United News of Bangladesh

Cristiano Ronaldo is set for what could be his final World Cup campaign as Portugal headline Group K alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan and Congo. At 41, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who holds the record for most international goals in men’s football with 143, is expected to feature if fit. He has indicated the upcoming tournament will be his last and could become, alongside Lionel Messi, one of the first players to appear in six World Cups. Portugal, ranked fifth, qualified despite a setback against Ireland and will be looking to improve on their 2022 quarterfinal finish. Managed by Roberto Martinez, the squad includes Bruno Fernandes and João Neves. Their campaign begins against Congo on June 17 in Houston. Colombia, ranked 13th, return after missing the 2022 tournament, led by captain James Rodriguez, the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner. Coached by Néstor Lorenzo, they face Uzbekistan in their opener. Uzbekistan, ranked 50th, will make their World Cup debut under Fabio Cannavaro, with captain Eldor Shomurodov leading the side. Congo, back for the first time since 1974, secured qualification via a playoff win over Jamaica. Led by Chancel Mbemba and coach Sébastien Desabre, they complete a competitive group. Group K promises a mix of experience and emerging talent as Portugal pursue another shot at global glory.

Football star Lionel Messi has been sued by a Miami-based event promoter who claims he broke the terms of a $7 million contract by failing to play in a scheduled exhibition match last year. According to court records, Vid Music Group filed a lawsuit last month in a Miami-Dade circuit court, accusing Messi and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) of fraud and breach of contract. The company says it had secured exclusive rights to organize and promote Argentina’s friendly matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico in October, in return for ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorship revenue. It claims the agreement required Messi to play at least 30 minutes in each match unless he was injured. Messi did not play in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Venezuela on October 10, instead watching from a suite at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida. However, he played the following day for his club Inter Miami in an MLS match, where he scored twice in a 4-0 win over Atlanta United. He later featured in Argentina’s 6-0 victory over Puerto Rico on October 14. That match had originally been scheduled in Chicago but was moved to Florida amid low ticket sales and security concerns. The promoter alleges it suffered losses running into millions of dollars due to Messi’s absence from one match and poor attendance at the other. Messi and the AFA have not yet responded to the lawsuit.

Bayern Munich scored twice late in the match to beat Real Madrid 4-3 in a dramatic quarterfinal second leg and advance to the UEFA Champions League semifinals with a 6-4 aggregate win. Late goals from Luis Diaz in the 89th minute and Michael Olise in stoppage time sealed the victory on Wednesday, setting up a semifinal clash with holders Paris Saint-Germain. The match produced a thrilling first half, with Real Madrid taking the lead three times. Arda Guler capitalised on an early mistake by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to score in the opening minute and later added a fine free kick after Bayern had equalised through Aleksandar Pavlovic. Harry Kane levelled the score again for Bayern, taking his tally to 12 goals in this season’s competition. Vinicius Jr then set up Kylian Mbappe to restore Real’s lead before halftime. The turning point came in the 86th minute when Real Madrid were reduced to 10 men after Eduardo Camavinga received a second yellow card. Bayern took advantage, scoring twice late to secure the win. Tensions ran high after the match, with Real players protesting the red card decision. Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said his team was “very upset and angry” over the dismissal. Kane, meanwhile, expressed his satisfaction after the win, describing it as a reward for the team’s hard work and determination. In the other quarterfinal, Arsenal advanced to the semifinals after a goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon secured a 1-0 aggregate victory. Despite an underwhelming performance at the Emirates Stadium, Mikel Arteta’s side held on to their first-leg advantage. Arsenal will face Atletico Madrid in the semifinals after the Spanish side defeated Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate. #By Al Jazeera

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa faces a defining test of his short tenure as his side travels to Bayern Munich for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarterfinal, needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit. Kylian Mbappé’s goal in the first leg gave Madrid hope after Bayern Munich took control through Luis Díaz and Harry Kane, but history is not on the Spanish club’s side. Real Madrid have only once overturned a first-leg home defeat in European knockout history. Bayern, meanwhile, hold a strong record when protecting first-leg advantages, progressing on 30 of 31 occasions after winning away first legs, with their only exception coming in 2011 against Inter Milan. Arbeloa is expected to recall Jude Bellingham and Éder Militão to the starting XI, while Aurélien Tchouaméni is suspended. Madrid also face defensive concerns with Raúl Asencio ruled out and Ferland Mendy unlikely to start despite being included in the squad. Madrid’s domestic form has added pressure, with a recent draw leaving them nine points behind Barcelona in La Liga and early-season setbacks in cup competitions further limiting their trophy hopes. With the league title slipping away and other domestic trophies already lost, the Champions League remains Madrid’s only realistic chance of silverware this season. Elimination in Munich would leave the club without a trophy and intensify scrutiny on Arbeloa’s future, as well as on the squad’s performance under pressure.

Atletico Madrid advanced to the UEFA Champions League semifinals after a 3-2 aggregate victory over FC Barcelona on Wednesday night, despite a 2-1 home defeat in the second leg. Barcelona, who trailed 2-0 from the first leg, levelled the tie with goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, but Atletico held firm to progress. Ademola Lookman scored Atletico’s crucial away goal, while goalkeeper Juan Musso produced a series of key saves to deny the visitors. Barcelona started strongly, taking an early lead through Yamal before Torres doubled the advantage. However, Atletico pulled one back before halftime through Lookman after a counterattack involving Antoine Griezmann and Marcos Llorente. The Catalan side continued to press after the break, but had a goal ruled out for offside and later saw Eric Garcia sent off following a VAR review, reducing them to 10 men in the closing stages. Despite late pressure, including a missed header from Ronald Araujo in stoppage time, Barcelona could not find the equaliser as Atletico secured their place in the final four.

Barcelona will need to overturn a two-goal deficit against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday to secure a place in the Champions League semifinals, as the two sides meet for the fifth time in less than two months. Atletico Madrid will host the second leg, defending a 2-0 advantage from the first match as they aim to reach the last four of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in nearly a decade. The teams have faced each other repeatedly in recent weeks. Before last week’s Champions League first leg, Barcelona defeated Atletico 2-1 in a Spanish league clash on April 4. The sides also met twice in the Copa del Rey semifinals, where Atletico secured a 4-0 home win and progressed to the final despite losing 3-0 in the second leg in Barcelona. Man City hold psychological advantage over Arsenal, says Rooney Atletico last reached the Champions League semifinals in 2017, while Barcelona were eliminated at the last-four stage by Inter Milan last season. Atletico coach Diego Simeone has not ruled out goalkeeper Jan Oblak’s return, as he has resumed training after a muscle injury sustained on March 10 and is expected to be fit. The winner will face either Arsenal or Sporting CP in the semifinals, with Arsenal holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg ahead of Wednesday’s return match in England.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney believes Manchester City have a mental edge over Arsenal in the Premier League title race. League leaders Arsenal are currently nine points ahead, though they have played two more matches. They are set to face City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Speaking on his show, Rooney said City’s experience in winning titles and the presence of manager Pep Guardiola give them an advantage. He said City’s players are more used to handling pressure and can stay calmer in crucial moments compared to Arsenal’s squad. Rooney also warned that losing a few matches can affect a team’s confidence, creating doubts about scoring goals and winning games, which can impact overall performance. City boosted their chances with a 3-0 win over Chelsea, while Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth. According to Rooney, the outcome of Sunday’s clash could play a key role in deciding the title, with the winner likely to become favourites. He added that a draw would still be a positive result for Arsenal, but suggested they may need to adopt a more defensive and disciplined approach under manager Mikel Arteta. Rooney said Arsenal must remain compact, avoid leaving gaps and look to hit City on the counter-attack, stressing that they need to be resilient to stop City from scoring. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur have dropped into the relegation zone after a defeat to Sunderland and a win for West Ham over Wolves. Rooney described Spurs’ recent performance as lacking intensity, saying they failed to benefit from a fresh start under new coach Roberto De Zerbi. He said the team appeared uncertain in their approach and needs quick improvement. Rooney warned that relegation would be a major setback for the club, adding that some players might consider leaving if that happens. He also cautioned that failing to return to the Premier League immediately would create serious long-term problems. Tottenham are still searching for their first league win of 2026 and will face Brighton at home next. Rooney said ending their winless run is crucial to rebuilding confidence, as continued poor results will make the situation even more difficult. Source: BBC

Union Berlin have appointed Marie-Louise Eta as interim head coach, making her the first woman to take charge of a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five football leagues. Eta, 34, steps in until the end of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart after Union’s 3-1 defeat to FC Heidenheim, reports BBC. The club currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga, 11 points above the relegation zone with five matches remaining, but have managed only two league wins in 2026. Already a trailblazer, Eta became the Bundesliga’s first female assistant coach when she joined Union Berlin’s coaching staff in July 2023. She later briefly led the team from the touchline in January 2024, becoming the first woman to do so in a Bundesliga match. A former Germany youth international and UEFA Women’s Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam, Eta has most recently been managing Union’s Under-19 side since July 2025 and is set to take over as the club’s women’s head coach in the summer. Union’s director of men’s football Horst Heldt said the decision was driven by the team’s poor recent form and the need for a fresh approach as they fight to secure their top-flight status. Eta acknowledged the pressure of the situation, noting that Union remain in a precarious position despite their points advantage over the relegation zone, but expressed confidence that the team can secure the necessary results. Her appointment marks another milestone in European football, more than two decades after Carolina Morace became the first woman to manage a men’s professional team in Europe, followed by figures such as Corinne Diacre and Hannah Dingley in similar roles.

Barcelona strengthened their grip at the top of La Liga, moving nine points ahead of rivals Real Madrid with a convincing victory over Espanyol in the Catalan derby. Ferran Torres opened the scoring early, heading in a corner from Lamine Yamal at the back post in the ninth minute. He doubled the lead in the 25th minute, finishing neatly after collecting a clever outside-of-the-boot pass from Yamal. Yamal, aged just 18 years and 272 days, became Barcelona’s youngest player to reach 100 appearances and once again proved his value by providing both assists. Espanyol struggled to keep possession but managed to pull one back in the 56th minute when Pol Lozano scored from close range after a block by Barcelona defender Eric Garcia. Fernando Calero later missed a chance with a header, leaving the visitors unable to level the match. Barcelona regained control late on and sealed the win with two quick goals. Yamal added a third into an empty net before substitute Marcus Rashford struck an 89th-minute volley into the bottom corner. With seven matches remaining and Real Madrid struggling, coach Hansi Flick’s side are on track to retain the league title. Barcelona will now shift focus to the second leg of their Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, where they must overturn a two-goal deficit to progress. Espanyol, meanwhile, extended their winless run to 14 league matches but still sit 10th in the standings. Source: BBC

Arsenal's Premier League title bid was hit by a stunning 2-1 loss to Bournemouth in London on Saturday. The league leader blew the chance to move 12 points clear of second-placed Manchester City after losing for the third time in four games in all competitions. “It's a big punch in the face,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told broadcaster TNT Sports. “It has to hurt, and you have to take it on the chin.” Alex Scott struck a 74th-minute winner at Emirates Stadium to pile pressure on Arsenal ahead of next week's top-of-the-table clash at City. Arsenal has played two more games than City, which travels to Chelsea on Sunday and could close the gap to six points. “There are no gray areas now,” Arteta said. “You stand up and go for the fight, or you’re out and that’s it.” Arsenal’s is slumping at the worst time. Defeats to City in the English League Cup final and to second-division Southampton in the FA Cup ended its pursuit of a quadruple of trophies. It beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, but the latest loss will only heighten tension in the race for the English title after three straight years of finishing runner-up. Arsenal faces a huge week against Sporting in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday and then at City on Sunday. Bournemouth went ahead inside 17 minutes through Junior Kroupi’s close-range goal. Viktor Gyokeres leveled from the penalty spot in the 35th but Arsenal struggled to create openings and Scott sealed the victory that potentially blew the title race open. Bournemouth has won in back-to-back seasons at Arsenal and set a new club record of 12 straight games unbeaten in the Premier League. While Arsenal remains in the driver's seat at the top of the standings, the form guide does not make good reading from Arteta’s perspective. League stats provider Opta said before kickoff that the Arsenal manager’s Premier League win percentage in April was 44%, compared to 79% for City's Pep Guardiola. “It’s a big week,” Arteta said. “It’s a lot at stake. We’re still in a really good position in both competitions but we need to do better." Brentford frustrated by Everton Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struck in stoppage time as Everton twice fought back from a goal down to draw at Brentford 2-2. Igor Thiago twice gave Brentford the lead at Gtech Community Stadium from a third-minute penalty and a goal in the 76th. Beto leveled for Everton in the first half and Dewsbury-Hall produced his dramatic equalizer in the first minute of added time. Brentford missed the chance to move up to sixth. Brazil striker Thiago has 24 goals in all competitions this season and 21 in the league. Only Erling Haaland with 22 has more. Mats Wieffer scored in both halves as Brighton beat Burnley 2-0.