United News of Bangladesh

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.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto hopes a strong performance in next month's two-Test series in Australia will help secure more opportunities for his team to tour the country in the future.Bangladesh will leave Dhaka on Friday for their first Test tour of Australia since 2003, ending a 23-year gap between series."Our main goal is to earn respect by playing good cricket," Shanto told reporters on Thursday. "If we can make the series competitive, hopefully they will invite us again." Nahid's Zimbabwe appearance aimed at keeping him ready, says Bashar While Bangladesh's long-term hopes hinge on building stronger ties with Australia, Shanto said the team's immediate focus remains on the two matches. "We go into every match trying to win," he said. "The important thing is how well we play and how much pressure we can put on them. If we play two good Test matches, that could create more opportunities for us in the future." The captain described the tour as a rare opportunity for Bangladesh, who have not played a Test in Australia for more than two decades. "I feel fortunate to be leading the team there," Shanto said. "Looking back, we probably should have played more Tests in Australia over the last 23 years, although we also have to admit that we did not play good enough Test cricket for a long period." The lengthy absence means several generations of Bangladesh cricketers have gone through their careers without a Test in Australia. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, despite playing more than 100 Tests across a career spanning two decades, is set for his first Test appearance on Australian soil. Shanto also said the growing expectations surrounding Bangladesh's Test side reflected the progress the team has made in recent years. "It is a positive thing that our supporters expect us to win every series," he said. "Twenty-three years ago, that probably was not the case. Now, people believe Bangladesh can beat any team, and that is a good sign of how far we have come."

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto says injuries will not change his expectations for the upcoming Test series in Australia.  He said he has the confidence that the squad available can put up a strong fight. Bangladesh will be without fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam, as well as wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das, all ruled out due to injury before the two-Test tour. "Injuries are beyond anyone's control. Anyone can get injured at any time," Shanto told reporters on Thursday in Mirpur. "I have complete faith in the team that is going to Australia. There is no point thinking about who could have been available. What matters is how well this team plays, and I believe we can play good cricket." He admitted Bangladesh will miss the injured trio but said the players brought into the squad had earned their chance. "Nahid, Shoriful and Litton are important players for us," Shanto said. "But those who are in the squad have been playing international cricket for years as well. This is a big opportunity for them. As captain, you cannot expect to have your strongest squad available all the time." Australia's conditions are expected to favour pace bowling, but the skipper said Bangladesh's attack has the quality to take 20 wickets. "We expect our fast bowlers to take 20 wickets," he said. "We also have two experienced spinners who can support them. Apart from Mushfik, the rest of our fast bowlers have been around for a long time. If they bowl to their ability, they are capable of doing the job." Bangladesh last played a Test in Australia in 2003, but Shanto said there was little point trying to predict the conditions before arriving. "It is difficult to understand the conditions from here," he said. "We will assess them once we get there. Whatever the conditions are, as professional cricketers, we have to adapt."  

The inauguration ceremony of the Prime Minister Gold Cup National Football Tournament 2026 has been postponed by one month due to the prevailing flood situation and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said on Thursday. The tournament will now be inaugurated in Chattogram on September 9 or 10 by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he said while speaking at a press conference at the Chattogram Press Club. The minister said the postponement applied only to the formal opening ceremony, not the tournament schedule itself. Under the schedule, secondary-level matches at the upazila level will begin on August 9, and higher secondary matches from October 6. District-level matches will begin on August 27 at the secondary level and on October 13 at higher secondary level, while divisional-level matches for both categories will begin on October 22. National-level matches will run from October 27 to October 30. Milon said the Prime Minister's Gold Cup National Football Tournament 2026 is being organised under the direct patronage of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. "When we invited the Prime Minister to inaugurate the tournament, he instructed us to hold the opening ceremony in the port city of Chattogram. Accordingly, a colourful inaugural ceremony will be held at Chattogram District Stadium, where the Prime Minister will formally open the competition as the chief guest," he said. The minister said around 1.5 crore students from 40,231 educational institutions across the country are expected to participate in the tournament. He said the initiative aims to identify football talent from the grassroots, promote students' physical and mental development and contribute to strengthening the country's sports economy. Milon also said the government is working to create a sports-friendly environment in every educational institution to help keep the younger generation away from drugs and crime. State Minister for Land, and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, among others, was present at the press conference. Later, the minister visited the Chattogram District Stadium to inspect preparations for the tournament.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti is still coming to terms with his team's round-of-16 defeat to Norway in the World Cup. But as the 67-year-old Italian looks ahead to the next four years in charge, he plans to closely monitor youth-level players and Brazil's squad at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as part of an overhaul of the national team. In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at the headquarters of the Brazilian soccer confederation in Rio de Janeiro, Ancelotti also said the five-time World Cup champions do not need to copy defending champions Spain or a powerful France side to win a record sixth title. "We don't need to copy — we need to learn where we can improve," Ancelotti said at the confederation's museum, which houses much of Brazil's national team silverware. "Some positions are well-covered, both in defense and attack. We are looking for improvement and development among the midfielders. And the Olympics could be a crucial moment (to find players)," he said. Ancelotti, who returned to Brazil on Sunday, has heard plenty about the Tokyo Olympics gold-medal match since taking charge. Five years ago, Brazil beat Spain 2-1 to retain the title. Eight Spanish players from that match, along with coach Luis de la Fuente, have since become World Cup winners. Brazil, however, took only midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and striker Matheus Cunha to the 2026 World Cup. "We are in contact with the U-15, U-17, and U-20 coaches to identify talent and track their progress, ensuring they are prepared for the next World Cup," Ancelotti said. "Four years ago, Rayan was playing U-17. It is vital to look at youth development now so that by 2030 we have another generation of players progressing like him," he said. Many Brazil fans may not be willing to wait that long, as they often expect star players to deliver and take leading roles wherever they play. But Ancelotti said the approach he is planning will be different. "At this moment, football doesn't need one single star — we need to reinforce the concept of the team," he said. "Brazil doesn't have a single reference point right now, and it doesn't need one. We have many great players. The goal is to build a strong, cohesive team." New path for Brazil begins in September Three friendlies — two against Australia in September and another against India in October — will mark the beginning of a new cycle for Brazil's first full-time foreign coach. Ancelotti knows pressure will remain high through the 2028 Copa America. He said a combination of players who make the continental tournament squad and younger players who travel to Los Angeles could form the core of Brazil's 2030 World Cup team. Striker Neymar, who was included in Ancelotti's squad for this summer's tournament despite serious doubts over his fitness, is not part of the coach's plans going forward. The 34-year-old star said earlier this week that he believes his time with the national team is over. "That's part of the natural trajectory of a great talent like Neymar," Ancelotti said. "It is like it is for others who finish an important time with the national team. We spent little time together, but I have only good things to say. He was serious, professional, he helped in whichever way he could. Too bad he had this injury that did not allow him to be 100% since the first game." Ancelotti said his decision to remain Brazil coach until 2030, while turning down an offer from the Italian soccer federation to coach the national team he once played for, "has nothing to do with contracts, it has to do with commitment." Italian soccer officials had considered Ancelotti for the position, which ultimately went once again to Roberto Mancini. "The Brazilian soccer confederation has always supported me, especially after the defeat against Norway," Ancelotti said in his increasingly fluent Portuguese, which he has learned from a teacher and a language app. "The commitment I have is because of the reception I had here this year," he said. Ancelotti has experienced the pain of losing a World Cup final with Italy — against Brazil in a penalty shootout in 1994, when he was an assistant coach of the Azzurri. But he said the latest defeat hurts more, although it has also broadened his outlook toward 2030. "It is a tough time to digest this defeat. I was used to defeats at clubs because you can seek payback quickly. Now I have to wait. Sometimes I think about the defeat more than usual," Ancelotti said. "You have to have the strength to have an eye in the past and another one in the future. Each day that goes by I am thinking more about the future than the past."

Two friendly football matches featuring adolescent boys and girls were held in Kurigram on Wednesday to promote football among young people and build enthusiasm ahead of the Prime Minister's Gold Cup National Football Tournament 2026. The matches were organised at Kurigram Stadium by the Kurigram District Sports Association under the patronage of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dinajpur. Board Chairman Prof Elias Ahmed attended the function as the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, he said regular participation in sports and healthy recreation plays the most effective role in keeping young people away from drugs, terrorism and other forms of social degradation.

Litton Das has been appointed Bangladesh’s new ODI captain, replacing Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the Bangladesh Cricket Board split the leadership of its red-ball and white-ball teams. Litton, who already leads the T20I side, will now captain Bangladesh in both white-ball formats. Towhid Hridoy has been named ODI vice-captain, while Najmul Hossain Shanto will remain Test captain. The decision was announced by BCB President Tamim Iqbal after a board meeting in Mirpur on Wednesday. “We have decided to have two captains across the three formats,” Tamim said. “We believe white-ball and red-ball cricket require different leadership, and the board supports that approach.” Miraz took over the ODI captaincy in June 2025 after Najmul was removed from the role. Bangladesh won 10 of the 24 ODIs under his leadership, including series victories over West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia. His last assignment as captain ended with a 2-1 series defeat in Zimbabwe. Tamim said the change was not a reflection of Miraz’s record as captain. “Miraz has been an excellent captain and has led the team well,” he said. “But we feel Bangladesh need more from him as a cricketer. We have not seen the level of batting and bowling he is capable of, and we want him to focus fully on getting back to that standard.” The BCB chief said he had discussed the decision with Miraz beforehand and that the all-rounder understood the board’s thinking.

Although the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluded only weeks ago with Spain lifting the trophy, several Southeast Asian nations have already shifted their focus toward qualifying for the 2030 tournament. The ASEAN Cup is currently underway in Phnom Penh, where host nation Cambodia suffered defeats in its opening Group A fixtures, losing 2-1 to Singapore before being beaten 5-1 by Indonesia. The biennial competition features 10 national teams from across Southeast Asia, a region with a population of around 650 million. While the championship title will be decided in late August, many participating teams are using the tournament as an opportunity to build momentum ahead of the next World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins next year. Regional football powers Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are aiming to use the event to strengthen their squads before the Asian qualifiers. Indonesia remains the only Southeast Asian nation to have appeared at the World Cup, having competed as the Dutch East Indies in 1938. ASEAN Football Federation President Khiev Sameth expressed confidence that a Southeast Asian team can soon secure a place on football's biggest stage. He said the long-held ambition of seeing an ASEAN nation qualify for the FIFA World Cup is becoming increasingly realistic and believes the achievement would be a milestone shared by the entire regional football community. Indonesia came closest among Southeast Asian teams to reaching the 2026 World Cup but is still searching for its first ASEAN Cup title despite finishing as runner-up six times in the tournament's history. Earlier this year, Indonesia appointed English coach John Herdman, who guided Canada to its first World Cup appearance in 36 years at the 2022 tournament, to lead the national side. Following its commanding victory over Cambodia, Indonesia is scheduled to play Timor-Leste on Friday before taking on Vietnam and Singapore next week. Herdman said his primary objective is to help Indonesia qualify for the World Cup, adding that he wants to be part of the team's journey when it reaches that historic milestone. Indonesia has also accelerated its player naturalization program by bringing in overseas-born footballers eligible to represent the country. In July, Australian-born players Mitch Baker and Luke Vickery officially became Indonesian citizens during separate ceremonies in Jakarta. Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir, who also serves as president of the Indonesian Football Association, attended Baker's citizenship ceremony. The 19-year-old midfielder marked his ASEAN Cup debut with a hat-trick and earned player-of-the-match honors. Thohir said Indonesia has set ambitious goals across major international competitions, including the SEA Games, Asian Games, Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, emphasizing that the country welcomes players committed to representing Indonesia with pride. Vietnam head coach Kim Sang-sik is also targeting future World Cup qualification. The former South Korean international, who played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, said watching the recent tournament inspired both him and his players to dream of competing on the global stage. Thailand, the most successful nation in ASEAN Cup history with seven titles, begins its campaign in Group B alongside Malaysia, Laos, the Philippines and Myanmar. Thai head coach Anthony Hudson acknowledged the expectations surrounding his team, saying the pressure reflects the quality of the squad and the passionate support of the country's fans, who are eager to see sustained success. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, with the winners meeting in a two-legged final scheduled for Aug. 22 and Aug. 26. Once the ASEAN Cup concludes, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will shift their attention to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which is set to begin on Jan. 7 in Saudi Arabia.    

Jayden Seales took five wickets as West Indies defeated Pakistan by 90 runs in the first cricket Test on Tuesday, despite an unbeaten 58 from Pakistan captain Babar Azam and a late 49-run stand with No. 11 Mohammad Abbas. Chasing 211 after West Indies were bowled out for 181 in their second innings, Pakistan collapsed to 71-9 before Babar and Abbas delayed the inevitable with a stubborn partnership. Seales finished with 5-20 as Pakistan struggled against accurate bowling. Abbas was the last batter dismissed, scoring 23 shortly after the tea interval on Day 4, with Pakistan on 120. Babar’s 32nd Test half-century was a rare bright spot in Pakistan’s otherwise poor batting display. He reached his 50 off 81 balls with Pakistan at 88-9, while the rest of the batters had contributed only 38 runs. “We played good cricket in the last few days but today we were not up to the mark as a batting unit,” Babar said. “We lost back-to-back wickets. We will look to make sure it doesn't happen in the next matches.” The second and final Test of the series begins Sunday. Pakistan’s second-innings collapse followed a similar pattern to its first innings. After reaching 244-4, including a century from Shan Masood, Pakistan lost its final six wickets for just 38 runs and was bowled out for 282, giving West Indies a 29-run first-innings lead. West Indies had scored 311 in their first innings. Masood’s century was Pakistan’s only hundred in the match. Imam-ul-Haq scored 63 in the first innings, while Babar made a half-century in the second. Apart from them, only six Pakistan batters managed to reach double figures. Abbas’ 23 was joint-fourth highest among Pakistan’s batters. Masood suffered a hand injury while batting in the first innings and was moved from No. 3 to No. 8 in the batting order Tuesday, further weakening Pakistan’s lineup. West Indies resumed the fourth day at 126-7, holding a 155-run lead. Shamar Joseph increased his score from 22 to 38, while Kemar Roach moved from 5 to 18 as the hosts pushed their advantage beyond 200. That proved sufficient as Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq for three in the third over, beginning another major batting collapse. Babar held one end together, but among Pakistan’s top six batters, only Mohammad Rizwan, with 11, managed to reach double figures. Excluding Babar and Abbas, Pakistan’s scores were 3, 3, 0, 11, 0, 2, 3, 4 and 0. Seales led the attack with his early wickets, while Roach took 2-27 and Justin Greaves 2-12. Seales returned to claim the final wicket, trapping Abbas lbw in the 41st over to complete his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Greaves, who took 5-27 in Pakistan’s first innings, was named player of the match. “We came in and tried to be just as disciplined as possible,” Greaves said. “I mimicked Mohammad Abbas' fuller lengths when he bowled against us in the first and second innings and it pretty much worked out for us.” Abbas took 3-63 and 5-22 for Pakistan in the match.

Roberto Mancini has been appointed for a second spell as Italy head coach, Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Giovanni Malago announced on Tuesday. The 61-year-old succeeds Gennaro Gattuso, who stepped down earlier this year after Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, extending the country's absence from football's biggest tournament to three straight editions. Mancini previously coached Italy from 2018 to 2023, leading the Azzurri to the UEFA Euro 2020 title before resigning to take charge of Saudi Arabia's national team. Malago also confirmed former Roma coach Claudio Ranieri as the federation's new technical director. Italy's latest overhaul followed a 2-1 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a World Cup playoff in March. The loss prompted the resignations of both former FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and Gattuso. The search for a new coach proved difficult after Malago was elected FIGC president in June. He appointed former AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini as technical director and former Brazil international Leonardo as an adviser to oversee the recruitment process. Italian media linked Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Mancini with the role, while Andrea Pirlo was reportedly close to being appointed before being removed from contention amid controversy over his ties to a Russian betting company. Maldini and Leonardo subsequently resigned just 16 days after taking up their positions. Mancini's first competitive matches in his second stint will come in the UEFA Nations League in September, with Italy drawn alongside France, Belgium and Türkiye.