football

Chelsea became the first English side to reach the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup following a 4-1 win after extra time against the 10-man Benfica in North Carolina.

Reece James scored the opening goal of the game in the 64th minute on Saturday, with a spectacular free kick from a tight angle on the left wing.

Angel Di Maria levelled the match in the fifth minute of stoppage time from the penalty spot after a soft handball decision against Malo Gusto.

Goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall restored and sealed Chelsea’s advantage in extra time to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Palmeiras.

The result was the least the Blues deserved after dominating the match from start to finish.

The end was heavily delayed, however, when the players were removed from the field of play at Bank Of America Stadium in Charlotte by the referee due to a nearby lightning storm.

The delay was nearly two hours in length, despite only four minutes remaining of the match when the players left the field. Chelsea’s players were visibly annoyed by the decision to halt the game so close to the full-time whistle, and with victory in sight.

Unusually high temperatures for the time of year contributed to the inclement conditions. Both the cause and the effect are a concern ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup also being staged by the United States next summer.

It is the sixth time a Club World Cup match has been halted due to bad weather.

Common public safety protocols in the US mandate that outdoor sports events are suspended for at least 30 minutes when lightning is seen or thunder heard.

The Blues dominated the possession and the chances, the best of which in the first half fell to Marc Cucurella whose curling effort from just inside the box was headed off the line by by Benfica’s Antonio Silva at the back post, with the keeper well beaten.

Cole Palmer drew the finest save from Benfica’s Ukrainian keeper, Anatoliy Trubin, when he was slipped into the box and powered a shot at the near post.

Trubin was left red-faced by the moment of magic from James to win the match as the wide player drilled his effort in at the near post, with the keeper seemingly more concerned about a potential cross.

Benfica’s leveller – after the lightning delay – came after Gusto left his arms flailing in the air and, although soft, the Video Assistant Referee had little choice but to call the referee to review the decision. Di Maria coolly slotted home the resulting kick, despite the stormy conditions that surrounded the stadium.

The comeback from Benfica, after the heavy delay to the match, was merely a further annoyance to Chelsea, whose job was made all the easier by a second yellow shown to Gianluca Prestianni.

The Benfica forward was booked during the celebrations for his side’s equaliser and was then shown a second yellow for a late tackle after only two minutes of extra time.

Palmeiras first to book CWC quarterfinal spot

Paulinho worked his way between a pair of defenders and rolled a shot into the back of the net in extra time earlier on Saturday to put Palmeiras into the quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over Brazilian league rival Botafogo.

Paulinho, who has made one appearance for Brazil’s national team, dribbled through the defence with an inside cut from the right wing in the 100th minute. He then sent a left-footed shot into the lower left corner of John’s net.

Botafogo created multiple chances for an equalizer in the final minutes but could not get a goal.

The match at Lincoln Financial Field was full of attacking play, with a combined 35 shot attempts. Palmeiras, however, ended the match with 10 men after defender Gustavo Gomez was given a red card.

Gomez received a second yellow card in the 116th minute after tackling Igor Jesus in midfield to prevent Botafogo from starting a counterattack.

The 33,657 fans in attendance helped set the tone for the match with incessant cheering, bringing the flavour of a South American game to the United States.

“Coach has been saying this since the start of the season that we have a dream and dreaming costs nothing,” Palmeiras defender Bruno Fuchs said after.

“We follow that dream, one game after another. Always thinking about the present, about the next game… We’re very happy, we’re pleased to have qualified, and as I said, we have to keep dreaming.”

Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami
What: FIFA Club World Cup round of 16
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When: Sunday, June 30 at 12pm (16:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 9am local (13:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

FIFA’s Club World Cup serves up a treat in the round of 16 as Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain.

The Argentinian international forward joined the French giants, and now first-time European champions, from the club he represented since childhood, Barcelona.

PSG’s coveted European success was not forthcoming, and Messi headed for new pastures with his 2023 move to Major League Soccer.

Now, Messi faces a PSG side shorn of many of the Galacticos recruited to seal European glory, but full of youthful exuberance and riding the crest of their Champions League wave.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the match.

Why does Messi’s Miami vs PSG carry such weight?

When PSG meet Inter Miami, it will mark a rare reunion of European football greats, all layered with old loyalties, recent regrets and the chance for Lionel Messi to settle a score.

Sunday’s game features a compelling contrast of eras – a PSG side powered by youth and energy fresh off their maiden Champions League title, and an Inter Miami team built around ageing-but-iconic former Barcelona stars.

On the PSG touchline, Luis Enrique comes face to face with four players he once led at Barcelona: Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

They are all now reunited under Miami coach Javier Mascherano, another figure from Luis Enrique’s treble-winning era at Camp Nou.

“Luis Enrique is a phenomenon,” Alba said this week. “I’m excited to see him and will give him a hug, but when the ref blows the opening whistle, we’ll try to beat him.”

Suarez, now 38, reflected on his former manager’s impact: “I already had a competitive DNA, but he injected even more into me,” he said.

Do the Barcelona contingent have history with PSG?

In another layer of intrigue, Miami’s contingent of former Barcelona players were all part of 2017’s “Remontada” against PSG.

That was PSG’s darkest night, when Barca thrashed them 6-1 in Spain after losing 4-0 in Paris in their last-16 Champions League tie.

That was when Miami’s veterans were at their peak.

Now, they rely on memory and rhythm, while PSG’s core has been reshaped by a rising generation: Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Vitinha have helped inject fresh energy into Luis Enrique’s system, culminating in a Champions League triumph just weeks ago.

How did PSG fare in the group stage?

The Parisian side arrive in Atlanta after a 1–0 loss to Brazil’s Botafogo in the group stage, which raised questions about fatigue following a long European season.

Though PSG remain heavy favourites on paper, that defeat showed cracks in a squad that has played more high-stakes matches than most of their rivals.

PSG took their group with wins in their opening games against Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders.

How did Inter Miami fare in the group stage?

Inter Miami finished second in their group behind Palmeiras with one win and two draws to their name.

The Messi-inspired 2-1 win against Porto was crucial to their progress.

Can Miami’s Argentina axis take down PSG?

“It will be an honour for me facing a great coach, one of the greatest I’ve had in my career,” said Mascherano of Luis Enrique.

Now in his first major club coaching role, Mascherano brings an emotional edge and tactical sharpness to a Miami side that, while physically limited by age, can still threaten, especially with Messi in form.

The Argentina great endured a turbulent two-year stint at PSG after leaving Barcelona in 2021. Though he won domestic silverware, Messi never found peace in Paris and, after his World Cup win in 2022, some fans turned on him.

“I didn’t enjoy myself at PSG,” Messi told reporters earlier this year. “It was a tough period.”

Mascherano believes that memory still drives him.

“When something’s stuck in his mind, Messi gives a little extra,” he said this week.

What went so wrong for Messi at PSG?

PSG had made it to the Champions League final and then semifinals in the two seasons prior to Messi’s arrival, so he looked like the final piece in the jigsaw.

Instead, they went backwards with him in the side, going out of Europe’s elite club competition in the last 16 two years running.

Having to fit in Messi, with his estimated annual salary of 30 million euros ($35.2 million) after tax, as well as Neymar and Mbappe, may have increased the star appeal, but it weakened them as a team.

Towards the end, the Barcelona legend was even being jeered by some sections of the PSG support who felt Messi’s commitment to the cause was not what it should have been.

Messi was a PSG player when he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in late 2022, but there were only flashes of his genius at club level in France.

His statistics stand up to any scrutiny, with 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances, and he did win two Ligue 1 titles while helping increase PSG’s value as a brand.

Miami coach Javier Mascherano, meanwhile, believes the unhappy memory of his time in Paris could spur Messi on.

“It’s clear that for us it’s better if he plays angry, because he’s one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort,” Mascherano told ESPN.

How did PSG fare last season?

PSG’s stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich at the end of last month, which allowed them to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time, completed an incredible treble-winning season for the Qatar-backed side under the coaching of Luis Enrique.

How did Inter Miami fare last season?

Miami finished as the club with the most points in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) regular season, handing them a place at the Club World Cup instead of LA Galaxy, who won the MLS Cup, which is regarded as the highest prize in the MLS.

FIFA announced Miami’s addition to the Club World Cup in October after they broke MLS’s regular-season points record with a 6-2 win over New England Revolution to reach 74 points, one better than the previous record set by New England in 2021.

PSG team news

Ousmane Dembele has just resumed training after overcoming a hamstring injury, but may not even be fit enough for the bench.

Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola are vying to start with Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in. Youngster Senny Mayulu was selected for the match against Seattle in Dembele’s role.

Inter Miami team news

Jordi Alba has returned from injury and will challenge youngster Noah Allen for the left-back position.

Drake Callender, Gonzalo Lujan and Yannick Bright are all still sidelined. Veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari will continue to deputise for the former.

PSG predicted starting lineup:

Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Doue

Inter Miami predicted starting lineup:

Ustari; Weigandt, Aviles, Falcon, Allen; Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suarez

PSG form guide (all competitions):

W-W-W-L-W

Inter Miami form guide (all competitions):

W-W-D-W-D

Chelsea are offered the chance to sign Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, Jarell Quansah to have Bayer Leverkusen medical and Liverpool close in on Marc Guehi.

Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez for £45m, though the 32-year-old Argentina goalkeeper is believed to prefer a move to Manchester United. (Mirror), external

Manchester United are prepared to open formal talks over a deal to sign Martinez after they sell Cameroon keeper Andre Onana, 29. (Football Insider), external

Liverpool’s 22-year-old English defender Jarell Quansah will have a medical at Bayer Leverkusen on Monday before a £35m move to the German club. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign Crystal Palace’s 24-year-old England centre-back Marc Guehi. (Mirror), external

Darwin Nunez is ready to join Napoli this summer but the Italian club are unwilling to met Liverpool’s £70m valuation of the 26-year-old Uruguay striker. (Mirror), external

Manchester United may have to pay players to leave the club this summer because of their lengthy, expensive contracts, with 27-year-old England striker Marcus Rashford and 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho among those they want to sell. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Sunderland have agreed a club-record £30m fee with Strasbourg for 21-year-old Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra. (Guardian), external

Nottingham Forest have made a £5m bid for Real Mallorca’s Spanish full-back Pablo Maffeo, 27. (El Chiringuito – in Spanish), external

Newcastle and Burnley are still far apart in their valuation of James Trafford, with the Magpies having had an initial bid worth £25m for the 22-year-old England Under-21s goalkeeper turned down. (Sky Sports), external

Crystal Palace are prepared to rival Newcastle, Liverpool and Tottenham with a move to sign Southampton’s 19-year-old English winger Tyler Dibling this summer. (Football Insider), external

Nico Williams has told Barcelona he wants to join them from Athletic Bilbao but the Spain winger, 22, has demanded that he is able to be registered to play, which could mean Barca have to sell players first, in order to meet La Liga’s financial requirements. (Marca – in Spanish), external

Al-Nassr have already reached an agreement to send Colombia striker Jhon Duran, 21, on loan to Fenerbahce. (Foot Mercato – in French), external

Spain’s Ballon d’Or holder, Aitana Bonmati, is hospitalised with meningitis two weeks before the Euro 2025 championships.

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, the two-time Ballon d’Or holder, has been hospitalised with viral meningitis less than a week before the Women’s European football championship begins.

Spain coach Montse Tome said late on Friday that her star player had felt ill and was taken to a hospital in Madrid where she tested positive for meningitis.

Spain’s team is set to travel to Switzerland on Sunday for the tournament. Its first game is against Portugal on Thursday in Bern. It will also face Belgium and Italy in Group B at Euro 2025.

“Aitana is a very important player for us and we will wait for her,” Tome said after Bonmati missed Friday’s friendly against Japan in the Spanish capital when Spain beat the visitors 3-1.

Tome said that Bonmati started feeling bad with a fever during practice early on Friday.

“She has authorised me to say that she has viral meningitis,” Tome said. “The word is scary, but the doctor tells me that she is under control. She will remain in the hospital and we don’t know for how long.”

The 27-year-old Bonmati has won the top individual award for women for the past two years. The Barcelona player was key in Spain winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Bonmati’s vision, dribbling skills, passing and goals have also been vital to Barcelona reaching five consecutive Champions League finals, with the Catalan club winning three titles.

Her absence would put more pressure on Alexia Putellas, herself a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, and fellow Barcelona midfielder Patricia Guijarro, to lead Spain. Against Japan, Tome started 18-year-old Vicky Lopez in place of Bonmati.

Three years ago, Putellas tore her ACL three days before starting the 2022 European Championship. Spain was eliminated in the quarterfinals without its then-top player.

Spain should still be favoured in its opener against Portugal, a team it beat twice in April – including a 7-1 home victory – in the Nations League.

Who: Chelsea vs Benfica
What: FIFA Club World Cup round of 16
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
When: Saturday, June 28 at 4pm (21:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 1pm local (18:00 GMT) ahead of our live text commentary stream.

Chelsea and Benfica meet in the second round of 16 tie at the FIFA Club World Cup in an all-European affair, which could easily have been a fixture straight from the UEFA Champions League.

Between them, the clubs have lifted Europe’s premier club competition on nine occasions, with seven of those titles going to Portuguese giants, Benfica.

Al Jazeera Sport looks ahead to the match that comes with a significant headache for the English club following their late slip-up in the group stage.

What is Chelsea’s annoyance heading into the Benfica tie?

Chelsea are facing a logistical headache at the Club World Cup after finishing second in their group, forcing an unexpected trip to Charlotte for their last 16 match instead of staying in Miami, where the club thought they would be based for the knockout stage.

Travel, accommodation and training arrangements were, a source told the news agency Reuters, all made with the assumption that the West Londoners would top Group D and play their round of 16 match at Hard Rock Stadium.

The detour to Charlotte means reorganising bookings and schedules at short notice, but the club still intends to return to its Miami base after the match, adding more miles to an already hectic itinerary.

What happened to Chelsea in the group stage?

The Blue opened their Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win against Los Angeles. After a 3-1 loss to Brazil’s Flamengo, Chelsea only managed second place despite a 3-0 win over Esperance Tunis in their final group stage fixture in Philadelphia.

How did Benfica fare in the group stage?

Benfica were held to a 2-2 draw in their opening match at the FIFA Club World Cup by Boca Juniors. The Lisbon-based club then won their final two games against New Zealand’s Auckland City (6-0) and Germany’s Bayern Munich (1-0).

Who awaits Chelsea or Benfica in the quarter-finals?

The winner of Saturday’s tie will return to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to face the winner of the all-Brazilian clash between Palmeiras and Botafogo.

The #FIFACWC Round of 16 fixtures. 🔢 pic.twitter.com/PSqvYGZW18

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 27, 2025

Have Chelsea ever won a Club World Cup?

Yes. Chelsea, who have twice lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy in Europe, have lifted the Club World Cup once.

The Blues lifted the title in 2021 with a 2-1 win against Brazil’s Palmeiras.

Romelu Lukaku and Kai Havertz scored the Blues’ goals, with the winner netted by the latter in extra time.

What happened the last time between Chelsea and Benfica?

The teams competed for the UEFA Europa League title in 2013, with the Blues securing a 2-1 win.

Fernando Torres opened the scoring on the stroke of the hour mark for the Blues with Oscar Cardozo equalising from the spot in the 69th minute.

Branislav Ivanovic settled matters with a 90th-minute winner for Chelsea.

Chelsea team news

Wesley Fofana has joined the squad at the tournament, but the defender continues to recover from a long-term thigh injury and will miss out once again.

Striker Nicolas Jackson serves the second and final game of a two-match suspension for a straight red card in the match against Flamengo.

Reece James, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella are all in line for a return.

Benfica team news

Alexander Bah and Manu Silva remain long-term absentees, but midfielder Florentino Luis is in line for a comeback from a shoulder injury, having missed the last two games.

Forward Andrea Belotti returns from suspension.

Benfica possible starting lineup:

Trubin; Aursnes, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Barreiro, Sanches; Di Maria, Prestianni, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

Chelsea possible starting lineup:

Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Delap

Head-to-head

This is the third meeting between the sides, with Chelsea winning all of the encounters.

Along with their Europa League success against Benfica, the Blues won both Champions League ties in 2011-2012.

Form guides

Benfica form (all competitions):

D-L-D-W-W

Chelsea form (all competitions):

W-W-W-L-W

Spain’s Real Madrid to meet Italy’s Juventus in FIFA Club World Cup after eliminating Salzburg, Man City face Al Hilal.

Real Madrid swept past Red Bull Salzburg with a 3-0 win in their final Group H match to set up a round of 16 meeting with Juventus at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde netted first-half goals for the Spanish giants in the match in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Gonzalo Garcia added the third in the 84th minute for Madrid in a second consecutive multi-goal win following a tournament-opening draw against Al Hilal.

The result eliminated Real’s Austrian opponents as Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal leapt above Salzburg with their 2-0 win against Mexico’s Pachuca.

Manchester City beat Juventus 5-2 earlier in the day and, as Group H winners, will now face Al Hilal in the next round.

The defeat was Salzburg’s second loss to Real Madrid in 2025 after a 5-1 loss in Spain in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.

Madrid, five-time winners of the competition, were more efficient than dominant. The teams had 12 shots apiece, with the victors’ four attempts on goal only one more than Salzburg’s three.

Madrid again played without Kylian Mbappe, who has yet to feature in the tournament due to a stomach illness that left him briefly hospitalised.

But Vinicius Junior did enough to compensate for the Frenchman’s absence on Thursday.

He failed to convert the game’s first shot on target, denied on the break by Christian Zawieschitzky after Jude Bellingham had played him into a 20th-minute breakaway.

But two brilliant moments over a five-minute stretch tilted the game squarely in Madrid’s favour.

In the 40th minute, the Brazilian ran onto another terrific ball out of the back from Bellingham, before weaving left on the dribble to evade defender Joane Gadou. He drove an early low finish well out of Zawieschitzky’s reach and into the bottom right corner.

In the 45th, he reached Arda Guler’s deflected pass on the right side of the box before directing a backheel pass to a wide-open Valverde behind him for an equally clinical finish past Zawieschitzky.

Bellingham had the next crucial intervention in the 66th minute, blocking Edmund Baidoo’s effort off the line with Thibaut Courtois beaten.

Real will now face Juventus in Miami on Tuesday, while City stay in Orlando for their round of 16 match with Al Hilal on Monday.

English side Manchester City beat Italy’s Juventus 5-2 in Orlando at FIFA’s Club World Cup staged in United States.

Manchester City sealed top spot in Group G with a 5-2 thumping of Juventus in Orlando at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Jeremy Doku put on a brilliant display with plenty of support, and some help from the opposition, in Thursday’s game as the English side sealed a third win from their three games in the group.

Juventus, like City, had already sealed qualification for the round of 16 with two wins in their opening two games.

“We played well. I’m happy with the victory,” City forward Doku said. “Now we’re just curious to see who we’re going to play against.”

Defender Pierre Kalulu’s gaffe on a cross from Savinho past his own keeper nudged City into the lead, 2-1, at the 26th minute.

In the 52nd minute, striker Erling Haaland scored while shuffling his feet with a touch that bounded into an open net on a dish from Matheus Nunes. It was the 300th career goal combined for team and country for the 24-year-old Norwegian in only his seventh minute in Thursday’s match.

Phil Foden entered off the bench and tapped in the fourth goal of the match in the 69th minute. Haaland’s header failed only for Savinho to power a rebound off the crossbar and into the goal to make it 5-1 in the 75th minute.

Juventus trimmed the lead on a breakaway from Dusan Vlahovic, who scored for the second consecutive match with just over five minutes to play.

Juventus had led the group on goal difference entering the match, but City’s win took them to the top and also bumped them to the top of the tournament’s goalscoring list with 13 strikes.

City also became the only club to win all three matches in the group stage.

As the Group G winner, City stays in Orlando for Monday’s round of 16 match with the Group H runner-up.

The opponent will be determined by Thursday’s later match between RB Salzburg and Real Madrid. Juventus head to Miami as the runner-up in the group.

Man City went ahead 2-1 and held the margin at halftime, marking first at the nine-minute mark when Doku hit the brakes in front of the net and found the top right corner.

Teun Koopmeiners evened the score two minutes later, but that was the final indication of a close tussle.

The victory was Man City’s first outright over Juventus since 1976.

Arsenal and Tottenham compete to sign Eberechi Eze, Spurs place £60m price tag on Cristian Romero, and Napoli and Juventus eye Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho.

Arsenal will take on north London rivals Tottenham for the signing of Crystal Palace and England midfielder Eberechi Eze, 26, who is priced at £68m. (Sun), external

The Gunners are targeting Eze who would be a cheaper alternative to Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Rodrygo, 24. (Talksport, external)

Tottenham value Argentina centre-back Cristian Romero, 27, at over £60m and are unwilling to sell him for a cut-price fee to Atletico Madrid. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Napoli and Juventus are willing to pay Manchester United £25m for Jadon Sancho, 25, but cannot meet the £250,000 weekly wages of the England winger. (Metro), external

Manchester United are exploring an ambitious move for Paris St-Germain and France midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, 19. (Teamtalk), external

Fulham have no interest in offloading 24-year-old Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz despite interest from Leeds. (Sky Sports), external

Liverpool have opened talks with Crystal Palace over a deal to sign their captain Marc Guehi, with the 24-year-old England defender said to favour a move to Anfield this summer. (Teamtalk, external)

Newcastle have launched bids to sign Brighton’s 23-year-old Brazil forward Joao Pedro, Burnley’s English goalkeeper James Trafford, 22, and Nottingham Forest’s 23-year-old Sweden winger Anthony Elanga. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Trafford has agreed terms with Newcastle and talks between the two clubs are ongoing. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Manchester United are back in pole position to sign Sporting striker Victor Gyokeres with the 27-year-old Sweden international reportedly ready to reunite with his former manager Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford (Mirror, external)

West Ham are battling Wolves to sign £25m-rated Nice and Ivory Coast striker Evann Guessand, 23. (Mail), external

Brentford have broadly agreed a deal to sign Feyenoord’s 20-year-old attacking midfielder Antoni Milambo, who is a Netherlands Under-21 international. (Mirror), external

Ronaldo and his Saudi club side Al Nassr made the new deal official via social media, putting an end to rumours he could sign elsewhere.

Cristiano Ronaldo inked a two-year extension with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, the club announced, following weeks of speculation over which team he would sign for next season.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027,” the club wrote in a post on X on Thursday.

Minutes before the official confirmation, the team posted a teaser video, with the 40-year-old Ronaldo walking along a beachfront and saying: “Al Nassr forever.”

The Portuguese superstar arrived in 2023 in the kingdom to play with the club, heralding a rush of players in the latter stages of their careers to the oil-rich country.

Last month, Ronaldo posted “This chapter is over” hours after the Saudi Pro League wrapped up with Al Nassr finishing third and trophy-less once again.

“Ronaldo’s presence is a key factor in developing the Saudi league in the last two years and a half. He opens the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia,” a source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a major investor in Saudi football, told AFP last month.

The oil-funded PIF, the sovereign wealth fund behind a number of big-ticket Saudi investments, controls a group of Pro League clubs including Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ahli.

Time for a title

Ronaldo’s announcement in May came just months after Brazilian star Neymar ended his injury-plagued 18-month stay in January, after playing just seven times for Al Hilal – on a reported salary of about $104m a year.

Although Ronaldo was the Pro League’s top scorer with 25 goals, he has been unable to win a Saudi or continental trophy with Al Nassr, who lost in the Asian Champions League semifinals last month.

Last year, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he could end his career with Al Nassr, the Riyadh team favoured by a number of Saudi royals.

Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo’s move in late 2022, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034.

For the past two years, Saudi football fans could watch the likes of Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, with six Ballons d’Or between them, on any given weekend during the football season in the kingdom.

However, the oil-fuelled Saudi football project has drawn comparisons with the Chinese Super League, which imported players on exorbitant salaries until team owners went bust as the Chinese economy fizzled.

But with Saudi Arabia set to host the 2034 World Cup, and desperate to re-model itself as a tourism and business magnet before global oil demand falls for good, there is probably more to come from the Pro League.

Ronaldo appeared to trade an end-of-career payday for football obscurity when he first moved to Riyadh’s Al Nassr two years ago in a deal said to be worth $250m at the time.

The Story continues.. 🐐 💛
pic.twitter.com/XV8WoOREeB

— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) June 26, 2025

Liverpool join chase for Viktor Gyokeres, Chelsea edge closer to deal for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens & Manchester United may have to cut price tag for Alejandro Garnacho.

Liverpool have joined Manchester United and Arsenal in the race to sign Sporting’s 27-year-old Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres. (Correio da Manha – in Portuguese), external

Chelsea are edging closer to a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund and England Under-21 winger Jamie Gittens, 20, with the Bundesliga side holding out for a £50m fee. (ESPN), external

Manchester United may accept bids of around £45m to secure a quick sale of 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho. (Star), external

Newcastle are looking at the likes of PSV Eindhoven and Belgium winger Johan Bakayoko, 22, and Borussia Dortmund and Germany attacker Karim Adeyemi, 23, if they are unsuccessful in their pursuit of Nottingham Forest and Sweden wideman Anthony Elanga, 23. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United are struggling to sell Netherlands left-back Tyrell Malacia, 25, who helped PSV Eindhoven win the Eredivisie title while on loan last season. (Athletic – subscription required), external

Sunderland have held talks with Nice over a deal for 25-year-old Poland goalkeeper Marcin Bulka. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Everton have started negotiations with La Liga club Villarreal over the signing of 22-year-old French forward Thierno Barry and have not ruled out paying his £34m release clause. (ESPN), external

Manchester City have rejected a £6.5m bid from Hoffenheim for 21-year-old England Under-21 defender Callum Doyle. (Mail, external

Everton are still hopeful of signing Kenny Tete on a free transfer despite reports Fulham have offered the 29-year-old Netherlands right-back a new contract. (Independent, external)

Benfica have yet to receive an offer from Real Madrid after the La Liga giants were linked with Spanish left-back Alvaro Carreras, 22, who only joined the Lisbon club last year from Manchester United. (Marca – in Spanish), external

Ex-Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales will appeal at the Supreme Court after fine for forcibly kissing Jenni Hermoso is upheld.

Disgraced former Spanish Football Federation chief Luis Rubiales will appeal to the Supreme Court the confirmation of his $12,600 (10,800-euro) fine for forcibly kissing Jenni Hermoso, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

After a keenly awaited trial that gripped the country, Spain’s top criminal court in February found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault for the kiss at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which generated global outrage.

The Audiencia Nacional also cleared him of a separate accusation of coercion for allegedly forcing Hermoso to downplay the incident afterwards.

Both parties contested the sentence, which fell short of the two-and-a-half-year prison term sought by prosecutors and infuriated feminist groups that condemned the punishment as too lenient.

Rubiales maintained that the kiss was a consensual “peck” between friends celebrating during a medal ceremony after star forward Hermoso had just helped Spain beat England in the final in Sydney, denying any coercion.

The court said in a statement on Wednesday that it had rejected the appeals of the defence team and prosecutors, maintaining the conviction and the fine.

“The kiss was not consensual”, and Hermoso “expressed her displeasure with what happened, as she herself confirmed in the trial, as well as her teammates”, the court wrote.

“It cannot be said that a kiss in those circumstances was frequent or common or usual.”

The court also confirmed that Rubiales, former women’s national team manager Jorge Vilda and two former senior federation officials, Albert Luque and Ruben Rivera, were cleared of the coercion charge.

Rubiales’s lawyer, Olga Tubau, told the AFP news agency that he would appeal the verdict at the Supreme Court.

A separate request by the prosecutors to rerun the trial, notably due to doubts over the judge’s impartiality, was dismissed.

The court also maintained a ban on Rubiales from going within a 200-metre (656-foot) radius of Hermoso and from communicating with her for one year.

The kiss led to a global uproar that forced Rubiales to relinquish his post, saw him banned from all football-related activity for three years and plunged the federation into a prolonged period of turmoil.

The affair made Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the national women’s team, an icon of the fight against sexism and macho culture in sport.

Rubiales is also embroiled in an investigation into alleged financial irregularities totalling millions of euros related to the Spanish Super Cup’s relocation to Saudi Arabia, which involved a company owned by Barcelona great Gerard Pique.

Rubiales has dismissed the allegations as “falsehoods”.

On the pitch, Southgate’s legacy will always be those agonising near misses, with the finger being pointed in his direction for conservative tactics, especially when early leads and domination ended with defeat to Croatia in the World Cup last four, as well as that defeat on penalties to Italy at Wembley.

For someone so often portrayed as “too nice” – something mistaken for his basic decency – Southgate showed steel as a player and again as a manager.

Even before he was appointed as the permanent manager, caretaker boss Southgate effectively signalled the end for Wayne Rooney’s England career by dropping the captain and record goalscorer for a World Cup qualifier in Slovenia before he was eased aside.

Sterling’s time with England ended after the 2022 World Cup, while Jack Grealish was cut from the Euro 2024 squad.

Southgate’s relationship with England’s supporters fluctuated, from the adulation between 2018 and 2021 to the toxicity of a night at Molineux in June 2022 when the personal abuse was such that it had a profound impact on the manager.

England’s Euro 2024 campaign, a somewhat joyless and mediocre affair in which much of the goodwill for Southgate had been diluted, also saw the manager pelted with empty beer cups and jeered by fans after a goalless draw with Slovenia in Cologne.

It was poor payback for what Southgate had given those England fans, only adding to the sense that this was an era drawing to a close, and perhaps the manager would not be sorry to see the back of it.

England flickered fitfully in Germany, reaching the final which ended in the familiar pain of defeat at Spain deservedly won 2-1.

It was a disappointing conclusion, making for a natural end to his time as England manager in which Southgate had made players and supporters dream again.

Once the short-term disappointment eased, it was right that Southgate should be judged with total respect, and befitting of his reign that he should have his investiture moment.

Benfica beat Bayern Munich, but both sides progress from Group C, while minnows Auckland draw 1-1 with Boca Juniors.

Chelsea have entered the FIFA Club World Cup knockouts after beating Esperance of Tunisia 3-0 and will play their last-16 tie against Benfica, who defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 earlier in searing heat.

Chelsea eased through with a clinical 3-0 win over Esperance at Lincoln Financial Field in Group D in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

New signing Liam Delap opened his account for the club with a deftly taken finish in stoppage time at the end of the first half, just moments after Tosin Adarabioyo had headed the Blues in front.

Teenage talent Tyrique George added Chelsea’s third deep into injury time at the end of the game with a low shot that crept under Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said.

Flamengo, who had already assured themselves of top spot in the section after wins over Chelsea and Esperance, wrapped up their first-round campaign with a 1-1 draw against already eliminated LAFC in Orlando.

Los Angeles forward Denis Bouanga threatened to give the MLS side an upset win in their final game of the tournament after a cool finish in the 84th minute, only for Wallace Yan to equalise for Flamengo two minutes later.

In Charlotte, Andreas Schjelderup scored the only goal for Benfica in their Group C clash with Bayern in front of 33,287 fans, finishing first-time from a cutback by his fellow Norwegian Fredrik Aursnes in the 13th minute.

The German champions, who left the likes of Harry Kane and Michael Olise on the bench at kickoff, were unable to come back in sweltering afternoon conditions in heatwave-hit North Carolina.

Kane and Olise came on at half-time, and Bayern did then look more dangerous, but Leroy Sane was denied when clean through by Benfica’s Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.

A draw would have allowed Bayern to top the section, but a Kimmich effort that found the net was ruled out for offside, and Trubin denied Sane again while Kane mistimed a header late on.

It was Benfica’s first-ever win in 14 competitive meetings with Bayern, and it meant they finished first and will next play Group D runners-up Chelsea in Charlotte in the last 16 on Saturday.

‘Tiny club with a huge heart’

That result meant whatever Boca did against Auckland City in Nashville would not be enough to qualify, but the Argentinian giants were still expected to do better than draw 1-1 against the tournament minnows from New Zealand.

Auckland had lost 10-0 to Bayern and 6-0 to Benfica, but this time they recovered from falling behind in the first half when goalkeeper Nathan Garrow palmed a Lautaro Di Lollo header into his own net.

Christian Gray equalised with a header in the second half to earn the sole representatives from Oceania a remarkable point.

“You can’t say we haven’t learned from the experience of being at the tournament. I’m thrilled for the players and the club; it’s wonderful. It’s something to go home with,” said City coach Paul Posa.

“We’re a tiny club with a huge heart, and that’s evident for all to see.”

The game was the fifth so far at the tournament to be suspended due to a weather warning, with play stopping for almost an hour. When the action restarted, not a drop of rain had fallen at Geodis Park.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, FIFA opened a disciplinary investigation into Pachuca’s Gustavo Cabral after allegations he made a racist comment to Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger.

The incident came towards the end of Sunday’s game between the two teams, which Real won 3-1.

Chandler “the Jet” Jones, a local football legend who set records as a wide receiver at Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance and San José State University, died at age 33 in a freeway accident in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to the L.A. County medical examiner.

Jones was hit by a Toyota RAV4 near the Centinela Avenue off-ramp of the 90 Freeway around 2 a.m. Sunday, the California Highway Patrol told MyNewsLA.

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of alum, Chandler Jones ‘09,” Bishop Montgomery High School said in a Facebook post. “Jones was a standout player on Bishop’s football team and still holds the record for longest kick-off return (97 yards) and longest fumble recovery (98 yards).”

Jones was a star wide receiver as a San José Spartan and, after a brief stint in the pros, went on to hold coaching positions at his alma mater, as well as the College of Idaho and the Montreal Alouettes.

“Forever in our hearts, #89,” the San José State football program wrote on X. “In loving memory of Spartan wide receiver and coach, Chandler Jones.”

His former San José State football coach Brent Brennan, who now coaches at the University of Arizona, said on X that his heart was broken by the news of Jones’ death.

“From his freshman year as a WR, to coaching on our staff, he made @SanJoseStateFB better everyday,” said Brennan. “The Jet was special. Love you brother.”

During his 2013 season at San José State, Jones ranked No. 1 in the Mountain West Conference in receiving yards per reception. During that season, he caught he caught 79 passes for 1,356 yards and 15 touchdowns from quarterback David Fales, who went on to play for the Chicago Bears, according to reporting from CBS Sports. Jones also ranks second on the Spartans’ career leaderboard in receiving yards with 3,087.

After finishing his Spartan career, Jones went on to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns practice squads in 2014. He joined the Montreal Alouettes practice squad in 2015 and played for the team in 2016, before returning to San José State as a coach in 2017.

“My heart is truly broken — My good friend and my fellow coach welcomed me with open arms when we met in Idaho,” wrote University of Arizona assistant football coach Greg Stewart on X. “Chandler “The Jet” Jones was the real deal, I will always cherish my time with you my brother.”

Darwin Nunez favours a move to Napoli, Nottingham Forest turn down Newcastle bid for Anthony Elanga, Chelsea hope to wrap up Jamie Gittens deal swiftly.

Liverpool and Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, 25, has made Napoli his preferred destination if he leaves Anfield this summer. (Football Italia), external

Nottingham Forest have rejected a bid from Newcastle worth about £45m for 23-year-old Sweden winger Anthony Elanga, who is valued at £60m. (Sky Sports), external

Chelsea are hopeful of swiftly wrapping up a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s English forward Jamie Gittens, with Bayern Munich also keen on the 20-year-old. (The Athletic – subscription required), external

Fenerbahce are interested in Manchester United’s 25-year-old England winger Jadon Sancho, who is valued at £25m. (Talksport), external

Sunderland have asked Sassuolo about the availability of 26-year-old French winger Armand Lauriente. (ESPN), external

Everton and Manchester United are interested in Leicester’s 28-year-old Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who has a £9m relegation release clause in his contract. (Talksport), external

Nottingham Forest and Marseille are interested in Ajax’s 35-year-old England midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has a clause in his contract that would allow him to move on a free transfer. (Mail), external

Leeds are yet to receive an offer for 25-year-old French goalkeeper Illan Meslier despite reports he is due to have a medical with Fenerbahce. (Sky Sports), external

Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, 30, is expected to finalise his move to Arsenal in a £5m deal this week. (Sky Sports), external

Athletic Bilbao’s 22-year-old Spain forward Nico Williams, who has a £50m release clause in his contract, has told the club he intends to sign for Barcelona. (Athletic – subscription required), external

Everton, Brentford, West Ham and Fulham are considering a move for Ipswich’s 21-year-old England Under-21s winger Omari Hutchinson. (Mail), external

Crystal Palace may still be prevented from playing in Europe next season despite John Textor selling his 43% stake in an attempt to comply with Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules. (Times – subscription required), external

Burnley are preparing a £12m bid for Lazio’s 21-year-old France Under-21s forward Loum Tchaouna. (Football Italia), external

Darrell Doucette didn’t mean any disrespect. All the U.S. flag football star wanted to do in an interview that went more viral than any of his numerous highlights was to fight for his sport.

So when he told TMZ in 2024 that he is “better than Patrick Mahomes” at flag football for his IQ of the sport, the generally soft-spoken Doucette wasn’t trying to issue any challenges. Watch the two-time world champion throw touchdowns, catch them, snap the ball and play defense all in the same game and it’s clear he prefers to let his game speak.

“It wasn’t about me vs. them,” said Doucette, who is known in the flag football world by his nickname “Housh.” “It was about flag football, putting eyes on this game.”

With preparations ramping up for the 2028 Olympics, flag football just wants its respect.

Respect for the sport that is no longer just a child’s stepping stone to tackle football.

Respect for its established players who have already won every tournament there is and have eyes for more.

U.S. wide receiver Isabella “Izzy” Geraci runs with the ball during a game against Australia at the USA Football Summer Series at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

“It’s not your mom’s flag football anymore,” said Callie Brownson, USA Football’s senior director of high performance and national team operations.

Flag football has graduated out of backyards and into the Olympics, where the sport will debut in L.A. More than 750 athletes from 10 countries from the youth level to senior national teams gathered at Dignity Health Sports Park last weekend to preview the Olympic future at USA Football’s Summer Series, where the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams played friendlies against Canada, Australia, Germany and Japan.

The sport’s growth domestically and internationally came in part through major investment from the NFL, and the league could play a major role in the Olympics: NFL players are allowed to participate in Olympic competition. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was among the NFL stars who immediately took notice as the NFL most valuable player said he would “absolutely love” to play if given the opportunity.

Doucette loved hearing the conversation. The New Orleans native grew up playing the sport when seemingly no one else bothered to care. To hear NFL players taking an interest now? It feels like all he ever wanted.

“We’re welcoming those guys,” Doucette said. “We don’t have no issue with it. We just want a fair opportunity. We want those guys to come out and learn because there’s things that we’re going to need to teach them … and there’s things that they can teach us. They can teach us how to run routes and how to cover and do other different things. So it’s not us vs. them or them vs. us. It’s us together as one teaching each other.”

U.S. wide receiver Ja’Deion High evades an Australian defender during the USA Football “Summer Series” at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Olympic flag football is played with five players per side on a 50-by-25-yard field. Teams have four downs to reach midfield and four more to score from inside midfield. The basic tenants of offensive football remain the same from its tackle counterpart: throw, catch, run.

But players don’t juke the same way their tackle counterparts can, wide receiver Ja’Deion High said. When the former Texas Tech receiver was learning the sport, he was stunned when defenders still pulled his flag after what he believed were his best moves. He had to learn flag football’s unique hip dips and flips to keep his flags away from defenders.

The adjustment on defense could be even more difficult. Defenders cannot hinder an opposing player’s forward progress. The NFL’s most mundane hand-check would draw a penalty in flag football.

“The athletic ability [of an NFL player], I’m not questioning,” said defensive back Mike Daniels, a former cornerback at West Virginia. “But the IQ aspect, the speed of the game is completely different.”

USA Football, the governing body of U.S. flag football responsible for selecting the national team, has not outlined how NFL players will fit into the tryout process for the 2028 Olympic cycle. But with the Games scheduled for July 14 to July 30, the one-week flag competition could overlap with the beginning of NFL training camps. Even preparations to learn the new sport and practice its unique schemes would take valuable offseason time away from NFL players.

U.S. wide receiver Laval Davis, left, attempts to catch a pass as an Australian player defends during the USA Football Summer Series on Sunday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley was ready to burst into patriotic song at the mention of representing the United States in the Olympics, but when reminded that he might have to miss part of training camp for it, he backed off immediately. He spoke directly into a video camera to assure Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh that the job that pays him $5.4 million on a four-year rookie contract is all he needs.

USA Football has remained in contact with the NFL about how to integrate professionals, said Brownson, who worked for the Cleveland Browns for five seasons, including three as the assistant wide receivers coach. With the Games still three years away, USA Football is focused on keeping doors open to all prospects and offering educational opportunities for potential players to become familiar with flag football.

“The cool thing about our process is when you come out to trials, there is no name on the back of your jersey,” Brownson said. “You get a number and you have the same opportunity to try out as the person next to you. … We’ll just be excited to have the best team that we could but I always do and will always stand up for who we currently field.

“They’re the best flag football players in the world, both men and women, and they deserve their flowers, too.”

The U.S. men’s national team is the five-time defending International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world champions. Since Doucette made his national team debut in 2020, the U.S. men are undefeated in international tournaments with gold medals at two world championships (2021, 2024), the 2022 World Games and the 2023 continental championship.

U.S. wide receiver Amber Clark-Robinson scores a touchdown against Australia at the USA Football Summer Series at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.

(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)

Led by quarterback Vanita Krouch, the women’s team is 33-1 in the last six years. The U.S. women have won three consecutive IFAF world championships and the 2023 continental title while finishing second at the 2022 World Games.

Krouch has become an international flag football star after a four-year basketball career at Southern Methodist. Examining talent transfers from other sports has helped strengthen the USA Football athlete pipeline as the organization researches the best qualities for flag football.

Baseball and softball players who can whip passes from odd arm angles can thrive in a game that features multiple quarterbacks. The U.S. national teams have former basketball, soccer and track and field stars.

The sport values agility and elusiveness. While the NFL’s 40-yard dash is the premier test for speed, it may be less valuable in flag football, Brownson said. The perfect flag football player combines that straight-line speed with quickness.

“There’s such an art and a craft and a different style of dance that we do,” Krouch said. “I say tackle football is like hip hop, krump dancing. … We ballet dance. It’s finesse, it’s clean, it’s creative.”

The quarterback served as an offensive coordinator in the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl, the first version of the All-Star game to feature a flag football format. Leading the NFC team to victory, Krouch loved sharing flag football’s unique route combinations. She noticed how the NFL’s best showed their respect for her sport by enthusiastically learning the different nuances.

The Pro Bowl experience was one of many surreal moments for Krouch in her nearly two-decade career of playing flag football. From playing in a local league, the 44-year-old has become a multi-time gold medalist. She never thought this sport she sometimes teaches in her elementary physical education classes could become this big.

U.S. defensive back Laneah Bryan, left, tries to pull a flag off an Australian player during the USA Football Summer Series on Sunday.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

The announcement that flag football would officially debut in the 2028 Olympics brought it to even greater heights. No question Krouch wants to play in the Games.

But the competition at tryouts every year gets 10 times harder, two-time national team member Ashlea Klam said. The 19-year-old plays flag football on a scholarship for NAIA-level Keiser University and recognizes no one is guaranteed a spot each year as the talent pool grows. It will be even more difficult to make the 10-person Olympic roster.

As each year’s tryouts get more competitive, Doucette sees his hope for the sport coming true. He knows the better prospects are a sign that more people are paying attention to flag football. If in three years at BMO Stadium, the eyes are fixated on another quarterback leading the United States at the Olympics, Doucette will consider that still mission accomplished.

“No matter if I’m a part of the team or not, I will still be around the game,” Doucette said. “That’s my goal is still to be there, in general, no matter if I’m playing or watching.”

Inter Miami draw 2-2 with Palmeiras to see both sides through but Atletico Madrid go out despite win over Botafogo.

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi faces a tantalising reunion with former club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Club World Cup last 16 after both sides progressed to the knockout phase.

Miami drew 2-2 with Palmeiras on Monday to go through second in Group A and set up a knockout match against Group B toppers PSG, after the Brazilian side fought back from two goals down to seal top spot and confirm an all-Brazil clash against Botafogo.

Champions of Europe PSG recorded an easy 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders, paving the way for the clash with their former star forward Messi and his surprise package of a club Miami.

Goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suarez had Miami on course for a second victory in the tournament after their shock win over Porto.

But Palmeiras struck twice in the last 10 minutes at Hard Rock Stadium through Paulinho and Mauricio to ensure they went through.

Suarez, Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Miami coach Javier Mascherano will also face their former coach Luis Enrique, who guided them to the treble when in charge at Barcelona in 2015.

“We’re talking about the champions of Europe. We know many of their players and their coach, who I was lucky enough to have coach me, and I’ve always said he is the best in the world,” Alba said after the match.

“I will connect with good friends there but once the game starts, we will compete, try to beat them, and why can’t we do it? This is football.”

Mascherano said Miami’s progress had elevated Major League Soccer (MLS).

“It’s a historic night for MLS, because we are into the best 16 teams in the world. All of the MLS has to be proud of Inter Miami,” he said.

Porto, Al Ahly out after eight-goal thriller

Portuguese side Porto and Egypt’s Al Ahly were eliminated after a thrilling 4-4 draw, which was not enough for either team to overhaul Palmeiras or Miami.

Pepe scored a goal in the 89th minute to finish the game in a 4-4 tie for Porto in a back-and-forth match.

Rodrigo Mora, William Gomes and Samu Aghehowa also scored for the Portuguese team. Wessam Abou Ali had a hat-trick for the Egyptian team in front of a crowd of 39,893 at MetLife Stadium, where a sea of red Al Ahly jerseys dominated the stands.

Both teams pushed for a late goal before the final whistle but neither could score again.

Atletico Madrid bag six points but go out

In Group B, Botafogo lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid but progressed at the expense of the Spaniards, whose 4-0 defeat by PSG in their opener left them needing a big win in their last game.

Former France international Antoine Griezmann scored the game’s only goal, lashing home a Julian Alvarez cross in the 87th minute to give Atletico a victory that ultimately was in vain.

“We’re frustrated that we didn’t qualify – we had six points,” Atletico coach Simeone said afterwards.

“At the end of the day we were punished because it wasn’t enough.”

Atletico needed a two-goal swing and were upset at penalty appeals being turned down.

“I’ve never seen anything like it, to be honest, I think we should have been awarded two penalties,” complained winger Giuliano Simeone, the coach’s son.

European champions PSG bounced back from their surprise defeat by Botafogo with a comfortable win in Seattle.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi scored either side of half-time as the Ligue 1 champions advanced as group winners because of Botafogo’s late defeat to Atletico Madrid in Pasadena.

“It wasn’t easy because the pitch was very different to what we are used to in Europe so we couldn’t play with the fluidity that we like, but we adapted,” said PSG coach Enrique.

PSG top scorer Ousmane Dembele played no part for a third game running after travelling to the tournament with an injury.

Arsenal are interested in signing Bradley Barcola, Tottenham will focus on signing Eberechi Eze after Manchester United submit an improved offer for Bryan Mbeumo, Ibrahima Konate has turned down a new contract offer from Liverpool.

Arsenal have expressed an interest in Paris St–Germain’s 22-year-old France forward Bradley Barcola, who is also wanted by Bayern Munich and Liverpool. (L’Equipe – in French, subscription required), external

Tottenham will target Crystal Palace’s 26-year-old England winger Eberechi Eze after losing ground in the race to sign Brentford’s Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo following Manchester United’s improved offer worth more than £60m for the 25-year-old. (Talksport), external

Liverpool’s 26-year-old France defender Ibrahima Konate, who is out of contract next summer, has rejected the club’s latest offer of a new deal. (Guardian), external

Newcastle are in talks with Burnley over a deal for 22-year-old England goalkeeper James Trafford. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Borussia Dortmund’s English winger Jamie Gittens remains a target for Bayern Munich despite the 20-year-old having a verbal agreement with Chelsea. (Sky Germany), external

Juventus are prepared to offer Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, 25, and Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz, 27, as part of a deal with Manchester United for 25-year-old English winger Jadon Sancho. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Barcelona are close to signing FC Copenhagen’s 19-year-old Swedish winger Roony Bardghji in a deal worth about £2m. (Sky Sports), external

Monaco are yet to agree a deal with free agent and former France midfielder Paul Pogba, 32, despite reports elsewhere saying they have. (Sky Sports), external

Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez, 21, is set to complete his medical on Tuesday before joining Liverpool from Bournemouth. (Athletic – subscription required), external

EXPLAINER

What do PSG, Real Madrid and Inter Miami need? Can Al Hilal and Sundowns still qualify? Al Jazeera explains.

All teams at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 have played two games each, and at the end of matchday two, five clubs have already booked their spots in the tournament’s round of 16.

Famous clubs such as Bayern Munich and Manchester City are among those to clinch qualification, but the likes of European giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain still need a final push to seal a place in the knockouts.

Al Jazeera Sport explains which teams are in and which are out, while breaking down the scenarios under which some of the comparatively smaller clubs could squeeze through.

Which teams are in the Club World Cup round of 16?

With two wins out of two and six points in the bag, these five clubs can breathe easy:

• Botafogo
• Bayern Munich
• Flamengo
• Manchester City
• Juventus

Which teams have been knocked out of the Club World Cup?

After losing their first two games, the journey has ended for seven clubs:

• Auckland City
• Los Angeles FC
• Urawa Red Diamonds
• Ulsan HD
• Wydad AC
• Al Ain
• Pachuca

What are the tie-breaker rules being used in the Club World Cup?

In case of a tie on points, the teams progressing to the knockouts will be determined on a set of tie-breakers. Should the first step result in another tie, the next tie-breaker will be employed until a winner is decided. These steps are:

• Head-to-head winner between the tied teams
• Head-to-head goal difference between the tied teams
• Head-to-head goals scored between the tied teams
• Disciplinary points (yellow and red cards)
• Drawing of lots

What results do Real Madrid, Inter Milan, PSG, Inter Miami and Chelsea need to progress?

While the Lionel Messi-led side and the four European giants remain favourites to enter the second round of the competition, the following clubs still have some work left to do before they can progress.

• Real Madrid: With four points from their first two games – like RB Salzburg – Real sit on top of Group H by edging Salzburg on goal difference. A win against the Austrian team in their final group game will send the Spanish giants through. A draw and a win for Al Hilal over Pachuca will leave all three teams on five points apiece, bringing the tie-break rules into play to determine the top two sides.
• PSG: The European champions have won one and lost one game so far, leaving them with three points and in desperate need of a win in their final Group B game against Seattle Sounders. Six points will seal their spot alongside Botafogo.
• Inter Miami: The Miami team made a lukewarm start to the tournament, before beating FC Porto to have a total of four points after two games. They face Group A leaders Palmeiras for a bid to seal their place, which they can do by avoiding a loss.
• Chelsea: The English side find themselves in a spot of bother with only three points after a win and a loss. They need to avoid losing to their tough Group D opponents, ES Tunis, who also have the same points, to advance. A draw will be enough for Chelsea on the basis of their better goal difference.
• Inter Milan: The UEFA Champions League runners up were held by Mexican opponents Monterrey in their first game but beat a resilient Urawa Reds side to bag their first win in Group E. Inter face group toppers (on goal difference) River Plate in their last game, where a win would make either side the group leaders, but a draw could bring in a tie-break scenario should Monterrey thrash Urawa in their final game.

Can Al Hilal, Mamelodi Sundowns, Monterrey and ES Tunis still qualify for the knockouts?

Yes, all four clubs have at least two points from their first two games, giving them a promising shot at qualification.

Al Hilal and Monterrey also have two points from their two drawn games. The Saudi club face the ousted Mexican side Pachuca for a chance to score a big win and then hope that their superior goal difference can see them through, irrespective of the result in the other Group H game. Monterrey are in the same boat and will have the same requirements from their game against Urawa.

The Sundowns have lit up the Club World Cup with their skills and colourful celebrations, but it will not be fun and games when they play Brazil’s Fluminense for a chance to qualify. A win, resulting in six points, will be enough for the South African club, but a draw, leading to four points, might kick them out as German giants Borussia Dortmund, on four points, are highly unlikely to lose against Ulsan in their last Group F match.

ES Tunis are in a straight winner-goes-through shootout with Chelsea, as a draw will not be enough for the Tunisian club, given their poorer goal difference.

Which other teams still have a chance to enter the round of 16?

• Fluminense
• Borussia Dortmund
• Atletico Madrid
• River Plate
• FC Porto
• Benfica
• Al Ahly
• Palmeiras
• Boca Juniors
• RB Salzburg
• Seattle Sounders

Goals from Haaland, Gundogan and new signing Cherki help Man City enter the tournament’s knockout stage.

Manager Pep Guardiola has been left a little disappointed that Manchester City were unable to get a seventh goal in their rout of Al Ain, despite the English club securing passage to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup.

German Ilkay Gundogan scored two goals as City comfortably dispatched the Emiratis 6-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, and drew level with Juventus on points and goal difference at the top of Group G.

City play Juventus in their final opening-round match on Thursday to decide who tops the group and who finishes second.

Juventus go into the clash with a slight edge as goals scored in the second tiebreaker after goal difference for teams level on points. Juve have scored nine goals to City’s eight.

In the round of 16, the top team in Group G will play the second-placed team in Group H, currently Red Bull Salzburg. The runners-up will face the top team, currently 15-time European champions Real Madrid.

Juventus beat Wydad 4-1 in the other Group G match.

Erling Haaland scored on a penalty, while new signing Rayan Cherki bagged one close to full-time, and Claudio Echeverri and Oscar Bobb also got on the scoring sheet for City as they aim to look past a disappointing season.

With an entirely new lineup after a 2-0 win over Morocco’s Wydad in the group opener, Man City produced a dominating performance in Atlanta against an overmatched club from the United Arab Emirates.

Guardiola said that his side “pushed and pushed to score another goal” but ended up missing one.

City’s star forward Rodri came off the bench as he continues his gradual return from an ACL injury.

“He cannot play more than 30 minutes,” the Spanish manager said of Rodri’s return. “He still struggles a bit in the duels, still needs to be a little bit stronger, but it’s normal.

“It’s important he played much, much better than the previous game. We miss him a lot. Any team would miss the best player in the world.”

In Sunday’s other results, Salzburg and Al Hilal played out a goalless draw in Group H after 10-man Real Madrid won 3-1 against Pachuca.