United News of Bangladesh

Manchester United strengthened their push for a Champions League spot with a composed 2-1 home victory over Brentford in the Premier League on Monday. The win lifted United three points clear of Liverpool and Aston Villa, moving them into third place and bringing them closer to securing European football next season for the first time since 2024. Casemiro opened the scoring after 11 minutes, heading in at the far post for what was his 11th headed goal since joining the club in 2022—behind only Erling Haaland, Ollie Watkins and Chris Wood in that category. Brentford matched United for much of an entertaining first half, but the hosts doubled their advantage just before the break when Benjamin Sesko finished a swift counterattack after a pass from Bruno Fernandes, registering his 19th assist of the season—the highest in the league. Sesko praised Fernandes after the match, highlighting their training-ground chemistry and the midfielder’s creative influence. Brentford struggled to convert chances despite a competitive display, with Mathias Jensen’s late strike in the 87th minute offering only a brief lifeline. Brentford manager Keith Andrews said his side were “bitterly disappointed” but insisted they had played well against a strong opponent, adding that their approach remained “brave” despite the defeat. The result leaves Brentford ninth in the table, level on points with Chelsea and Fulham, while their hopes of European qualification remain alive despite a winless league run since February.

Jesse Lingard is enjoying a fresh start in Brazil, making history as the first English player to feature in the country’s top football league and aiming to win silverware with Corinthians. The former Manchester United forward has quickly settled into life at his new club and recently scored his first goal in the Copa do Brasil. Lingard’s move to Brazil raised some eyebrows, but the 33-year-old said he chose the club to challenge himself at a high level. “I had offers, but I wanted to test myself. I came here to win a trophy,” he said in an interview. He joined Corinthians after a spell with FC Seoul and credited former teammate Memphis Depay for helping him make the move and adjust to life in Brazil. Lingard made his debut against Fluminense at the iconic Maracanã Stadium, describing the experience as “amazing” after a long period without competitive football. However, his arrival coincided with a difficult period for the club. Coach Dorival Junior was sacked following a poor run of results, with Fernando Diniz later taking charge. Since then, the team has improved, winning matches in the Copa Libertadores. Lingard also spoke about the passion of Corinthians supporters, saying their presence at training sessions showed how much they care about results. Adjusting to life in Brazil has not been without challenges, particularly the language barrier. Unlike his time in South Korea, Lingard does not have a translator but is trying to learn Portuguese to communicate better with teammates. Reflecting on his long career at Manchester United, where he spent two decades before leaving in 2022, Lingard described it as an “amazing chapter.” He later moved to Nottingham Forest before heading to Asia. He is still closely following developments at United and praised former teammate Michael Carrick for the club’s recent improvement, saying he believes Carrick should be given the job permanently. Lingard also highlighted the performances of United captain Bruno Fernandes, backing him as a contender for the Ballon d’Or after an impressive season. Looking ahead, Lingard is excited about the prospect of facing top players in Brazil, including Neymar, whom he described as a world-class talent. The former England international, who played at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, also expressed confidence in England national football team ahead of upcoming international competitions, saying they have the quality to go all the way. With inputs from BBC

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are still awaiting first home win after a 1-1 draw with New England Revolution on Saturday night. Germán Berterame equalised in 76th minute from rebound, leaving Inter Miami 0-0-3 at their new stadium, compared to 5-1-1 away in MLS.Despite home struggles, Miami extended unbeaten MLS run to nine matches (5-0-4) since opening defeat at LAFC and are unbeaten in 11 across all competitions (5-0-6).Carles Gil put New England ahead in 56th minute, ending four-match losing run vs Miami, finishing a move from Will Sands throw-in and Dor Turgeman assist, chipping Dayne St. Clair.Miami had earlier goal ruled offside on Tadeo Allende strike. Lionel Messi faces lawsuit over $7m contractEqualiser came when Luis Suárez shot was saved by Matt Turner and rebound fell to Berterame.New England last beat Miami on June 10, 2023, before Messi debut. Since then Miami led rivalry 16-5 over four wins.Messi missed chances including 38th-minute shot wide, a corner attempt and stoppage-time effort saved by Turner.Miami have five MLS matches before World Cup break vs Orlando, Toronto, Cincinnati, Portland and Philadelphia, with Toronto 3-3-4 and others below 12th.

Italian sports officials say four-time champion Italy is not interested in replacing Iran at the upcoming World Cup following a suggestion to that effect by a Trump administration official. Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup, and the team is preparing to play in the U.S. despite the war in the Middle East. FIFA has insisted its group stage games near Los Angeles and in Seattle will go ahead as planned in June. The Financial Times reported that Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. special envoy for global partnerships, had suggested the swap to President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. In a phone interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Zampolli emphasized that “my request is not a political request.” The ask, which was made to Trump and Infantino on Wednesday, was meant as a contingency plan in case Iran could not participate in the soccer tournament at the last minute. “I had a dream,” Zampolli told the AP. “My request was for the Italian people and the American-Italian people.” He said in the FT interview that, with four titles, the Italian national team’s appearance in the World Cup would be justified. Italian officials pushed back hard at the suggestion, with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi saying Thursday that “first of all, it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea.” Luciano Buonfiglio, the president of the Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sports in Italy, also dismissed the idea. “I would feel offended,” Buonfiglio said. “You need to deserve to go to the World Cup.” Italy’s Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the suggested swap “shameful.” Hours later, Trump was asked at the White House about Iranian soccer players potentially not being allowed into the U.S. for the World Cup. He initially joked, “I don’t think about it too much” before adding, “That’s an interesting question.” “Let me give that some thought,” Trump added. He then deferred to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said, “Nothing from the U.S. has told them they can’t come.” “The problem with Iran would be, not their athletes. It would be some of the other people that they want to bring with them,” Rubio said, suggesting that Iran’s soccer team could bring in people loyal to militant groups disguised as journalists and trainers. “We may not be able to let them in,” Rubio said of people around the team. “But not the athletes themselves.” He added that there had been “speculation that Iran may decide not to come, but then Italy could fill their spot,” without adding details. “If they decide not to come on their own, it’s ‘cause they decided not to come,” the secretary of state said of Iranian athletes. While Iran was among the first teams to qualify for the World Cup, Italy missed out for the third consecutive tournament, resulting in the resignations of its national team coach and soccer federation president. Zampolli has long been a part of the Trump family orbit, having introduced then-Melania Knauss to Donald Trump at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998. He regularly posts on social media about his meetings with Infantino, calling him the “King of Soccer.” Trump last year appointed him as special representative for global partnerships. In March, The New York Times reported that Zampolli had reached out to a top official at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, informing him that the mother of his child was in the country illegally as the two were locked in a custody dispute. She was ultimately deported. The White House did not return a request for comment. Its World Cup task force, housed under the Department of Homeland Security, said it had no comment. FIFA also would not comment. The Iranian embassy in Rome denounced Zampolli’s remarks in a comment on X. “Football belongs to the people, not to politicians,” the embassy said. “Italy earned its soccer prowess on the field, not thanks to political maneuvers. The attempt to exclude Iran from the World Cup shows only the ‘moral bankruptcy’ of the United States, which fears even the presence of 11 young Iranians on the field of play.” Iran’s status at the World Cup, which starts in June, has been a source of debate and concern since the U.S. and Israel launched military attacks on the country in February. Trump in March discouraged Iran from participating in the tournament, citing safety concerns. FIFA has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup schedule decided last December, and refused to negotiate any suggestion of moving the team’s games to co-host Mexico. An Iranian government spokesperson said Wednesday that the men’s national team is preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the U.S. Iran earned one of eight guaranteed World Cup places allocated to the Asian Football Confederation. Should Iran pull out, in theory the replacement should be the United Arab Emirates, the highest-ranked Asian team that didn’t qualify. One possible element of uncertainty is the language of the World Cup tournament rules. FIFA wrote that it can decide to replace a withdrawn team “with another association,” though without specifying the replacement must come from the same continental confederation.  

Iran has said it is fully prepared for its national team to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, despite ongoing security concerns. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said the country’s sports ministry has completed all necessary preparations for the team’s participation. Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, has indicated that Iran is expected to take part in the tournament, which is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump raised concerns over whether it would be appropriate for the Iranian team to attend the event, citing security issues. #From Middle East Eye

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Wednesday conferred a reception to the Bangladesh Under-20 national football team following their title win in the SAFF U-20 Championship. At a event held at the Gulshan Nagar Bhaban, each player of the champion team was awarded a cheque of Tk 50,000, along with crests and souvenirs. Members of the coaching staff were also honoured. DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton attended the event as the chief guest, while Bangladesh Football Federation President Tabith Awal was present as special guest. DNCC Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Asaduzzaman delivered the welcome speech. Speaking on the occasion, the DNCC Administrator said the nation feels proud whenever Bangladeshi players carry the national flag in victory laps, adding that football in the country is entering a new phase. He also noted that steps are being taken, under the prime minister’s directives, to free open spaces from illegal occupation and make them suitable for sports activities. Addressing the players, he said they are seen as the future of the national team and emphasised that the purpose of the event was to honour and inspire them rather than focus on financial rewards. In his speech, Tabith Awal thanked the DNCC Administrator for supporting sports, saying city corporations play an important role in developing sports and fostering social unity. Among others present were BFF Vice-President Fahad Mohammad Ahmed Karim, members of the U-20 team, DNCC Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Chief Engineer Brig Gen Syed Rakibul Hasan, and officials from both DNCC and BFF.

Mexico has announced increased security measures at major tourist destinations after a deadly shooting at the Teotihuacan pyramids raised fresh concerns ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Authorities said a lone gunman opened fire on tourists Monday at the UNESCO World Heritage site, killing one Canadian visitor and injuring at least a dozen others. President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged security gaps at the site, describing the attack as an “isolated incident” but vowing steps to prevent a recurrence. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said forces have been ordered to immediately strengthen protection at archaeological sites and key tourist areas nationwide. Measures include increasing the presence of the National Guard, enhancing security checks and expanding surveillance systems. The shooting comes less than two months before Mexico co-hosts the World Cup with the United States and Canada, with Teotihuacan expected to be a major attraction for visiting fans. The government has already announced a broader security plan involving the deployment of around 100,000 personnel, along with military vehicles, aircraft and drones, particularly in host cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Despite officials highlighting a decline in homicides in recent years, the incident has renewed scrutiny over security preparedness as the global tournament approaches.

Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Deportivo Alavés, reducing FC Barcelona’s lead at the top of La Liga to six points. Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior scored on either side of halftime to seal the win at the Santiago Bernabeu, ending Real’s two-match winless run in the league. The result comes after Real’s exit from the Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern Munich. Barcelona have the chance to restore their nine-point cushion when they face Celta Vigo on Wednesday, with six matches remaining in the season. Real Madrid are in danger of ending the campaign without a trophy for only the fifth time this century, having previously gone without silverware in 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10 and 2020-21. With coach Álvaro Arbeloa’s future reportedly uncertain, winning the league could be key to his stay next season. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 30th minute, netting his 24th league goal of the season. Vinicius doubled the lead six minutes into the second half, finishing from a pass by Federico Valverde for his 12th goal of the campaign. Alaves pulled one back with the final kick of the match through Tony Martínez. Real will next travel to Real Betis on Friday, while Alaves host RCD Mallorca a day later. #From BBC

Central Cordoba came from behind to secure a thrilling 4-3 home victory over Platense in Argentina’s Apertura tournament on Monday. Franco Zapiola initially put Platense ahead at the Unico Stadium, before Alejandro Maciel restored parity and Fernando Martinez gave the hosts a lead. After the interval, Central Cordoba widened the margin as Ezequiel Naya and Diego Barrera scored, either side of Kevin Retamar’s 71st-minute goal for the visitors. Real Madrid crowned UEFA Youth League champions Bautista Merlini reduced the deficit for Platense three minutes from full-time, but the visitors failed to find an equaliser despite pressing strongly in the closing stages. With the result, Central Cordoba sit 13th in Group A with 15 points, just one point behind 11th-placed Platense, with both sides having played 14 matches each. In other top-flight fixtures on the same day, Belgrano played out a goalless draw against Barracas Central, Gimnasia Mendoza edged Lanus 1-0 at home, Banfield were held 0-0 by Independiente Rivadavia, Huracan drew 1-1 with Tigre, and Velez Sarsfield shared a goalless draw with San Lorenzo.

Real Madrid have been crowned European champions at youth level after defeating Club Brugge in the UEFA Youth League final on Monday. Madrid won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time at the Stade de la Tuilière in Lausanne, Switzerland. Goalkeeper Javier Navarro played a decisive role in the shootout, saving penalties from Naim Amengai and Tian Koren to secure Madrid’s second UEFA Youth League title. The match remained tightly contested, with Madrid taking the lead in the 23rd minute through Jacobo Ortega, who scored with a backheel finish in the goalmouth. Club Brugge equalised in the 64th minute through Tobias Lund Jensen following a strong run and cross from Tian Koren. The game went straight to penalties without extra time, where Madrid defender Diego Aguado converted the decisive spot-kick. Real Madrid dominated large spells of the match and came close to extending their lead early on, but Brugge gradually grew into the contest before equalising. The victory marks Madrid’s second title in the competition’s 12-year history and comes days after their senior team exited the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. Club president Florentino Pérez attended the final alongside UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. The result adds to Real Madrid’s growing success at youth level, while Barcelona remain the most successful club in the competition with three titles.