United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Women's Football team will fly for Laos on Saturday to compete in the qualifying round of the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup beginning on August 6 at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane, Laos. The SAFF U-20 Women's Champions Bangladesh team, which put in Group H of the continental youth meet along with stronger South Korea, Timor leste and hosts Cambodia, is going to Laos in a hope to qualify for the final round. Bangladesh to start their campaign in the U-20 Women's Asian Cup taking on hosts Cambodia on August 6, play Timor-Leste on Aug 8 and stronger South Korea on Aug 10 at the same venue. Addressing the pre tour press conference at the BFF House on Thursday, Bangladesh captain Afeida Khandakar said, "We are going to Laos to qualify (for the final round of the meet) after displaying a good football there. Bangladesh Head coach Peter Butler said, " In our group, South Korea is very strong team, so our match with hosts Laos is very important, we want to go ahead after beating Laos in the opening match" BFF and AFC Executive Committee member and Chairman of the BFF Committee for Women's Football Mahfuza Akter Kiron were also present on the occasion.. Bangladesh, is reportedly bring the same squad in the ensuing U-20 Asian Cup that played in the SAFF U-20 Women's Champions Bangladesh team recently. Thirty three Asian teams, split into eight groups, will compete in the first phase of the tournament . Later, eight group champions and the best three group runners up teams will play in the 12-team final round with the hosts Thailand. The final round of the biennial international youth football l championship, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the women's under-20 national teams of Asia, is scheduled to be held in Thailand from April 1-18 next year. 3 more Bangladeshi women footballers to play in Bhutanese league DPR Korea are the defending champions. The top four teams of the tournament will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup to be held Poland as the AFC representatives. Earlier, a brilliant hat-trick by Sagorika powered Bangladesh to retain the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship 2025 outplaying their main contender Nepal by 4-0 goals in the title-deciding last league match at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital on July 21. Mossammat Sagorika, who appeared in the match after a three-match suspension for a red card, destroyed Nepal alone, scoring all four goals to raise her individual goal tally to eight amid huge enthusiasm among soccer-crazy local fans. Bangladesh Women's Football team is now passing through a golden time in the history of Bangladesh football, making records one after another in the recent time. Bangladesh senior women's football team, which tasted their maiden victory in the AFC Women's Asian Cup crushing higher-ranked Bahrain by 7-0 goals earlier this month and finally made their first-ever final round berth in the 12-team AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 as the unbeaten group champions shocking a much superior and hosts Myanmar. Bangladesh senior women's football team also brought laurels for the country by winning the SAFF Women's championship for the 2nd successive times last year.

Lionel Messi delivered two crucial assists — including one in the dying seconds — to help Inter Miami secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over Atlas in their Leagues Cup opener on Wednesday night. The match marked Messi’s return after serving a one-game suspension alongside teammate Jordi Alba for skipping the MLS All-Star Game. The Argentine superstar set up the game-winning goal for Marcelo Weigandt in the 96th minute, following a tense review by VAR that overturned an initial offside call. Messi had earlier assisted on Telasco Segovia’s goal in the 58th minute to give Miami a 1-0 lead. Atlas equalized in the 82nd minute through Rivaldo Lozano before Weigandt's late heroics sealed the win for the home side. The assist was Messi’s fifth of July, a month in which he also scored eight goals and was named Major League Soccer’s Player of the Month. Miami went 4-1-1 in league play during that span. João Félix joins Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr in $34.6m move The first half saw both teams create opportunities in a physical contest, but neither side could find the net. Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo made three key saves, including a crucial stop on a header from Eduardo Aguirre. Luis Suárez nearly put Miami ahead just before halftime, but his powerful strike rattled off the crossbar. The night also saw Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul make his debut for Inter Miami. A close friend and national teammate of Messi, De Paul officially joined the club last week.

Portugal forward João Félix has joined Saudi club Al Nassr, linking up with compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo in a move that adds to his career transfer total of approximately $260 million. Al Nassr confirmed the signing on Tuesday, announcing that Félix has penned a two-year contract after a reported €30 million ($34.6 million) deal with Chelsea. “I’m here to spread joy. Let’s win together,” Félix said in a promotional video released by the club on social media. The 25-year-old becomes the latest high-profile European player to make the switch to Saudi Arabia, as the kingdom continues its ambitious efforts to establish itself as a powerhouse in world football. Félix arrives from Chelsea, fresh off a string of high-profile but ultimately underwhelming spells at major clubs. Despite holding the record as the fourth most expensive footballer in history—following his $140 million move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019—Félix has struggled to fulfill his early promise. Loan stints at Chelsea, Barcelona, and most recently AC Milan have failed to solidify his status among the game’s elite. Nigeria’s women’s team clinches African Title despite neglect and mismanagement According to Transfermarkt, Félix ranks behind only Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and the duo of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembélé in all-time transfer spending. However, his market value has dropped significantly, with Chelsea acquiring him for $60 million last year and now his latest fee nearly halved again for the move to Al Nassr. While Saudi Arabia has revived the careers of some European stars—Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrović among them—others like Neymar and Jordan Henderson faced injury setbacks or short-lived stints. It remains to be seen whether Félix can reestablish himself with this new chapter. Al Nassr, which stunned the football world by signing Ronaldo in late 2022, is still seeking a league title since the Portuguese icon’s arrival. Despite Ronaldo's prolific goal-scoring and influence in elevating the Saudi Pro League’s global profile, the club has watched rivals Al Ittihad and Al Hilal claim top honors in successive seasons. With the addition of João Félix, Al Nassr hopes to finally break through and reclaim domestic dominance. Source: Agency 

Bangladesh women's football team, who qualified for their AFC Asia Cup finals debut with aplomb earlier this month, have been  drawn in Group B for the tournament to be held in Australia next year, alongside North Korea, China and Uzbekistan. The ceremonial draw of the 12-team finals round of the 21st AFC Women’s Asia Cup, scheduled to be held from March 1-21, 2026, was held Tuesday at the Sydney Town Hall. Bangladesh will start their maiden campaign in the continental football taking on China on March 3 at  the Western Sydney Stadium at  7pm local time. 3 more Bangladeshi women footballers to play in Bhutanese league Bangladesh will play their 2nd Group B match against DPR Korea (North Korea) on March 6 at 1pm local time, also at the Western Sydney Stadium. In their last Group B match, Bangladesh will play Uzbekistan on March 9 at 5pm local time at the Rectangular Stadium in Perth. Complete Groupings of AFC Women's Asian Cup are: Group A: Australia, South Korea, Iran, the Philippines Group B: North Korea, China, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan Group C: Japan, Vietnam, India, Taiwan The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed sides will advance to the quarterfinals.  The four semifinalists will also secure their places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while the losing sides from the quarters will advance to the playoffs.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Monday celebrated the national women’s football team with gifts and honors following their dramatic 3-2 victory over host Morocco, securing a record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title — all achieved under difficult conditions marked by poor preparation and unpaid allowances. The Super Falcons' victory, achieved against a backdrop of administrative neglect, drew widespread praise from Tinubu and football fans across Nigeria. In a country where football is a national passion, such victories often reflect the players’ determination more than institutional support. Despite their success, sports analysts highlighted the persistent mismanagement of the women’s team by Nigerian authorities. “They have managed to dominate even though the Nigerian soccer authorities do not put as much funding, care, attention, and planning into the way the women’s national team is run,” said Lagos-based analyst Solace Chukwu in an interview with The Associated Press. Unequal Treatment The team has long faced delayed payments, with match bonuses going unpaid for years — a situation that led to a training boycott in 2022. Although the players were progressing through the tournament in Morocco, the backlog was only approved by the president just before the final. They also lacked proper training kits and were unable to arrange competitive friendly matches ahead of the tournament. Such challenges are not uncommon in Nigerian sports, which are frequently plagued by inadequate funding, corruption, and poor planning. These problems have even prompted some athletes to represent other countries. 3 more Bangladeshi women footballers to play in Bhutanese league Women’s teams are often the most affected due to deep-rooted societal biases, said African sports analyst Oluwashina Okeleji. “The argument from the (Nigerian) federation is that the men bring more money than the women, but the truth is the women bring most prestige, honours, and titles to Nigeria,” he noted. The Nigeria Football Federation, which governs soccer in the country, declined to comment on the accusations. Success Without Support The Super Falcons have long dominated women’s football in Africa, partly thanks to Nigeria launching the continent’s first women’s football league in 1978. But experts argue that this early lead has not been effectively leveraged for global success, largely due to the authorities’ failure to invest and plan. “The men’s team is huge generally within the administration of Nigerian football as the cash cow,” Chukwu said, underscoring how funding priorities still lean heavily toward the men’s game. Although the president has promised cash and property for the players, some fans remain skeptical about long-term change. Inter Miami plays Cincinnati to 0-0 draw without suspended Messi “This one-time payment and apartment does not make any sense. For what? What they need is investment in the facilities, the staff, and payment. The lack of investment in women’s football is one of the reasons why it is not as high quality as the men’s,” said Funmi Obasa, a supporter of the women’s team based in Abuja. Source: Agency 

Three more Bangladeshi national women's footballers will play in the ongoing Bhutanese National Women's League. Three players---Bangladesh captain Afeida Khandaker, midfielder Sapna Rani and forward Shaheda Akter Ripa---will play for the Royal Thimphu College FC team. Three players are expected to join their first- ever foreign club team in Bhutan on August 15 after participating in the qualifying round of the AFC U-20 Championship in Laos. Two Bangladeshi booters ---Tohura Khatun and Shamsunnahar Junior ---also playing for Royal Thimphu College FC. With the fresh inclusion, a record 15 Bangladeshi players will now play in the ongoing Bhutanese National Women' s league. But, Sanjida Akhter, another Bangladeshi booter played in the Bhutan League, now in Bangladesh to join a coaching course here.

Inter Miami played FC Cincinnati to a 0-0 draw without the suspended Lionel Messi on Saturday night. Messi was not available after he and teammate Jordi Alba were suspended one match by Major League Soccer for skipping the All-Star game. Messi was still in attendance on Saturday, watching from a suite at Chase Stadium. Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas called the punishment “draconian” on Friday, saying that Messi was “extremely upset" at the suspension that sidelined him for an important match as Miami pushes for its second-straight MLS Supporters' Shield. Miami and Cincinnati both entered the matchup as winners of six of their last seven. Cincinnati, which routed Messi and Inter Miami 3-0 last Wednesday — is second in the Supporters’ Shield standings with 49 points, while Inter Miami is fifth with 42 points. Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson nearly scored the winner a couple minutes into stoppage time on Saturday when he headed home MVP candidate Evander's free kick, but the goal was disallowed because of a foul. Euro 2025: Spain's style vs. England's will to win sets up fascinating final Veteran striker Luis Suárez made several incredible passes in the opening minutes, including one to Fafà Picault, whose header was denied by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano. Before the match, Miami introduced Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's good friend and national team buddy who officially signed with the club on Friday. Fans at Chase Stadium cheered and waved welcome signs as the new Miami star walked onto the pitch. “I'm going to give everything I have,” De Paul told the crowd.

A title game between defending champion England and World Cup winner Spain is the Women’s European Championship final that many wanted. How they got to Basel on Sunday is a whole other story. Spain has mostly cruised through its five games except for a late scare in a tense semifinal against Germany. England has trailed for long periods of three games and survived being on the brink of elimination in both knockout games. Spain is a supremely technical team with a dream midfield pairing two-time Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí. England has incredible will to win and has called a pair of dramatic game-changers off the bench, Michelle Agyemang and Chloe Kelly. “We always have the confidence that in terms of positioning and having possession, we tend to be very precise and it’s difficult to take the ball off us,” Putellas said. "So we’re ready for anything.″ It looks like an ideal final of contrasting styles. One made possible only because England’s humbling opening 2-1 loss to France ultimately kept the title holder out of Spain’s side of the knockout bracket. Leaders and trailers Four vs. 219. That's the number of minutes Spain has trailed at Euro 2025 games compared to England. Spain fell behind between the 10th and 14th minutes of a group-stage game against Italy when some starters were rested because the team was likely to finish top. England gave up two first-half goals against France in their group, again to Sweden in the quarterfinals and one more to Italy in the semifinals. England’s equalizing goals by Agyemang in the knockout games came in, respectively, the 81st and then the sixth minute of stoppage time. “I think we’ve nearly killed her twice this tournament!” England’s Ella Toone said of coach Sarina Wiegman. “She says we’ve definitely aged her.” Spain midfielder Patri Guijarro said of England's resolve: ″There’s no fragility. And I think that above all, their competitiveness, is what has got them this far. But what they’re doing is not easy.″ Trading wins Spain and England each beat the other when winning their recent titles, and they traded wins in a UEFA Nations League group this year. England eliminated Spain 2-1 after extra time in the quarterfinals of its home Euro 2022. Does this sound familiar? England trailed into the 84th that day before two substitutes — Alessia Russo and Toone — assisted and scored to force extra time. Spain got a deserved 1-0 win in the 2023 World Cup final played in Sydney, Australia. Spain is now on a run of 13 wins in 14 games and the blip was a 1-0 loss to England at Wembley in February. Spain won the return game 2-1 on June 3, rallying with two Clàudia Pina goals in the second half. Winning women coaches For the eighth straight edition, the title-winning coach will be a woman. England’s Wiegman and Spain’s Montse Tomé were in a minority of seven female head coaches with the 16 teams that started in Euro 2025. They are the last coaches standing to extend a winning run started in 1997. Wiegman won the past two, with England in 2022 and her native Netherlands in 2017. Germany coaches Silvia Neid and Tina Theune won the previous five. Spain never reached the final in 13 previous editions since 1984. Penalty shootouts That first final 41 years ago is the only one decided by a penalty shootout. Sweden beat England in a rain-soaked, near-empty stadium in Luton after a two-leg final ended 1-1. The scorer of Sweden’s decisive penalty, and its goal in the first leg, was Pia Sundhage, who coached Switzerland to the quarterfinals here, losing 2-0 to Spain. England’s second shootout in Women’s Euros history also was against Sweden, last week in the quarterfinals. A madcap affair saw only five of 14 spot kicks scored and Sweden fail twice when scoring would have sent England home. Spain was involved in just one Women’s Euros shootout, losing to Austria in the 2017 quarterfinals.

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, recently recovered from a hospital stay, led her team to the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final with a dramatic extra-time goal against Germany on Wednesday. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner scored the decisive goal in Spain’s 1-0 semifinal victory, setting up a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, where Spain defeated England 2-1. Bonmatí’s tournament preparations were seriously disrupted after she was hospitalized with viral meningitis less than a week before the competition began. Reflecting on her comeback, she credited her support system for helping her return to peak performance. “I wanted to be at my best for this match, and I’m grateful to those who helped me get here — I couldn’t have done it alone,” the 27-year-old said. Her strike not only sealed Spain’s first-ever European Championship final appearance, but also marked their maiden win over Germany in nine encounters. “I don’t believe in destiny. I believe in hard work, in my mentality, and in the support I’ve received,” Bonmatí added. With just seven minutes left before a potential penalty shootout, Bonmatí broke the deadlock with a moment of brilliance — collecting a pass, fooling defender Rebecca Knaak with a slick turn, and firing a precise shot from a tight angle. Man United sign Bryan Mbeumo as Amorim reshapes squad The goal ended a six-match scoring drought for Bonmatí, and highlighted her influence on the pitch despite early struggles in the tournament. “It wasn’t easy for her at the start, but she has a unique character that allows her to perform at the highest level,” said Spain coach Montse Tomé. “She has the vision to create space and generate chances. The medical and coaching staff did a great job to get her back in form — she’s crucial for us.” Spain, having already won the World Cup and Nations League in the last two years, now has its sights set on adding the European crown to its growing trophy haul. To do so, they must overcome defending champions England in Sunday’s final in Basel. “Tomorrow we’ll think about England,” Bonmatí said. “For now, it’s time to celebrate.”

Bangladesh U-23 Football team will play two International Friendly matches against Bahrain U-23 Football team on August 18 and 22 in Bahrain ahead of their AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Vietnam. Bangladesh U-23 team alongside the Vietnam, Singapore and Yemen U-23 teams will compete in the qualifying round of AFC Asian Cup to be held in Vietnam from September 3-9 this year. Sagorika's hat-trick powers Bangladesh to retain SAFF U-20 Women’s crown The decision was taken at an online meeting of the BFF National Teams Committee on Wednesday headed by committee chairman and BFF President Tabith Awal. Deputy Chairman of the Committee and BFF Senior Vice President M Imarul Hasan, BFF member M Iqbal Hossain, Amirul Islam Babu, Satyajit Das Rupu, Saeed Hasan Kanon, M Ameer Khan, M Manjur Alam and BFF general secretary Imran Hossain Tushar were also present on the occasion.