United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh booked their place in the SAFF U-17 Championship final defeating Pakistan 2-0 in Thursday’s first semi-final at Colombo Racecourse Ground. The defending finalists struck twice in the space of a minute in the first half to seize control of the match. Nazmul Huda Faisal opened the scoring before Apu Rahman doubled the lead moments later. This sudden, overwhelming flurry of goals in the opening minutes effectively decided the contest, leaving Pakistan with a steep mountain to climb for the remainder of the game. Bangladesh, who advanced to the last four as group champions, began aggressively and capitalised on a costly blunder from Pakistan goalkeeper Samar Razzak in just the third minute. Razzak’s poor throw gifted possession to Apu whose misdirected pass ricocheted off a defender and fell to Faisal. With the keeper stranded, Faisal slotted into an empty net. The momentum carried forward immediately, as Apu made amends with a sharp strike that pierced through two defenders and slipped past the diving Razzak to make it 2-0. In the second half, Bangladesh focused on maintaining their lead, while Pakistan failed to stage a comeback. The win brings Bangladesh within touching distance of their first-ever title in this age category. They will face the winner of the second semi-final between India and Nepal in Saturday’s final.

Lionel Messi netted two goals and provided an assist, reaching 37 goal contributions this season, as Inter Miami sealed a playoff spot with a 4-0 triumph over New York City FC on Wednesday night. Inter Miami (16-6-7) claimed its third consecutive victory, extending its league-leading goal tally to 64 this season. Five of Miami’s last six MLS games have seen at least three goals, including a recent 3-2 win over D.C. United. Messi, after setting up the first goal in the opening half, became the first player in MLS history to register at least 35 goal contributions in back-to-back seasons. His two second-half goals also made him the fourth player in league history to record eight multi-goal games in a single campaign. He opened the scoring in the 74th minute by chipping the ball over goalkeeper Matt Freese, who had rushed out during a breakaway. Luis Suárez, returning from suspension, converted a penalty in the 83rd minute, and Messi added another goal three minutes later. FIFA World Cup 2026: Spain, England home kit designs leaked Goalkeeper Óscar Ustari earned his sixth clean sheet of the season. New York City FC (16-10-5) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end. The visitors had two notable chances in the first half, with Thiago Martins’ header from a corner saved by Ustari, and Nicolás Fernández’s close-range effort going just wide after deceiving the goalkeeper. Source: Agency 

Hugo Ekitike has apologized to Liverpool fans after being sent off for celebrating his winning goal against Southampton in the English League Cup on Tuesday. Liverpool coach Arne Slot described the France striker’s behavior as “needless” and “stupid.” Ekitike received a red card for removing his shirt while celebrating his 85th-minute goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory, which means he will miss the Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday. “The emotion got the better of me tonight. My apologies to all the Red family,” Ekitike wrote on Instagram after the match. The 23-year-old forward had already been booked for dissent after coming on as a halftime substitute. “Needless? Yes. And it was stupid. The first one was already needless and, to some extent, stupid, as you have to control your emotions,” Slot said. “I told him that if you score in the Champions League final in the 87th minute after outplaying three players and hitting the top corner, I could maybe understand. But he said, ‘This is all about me, what did I do?’ “I’m old-fashioned, 47, and never played at this level, but I did score a few goals. If I scored a goal like this, I’d have turned to Federico Chiesa and said, ‘This goal is all about you, not me.’” Ekitike’s latest strike was his fifth in eight appearances for Liverpool since joining the Premier League champions from Eintracht Frankfurt for $93.5 million in July.

The Afghanistan women's national soccer team, made up of refugee players, will play its first official matches next month at a four-team tournament in Dubai, according to FIFA. The tournament, which takes place from October 23 to 29, will see the team compete against the United Arab Emirates, Chad, and Libya. Due to the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women's sports in Afghanistan were effectively halted, and the national team hasn't participated in any competitive matches since 2018. Although the Afghanistan Football Federation has not been suspended by FIFA, it is required to follow FIFA's anti-discrimination regulations. FIFA emphasized that the tournament is part of its ongoing efforts to support women's rights to play soccer, chase their dreams, and excel in the sport. The women's teams from Chad and Libya do not yet have FIFA rankings, while the UAE team is currently ranked 117th. FIFA confirmed that all matches will be broadcast live on its streaming platform.

Images of the home kits for two of the favorites at the 2026 World Cup—reigning European champions Spain and a resurgent England—have been leaked online, giving fans a first look at what their teams could be wearing in North America next summer. Spain Opaleak has leaked images of Spain’s home kit, which show an adidas design that blends tradition with a bold new twist. The base is a deep red body paired with dark navy sleeves, while the three adidas shoulder stripes run in a red-yellow-red sequence, a subtle nod to the Spanish flag. Fine yellow pinstripes with dotted detailing run vertically down the jersey, adding texture and depth.

Real Madrid maintained their perfect start to the season with arguably their most impressive performance yet, humbling Levante 4-1 away from home at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia on Tuesday night. All three of Real’s starting forwards showed their class, as the prolific Kylian Mbappe packed a second half brace to move to 9 goals from 7 games this season, after Vinicius Junior netted a spectacular goal and set up Franco Mastantuono for his first goal in a Madrid shirt - itself a spectacular strike - to put Real 2-0 ahead at halftime.  Vinicius found his form in Valencia, striking a brilliant opener with the outside of his boot in the 28th minute. Just 10 minutes later, the Brazilian winger threaded a ball to his Argentine teammate Mastantuono, who hit the roof of the net from a narrow angle with an outstanding strike to double Madrid’s advantage. Mastantuono's more advanced position as Rodrygo dropped to the bench to make way for an extra midfielder in Arda Guler away from home, was the key tactical change wrought by Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, and it seemed to work as the 18-year-old Argentine continued looking dangerous as he has all season, also hitting the woodwork in the 20th minute, when he got to a rebound off the Levante keeper first, from a 25-yard-punt by Vinicius. Real Madrid defender to miss ‘first’ El Clasico due to injury As the second half got underway, Levante signaled a comeback with forward Etta Eyong pulling one back with a stunning header in the 54th minute. But Mbappe restored the 36-time La Liga champions' two-goal lead just nine minutes later, after being brought down in the box and stepping up himself to put away a cool-headed 'Panenka' from the spot. Two minutes later in the 66th minute, Mbappe wrapped up the scoring for the night, outrunning the Levante defence without getting out of second gear, before rounding the keeper with ease and putting the ball in the net, after being played through by the precocious Guler. The result keeps Xabi Alonso’s side at the top of the table with six wins out of six for the full 18 points, stretching their lead to five points over reigning champions Barcelona, who travel to Real Oviedo on Thursday. Levante is languishing in 16th place with four points. Alonso was pleased with the performance but said it’s just the beginning for his team. The focus now shifts to the Madrid derby this Saturday. Two Real Madrid defenders sanctioned “We’re in a growth phase, still under construction. We’re 51 days in and there’s still a long way to go,” Alonso said in the post-match press briefing. “We’re building a solid foundation to be competitive in La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey. Many people in the team feel connected and important.” Despite Real’s staggering form under him, the Spanish legend insisted there is room for improvement: “There are still some things to improve, but the path is looking good; not just because of the results but also because of the way we’re doing things.” He urged his players to maintain their momentum as well, stating, “We have to keep going, we can’t stop. This is just the beginning, and we want to keep competing well.”

Arsenal’s recent injury crisis has deepened, with star winger Noni Madueke reportedly set to miss up to two months of action after picking up an injury during the Gunners’ 1-1 Premier League draw against Manchester City on Sunday. The 23-year-old England International was substituted at halftime of the highly anticipated match. He was replaced by Bukayo Saka, who was returning from his own injury. Speaking in the post-match press conference, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the issue, stating, “He had an issue very early in the match and he wasn’t well enough to continue.” However, initial fears of a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear were thankfully avoided after Madueke underwent scans on Monday. The diagnosis still leaves a major hole in Arsenal’s lineup. Since his £48 million summer transfer from Chelsea, Madueke has been an outstanding, what earned him starting four of the five Premier League matches and proving his versatility on both the left and right wings. His impressive form also translated to the international stage, where he started both of England’s World Cup qualifiers in September and scored his first goal for his country in the win over Serbia. A Growing List Madueke’s injury adds another name to a growing list of sidelined attackers at the Emirates. He joins Kai Havertz, who is recovering from knee surgery, and Gabriel Jesus, who has been out since January with an ACL injury. The Gunners are also without their captain, Martin Ødegaard, who missed the City match due to a shoulder injury, as did fellow summer signing Piero Hincapie. Arteta acknowledged the challenges in his squad depth but highlighted the positive return of Saka. “Ødegaard wasn’t fit enough to be [on the bench], Piero as well, he’s out of the squad, but thankfully we have Bukayo back,” Arteta said. “That’s what we want, we have a strong bench.” If the two-month timeline holds true, Madueke will miss several crucial fixtures, including the next two Champions League matches against Atletico Madrid and Slavia Praha. He could also be sidelined for up to six Premier League games and is at risk of missing the first highly anticipated North London Derby of the season against Tottenham in November.    

Lionel Messi attended the global finals of the 1v1 soccer tournament he helped create on Friday, but did not comment on his future with Inter Miami. The Inter Miami star is close to finalizing a contract extension that would keep him with the Major League Soccer club at least through the 2026 season. The deal, which has been in the works for months, would also coincide with the club’s new stadium opening near Miami International Airport next year. Messi watched the men’s and women’s semifinals and finals of the event, greeted winners on stage, signed autographs, and even took a large group selfie with fans. He only spoke privately to his team about the tournament, with interviews later shared with the media. “It is really so nice to see and to share this opportunity providing a platform for the game that is 1v1,” Messi said. When asked about Messi’s contract extension, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said he is optimistic. “I hope it happens soon, because it’s great news not only for the club but for MLS,” Mascherano said. He added that having one of the world’s best players in the U.S. for a longer period would be very important for soccer in the country. Messi, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title, has not confirmed whether he will play in next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. This season, the 38-year-old Messi has scored 20 goals and provided 11 assists in MLS play, making him the league’s second-highest scorer. He joined Inter Miami in July 2023 on a 2½-year contract reportedly worth $150 million and was named MLS MVP last season, despite missing 15 matches due to injuries or national team duty. Messi has helped Inter Miami win its first two trophies: the 2023 Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular-season record. Inter Miami will face D.C. United on Saturday. The team is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference, eight points behind first-place Philadelphia but with three games in hand, keeping them in contention for top playoff positions and the Supporters’ Shield.

Napoli secured a 3-2 win over Pisa to reclaim the top spot in Serie A, recovering from their recent Champions League defeat to Manchester City. Billy Gilmour gave the hosts the lead with his first goal of the season just before halftime, and it seemed like Napoli was on track for an easy win against a Pisa side still searching for their first victory this season. However, Pisa equalized in the 60th minute with a penalty from M'Bala Nzola, briefly raising hopes of an upset. But Napoli responded in the final 20 minutes. Leonardo Spinazzola put them back ahead with a low shot in the 73rd minute, and Lorenzo Lucca sealed the win by finishing a clever pass from Scott McTominay in the 82nd minute. Pisa's Lorran scored in the dying moments of the match to pull one back, but it wasn't enough. The result left Pisa at the bottom of the league, still without a win in Naples since 1986. Napoli's fourth consecutive victory moved them two points clear of Juventus at the top of Serie A.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele has won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, capping a sensational season that saw him lead PSG to their first-ever Champions League title. The 28-year-old forward beat out Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal for the top honor, which was awarded at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday. A historic season for Dembele and PSG Dembele was instrumental in PSG’s historic season, which also saw them lift the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France trophies. The French international scored an impressive 35 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions. His explosive form was crucial for the treble-winning side, especially after Kylian Mbappe’s departure to Real Madrid, as Dembele seamlessly transitioned into a more central attacking role. He succeeds Manchester City’s Rodri as the men’s player of the year, an award administered by France Football and decided by a vote of international journalists. The criteria for the award include individual performance, team achievements, and a player’s class and fair play. From Barcelona to Ballon d’Or Dembele’s victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the forward, who struggled to meet expectations during his six seasons at Barcelona after a high-profile €100 million move in 2017. However, since his €50 million transfer to PSG in 2023, he has flourished under coach Luis Enrique, establishing himself as one of the world’s elite players. “Thank you all,” an emotional Dembele said upon receiving the award from legendary player Ronaldinho. “What just happened to me is incredible. I’m speechless. It’s been an amazing season with PSG... I want to thank PSG for signing me in 2023. The president, the entire team, and the club. They are a wonderful family.” Pedri, Lewandowski to skip Ballon d’Or gala in Paris He also credited Luis Enrique, saying the coach “is like a father to me” and has been “very important to my career.” Other awards at the ceremony The ceremony also celebrated other standout performers from the past season: Lamine Yamal, 18, who had a brilliant season with Barcelona, was awarded the Kopa Trophy for second time for the best under-21 male player. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati won her third consecutive Ballon d’Or Feminin, joining an exclusive club alongside Michel Platini and Lionel Messi. Vicky Lopez of Barcelona was named the best under-21 female player. The Gerd Müller trophy for the season’s top goal scorers went to Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres and Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy) and Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) were named the best goalkeepers, receiving the Yashin Trophy and Lev Yashin Trophy, respectively. The Johan Cruyff trophies for best coaches were awarded to PSG’s Luis Enrique and England women’s team manager, Sarina Wiegman.