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Three European teams celebrate Nigeria’s qualification for 2026 World Cup playoffs

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Three prominent European football clubs have publicly celebrated Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs, following the Super Eagles’ emphatic victory over Benin Republic.

The clubs — Brentford, Fulham, and Sevilla — each took to social media to acknowledge the contributions of their Nigerian players and express pride in the national team’s achievement. ..Continue Reading

Nigeria secured second place in Group C after a dominant 4–0 win against Benin, with Victor Osimhen netting a hat-trick and Frank Onyeka adding the fourth goal.

This result ensured their progression to the playoff stage, where they join other African contenders such as Gabon, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon in the race for a spot at the global tournament.

Reacting to the win, Fulham highlighted the involvement of their trio of Nigerian stars — Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze — who all featured in the match.

The club posted: “Our three Naija boys started in a crucial World Cup qualifying victory, with Samu getting two assists.”

Sevilla also joined in the celebration, recognizing the milestone for their striker Akor Adams, who made his first start for Nigeria during the fixture.

The Spanish side wrote: “Akor earned his first start for Nigeria in a 4–0 win to secure a place in the playoffs for the World Cup. We mount.”

Brentford, proud of Frank Onyeka’s performance, shared their excitement with a post that read: “Frank the Tank. Frank Onyeka’s goal guarantees the Super Eagles a spot in the Play-Offs for next summer’s World Cup.”

The reactions from these clubs reflect the growing influence of Nigerian talent in European football and the pride shared across borders as the Super Eagles edge closer to a place on the world’s biggest stage.

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15/10/2025
Why Chelsea lifted fake Club World Cup trophy & Donald Trump is to blame

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Enzo Maresca guided his side to a convincing 3–0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the championship match of the newly reformatted tournament at MetLife Stadium. ..Continue Reading

Cole Palmer scored twice, and new signing Joao Pedro added another to seal a commanding victory over the reigning Champions League winners.

FIFA has confirmed Chelsea’s status as world champions for the next four years, granting them the right to wear an exclusive badge on their shirts.

The Blues also pocketed more than £80 million in prize money for their success.

Still, the actual trophy — a gold sculpture known for its rotating design triggered by a key mechanism at its back — may remain in the U.S., according to Trump, who was in attendance for the final.

While chatting with DAZN, the U.S. President jokingly proposed issuing an executive order to rename the sport from “soccer” to “football” across America.

He also revealed that he’s currently holding onto the actual Club World Cup trophy, following guidance given by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.

“[Fifa] is doing fantastically well for [football in America], it’s a growing sport, it is a great sport,” President Trump told Dazn.

“They said: ‘Could you hold this trophy for a little while?’.

“We put it in the Oval Office and then I asked: ‘When are you going to pick up the trophy’, and [Infantino] replied: ‘We’re never going to pick it up, you can have it forever in the Oval Office’.

“And they actually made a new one [for Chelsea] but right now [the original] is in the Oval.”

FIFA’s relationship with Donald Trump appears to be strengthening, highlighted by their decision to establish a base at Trump Tower in New York last week—a strategic move as preparations ramp up for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

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16/07/2025
Real Madrid star tells Xabi Alonso he ‘wants to leave’ after Club World Cup disappointment

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Los Blancos made it to the tournament’s semi-finals but were soundly beaten 4–0 by Paris Saint-Germain.

The defeat marked Xabi Alonso’s first setback as head coach, dashing his hopes of clinching silverware in his debut outing. ..Continue Reading

Lucas Vazquez and Luka Modric both exited the Bernabeu on free transfers shortly after the loss, having extended their contracts solely for the duration of the event.

Modric has since signed a one-year deal with Serie A side AC Milan. On the incoming front, Real Madrid brought back Alvaro Carreras, a former academy talent, from Benfica.

Previously known as Fernandez, Carreras left Madrid in 2020 to join Manchester United, later going on loan to Preston, Granada, and Benfica.

United unexpectedly offloaded him to Benfica last summer, where he enjoyed an impressive season, prompting Real to secure his return for an initial €45 million.

Now, yet another product of Real’s youth setup has declared his intention to leave after being overlooked for the Club World Cup squad.

Alvaro Rodriguez, 20, was passed over by Alonso, who instead selected 18-year-old forward Gonzalo Garcia—who shined by scoring three times during the tournament.

Rodriguez, a Uruguay U-20 international, netted his first La Liga goal against Atletico Madrid in February 2023 and made eight appearances that season.

However, his game time dropped drastically, with just two outings the following year before he spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Getafe, where he registered three goals in 26 games.

Upon his return, Rodriguez wasn’t named in the Club World Cup roster and was excluded from Real’s initial pre-season training camp prior to their U.S. trip.

Speaking to Post United (via AS), Rodriguez explained: “I’m 20 years old. I think I have to leave. I can’t wait much longer for the first team.

“I’ll continue on my path with the goal of returning. My dream is to play for Real Madrid and I’m going to fight to achieve it, but to do that I have to leave first.

“I could have gone to the [Club] World Cup, but I understand why they gave Gonzalo the opportunity.”

Rodriguez added that, before he decided to join Real in 2020, he also had interest from Barcelona and Espanyol, as well as Manchester United: “My mother told my agent that I would only go to Madrid, and they hadn’t called me yet. I think United also called about me. My manager even gave me an English dictionary.”

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16/07/2025
Strict FIFA rule broken in Chelsea’s 3-0 win vs PSG in Club World Cup final

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FIFA might be facing scrutiny from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) after the extended half-time entertainment at the Club World Cup final drew attention.

In an effort to add spectacle to the closing match, the sport’s governing body pulled out all the stops—with Robbie Williams delivering a pre-match concert, dramatic individual player entrances, and an opening announcement by famed boxing ringmaster Michael Buffer. ..Continue Reading

They also rolled out a mid-game show, echoing the kind of entertainment typical of major American sporting events like the Super Bowl.

Though fan reactions online were mixed, the addition may have caused regulatory trouble for FIFA, as it reportedly violated a specific IFAB rule.

Clocking in at over 24 minutes, the half-time segment showcased major artists including Doja Cat, J Balvin, Tems, Emmanuel Kelly, and a surprise set by Coldplay—but the spectacle ran far longer than permitted.

Law 7 of IFAB’s rules states: “Players are entitled to an interval at half-time, not exceeding 15 minutes. A short drinks break (which should not exceed one minute) is permitted at the interval of half-time in extra time. Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval and it may be altered only with the referee’s permission.”

The halftime spectacle ran for a total of 24 minutes and six seconds—far exceeding the standard 15-minute break allotted for players to recuperate.

As of now, FIFA has yet to issue any comment regarding the breach, and it’s unclear whether disciplinary measures will follow.

The extended performance failed to win over the majority of spectators, with many feeling it didn’t belong in a football setting. That sentiment was echoed by former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who voiced his thoughts online.

“People of America. So you know. Half time at a football match is for a pie. Not singing.”

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15/07/2025
‘Furious’ Luis Enrique grabs Joao Pedro by the throat after Club World Cup final defeat

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Despite entering Sunday’s clash at MetLife Stadium as the underdogs, Chelsea surprised the Champions League victors with an exceptional first-half showing. ..Continue Reading

Cole Palmer struck twice within eight minutes, and Chelsea’s recent recruit Pedro added a third goal just before the interval.

After halftime, Chelsea expertly shut down PSG’s attempts at a comeback, earning praise from ex-Premier League winger Andros Townsend who dubbed Maresca’s approach a “tactical masterclass.”

With frustration mounting, PSG players’ emotions spilled over as the match began slipping from their grasp.

Joao Neves was dismissed for tugging Marc Cucurella’s hair, and other PSG players flirted with potential ejections due to reckless tackles.

Tensions didn’t cool after full time, as Pedro—just two weeks into his Chelsea stint—clashed with PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Luis Enrique hits Joao Pedro. He is so rattled ????????

pic.twitter.com/ccmb6gCLl4

— Conn (@ConnCFC) July 13, 2025

Luis Enrique became part of the fray and appeared to hit Pedro, causing Chelsea’s £60 million signing to hit the turf.

The scuffle intensified, prompting one of Enrique’s staff to restrain him, while Maresca pulled his players out of the heated scene.

PSG entered the final as overwhelming favourites, having lifted their first Champions League trophy the previous season.

Chelsea, meanwhile, had competed in—and won—the Europa Conference League, marking another milestone in their resurgence.

‘It’s a great feeling,’ Palmer said after Chelsea’s Club World Cup victory. ‘Even better because everyone doubted us before the game, we knew that.

‘The gaffer put a great gameplan out. He knew where the space was going to be. He tried to free me up as much as possible and I just had to repay him and score some goals.

‘[Maresca] is building something special, something important. Everyone has talked a lot of s*** about us all season but I feel like we are going in the right direction.’

Maresca, meanwhile, said: ‘I have no words for the players. They all deserve this and it’s a good moment.

‘For me, we won the game in the first 10 minutes. We set the tempo and we were very good at pressing them. The conditions made it hard to keep going but the boys did well.

‘I am very excited [about the future] but I’m more excited that we have three weeks off.’

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14/07/2025
Key Chelsea star asked to be left out of Club World Cup to secure move

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Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic opted to exclude himself from the Club World Cup to focus on securing his future.

The Serbian shot-stopper, who impressed during his loan spell at Strasbourg last season, has returned to Chelsea but is seeking guaranteed first-team opportunities—something the club cannot currently offer him.

Reports indicate that Petrovic requested to be left out of Enzo Maresca’s squad for the tournament, a decision that Chelsea’s management has respected, maintaining a positive relationship with the player.

Both parties agreed that rather than traveling to the United States, Petrovic would be better off exploring potential moves elsewhere.

If he does not secure a permanent transfer that meets his expectations, he is expected to rejoin Chelsea for pre-season training in July.

Strasbourg has shown interest in signing him permanently, while several Premier League clubs, including West Ham, and other European teams are also monitoring his situation.

Chelsea had initially planned to include Petrovic in their Club World Cup squad, despite their unsuccessful bid to sign AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.

The Blues’ offer for Maignan was rejected, as Milan demanded nearly double the proposed fee, despite the French goalkeeper having only one year left on his contract and refusing to extend.

Chelsea may revisit their pursuit of Maignan when the transfer window reopens, but Maresca remains confident in his current goalkeeping options—Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, and Mike Penders—which contributed to Petrovic’s uncertain role in the squad.

Among Chelsea’s loanees, Andrey Santos is the only one included in the Club World Cup squad, while Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, and Axel Disasi have been left out.

Meanwhile, new signings Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, and Mamadou Sarr will be part of the traveling squad to the U.S.

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12/06/2025
Key Chelsea star unhappy after being brutally axed from Club World Cup

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After securing Champions League qualification with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and winning the Conference League title against Real Betis, the Blues are now preparing for their campaign in the United States. ..Continue Reading

They will face Leon, Flamengo, and ES Tunis in the group stage, with key players like Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, and Enzo Fernandez included in the squad.

However, manager Enzo Maresca has decided to exclude several players, including Kendry Paez, who joined Chelsea from Independiente del Valle in 2023.

Although Paez was eligible to integrate into the squad this summer, the club opted for a last-minute change, reportedly planning to send him on loan to Strasbourg to help him adapt to European football.

The young Ecuadorian midfielder is said to be disappointed by the decision, as he had expected to be part of the Club World Cup squad.

Paez is not the only player left out—Raheem Sterling, Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, and Djordje Petrovic have also been omitted.

Petrovic’s exclusion is particularly surprising, given his strong performances on loan at Strasbourg and Chelsea’s unsuccessful attempt to sign Mike Maignan as a reinforcement in goal.

Despite the demanding schedule, Maresca remains optimistic about Chelsea’s participation in the tournament and the opportunity to compete on the global stage.

“I’m happy [to be there] especially because it’s a tournament that brings together the top 32 teams in the world. So, it’s very exciting to take part in such a huge competition,” he told DAZN.

“You also have the opportunity to face other top coaches and some world-class teams. We were there – in North America – last summer, and it was great. There were so many fans there, and it will be another opportunity for them to come and watch us and for us to meet them. So, there’s no doubt it will be a great occasion.”

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11/06/2025
Club World Cup 2025: Format, Dates, Draw, Broadcasting & Preview
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Football’s obsession with cramming as much as possible into an already packed schedule will continue apace with the Club World Cup this summer.

While fans who follow football today may be growing tired of the endless cycle of games, the sport’s governing bodies are intent on broadening their horizons.

The latest folly is FIFA’s decision to shoehorn an expanded 32-club tournament into the gap between the 2024/25 season and the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.

It will be intriguing to see if the move pays dividends or if the revamped competition proves to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back in professional football.

Club World Cup 2025 – Format & Dates

There are eight groups of four teams in the opening stage of the Club World Cup, with the top two in each section progressing to the knockout phase.

The competition is played as a straight knockout from the last-16 onwards, with extra-time and penalties used to determine the outcome of games if required.
- Group stage: June 14-26
- Last-16: June 28 – July 1
- Quarter-finals: July 4-5
- Semi-finals: July 8-9
- Final: July 13
Club World Cup 2025 – Draw
- Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al-Ahly, Inter Miami.
- Group B: Paris St-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders.
- Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
- Group D: Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunisie, Chelsea, Club Leon.
- Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
- Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
- Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al-Ain, Juventus.
- Group H: Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca, Red Bull Salzburg.
Club World Cup 2025 – Broadcasting

Reputable football livescore will be offering extensive coverage of the Club World Cup. The following broadcasters have also secured the rights:
- Afghanistan – ATN
- Albania – SuperSport
- Argentina – Telefe
- Australia – Fox Sports, Kayo Sports
- Bulgaria – BNT
- Bolivia – Red Uno
- Brazil – CazeTV, Grupo Globo
- Colombia – Win Sports
- Costa Rica – Teletica
- Ecuador – Teleamazonas
- El Salvador – Canal 4
- France – TF1
- Germany – ProSiebenSat.1
- Guatemala – TV Azteca Guate
- Honduras – Deportes TVC
- Hungary – EBU
- Italy – Mediaset
- Kosovo – EBU
- Malta – TVM
- Montenegro – RTCG
- Nicaragua – Viva Nicaragua
- Romania – Pro TV
- Russia – Okko
- Slovakia – EBU
- South America – Dsports, Disney+
- Spain – Mediaset
- Sub-Saharan Africa – Azam TV, Sporty TV, GOtv, StarTimes Sports, SuperSport
- Turkey – TRT
- Ukraine – Suspilne Sport
- United Kingdom – Channel 5
- United States – TelevisaUnivision, TNT Sports
- Venezuela – Televen
- Vietnam – FPT Play
Club World Cup 2025 – Preview

FIFA has brushed off concerns about player welfare and fan apathy to create a tournament it believes will eventually rival the World Cup in terms of popularity.

However, regular followers of football news will know that many of the competing clubs have expressed serious reservations about the strain it places on their resources.

Despite this, their competitive streak will kick in when the action gets underway and they will be eager to get their hands on the trophy on July 13.

Real Madrid are the bookmakers’ favourites to emerge victorious ahead of Manchester City, while Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also prominent in the betting.

However, the value bet could be Chelsea. Their sizeable squad could give them a useful advantage against their rivals and they are fancied to go a long way this summer.

Enzo Maresca’s side have been handed a favourable draw alongside Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunisie and Club Leon in the group stage.

Followers of Brazilian football on livescore platforms will recognise that Flamengo could be troublesome, but the Blues should have too much quality for the teams in this group.

It would be a major surprise if they failed to make it to the knockout phase and the Premier League club could go on to win the title for the second time in their history.
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29/05/2025
Manchester United confirm travelling squad for World Sevens Football tournament – Man United News And Transfer News

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1

Manchester United boss Marc Skinner has confirmed his travelling squad for the World Sevens Football tournament in Portugal.

Last month, United announced they would be taking part in the inaugural competition, as one of eight women’s teams from around the world vying to become the first W7F champions.

The tournament will be played in Estoril, Portugal, from 21-23 May.

Alongside United, other teams that will be taking part include Ajax, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Manchester City, Paris St-Germain, Roma and Rosengard.

It’s worth noting that the tournament will not follow the conventional rules of football.

Each team will play between three and five matches on grass pitches that are half the size of the usual 11-a-side pitch. Each game will be 30 minutes long, in two 15-minute halves.

There will be extra time for a tiebreak and a five-minute interval. The eight teams will be divided into two groups and will compete in a round-robin format over the first two days.

United are in group two, which also features Benfica, PSG and Roma. The top two teams in each group will advance to the semis, which will be followed by a third-place match in the final.

Skinner has named three goalkeepers in his squad – Safia Middleton-Patel, Kayla Rendell and Phallon Tullis-Joyce.

In defence, the United boss will be able to choose from a pool consisting of Gabby George, Maya Le Tissier, Aoife Mannion, Millie Turner and Jessica Simpson.

In the middle of the park, Skinner went with Simi Awujo, Grace Clinton, Dominique Janssen, Lisa Naalsund, Ella Toone and Emma Watson.

The attackers are Keira Barry, Celin Bizet, Leah Galton, Melvine Malard, Elisabeth Terland and Rachel Williams.

📋 A reminder of the 20 Reds travelling to Portugal for #WorldSevensFootball this week 💪🇵🇹#MUWomen || @WorldSevens_ pic.twitter.com/UfFzoVYwTR

— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) May 20, 2025

Each team will be allowed a match squad of up to 14 players, with unlimited rolling substitutions permitted throughout the games.

United’s first game is against Roma on Wednesday. Kick-off is at 18:00 BST.

Featured image Ben Roberts Photo via Getty Images

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21/05/2025