football

The FIFA Club World Cup starts on June 14, 2025, with the US-based tournament lasting for just under a month before the final in New Jersey on July 13.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the 12 stadium venues and 11 cities hosting the event, which range from Philadelphia in the east of the country to Los Angeles on the west coast, to Atlanta in the deep south.

Five of the Club World Cup venues – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, MetLife Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, and Lumen Field – will also host 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.

US Host Cities and venues:

Atlanta – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Charlotte – Bank of America Stadium
Cincinnati – TQL Stadium
Los Angeles – Rose Bowl Stadium
Miami – Hard Rock Stadium
Nashville – GEODIS Park
New York-New Jersey – MetLife Stadium
Orlando – Camping World Stadium
Orlando – Inter&Co Stadium
Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field
Seattle – Lumen Field
Washington, DC – Audi Field

📍Where the #FIFACWC action will unfold. 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/DcsgDQTr8s

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 2, 2025

Stadium and host cities guide: FIFA Club World Cup 2025

1. Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Capacity: 75,000
Built: 2017
Fixtures:

⚽ 16/06: Chelsea vs LAFC (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 19/06: Inter Miami vs Porto (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 22/06: Manchester City vs Al Ain (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 29/06: Round of 16 (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)
⚽ 01/07: Round of 16 (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 05/07: Quarterfinal (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)

This southern city of more than 500,000 people is famous for another kind of football (American college football), home to the Atlanta MLS team, and the site of undoubtedly the most space-age stadium architecture of the 11 host cities, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Eight FIFA World Cup 2026 fixtures will take place in Atlanta, including a semifinal and two other knockout ties. For the Club World Cup, the venue will hold six matches in total, culminating in a quarterfinal on July 5.

This huge venue boasts a retractable roof and a 360-degree halo video display. It also hosts the professional NFL team, Atlanta Falcons, ice hockey and music concerts, with heavy metal band Metallica due to host a show shortly before the Club World Cup.

2. Bank of America Stadium

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Capacity: 75,000
Built: 1996
Fixtures:

⚽ 22/06: Real Madrid vs Pachuca (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽24/06: Benfica vs Bayern Munich (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽28/06: Round of 16 (4:00pm EDT/20:00 GMT)
⚽30/06: Round of 16 (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)

Nestled on the edge of downtown Charlotte’s many skyscrapers, Bank of America Stadium is one of the largest football venues on the East Coast of the United States.

The all-blue seated arena is home to the MLS franchise Charlotte FC since 2022, as well as the NFL team Carolina Panthers, who have played home games here since the mid-1990s.

Charlotte is the major centre of the US motorsports industry, housing the country’s only Formula One team, Haas F1, and multiple NASCAR teams.

3. TQL Stadium

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Capacity: 26,000
Built: 2021
Fixtures:

⚽ 15/06: Bayern Munich vs Auckland City (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)
⚽ 18/06: Pachuca vs Salzburg (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT)
⚽ 21/06: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Borussia Dortmund (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)
⚽ 25/06: Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)

Located near the Ohio River and just two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the state border with Kentucky, this relatively new and football-specific stadium is the home of MLS side FC Cincinnati.

The stadium, which has the third-smallest seating capacity of the 12 Club World Cup venues at 26,000, has an intimate feel to it with spectators sitting close to the action. TQL Stadium has already hosted several matches for international teams, including in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The US women’s team has played at this venue twice, attracting more than 22,000 attendees on both occasions.

Cincinnati, Ohio’s most populous metro area, with more than 2.3 million residents, was nicknamed “Porkopolis” during the 19th century due to the city’s role in pork packaging, and was known to have thousands of pigs herded through its streets.

4. Rose Bowl Stadium

Location: Los Angeles, California
Capacity: 88,500
Built: 1922
Fixtures:

⚽ 15/06: PSG vs Atletico Madrid (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 17/06: Monterrey vs Inter Milan (6:00pm PDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 19/06: PSG vs Botafogo (6:00pm PDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 21/06: River Plate vs Monterrey (6:00pm – PDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 23/06: Atletico Madrid vs Botafogo (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 25/06: Urawa Red Diamonds vs Monterrey (6:00pm PDT/01:00 GMT)

This iconic venue, the biggest and easily oldest ground in action at the Club World Cup, celebrated its centenary in 2022. For spectators, the sweeping seating throughout the circular arena provides an uninterrupted view of the playing field.

Recognised as a National Historic Landmark, the Rose Bowl is best known as a college American football venue, specifically as the host of the annual Rose Bowl Game after which it is named. Five Super Bowl games, the third most of any venue, have been played in the stadium.

It is also a well-known football venue, having hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup final, the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, and the 1984 Olympic gold medal match.

Los Angeles and its metropolitan area are home to 11 top-level professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball, the NBA’s iconic LA Lakers and the winners of the most MLS Cups, the LA Galaxy.

5. Hard Rock Stadium

Location: Miami, Florida
Capacity: 65,000
Built: 1987
Fixtures:

⚽ 14/06: Ah Ahly vs Inter Miami (8:00pm EDT/00:00 GMT)
⚽ 16/06: Boca Juniors vs Benfica (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT)
⚽ 18/06: Real Madrid vs Al Hilal (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 20/06: Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 23/06: Inter Miami vs Palmeiras (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 25/06: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Fluminense (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 29/06: Round of 16 (4:00pm EDT/20:00 GMT)
⚽ 01/07: Round of 16 (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)

From hosting the NFL’s famous Miami Dolphins, to being the epicentre of the annual Formula One Miami Grand Prix, to staging the Miami Open tennis tournament, the Hard Rock Stadium is the venue of choice for large-scale sporting events in this famous coastal city.

Six Super Bowls, multiple major concerts and international football matches have taken place here, and it is also among the host venues selected for the FIFA World Cup next year.

The Hard Rock Stadium will stage the opening fixture of the Club World Cup on June 14, where Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will face Egyptian club Al Ahly.

6. GEODIS Park

Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Capacity: 30,000
Built: 2022
Fixtures:

⚽ 20/06: LAFC vs Esperance (5:00pm CDT/22:00 GMT)
⚽ 24/06: Auckland City vs Boca Juniors (2:00pm CDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 26/06: Al Hilal vs Pachuca (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)

GEODIS Park is the largest football-specific stadium in the US and Canada, and fans throughout the ground are unusually close to the action, with the furthest distance from seat to touchline standing at just 150 feet (46 metres).

The venue is home to MLS side Nashville SC and has also hosted several matches of the US men’s and women’s football teams.

Located in Nashville, which is often referred to as Music City, GEODIS Park also serves as a major concert venue and has hosted popular American rock bands such as Guns N’ Roses and Green Day.

7. MetLife Stadium

Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
Capacity: 82,500
Built: 2010
Fixtures:

⚽ 15/06: Palmeiras vs Porto (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT)
⚽ 17/06: Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)
⚽ 19/06: Palmeiras vs Al Ahly (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)
⚽ 21/06: Fluminense vs Ulsan HD (6:00pm – EDT/22:00 GMT)
⚽ 23/06: Porto vs Al Ahly (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 05/07: Quarterfinal (4:00pm EDT/20:00 GMT)
⚽ 08/07: Semifinal 1 (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 09/07: Semifinal 2 (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 13/07: Final (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)

The MetLife Stadium, a huge multipurpose stadium which is currently home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, is the grand stage chosen to host the Club World Cup final, as well as both semifinals.

The stadium hosted the 2016 Copa America Centenario final, which marked 100 years of South America’s continental tournament. The venue will also host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, on top of two further knockout ties and five group-stage matches.

New Jersey has long been an important cultural area for original rock and rap music creation, and the MetLife Stadium has hosted many A-list performers such as Beyonce, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift.

8. Camping World Stadium

Location: Orlando, Florida
Capacity: 65,000
Built: 1936
Fixtures:

⚽ 24/06: LAFC vs Flamengo (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 26/06: Juventus vs Manchester City (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 30/06: Round of 16 (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 04/07: Quarterfinal (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)

Located in Orlando, home to more than a dozen theme parks, including the popular Walt Disney World, the Camping World Stadium has been used by several teams, including the National Women’s (NWSL) football side Orlando Pride.

Opened as Orlando Stadium, it has also been known as the Tangerine Bowl and Florida Citrus Bowl.

The stadium has undergone multiple expansions and renovations since it first opened almost 90 years ago, culminating in the 2014 redevelopment, which saw the creation of a 90 percent all-new stadium following a $200m investment in the arena.

Apart from sports, the venue plays host to entertainment and musical events, with the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, and Elton John all taking to the stage, while WrestleMania XXIV wowed a venue-record crowd of 74,635 in 2008.

9. Inter&Co Stadium

Location: Orlando, Florida
Capacity: 25,000
Built: 2017
Fixtures:

⚽ 17/06: Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT)
⚽ 20/06: Benfica vs Auckland City (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)

A newer and smaller venue than Orlando’s other Club World Cup 2025 venue at Camping World Stadium, the Inter&Co Stadium is known for its purpose-built football design.

It is the home ground of MLS outfit Orlando City and NWSL’s Orlando Pride, while both the US men’s and women’s football teams have featured here, including during the FIFA men’s World Cup qualifiers and the SheBelieves Cup women’s tournament.

The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Opening Ceremony also took place here.

10. Lincoln Financial Field

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Capacity: 69,000
Built: 2003
Fixtures:

⚽ 16/06: Flamengo vs Esperance (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 18/06: Manchester City vs Wydad (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)
⚽ 20/06: Flamengo vs Chelsea (2:00pm EDT/18:00 GMT)
⚽ 22/06: Juventus vs Wydad (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)
⚽ 24/06: Esperance vs Chelsea (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 26/06: Salzburg vs Real Madrid (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 28/06: Round of 16 (12:00pm EDT/16:00 GMT)
⚽ 04/07: Quarterfinal (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)

Home to this year’s NFL Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field has also been selected to host five group-stage matches and a Round of 16 tie during the 48-team FIFA World Cup next year.

Located on the banks of the Delaware River, the stadium’s first ticketed event took place in 2003 when Manchester United defeated Barcelona 3-1 in a friendly in front of more than 68,000 fans.

11. Lumen Field

Location: Seattle, Washington State
Capacity: 69,000
Built: 2002
Fixtures:

⚽ 15/06: Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders (7:00pm PDT/02:00 GMT)
⚽ 17/06: River Plate vs Urawa Red Diamonds (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 19/06: Seattle Sounders vs Atletico Madrid (3:00pm PDT/22:00 GMT)
⚽ 21/06: Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 23/06: Seattle Sounders vs PSG (12:00pm PDT/19:00 GMT)
⚽ 25/06: Inter Milan vs River Plate (6:00pm PDT/01:00 GMT)

This spectacular stadium is home to Seattle Sounders – who qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as CONCACAF Champions League winners in 2022 – as well as the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and NWSL’s Seattle Reign.

Boasting a unique horseshoe shape with an open north end that gives a stunning view of the city skyline, the Lumen Field is also a venue for next year’s FIFA World Cup and will host six matches.

Located within a mile of downtown Seattle, the stadium is easily accessible by multiple freeways and public transport.

12. Audi Field

Location: Washington, DC
Capacity: 20,000
Built: 2018
Fixtures:

⚽ 18/06: Al Ain vs Juventus (9:00pm EDT/01:00 GMT)
⚽ 22/06: Salzburg vs Al Hilal (6:00pm EDT/22:00 GMT)
⚽ 26/06: Wydad vs Al Ain (3:00pm EDT/19:00 GMT)

The US capital’s stadium is the home of the Washington Spirit in the NWSL and DC United, who are tied with the LA Galaxy as MLS’s most decorated team.

The US men’s and women’s national teams have both played fixtures at this ground, as well as Arsenal’s men’s and women’s teams, in friendly or competitive matches.

Audi Field, which will host three matches during the Club World Cup, also serves as a regular venue for American football, rugby and lacrosse games.

Julio Frenk does not appear to be a university administrator content to watch his school’s athletic program from the sidelines.

In his last stop before becoming UCLA’s chancellor, Frenk led an overhaul of the University of Miami’s athletic department, bringing in a new athletic director and football coach after the Hurricanes were criticized for not making football a priority under Frenk’s leadership.

That shakeup resulted in coach Mario Cristobal leading his team to a 10-3 season in 2024 that represented the Hurricanes’ best finish in nearly a decade.

Can UCLA fans expect a similar level of involvement in athletics from their new chancellor?

In a word, yes.

During a recent interview with The Times, Frenk indicated that he would be hands-on with UCLA athletics because of its importance to the university as a whole.

“I am [going to be involved] because I think athletics plays a very central role,” Frenk said. “It is, first, an avenue for recruiting very talented students. Secondly, it benefits the other students. It enriches the student experience of everyone. But let me tell you, when we talk about the contribution to society, part of the reason many universities have a deficit, it’s not because of football. Football actually has a positive cash flow for the university.

“What we do in the United States that no other country that I know of does, is that universities are the place where we train Olympians, Olympic competitors, competitors who go to the Olympic Games. That function — just like the research function — has been delegated to universities and we are investing in having Olympic athletes. In most of the other countries, it’s government-run high-performance centers.

“But here the federal government doesn’t have to worry about that because universities do that and they fund that. And when we have the Olympics every four years, everyone is very proud to see the United States top the medal chart. That work starts in universities and that’s why we also fund that. It’s an intrinsic part of education. It enriches everyone’s experience. It builds community. It also produces the best performing Olympic teams in the world.”

Frenk’s comments would seem to suggest that he is not considering any cuts to UCLA’s Olympic sports even at a time when the school’s athletic department has run up a $219.5-million deficit over the last six fiscal years. That deficit would be even higher had the university not agreed to provide $30 million to its athletic department as part of its most recent fiscal budget.

Frenk also said that federal legislation was needed “to create a much more predictable model” for football and men’s basketball, controlling expenses while propping up the rest of an athletic department.

UCLA chancellor Julio Frenk speaks during his inauguration ceremony at Royce Hall on June 5.

(Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

“I acknowledge this costs money,” Frenk said of allocating resources to the revenue sports, “but the money goes to be able to have all the other disciplines that do not generate money. The most direct way to do that would be to find other sources of funding. Right now, we use the revenue from football and that requires investments to fund the entire athletic operation.

“It is time to have a conversation and create a legal framework that doesn’t leave it to each institution or each state to find their own way in this. We’re part of an ecosystem. I think the move to the Big Ten has been very positive in that respect. And those are the conversations we are having. How do we generate other sources of revenue — mostly to be able not just to maintain the excellence of the sports that are widely followed by the public, but also all the other sports, including, very importantly, the Olympic sports, which are such a source of pride?”

Frenk has shown he will not tolerate failure in high-profile sports — or the perception that he is not doing everything he can to help his teams.

As Miami’s president, he led an upheaval of the school’s athletic department after ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit criticized the Hurricanes during a September 2021 broadcast, mentioning a Miami Herald article stating that football was not a priority for Frenk. Herbstreit went on to say that Miami’s athletic director, football coach and president were not in alignment about team needs like other powerhouse programs.

Five days later, Frenk issued a statement saying that he wanted “to make clear that the board of trustees and I, as president, recognize the essential part of our brand and reputation derived from athletics and we are fully committed to building championship-caliber teams at the U.” Frenk added that he would have his chief of staff and senior advisor engage with the athletic department to enhance his own commitment to sustain winning teams.

With the football team headed for a 7-5 finish that fell far short of preseason expectations, athletic director James Blake was fired before the end of the season and football coach Manny Diaz was dismissed a little more than a week after the final game. The Hurricanes then gave Cristobal a 10-year, $80-million contract, with Frenk attending the introductory news conference and calling his new coach’s selection “a bold vision for the future.”

UCLA football went 5-7 last season under first-year coach DeShaun Foster.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Last month, while making his first public remarks about UCLA athletics at a UC regents meeting, Frenk referenced the role athletics played in the school’s institutional identity, mentioning legendary basketball coach John Wooden and the Bruins’ dominance in Olympic sports with the school set to host the athlete village for the 2028 Olympics.

Frenk also mentioned how UCLA’s recent move to the Big Ten Conference was made with “the goal of stabilizing the program and positioning it for long-term success.” The chancellor referenced the school’s national championship in men’s water polo, a Final Four appearance in women’s basketball and a national runner-up finish in women’s gymnastics as part of a haul that also included six team and four individual conference titles, the most of any Big Ten team.

Ultimately, an athletic department is only as healthy as its highest-profile sports. UCLA’s football team needs to fully capitalize on the recent buzz created by the arrival of transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava after finishing 5-7 in coach DeShaun Foster‘s debut season. The men’s basketball team must maximize the ability of transfer point guard Donovan Dent to make everyone around him better if it hopes to make it to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2023.

Going forward, every UCLA team seems assured of one thing: Their new chancellor will be watching.

Newcastle move for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, Arsenal pursue Benjamin Sesko and Manchester United make improved offer for Bryan Mbeumo.

Newcastle United have made a move to try to sign 23-year-old Sweden winger Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest. (Mail), external

Arsenal have formally approached RB Leipzig to sign 22-year-old Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, although no bid has yet been lodged. (Sky Sports), external

Manchester United have made an offer worth £60m for Brentford and Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo, 25, after they had a first bid totalling £55m rejected. (ESPN), external

Inter Milan have made informal inquiries about signing £40m-rated Manchester United and Denmark forward Rasmus Hojlund, 22. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Lyon have rejected Manchester City’s first offer for 21-year-old France attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki as negotiations between the two clubs continue. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Tottenham will have to pay in excess of £10m if they want to bring in Brentford boss Thomas Frank to replace Ange Postecoglou, who has been sacked by Spurs. (Mirror), external

Serie A champions Napoli are weighing up a move for 25-year-old England defender Trevoh Chalobah, who helped Chelsea qualify for the Champions League and win the Uefa Conference League after returning from a loan spell at Crystal Palace in January. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and AC Milan are keen on Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 26, if he fails to agree a new deal at Paris St-Germain, while Inter Milan and Juventus may wait for his contract to expire in 2026, before making a move. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Arsenal are among the clubs keen on 30-year-old Spain goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has a £5m release clause in his Chelsea contract. (Evening Standard), external

England midfielder Angel Gomes, who is set to leave Lille at the end of his contract this summer, has an agreement in principle to join Marseille, who have beaten Tottenham and West Ham to land the 24-year-old. (RMC Sport – in French), external

Marseille have made a contract offer to 29-year-old West Ham and Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd. (Foot Mercato – in French), external

Newcastle are growing frustrated at being quoted inflated transfer fees with Eintracht Frankfurt’s £80m asking price for Hugo Ekitike putting the Magpies off a move for the 22-year-old French forward. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Crystal Palace have explored an ambitious deal for Sporting and Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande, who would cost about £45m. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Sunderland have rejected an offer from Borussia Dortmund for English midfielder Jobe Bellingham, but the clubs remain in talks about a deal for the 19-year-old. (Sky Sports Germany), external

AC Milan have shown interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, 32, while the Bundesliga club appear keen on bringing in Germany defender Malick Thiaw, 23, from the Serie A club. (Kicker – in German), external

Ange Postecoglou spoke of his intense pride at his two-year stint as Tottenham Hotspur manager after it ended with him being sacked by the Premier League club.

The 59-year-old Australian took the club to their first trophy for 17 years last month when Tottenham beat Manchester United to win the Europa League.

But the club axed him on Friday after their worst top-flight campaign since 1976-77, finishing one place above the Premier League’s relegation zone after losing 22 games.

“When I reflect on my time as Manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride,” he said in a statement released shortly after his dismissal was confirmed.

“The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime. Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.

“That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream. There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.”

Postecoglou spoke in the build-up to the Europa League final about changing the way the club is perceived, and he said his accomplishments should ensure that Tottenham will not have to wait so long for their next trophy.

“We have laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success,” he said. “I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them.”

While Tottenham fans were split over Postecoglou’s future, he had a message for the supporters.

“I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters,” he said. “I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on.

“And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special. We are forever connected.”

The 59-year-old ultimately paid the price for a horrendous Premier League season, which saw Tottenham finish 17th.

“The Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place,” Tottenham said in a statement.

“Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season.”

Postecoglou leaves two years to the day after his appointment and 16 days after his side beat Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao for the club’s first silverware since 2008, a win that also put them in next season’s Champions League.

The former Celtic manager has had to face questions over his future for several months, yet delivered on his claim early last season that he always wins a trophy in his second season in a job.

He also took Tottenham to the League Cup semifinal, but their league campaign was their worst since the last time the club suffered relegation from the top flight, in 1976-77.

Several of the club’s first team have voiced their support for Postecoglou since beating United, but chairman Daniel Levy is now searching for his fifth full-time manager in six years since Mauricio Pochettino was sacked in 2019.

“At times there were extenuating circumstances — injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign,” the club said. “Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.”

Several managers have been linked to the Tottenham job, including Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner.

Postecoglou will walk away with his pride intact and a handsome bonus, but his recent comment to fans at the Europa League victory parade that the third season of a TV series is always better than the second now looks hollow.

It all started so well for Postecoglou. He began the 2023-24 campaign by guiding Tottenham to their best start to a top-flight season since the 1961 title-winning team.

That form soon dipped, and despite finishing fifth in his first campaign, the momentum had long since gone.

This season, Tottenham earned only 38 points and lost 22 top-flight matches. They managed five points from their last 12 league games, and the only win they earned during that run was against a Southampton side who narrowly avoided becoming statistically the worst team ever in the Premier League.

Postecoglou has pointed to a long injury list, which denied him the likes of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Dejan Kulusevski, Destiny Udogie, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Son Heung-min for significant periods.

But while it has clearly been one of long-serving chairman Levy’s toughest calls, he has concluded that Postecoglou is not the man to lead the club forward.

“We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision,” the club statement said.

“We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future — he will always be welcome back at our home.”

Jordan is celebrating the qualification of its football team for a FIFA World Cup for the first time following a decisive 3-0 victory against Oman.

Huge celebrations erupted as fans drove their cars through Jordan’s capital Amman late on Thursday and into Friday, honking their horns and chanting victory while others waved the national flag in triumph.

“We are all with you!” and “It’s getting closer, heroes” read messages written into the night sky in a spectacular drone light show.

Jordan sealed their place on the penultimate day of Asian qualifying for the 2026 tournament, which will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Ali Olwin netted a hat-trick as the 2023 Asian Cup runners-up to Qatar etched their name in the history books.

They secured their spot in the World Cup when South Korea defeated Iraq, also on Thursday, 2-0.

The royal court published pictures of King Abdullah II wearing a national team jersey as he watched the game from the embassy in London, where he was on a visit.

I wholeheartedly congratulate the sons and daughters of our dear people on our national football team’s qualification for the World Cup finals,” he wrote on social media platform X.

“This historic qualification is well-deserved by our team, which includes stars and cadres of whom we are proud.

“Special thanks go to our loyal fans who have been our support and encouragement.”

His Majesty King Abdullah watches the national football team’s World Cup qualifier match against Oman, at the Jordanian embassy in London, during a working visit to Europe
( Photos courtesy of Royal Court ) pic.twitter.com/CI4JMurjQu

— The Jordan Times (@jordantimes) June 5, 2025

Jordan World Cup qualification ‘about time’

Sohad Idrissi, a 48-year-old housewife who watched the game with her siblings, beamed with pride as she told AFP that her side had played “a beautiful game and deserved to qualify for the World Cup”.

“Today the joy is two-fold: there is the joy of Eid al-Adha, and the joy of Nashama qualifying,” she said, using a nickname for the Jordanian team.

Fadi Qalanzi, a 21-year-old university student, called the win “a dream that is finally coming true”.

“Our team put on a beautiful performance, and they truly deserved to qualify,” he added.

Osama al-Shreeda, a 60-year-old retired civil servant, also called it a dream come true.

“I’ve been following Jordanian football since 1978, and a relative of mine used to play with the national team,” he said.

“It’s a great opportunity for our team and its players to be recognised globally,” he added, calling it an achievement not just for Jordan but for the wider Arab region.

“It was about time, this is a joy we’d been waiting for, for a long time,” said 55-year-old teacher Nashat Badr.

Uzbekistan also reach first FIFA World Cup

For Uzbekistan, a 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates was enough to take the second automatic qualification spot in Group A behind Iran.

With Asia now having eight guaranteed qualifiers – after just four for the 2022 edition in Qatar – Uzbekistan was a likely contender to step up.

While most of its team plays in the domestic league, it includes a few Europe-based stars like Roma forward Eldor Shomurodov and Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

Jordan’s highest-profile player is winger Mousa Tamari at French club Rennes.

Palestine and Indonesia set sights on playoffs

Palestine’s 2-0 win in Kuwait kept alive their hopes of reaching their first World Cup finals.

The victory, thanks to goals from Tamer Seyam and Wessam Abou Ali, means Palestine in fifth spot in Group B are one point outside the playoff qualification positions with one game to play.

A win in their final match in Amman, Jordan, against Oman, who hold fourth spot and are one point ahead of Palestine, on Tuesday will see them finish above their opponents.

Third and fourth positions in the three groups, in the third round of AFC qualifiers for the World Cup, progress to a fourth qualifying stage of playoffs.

The top two teams from each of the three six-team groups qualify automatically for next summer’s tournament, while the teams in fifth and sixth position are eliminated.

Indonesia, meantime, remain on course for a playoff finish, and only a second appearance at a World Cup finals, following their 1-0 win against China to hold fourth spot in Group C.

Who: Portugal vs Spain
What: UEFA Nations League final
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
When: Sunday, June 8, 2025 – 3pm kickoff (13:00 GMT)

How to follow our coverage: We’ll have all the build-up from 12pm (10:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport.

Portugal, the inaugural winners in 2019, and defending champions Spain have set up one of the most highly anticipated international finals in years as the pair prepare to face off for the UEFA Nations League trophy.

The final not only pits the Iberian rivals together, but also two of football’s greatest talents – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal.

Although at opposing ends of their careers, both were vital in leading their sides to Sunday’s showdown in Munich.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the game – and the mouth-watering prospect of Ronaldo vs Yamal.

How did Portugal reach the Nations League final?

Portugal beat the host nation Germany 2-1 in the first semifinal on Wednesday with Ronaldo scoring the winner.

Liverpool target Florian Wirtz gave the Germans the lead early in the second half before Francisco Conceicao levelled just past the hour mark, with the winner coming five minutes later.

How did Spain fare in their semifinal against France?

Spain and France then served up one of the all-time greats in a 5-4 thriller that saw the latter come from 4-0 and 5-1 down to push the game to the wire.

Yamal scored twice and was the star turn as he outshone the much-lauded French trio of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue – the latter two being fresh from Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final victory.

How important is the UEFA Nations League final?

There is little doubt that both finalists, and the defeated semifinalists, will see these final three games of the 2024-2025 edition of the competition as vital game time ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The tournament itself, which runs qualification over a two-year period, has replaced the much-maligned and ever-more meaningless list of friendlies between nations on the continent, providing competitive games to keep club-focused players interested during the global international breaks.

The way the two semifinals have played out has built even greater anticipation for the already notable final, and added weight to the Nations League value as a warm-up competition between the more prestigious World Cups and UEFA European Champions, both of which take place every four years.

On the meeting with Ronaldo in the final, Yamal remarked after the win against France: “Playing against Cristiano? He’s a football legend. I’ll do my job, which is to win the game, and that’s it.”

Is this Lamine Yamal’s moment to shine?

So much of the external focus in the build-up to the game will turn to the showdown between young Barcelona star Yamal and former Real Madrid and Manchester United legend Ronaldo.

Yamal will turn 18 next month and has already stirred imaginations with star turns for the Catalan club over the last two years, helping them to a domestic treble this season. The Barca-born forward also shone for Spain in last summer’s Euro 2024 success, scoring in the semifinal against France – only days before his 17th birthday.

Taking to the field, and battling for the spotlight, with Ronaldo – regarded as arguably the greatest footballer of all time – offers a unique and potentially final chance for Yamal to prove himself against a player who, at 40 years of age, is winding down his career.

Is Yamal in the running for the Ballon d’Or?

With Doue’s rise at PSG this year, and Yamal’s ever-growing stock, the question has now been posed as to whether there is a changing of the guard from Ronaldo and Argentinian legend Lionel Messi as the game’s two best current players.

Both are strong contenders to lift the Ballon d’Or trophy – the award for the global game’s best player each year. Spanish international Rodri is the current holder after helping Manchester City to their unique five-trophy winning year in 2023.

Dembele, Mbappe and his fellow Real star Vinicius Junior will also be in the running for the 2025 award but Sunday’s final could tip the balance in favour of Yamal ahead of the award ceremony in September.

What is the latest on Ronaldo’s club future?

Much of the talk heading into the final three games of the UEFA Nations League has focused on Ronaldo’s club future – and whether he would participate at the imminent FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

The global club competition has been rebranded and expanded to 32 teams for this edition and is headlined by Lionel Messi at the host nation’s Inter Miami, who will kick off the tournament against Egyptian club Al Ahly on June 14.

Ronaldo’s time at Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League appears to be over following a social media post from the forward following the final day of the competition’s season.

The question remains: Where next for Ronaldo? A host of participants at the Club World Cup are being linked with a move for a player who still grabs the headlines the world over, and it would give FIFA’s attempt to elevate the tournament a much-needed boost.

What happened the last time Portugal played Spain?

Spain won 1-0 in Portugal in a Nations League group stage match in 2022 in the last encounter between the sides.

Alvaro Morata netted the only goal of the game in the 88th minute of the match at Estadio Municipal de Braga.

Head-to-head – Portugal vs Spain

Although this will be a first meeting for Yamal and Ronaldo, the Spain and Portugal on-field rivalry dates back to a friendly in 1921.

Spain won the fixture 2-1 in December of that year and have claimed victory in 17 of the 34 encounters overall.

Portugal have only recorded six wins against their neighbours, with the last being in a friendly in 2010.

Six of the following seven matches have ended in a draw.

Who did Spain beat in the 2023 Nations final?

Spain – who were defeated finalists in the 2021 edition of the tournament – beat Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in June 2023.

In the 2021 final, the Spaniards were beaten 2-1 by France, whom they face in Thursday’s second semifinal. Their victory in 2023 ended an 11-year search for silverware.

Who did Portugal beat in the inaugural final?

Portugal beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2019 final.

The match itself was played on home soil for the Portuguese at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao, where Goncalo Guedes scored the only goal of the game in the 60th minute.

Possible Portugal and Spain lineups:

Potential Portugal XI: Diogo Costa; Joao Neves, Ruben Dias, Inacio, Mendes; Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva; Trincao, Fernandes, Neto; Ronaldo

Potential Spain XI: Simon; Porro, Huijsen, Le Normand, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Merino, Pedri; Yamal, N Williams, Oyarzabal

Yamal inspires Spain to thrilling 5-4 win over France to book a final against Iberian rivals Portugal.

Lamine Yamal won the battle of Ballon d’Or contenders by scoring twice as Spain eclipsed France 5-4 in their Nations League semifinal.

The 17-year-old Yamal outshone French counterparts Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele on Thursday as Spain initially ran riot against Didier Deschamps’s tired-looking team to book its place in Sunday’s final against Portugal.

Portugal defeated host nation Germany 2-1 on Wednesday.

Thursday’s game had been billed as a contest between young stars, but it was clear that Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League win in Munich on Saturday had added more weight to French legs, with PSG stars Doue and Dembele disappointing.

It was the highest-scoring game in the Nations League’s short history, but three of the four French goals came after Yamal had made it 5-1 and the Spanish players eased up, thinking the game was won.

“It was a great game. In the end, it was a little close, but we played very well and I think deserved to win,” Yamal said.

Nico Williams opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Yamal threaded the ball through to Mikel Oyarzabal, who held off two defenders and served it on a plate for Williams to rifle to the roof of the net.

Mikel Merino, the hero when Spain last played in Stuttgart, made it 2-0 three minutes later after playing a one-two with Oyarzabal.

Theo Hernandez struck the crossbar and Spain needed goalkeeper Unai Simon to deny Doue, then Mbappe and Dembele.

But Spain looked capable of scoring at any time. Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen thought he had scored spectacularly after a brilliantly worked free kick, only to have the goal ruled out for offside.

It was the 20-year-old Huijsen’s third game for Spain. It looks like he is set to stay.

Adrien Rabiot conceded a penalty for a mistimed challenge on Yamal, who dusted himself off to make it 3-0 from the spot in the 54th.

Pedri scored a minute after that, taking Williams’s pass with his first touch and dinking it past the bewildered Mike Maignan with his next.

Pedro Porro’s foul gave Mbappe his chance from the penalty, but Yamal replied to that by prodding the ball past Maignan for 5-1.

Substitute Rayan Cherki scored late on his France debut after Yamal scored Spain’s fifth, then Spain defender Daniel Vivian conceded an own goal, and Cherki set up fellow substitute Randal Kolo Muani in stoppage time as France ultimately came close to an improbable comeback.

Indonesia shut out China 1-0 in their Asian Football Confederation Group C qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Indonesia have kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for only the second time in their history with a nervy 1-0 win that has ended opponents China’s hopes of qualifying.

Oli Romeny scored the only goal of Thursday’s game from the penalty spot in the first half of the Asian Football Confederation qualifier in Jarkarta.

The spot kick was awarded after Yang Zexiang brought down Ricky Kambuaya on the stroke of half-time. It dealt a blow to the Chinese, whose defence was mounting pressure on the hosts, given the expectations on them.

In the first kickoff of the day in the group, Australia took a giant stride towards sealing another qualification spot by beating already qualified Japan 1-0.

Aziz Behich scored the winner with a curling effort from the edge of the box in the 90th minute.

Saudi Arabia hosted Bahrain in the final kickoff of the day in Group C. Anything other than a win for the home side would guarantee Australia’s progress while Bahrain needed a win themselves to retain a chance of climbing above Indonesia into the final playoff spot.

Kambuaya had Indonesia’s first sighter, but the effort from range flew wide of the right-hand upright.

Wang Yudong, making his international debut at 18, was the brightest spark in China’s start and steered an effort wide after a counter off the back of mounting pressure from the hosts.

Han Pengfei had China’s best chance, though, when he flashed his header over the bar from Serginho’s corner.

Romeny had twice had near misses himself, one just wide and the other too close to the keeper, before slotting home the crucial kick from the spot.

Indonesia travel to Japan for their final group game on Tuesday.

Football’s world governing body has reduced prices on thousands of tickets before tournament opener in Miami on June 14, despite the presence of football superstar Lionel Messi.

Hoping to fill a lot of empty seats, FIFA is reportedly slashing ticket prices for the June 14 Club World Cup opener hosted by Inter Miami.

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that “tens of thousands” of seats at the 65,326-capacity Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, remain unsold for the 8pm ET match between football superstar Lionel Messi’s MLS club and Egyptian side Al Ahly.

FIFA rejected a suggestion that fewer than 20,000 tickets had been sold, insisting the number is “much higher” but declining to provide a specific total.

“We are introducing many new, successful clubs from all over the world to the world through this tournament being staged in the 11 cities across the United States,” FIFA said in a statement. “Overall, we anticipate great attendances throughout the competition for this first-ever edition – a tournament that we believe will grow edition-on-edition.”

As of Tuesday night, tickets for that game had dropped to $55 on Ticketmaster – half of what they were going for last month. The cheapest seat available after the tournament draw in December was $349 but had dropped to $230 by December, per The Athletic.

The 32-team FIFA Club World Cup runs through to July 13 and includes MLS clubs Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC, plus global powerhouses like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Inter Milan.

Portugal beat Germany 2-1 to reach the final of the UEFA Nations League as Cristiano Ronaldo nets the winner.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored again as Portugal came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 in their Nations League semifinal on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old Ronaldo captained Portugal and scored his 137th international goal five minutes after substitute Francisco Conceição equalised with a blistering shot in the 63rd.

Ronaldo became the oldest player to ever score against Germany while ending his “curse” against the country. The former Real Madrid star lost each of the previous five games he played against Germany.

Liverpool target Florian Wirtz had given the home team a 48th-minute lead with a perfectly placed header inside the right post, but Portugal coach Roberto Martínez made his changes count as he brought on Conceicao and Champions League winner Vitinha among the substitutes.

Vitinha excelled as Portugal finished the game in the ascendancy just four days after he helped Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) win the Champions League final against Inter Milan in the same stadium on Saturday.

Germany needed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen at his best to prevent the visitors from scoring any more.

PSG wing-backs Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes both started for Portugal, while Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade started for his Germany debut.

Conceicao only needed five minutes to make a mark with a brilliant long-range strike inside the far post after he surged past Robin Gosens like he was not there. Mendes gave Ronaldo a simple finish five minutes after that.

“It could have been more,” Mendes said.

The match was delayed by 10 minutes due to “adverse weather conditions” in Munich.

Earlier in the day, UEFA warned matchgoers of possible thunderstorms in the Bavarian capital forecast for kickoff time.

About an hour before the originally scheduled kickoff time of 9pm, a storm swept across northern Munich, lashing the stadium with rain and leaving the arena grass carpeted in hailstones.

Goalkepers from both sides had begun their warm-up when the storm hit.

France plays Spain in Stuttgart on Thursday in the other semifinal.

Aston Villa show Jadon Sancho interest, Newcastle make Burnley’s James Trafford their top target and Liverpool consider Anthony Gordon move.

Aston Villa have become the latest club to show an interest in signing England winger Jadon Sancho, 25, from Manchester United following his loan at Chelsea. (Teamtalk), external

Newcastle United have made Burnley and England goalkeeper James Trafford, 22, their top target this summer. (Times – subscription required), external

Liverpool are not looking to sell Colombia winger Luis Diaz, 28, and have received no offers, despite reported interest from Barcelona and Saudi side Al-Nassr. (Times – subscription required), external

But should Diaz leave, Newcastle’s £80m-rated England winger Anthony Gordon, 24, is being seriously considered by Liverpool as a replacement. (Teamtalk), external

Arne Slot’s Liverpool could also compete with Arsenal to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, with the 22-year-old Slovenia striker the subject of a £67m bid from the Gunners. (TBR Football), external

Harvey Elliott is most likely to join a Serie A club if the English midfielder, 22, leaves Liverpool this summer. (Football Insider), external

Everton would have to match Thierno Barry’s release clause of 40m euros (£33.7m) to sign the French striker from Villarreal. (Teamtalk), external

Chelsea are unwilling to pay the £25m AC Milan want for their 29-year-old France goalkeeper Mike Maignan. (Standard), external

Brentford will look to appoint Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna if current manager Thomas Frank leaves to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham. (Football Insider), external

West Ham have contacted Club Brugge about signing 24-year-old Nigeria midfielder Raphael Onyedika, but face competition from AC Milan. (TBR Football), external

Manchester City and Barcelona have expressed an interest in Arsenal’s 15-year-old English midfield prospect Max Dowman. (FootballTransfers), external

At least 11 people died in a stampede outside a cricket stadium in Bengaluru as crowds gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first Indian Premier League title. Footage shows fans scaling fences and swarming the stadium.

Who: Spain vs France
What: UEFA Nations League semifinal
Where: Stuttgart Arena, Stuttgart, Germany
When: Thursday, June 5, 2025 – 9pm kickoff (1900 GMT)

How to follow our coverage: We’ll have all the build-up from 6pm (16:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport.

Defending champions Spain face France, the team that beat them in the 2021 final, in the second semifinal of the 2025 UEFA Nations League.

Hosts Germany or inaugural winners Portugal, who play on Wednesday, await in Sunday’s final.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the game, which will provide the second finalist for a tournament that has replaced the ever-devaluing international friendly setup on the continent.

Who did Spain and France beat in the Nations quarterfinals?

Spain beat the Netherlands 5-4 on penalties after their quarterfinal finished 5-5 on aggregate over the two legs.

France also needed penalties to progress from their last-eight tie against Croatia after a 2-2 draw on aggregate. The Croatians had won the first leg 2-0 on home soil.

Both nations topped their League A groups.

What happened the last time Spain played France?

The sides played out a dramatic Euro 2024 semifinal, won by Spain 2-1.

Trailing after Randal Kolo Muani headed in a Kylian Mbappe cross in the ninth minute, Spain turned the match around in a rapid four-minute flurry, scoring twice against a side that had only conceded one goal in five previous games in the tournament.

The match is best remembered for 16-year-old Spain sensation Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest-ever goal scorer at a European championship when he unleashed a mesmerising strike from outside the box in the 21st minute to find the equaliser.

Spain then took the lead for good on 25 minutes when Dani Olmo expertly gathered a loose ball and fired a low shot into the net with the aid of a deflection off Jules Kounde.

Who did Spain beat in the 2023 Nations final?

Spain – who were defeated finalists in the 2021 edition of the tournament, which is staged over a two-year period – beat Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in June 2023.

In the 2021 final, the Spaniards were beaten 2-1 by France, who they face in Thursday’s second semifinal. Their victory in 2023 ended an 11-year search for silverware.

Is this the start of Spain’s resurgence?

Spain are aiming to become the first side to defend the Nations League trophy, with Luis de la Fuente’s side going from strength to strength on the international stage before next year’s World Cup.

Their 2023 victory proved the springboard to Euro 2024 glory. Retaining the Nations League would bode well before the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer, where Spain will be among the favourites.

After European Championship wins in 2008 and 2012, sandwiching their World Cup 2010 triumph in South Africa, the Spanish national team slumped.

Poor outings at the Russia and Qatar World Cups started to fade from memory, though, as De la Fuente’s side beat Italy and Croatia to win the 2023 Nations League.

Spain then beat Italy, Germany and France on the way to the Euro 2024 final, where they got the better of England to claim their first major trophy for 12 years.

The side is very much led by Barcelona’s teenage winger Lamine Yamal, who turned 17 on the eve of the Euro final, and on the opposite flank, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, 22, also has his best years ahead of him.

Spain team news

Out: Rodri, Carvajal, Laporte, Ayoze Perez, Ferran Torres

Manchester City’s Rodri, who has yet to return to action after missing most of the season injured, remains Spain’s major headache.

They are blessed with depth, however, most especially in midfield, where former Real Madrid playmaker Isco could be given additional playing time, having helped Real Betis to the UEFA Conference League final this season.

France team news

Out: Camavinga, Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano

France are without a quartet of defenders who ply their trade in Europe’s top leagues, with Real Madrid’s Eduard Camavinga, Barcelona’s Jules Kounde, Arsenal’s William Saliba and Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano all sitting out the game.

The French also had nine international players feature in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final victory against Inter Milan on Saturday.

Possible lineups:

Spain: Unai Simon; Mingueza, Cubarsi, Huijsen, Cucurella; Pedri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata

France: Maignan; Gusto, Konate, Lucas Hernandez, Digne; Tchouameni, Kone, Rabiot; Olise, Mbappe, Kolo Muani

Form guide: Last five matches

Spain: D-D-W-W-W (Most recent match first)

France: W-L-W-D-W

Head-to-head

The nations have met on 15 occasions, with Spain emerging victorious seven times, including their Euro 2024 win, while France have won six of the encounters.

What the managers said before the semifinal?

Luis de la Fuente, Spain coach: “We have in this tournament the three previous winners of the Nations League, three previous World Cup winners and a previous Euro winner. So you certainly can’t call it a minor tournament, and we place huge importance upon it.

“I’ve always said since I arrived that this tournament is actually more difficult than the Euro in the group stage. We’ll give it everything, and we want to make history by becoming the first team to win the Nations League twice. We will keep competing at the highest level against these teams that could easily be in a World Cup final or another major final tomorrow.”

Didier Deschamps, France coach: “This Spain team have already shown their quality, and they are the best side in Europe and probably the best in the world. They also may have a few players who are fresher. But still, my team always have the ability to maintain a strong collective and technical rhythm.

“I haven’t yet seen a team that has truly found a solution to stop Yamal. Add in the likes of Nico Williams and it’s clear Spain have a lot of pace. But that doesn’t mean we’ll be approaching this match waving the white flag.”

Where will the UEFA Nations League final be staged?

The Allianz Arena in Munich, which was also picked for the first semifinal, will stage the final on Sunday.

Does Nations League success bring World Cup qualification?

The teams that finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups in Europe will automatically progress to the FIFA World Cup.

The four highest-placed teams from the Nations League that did not finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups are then given an extra shot at reaching the global game’s showpiece event.

It is an added incentive to all teams as a backup plan should their official World Cup qualifying campaign fall flat.

Who: Germany vs Portugal
What: UEFA Nations League semifinal
When: Wednesday
Where: Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany

How to follow our coverage: We’ll have all the build-up from 6pm (16:00 GMT) on Al Jazeera Sport.

Hosts Germany and Portugal, the winners of the 2019 inaugural edition, face off in the first of the UEFA Nations League semifinals.

Holders Spain and France play in the other tie on Thursday with their match being played in Stuttgart.

Al Jazeera Sport looks at the first of the games and where the tournament itself ranks:

What is the UEFA Nations League?

The competition was formed to give more meaning to international matches played outside the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championships.

Instead of a flow of international friendlies, which had become devalued by players and fans alike, nations now compete in a structured format that ends in a country being crowned Nations League champions.

Does Nations League success bring World Cup qualification?

The teams that finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups in Europe will automatically progress to the FIFA World Cup.

The four highest placed teams from the Nations League that did not finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups are then given an extra shot at reaching the global game’s showpiece event.

It is an added incentive to all teams as a back-up plan should their official World Cup qualifying campaign fall flat.

How is the Nations League structured?

There are four groups in League A of the Nations League, four in League B and four in League C.

The top two teams from each of the League A groups qualify for the knockout stages of the competition, which begins at the quarterfinals stage. Leagues B and C try to gain promotion to League A to incentivise all teams in their international match-ups and to offer the chance of reaching the final and lifting the trophy to all.

Cristiano Ronaldo aiming for a second #NationsLeague title 🇵🇹🏆 pic.twitter.com/VMzf5JFEMA

— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) June 3, 2025

Who did Germany and Portugal beat in the quarterfinals?

Germany, who finished top of Group 3 in League A, beat Italy 5-4 in their last-eight encounter over two legs.

Portugal, who finished top of Group 1, beat Denmark 5-3 on aggregate in their quarterfinal.

Both sides were unbeaten in the six-match group stage, which concluded in November.

What is the latest on Ronaldo?

Cristiano Ronaldo is to start the semifinal for Portugal despite the mystery surrounding his immediate club future – which looks likely to result in an appearance at FIFA’s Club World Cup this month.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star posted on social media on the final day of the Saudi Pro League that his time with Saudi Arabian top-flight team Al Nassr had come to an end.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had already revealed that talks were under way for a loan for Ronaldo to play for one of the teams competing at the competition being staged in the United States.

A star performance by the 40-year-old in the semifinal and potential final of the Nations League would significantly up the stakes for his next move – and his potential late arrival as a headline act at the Club World Cup.

Who did Portugal beat in the inaugural final?

Portugal beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2019 final.

The match itself was played on home soil for the Portuguese at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao, where Goncalo Guedes scored the only goal of the game in the 60th minute.

What the managers said before the semifinal?

Julian Nagelsmann, Germany coach: “The goal is to win the Nations League title. We want to perform, deliver results and win titles, and for us as a group, it’s very important. Spain proved how important this tournament can be when they won it before triumphing at Euro 2024. When I look at the faces of our players, I see motivation and excitement. I’m looking forward to the atmosphere in the stadium.”

Roberto Martinez, Portugal coach: “There aren’t many opportunities in international football to win trophies, and there is nothing better than doing so. The important thing is that we are here, and the final four is where we have to be. This team have shown significant resilience over these two and a half years, and facing teams like Germany, followed by maybe Spain or France, are perfect challenges to continue preparing the team for the World Cup.”

Head-to-head

This will be the 12th time that the two nations have met. Germany has won on seven occasions, and Portugal has recorded just one win.

The Germans have won the last five encounters, which had all been at either FIFA World Cups or UEFA European Championships.

Portugal’s last win came in the group stage of Euro 2000 with Sergio Conceicao scoring all the goals in a 3-0 victory against the then-holders, who were eliminated.

The Germans have since exacted a heavy revenge on the Portuguese, including a 4-2 group stage win in their last encounter in 2021 at the delayed Euro 2020 championships.

Where will the Nations League final be staged?

The Allianz Arena, which is also hosting the first semifinal, will also stage the final on Sunday.

Germany team news

Out: Amiri, Bisseck, Havertz, Henrichs, Kleindienst, Musiala, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Stiller

Germany have a string of injuries but do welcome back long-term absentee Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal.

Who replaces Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala in midfield will be one of the key questions, but the absences of Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger and Arsenal forward Kai Harvertz will also be heavily felt.

Portugal team news

Out: Cancelo

Portugal are boosted by an almost fully fit squad with only Al Hilal defender Joao Cancelo leaving a void to be filled.

Possible Germany and Portugal lineups:

Possible Germany XI: ter Stegen; Kimmich, Tah, Koch, Raum; Goretzka, Gross; Adeyemi, Wirtz, Sane; Fullkrug

Possible Portugal XI: Costa; Dalot, Dias, Goncalo Inacio, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Fernandes, Neves; Silva, Ronaldo, Leao

Tottenham could sell Son Heung-min amid Saudi Arabia interest, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi puts question mark over Arsenal move and Chelsea make approach for AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan.

Tottenham forward Son Heung-min is a target for Saudi Arabian clubs and Spurs could choose to cash in on the 32-year-old South Korean as they look to generate transfer funds. (Telegraph), external

Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho could also be heading to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr all interested in the 25-year-old England international. (Mirror), external

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 26, has cast doubt over a move to Arsenal, with the Spain international saying he has “options” and is unsure about where he will end up. (Radio Nacional de Espana, via Metro), external

Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo, 25, is hoping for wages of £250,000 a week – five times his current wage – if he joins Manchester United. (Times – subscription required), external

Inter Milan have have made contact with Como manager Cesc Fabregas about the former Spain midfielder taking over as their new manager following the departure of Simone Inzaghi. (Sky Sports Italia – in Italian), external

Chelsea have made an approach to sign 29-year-old France keeper Mike Maignan, who has one year left on his contract at AC Milan. (Talksport), external

Crystal Palace part-owner John Textor, who also owns French side Lyon, is trying to sell his majority share in the club as the Eagles try to avoid being disqualified from the Europa League next season for breaking Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules. (Mail), external

England keeper Aaron Ramsdale has held talks about a move to West Ham from Southampton, who are hoping to get £20m for the 27-year-old following the club’s relegation from the Premier League. (Talksport), external

Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, 39, has verbally agreed to join AC Milan when he leaves Real Madrid after the Fifa Club World Cup this summer. (Gianluca di Marzio, via Football Italia), external

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes confirms he rejected big-money Saudi move to stay at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes has confirmed he rejected a huge offer from Saudi Arabia and chose instead to stay at Manchester United, saying he wanted to “continue to play at the highest level”.

Speaking to media in a Portugal camp ahead of Wednesday’s Nations League semifinal against Germany in Munich, the football midfielder confirmed he received an “exciting offer” from Al-Hilal but wanted to be part of manager Ruben Amorim’s rebuild at Old Trafford.

Reports said Al-Hilal were willing to pay United up to 100 million British pounds ($135m) for the 30-year-old Portugal international.

“The president of Al-Hilal called me and asked me if I wanted to move there,” Fernandes confirmed, saying the club “waited for me to think about my future”.

“I talked to the gaffer and he asked me not to go,” Fernandes revealed, adding: “Man United said they didn’t want to sell me.

“They said if I wanted to go, I could, but they didn’t need the money.”

The player said a transfer would have been “easy” with several Portuguese players already in Saudi Arabia, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Neves, but added: “I want to play at the highest possible level.

“I want to play major competitions. I know I still can, and I want to be happy doing the thing I love the most.

“For better or worse, this is how I see football and I’m passionate about football and this is the decision I’ve made.”

Man United ‘need’ Fernandes

United endured their worst finish of the Premier League era, finishing 15th. They also lost the Europa League final to Tottenham.

United captain Fernandes was one of the few players to emerge with credit from a disastrous season, scoring 19 goals and making 19 assists across all competitions.

Former United captain Gary Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, said the development was “significant”.

“I think that there was an element of this situation that meant United getting that level of money, for someone of Bruno’s age, obviously, you couldn’t say that it would have been a bad deal,” he said.

“But, on the other hand, Manchester United’s star player – only player, at times – for the last four, five, six years, has been Bruno Fernandes. He’s so important.”

Neville added: “To turn that money down at a point where Manchester United are at their lowest ebb and say, ‘No, I want to fight through this, I want to see it through the other side, I want to come out and achieve things,’ I think it says a lot about him as a person, as a character.

“The club needs people who are going to run through a brick wall for them.”

United are expected to be busy in the transfer market as Amorim reshapes his under-performing squad.

The club have already signed Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are being heavily linked with Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo.

Departures could include Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho.

Fernandes has made 290 appearances and scored 98 goals for United since his 47 million pounds ($63m) move from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.

Inter Milan and Simone Inzaghi part ways after the Italian football club’s defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

Simone Inzaghi has announced that he will leave Inter Milan following the Italian club’s defeat in the Champions League final, and amid heavy interest in his services from the Saudi Pro League.

The 5-0 rout by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the final of European football’s premier club competition on Saturday was Inzaghi’s final game in charge of the Serie A runners-up.

“The time has come for me to say goodbye to this club after a run of four years during which I gave everything,” Inzaghi wrote in a letter to Inter fans on the club’s website on Tuesday.

The loss to PSG on Saturday marked the most lopsided defeat in the 70-year history of major European finals.

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal is reportedly trying to lure Inzaghi with an offer of more than 20 million euros ($23m) per season.

Inzaghi coached Inter to the Serie A title last year, and was also in charge when the Nerazzurri lost the 2023 Champions League title to Manchester City.

He was at Inter for exactly four years and had one more season remaining on his contract.

It’s unclear now who will coach Inter at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States starting June 14.

Inter opens against Monterrey on June 17 — a day before Al-Hilal opens against Real Madrid.

There has been speculation that Inter would go after Cesc Fabregas, who coached Como to a 10th-place finish in Serie A.

Inter finished second in the Italian league last month, one point behind champion Napoli.

The Milan-based football club was in the running for a treble until it lost to city rival AC Milan in the Italian Cup semifinals in April. Having also been beaten by Milan in the Italian Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January, the Nerazzurri didn’t win a trophy this season.

The coaching change at Inter is just one of many managerial moves among the top Italian teams this off season, with Milan, Roma, Atalanta and others making changes.

The 32 teams are confirmed before the June 14 tournament start with Real Madrid, PSG and Inter Miami among the big names.

The revamped 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, to be held from June 14 to July 13 in the United States, features a record number of teams taking part.

Thirty-two clubs drawn from six FIFA confederations are allocated into eight groups of four, and each team will play three group stage matches in a round-robin format.

The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, starting with the round of 16 and culminating with the final, to be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The last two champions of the tournament –  Manchester City (2023) and Real Madrid (2022) – headline a long list of top-flight clubs from around the globe incentivised by the record $1bn prize purse spread between the confederations and the clubs.

The club that emerges as champions could take home up to $125m.

The 32 teams heading to the #FIFACWC 🔜

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 1, 2025

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – 32 qualified teams:

⚽ Group A:

Palmeiras (Brazil)
Porto (Portugal)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Inter Miami (US)

⚽ Group B:

Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Atletico Madrid (Spain)
Botafogo (Brazil)
Seattle Sounders (US)

⚽ Group C:

Bayern Munich (Germany)
Auckland City (New Zealand)
Boca Juniors (Argentina)
Benfica (Portugal)

⚽ Group D:

Flamengo (Brazil)
ES Tunis (Tunisia)
Chelsea (United Kingdom)
LAFC (US)

⚽ Group E:

River Plate (Argentina)
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
Monterrey (Mexico)
Inter Milan (Italy)

⚽ Group F:

Fluminense (Brazil)
Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
Ulsan HD FC (South Korea)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

⚽ Group G:

Manchester City (UK)
Wydad (Morocco)
Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
Juventus (Italy)

⚽ Group H:

Real Madrid (Spain)
Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Pachuca (Mexico)
FC Salzburg (Austria)

IN the wee small hours of Sunday at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Paris Saint-Germain’s players were celebrating the greatest achievement of their lives.

They had ended the 14-year quest of their Qatari overlords to win the Champions League, having inflicted on Inter Milan the most comprehensive humping in the history of European Cup finals.

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But if Luis Enrique and his side had wanted to put their feet up and bask in this ultimate glory, then they were sadly mistaken.

Almost immediately after their 5-0 win, Enrique and his stars would be peppered with questions about their prospects at the Club World Cup — a 32-team, month-long tournament designed to carpet-bomb TV schedules with even more football, starting on Sunday week.

Does the Club World Cup now represent ultimate glory, rather than the Champions League?

Is that, in the words of Finchy in The Office, ‘the real quiz’?

Because football — even in the odd-numbered summers which used to give us a brief respite from the thing — must never, ever rest.

And so next week, PSG will go to America, where they will play the Urawa Red Diamonds, The Last Shadow Puppets and the Seattle Sounders — only one of which is really the name of an English band.

And on Sunday week, Bayern Munich will play Auckland City in Cincinnati.

And they WILL play.

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And there is nothing we can do to stop them playing. Even though we already know Bayern Munich are significantly better than Auckland City.

And Harry Kane will play. Even though his body is creaking.

Even though he hasn’t had a proper rest in years. Even though he surely can’t think of anything worse than having to play Auckland City.

Because Fifa are offering $1BILLION in prize money.

And two days later, you can watch in HD as Ulsan HD of South Korea play Mamelodi Sundowns, who are possibly an indie band who have  an afternoon slot on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, or might be a football team from Pretoria in South Africa

Because in football there must be no sundown. Only the Mamelodi Sundowns.

And Manchester City and Chelsea will be there too, due to some  convoluted Uefa qualification system which it’s best not to ask about.

And Inter Miami will be there — not because of any system but because they employ Lionel Messi, who turns 38 this month and must be tired but must never, ever rest.

And the whole thing will go on for every bit as long as an actual World Cup, with countries, used to go on for.

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Although not as long as next year’s actual World Cup, which will have 48 nations and 104 matches in it and will go on for even longer.

Oh and there will still be a third-place play-off.

Because what else would we do with ourselves on Saturday July 18, 2026, if we couldn’t watch another game of football between two utterly deflated, exhausted teams?

Manchester United didn’t qualify for the Club World Cup.

But that doesn’t matter because, after the worst season in their modern history, United’s players travelled 14,000 miles to play post-season friendlies in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong so that the club could fulfil £10million worth of sponsorship commitments.

And yes ‘net zero’ is supposed to be an environmental policy rather than United’s goalscoring output against the ASEAN All-Stars. During the half-time interval of that 1-0 defeat in Malaysia, Andre Onana, Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot were substituted so they could board a private jet to Mumbai to  promote Apollo tyres.

Because people in Mumbai will choose Apollo tyres if an error-prone Cameroonian goalkeeper tells them to.

And Michelin and Bridgestone and Pirelli won’t get a look in, just so long as Dalot presses home Apollo’s core messages, which are ‘Going The Distance’ and ‘Conquer Every Road’.

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While Maguire was flying to India, to tell people that ‘the journey is as important as the destination’, Amad Diallo was still in Malaysia, where he was giving the middle finger to a fan who had apparently abused his mother.

And then issuing a social-media apology, in which he said he didn’t actually regret giving the finger.

Because it isn’t enough that Amad’s mother is abused during the football season.

She needs to be abused during the close season as well.
And her son needs to retaliate.

Because there needs to be online content and, if the internet never sleeps, then why should football sleep, along with its content-creating by-product, the abuse of really tired footballers?

Last year, Tottenham and Newcastle made a 21,000-mile round trip to Melbourne to play each other, six weeks after they had previously done so. And the Toon won on penalties.

But is that really enough, when these footballers travelled in first-class luxury and stayed in excellent hotels?

The BBC’s Race Across The World is an extraordinarily successful TV show because contestants must travel on overnight buses and then muck out animals to raise extra cash.

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Why shouldn’t footballers do the same on post-season and pre-season tours? Wouldn’t that provide better content?

This Saturday, England will play a competitive match against Andorra, which won’t be competitive.

And next Tuesday, England will play Senegal, when they won’t really be England because so many of their players will be heading to the Club World Cup.

But it’s not as if we’d have to wait long for football without this new thing.

Next month, there will be a North London Derby in Hong Kong and Bournemouth will play Everton at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, the venue for next summer’s World Cup final.

Because why wouldn’t we want to watch Bournemouth play Everton in July — even if, when the fixtures come out in a fortnight, we might find out that they are playing each other in August?

The thing is, Bournemouth versus Everton has been far too parochial until now.

When Bournemouth are at home, only 11,000 people get in to watch it.

What about the blue-collar workers of New Jersey, the people Bruce Springsteen writes ballads about?

Don’t they deserve their fix of Bournemouth versus Everton, instead of just shotgun, teenage weddings and dreaming about escaping from small towns on motorbikes, kind of stuff?

And the answer is, yes, they do deserve Bournemouth versus Everton. Just like you deserve Red Bull Salzburg, the second best team in Austria, versus CF Pachuca, the eighth best team in Mexico.

That one’s on Wednesday June 18 at 11pm. Followed by Al-Ain versus Juventus at 2am.

Eyes down, look in. We’ll sleep when we’re dead.

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