United News of Bangladesh

Luis Suárez delivered a standout performance with one goal and two assists as Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory over Pumas on Wednesday night, moving forward in the Leagues Cup competition. The team played without Lionel Messi, who remains sidelined indefinitely due to what the club described as a minor muscle injury in his right leg. Messi sustained the injury early in Inter Miami’s win against Necaxa on Saturday. He was present for Wednesday’s match, watching from a suite at Chase Stadium. With eight points in the Leagues Cup standings, Inter Miami became the first Major League Soccer (MLS) club to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. Rodrigo De Paul scored his maiden goal for Inter Miami in the 45th minute, assisted by Suárez, equalizing after Pumas’ Jorge Ruvalcaba opened the scoring in the 34th minute. De Paul, a key midfielder for Argentina, joined MLS to play alongside his national teammate Messi. He made his club debut in the tournament's opener against Atlas last Wednesday and registered two assists in the following match against Necaxa. Son Heung-min joins LAFC after 10-year spell at Tottenham Suárez gave Miami a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute by converting a penalty kick, awarded after a handball by Pumas defender José Caicedo inside the box. It marked Suárez’s first goal since scoring against Palmeiras in Inter Miami’s Club World Cup clash on June 23. Tadeo Allende sealed the win in the 69th minute, finishing Suárez’s second assist of the night. Source: Agency 

Bangladesh made a winning start in the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, defeating hosts Laos 3-1 in their opening match at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane on Wednesday. In their first-ever meeting at any level, Bangladesh dominated early and took control of the match with a brace from forward Mosammat Sagarika and a goal from midfielder Munki Akter. Sagarika, just 17, had recently finished as the top scorer in the SAFF U-20 Championship and picked up right where she left off. She opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a header from a Shanti Mardi corner. Munki doubled the lead in the 58th minute after receiving a well-timed pass from Trishna Rani and calmly finishing inside the box. Laos pulled one back in the 86th minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse, but Sagarika struck again in stoppage time to seal the win. Despite Laos being 21 places higher in the FIFA rankings (107 vs Bangladesh’s 128), it was Bangladesh who controlled possession and created more chances. The result marks only the third win in 13 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifying matches for Bangladesh. Bangladesh will face Timor-Leste next, while South Korea, who thrashed Timor-Leste 9-0, lead the group on goal difference. Only the group winners and the three best runners-up from eight groups will qualify for the final round in 2026.

Bangladesh U-20 women’s football team is set to take on the hosts in Laos in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the New Laos National Stadium on Wednesday.    Recently, the Bangladesh women’s main team has qualified for the Asian Cup. Now the onus is on the juniors to replicate the success.    The team arrived in Laos on August 2nd and has acclimatised to the conditions, with all 23 players fit and ready. Women footballers continue to bring Bangladesh sporting glory   “We are here to qualify for the AFC Cup. We will try our best to play well in every match,” Captain Afida Khandokar expressed strong confidence before the match.    Coach Peter Butler views the tournament not just for results, but as a crucial measure of the team's development.   Before this match, these two nations had never met in a football match.   At least nine players who recently represented the Bangladesh national team are also part of the U-20 team. 

South Korean football star Son Heung-min has officially signed with Los Angeles FC, completing a high-profile move to Major League Soccer (MLS) after ten seasons at Tottenham Hotspur. The 33-year-old forward confirmed his departure from the Premier League club last week and was seen attending LAFC’s Leagues Cup clash against Tigres at BMO Stadium on Tuesday night. He waved to a cheering crowd from a VIP suite after being introduced on the stadium’s video screen. LAFC is expected to unveil Son at a formal press conference on Wednesday. According to reports, the club paid a transfer fee exceeding $20 million—possibly the highest in MLS history. Allende scores twice to help Inter Miami tie the Earthquakes 3-3 in Messi's MLS Bay Area debut Son, widely regarded as the greatest Asian footballer of all time, scored 173 goals in 454 appearances for Tottenham. He was a fan favorite for his pace, creativity, and finishing. Last week, he received an emotional farewell in Seoul during a friendly against Newcastle, where he exited the match to thunderous applause from nearly 65,000 fans. Los Angeles, home to the largest Korean community outside of Korea, offers Son both a supportive cultural backdrop and a strategic opportunity. His arrival positions him not only as a major football asset for LAFC, but also a marketable figure akin to Shohei Ohtani of the LA Dodgers, who draws international attention from across the Pacific. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, to be hosted across North America, Son’s move could further raise his profile both on and off the pitch. The Korean national team captain has already pledged to take part in what will be his fourth World Cup appearance. Son ended his Tottenham career on a high note, helping the club lift the Europa League trophy in May — their first European silverware in decades. Now, he joins an LAFC side currently sixth in the Western Conference with games in hand due to their participation in the Club World Cup. While his tally of seven Premier League goals last season was his lowest since joining Spurs, Son remains a dynamic attacker and recently turned 33, younger than many global stars now playing in the MLS. Lionel Messi, Marco Reus, Luis Suárez, Olivier Giroud, and Hugo Lloris were all older when they moved to the United States. Son will reunite with former Spurs teammate Lloris, now LAFC’s starting goalkeeper. With only one designated player spot currently occupied by Denis Bouanga, LAFC’s front office has faced criticism for underutilizing its spending power this season. An earlier attempt to sign French forward Antoine Griezmann fell through. Both Son and Bouanga favor the left wing, but Son's tactical flexibility allows him to play across the front line, making him a valuable addition to LAFC’s counter-attacking, speed-oriented system — a style that is expected to complement his strengths far more than it did for Giroud, who left for Lille after a disappointing stint in Los Angeles. LAFC may undergo further changes in the coming months, as head coach Steve Cherundolo is expected to depart for Germany after four successful seasons, including an MLS Cup title.   Source: Agency

Jorge Costa, the former Porto defender who captained the club to a historic Champions League victory in 2004, has died at the age of 53 following a cardiac arrest, the club confirmed Tuesday. At the time of his passing, Costa was serving as Porto’s director of football. The club paid tribute to his legacy, highlighting his “dedication, leadership, passion, and relentless spirit of conquest.” According to Portuguese media, Costa collapsed at Porto's training ground and was taken to São João Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Barcelona Takes Disciplinary Action Against Ter Stegen Over Medical Report Dispute Costa was best known for leading José Mourinho’s Porto to Champions League glory in 2004. The year before, he had lifted the UEFA Cup with the team. Over his playing career, he helped Porto secure eight Portuguese league titles and earned 50 caps for Portugal. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro expressed condolences, lauding Costa’s service to both club and country. Mourinho also paid an emotional tribute, imagining Costa saying, “Mister, stop crying, tomorrow you have a match and your boys need you ready.” Costa had a brief loan spell at Charlton Athletic in the 2001–02 season. Former teammate Steve Brown described him as “a man mountain and a great guy.” Source: Agency  

FC Barcelona has initiated disciplinary proceedings against veteran goalkeeper Marc‑André ter Stegen after he refused to sign a medical report concerning his recent back surgery, according to an anonymous source familiar with the matter. The club required the signed report to submit to the Spanish league in order to secure salary-cap relief and facilitate registration of new players without breaching financial fair play regulations. Ter Stegen and Barcelona are reportedly at odds over the expected duration of his recovery. The goalkeeper had estimated a three-month convalescence following surgery last week to address recurring lower back problems. Barcelona confirmed the procedure was “successful” but added that the timing of his return would depend on his recovery process. Barcelona’s goalkeeper Ter Stegen faces 3-month layoff after back surgery Depending on how long Ter Stegen remains sidelined, the club could remove a portion of his salary from its cap, potentially creating space to bring in new talent. Indeed, Barcelona has already signed Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García in June, joining veteran Wojciech Szczęsny and Iñaki Peña as options in goal. The signed medical report must be reviewed and approved by the league before a formal recovery timetable is official. Ter Stegen, who serves as one of Barcelona’s team captains, has not yet commented publicly on the disciplinary action. He and club officials were expected to meet soon to resolve the issue. Barcelona clinches its 28th La Liga title as Yamal's stunning strike seals domestic treble The 33‑year‑old missed most of last season due to a knee tendon rupture and overcame back surgery in 2023. Peña and 35‑year‑old Szczęsny served as starters during those periods. Barcelona returned to Spain on Tuesday after completing its preseason tour in Asia. It remains unclear what type of penalty, if any, Ter Stegen may face for refusing to sign the document.   Source: Agency

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Tuesday after being charged with five counts of rape. The charges stem from alleged incidents involving two women between 2021 and 2022. Partey also faces one count of sexual assault involving a third woman. The 31-year-old Ghanaian international, now a free agent following the expiration of his contract with Arsenal at the end of last season, arrived at court wearing a dark zip-up sweater and carrying a suit jacket. Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey charged with five counts of rape Police said the investigation began in February 2022 after receiving an initial report of rape. Partey's lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, earlier stated that her client “denies all the charges against him” and welcomes the opportunity “to finally clear his name.”

Lionel Messi has sustained a minor muscle strain in his right leg, Inter Miami confirmed on Sunday, following an early exit from Saturday’s Leagues Cup clash against Necaxa. The injury occurred within the first few minutes of the match when Messi went down after a challenge from two Necaxa defenders. Although Inter Miami eventually secured a win via penalty shootout, the Argentine star was sent for tests after complaining of discomfort in his right leg. While the club described the injury as minor, it has not set a definite timeframe for Messi’s return. His availability for Wednesday’s upcoming Leagues Cup game against UNAM Pumas appears doubtful. In a statement, Inter Miami noted that Messi's return will depend on how he responds to ongoing treatment. PSG fined €150,000 for fan misconduct, 'UEFA Mafia' banner at Champions League final Visibly frustrated after the fall, Messi hit the ground with his hand before slowly making his way to the sideline. He sat down on the field as medical staff tended to his upper right thigh for a few minutes. In the 11th minute, he was substituted out for Federico Redondo and headed straight to the locker room. Despite the concern, Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said post-match that Messi was not experiencing significant pain. Source: Agency 

Inter Miami clinched a dramatic win over Necaxa in the Leagues Cup on Saturday night, prevailing 5-4 in a penalty shootout after star forward Lionel Messi exited early with a hamstring injury. Luis Suárez sealed the victory with the final spot-kick, while Jordi Alba’s stoppage-time header leveled the score at 2-2, forcing the match into penalties. Inter Miami converted all five attempts, with goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo making a key save against Tomás Badaloni in the third round. Messi sustained the injury around the eighth minute while challenging for the ball near the penalty area. He walked off the pitch and received treatment on his right thigh before being substituted in the 11th minute. Head coach Javier Mascherano later said Messi wasn’t in significant pain but felt a strain, and further evaluation is scheduled for Sunday. Inter Miami played most of the match with 10 men following a red card to Maxi Falcón in the early minutes. Necaxa also went down to 10 players after Cristian Calderón received a second yellow card in the 60th minute. PSG fined €150,000 for fan misconduct, 'UEFA Mafia' banner at Champions League final Telasco Segovia gave Inter Miami the lead shortly after Messi’s departure, scoring off an assist from new signing Rodrigo De Paul, who tallied two assists in his second match with the club. Badaloni equalized in the 33rd minute for Necaxa. Ricardo Monreal later put the Mexican side ahead in the 81st, but Alba responded with a powerful header from a De Paul free kick to level the score again. Despite winning their first two Leagues Cup matches, Inter Miami's progression depends on points accumulated in the Major League Soccer standings. Saturday’s result gave them five points, placing them at the top of the MLS table for now, with more matches remaining over the weekend. The Leagues Cup features clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX, with the top four teams from each league’s table after three matches moving on to the knockout stage. Source: Agency 

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), winners of this year’s UEFA Champions League, has been fined nearly €150,000 ($171,000) by UEFA over multiple incidents involving its fans during the final, including pitch invasions, fireworks, and the display of an offensive “UEFA Mafia” banner. The UEFA disciplinary panel ruled on six separate charges, including “transmitting a message not fit for a sports event” and “bringing UEFA into disrepute.” The incidents occurred during the May 31 final at Bayern Munich’s stadium, where PSG defeated Inter Milan 5-0 to claim its first-ever Champions League title. Among the most serious infractions was the display of a large banner reading “UEFA Mafia,” accompanied by a caricature of a pig. This banner appeared despite PSG club president Nasser al-Khelaifi being a member of UEFA’s executive committee and the head of the European Club Association. UEFA issued a €10,000 ($11,500) fine for the offensive message. Though UEFA often penalizes clubs for using the “mafia” slur, Norwegian club Brann successfully appealed a similar fine earlier this year, arguing that their fans’ chant at a Women’s Champions League match was satirical. U-20 Women's Asian Cup: Bangladesh Football team to fly for Laos Saturday The largest portion of PSG’s penalty — €100,000 ($115,000) — was imposed for combined offenses of fans invading the pitch and setting off fireworks. Following the final whistle, supporters entered the field and tore up pieces of the turf as souvenirs. An additional €8,000 ($9,160) fine was issued for “acts of damage.” UEFA also imposed a one-match ban on PSG selling tickets to their fans for a future away game in European competitions, though that sanction has been suspended on a two-year probation. Despite the fines, PSG’s Champions League triumph earned the club an estimated €140 million ($160 million) in UEFA prize money last season. Source: Agency