United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh lifted the SAFF Under-20 Championship title for the second time after beating India 4-3 on penalties in the final of the 2026 edition on Friday at the National Stadium in Male, Maldives. Ronan Sullivan scored the winning penalty with a cheeky 'panenka' to send the Bangladesh dugout into a frenzy. While it was Bangladesh's second such success, this is the first time they beat India in the final, having lost three previous finals against their bigger neighbours before. This second regional age group championship in three years solidifies Bangladesh's emerging edge in South Asian youth football under head coach Mark Cox. Neither side managed to break the deadlock during 90 minutes of regulation and four minutes of stoppage time, forcing the decisive shootout. Both teams missed crucial opportunities during a tightly contested first half. India threatened early when an Abrash header narrowly missed the post in the fourth minute. Bangladesh responded in the 13th minute when captain Mithu Chowdhury headed wide off a free-kick from Ronan Sullivan. Just before halftime, Sullivan launched an acrobatic half-volley from outside the box that sailed over the crossbar. Bangladesh adopted a more defensive posture in the second half. Goalkeeper Ismail Hossain Mahin survived two misjudged clearances, as Indian forwards failed to capitalize on the exposed net. Seeking an offensive spark, Cox substituted Philadelphia Union prospect Declan Sullivan into the match in the 66th minute, but the Indian defense held firm. India had the best chance to secure a victory in the dying minutes of regulation. In the 83rd minute, Rishi Singh delivered a cross into the box, but an unmarked Vishal sent a powerful shot soaring over the crossbar, ensuring the match would be decided by penalties.

Barcelona scored six goals again to outclass Real Madrid 6-0 and reach a record-extending eighth straight semifinal in the Women’s Champions League on Thursday. Caroline Graham Hansen scored twice and Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, Ewa Pajor and Esmee Brugts all scored a goal apiece for the three-time champion in the second leg of their quarterfinal to advance on a 12-2 aggregate score. Barcelona will face Bayern Munich for a spot in the May 23 final in Oslo. It was Barcelona’s sixth win over Madrid in the women’s clásico in all competitions this season and it was watched by 60,067 spectators in the women’s first game at the newly revamped Camp Nou. Later Thursday, OL Lyonnes needed extra time to beat Wolfsburg 4-0 and will take on defending champion Arsenal in the last four. Barcelona didn’t waste time in proving its superiority, giving Madrid no chance for an unprecedented quarterfinal turnaround after last week's 6-2 result in the Spanish capital. In the eighth minute, Pajor's attempt from the left side of the box was saved by goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez. But Putellas scored off the rebound to mark the two-time Ballon d'Or winner's 500th Barcelona appearance. With the goal, Putellas became the first Spanish player to have 30 goals in women’s club competitions, according to UEFA. Seven minutes later, Graham Hansen headed in the second from close range. Paredes made it 3-0 with another header off a corner from Graham Hansen in the 27th. The home team went into halftime with a 4-0 lead after Pajor's seventh goal in the Champions League this season and career 40th in European club competitions. Graham Hansen chipped the ball over Rodríguez 10 minutes into the second half for a 5-0 lead. Clara Serrajordi set up Brugts to tap in the sixth. Barcelona seeks to reclaim the title it lost to Arsenal last season. The Catalan club topped the league phase with an unbeaten campaign that included 20 goals scored and three against. Substitutes save Lyon Substitutes Melchie Dumornay and Damaris Egurrola scored off corner kicks five minutes apart at the end of the first half of extra time, and another substitute — Tabitha Chawinga — sealed the win, 4-1 on aggregate, to send the record eight-time champions to the next round. Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Wolfsburg relied on defense and some great saves by goalkeeper Stina Johannes. Lily Yohannes, an 18-year-old United States international, erased the one-goal deficit with a deflected low shot in the first half. It was the 13th meeting between Lyon and Wolfsburg in the Women’s Champions League, a new record for the most played fixture. Wolfsburg won the first meeting — the 2013 final — but Lyon has had the best of the rivalry since then. It won three finals against the German club: in 2016, 2018 and 2020.

Bangladeshi leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has been named the player of the season for the Hobart Hurricanes following his debut campaign in Australia's Big Bash League. Cricket Tasmania announced the award during its annual awards night, more than two months after the domestic T20 tournament concluded on Jan. 25. Rishad secured the recognition after taking a team-high 15 wickets for the Hurricanes. He finished as the joint-highest wicket-taking spinner across all franchises in the tournament, sharing the mark with Perth Scorchers left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly and Adelaide Strikers leg-spinner Lloyd Pope. Rishad maintained a consistent performance throughout the season, recording an economy rate of 7.82. He claimed the top men's honor ahead of three other nominees: batsman Nikhil Chaudhary, who scored 307 runs; team captain and fast bowler Nathan Ellis, who took 14 wickets; and fast bowler Chris Jordan, who claimed seven wickets. In the women's division, batsman Danni Wyatt-Hodge won the top award for Hobart. She scored 432 runs during the latest BBL season, playing a significant role in helping the team secure its first championship title.

Bangladesh secured a place in the final of the SAFF U-20 Championship 2026 after edging past Nepal 1-0 in the semi-final on Wednesday. Md Manik scored the decisive goal in the 11th minute at the National Football Stadium in Malé, Maldives, and was named Player of the Match. The match kicked off at 4:45 pm (BST). In the second semi-final, India will face Bhutan later on the same day at the same venue at 9:30 pm (BST). Bangladesh will learn their final opponents after that match. Earlier, Bangladesh reached the semi-finals finishing as runners-up in Group B. The boys in red and green began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Pakistan and later played out a 1-1 draw against India in their final group match.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that Iran will participate in the upcoming FIFA World Cup and play its scheduled matches in the United States. FIFA’s conformation will now end speculation about a potential boycott or venue relocation amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Speaking after attending Iran’s 5-0 friendly victory over Costa Rica in Turkey on Tuesday, Infantino said the tournament schedule will proceed without alterations. "Iran will be at the World Cup," Infantino said. "The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw". The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding the Iranian team's status due to the US-Israel war with Iran. Earlier this month, the Iranian football federation stated it was negotiating with FIFA to relocate its matches to Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had publicly offered to host the games if necessary. Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, begins June 11. Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, vice president of the Iranian Football Federation, said the team will adhere to FIFA's regulations and expects host nations to do the same. "Every host country has made commitments to FIFA and must honor them," Nabi said. He added that Infantino’s visit during his transit from Mexico to Qatar provided a significant boost to the players. The geopolitical tension had recently spilled into public statements from government officials. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media earlier this month that while Iran was "welcome to the World Cup," he felt they should not participate "for their own life and safety". In response, Iranian officials suggested the U.S. should forfeit its place in the tournament. Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali also previously stated the country was not in a position to compete. Prior to Tuesday's friendly match in Antalya, Iranian players held up photographs of damaged hospitals, historical buildings, and children killed in the war.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is unlike anything football has seen before  and that's not just a line for the brochure. This is the first World Cup to include 48 teams, expanded from 32, and the first to be hosted by three nations simultaneously the United States, Canada, and Mexico, spread across 16 cities. But the numbers only go so far in capturing what this qualification cycle actually produced. There were stories of nations waiting decades for this moment, a European giant falling through the trapdoor for the third consecutive time, a man from Manchester scoring 16 goals for Norway, and a tiny Caribbean island rewriting the record books. All of that before a ball is kicked at a World Cup. The Full 48 Teams — Confederation by ConfederationUEFA — Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland all qualified as group winners. The remaining four European spots were settled in the March 2026 playoffs, where Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Türkiye, and Czechia each won their respective paths to join the field. Italy four-time World Cup winners missed out for the third consecutive time, losing the play-off final. The scale of that absence, in a 48-team tournament no less, warrants more than a footnote. CAF — Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia make up the African contingent, with DR Congo joining them via the intercontinental playoff. Ten African nations at a single World Cup the most ever. AFC — Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea qualified directly, with Iraq claiming the final Asian berth through the intercontinental playoff. Japan was the first nation anywhere in the world to qualify, and South Korea secured their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance. CONMEBOL — South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay all came through the grueling round-robin format. Brazil maintains their record as the only nation to have qualified for every World Cup since 1930. OFC — Oceania: For the first time in history, the OFC received a guaranteed berth, and New Zealand filled it, a landmark moment for Oceanian football that has been 96 years in the making.

The Italy national football team suffered another major setback, failing to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team in a penalty shootout in the European playoffs on Tuesday. Despite taking an early lead through Moise Kean, Italy’s hopes were dented when defender Alessandro Bastoni was sent off before halftime. Bosnia fought back late in the match, with substitute Haris Tabaković scoring in the 79th minute to level the score at 1-1 and force extra time. Bosnia eventually triumphed 4-1 in the shootout, securing their first World Cup qualification since 2014 and only the second in their history. The defeat added to Italy’s recent struggles, having also failed to reach the last two World Cups after playoff losses to Sweden and North Macedonia. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said the team is facing a difficult period, acknowledging their repeated failures to meet expectations at both national and club levels. Defender Leonardo Spinazzola expressed disappointment, saying the result was painful for players, their families and fans, especially younger supporters who have never seen Italy play at a World Cup. The latest elimination means the four-time champions, winners in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006, will go at least 16 years without appearing at football’s biggest tournament. Italy’s last World Cup match was in 2014, when they were knocked out in the group stage in a game remembered for Luis Suárez biting Giorgio Chiellini. Italy’s football federation president Gabriele Gravina admitted the team is in a “huge crisis.” The defeat is also likely to increase scrutiny on Gattuso, who took charge after Luciano Spalletti was dismissed last year. Although Italy had a brief revival with a six-match winning run, they finished second in their qualifying group and were forced into the playoffs again. Italy had beaten Northern Ireland 2-0 in the playoff semifinal but struggled against Bosnia at the compact Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica. On paper, the match appeared heavily tilted in Italy’s favor, with the team ranked far higher by FIFA and boasting significantly greater resources and player salaries. However, Bosnia held firm and capitalized on their chances. In the shootout, Italy’s Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their penalties, while U.S.-born Esmir Bajraktarević converted the decisive spot kick for Bosnia. The result also highlights a generational gap in Italian football, with none of the current squad having played in a World Cup finals. In other European playoff finals, Sweden national football team, Turkey national football team and Czech Republic national football team secured qualification. Sweden booked their place with a 3-2 win over Poland, thanks to a late goal from Viktor Gyökeres, who had also starred with a hat trick in the semifinal. Poland captain Robert Lewandowski had been aiming for what could have been his final World Cup appearance. Turkey qualified for the first time since 2002 with a 1-0 win over Kosovo, while the Czech Republic advanced after defeating Denmark in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that Iran “will be at the World Cup,” amid uncertainty over whether the team would travel to the United States, where most of their group-stage matches are scheduled. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said it would not be “appropriate” for Iran to participate, citing concerns over their life and safety. Iran has been trying to shift its matches to Mexico in response to the situation. FIFA fines Israel, rejects Palestinian call for suspension and urges Iran to keep World Cup schedule Meanwhile, Iran’s sports ministry last week barred its teams from travelling to countries it considers hostile, although the directive did not specifically mention the World Cup. Source: Al Jazeera

Ghana has dismissed head coach Otto Addo less than three months before the team’s opening match at the World Cup. The Ghana Football Association announced on Monday that it had parted ways with Addo with immediate effect but did not provide reasons for the decision or name a successor. The move follows a string of disappointing results, including a 2-1 defeat to Germany in Stuttgart on Monday. Ghana had also suffered a 5-1 loss to Austria last Friday, extending their losing streak to four consecutive friendly matches. Addo was in his second stint as head coach after leaving his role in talent development at Borussia Dortmund in March 2024. He previously led Ghana on an interim basis in 2022, including at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where the team secured a win over South Korea but failed to progress beyond the group stage. A former player, Addo won the Bundesliga with Dortmund and represented Ghana at the FIFA World Cup 2006. Ghana, making its fifth World Cup appearance, has been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama. The team is scheduled to open its campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto.

Mexico and Portugal played to a 0-0 draw Sunday in a World Cup warmup match marking the reopening of Azteca Stadium after nearly two years of renovations. Goncalo Ramos of Portugal came closest to scoring, striking the goalpost in the 26th minute. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre praised his squad’s performance despite some inconsistencies and injuries, noting that 12 key players were unavailable. Portugal also faced absences, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Leão. Mexico will face South Africa at the Azteca in the World Cup opener on June 11, and Belgium next Tuesday at Soldier Field in Chicago. Portugal will debut on June 17 against the winner of the intercontinental playoff between Jamaica and Congo and play the U.S. at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium beforehand. Tragedy struck before kickoff when a fan fell from the second level in the VIP section and died. Authorities said the intoxicated fan attempted to climb down and was fatally injured despite medical attention. Protests also occurred outside the stadium by groups of mothers searching for missing relatives, highlighting ongoing criticism over Mexico’s handling of its 130,000 registered missing people. The match marked a historic return for the iconic stadium, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals and will host five games in the upcoming 2026 tournament.