United News of Bangladesh

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.

Manchester United have secured their second major signing of the transfer window by bringing in Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for £65 million ($87 million), as manager Ruben Amorim continues his squad overhaul. Mbeumo, a 25-year-old Cameroon international, joins shortly after United landed Matheus Cunha from Wolves. The attacking duo is expected to boost United’s frontline, which struggled badly last season. Mbeumo netted 20 goals in the previous campaign, while Cunha scored 17 — significantly higher than United forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, who combined for just 18. United's attack is undergoing major changes, with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, and Antony all likely to depart this summer. Amorim is also reportedly eyeing a new central striker before the transfer window closes on September 1. Sagorika's hat-trick powers Bangladesh to retain SAFF U-20 Women’s crown The deal for Mbeumo could rise to £71 million ($95 million) with performance bonuses, a source told the Associated Press. Mbeumo said it was a dream to join United, the club he supported growing up. His move comes after his most prolific season with Brentford, where he scored 70 goals in 242 appearances. Source: Agency 

A brilliant hat-trick by Sagorika powered Bangladesh to retain the SAFF U-20 Women's Championship 2025 title, 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 Monday evening. This was the 2nd consecutive victory for Bangladesh against Nepal in the ongoing four-nation tournament after beating them by 3-2 goals in a keenly contested 2nd league match. Mossammat Sagorika, who appeared in the day's match after a three-match suspension for a red card, destroyed Nepal alone, scoring all four goals amid huge enthusiasm among soccer-crazy local fans. Sagorika opened the floodgates for Bangladesh in the 8th minute with an angular placing shot (1-0). She doubled Bangladesh’s margin in the 51st minute with a placing shot after dodging past an opponent defender and custodian (2-0). Sagorika completed the hat-trick, scoring her 3rd goal in the 57th minute with a placing shot over the opponent custodian (3-0). Sagorika sealed the fate of the match by scoring the 4th goal for Bangladesh in the 77th minute with a ground placing shot (4-0). This was the 8th goal for Sagorika in her 3rd match of the meet, after making a hat-trick with three goals against Sri Lanka in the opener and one goal against Nepal in the 2nd league match, before marching off after receiving a red card. However, Sagorika withdrew from the field in the 85th minute of the match. The Bangladesh team, led by Sagorika, emerged champions with an all-win run, beating Nepal in all departments of the match. Nepal flopped all through the day's match. Bangladesh Women's Football is now passing through a golden time in the history of Bangladesh football, making records one after another in recent days. Bangladesh women's footballers tasted a maiden victory in the AFC Women's Asian Cup by crushing higher-ranked Bahrain by 7-0 goals, and finally made their first-ever final round berth in the 12-team AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 by shocking a much superior Myanmar earlier this month. Earlier, the Bangladesh women's team brought laurels for the country by winning the SAFF Women's crown for the 2nd successive time last year.

England defender Jess Carter has disclosed that she has been subjected to racial abuse on social media during the Women’s European Championship, prompting the Football Association (FA) to contact UK police. Carter came under intense criticism after England’s opening defeat to France at Euro 2025. While the team has since advanced to the semifinals, the 27-year-old revealed that the abuse she faced crossed a troubling line. “From the beginning of the tournament, I have been receiving a significant amount of racial abuse,” Carter wrote in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday. “Though I respect fans’ right to voice their opinions about performances and results, targeting someone’s race or appearance is unacceptable.” A seasoned player, Carter has earned 49 caps for England, contributing to the team’s Euro 2022 victory and their runner-up finish at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She announced plans to step away from social media to protect her well-being. “I appreciate the genuine support from fans, but I’m stepping back to focus entirely on helping my team however I can,” she wrote. The Football Association said it acted promptly once informed of the abuse. “Our primary concern is Jess and ensuring she receives all necessary support,” said FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham. “We unequivocally condemn the vile racism she has endured. We immediately contacted UK police, who are working with the relevant social media platform to hold the perpetrators accountable.” SAFF Men’s U-17: Bangladesh placed in Group A with hosts Sri Lanka, Nepal Bullingham noted that the FA has rapid-response systems in place, sadly necessary because this is not the first incident of racist abuse involving an England player. Carter’s England teammates quickly rallied around her online, sharing messages of solidarity. The Lionesses also issued a collective statement condemning the “online poison,” and announced they would no longer take the knee before matches, stating: “It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism.” Defender Lucy Bronze explained the decision: “We questioned whether the gesture still sends a strong message. It doesn’t feel effective anymore if racism is still targeting our players during the biggest tournaments of their careers.” She added, “We need to make a bigger statement. The problem persists—not just in football, but across society. More must be done.” Carter, who now plays for Gotham FC in the United States after transferring from Chelsea last year, also received support from her club. “We are devastated and angered by the racist abuse directed at Jess,” said Gotham FC in a statement. “Jess is more than a top-class footballer — she’s a role model and a leader in our community. There’s absolutely no room for racism in our sport.” England will face Italy in the semifinals in Geneva on Tuesday, following their dramatic penalty shootout win over Sweden. Spain will take on Germany in the other semifinal on Wednesday. Carter expressed hope that speaking out would lead to meaningful change: “If this encourages those spreading abuse to think twice, maybe others won’t have to go through the same. I’m proud to be part of a Lionesses squad that has brought about historic change, and I hope this step adds to that legacy.” As Euro 2025 continues to captivate fans with thrilling matches and scenic Swiss venues, the tournament has also highlighted growing concerns over online abuse in women’s football. Germany's Hendrich sent off for Hair-Pulling in Euro 2025 Quarterfinal “The more the game grows, the more we seem to face this,” said Bronze. “While men’s football sees abuse in stadiums and online, women’s football appears to be especially targeted online. There must be a way to change that — the platforms can do something. I don’t have the solution, but I know one exists.” Source: Agency 

Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Sri Lanka and Nepal for the upcoming SAFF Men’s U-17 Championship 2025, following the ceremonial draw held at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka on Sunday. Defending champions India have been placed in Group B with arch-rivals Pakistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), the tournament will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 15 to 27 September. According to the format, the champions and runners-up from each group will progress to the semi-finals. India clinched a record sixth title of the meet beating Bangladesh by 2-0 goals in the final of the previous edition held on 30 September 2024.  

A red card was issued at the Women’s European Championship after a player was caught pulling an opponent’s hair—marking the second such incident in less than a week. Germany’s midfielder Kathrin Hendrich was sent off just 13 minutes into Saturday’s quarterfinal against France after the video assistant referee (VAR) caught her yanking the ponytail of French captain Griedge Mbock as a free kick was delivered into the box. Referee showed Hendrich a straight red card, and France capitalized immediately, with Grace Geyoro converting the penalty to put her side 1-0 up. Rodrigo De Paul to join Leo Messi at Inter Miami The rare dismissal mirrored a similar scene from the Club World Cup final just six days earlier, when Paris Saint-Germain’s João Neves was ejected for pulling down Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella by the hair. Despite the early setback of being a player and a goal down, Germany responded swiftly with an equalizer 10 minutes later. The eight-time European champions showed immense determination, holding France through extra time and eventually prevailing 6-5 in the penalty shootout—thanks to crucial saves by goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Germany will now face reigning World Cup champion Spain in the semifinals on Wednesday. Source: Agency 

Defending champions Bangladesh continued their dominant form in the four-nation SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship 2025, outplaying winless Sri Lanka 5-0 in their fifth match at the practice ground of the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Saturday evening. Earlier in the day, Nepal crushed Bhutan 8-0 in the first match at the same venue. Following Saturday’s matches, hosts Bangladesh topped the standings in the double round-robin competition with a perfect 15 points from five straight wins. Nepal closely trailed with 12 points from five outings. Bangladesh need just a draw in their final and decisive match against Nepal on Monday to retain the SAFF U-20 Women’s title for the second consecutive time — and complete the tournament with an unbeaten record. In the day’s second match, Kanon Bahadur opened the scoring for Bangladesh in the 25th minute (1-0), and Puja Das doubled the lead in added time of the first half (45+2 minute). Puja Rani extended the lead in the 73rd minute with her second goal of the tournament, while Sri Moti Trishna Rani made it 4-0 in the 86th minute. Captain Afeida Khandakar sealed the convincing victory, scoring from the penalty spot in the dying moments of the game (90+7 minute) to make it 5-0. Bangladesh made a flying start in the tournament, thrashing Sri Lanka 9-1 in the opener. They then defeated title contenders Nepal 3-2 in a thrilling match, with substitute Trishna Rani scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time. In their third and fourth matches, Bangladesh beat Bhutan 4-1 and 3-0 respectively to solidify their position at the top of the table. The team finishing top after the double round-robin phase will be crowned champions.