squad, insisting that the Black Queens are ready to compete at the highest level.

“We will see a Black Queens team that will go for the attack. I will say we are the best high-pressing team in Africa. I know we have a strong defence. I really believe in this group of girls. They will do everything to win the game,” the Swedish coach said.

The Black Queens, who secured a bronze medal at the previous edition of the WAFCON, are aiming for a strong tournament as they seek not only continental success but also qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year.

After facing Cape Verde, Ghana will continue their Group D campaign against Cameroon on Sunday, August 2, 2026, before concluding the group stage with a clash against Mali on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

With renewed ambition and a squad determined to make an impact, Björkegren believes the Black Queens have the quality and mentality required to challenge Africa’s best.

Ayew has faced intense scrutiny from sections of Ghanaian football fans after the Black Stars exited the tournament at the Round of 32 stage following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.

The experienced forward captained Ghana to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since the 2010 edition, featuring in all four matches during the tournament.

However, his performances failed to satisfy many supporters, with some calling for him to be dropped from the national team.

Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Akwasi Adu defended the former Leicester City, Swansea City and Olympique Marseille attacker, insisting that Ayew’s years of dedicated service to Ghana should not be overlooked.

“Jordan Ayew has served Ghana with dedication and distinction. If he chooses to leave the national team, he deserves our respect and gratitude,” he said.

The Black Stars’ World Cup campaign ended at the Round of 32 stage after their defeat to Colombia, bringing to a close an encouraging tournament run that saw them reach the knockout stage for the first time in 16 years.

Attention now shifts to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September.

Ghana has been drawn in Group C alongside Gambia, Ivory Coast and Somalia as the four-time African champions seek to secure qualification for the continental tournament.

Football’s world governing body has said it wants to create a new commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including the World Cup, and external investors will be able to buy stakes in it.

That has prompted fears that too much influence in those competitions will be handed to private investors, although Fifa says it will enable more money to be distributed to football associations around the globe.

European football’s governing body took the remarkable step of issuing a response to Fifa’s plans before they had been published on Tuesday, responding to initial reports in the Financial Times and the Times as it condemned the plans, saying they had “crossed a line”.

The meeting will be held virtually and offer the opportunity to work out a plan of action.

Given the strength of feeling – the Football Association says it was not consulted before Fifa released its proposals shortly after Uefa’s statement was made public – it would be a surprise if the possibility of a boycott was not at least raised.

While Uefa knows it only accounts for a quarter of Fifa’s 211-country membership, the body includes most of the world’s most successful teams.

Six of the eight quarter-finalists – and the winners, Spain – at this summer’s World Cup were European. In the 2022 and 2018 editions the figures were five and six respectively.

Uefa knows any competition Fifa puts together would be far less valuable if its members were not involved.

Fifa’s argument that it is compelled to look at proposals that would help it grow the game globally has led to fears that, in the search for greater revenue, its major competitions – the men’s and women’s World Cup and corresponding Club World Cup – could be played more often and include more participants.

That would have huge implications for the football calendar, which is already squeezed, partly because of the expansion of European club competitions.

One senior source within the English game told BBC Sport that the threat posed by Fifa’s plan is one of the biggest the game has faced and is on a par with the European Super League, which created such controversy in 2021 and was scrapped within 48 hours.

It seems improbable that Fifa will back down in the same manner.

Fifa said its plan is to extend global development funding to $10bn (£7.5bn). It is also planning to offer each of the 211 member associations the opportunity to access up to $20m (£15m) in one-off capital.

This latest escalation extends a difficult relationship between Fifa and Uefa, which responded angrily to attempts to host the World Cup every two years when the idea was floated by former Arsenal manager and Fifa’s current chief of global football development Arsene Wenger in 2021.

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin boycotted the World Cup final this month in protest at a number of controversial moves.

They included US President Donald Trump stepping in to help turn USA forward Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban into a suspended ban, allowing him to play in the last-16 encounter with Belgium.

Cucurella helped Spain win the World Cup this month as they beat Argentina 1-0 in the final.

Cucurella, who joined Real Madrid from Chelsea for £52m in June, revealed the tattoo – a portrait of De la Fuente holding the World Cup in front of a number 26 – on social media.

“Promise kept,” Cucurella wrote alongside pictures and video of him having the tattoo done.

After the final De la Fuente said he expected Cucurella to stick to his word.

“I’ve already told them, ‘did you make a mistake?” he joked in his post-match news conference. “They did, but they’ll enjoy it.

“I’m not so terribly ugly that they will need to put it somewhere nobody can see it. But it makes me laugh and I am proud they keep their promises.”

Cucurella carried his wife’s pyjama top with him as a lucky charm during the World Cup, and recently said he has his trademark long, curly hair so his child can easily keep track of him during matches.

Welbeck, 35, is set to link up with his new club in Hong Kong next week for pre-season as he prepares to sign a two-year contract.

The move is part of new manager Xabi Alonso’s recruitment drive to add experience to Chelsea’s squad, which has been the youngest in the Premier League for the past two seasons.

Their focus on youth has been viewed as a factor in their inability to challenge consistently for major honours.

Towards the end of last season’s disappointing campaign, when they finished 10th and won nothing, Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali said their recruitment model needed a “tweak”.

Since then, Chelsea have made an offer to reunite Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, 34, with Alonso – they won the Bundesliga title together at Bayer Leverkusen in 2024.

They have also signed 26-year-old centre-back Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace on a six-year contract, pending an official announcement, while talks continue over a deal for Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson, 36.

Morgan Rogers, signed for a club record £117m from Aston Villa earlier this month, is also relatively experienced, despite having just turned 24.

The club have also signed 21-year-old full-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta.

Welbeck, formerly of Manchester United and Arsenal, has hit 90 goals in 400 top-flight appearances – and is the leading Premier League scorer at Brighton, who he joined on a free transfer from Watford in 2021.

His arrival would leave Chelsea with six senior strikers on their books as they look to build around Joao Pedro and Welbeck, with others available for loan or sale.

Among those who could leave on either a permanent deal or loan are Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu.

The Blues have also brought in Dutch striker Emmanuel Emegha from sister club Strasbourg this summer and he could remain part of the squad.

The race is expected to produce one of the fastest T47 finals in Commonwealth Games history, with the world’s leading athletes separated by mere hundredths of a second.

Based on the official entry list, India’s Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath (10.63) and Dilip Mahadu Gavit (10.64) enter the final as the top two seeds and are widely regarded as the favourites for the gold medal. England’s Kevin Santos (10.76) and Australia’s Jaydon Page (10.87) are also expected to mount strong podium challenges.

For Ghana, however, all eyes will be on Hayford Addai, whose remarkable rise over the past year has transformed him into one of the country’s brightest para-athletics prospects.

Addai arrives in Glasgow fresh from capturing gold at the 2026 Dubai World Para Athletics Grand Prix, where he clocked a personal best of 11.09 seconds. That performance places him sixth on the entry list but only 0.05 seconds behind Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Christian (11.04) and within striking distance of the leading medal contenders.

Championship sprint races are rarely decided by rankings alone. Reaction time, race execution, wind conditions and the ability to deliver under pressure often determine the outcome.

Those factors leave the medal race wide open for athletes capable of producing a personal best when it matters most.

Analysts expect the medals to be decided in approximately:

• 🥇 Gold: 10.70–10.90 seconds
• 🥈 Silver: 10.90–11.00 seconds
• 🥉 Bronze: 11.00–11.20 seconds

For Hayford Addai, reproducing or improving upon his season’s best could prove decisive.

A performance close to 11.00 seconds would keep the Ghanaian firmly in the fight for a podium finish; while breaking into the 10.9-second range could elevate him into genuine gold-medal contention should the favourites fail to produce their best races.

The official entry rankings for the final are:

With just 0.46 seconds separating Hayford Addai from the fastest entrant on paper and only 0.05 seconds between him and fifth seed Ifeanyi Christian, the margins are remarkably narrow by championship standards.

For Team Ghana, the expectation is clear: if Addai delivers another career-best performance, the national flag could once again be raised on the Commonwealth Games podium.

As the starter calls the athletes to their blocks in Glasgow, millions of Ghanaians will be watching in anticipation, believing that Hayford Addai has both the speed and determination to challenge the Commonwealth’s very best.

The stage is set. The opportunity is real. Now comes the race.

In a statement signed by Director General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, the NSA praised Issah for securing Ghana’s first medal of the Games in the Women’s F57 Shot Put, noting that her achievement reflects the determination, resilience and exceptional talent of Ghana’s para-athletes. The Authority said the silver medal has once again placed Ghana on the international sporting stage and serves as an inspiration to athletes across the country.

The statement further highlighted the historical significance of Issah’s performance, recalling that Ghana’s first para-athletics medal at the Commonwealth Games was also won by a Ghanaian para-athlete in New Delhi 2010. According to the NSA, Issah’s latest success continues that proud legacy and demonstrates the growing strength of para sports in Ghana.

As the Commonwealth Games continue in Glasgow, the National Sports Authority also extended words of encouragement to Hayford Addai, who is preparing to compete in the Men’s T47 100 metres. The Authority expressed confidence that Addai has the ability to raise Ghana’s flag even higher and urged him to compete with courage, resilience and national pride.

The NSA further commended Samson Deen, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana, recognising his leadership and long-term commitment to the development of para sports. The statement acknowledged that Ghana’s recent international successes are the result of years of strategic planning, investment and dedication to creating opportunities for athletes with disabilities to excel on the world stage.

The Authority concluded by wishing every member of Team Ghana success in their remaining events at the ongoing Commonwealth Games, expressing confidence that the athletes will continue to make the nation proud through outstanding performances.

With Zinabu Issah already delivering Ghana’s first podium finish in Glasgow and several para-athletes still in action, hopes to remain high that Team Ghana can add more medals before the curtain falls on the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

From the established powerhouses of Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria to a growing crop of contenders from across the continent, Africa enters the Games with strong medal ambitions and a host of athletes capable of reaching the podium.

Early results have already highlighted Africa’s strong start to Glasgow 2026. Nigeria has established itself among the leading nations on the medal table, while South Africa has enjoyed success both in and out of the pool.

South African swimming legend Chad le Clos made history by claiming his 19th Commonwealth Games medal, becoming the most decorated male athlete in Games history, while the country’s netball team delivered a record-breaking 96-42 victory over Tonga.

Elsewhere, African athletes and teams from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Botswana have featured prominently across swimming, netball, basketball and para-sport competition, underlining the continent’s growing influence at the Games.

Athletics remains the heartbeat of African success, and Kenya is once again expected to be among the continent’s standout performers. Long recognised as a global powerhouse in middle- and long-distance running, Kenya continues to produce athletes capable of challenging for medals at the highest level.

The country’s blend of established international stars and emerging talent positions it strongly as athletics competition gets underway in Glasgow.

Nigeria has also arrived in Glasgow with significant expectations, particularly in the sprint and field events. Athletes such as Favour Ashe, who is competing in the men’s 100m, represent a new generation determined to re-establish Nigeria’s sprinting pedigree on the Commonwealth stage.

Combined with Nigeria’s traditional strength in athletics, weightlifting and para-sport, the nation is well placed to continue adding to its early medal haul.

South Africa enters the Games with one of the most balanced teams on the continent. World champion swimmer Pieter Coetzé headlines a swimming squad capable of challenging for multiple medals, while the country continues to field strong contenders across athletics, netball, boxing and para-sport. South Africa’s early performances have already demonstrated the breadth and depth of its sporting programme, with further medal opportunities expected as the Games progress.

Beyond the traditional heavyweights, Africa’s competitive depth continues to grow. Botswana’s sprint programme has established itself as a global force, while nations including Zambia, Uganda and several emerging Commonwealth teams are steadily increasing their presence and impact on the international stage.

This growing competitiveness reflects broader improvements in athlete development, investment and high-performance systems across the continent.

The streamlined Glasgow programme may also work in Africa’s favour. With athletics and swimming remaining central to the competition schedule, many of the continent’s strongest disciplines occupy the spotlight.

The compact format places added emphasis on quality over quantity, creating opportunities for specialist athletes to maximise their medal prospects.

Ultimately, Africa’s story at Glasgow 2026 is no longer one of emergence it is one of sustained excellence and growing influence. From the explosive speed of African sprinters to the relentless endurance of East Africa’s distance runners and the world-class performances emerging across the continent’s sporting landscape, African athletes are expected to be among the defining performers of these Games.

As Glasgow’s medal battles continue, attention will increasingly turn to how many podium finishes the continent can secure and which African stars will seize the moment on one of the Commonwealth’s biggest sporting stages.

5 Commonwealth Games Records to Watch During Glasgow 2026:

1. Men’s 100m (Athletics) | Tuesday, 28 July – Evening Session from 5:30 PM

The Commonwealth Games record in the men’s 100m could face a serious challenge. With athletes such as Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and a host of Commonwealth sprinters regularly producing world-class times, the sprint showcase remains one of the most anticipated events of the Games.

2. Women’s Mile (Athletics)

Middle-distance running standards continue to rise globally, and the return of the historic Commonwealth Mile is one of the most intriguing events on the athletics programme. Commonwealth athletes have continued to push performance boundaries in recent years, raising the possibility of another standout performance in Glasgow.

3. Men’s 400m (Athletics) | Saturday, 1 August – Morning Session from 9AM

The 400m remains one of the strongest events within the Commonwealth. Botswana, South Africa and Zambia have all produced elite athletes in recent years, creating the conditions for a fast and highly competitive final. The men’s 400m final forms part of the closing athletics programme.

4. Women’s 200m Butterfly (Swimming) | Wednesday, 29 July – Heats at 9:30 AM and Final at 8PM

Swimming standards continue to improve at a rapid rate, and the women’s 200m butterfly is among the events that could produce a record-breaking performance. The quality of the field should make this one of the most closely watched races in the pool.

5. Most Medals Won by a Single Athlete at One Games | Until 2 August

The record of eight medals at a single Commonwealth Games remains an extraordinary achievement. However, modern multi-event swimmers and gymnasts continue to compete across packed schedules, ensuring this benchmark remains firmly on watchlists throughout the competition.

This record is not tied to a specific event and will be tracked throughout the Games as leading swimmers and gymnasts accumulate medals across individual and relay competitions.

5 Commonwealth Games Facts

• The first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930 and were originally known as the British Empire Games.
• The Games are held every four years and bring together athletes from across the Commonwealth.
• Participation has grown from 11 nations and approximately 400 athletes to more than 70 nations and thousands of competitors.
• Australia remains the most successful nation in Commonwealth Games history.
• The event is widely known as the “Friendly Games” because of its emphasis on unity, inclusion and sportsmanship.

The Brazil international is a key target for Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi and City are aware of the interest in the 22-year-old.

It is understood Savinho is keen to leave during this transfer window, with the machinations towards his potential move to London now under way.

The attacker joined City from sister club Troyes for £30.8m in July 2024, having spent the previous season on loan at Spanish side Girona.

Tottenham held talks to sign Savinho last summer, but the Etihad club were not looking to sell at that stage.

He subsequently signed a two-year contract extension last October, keeping him at City until 2031.

Savinho was a regular under Pep Guardiola in his first season, scoring three times in 48 appearances all competitions.

However, his game time was more limited last term, appearing in 36 matches across all competitions in Guardiola’s final campaign as boss.

Savinho had competition for a starting spot with Rayan Cherki, who joined from Lyon last summer, and Antoine Semenyo, a January signing from Bournemouth, also used on the right-hand side.

Fifa – the sport’s global governing body – said it intends to expand “football development funding” to more than $10bn (£7.5bn) and invite third-party investment in a new venture.

The story was first reported in the Financial Times and the Times, with the latter claiming the plans could potentially earn Fifa president Gianni Infantino tens of millions of pounds.

In a lengthy statement outlining the proposals, Fifa says it will “invite third parties to make minority, non-controlling investments” in a new subsidiary – Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) – to “consolidate” its commercial and event operations.

The plan still needs to be passed by a vote of Fifa’s 211 member nations. But if approval is granted, Fifa says Thrive Eternal is expected to lead the proposed investor group for FFE.

Thrive is an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared.

Fifa sources have told BBC Sport there has been no discussion over Infantino, or anyone else, becoming chief executive of FFE.

In its statement, Fifa did say Infantino and the rest of the organisation “has a duty” to control the development of the project. Fifa has not said precisely what that means, or what the specific nature of Infantino’s involvement will be.

As part of its pitch Fifa says all member associations will be able to access up to $20m (£15m) in “one-off capital” to fund development.

Infantino said every nation should benefit from the riches football creates.

“Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value – and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game,” he said.

“Our job is to make sure the rest of football grows with it: Fifa exists to support sustainable, inclusive development in every corner of the world.”

However, Uefa has issued a statement criticising the proposals, which it claimed “crosses a line”.

Burnham said going ahead with the idea would mean Fifa had “sold out”.

He wrote on X: “Let me say this very directly. Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine.

“The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out.

“Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will.”

The Football Association says it was unaware of Fifa’s plans when they were released.

‘None of us are the owners of football’

Fifa argues its plan, with a dedicated commercial subsidiary, is similar to that used by governing bodies in other sports.

In 2018, Premiership Rugby announced a partnership with private equity and investment advisory firm CVC Capital Partners.

However, Uefa sees Tuesday’s announcement as a step too far – and raises the potential for further expansion of Fifa competitions in order to raise revenue, both in terms of size and frequency, which could threaten its own lucrative competitions.

“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross,” Uefa said.

“Uefa takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder who cares about the future of the game.

“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not Fifa’s to sell.”

Fifa says it would retain control of FFE “and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, the international match calendar and all regulatory and sporting decisions”.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport the proposals are “an opportunity for Fifa to generate even more money” and there are an “awful lot of interested parties in the game who want a slice of the action”.

He added there was likely going to be pressure for a 64-team World Cup and for it to take place every two years if the FFE organisation is set up because it has “got to make money in order to satisfy the shareholders”.

The matter is likely to be a topic of conversation at the next Fifa Council meeting in the autumn and then around the Fifa Intercontinental Cup, featuring Champions League winners Paris St-Germain, in December.

The proposal could be voted on by all 211 members at the Fifa Congress in Morocco in March.

New manager Enzo Maresca said on Friday that Rodri would have an operation on Monday, and that he “needs a holiday, he needs to rest and recover and then he will be back with us”.

No timeline has been set for his return.

City face Arsenal in the Community Shield on 16 August before their Premier League opener against Bournemouth on 23 August.

City said Rodri had been “feeling discomfort for some time but has now undergone a procedure to address the issue”.

Rodri, who has a year left on his contract, has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid after guiding Spain to World Cup glory this month. He was named player of the tournament.

His past two seasons have been heavily disrupted by injury, and he missed most of City’s 2024-25 campaign with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Meanwhile, as reported by BBC Sport in June, defender Josko Gvardiol has signed a new five-year deal which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2031.

The 24-year-old Croatia international has made 122 appearances for City since joining from RB Leipzig in August 2023, winning six trophies, including the Premier League in his debut campaign.

Chief refereeing officers from all 55 European national football associations met last week with Uefa refereeing officials and a representative from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to address recent changes to the game’s laws.

Attendees said “lengthy, microscopic reviews” indicate VAR has gone beyond its original scope.

When VAR was added to the laws of the game in 2018 by football’s rulemakers IFAB, its “philosophy” was “minimum interference – maximum benefit”, with the intention of reducing “unfairness caused by clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents” relating to goals, penalties, direct red cards and mistaken identity.

Uefa said that at its recent meeting, refereeing bosses agreed a return to those original aims is needed.

“It was reiterated that, in accordance with protocol, VAR must only intervene in situations of ‘clear and obvious’ error, ie. when a referee decision is blatantly incorrect or when the referee has missed a clear incident,” Uefa said in a statement.

“VAR is not meant to re-referee the game; it is an essential support to the referees, who must remain at the centre of all decision-making.

“Lengthy, microscoping reviews are often a symptom revealing that the decision on the field was not clearly and obviously incorrect, and should therefore be limited.”

Officials acknowledged recent clarification from IFAB around the correct interpretation of the “mistaken identity” rule introduced before this summer’s World Cup, which says that if a player is booked or sent off but the foul was committed by the opposition team, the decision can be changed.

Switzerland’s Breel Embolo was the first player to be sent off as a result of the new law following a controversial second yellow card for simulation against Argentina. Leandro Paredes originally received a yellow card for his challenge before VAR intervened.

IFAB clarified that VAR can only review cautions to “identify the player who committed the offence that was penalised, not to review or alter the offence”.

There was also “unanimous support” for recent rule changes designed to reduce unnecessary delays, including time limits on goal-kicks, throw-ins and substitutions, and new regulations around on-field injuries and goalkeeper tactical timeouts.

Azamati clocked a time of 10.11 seconds in the final, having booked his place by advancing as one of the fastest losers from the semifinals.

Cameroon’s reigning African champion Emmanuel Eseme powered to victory in dominant style, setting a new Commonwealth Games record of 9.83 seconds to claim the gold medal.

Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy finished second to take silver, while Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi secured the bronze medal.

Despite missing the podium, Azamati’s appearance in the final marked another strong showing for Team Ghana at the Games.

Ghana’s focus now turns to the men’s 200m competition on Wednesday, where Joseph Paul Amoah, James Dadzie and Mustapha Bokpin will be looking to challenge for honours and boost the country’s medal prospects on the track.

The 26-year-old clocked an impressive 24.03 seconds in the heats, breaking Ghana’s national record in the event. However, the time was not enough to secure qualification for the final.

It marks Jackson’s second national record of the Games, underlining his outstanding form in Glasgow.

Earlier in the competition, the two-time Olympian rewrote Ghana’s record in the men’s 50m backstroke after posting a time of 26.48 seconds, eclipsing the previous national mark of 26.84 seconds. He finished seventh in his heat, narrowly missing qualification for the semi-finals.

Jackson’s performances further reinforce his reputation as Ghana’s premier swimmer. He has represented the country at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and boasts an impressive medal haul from the African Championships and African Games.

The experienced swimmer also enjoyed success at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, where he reached the semi-finals of both the men’s 50m and 100m butterfly events.

Although he fell short of reaching the 50m butterfly final in Glasgow, Jackson leaves the Games with two new national records, a testament to his consistency and continued excellence on the international stage while providing another significant boost for Ghanaian swimming.

The African Games champion secured victory over England’s Ellis Trowbridge, earning a 4-1 points decision to advance to the next round.

Amadu is guaranteed bronze after reaching the semi-finals, securing Ghana’s second medal at the Games.

He returns on Friday, July 31, where he takes on Australia’s Jye Dixon in the semi-finals of the men’s 55kg division. 

The African Games champion could finish with a silver or gold medal if he advances to the final.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Jibril Muntari suffered a unanimous defeat, ending his Commonwealth Games campaign

Muntari missed out on semi-final qualification after losing in the men’s 90kg quarterfinals to Northern Ireland’s Garyn McAllister.

The 24-year-old reportedly lost two iPhones, a watch valued at around €8,000, and his wallet during the incident.

Belgian authorities have since launched an investigation into the robbery, with reports indicating that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Despite the ordeal, Fuseini has returned to training with Belgian top-flight side Union Saint-Gilloise after undergoing medical checks to assess his condition.

The former Right To Dream Academy graduate featured prominently for Union SG last season, making 27 appearances in the Belgian league and scoring three goals across all competitions.

Fuseini has also earned two caps for Ghana’s senior national team, with both appearances coming during the Black Stars’ participation in the 2025 Unity Cup. He scored in Ghana’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the competition.

Before joining Union Saint-Gilloise, Fuseini played for Austrian side Sturm Graz, where he helped the club secure the Austrian Bundesliga title and the Austrian Cup.

Jackson continued his impressive form by clocking 24.11s, improving on his entry time of 24.22s to secure an automatic qualification spot.

The Ghanaian finished fourth in his heat and placed 14th overall out of 70 swimmers, keeping Team Ghana’s hope alive in the swimming competition.

Canada’s Joshua Liendo topped the heats with a time of 23.66s, followed by Australia’s Cam McEvoy and England’s Jacob Peters, who both recorded 23.74s.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Unilez Takyi missed out on qualification after finishing seventh in her heat.

Takyi recorded a time of 27.13s, bringing her Commonwealth Games campaign in the event to an end.

Ghana’s 4x100m medley relay team also failed to qualify for the semi-finals after finishing their heat with a time of 4.16.85s, placing them 15th out of the 19 competing nations.

Ghana’s senior women’s national team will begin their continental campaign on Wednesday against tournament debutants Cape Verde at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.

Ahead of their Group A opener, the Swedish tactician outlined the team’s objectives for the competition, stressing that qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and winning the WAFCON title remain their ultimate targets.

“We have three targets: qualify from the group stage, win the quarter-finals to qualify for the World Cup and go all the way to win the 2026 WAFCON,” Björkegren told the media on Tuesday.

The Black Queens head into the tournament with renewed confidence following weeks of intensive preparations in Morocco.

The team ended their pre-tournament activities with an impressive 4-0 victory over Malawi in a friendly match, a result that has boosted morale ahead of their opening fixture.

Ghana finished third at the last edition of the WAFCON and are hoping to build on that performance by mounting a serious challenge for their first-ever continental title.

Björkegren believes the team has made significant progress since he took charge and is confident they can compete among the best teams in Africa.

“We were happy with the bronze medal in the previous WAFCON. I think we did really well. When I came in, I took over a team that normally hadn’t performed really well in a long time,” he said.

After their opening match against Cape Verde, the Black Queens will face Cameroon on Saturday, August 2, before wrapping up their group-stage campaign against Mali on August 6.

The four teams that reach the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFCON will earn qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Ghana’s senior female national team are currently in Morocco preparing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opener on Wednesday evening. 

The Queens will face debutant side Cape Verde at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca. 

Speaking ahead of the match, Bjorkegren reflected on their journey since winning bronze at the previous editions, expressing delight in the growth of his players.

“We were happy with the bronze medal in the previous WAFCON, and we have improved over the year, having played elite opponents. We beat Russia, and we played well against England in December even though we lost,” the Swedish trainer said.

Bjorkegren further revealed that their objective at the tournament is to secure qualification for the Women’s World Cup to be held in Brazil next year.

“We have three targets; one is to qualify out of the group, the second, which is important, is to reach the semis to qualify for the World Cup, and if we make that, then we have to go all the way to win WAFCON.

“So I have seen everything in three steps, but we will do everything with confidence and respect for our opponents,”  he added.

Ghana will later take on Cameroon on Saturday, August 2, before concluding their group fixture against Mali on August 6.

The semifinalists of the WAFCON will make it to the World Cup next year.

Ghana will open their tournament campaign against debutants Cape Verde on Wednesday, July 29, at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Björkegren said the team’s fitness levels have improved significantly during their preparation period, leaving the players ready for the challenge ahead.

“We have been in camp for some weeks, and we have improved our fitness level, and we are feeling we are ready for the upcoming game,” he said.

Although the Swedish coach expects a difficult contest against Cape Verde, he expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to secure a positive result.

“We expect a tough game, but we believe in ourselves, and if we do our things, we can start the tournament with a win. At least that’s our goal and target,” he added.

Kick-off for the match is scheduled for 7:00 pm.

Having last featured at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2007, the Black Queens will be hoping for a strong WAFCON campaign as they aim to secure qualification for next year’s global showpiece.

Following the dismissal of Otto Addo, the experienced Portuguese coach was appointed on a short-term contract with less than three months to prepare the Black Stars for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite the limited preparation time and criticism over his defensive approach, Queiroz guided Ghana to the Round of 32, marking the Black Stars’ first appearance in the World Cup knockout stage since 2010.

Speaking on Sports Page on Adom TV with host Nana Kweku Mensah Kaninja on Monday, July 27, George Afriyie argued that defensive football alone is unlikely to deliver major honours.

“No coach who adopts defensive tactics wins trophies. If we keep Carlos Queiroz for one or two years, we’ll eventually sack him. What motivation does he have to win a trophy for Ghana?” he said.

“If he were working for the government, he would already be retired. We need a challenging and ambitious coach—someone who wants to achieve something in his career, prove something, and not someone who is nearing the end of his career,” Afriyie added.

The former GFA vice president disclosed that before Queiroz’s appointment, he had advised that Ghana needed an experienced coach to steer the team through the difficult period following Otto Addo’s departure.

According to him, his recommendation was based on the limited time available before the World Cup, although many people misunderstood his position.

Afriyie, however, believes the Ghana Football Association should have gone a step further by appointing a coach capable of leading the team beyond the World Cup and building a long-term project.

Attention has now shifted to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where Ghana have been drawn in Group C alongside Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire and Somalia.

The qualifying campaign begins in September, with Queiroz’s future expected to be decided in the coming days.

The star was Joao Pedro, who scored a nine-minute hat-trick to help Alonso’s side to a 6-4 win against Western Sydney Wanderers in a match that highlighted the gulf between Premier League and A-League teams.

Perhaps it was the disappointment of being left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad that inspired the forward to showcase his finishing prowess as well as his power and pace in an entertaining spectacle at Accor Stadium.

Alonso described Joao Pedro as “very, very hungry” and “determined to have a great season”.

For the most part, however, it was a sloppy and imperfect performance by Chelsea, with the Blues still adjusting to the effects of jet lag.

There were few other standouts other than Joao Pedro, but Dastan Satpaev was one.

The 17-year-old scored the first goal of Alonso’s reign – and in spectacular fashion – after just six minutes.

Strangely, the Kazakhstan forward did so as a triallist – because he cannot formally complete his move from FC Kairat to Stamford Bridge until 12 August.

By contrast, his fellow starting forward Liam Delap again struggled, as he has in almost every appearance for Chelsea since his £30m move from Ipswich last summer.

Delap appears short of confidence and could now be sold, with Chelsea advancing talks to sign Danny Welbeck, 35, as an experienced replacement.

Welbeck has agreed personal terms and there is optimism at Chelsea that a deal can be reached, although his club Brighton are refusing to comment.

Chelsea are also in talks to sign midfielder Jordan Henderson, 36, from Brentford as they look to add experience and leadership to their squad after a disappointing 2025-26 season.

When asked about signing the two older players, Alonso replied: “We need balance, to have a complete squad and make a good team. For that, we have an idea and plan.”

Beyond the narratives surrounding strikers, with injured Emmanuel Emegha and Nicolas Jackson also on the books, it was only a very early glimpse of what to expect from Alonso’s Chelsea.

​​​​​​​Who is Dastan Satpaev?

Satpaev is attempting to become the first Kazakh player to appear in a Premier League match.

In his homeland, he is a superstar. He has already played for his national team and attracted fans from his home country to both the open training session on Sunday and the match on Tuesday in Sydney.

Quick, sharp in the box and relatively small in stature, Satpaev is stylistically often compared to former Argentina and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

Asked whether he will get a chance at Chelsea this season amid talk of a potential loan move, Alonso said: “We still have to take decisions.

“I knew Dastan from Almaty,” added Alonso, who faced the player with his former club Real Madrid last season.

“He is a ball threat, he attacks the inner channel well and is good as a striker coming from the outside.

“He is really strong, really quick and I have been really impressed with him.”

What did we learn about Alonso’s plan?

The former Liverpool midfielder, who was a vocal presence on the touchline, used the 4-2-3-1 system favoured by Enzo Maresca, who was Chelsea head coach this time last year.

With players still on holiday after the World Cup – including club record £117m signing Morgan Rogers – several youngsters were given an opportunity.

Midfield trio Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, Reggie Walsh and Reggie Watson all impressed, with the latter the only player to play the full game.

Nicoll-Jazuli and Watson, both 16, anchored the midfield together for long periods, while 17-year-old Walsh impressed in a more advanced role.

In his pre-match media conference, Alonso expressed surprise at how well the seven academy players drafted in to fill gaps in the squad had performed in training.

Landon Emenalo, 18, has also been given a significant opportunity, with no other left-backs available.

The only senior player other then Joao Pedro to particularly impress was winger Jamie Gittens, who made it three goals in three appearances in pre-season, following his two in behind-closed-doors friendlies against EFL opposition.

His comments follow Ghana’s campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, where the Black Stars exited the tournament in the Round of 32 after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia.

Assessing the team’s performance, Oduro Sarfo expressed optimism about the future, highlighting the quality and potential of the squad’s younger players.

“If given the time, I believe we will get there because we have young players who can do better going forward,” he told Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.

Ghana began their World Cup journey on a positive note with a 1-0 victory over Panama before holding England to a goalless draw in their second group match.

The Black Stars then concluded the group stage against Croatia, progressing to the knockout rounds before their elimination by Colombia.

With the World Cup now behind them, attention has shifted to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.

The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Gambia, Ivory Coast, and Somalia, with the qualifiers set to commence in September as Ghana looks to secure a place at the continental showpiece.

The experienced Portuguese coach was handed the reins of the senior national team on a short-term contract after the dismissal of Otto Addo, with less than three months remaining before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite the limited preparation time and criticism surrounding his tactical approach, Queiroz guided Ghana to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Oduro Sarfo believes the appointment of the former Egypt and Iran coach was justified, highlighting the impact he had on the players and the team’s performances at the global showpiece.

“The decision to sack Otto Addo and bring in Carlos Queiroz has paid off. If you look at Queiroz’s relationship with the players, the respect the players give him is different,” he told Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.

“At the World Cup, we played four games, and we could all see the difference. We saw the game plan against Panama, and I believe England will be disappointed for not being able to score against Ghana.

“Carlos Queiroz had no option but to come up with a game plan because there was no time when he took over,” he added.

Queiroz took charge of the Black Stars shortly before the World Cup and focused on building a disciplined side capable of competing against some of the world’s top teams.

Ghana’s next major task will be preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the future of Queiroz expected to be decided in the coming days.

The Black Stars have been placed in Group C alongside Gambia, Ivory Coast and Somalia, with the qualification campaign set to begin in September.

Addo was handed the Black Stars job for a second time in March 2024, signing a three-year contract with an option for an additional two years.

However, his second spell started on a difficult note after Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

The disappointing AFCON qualification campaign increased pressure on the former Ghana international, with many supporters calling for his dismissal.

Despite the criticism, Addo managed to guide the Black Stars to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

However, with less than three months to the start of the tournament, the Ghana FA parted ways with the 50-year-old following consecutive friendly defeats against Austria and Germany.

Speaking in an interview with Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Oduro Sarfo admitted that most members of the GFA Executive Council had lost faith in Addo’s leadership, although he personally believed the coach deserved more time.

“Most people on the Executive Council did not like Otto Addo. Maybe it was only me who liked him or wanted him to stay because he was on the ascendancy and needed time,” Sarfo said.

“But there was no time because we were heading to the World Cup and we needed to see improvement.”

Following Addo’s dismissal, the GFA appointed experienced Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz on a short-term contract to lead Ghana at the 2026 World Cup.

Under Queiroz, the Black Stars achieved their best World Cup performance since 2010 by reaching the knockout stage of the competition for the first time in 16 years.

Ghana fell to the defending champions at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, with defensive lapses proving costly as the Flying Eagles capitalised on the Black Satellites’ mistakes.

Speaking after the match, Konadu admitted his team struggled defensively but accepted that Nigeria deserved their victory.

“It was quite a difficult game. We planned to start with a high press to see how our opponents would react. In the process, we gave away some cheap goals that could have been avoided,” he said.

The former Black Stars coach praised Nigeria for their performance, acknowledging that the champions took full advantage of Ghana’s mistakes.

“Having said that, we can’t take anything away from our colleagues. They did well and played better than us, and we have accepted that. The only thing now is to bounce back and try to win the games ahead of us.”

Konadu said his technical team expected a physical contest against Nigeria but was disappointed with the manner in which his side conceded.

“We knew they were going to come hard at us because physically they are built and organised. We were also organised, but by giving away two cheap goals, we made life difficult for ourselves,” he added.

With Ghana’s qualification hopes still alive, the coach identified defensive improvement as the team’s immediate priority ahead of their next fixture.

“We need to quickly fix that problem. Going into the next game, we’ll be working on our defence and making sure we avoid the mistakes we made today.”

Despite the defeat, Konadu believes there were positives to build on from the performance and urged his players to learn from the experience.

“At any given time, you still have to maintain your defensive structure. When you go into transition and cannot recover quickly, it becomes a problem. You have to remain resolute in the heat of the contest and cope with the intensity of the game,” he said.

He also blamed lapses in concentration for some of the goals conceded while calling for patience with the young squad.

“The players lost concentration at certain moments. They have been told to always be aware of their surroundings before going into tackles. But these are also young players, so we have to understand. We’ll work on it and bounce back.”

The Black Satellites will now focus on their crucial Group B clash against Burkina Faso on Thursday before concluding the group stage against Togo.

The Tarkwa-based club secured their place in the tournament after winning the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League title and are determined to make a strong impression rather than merely participate.

Medeama Communications Director Benjamin Graham said the club’s ambition is to compete with Africa’s top teams and establish themselves as a force on the continent.

Speaking on Akoma FM, Graham said the Yellow and Mauve outfit has a clear objective of reaching the group stage and challenging some of Africa’s biggest clubs.

“Our ambition is to reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League and compete at the highest level against some of Africa’s biggest clubs,” Graham said.

As part of preparations for the continental campaign, Medeama have allocated a budget of $1.5 million to strengthen the squad and enhance the club’s operations.

Graham said the financial commitment reflects the club’s determination to compete effectively against Africa’s elite.

“Our budget for the CAF Champions League campaign alone is $1.5 million, which reflects our level of commitment and our ambition to make a deep run in the competition,” he stated.

The 2026/27 CAF inter-club competitions are scheduled to begin in the first week of September, with Medeama carrying Ghana’s hopes in the CAF Champions League following their domestic league triumph.

The experienced Portuguese tactician was appointed on a short-term contract ahead of Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, following the dismissal of Otto Addo in March after a disappointing run of results.

Queiroz guided the Black Stars to their first World Cup knockout stage appearance since 2010, with Ghana reaching the Round of 32 before being eliminated by Colombia.

Following the tournament, the former Iran and Egypt coach appeared to suggest he was leaving his position after posting a message on social media that was widely interpreted as a farewell statement.

However, Queiroz later dismissed reports that he had stepped down, insisting he remained in charge.

President John Dramani Mahama has called on authorities to persuade the 73-year-old coach to continue leading the national team, but Akwasi Adu believes his future should be assessed based on Ghana’s performance in the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.

“Decision on sacking Carlos Queiroz should be considered after AFCON qualifiers,” Adu told Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.

The Black Stars will now turn their attention to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, which begin in September, as they aim to return to Africa’s biggest football tournament after missing the 2025 edition.

Ghana has been drawn in Group C alongside Gambia, Ivory Coast and Somalia, with the team hoping to secure qualification under Queiroz’s guidance.

Gennaro Gattuso left his role as Italy boss in April after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup.

Pirlo looked set to take over but on Monday pulled out following controversy over his ties to a Russian betting company.

“I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini,” said Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malago.

Claudio Ranieri, who led Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2015-16, will replace Maldini as technical director.

Maldini, who was appointed to the role two weeks ago, and adviser Leonardo resigned following the decision not to appoint Pirlo.

Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti were both approached by the FIGC about the Italy job before Pirlo.

Mancini, 61, previously managed Italy from 2018 until 2023 and won Euro 2020 – beating England in the final at Wembley.

He led the Azzurri to a world record 37-game unbeaten run, but failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup – losing to North Macedonia in a play-off – and resigned in August 2023.

Another World Cup play-off failure for Italy earlier this year meant they were absent from this summer’s tournament and spelled the end of Gattuso’s tenure, with his contract terminated in April by mutual consent.

Despite their big stage successes, Italy have not featured at a World Cup finals since 2014.

Under-21 manager Silvio Baldini had taken over on a temporary basis following Gattuso’s departure.

Former Italy and Sampdoria midfielder Mancini led Manchester City to their first Premier League title in 2012 and enjoyed success with Lazio and Inter Milan, winning the Coppa Italia with both and three Serie A titles with Inter.

He also spent time with Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg before taking on the Italy job in 2018.

After he departed from the Azzurri, he had a short spell with the Saudi Arabia national team before joining Qatari side Al Sadd.

Although they won the Qatar Stars League, they failed to reach the final four of the AFC Champions League Elite and lost in the Qatar Cup final. Mancini left his role with Al Sadd in June.

Italy start their Nations League campaign on 25 September at home to Belgium before travelling to face Turkey three days later.

The West African nation made its fifth appearance at football’s biggest tournament in North America, competing against some of the world’s best teams under new head coach Carlos Queiroz.

Ghana began their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama before producing a resilient display to hold England to a goalless draw.

However, the Black Stars ended their group-stage campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Croatia.

Their journey came to an end in the knockout phase after suffering a 1-0 loss to Colombia, with the South American side advancing at Ghana’s expense.

Although the four-time African champions faced criticism over some of their performances, De Sa, who joined the technical team ahead of the tournament, believes the circumstances surrounding the squad must be considered.

The South African coach admitted that ending the competition with consecutive defeats was disappointing but insisted Ghana’s overall showing was acceptable given the limited preparation time and available resources.

“We lost 2-1 to Croatia and then 1-0 to Colombia, so ending the competition with two defeats was disappointing,” the South African told Flashscore.

“However, considering the players we had available and the limited preparation time, I felt it was a satisfactory performance overall,” De Sa added.

With the World Cup campaign now concluded, Ghana will shift their focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which begin in September.

The Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Gambia, Ivory Coast and Somalia as they seek to return to the continental showpiece after missing out on the 2025 edition.

Didier Deschamps, France’s longest-serving manager, ended his 14-year stint in charge after the nation’s semi-final exit to Spain at the 2026 World Cup.

Zidane, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid for a second time as head coach in 2021.

The 54-year-old, widely considered to be France’s greatest player, will sign a contract that will see him lead the nation through the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.

On being appointed, he said it was “a great source of pride” to lead the French national side following their fourth-place finish at the World Cup.

“I’ve often said it: there’s nothing greater than the French national team. So it’s a joy and obviously a great source of pride to become the manager of this French national team,” he added.

“It’s also a responsibility. I want to thank [French Football Federation] president Philippe Diallo, the executive committee, and the French Football Federation for their confidence and acknowledge the 14 years of service from Didier and his staff.

“I also have a special thought today for all my coaches. Needless to say, I have high ambitions for the French national team.”

Diallo described the new head coach as a “legend” of French football.

“The appointment of Zinedine Zidane as head coach of the French national team is a source of immense pride for the French Football Federation,” he said.

“It marks the meeting of a legend in the history of Les Bleus, who has become one of the most decorated and respected coaches of his generation, and a team with rare potential, driven by the highest ambitions.”

Zidane’s predecessor Deschamps guided France to three major finals over his 14-year reign, helping the country to their second World Cup success with victory in 2018.

Zidane’s first competitive fixture in charge will be a Nations League trip to Turkey on 25 September.

Zidane’s trophy-laden managerial career

After retiring as a player following the 2006 World Cup, Zidane did not enter management until 2014, when he became coach of Real Madrid Castilla – the club’s B team.

He stepped up to become the first team manager in January 2016, and by the end of that season had led them to Champions League success with a victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid in the final on penalties.

That was the first of three successive Champions League titles for Madrid, making them the first club to win back-to-back European crowns in the Champions League era, and the first to win three titles in a row since Bayern Munich in 1976.

He also won La Liga in 2016-17, but departed after the following season, saying change was needed at the Bernabeu.

However, Zidane returned to Madrid in March 2019 with the club in poor form, and won another Spanish league title in 2019-20.

He also oversaw a period of extensive spending at Madrid, including the signings of Eden Hazard and Rodrygo.

But Zidane left at the end of a trophyless 2020-21 campaign, and has not managed since.

Zidane has long been courted to become France manager and was first linked with the job after the team was knocked out of the 2010 World Cup in the group stage.

Some 16 years later, he has finally taken on the role and will lead the French into qualifying for Euro 2028.

Zidane’s legendary playing career

Zidane started his playing career at Cannes in 1989, then played for Bordeaux until joining Juventus in 1996.

An attacking midfielder, he helped the Italian side win back-to-back Serie A titles and reach successive Champions League finals, before joining Real Madrid in 2001.

Zidane moved for £66 million, then the world record transfer fee, as part of Real Madrid’s Galacticos era alongside other global stars including Ronaldo, Luis Figo and David Beckham.

He began delivering on that fee in the 2002 Champions League final, scoring a stunning volleyed winner as Madrid beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 at Hampden Park.

For the France national team, Zidane made his greatest contribution as a player with two headed goals in the 1998 World Cup final in Paris.

France beat Brazil 3-0 to win the World Cup for the first time, and Zidane won the Ballon d’Or later that year.

Zidane was also part of the France team that won Euro 2000, but endured disappointing campaigns in the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

He retired from international football in 2004, but was persuaded to return during qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

Zidane was a key player in France advancing through the knock-out stages to the final against Italy – his final match as a professional footballer – and scored the opener with a Panenka penalty off the crossbar after seven minutes.

But Italy equalised and the game went to extra time, during which Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi and was dismissed. Italy went on to win the final on penalties.

Kudus has been out of action since suffering a quadriceps injury during Tottenham’s 1-1 Premier League draw against Sunderland in early January.

The setback forced the 25-year-old attacker to leave the game prematurely and kept him unavailable for several months.

The former West Ham United star had initially been on course for a comeback after making significant progress in his recovery and returning to full training.

However, his return was delayed after he suffered another setback during his rehabilitation process.

The recurrence ruled him out of Tottenham’s final seven league matches of the season and also prevented him from featuring for Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite the frustrating setback, Kudus is now nearing full fitness and could soon return to first-team training.

He is expected to join his teammates once Tottenham conclude their pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia and return to London next month.

Speaking ahead of Spurs’ pre-season friendly against Auckland FC, De Zerbi expressed confidence that the Ghanaian winger is making good progress.

“Kudus is very close. I think when we come back to London he will be available to start working with us,” the Italian said.

De Zerbi also highlighted the importance of having Kudus back in his squad ahead of the new campaign.

“It’s a great thing for us. Kudus is another important player,” he added.

After a difficult campaign disrupted by injuries, Kudus will be eager to regain full fitness and return as a key figure in De Zerbi’s plans at Tottenham.

The North London club will also be hoping his comeback provides a major boost as they prepare for the new season, with the versatile forward expected to play a crucial role in their pursuit of success.

Ghana have not won the continental title since their triumph in 1982, despite reaching the AFCON finals in 1992, 2010 and 2015.

The four-time African champions also suffered the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON under former head coach Otto Addo.

Speaking in an interview with 3Sports, Kingston, who currently serves as head coach of Uganda’s junior national teams, said Ghana’s constant demand for instant success has affected the country’s football development.

According to the former winger, the Black Stars can only reclaim their position among Africa’s elite by committing to a sustainable development plan focused on youth progression and continuity.

“We are football people, and we love the game so much, but it looks like we’re still relying on our past glory instead of focusing on the long term. People keep saying we have to win the Cup, but trophies don’t come easily. It’s a team sport, so you have to build. Building doesn’t take one day or one year. It takes time,” Kingston said.

Although Ghana secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under Carlos Queiroz, the Black Stars’ campaign ended in the Round of 32 after a defeat to Colombia.

Kingston believes the solution does not lie in constantly changing coaches but in establishing a structured football philosophy across all national teams.

He proposed appointing a technical leader to oversee the country’s U-15, U-17 and U-20 teams while working closely with the Black Stars to ensure all age groups adopt the same tactical identity.

“Ghana should appoint one coach to oversee the entire youth system from the U15s to the U20s, and that person should also work closely with the Black Stars as an assistant coach. Give that coach a five-year contract and let the U15s, U17s and U20s all play with the same identity. Within two years, 70 to 80 per cent of those players should be ready for the first team,” he explained.

The former Black Stars midfielder cited Spain as an example of how a consistent development pathway can produce sustained success, highlighting how several of the country’s current senior internationals progressed through the youth ranks under national team coach Luis de la Fuente.

Kingston stressed that Ghana must move away from assembling squads only for major tournaments and instead focus on developing players through a clear system that prepares them for the senior national team.

“It’s time we started thinking long term instead of calling players together only when there’s a tournament. We need to develop project players through the youth system. That’s how we get closer to winning something consistently,” he added.

Although Queiroz earned praise for guiding the Black Stars to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, his cautious tactical approach has drawn criticism from sections of the Ghanaian football community.

Speaking to 3Sports, Kingston acknowledged that the Portuguese coach inherited a difficult task after taking charge of the national team just 72 days before the World Cup following the dismissal of Otto Addo in March 2026.

The former Ghana winger said those circumstances justified Queiroz’s conservative tactics during the tournament but warned that such an approach should not define the Black Stars going forward.

“What we saw at the World Cup won’t help us going forward if we continue to defend deep all the time because football has changed,” Kingston said.

Queiroz took charge with limited preparation time but successfully guided Ghana out of Group L before the Black Stars suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32.

Kingston credited the experienced tactician for stabilising the team under difficult circumstances, describing defensive organisation as one of Queiroz’s greatest strengths.

“For me, Carlos did very well. His approach helped us because he was new and didn’t know the team very well. His biggest strength is his defensive organisation. If you don’t know a team well and try to make them attack immediately, you become vulnerable,” he explained.

Despite praising the coach’s World Cup performance, Kingston stressed that Ghana must become a more proactive side if it hopes to compete consistently with the world’s best teams.

He expressed confidence that Queiroz has the tactical ability to introduce a more attack-minded philosophy if he is given enough time to build the team.

“Carlos has an attacking side to his football as well. If we give him two years, we should see that side of him,” Kingston added.

The former Black Stars midfielder also argued that Ghana’s style of play should reflect the country’s traditional football identity, which has long been associated with technical quality and creativity.

“When appointing a coach for Ghana, we must consider the type of players we have. Ghanaian players like to express themselves with the ball, so Carlos should adapt his approach,” he said.

Kingston believes the Black Stars have enough technically gifted players to play a more expansive brand of football, provided they are developed within a clear long-term tactical vision.

Queiroz’s future as Ghana head coach remains uncertain after signing a short-term contract, with a decision on his tenure expected as the Black Stars prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The 20-year-old has signed a two-year contract that will keep him at the Catalan club until June 30, 2028, with an option to extend his stay by a further year.

The deal was officially completed in the presence of Barcelona’s Director of Youth Football, Jose Ramon Alexanko, highlighting the club’s confidence in the Ghanaian youngster’s long-term potential.

Issah initially joined Barça Atlètic on a season-long development loan from Ghana Premier League side Dreams FC in the summer of 2024.

After a difficult start to life in Spain, the winger found his form during the latter stages of the campaign under coach Juliano Belletti.

His impressive resurgence saw him score four goals and emerge as one of the reserve side’s standout performers, convincing Barcelona to exercise the option to sign him permanently.

The transfer marks another major milestone in Issah’s career as the Ghana youth international continues his steady rise at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has already revealed that Issah will have opportunities to train and feature with the club’s first-team squad during pre-season under head coach Hansi Flick, giving the talented winger a chance to stake his claim for a place in the senior team ahead of the new season.

The performance incentive is designed to reward excellence, inspire outstanding performances and reinforce Ghana’s commitment to recognising the achievements of its para athletes on the international stage.

Under the special incentive package, every Ghanaian para athlete who wins a medal at the Games will receive an immediate cash award as follows:

    •    Gold Medal: £3,000
    •    Silver Medal: £2,000
    •    Bronze Medal: £1,000

Following Ghana’s first medal at the Games, Zinabu Issah, who secured Silver in the Women’s T57 Shot Put, will receive a £2,000 cash award during a special presentation ceremony in Glasgow this morning.

“Wear the Ghana colours with pride. Every performance you deliver sends a powerful message that disability is never a limitation to greatness.”

President Samson Deen

The Special Target Podium Medal Bonus is a personal initiative of President Samson Deen to recognise excellence, reward dedication and inspire Ghana’s para athletes to pursue podium success with confidence and determination.

Speaking ahead of the presentation ceremony, President Deen said:

“Our athletes have worked tirelessly to represent Ghana with pride. This bonus is our way of recognising their sacrifice, determination and excellence. We want every athlete to know that their achievements are valued, and we remain committed to supporting them in their pursuit of success.”

He congratulated Zinabu Issah on becoming Ghana’s first medallist at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, describing her achievement as a source of national pride and an inspiration to young athletes and persons with disabilities across Ghana and Africa.

President Deen also encouraged the remaining members of Team Ghana to remain focused, united and determined as they continue their respective competitions, expressing confidence that more medals would follow.

Road to LA28 Paralympic Games

Looking beyond Glasgow, President Samson Deen announced that the Special Target Podium Medal Prize Scheme will be formally launched for the LA28 Paralympic Games during a Special Team Ghana Ceremony in Accra ahead of the team’s qualification and final preparations for Los Angeles.

The ceremony will also mark the official introduction of the Follow My Athlete Scheme, an innovative athlete-support initiative designed to connect individual para athletes with corporate organisations, institutions, philanthropists and private sponsors who will provide dedicated financial and technical support throughout each athlete’s qualification journey to the LA28 Paralympic Games.

The event will bring together Ghana’s para athletes, coaches, government officials, development partners, corporate organisations, the diplomatic community and sports stakeholders to celebrate Team Ghana, launch the enhanced medal incentive programme and mobilise national support for the country’s Paralympic campaign.

President Deen indicated that the LA28 Special Target Podium Medal Awards would represent an enhanced performance incentive aimed at motivating Ghana’s athletes to achieve historic podium finishes at the Paralympic Games. The full prize structure, implementation framework and sponsorship opportunities under the Follow My Athlete Scheme will be unveiled during the Accra ceremony.

He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that Ghana’s para athletes receive the recognition, investment and support they deserve—not only for qualifying to compete on the world’s biggest stage, but also for achieving excellence through discipline, resilience and determination.

The National Paralympic Committee Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to building a sustainable high-performance pathway for para athletes by strengthening athlete welfare, expanding corporate partnerships and creating innovative programmes that will position Ghana for continued success at the LA28 Paralympic Games and beyond.

Issah produced a season-best effort of 8.65 metres to finish second in the event, earning Team Ghana its first podium appearance at the Games in Glasgow.

The 31-year-old has continued to cement her status as one of Ghana’s top para athletes, following a series of impressive performances on the international stage.

At the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, Issah advanced to the women’s Shot Put F57 final after registering 8.67m in the qualifying round.

She later posted a best throw of 8.84m in the final to finish ninth overall. She also competed in the women’s Discus F57 event, where she placed 12th with a top mark of 23.85m.

Her silver medal in Glasgow represents a significant achievement for Ghana and provides an early boost for Team Ghana, with several athletes still expected to compete in athletics, boxing and swimming as the Commonwealth Games continue.

The 15th edition of WAFCON, hosted by Morocco for the second consecutive tournament, runs from July 26 to August 16, 2026, after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) rescheduled the competition from its original March-April window.

16 national teams have been drawn into four groups, with the top two from each pool advancing to the quarter-finals and, crucially, the four semi-finalists earning automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to be hosted by Brazil.

Ghana find themselves in Group D alongside Cape Verde, Cameroon and Mali. Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren’s side will play all three of their group-stage matches at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, a change from the initial plan that had them based in Fez.

CAF’s revised operational programme moved the Black Queens’ team base from Fez to Casablanca in the weeks leading up to the tournament, ensuring the squad plays their entire group phase at a single venue.

Here is the Black Queens’ full group-stage schedule:

Match 1 – Ghana vs Cape Verde

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Kick-off: 17:00 GMT

Venue: Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca

The Black Queens open their campaign against WAFCON debutants Cape Verde. The Blue Sharks stunned the continent by qualifying for the finals for the first time in their history, and Ghana will be firm favourites on paper against the debutants.

That, however, is precisely the kind of fixture Björkegren’s side must convert into three points if they are to build momentum. A win here would settle nerves and set the group up perfectly ahead of the tougher tests to come.

Match 2 – Ghana vs Cameroon

Date: Sunday, August 2, 2026

Kick-off: 17:00 GMT

Venue: Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca

The pivotal fixture of the group, and one of the biggest games in African women’s football. Cameroon are one of the heavyweights of the continent, reaching the final three times and losing all three to giants Nigeria.

With this game set to go down to the wire, the feeling is the winner of this game is expected to top Group D. 

Match 3 – Ghana vs Mali

Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026

Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Venue: Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca

The Black Queens close their group stage against Mali under the lights in Casablanca. Mali have been a rising force in West African women’s football and finished in fourth place in the 2018 WAFCON losing to Ghana. 

Depending on how results elsewhere have shaped the group, this final matchday fixture could be a straight shootout for a place in the quarter-finals.

The likely knockout path

The winners and runners-up of Group D will advance to the quarter-finals, scheduled for August 9 and 10. 

The winner of Group D will face the runners-up of Group C, whereas the runners-up of Group D will face the winner of Group D.

With Group D comprising 10-time WAFCON winners Nigeria, who are expected to the top the group with Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi, finishing 2nd in Group D could mean a potential meeting with the Super Falcons.

As a result,  Björkegren’s women will want to avoid Nigeria before the semi-finals at least.

The four semi-finalists, set to be decided on August 14, will book their tickets to Brazil 2027, the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The final of WAFCON 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, August 16, at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

For Ghana, the ambition is layered. On the immediate horizon, the Black Queens want to build on their impressive third-placed finish at the 2024 WAFCON, where they beat South Africa in the third-place playoff.

That performance restored the Black Queens’ standing among the continent’s elite after a period of decline, and Björkegren has been steadily building a squad that mixes senior campaigners with rising talents from the Ghana Women’s Premier League and European clubs.

The bigger prize, though, is a return to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2007. 

The move comes days after both figures ‌agreed to take on the roles as part of a major overhaul of the national team management.

Maldini was appointed technical director of the FIGC on July ​11 to help rebuild the national side after they ​failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup. ⁠One of his first tasks was to help identify a ​successor to Gennaro Gattuso, whose departure had left the coaching position ​vacant.

However, Maldini stepped down just 16 days later alongside Leonardo, the former Brazil international who had been brought in as his adviser.

The decision to step down ​comes shortly after former Italy international Andrea Pirlo said he ​was no longer a candidate to coach the Italian national side. His prospective ‌appointment ⁠faced fierce opposition over his commercial ties to a Russian betting company.

The double departure creates an immediate crisis for newly appointed FIGC President Giovanni Malago. It leaves the federation without a clear national ​team strategy at ​its lowest ebb ⁠in nearly 40 years, coming on the heels of early European exits for Italian clubs last ​season and another failure to qualify for the ​World ⁠Cup.

Pirlo had been Maldini’s primary choice for the job after Pep Guardiola rejected the federation’s initial approach. Several other high-profile managers are now ⁠being linked ​with the vacancy, including Roberto Mancini, ​Thiago Motta, and Antonio Conte.

FIGC did not immediately respond when contacted by Reuters.

England midfielder Henderson, 36, has a year left on his Brentford contract but the Bees are willing to let him leave on a free transfer.

Ex-England striker Welbeck, 35, is keen on moving to Stamford Bridge and there is optimism from Chelsea’s side that a deal can be concluded.

The Blues are looking for experience because of an acceptance that their model of signing young players needs a “tweak” – according to influential owner Behdad Eghbali in April.

Welbeck scored a career-high 13 league goals in 37 games for Brighton last season, taking his tally to 51 goals in 201 matches since joining from Watford in 2020.

Brighton have declined to comment.

Welbeck signed a 12-month contract extension in March, with his current deal running until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Henderson made 34 appearances in all competitions for Brentford last season after joining from Ajax.

He made one substitute appearance for England at the World Cup before breaking his arm falling over advertising hoardings while celebrating their last-16 win over Mexico.

There are questions over the futures of several Chelsea forwards, with Joao Pedro regarded as the club’s first-choice option.

Chelsea also have Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson on their books.

Guiu is understood to be available for a permanent transfer or a loan move, with Chelsea valuing him at about £25m.

Jackson, who has returned from a loan spell at Bayern Munich, was expected to remain at Stamford Bridge but is open to leaving amid interest from Aston Villa.

Delap was keen to establish himself under new manager Xabi Alonso, just a year after a £30m move from Ipswich, but he is increasingly expected to depart.

There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of Dutch striker Emegha, despite having only recently joined Chelsea from Strasbourg, a club within the same ownership group.

Chelsea have signed attacker Morgan Rogers for a club record £117m, full-back Marco Palestra and are closing in on a move for centre-back Maxence Lacroix this summer.

“I hope I get some pictures standing next to Messi,” said Sidny Lopes Cabral before sharing a stage with football’s VIP of VIPs.

The photographers pocketed him that prize. The Rotterdammer’s right boot earned him an even bigger one as Cabo Verdean dwarves duelled Argentinian titans at the FIFA World Cup 2026™. After tricking his way inside Alexis Mac Allister in ‘Magic City’, Lopes Cabral opulently curled the ball into Emiliano Martinez’s top corner to make it 2-2 in an extra-time thriller in the Round of 32.

It has now been crowned the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament, beating glorious golazos from Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov and Wilson Isidor of Haiti into second and third. Lopes Cabral succeeded Maxi Rodriguez, Diego Forlan, James Rodriguez, Benjamin Pavard and Richarlison in seizing the award. “The moment I dribbled past my opponent, I saw an opening and thought, ‘Let’s have a go’,” said the man whose parents were born on the Archipelagic African utopia. “I shoot well with both feet. I saw the space and was eyeing the top corner. I aimed there and struck the ball really well.

“When I looked up and saw it heading for that top corner, I thought, ‘What the hell did I just do?’ I couldn’t believe it. I looked at my team-mates – everyone was screaming, hands on their heads, overjoyed. “I started running without thinking. Then it hit me that I’d scored a spectacular goal in the World Cup. Everybody dreams of just scoring in the World Cup, but to score in this way, at such a big stage against such a big team, was amazing. I was really happy.”

Sixty-five thousand inside Miami Stadium – and the masses watching around the world – witnessed that euphoria en route to a heroic 3-2 defeat. As Lopes Cabral sprinted uncontrollably, his mother, Teresa, lost consciousness! “Before the game, I’d told my mom and my girlfriend that if I scored, I’d run over to them,” he explained. “When I got there, I saw my mom crying; she hadn’t even realised I was right there. Everyone was busy tending to her because she had fainted when I scored!”

Lilian Thuram’s mother famously fainted after watching her son score his second against Croatia in the 1998 World Cup semi-finals, and Lopes Cabral emulated another France full-back, Benjamin Pavard, in becoming the second player of his position – an unusual one in wonder-goal wars – to conquer. One voter was another full-back of Brazil and Real Madrid royalty. “After the game, I got a message from Marcelo,” the 23-year-old explained.

“He’s one of my biggest idols. I always admired him. He’s a left-back, plays with both feet, and has great technique. “He told me he voted for my goal as the best of the tournament! I replied, ‘Thank you so much! I don’t know how to thank you. I’m so excited and honoured that you saw me play.’ And he said, ‘It was a pleasure watching you play; you’re really good.’ I was just like, ‘My word!’ I couldn’t believe it when I got his message.”

Lopes Cabral’s career ascent has been equally unbelievable. Three years ago, he was playing in the German fifth division and using bin bags as makeshift curtains. His rags-to-riches biopic now has an enrapturing epilogue: one of football’s most prestigious prizes.

In a 15-slide post on his personal Instagram account – reposted to Fifa’s eight million followers – Infantino addressed “those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens” to affirm his belief that, while they were “busy planting seeds of hate”, Fifa was delivering the “greatest event on earth”.

He said the World Cup “celebrated humanity at its best”, adding that the 2026 tournament had “100% safety and security, only joy and happiness”.

Infantino downplayed several of the tournament’s high-profile controversies and hailed the involvement of Iran, who featured at the World Cup despite their ongoing conflict with co-hosts the United States, as a success.

He said Fifa “worked tirelessly to unite two countries at war”, with Iran entering the country “without incident or conflict”.

His comments are in stark contradiction to those of Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who said his team were the “most oppressed” at the World Cup.

Iran faced visa delays, “integral” members of their backroom staff were denied entry to the US and fans had their allocation of tickets revoked, while Iran also had to move their training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico following a multitude of logistical issues in the build-up to the tournament.

They later also encountered restrictions on their movements as they travelled between their training base and group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Such issues were not unique to Iran, with fans from Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast impacted by travel bans imposed by the Trump administration, while Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the US – despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa – because of his “association with suspected members of terror organisations”.

Infantino wrote: “You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was impressively demonstrated this summer.”

Doubling down on the tournament’s safety, Infantino said there were “zero incidents, zero violence, just joy, emotions, happiness, unity, and togetherness”.

However, Fifa is investigating Argentina’s actions after players and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain’s players after losing the World Cup final. It is also investigating allegations of racist abuse towards American social media influencer IShowSpeed, while supporters were arrested at multiple matches – including following England’s semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials were also controversially present at World Cup stadiums.

Infantino also addressed criticism surrounding the standard of officiating at the tournament, in particular concerns about political interference after USA forward Folarin Balogun was made available for their last-16 tie when his one-match ban was suspended by Fifa – following the intervention of US President Donald Trump.

Of the 191 other red cards shown at a men’s World Cup, only one other player has escaped a suspension.

Uefa said the decision had “crossed a red line”, labelling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable”, while the Norwegian Football Federation is considering filing a formal complaint to Fifa’s ethics committee.

Infantino, however, argued that such decisions are not out of the ordinary, claiming similar rulings are “routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide”.

He added: “It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”

The International Olympic Committee has said it will not investigate Infantino for any possible breaches of political neutrality, stating the complaint levelled by human rights campaign group FairSquare falls outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission.

Infantino’s advice to his opponents was “to show some love” and “respect” to a tournament where “people came together as families, as fans, as one”.

“To everyone who missed our beautiful game, the emotions, the celebrations, the laughter, the crying, the deception and the joy. To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents and parents come together for the beautiful game… sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all,” Infantino wrote.

“While they celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate. Our world needs love, not hate; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning.

“To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions.

“Because only our beautiful game can deliver such an extraordinary show, a show where everyone becomes one and reconnects as humans.

“I am incredibly proud, as Fifa President, to have contributed, even a little, to this show. It’s a great feeling.”

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: President Trump (right) was awarded the Fifa Peace Prize in December

His appointment as Italy’s next head coach had not been confirmed by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) yet was being treated as all but certain.

But over the weekend several Italian politicians criticised the FIGC’s choice, noting that Pirlo, 47, had taken up a role as global ambassador for Russia’s Fonbet last October.

The betting company has sponsored several sporting events involving veterans of Moscow’s war in Ukraine and has organised events in Russia at which Pirlo appeared alongside pro-Kremlin figures.

“Anyone who is or has been promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office,” said Carlo Calenda of the centrist Azione party.

“After learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italian national team, I feel it is my duty to clarify some aspects,” Pirlo, a former Internazionale, Juventus, AC Milan and Azzurri midfielder, wrote in an Instagram post on Monday morning.

“Over the last few days I watched, with great bitterness, the debate that swirled around my name,” he said, adding that any “professional collaboration” he undertook in his capacity as coach for United FC in Dubai “was exclusively of a commercial and sporting nature”.

“To assign a political meaning to that collaboration means ascribing to me beliefs which I have never expressed and that do not belong to me,” Pirlo wrote.

Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European Parliament, said at the weekend that Italian football “desperately needed a cultural, ethical and managerial revolution” but that the choice of Pirlo “goes in the exact opposite direction”.

In contrast, Pirlo was offered support by the Russian ambassador in Rome, Aleksey Paramonov, who said that it was “saddening” to note that, “despite [Pirlo’s] extraordinary contribution to world sport and to Italy’s image around the world, in your own country, you are now being ostracized”.

Scrutiny of Pirlo’s ties to Fonbet and Russia intensified last spring, when he took part in a Fonbet event held in Moscow, which saw him and former teammate Marco Materazzi sign autographs at Luzhniki Stadium.

Nationalist pro-Kremlin pop star Shaman, who has repeatedly expressed his support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, also performed at the event.

At the time, Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych – who was disqualified from the Winter Olympics over his helmet depicting fellow athletes killed in the war – noted the Luzhniki event had taken place on the same day as a large Russian attack on Ukraine.

Heraskevych also criticised Pirlo for appearing next to Russian footballer Artem Dzyuba, who in the wake of the war in Ukraine posted on social media that he was “proud to be Russian”.

“It’s sad to see childhood legends turn into moral bankrupts,” Heraskevych said.

The debate now risks engulfing new FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini, who has only been in post since 11 July and who Italian media say may resign over Pirlo’s failed appointment.

Maldini and his adviser, former AC Milan teammate Leonardo, were tasked with finding a new head coach to navigate Italy through a Nations League group that includes France, Belgium and Turkey in the autumn and then try to qualify for Euro 2028.

The Italian football community has been undergoing much soul-searching after the team failed to qualify for a third World Cup earlier this year. Italy’s loss on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina in April led to coach Gennaro Gattuso stepping down as well as a reshuffle of the FIGC echelons.

Earlier this month, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti were both unsuccessfully approached ahead of Pirlo.

According to Italian media, other names currently being considered are Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini – who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory before failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar and unceremoniously stepping down from the Italy bench to coach Saudi Arabia.

The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, National League and Women’s Super League have agreed on the measure, pending permission from the International Football Association Board (Ifab).

Earlier this year, Ifab decided against changing the law and invited leagues to volunteer for trials.

Pro Ref, led by chief refereeing officer Howard Webb, has been in discussions with the leagues to determine how to tackle the issue. It settled on a team having to remove an outfield player from the field.

If a referee signals that the physio can come on to treat a goalkeeper, the coach will have 10 seconds to nominate another player to leave the pitch for one minute, telling the fourth official of their choice.

If no player has been selected within 10 seconds, the captain must leave the field.

If clearance is received by the Ifab in time, the first game to feature the trial will be the Carabao Cup preliminary round tie between Tranmere and Rochdale on Saturday, 1 August.

BBC Sport understands that the Australian A-League will trial a variation with the captain always having to leave the field.

The tactic of gaining a timeout as the keeper is treated has become increasingly common and controversial in recent seasons.

It has not been uncommon for the goalkeeper to sit on the turf and signal for the physio, with all the other players rushing to the technical area for a team talk. As soon as the coach has delivered their instructions, the keeper gets up to play on.

Goalkeeper treatment has also been used to disrupt the opposition’s momentum when they are on top.

In November, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to “bend the rules” and break up play.

Measure intended to be proactive as a deterrent

At the Ifab’s AGM in February, head of referees Pierluigi Collina said that finding a solution to stop the goalkeeper tactical timeout was a priority.

At the 2026 World Cup, Collina told his officials to prevent players from going to the technical area on all stoppages.

The effectiveness of the measure is open to debate, as the three-minute hydration breaks in each half created a natural opportunity for a team talk.

In its own discussions, English football felt that merely stopping players going to the technical area would not deter coaches from using goalkeepers to break up play.

English football chose this trial as it follows the logic applied to outfield players, who must themselves leave the field for one minute if the physio comes on.

It is intended to be proactive as a deterrent rather than reactive to a team talk as it happens.

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy suggested last season that lawmakers could act to close the loophole in this exact way.

“I think they can change it really quickly,” Murphy said. “If a keeper goes down injured, instead of him having to go off, one of the outfield players should go off then it’s fair all round.

“It’s a little change that makes a world of difference.”

Officials will not prevent players from visiting the touchline as an injury is treated but it is hoped the prospect of playing with 10 players for a minute will act as an adequate disincentive.

This is especially the case in the final minutes of games, when teams trying to hold on to a result would use the goalkeeper to kill momentum. Now they would have to play with 10 players.

There are a few exemptions when a team-mate will not have to go off.

• Where a goalkeeper says they do not need the physio and they have not caused play to stop
• The goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided
• If a goalkeeper is fouled and needs immediate treatment
• If a goalkeeper is bleeding
• If there is a serious injury (has to be substituted) or concussion.

There have been some concerns that a requirement to leave the field for one minute could lead to players, both goalkeepers and outfield, attempting to play on with an injury.

The results of the trials will be assessed by Ifab at its meetings throughout the seasons, and this could lead to a permanent law change globally from 2027-28.