United News of Bangladesh

Money raised from ticket sales at Norway’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Israel will go to Doctors Without Borders to support humanitarian work in Gaza. The Norwegian Football Association (NFA) announced Monday that it has partnered with the Nobel Peace Prize-winning health NGO ahead of the sold-out game on October 11 in Oslo. The funds are expected to total hundreds of thousands of dollars. “The money is designated for the organization’s relief efforts in Gaza and nearby areas affected by the war,” the NFA said. Norway’s decision to donate comes as Israel continues to face little pressure within international soccer to be suspended or boycotted, despite the conflict in Gaza since October 2023. By contrast, Russia was suspended from UEFA competitions after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lise Klaveness, head of the Norwegian FA, said, “As a member of FIFA and UEFA, we must deal with Israel participating in their competitions. At the same time, we cannot ignore the humanitarian suffering, especially the attacks on civilians in Gaza.” Norway’s men’s national team, led by superstar Erling Haaland, is having its best run in years and is on track to qualify for its first World Cup since 1998, topping a qualifying group that includes Italy. Italy will host Israel in Udine on October 14. Italian Soccer President Gabriele Gravina said, “We are aware of public sensitivity and are deeply concerned about the human suffering in Palestine.” Israel intensifies strikes on Gaza City: 32 killed About 23,000 tickets will be sold for the Ullevaal Stadium game, with extra security for the Israel team. In addition, a private donor, one of Norway’s largest investment companies, pledged 3 million kroner ($305,000) to Doctors Without Borders. The NGO praised Norway’s action, with Secretary General Lindis Hurum saying it reflects MSF’s mission to save lives and ease suffering regardless of belief, origin, gender, or skin color.

Borussia Moenchengladbach fired coach Gerardo Seoane on Monday after a winless and goalless start to the Bundesliga season, just three games in. The Swiss coach could not improve the team’s poor form from last season. His final match in charge was a 4-0 defeat to Werder Bremen on Sunday, leaving Gladbach with one point and no goals from its opening three games. Sporting director Roland Virkus said the club “lost faith that a turnaround with Gerardo can succeed,” as Gladbach extended a winless run to 10 Bundesliga matches dating back to April. Seoane’s only victory in that period came against a fifth-tier team in the German Cup in August. The decision means another new coach for U.S. midfielder Gio Reyna, who joined Gladbach from Borussia Dortmund last month. Seoane, at the club since June 2023, is the second Bundesliga coach sacked less than a month into the season after Erik ten Hag’s brief stint at Bayer Leverkusen. Seoane has a history of early-season dismissals; he was also fired by Leverkusen in October 2022, replaced by Xabi Alonso, who led the team to Bundesliga and German Cup success the following season. Gladbach, once a Champions League team in 2020-21, has struggled in recent years and finished 10th last season under Seoane. The club said Under-23 coach Eugen Polanski will take charge “until further notice” ahead of Sunday’s match at Leverkusen.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has been included in Real Madrid’s squad for their opening Champions League match against Marseille after recovering from shoulder surgery. Bellingham has not played for Madrid since the Club World Cup in the United States, after which he underwent surgery on his left shoulder on July 16. He had been managing the injury since 2023 but postponed the operation to avoid missing matches for both Madrid and England. The midfielder missed the first four Spanish league games this season, all of which Madrid won. Real Madrid, 15-time European champions, will host Marseille for their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

Uncertainty is growing among FC Barcelona fans as the team’s return to their home stadium, Spotify Camp Nou, continues to be delayed. The repeated postponements have forced the Catalan club to play their first home match of the season last night at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium. The Nou Camp has served as Barcelona's home ground since it opened in 1957. Renovation work began in June 2023, at a cost of around 1.3bn euros, with the goal of modernising the stadium and expanding its capacity to 105,000 - making it one of the largest grounds in the world. But the club has not provided a clear timeline for when they will be able to return to Camp Nou. On Thursday, club president Joan Laporta stated that “the stadium is almost finished and ready for hosting games.” An official statement was published regarding this as he added, “We will be back home soon,” but did not give a specific date, saying it depends on receiving the necessary permits from the authorities. The president assured fans that the club is working hard to make the return a reality as soon as possible.

A rookie card featuring Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi has been sold for a record-breaking $1.5 million in a private transaction, making it the most valuable soccer card ever sold. This new record surpasses the previous one held by a card of Brazilian legend Pele. According to Goldin Auctions, the card, a 2004-05 Panini Mega Cracks PSA 10, was sold through Fanatics Collect’s private sales network. This sale tops a similar card that sold for $1.1 million earlier this week in a deal also facilitated by Goldin. The previous record for a soccer card was set in 2022 when a 1958 Alifabolaget Pele PSA 9 sold privately for $1.33 million, according to Card Ladder. This latest record is part of a series of high-value sales for this specific Messi rookie card. Just last month, a different PSA 10-graded version of the card sold for $1 million through Fanatics Collect, a global digital sports platform that trades cards and collectibles. Prior to that, another copy sold for $825,000 at Goldin. The record for the card before August was reportedly $336,000, set in June 021. Messi scores twice in emotional farewell match for Argentina The sale marks a major milestone for Fanatics Collect's new private sales network, which is designed for high-value transactions of $10,000 or more. According to a source from Fanatics who spoke with ESPN, the network generated roughly $8 million in sales from 30 to 40 transactions during its first full month in August. Out of the 838 copies of the No. 71 Messi card that PSA has graded, only 20 have received the highest possible grade of Gem-Mint 10, making them extremely rare and valuable. The record-breaking $1.5 million card also includes a special “Mike Baker Authenticated Diamond” certification, which signifies its exceptional condition.

Luka Modric marked his 40th birthday in style, scoring the decisive goal to hand AC Milan a 1-0 victory over Bologna in Serie A on Sunday and join an elite list of scorers past that age. Having turned 40 on Tuesday, Modric became only the sixth player to find the net in Italy’s top flight after that milestone, following the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fabio Quagliarella.“I hope someone next time will not remind me of my age anymore," Modric said with a smile. The match also saw Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri sent off late on for dissent after a penalty awarded to his side was overturned following a video review. In typical scenes reminiscent of his Juventus days, Allegri threw off his jacket in frustration and sarcastically applauded officials as he was led away.“At that moment I had some things to say to the fourth official, fortunately the jacket saved me,” Allegri remarked, while also showering praise on Modric. “Luka is an extraordinary player and it’s a pleasure to watch him, but he is also a really humble guy, and that’s a demonstration of what a great champion he is. He knows a minute before where the ball will go, and he has such extraordinary technique.” Pervis Estupiñán struck the post for Milan in the first half as the Rossoneri initially struggled to break down Bologna. The breakthrough came in the 61st minute, when Modric initiated a move from deep in his own half, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Alexis Saelemaekers combining before the veteran midfielder arrived to finish clinically from the edge of the area. Hat-trick of braces sees Barcelona cruise past Valencia Samuele Ricci, just off the bench, hit the post for Bologna, and Milan rattled the woodwork twice more, including through Santiago Giménez. The game also featured Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe meeting again after a locker room clash last month at Marseille, with Rabiot starting for Milan and Rowe appearing as a second-half substitute for Bologna. Elsewhere in Serie AGiovanni Simeone netted his first league goal in over a year as Torino stunned Roma 1-0 at the Olimpico, handing new coach Marco Baroni his maiden win. The Argentine forward, son of Atlético Madrid boss Diego Simeone, finished a brilliant counterattack in the 59th minute. Atalanta, under new coach Ivan Juric, claimed their first win of the season with a 4-1 rout of Lecce, powered by Nicola Zalewski’s goal, assist, and near-miss off the bar. Sassuolo finally got off the mark by edging Lazio 1-0, while Udinese stayed unbeaten with a narrow victory at promoted Pisa. Source: Agency 

Barcelona picked up where they left off last season against Valencia, securing another dominant victory in their first home game at the six-thousand-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium. Braces from young Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski provided a significant morale boost ahead of their first Champions League match away at Newcastle on Thursday. The Catalan giants took the field on Sunday night trailing table-toppers Real Madrid by five points after their Saturday night victory over Real Sociedad. However, they eased past the visitors with a dominant 6-0 victory. Despite the pressure and a list of key injuries—including to Lamine Yamal, Frenkie De Jong, Gavi, and Alejandro Balde—coach Hansi Flick rested regular starters like Raphinha and Lewandowski, giving opportunities to Roony Bardghji, Marcus Rashford, and Ferran Torres, who led the attack. Yet they eased past the opposition with a commanding performance. Barcelona's relentless pressure left Valencia’s defense in disarray from the start. They created their first major chance in the 10th minute when Ferran Torres narrowly chipped the ball over the crossbar. Five minutes later, Valencia's goalkeeper denied a shot from Lopez. Read more: Mbappe stars as 10-man Real Madrid secure hard-fought victory over Sociedad The breakthrough came in the 29th minute as Fermin opened the scoring with a clinical finish inside the box. Torres set him up perfectly with a first-time touch on a teammate’s cross, and the Spanish midfielder slotted past the keeper with a precise right-footed strike. That was the only goal of the first half, but it set the stage for a second-half onslaught. Barcelona found more rhythm in their attack with the halftime substitution of Raphinha. Replacing Roony on the right flank, the Brazilian's presence was immediately felt, as he netted the team’s second goal just eight minutes into the restart. Three minutes later, Fermin scored his second with a spectacular shot from outside the box.

Thomas Müller marked his 36th birthday with a hat trick, while 17-year-old Seymour Reid became the youngest player in Vancouver Whitecaps history to score in a regular-season match, as the Whitecaps thrashed the Philadelphia Union 7-0 on Saturday to secure a playoff berth. With the victory, Vancouver (15-6-7) became only the seventh team in MLS history to win a regular-season game by a seven-goal margin, setting a new club record. Philadelphia (17-7-6), who entered the match atop the league standings, were stunned by four first-half goals—the first time in club history the Whitecaps scored four before halftime. Mbappe stars as 10-man Real Madrid secure hard-fought victory over Sociedad In just his third MLS appearance, Müller converted two first-half penalties and added a second-half header. He also provided his first MLS assist, setting up Emmanuel Sabbi for a goal from the top of the box. Sabbi scored twice in total, while Mathias Laborda and Rayan Elloumi also found the net. Goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka made two saves to record his MLS-leading 12th clean sheet of the season. Vancouver played without star forward Brian White, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Müller joined the Whitecaps last month after 17 successful seasons with Bayern Munich. Source: Agency 

Kylian Mbappé once again showcased his class, leading Real Madrid to a hard-fought victory against the odds. Playing with 10 men for over 60 minutes, Los Blancos pulled off a gritty 2–1 win over Real Sociedad in San Sebastián, thanks to a goal and an assist from the French superstar. The victory maintained Real Madrid’s flawless start to the La Liga season. They have earned a perfect 12 points from their first four matches, topping the table as Xabi Alonso’s side chases the league crown. Returning from the international break, Kylian Mbappe proved decisive yet again. The French star opened the scoring and later set up Arda Güler for Madrid’s second goal, while Mikel Oyarzabal netted Sociedad’s lone goal. Madrid struck in just the second minute of the match when Güler found the net, but Mbappe was ruled offside in the build-up. Ten minutes later, the French star ledReturning from the international break, Kylian Mbappe proved decisive yet again. his team with a bullet shot, his fourth goal of the campaign. In the 32nd minute, Real Madrid’s rhythm was cooled down when young defender Dean Huijsen was shown a straight red card for hauling down last man Mikel Oyarzabal from behind. Madrid’s protests for a VAR review were waved away, leaving Alonso fuming on the touchline and earning him a yellow card. It was the 20-year-old Spain international’s second red card in just eight appearances for his club. Despite the setback, Madrid extended their lead a minute before halftime. Mbappe once again dazzled, this time down the left flank. He skipped past a defender and cut the ball back for Güler, who controlled it well and finished from close range. Sociedad piled on the pressure after the break. Pablo Marín’s deflected strike hit both posts before rolling clear, and in the 55th minute, Oyarzabal converted a penalty after Dani Carvajal was penalized for a handball in the box. Oyarzabal came close again in the 65th minute but was denied by a sharp save from Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian goalkeeper rescued Madrid once more in the 84th minute with another crucial stop from the Sociedad captain. Sociedad dominated possession with nearly 64 percent of the ball and fired 23 shots, but only four tested Courtois. In contrast, Madrid was more clinical, registering six shots on target from 16 attempts. The result leaves Sociedad languishing in 17th place with just two points from four matches, while Real Madrid continues to set the pace at the top. Their next league match will be played next Saturday against Catalan side Espanyol. Before that, Alonso’s team will host Ligue 1 club Olympique Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday.

Martin Zubimendi's outstanding performance secured another win for Arsenal, while Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has to suffer a bitter start with the club. The Gunners’ bagged a 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, where the Spanish midfielder opened his goal tally for Arsenal in style. On goalkeeper David Raya's 100th match, Zubimendi took just 32 minutes to bring a smile to his teammates. He netted the ball with a spectacular volley just after the half-hour mark. The lead was doubled within seconds of the restart when Ebere Eze marked his home debut by assisting another summer arrival, Viktor Gyokeres. With 11 minutes to play, Zubimendi struck again to give Arsenal a 3-0 lead, heading in a Leandro Trossard cross to register his first-ever career brace. Mikel Arteta's team also dominated on paper. With 54% possession, they registered a total of 16 shots, five of which were on target, compared to Forest's single shot on target and four in total. Arteta finished the match with a headache, as his captain, Martin Odegaard, had to leave the pitch after just 18 minutes with what appeared to be a shoulder injury after falling awkwardly. Arsenal returned to winning ways with this victory after a 1-0 disappointment against Liverpool in the previous match. They are currently sitting on top of the table with nine points from four matches. Liverpool (9), Chelsea (7), and Tottenham (6) could potentially move ahead by winning their respective matches later this weekend. In the first four games of the season, the Gunners have scored nine goals, kept three clean sheets, and conceded only one. Arsenal's next Premier League match is next Sunday when they will face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Before that, they will visit Spain to play against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday in their Champions League opener.