United News of Bangladesh

The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams in the tournament to be co-hosted the United States, Mexico and Canada. Uruguay had a 3-0 win over Peru, Colombia defeated Bolivia 3-0 and Paraguay held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw to secure their places Thursday from South American qualifying. Forty-three teams will get their spots through continental qualifying tournaments. Another two will secure their places in the intercontinental playoffs featuring six teams and scheduled for March 2026. The three host countries automatically qualify. The breakdown Asia will have eight direct places and one in the intercontinental playoff. Africa has nine direct spots plus one for the intercontinental playoff. North and Central America and the Caribbean get three direct berths (plus the three host nations) and another two spots in the intercontinental playoffs. South America has six direct spots and will send another team to the intercontinental playoffs. Oceania for the first time has a guaranteed spot — New Zealand clinched that in March. It could add another with New Caledonia going into the intercontinental playoffs. Europe will have 16 teams sure to play in the next World Cup. Already qualified United States, Mexico, Canada (qualified automatically as hosts) Asia Japan (qualified on March 20) Iran (qualified on March 25) Jordan (qualified on June 5) South Korea (qualified on June 5) Uzbekistan (qualified on June 5) Australia (qualified on June 10) Oceania New Zealand (qualified on March 24) South America Argentina (qualified on March 25) Brazil (qualified on June 10) Ecuador (qualified on June 10) Uruguay (qualified on September 4) Colombian (qualified on September 4) Paraguay (qualified on September 4)

Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay secured places at the 2026 World Cup in the next-to-last round of South American qualifiers. The Uruguayans and Colombians had 3-0 wins Thursday, and the Paraguayans had a scoreless draw to advance to the global tournament along with already qualified Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador. “It’s a good way to qualify. The team’s offensive play was strong, there were also many highlights in individual performances," Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said. Peru, which needed wins in the last two rounds to advance, is now out of contention following the loss to Uruguay. “It hurts to lose, it hurts because of the effort the players put in, but today the opponent outclassed us,” Peru coach Oscar Ibanez said. James Rodriguez opened the scoring for Colombia in the 31st minute while John Cordoba and Juan Fernando Quintero added second-half goals to secure the win over Bolivia. The Colombians return to the World Cup after missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It will be the Colombian team’s seventh appearance in the World Cup. After a debut in Chile in 1962, Colombia made three consecutive appearances between 1990 and 1998, and repeated in 2014 and 2018. “This jersey has given me so much. I’m grateful for everything I’m doing,” said James, who is aiming to play in his third World Cup. “I’ve always given everything and I’ll keep the good things for myself.” World Cup champion Argentina defeated Venezuela 3-0 with two goals by Lionel Messi and remained well clear at the top of the South American standings. Also on Thursday, Estêvão, Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Guimaraes scored as Brazil got a 3-0 win over Chile to ascend to second place in the standings. The 18-year old Estêvão, who plays for Chelsea, scored his first goal with the national team in the 38th, Paquetá followed with a strike in the 72nd and Guimaraes added one on the 76th.

Italy will be without forward Gianluca Scamacca for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel after he was released from training camp Thursday with a knee injury. The Azzurri, under pressure to avoid missing a third straight World Cup, face Estonia in Bergamo on Friday before meeting Israel in Hungary on Monday. Italy sits on three points from two games in Group I, trailing leaders Norway with 12 points from four matches and Israel with six from three. With Scamacca sidelined, Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean are set to spearhead the attack. Retegui, last season’s Serie A top scorer with 25 goals for Atalanta, recently joined the Saudi Pro League, while Kean, who netted 19 goals, received a pay raise from Fiorentina.

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh says he is thrilled by the opportunity to open the NFL season on “a world stage” in Brazil, where his team will face the Kansas City Chiefs as the designated home side on Friday night. “I was excited about it. We are at a world stage, it is the only game on Friday night. There’s an honor there to be selected to play this game,” Harbaugh said after the Chargers’ first practice at Corinthians’ training ground. Harbaugh praised the hospitality in São Paulo and confirmed new signing Najee Harris, who sustained an eye injury during a July 4 fireworks mishap, is fit to play. European fan groups call on UEFA and FIFA to halt Barcelona and Milan overseas matches Quarterback Justin Herbert, making his first trip to South America, said he’s energized by the atmosphere and culture. “Fans are really passionate. I think it’s been really cool so far,” he said. Safety Derwin James Jr. stressed focus to end the Chargers’ seven-game losing streak against the Chiefs. Friday’s matchup will be only the second NFL game in Brazil, part of a record seven international fixtures this season. Source: Agency 

Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup will initially range from $60 for group-stage matches to $6,730 for the final, with prices subject to change under FIFA’s new dynamic pricing system. The tournament, running from June 11 to July 19 across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, expands to 48 teams and 104 matches. Tickets will first be available via a Visa card-holder draw until Sept. 19, with purchase notifications starting Sept. 29. Sales are limited to four tickets per match per person, with a maximum of 40 tickets for the tournament. Additional phases include an early ticket draw in late October and a random selection draw after the final team schedule is released on Dec. 5. FIFA will also offer an official resale platform. Hospitality packages at MetLife Stadium, including the final, range from $3,500 to $73,200 per person. Fans can buy tickets for specific teams or venues. Thirteen teams have already qualified, including host nations U.S., Canada, and Mexico, while defending champion Argentina and Brazil have secured spots. All three hosts will play their group-stage matches at home venues.

Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves will honor his late friend Diogo Jota by wearing his No. 21 jersey and carrying a tattoo tribute during upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Armenia and Hungary. Jota, the former Liverpool striker, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident on July 3. Neves, who played alongside Jota at Wolves and for Portugal, said the national team would “do everything to keep Diogo with us.” At a ceremony on Tuesday attended by Cristiano Ronaldo, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, the Portuguese federation also paid tribute to former international Jorge Costa, who died last month. Both Jota and Costa were posthumously awarded the Order of Merit.

Soccer fans from more than 400 club supporter groups across Europe on Wednesday called on FIFA and UEFA to reject plans by the Spanish and Italian leagues to stage domestic matches abroad. The Spanish federation approved Barcelona’s match against Villarreal in Miami this December, while Serie A wants AC Milan to host Como in Perth, Australia, in February. Football Supporters Europe (FSE), representing fan groups from 25 countries, warned that moving games overseas undermines local communities and sporting integrity. “Clubs are not traveling circuses; they exist for their communities,” FSE said, stressing that overseas matches could trigger “unpredictable and irreversible consequences.” Critics, including the European Commission’s top sports official, also argued the proposals threaten league balance. The push for foreign fixtures followed FIFA’s withdrawal from a New York court case last year brought by promotions agency Relevent, co-founded by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. Relevent, whose Hard Rock Stadium will host the Barcelona-Villarreal game, aims to expand club brands globally. UEFA’s executive committee, chaired by Aleksander Ceferin, will review the matter on Sept. 11 in Tirana.

An Espanyol fan accused of racially abusing Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams during a 2020 La Liga match has accepted a plea deal to avoid prison, a Barcelona court said Wednesday. The unnamed supporter admitted guilt, receiving a one-year suspended prison sentence, a three-year ban from stadiums, and a fine of over €1,000. Prosecutors had sought two years in jail. Williams, who is Black, was subjected to monkey chants after being substituted in a 1-1 draw at Espanyol. Though several fans were involved, only one was fully identified and brought to trial. The ruling follows recent convictions of fans for racist insults against Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior, marking a growing crackdown on racism in Spanish football.

Ilkay Gundogan has completed a move from Manchester City to Turkish champions Galatasaray, signing a two-year contract. The 34-year-old is Galatasaray’s latest high-profile signing this transfer window, following Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sane. Gundogan enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at City, winning five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and the Champions League. He captained the team to a treble in 2023 and played a key role in securing the 2022-23 Premier League title with two decisive goals on the final day. City director of football Hugo Viana praised Gundogan’s contributions, saying his legacy at the club will never be forgotten. Gundogan, of Turkish descent, said lifting the Champions League trophy in Istanbul is a memory he will cherish forever and expressed his excitement to continue his career in Turkey. Gundogan, who first joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, leaves on a free transfer as Pep Guardiola reshapes his squad. He had not featured in any of City’s Premier League games this season and was pushed down the pecking order with the arrival of new midfielders.

American midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi has joined Parma on loan from Inter Miami, giving the 20-year-old an opportunity to showcase his talent in Serie A ahead of the upcoming home World Cup. The Italian club confirmed the deal includes an option to make the move permanent. Inter Miami described Cremaschi as the club’s “highest-profile academy product” when announcing the transfer on Tuesday. The midfielder, who captains the U.S. under-20 team, has already earned three senior national team caps and played at the Paris Olympics last year. Born in the United States to Argentine parents, Cremaschi made 107 appearances for Inter Miami, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists. He was also part of the squad that competed in the recent Club World Cup.