Sports

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson is edging closer to a British record move to Manchester City with further talks planned in the next 24 hours. Nottingham Forest have already rejected two offers for the England midfielder and have been holding out for a total package worth close to £130million, which would make Anderson one of the most expensive players in history. \ According to Daily Mail Sport, the clubs are now due to hold further discussions, which, if successful, could see the deal completed. The deal could outstrip Alexander Isak’s £125m transfer to Liverpool last summer, while Anderson’s international midfield partner Declan Rice became the most expensive British player of all time when Arsenal splashed £105m on him three years ago. For eye wit...

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and join him in presenting the trophy to the champions. The final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, with Infantino saying both men will watch the match together before taking part in the trophy presentation ceremony. Infantino praised his strong relationship with Trump, noting that the U.S. president played a key role in supporting FIFA’s efforts to host the expanded tournament in the United States. The announcement comes months after Trump drew attention at the FIFA Club World Cup final, where he joined Chelsea captain Reece James in lifting the trophy following the club’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain. While FIFA presidents traditionally present the ...

France head coach, Didier Deschamps will miss his side’s final World Cup group game following the death of his mother. The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed the news. Deschamps learned of his mother’s passing on Tuesday morning and has been given permission by FFF president Philippe Diallo to fly back to France to attend the funeral.  France, who have already qualified for the knockout stages after beating Senegal and Iraq in their opening two games, face Norway on Friday in Boston to determine the winner of Group I. In a statement, the FFF said assistant coach Guy Stephan will take charge of the squad until Deschamps returns.  As a player, Deschamps won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000 with France. He became manager of the national si...

The head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, has received a new contract to continue in the job. This was revealed by the chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Shehu Dikko. Dikko revealed this to journalists on Tuesday, following a meeting between officials of the NSC and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja, where plans for the future of the national teams were discussed. Chelle’s initial two-year contract is due to expire at the end of 2026, and negotiations over an improved deal have been ongoing in recent months. After a third-place finish at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, Chelle was reported to have requested a monthly salary package of $130,000, which would also cover the remuneration of his assistants, among other conditions. It is believed that h...

United States striker Folarin Balogun has disclosed that he takes inspiration from elite players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, whose consistent scoring ability he describes as inevitable.  Speaking to reporters during a training session, Balogun admitted that he finds the prolific goal-scoring rate of the game’s top players both annoying and deeply motivating.  The forward stated that he is eager to continue climbing the tournament scoring charts and establish himself among the top goal scorers at the FIFA World Cup 2026.  “I think it’s annoying!” Balogun joked. “Seeing players like Messi, Mbappe, Haaland — they’re so inevitable. I think they’re scoring a goal a game, sometimes more. For me, it’s just about trying to get to that level — to be...

Manchester City winger, Jeremy Doku has become a proud father days after his plans to leave the FIFA World Cup to attend his child’s birth sparked controversy. After consultations with medical staff, Doku was allowed to temporarily leave the Red Devils before last Sunday’s game with Iran to join his wife in London, where the couple welcomed a baby boy, Praise, the federation said in a statement. “Jeremy received the news before yesterday’s match that the birth was imminent,” the team’s doctor, Brahim Hacene, said. Doku had already been ruled out of Sunday’s match due to illness. “As he had already been receiving the appropriate medical treatment for several days, he was able to fly without any medical risk to be with his family during this very special moment,” the doctor said....

English football club, Manchester United have secured the majority of the land required to build the largest stadium in the UK.  The proposed "New Trafford" will feature a 100,000-seat capacity and is projected to take five years to construct. The new facility will sit 350 meters away from Old Trafford, which has served as the club's home for 115 years. Manchester United have unveiled plans for a new 100,000-seater stadium, set to become the biggest sporting venue in the country. The club has secured the majority of the land required to build the facility, ramping up plans to create the largest stadium in the United Kingdom. United will continue to work on acquiring the remaining land parcels needed, though no significant issues are expected in finalizing those agreements....

= Galatasaray have rejected a bid of €125 million for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, reaffirming their determination to hold onto the Nigerian forward despite mounting pressure from European clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The offer, reported by Forza Cimbom, was immediately turned down by the Turkish champions, who have also previously rebuffed a €120 million proposal from Atletico Madrid. Manchester United, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid all remain in pursuit of the 27-year-old, but Galatasaray have made clear that no offer below their asking price will be entertained. It is a valuation that the Istanbul club feel is justified by Osimhen’s extraordinary output since arriving in Turkey. The former Napoli striker has score...

Lionel Messi became the leading scorer in World Cup history when the Argentina captain netted against Austria on Monday to take his total to 17 goals. Messi had equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time mark of 16 World Cup goals when hitting a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria to open his country’s title defence in North America last week. He made it 17 when he swept home after 38 minutes in Argentina’s second group game, to deafening roars at the home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. The 38-year-old had missed a penalty earlier in the game. Messi is playing at his sixth World Cup, his first coming in 2006 and he now has 121 goals in 201 games for his country. His enduring quality augurs well for Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first team since Brazil in...

Curacao's team doctor, Dr. Suzanne Huurman, has defended allowing players to spend time with their partners and even engage in s£xual activity before FIFA World Cup matches after Dutch coach Dick Advocaat allowed them to stay with their partners in their hotel in Florida. Explanning the decision, Curacao team doctor Suzanne Huurman said while players are able to share their living quarters with a roommate or their families,  sex and family time have helped the Curacao team settle into life away from home, with intimacy recommended for emotional support. 'Players can stay with their teammates in the same room and, when there are children, the family receives an additional room,' Huurman said. 'It's something quite unique in national team football. Curacao is a small country, w...