United News of Bangladesh

England midfielder Jack Grealish has joined Everton on a one-year loan from Manchester City, aiming to revive his career ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The 29-year-old, who became England’s most expensive player in 2021 after moving from Aston Villa to City for £100 million ($139 million), was a key figure in City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season. However, he has struggled for game time in the last two campaigns and was even left out of the squad for the recent Club World Cup. “I’m over the moon to have signed for Everton — it’s massive for me,” said Grealish, praising the club’s passionate supporters. Everton have not won a major trophy since 1995. The move frees up space in City’s wage bill and eases competition in their midfield-heavy squad. At Villa, Grealish thrived in a free, creative role, but under Pep Guardiola he played a more restricted left-sided forward position. Everton boss David Moyes is expected to restore his attacking freedom. Al Hilal stun Manchester City in Club World Cup Classic Grealish will make his debut in Everton’s Premier League opener at Leeds on Monday, followed by their first match at the new 53,000-seat Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium against Brighton a week later. He revealed he consulted former Everton star Wayne Rooney before agreeing to the deal and will wear the No. 18 shirt — the same number worn by Rooney and Paul Gascoigne. Former England international Steve McManaman said the move may seem unusual given Everton’s midtable prospects, but Grealish’s priority is securing his place in the national squad.   Source: Agency

Abahani Limited’s AFC Challenge League run ended before it really began. At the National Stadium on Tuesday night, they went down 2-0 to Kyrgyz outfit FC Muras United in the preliminary play-off — and the scoreline felt about right. For most of the first half, it wasn’t one-way traffic. The home side were organised, sat deep when they needed to, and even strung together a few promising moves. Mitul Marma, busy in goal, pulled off three saves that kept things level. Souleymane Diabate slipped Morsalin through once, but the finish wasn’t there. AFC Challenge League: Dhaka Abahani Ltd will play their match at National Stadium on Aug 12 That hope lasted barely three minutes after the restart. A long cross from Ukrainian left-back Andriy Batsula found Atai Dzhumashev completely free in the box. His header was firm, Mitul had no chance. Abahani chased the game from there. Morsalin clipped the post, Jafar Iqbal tried his luck from distance. Muras, calm and compact, waited. And they struck again deep into stoppage time — Dzhumashev pouncing on a Kamrul error, running clear and slotting in his second. Coach Maruful Haque gave credit where it was due. “They’re the stronger side,” he said. “We started okay, but didn’t keep that same energy.” It’s Abahani’s sixth attempt in this tournament. Still no breakthrough.

Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and his long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez are engaged. Georgina, 31, shared the happy news on Instagram on Monday with a photo showing a big ring on her finger. She wrote, “Yes, I do,” in Spanish, adding, “In this and in all my lives.” The couple has two daughters together. Georgina also helps care for Ronaldo’s other three children. Sadly, they lost a newborn twin boy in 2022. Ronaldo and Georgina met in 2016 when she worked at a Gucci store in Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo, Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement Ronaldo, who used to play for Real Madrid and Manchester United, now plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.   Source: Agency

Former Premier League referee David Coote has been handed an eight-week ban and ordered to attend a face-to-face education programme for making offensive remarks about Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp in a private video that went viral on social media, resulting in his dismissal. Coote admitted to the Football Association’s charge of acting “in an improper manner” and/or using “abusive and/or insulting words” in a video recorded around July 2020. Two videos, apparently recorded on a phone, circulated on social media showing Coote expressing his personal views on Liverpool and Klopp when asked by an unidentified man. In the clips, Coote used offensive language about Liverpool and referred to Klopp derogatorily, stating he disliked the German manager because he was “arrogant” and “accused me of lying” after a match. The FA’s charge included an allegation that Coote’s conduct constituted an “aggravated breach” of rules, as it contained a reference — whether explicit or implicit — to nationality. Man City midfielder Rodri faces injury setback ahead of new Premier League season An independent regulatory commission announced on Tuesday the new sanctions against Coote following a hearing. Initially suspended over his conduct, Coote was dismissed in December after English football’s referees’ body deemed his position “untenable” following an internal investigation. Coote was also probed by the FA over claims reported by British newspaper The Sun that he discussed with a fan the possibility of issuing a yellow card during a match. Coote denied any wrongdoing, and in June, the FA confirmed no charges were brought in relation to that inquiry. Separately, UEFA launched an investigation into Coote after The Sun published a video allegedly showing him using cocaine during this year’s European Championship.   Source: Agency

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has strengthened its defence by signing Ukraine centre-back Illia Zabarnyi from English club Bournemouth on Tuesday. The 22-year-old defender has joined the European champions on a five-year contract for a reported fee of 63 million euros (around 76 million US dollars). Zabarnyi spent two and a half years at Bournemouth, a club that has seen several key defenders leave this offseason. Bournemouth sold centre-back Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid and left-back Milos Kerkez to Liverpool, earning around 172 million euros (approximately 150 million pounds) from these transfers. At PSG, Zabarnyi will compete for a starting spot alongside captain Marquinhos and Willian Pacho in central defence. Spanish league edges closer to staging Villarreal vs. Barcelona regular-season match in the US “I am very happy to join Paris Saint-Germain,” Zabarnyi said. “I am here to give everything I have on the pitch and I’m looking forward to making my debut and meeting the fans.” PSG will face Tottenham Hotspur, the reigning Europa League champions, in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, before starting their Ligue 1 title defence against Nantes on Sunday. Zabarnyi, who has earned 49 caps for the Ukraine national team and previously played for Dynamo Kyiv, could provide direct competition to veteran Marquinhos. This signing is PSG’s second major addition of the summer transfer window following goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier’s arrival from Lille for a reported fee just over 40 million euros. Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is reportedly set to leave despite an impressive season. Russian goalkeeper Matvei Safonov remains among PSG’s backup options.

FIFA is rolling out a new human rights protocol for the 2026 World Cup in North America, requiring all host committees to prepare action plans to safeguard human rights. But with the tournament less than a year away, advocates remain doubtful about the governing body’s commitment. The framework, which covers issues across multiple jurisdictions, is seen as unprecedented by some experts but criticized by others for lacking enforceable standards and clear guidance. “The plan is just a plan. It’s not self-executing,” said Jennifer Li, director of Georgetown Law’s Center for Community Health Innovation and national coordinator of the Dignity 2026 Coalition. Several U.S. host committees missed the March deadline for initial drafts, though FIFA says they are on track to submit final plans by August 29. Sixteen North American cities will stage matches, including 11 in the United States. While human rights concerns in North America differ from past host nations — such as Qatar, where migrant workers endured extreme heat during years of construction — FIFA’s 2026 guidelines address nondiscrimination, worker protections, anti-trafficking measures, and safeguarding unhoused people. In the U.S., tensions are heightened by President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement, including a June travel ban on 12 countries. Critics fear federal agents could target workers or travelers during the tournament. Protests outside FIFA’s Miami-Dade offices in June called for stronger protections. FIFA announces details to apply for World Cup tickets Labor groups warn that local organizers are unprepared and unwilling to engage. “FIFA likes to say they have human rights efforts, but they aren’t pushing it,” said Jeff Mitchell, president of the South Florida AFL-CIO. Advocates also fear aggressive crackdowns on homelessness, citing past incidents such as the 9,000 unhoused people arrested ahead of Atlanta’s 1996 Olympics. FIFA adopted a human rights policy in 2017 requiring World Cup bidders to respect international labor standards. However, it is facing criticism over the 2034 tournament in Saudi Arabia, with a group of international lawyers alleging the body is failing to meet its own commitments. Despite the skepticism, FIFA says it is working with host cities to deliver a tournament that “respects and promotes human rights.” Several cities, including Atlanta and Seattle, have launched initiatives on human trafficking prevention, accessibility, and labor rights agreements. The International Labour Organization has called FIFA’s framework an “important step” in aligning sports with global labor standards.

Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo is set to marry his long-time partner Georgina Rodríguez, as the 31-year-old model shared news of their engagement on Instagram Monday. Rodríguez posted a photo showcasing a large ring on her finger, captioned in Spanish: “Yes, I do. In this and in all my lives.” 'It doesn't make sense,' Ronaldo reacts to Jota's death The couple, together since meeting in 2016 when Rodríguez worked at a Gucci store in Madrid, share two daughters. She has also played a key role in raising Ronaldo’s three other children. In 2022, they suffered the loss of one of their newborn twins, a boy. Ronaldo, 40, a former star for Real Madrid and Manchester United, currently plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Source: Agency 

The Spanish league is moving closer to hosting a regular-season match in the United States. On Monday, the Spanish soccer federation approved a proposal for the La Liga game between Villarreal and Barcelona to be held in Miami on December 20. Next, the federation will seek approval from UEFA and FIFA to finalize the plan. The match, scheduled for the 17th round, is set to take place at Hard Rock Stadium. The league first explored playing a game in the U.S. in 2018, but faced backlash from players, fans, and clubs, leading to the idea being shelved. Subsequent attempts also failed to materialize. Barcelona reinstates Ter Stegen as captain after submitting medical report to La Liga Hosting matches abroad aligns with La Liga’s strategy to expand its global reach and promote Spanish soccer internationally. The league has a long-term partnership with Relevent Sports, a sports and entertainment group linked to Stephen Ross, who owns Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins, the Miami Grand Prix, and the Miami Open tennis tournament. Source: Agency

NFL betting kicked off over the weekend with preseason games, featuring varied strategies as some teams rested starters while others played extensively. Alongside the NFL action, baseball and the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs also drew significant attention. In the NFL preseason, underdogs and the over bet dominated early results. At BetMGM’s sportsbook, underdogs covered the spread in 12 of 16 games, while the over hit in 14 contests. On Sunday, both the Dolphins-Bears and Chargers-Saints games went over their totals, with the Chargers’ 27-13 win pushing the latter over the line. Man City midfielder Rodri faces injury setback ahead of new Premier League season In baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers drew the highest betting volume and amounts on Sunday against the New York Mets. The Brewers staged a comeback from a 5-0 deficit to win 7-6. An upset highlight was the Toronto Blue Jays’ 5-4 victory over the favored Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite being +155 underdogs, Toronto attracted 74% of bets and 79% of wagered money. In golf, Justin Rose captured the FedEx St. Jude Championship, finishing 16 under par and defeating J.J. Spaun in a playoff. Before the event, Rose was a long shot at +6600, with minimal betting support. Following the NFL preseason week, Super Bowl odds shifted slightly. The Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Philadelphia Eagles lead as favorites at +700, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs at +800 and Detroit Lions at +1000. Source: Agency

Luis Muriel scored twice and Martín Ojeda added a goal and an assist as Orlando City cruised to a 4-1 win over Inter Miami on Sunday night. Muriel struck just two minutes into the match, but Inter Miami (12-5-6) equalized three minutes later through Yannick Bright, who netted his first career goal in his 40th appearance. Ojeda assisted on Muriel’s opener, extending his club-record run of goal contributions to 14 straight matches. Five minutes into the second half, Muriel put Orlando City (9-6-8) back in front with his eighth goal of the season. Ojeda then scored his 14th of the campaign in the 58th minute, giving him a league-best 27 goal contributions. Marco Pašalić sealed the win in the 88th minute with his 10th goal in his debut MLS season. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made four saves for Orlando, while Óscar Ustari recorded eight stops for Miami. Salah questions UEFA’s ‘farewell’ to former Palestinian footballer Suleiman Obeid Lionel Messi, tied with Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge for the league lead with 18 goals, missed the game due to a right leg injury suffered in an Aug. 2 Leagues Cup match against Necaxa. The 38-year-old has played in 18 of Miami’s 23 matches this season. The win moves Orlando into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, leaving coach Oscar Pareja one victory shy of 100 across all competitions. Inter Miami sits sixth but holds three games in hand on the top four and two on fifth-place Columbus Crew. Next up, Miami hosts the LA Galaxy on Saturday, while Orlando faces Sporting Kansas City at home the same day. Source: Agency