FIFA has announced Morocco will host the next edition of the Club World Cup in February, at which Real Madrid will attempt to lift the trophy for a record-extending fifth time.
Madrid secured their 14th European Cup/Champions League title with a 1-0 win over Liverpool at the Stade de France in May, earning entry to a competition they won in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The other teams to have sealed qualification include Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo, CONCACAF Champions League holders Seattle Sounders, Auckland City and Al Ahly.
FIFA confirmed Morocco as hosts on Friday, and Moroccan side Wydad – who won the CAF Champions League under Walid Regragui last season before he left to manage the national team – will take part on home soil.
Morocco, which…
Portugal coach Fernando Santos is remaining optimistic about his side s hopes for next summer s European Championships in France.
Santos led Portugal to the tournament with an impressive record of seven wins and just one defeat, topping Group I.
Following the team s training session in Marcoussis where they will be based during the competition Santos proved to be ambitious in his outlook on Portugal s chances.
[The training facilities are] booked until July 10, we will play the final in Paris and it is on that basis, he said after visiting the facilities.
We reserved until then and we believe we will stay here until the 10th By the way, the 11th, I just want to go [home] on the 11th after throwing the party.
Santos was happy with the site sele…
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South Korea international Hwang Hee-chan will join Wolves permanently at the end of the season, the Premier League club has confirmed.
Hwang initially joined on a season-long loan from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig and agreed personal terms on a deal before arriving in England.
Wolves have now activated a clause to make the move permanent from July for a fee reportedly in the region of £12million.
The deal will run to 2026 and was confirmed by the club s website on the player s 26th birthday.
The former Salzburg forward made an impactful start at Wolves, scoring four goals in his first six Premier League games, including his first strike just 20 minutes into his debut after coming off the bench in the 2-0 win at Watford in September.
He has fail…
Cristiano Ronaldo s future is of no concern to the Portugal squad amid reports of a mammoth deal being offered to the 37-year-old, according to team-mate Andre Silva.
Portugal s World Cup campaign has endured the sideshow of Ronaldo s next destination following the mutual termination of his contract with Manchester United, leaving him a free agent for the tournament.
On Wednesday, ESPN reported that Ronaldo has been offered a mouth-watering deal by Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr worth £100million per year, with a contract said to last for three-and-a-half years.
Ronaldo will reportedly only decide his future after the conclusion of the World Cup, though that has not stopped many of his team-mates being asked about his situation.
Silva was the latest to find…
Donny van de Beek celebrated a “big moment” after the Manchester United midfielder returned from a long-term knee injury to score the winner in a 1-0 pre-season victory over Lyon at Murrayfield.
The Netherlands international had not played since suffering a knee problem in United’s win at Bournemouth on January 3.
He has struggled to establish himself since arriving at Old Trafford from Ajax, where he played under United boss Erik ten Hag, in the summer of 2020 and has been linked with a move away from the Red Devils this summer.
“It was great. My first game after six months. I don’t have to tell you after such an injury, such a mentally difficult period for me and my family, to be back on the pitch was great and it is nice if you score a goal,” Van d…
Evan Ferguson has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming Euro 2024 qualifying matches against France and the Netherlands.
The 18-year-old picked up a knee injury during Brighton’s 3-1 win against Newcastle on Saturday, in which he scored all three of his side’s goals, and after being assessed by national team medical staff has withdrawn from the squad.
He joined up with the team on Sunday but it has been decided that he will not be fit to feature in either match during the current international window, with the squad due to travel to France later on Tuesday.
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Massimiliano Allegri insists he is not nervous amid reports suggesting his position as Juventus coach is at risk, saying critics cannot argue with his achievements in Turin.
Juventus benefitted from a late VAR reprieve in a 1-0 win over Fiorentina in Serie A last Sunday, before being pegged back by Nantes in a 1-1 Europa League draw on Thursday.
Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Allegri is clinging to his job in his second stint with the club, amid a frustrating campaign which has seen them exit the Champions League at the first hurdle and receive a 15-point deduction in Serie A after an investigation into historic transfer dealings.
Allegri was seen arguing with a supporter in the aftermath of Juve s last league outing, but he claims he is not f…
The start of the English football season could be delayed so it does not clash with the 2012 London Olympic Games, organisers said on Thursday.
Paul Deighton, chief executive of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, said talks had taken place to ensure that the Games would not overlap with other major sporting events in Britain, such as the English Premier League or Test cricket.
Part of the agreement with the International Olympic Committee when London won the right to host the Games was that there should not be such clashes.
I can confirm that we have been in discussions with all the sports bodies responsible for the schedules in the UK in 2012 and we are on track to meet that obligation, Deighton told a press conference.
Asked if that…
Paulo Dybala says he thought about taking the lucrative deal offered to him from the Saudi Pro League before ultimately deciding to stay at Roma.
The World Cup winner was being linked with a move to Al-Qadsiah, who reportedly offered him a three-year contract worth €75million.
However, Dybala chose to turn the offer down to stay in Italy and was part of the team that started their 2-1 defeat to Empoli in Serie A on Sunday.
Everybody looks at the money, but I put many things on the table to come to my decision: my family, my wife, the city, the team, and my desire to return to the national team, Dybala told Sky Italia.
I m 30 and feel good. I ve seen a lot of criticism about the injuries, but I try to work hard every day to take care of myself and per…