United News of Bangladesh

The Prime Minister's Gold Cup, a nationwide football tournament for educational institutions, is set to bring together students from around 50,000 schools, colleges, madrasahs and technical and vocational institutions across Bangladesh. According to the preliminary plan, the tournament is scheduled to begin by September 10 and conclude by October 30, with the detailed fixture to be announced later. Participation will be mandatory for boys and optional for girls. Students from Class VI to Class XII enrolled in schools, colleges, madrasahs, and technical and vocational institutions will be eligible to take part, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Monday. The briefing followed a meeting of the steering committee formed to oversee the tournament's organisation. The meeting, held at the Secretariat, was chaired by Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon. Mahdi, also Prime Minister's adviser on education, briefed reporters on various aspects of the tournament after the meeting. He said the government will provide all necessary support to ensure the successful holding of the tournament. Mahdi said the initiative aims to create a festive atmosphere across the country while promoting students' creativity, leadership qualities and overall development through sports. "The Prime Minister always envisions an education system where students can fully demonstrate their talent, creativity and intellectual potential." He said to achieve that goal, the education, youth and sports, and cultural affairs ministries will jointly organise year-round programmes and competitions nationwide. The PMO spokesperson said the competition is intended to ensure equal opportunities for students regardless of whether they study in urban or rural areas. "We want every educational institution in Bangladesh to have the opportunity to participate. We believe the tournament will help nurture leadership, talent and creativity among students," he said. The Cabinet Secretary will hold a meeting with divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners on Tuesday to coordinate preparations through the local administration, Mahdi said. The chairman of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee will also visit education boards across the country to discuss implementation with local education officials and institution authorities, while the Ministry of Education will ensure necessary coordination, he added. The PMO spokesperson said the tournament will follow the format of the Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament, which previously involved around 22 lakh students. Matches will begin at the upazila level, followed by district, divisional and national rounds, with the final to be held at the national level. Mahdi expressed hope that the Prime Minister will attend both the opening and closing ceremonies, saying the tournament is being organised under his direct patronage. "That is why it has been named the Prime Minister's Gold Cup Football Tournament," he said. He also urged media organisations to highlight the achievements of participating students, saying proper recognition and encouragement will inspire them and contribute to their future success. The PMO spokesperson said the government is committed to creating "a three-dimensional revolution" in education by integrating sports, culture and academic activities through well-planned policies and coordinated implementation. He said several ministries, including the Ministries of Disaster Management and Relief, Textiles and Jute, Youth and Sports, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, and Information and Broadcasting, will work together to ensure the successful organisation of the nationwide event. Education Minister Milon, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for LGRD and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam and State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, among others, were present at the press conference.

Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who made history with Cape Verde at the recently concluded World Cup, arrived in Chile on Sunday to join Colo Colo after a series of twists and turns that put his move in doubt. “I’m very happy to be here. And I want to thank the fans for the patience they’ve shown while waiting for me,” the Cape Verde star told reporters in Chile. “See you at the Monumental Stadium.” That is Colo Colo’s home ground in Santiago. Colo Colo, Chile’s most successful soccer club, announced the signing of Josimar Évora Dias, better known as Vozinha, on July 24. However, a series of setbacks — including documentation issues and personal matters — delayed his arrival on three separate occasions, causing concern both within and outside the club. At last, he arrived at Santiago’s airport at 8:35 p.m. local time and was welcomed by a huge crowd of supporters who gathered at the terminal with flags, banners, drums, and chants. Vozinha became the oldest player to appear in a national team's debut game at the World Cup and was widely celebrated for keeping eventual champion Span scoreless. Colo Colo supporters share one dream: that Vozinha will help the runaway leaders of the Chilean league win the championship and enhance its continental ambitions for next season. “I’m excited. And if Colo Colo wins the title, next year comes the Copa Libertadores, which makes everything even more exciting for all of Chile and South America,” Marcos Antonio Barrera, a 32-year-old club supporter, told The Associated Press. The World Cup’s breakout goalkeeper is scheduled to undergo medical examinations on Monday before officially signing his contract with Colo Colo. The initial deal will run for six months, with an option to extend it for another 12. Colo Colo said Vozinha is expected to join training on Tuesday. The club also plans to officially present its marquee signing for the remainder of the season that same day. The veteran goalkeeper will be allowed to wear the nickname that brought him worldwide fame on his jersey after the Chilean Football Federation unanimously decided on Friday to amend its regulations and allow him to be identified as Vozinha — “grandma” in Portuguese. The change was necessary because, under Chilean league rules, players are required to use only their surnames on the back of their jerseys. Vozinha arrives in Chile after ending his spell with Chaves in Portugal’s second division. He became one of the standout figures of the World Cup thanks to a string of spectacular saves against powerhouses Spain, Uruguay, and Lionel Messi’s Argentina, which ultimately eliminated Cape Verde in the Round of 32. His performances brought him meteoric fame not only on the field. Before the World Cup, he had fewer than 50,000 followers on Instagram; he now has more than 29.5 million. “The Colo Colo family and all of Chile are eagerly waiting,” fan Sebastián Paredes said. “Now he has to earn his place at Colo Colo through talent, dedication, hard work, commitment, and by winning over the fans. Hopefully, he’ll be a great signing and help put Chile on the map.”  

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Sunday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino was not the right man to lead world soccer’s governing body in the latest fallout from the now abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. “I do not believe that he is the right man to lead football forward on the world stage," Burnham said. “The plan that was put forward was offensive to many people, football people, around the world, and it can’t be the case that we just move on and forget that, it wasn’t acceptable." On Saturday, European soccer's governing body UEFA said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership — possibly paving the way for a challenge to Infantino’s presidency. The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer (CONCACAF) said FIFA leadership had “stopped putting football first.” Infantino was forced into a backdown over his controversial plans to sell World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary that would run its top competitions. Infantino’s plans fell apart after UEFA’s 55-member nations agreed Thursday to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions. CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also said they opposed the plan. Despite Infantino's climbdown, UEFA said it would work with other confederations to "devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.” “No option should be off the table,” it said. While Infantino has received pockets of public support from associations including 2022 World Cup host Qatar, Burnham's words were further evidence of the anger generated by his plans. The next FIFA presidential election is in March in Rabat, Morocco. The deadline for candidates to enter the presidential contest is Nov. 18, exactly four months ahead of the vote.

UEFA has declared it has no confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino after he abandoned a controversial plan to sell a stake in World Cup profits to private investors, deepening a leadership crisis in world football. The proposal sought to place FIFA’s commercial operations, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, into a $20 billion company with 20% owned by private investors. The plan collapsed on Saturday following strong opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), CONCACAF and an internal revolt within FIFA. Infantino drops World Cup investment plan after strong backlash from football leaders Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President, said the current FIFA leadership had lost the confidence of Europe and many others in global football, insisting those responsible for the proposal must be held accountable. CONCACAF also demanded a full review of FIFA’s leadership, calling the initiative another example of poor governance. The backlash intensified after FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned and chief operating officer Kevin Lamour criticized the proposal as the project of "one person." Infantino has previously withdrawn controversial plans, including a $25 billion SoftBank-backed competition in 2018 and a biennial World Cup proposal in 2021. Despite being re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023, Infantino now faces mounting pressure ahead of FIFA's next presidential election. Candidate nominations close on Nov. 18, with the vote scheduled for March in Rabat, Morocco. Qatar’s Football Association backed Infantino’s decision to withdraw the proposal, saying unity should take priority.

Kazi Salahuddin has been re-elected president of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) without a contest, keeping his grip on the region’s football administration despite leaving the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) last year. The election was held at SAFF’s congress in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Saturday. Salahuddin was the only candidate after receiving nominations from the football associations of Nepal and Bhutan. Salahuddin, a former Bangladesh national team player, had served as BFF president for 16 years before stepping down after the political change in 2024. But he has remained SAFF president since first taking the post in 2009, extending his tenure at the regional body to 17 years. His path to another term was cleared after SAFF amended its constitution, removing the 70-year age limit and the rule restricting presidents to two terms. The current BFF leadership did not back his candidacy, but Salahuddin moved ahead with support from Nepal and Bhutan. BFF vice-president Sabbir Ahmed Aref was also named a SAFF executive committee member at the congress.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has abandoned his controversial plan to bring private investors into the commercial side of the World Cup after facing strong opposition from football governing bodies, senior FIFA officials and national associations. Infantino announced on Friday that he was withdrawing the proposal, saying it had created divisions that were no longer in the best interests of world football. "After listening carefully to all views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions that outweigh its intended benefits," he said in a statement. The decision came less than two weeks after Infantino celebrated what FIFA described as the successful conclusion of its expanded World Cup, which generated record revenue and strengthened his position ahead of next year's FIFA presidential election. What was the proposal? The plan would have created a new FIFA subsidiary, called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage the organisation's commercial business, including World Cup broadcasting rights, sponsorship, ticket sales and hospitality. FIFA planned to raise about $4.2 billion by selling around a 20 percent stake in the new company. The lead investor was expected to be Thrive Eternal, an investment firm launched by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared Kushner is US President Donald Trump's son-in-law. Under the proposal, each of FIFA's 211 member associations would have received $20 million from the investment, double the current amount they are due over the next four years. FIFA also projected higher payments in future World Cup cycles. Why did it face opposition? The proposal drew criticism from several FIFA vice presidents, senior FIFA executives, UEFA, football bodies in Asia and North America, national leagues and political leaders. Many feared that private investors would push for larger tournaments and more matches to increase profits, putting further pressure on an already crowded international football calendar. Critics also said Infantino developed the proposal without properly consulting football stakeholders. UEFA took the strongest position, warning that European football associations could boycott FIFA competitions unless the plan was withdrawn. Europe's teams regularly dominate FIFA tournaments, making UEFA's opposition particularly significant. Support remained limited Infantino's traditional supporters in Africa largely stayed neutral, while South American football body CONMEBOL said it would carefully review the proposal before taking a position. Many smaller football associations stood to benefit financially from the increased funding, while wealthier football nations showed less interest in the offer. Questions over Infantino's future Although Infantino has now dropped the proposal, questions remain about whether he can fully restore confidence before FIFA's presidential election next March. The controversy also led to the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro, who criticised the investment plan, while FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour publicly defended colleagues involved in the dispute. Infantino was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023 and is eligible to seek one final four-year term. Potential challengers mentioned by football observers include Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani, although no official candidates have announced plans to run. The failed investment proposal has become one of the biggest challenges to Infantino's leadership since he became FIFA president in 2016.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said she is not concerned that rallies linked to her views on transgender athletes are becoming a distraction for her team. Speaking before Friday night's WNBA game against the Portland Fire, Cunningham said she remains focused on basketball despite protests held outside recent Fever games. "I come in and do my job," Cunningham said. "People who know me understand that I care about others, love basketball and want to inspire young people. I'm here to play basketball and be myself." A small group of supporters gathered outside the arena before Friday's game, marking the second straight Fever game where rallies were held in support of Cunningham. A similar event took place before Indiana's game against the Seattle Storm earlier this week. Each rally drew around two dozen participants. Cunningham said she had no involvement in organising the demonstrations. "People are simply exercising their right to free speech. I respect those who choose to speak their views," she said. Another rally is planned for Sunday's game between the Fever and the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. The protests followed Cunningham's recent public support for banning transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports. During Tuesday's game in Seattle, two Cunningham supporters sat courtside holding signs. Following an incident involving the fans, the WNBA fined Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton an undisclosed amount and suspended her for five games. The Storm later apologised for the incident, saying the team remains committed to providing a welcoming and respectful environment for everyone attending its games. In Portland, Cunningham was booed by sections of the crowd when she entered the game, while many fans waved pink, blue and white transgender flags. Despite the off-court attention, Indiana secured a 112-98 victory over Portland for its fifth straight win. Cunningham scored 13 points, while Caitlin Clark recorded the fourth triple-double of her WNBA career with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Fever coach Stephanie White acknowledged the controversy has created challenges but said the team remains focused. "We want the attention to be on basketball and our progress as a team," White said. "At the same time, this is part of the league's growth, and we have to manage these situations while continuing to have conversations."

Franco Baresi, the former AC Milan captain who was one of Italy's most acclaimed defenders, has died. He was 66. His death was announced on Friday by Milan, the soccer club where he spent his entire 20-year playing career. No cause of death was given. “The entire history of AC Milan is in tears,” Milan said. In August 2025, Baresi underwent surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule and subsequently began a course of immunotherapy. His last public appearance was at the opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February, when along with former Inter Milan defender Giuseppe Bergomi, he carried the torch into the San Siro — the stadium he formerly played in. “His example and integrity will be forever etched into the Club’s DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is,” Milan added. “The condolences AC Milan extends to Franco Baresi’s family at such a difficult time are shared by every Rossonero, who feels this loss as their own.” Baresi was on Italy's team that won the World Cup in 1982. “With the passing of Franco Baresi, Italy loses not only one of the greatest champions in its sports history, but also an example of loyalty, professionalism, and dedication,” Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said on X. One-club player Baresi, who was widely regarded as one of the best defenders of all time, was a true one-club player. He progressed through the ranks at Milan and made his first team debut at the age of 17, in April 1978. He chose to stay with Milan even after it was relegated to Serie B — for the second time in three seasons — in 1982, just before he helped Italy win the World Cup that summer, and was given the captaincy at the age of just 22. Baresi made more than 700 appearances for the Rossoneri, captaining the team to global dominance in the late 1980s and early 1990s. With Milan, Baresi won three Champions League trophies, six Serie A titles, two Intercontinental Cups, three European Supercups and four Italian Supercups. “For generations, Franco embodied the values, character and excellence that define this club,” Milan owner Gerry Cardinale said. “Even as he battled his greatest challenge over the last year, he was always there for the club, quietly reminding us all what it means to wear these colors. “Franco’s legacy is profound and will endure forever. Our thoughts are with his family and all those whose lives he touched.” In his final interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport last year, Baresi said he recalled being a “Milanista” (Milan fan) as a little kid. “When I arrived at Milanello (Milan’s training center) for the first time as a 14-year-old it seemed like entering paradise,” Baresi said. First jersey to be retired As well as the 1982 World Cup, Baresi also helped Italy finish runners-up in the 1994 competition — although he was one of three Azzurri players to miss a penalty in the shootout defeat to Brazil in the final. Baresi finished runner-up to teammate Marco van Basten in the Ballon d’Or awards in 1989. When Baresi retired in 1997, Milan also retired his No. 6 jersey — which was a first for Italian soccer. The club also held a celebration match in his honor, featuring many soccer stars Baresi had played with and against. Baresi was made honorary president of Milan in 2020. “Italian soccer has lost one of its legends,” Italian soccer federation president Giovanni Malagò said, labeling Baresi “an extraordinary champion who wore only two shirts for his entire career: those of Milan and Italy.” “We will have a tribute to remember him the next time the national team plays,” Malagò added. Inter Milan's Baresi It could have all been so different for Baresi and Milan, however. Baresi had trials at Inter when he was younger but he was rejected by the Nerazzurri, who opted to sign his older brother Giuseppe Baresi, with Franco Baresi going on to join the youth team of their fierce city rivals. Giuseppe also captained his team and the image of the two Baresi brothers exchanging pennants before kickoff became the symbol of the Milan derby throughout the late 80s. “On November 19, 1995, I made my Serie A debut against Milan. I was 17 years old, and on the other side was the captain of that team: Franco Baresi,” former Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon said on X, referring to his Italian league debut with Parma. “For a boy my age, finding myself on the field against champions like him was something incredible,” Buffon added. “From that day on, I had an even clearer understanding of what it meant to represent football with class, leadership, and respect. Ciao Franco. Rest in peace.”

Real Madrid have signed 21-year-old Spanish striker Carlos Espí from fellow La Liga club Levante, the Spanish giants announced Friday. Madrid reportedly paid 25 million euros ($28 million) for Espí, who emerged as one of La Liga’s standout young players last season. Levante described the deal as a club-record fee for a homegrown player but did not confirm the amount reported by Spanish media. Espí scored a team-high 11 goals in 25 appearances last season, helping Levante avoid relegation. He has also represented Spain at youth level. He is expected to compete for a place in Madrid’s attacking rotation, potentially replacing Gonzalo García, who has reportedly been linked with a move to Premier League club Fulham. Madrid have been active in the transfer market after ending last season without a major trophy. The club has also brought back coach José Mourinho and signed Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries.

Mexico and Colombia will play their first international fixtures since the FIFA World Cup when they clash in a friendly in the United States in September, the Mexican Football Federation said on Thursday. The teams will meet in Baltimore on September 26, marking the first match in charge for newly appointed Mexico manager Rafael Marquez. Mexico will also face Peru in New York on September 29 and Chile in Los Angeles on October 6 as part of the next FIFA international window. "These are national teams with rich traditions and strong competitive pedigrees, providing demanding tests for a Mexican side embarking on a new journey filled with optimism, commitment, and the support of its fans," the Mexican Football Federation said in a statement. Both Mexico and Colombia were eliminated in the World Cup round of 16 earlier this month. Mexico exited after a 3-2 defeat by England and Colombia fell to Switzerland 4-3 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.