United News of Bangladesh

Another close companion of Lionel Messi is heading to South Florida, as Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has reached an agreement to join Inter Miami, according to a source familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press. De Paul, 31, is set to leave Spanish club Atlético Madrid—where he has played since 2021—for Major League Soccer, signing a short-term contract with Inter Miami. The deal could evolve into a multiyear agreement. He had one year remaining on his contract with Atlético. The move was first reported by ESPN. De Paul, a key figure in Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad in 2022, will reunite with his national team captain Messi, aiming to further bolster an Inter Miami side that has risen to prominence since Messi’s arrival in 2023. The club has made significant strides, including reaching the knockout stage of the Club World Cup and winning five straight MLS matches as they pursue a second consecutive Supporters’ Shield. England edge past Sweden in dramatic shootout to reach Euro 2025 semis While the exact date of De Paul’s arrival is yet to be confirmed, he could debut during the upcoming Leagues Cup later this month. The signing comes as Inter Miami continues negotiations to extend Messi’s contract, which expires at the end of December. Messi is widely expected to remain with the club for at least another season. De Paul joins a growing group of seasoned players already familiar with Messi’s style, including Sergio Busquets (37), Luis Suárez (38), and Jordi Alba (36). Alba has extended his contract through 2027, while Busquets’ deal ends this season and has not yet been renewed. If Busquets departs, it could open up a Designated Player spot for De Paul, allowing him to earn above the league’s maximum salary cap. Since moving to Atlético Madrid from Italian side Udinese, De Paul has played a pivotal role for the Spanish team. Alongside Messi, he has also helped Argentina win the Copa América titles in both 2021 and 2024. Messi and Inter Miami are coming off a record-breaking 2024 season in which the club achieved the best regular season record and win percentage in MLS history, though they exited early from the playoffs.    

Defending champions England pulled off a stunning comeback to reach the semifinals of the Women’s European Championship, edging Sweden 3-2 in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation time. With just 12 minutes left, the Lionesses were staring at an early exit. But late goals from Lucy Bronze and teenage substitute Michelle Agyemang turned the tide, sending the match into extra time and eventually penalties. "It was chaotic—maybe the craziest match I’ve ever experienced," said England coach Sarina Wiegman. "This team never gives up, even when we’re not playing well. That resilience made the difference." The shootout saw a string of poor finishes, with both teams missing four penalties each. Ultimately, Bronze converted her spot kick while Sweden’s 18-year-old Smilla Holmberg fired over the bar, sealing England’s win. England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton described the shootout as “stressful,” saying, “Every save I made, I just hoped the next one would go in, but their keeper kept responding. It was tense.” Sweden had taken early control, scoring twice in the first half through Kosovare Asllani and Stina Blackstenius. Hampton’s crucial saves kept England in the contest until Kelly and Agyemang's late interventions. Messi's multi-goal streak ends in Inter Miami's 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati The match marked the first time in Women’s Euros history that a team overturned a two-goal deficit in a knockout game. Despite Sweden’s strong tournament run—including a 4-1 win over Germany—they fell short. Their coach Peter Gerhardsson, stepping down after eight years, called the outcome "melancholy," expressing sorrow over the result. England will face Italy in the semifinal on Tuesday in Geneva. Source: Agency 

Lionel Messi’s record-setting run of scoring multiple goals in five consecutive MLS matches came to an end Wednesday night as Inter Miami suffered a 3-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati. Cincinnati took control early, with Gerardo Valenzuela scoring in the first half and Evander adding two more after the break to keep the team just one point behind Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia beat CF Montreal 2-1 on the same night. The defeat ended Inter Miami’s five-match winning streak. With a record of 11 wins, 4 losses, and 5 draws, they now sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. Messi, who leads MLS with 16 goals in 17 matches, became the first player in league history to score multiple goals in more than four straight games. However, Cincinnati once again proved a tough opponent for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has now faced them three times without much success. Club World Cup final draws 1.3 million viewers on TBS Valenzuela opened the scoring with a sharp angled strike in the 16th minute. Messi managed just one shot in the first half, easily handled by goalkeeper Roman Celentano during stoppage time. Evander doubled the lead shortly after halftime with his 14th goal of the season—also marking his 50th in MLS. He later sealed the win with a rebound goal following a shot by Luca Orellano. Messi had another opportunity in the 78th minute, but Celentano made a diving save to deny him. Despite playing over 90 minutes for the eighth consecutive game—including Club World Cup fixtures—Messi appeared fatigued at times, even covering the least distance among all players in the second half. Cincinnati were without their second-highest scorer, Kevin Denkey, due to a leg injury, but still managed to dominate and contain Inter Miami’s offense.

Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final drew an average of 1.3 million viewers on TBS, TNT Sports announced Tuesday. Across the 24 matches aired with English commentary in the U.S., the tournament averaged 458,000 viewers. Meanwhile, Spanish-language coverage of the final on Univision and TUDN averaged 1.43 million viewers. TelevisaUnivision’s 18 Spanish-broadcast matches saw an average of 597,000 viewers. DAZN, which acquired global broadcasting rights from FIFA, sublicensed 63 matches to TNT Sports and TelevisaUnivision. TNT aired games on TNT, TBS, and truTV, while TelevisaUnivision carried Spanish-language broadcasts. FIFA announces details to apply for World Cup tickets Turner reported that 15 matches held during primetime or on weekends averaged 535,000 viewers. Sunday’s final reached its peak viewership at 1.8 million on TBS between 3:45 and 4:00 p.m. EDT, as Chelsea led 3-0 at halftime. DAZN has not yet disclosed its streaming viewership data. Source: Agency 

-Applications for tickets for the 2026 World Cup open Sept. 10, FIFA said Tuesday. The next edition of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, kicks off at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11. Soccer's world governing body FIFA said that due to anticipated high demand tickets would be released in phases. It did not say if it would use dynamic pricing, as was the case for the Club World Cup, which saw ticket prices fluctuate wildly. Fernández warns of heat ahead of Chelsea-PSG final “We’re looking forward to welcoming the world back to North America, as Canada, Mexico and the United States host what will be the biggest and greatest sporting event ever," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “We encourage fans everywhere to get ready to secure their place — these will be the most coveted seats in world sport.”

Defending champions Bangladesh maintained their all-win run in the four-nation SAFF U-20 Women's championship beating Bhutan by 4-1 goals at the  practice ground of the  Basundhara Kings Arena Tuesday evening. The match suddenly shifted to the nearby practice ground of the Bashundhara Kings Arena from Bashundhara Kings main Stadium in the 2nd half due to unplayable condition of the venue following heavy rain Tuesday.afternoon. It is the first time in the history of Bangladesh Football that a match was shifted to another venue in the half time of the match. The 2nd half of the Bangladesh- Bhutan match was resumed at 6:45 pm at the revised venue after about three hours. The 3rd league match between holders Bangladesh and Himalayan Nation Bhutan were in progress at the water soaked, heavy and slippery ground of the Bashundhara Kings Arena here Tuesday afternoon, but the referee did not continue the 2nd half of the match at the  unplayable condition of the match venue. SAFF U-20 Women's Champs: Trishna Rani powers Bangladesh to dramatic win over Nepal Match referee has decided to shift the the match to the  nearby practice ground of the Stadium after consulting with the participating teams. Host Bangladesh team dominated the half time of the day's  ill fated match by 1-0 goal scored by a Shanti Mardi goal in the 7th minute.  In the revised venue in the 2nd half, , Shanti Mardi scored two more goals to complete her hattrick in the 57th and 80th minutes while Munki Akhter netted the other goal for Bangladesh in the 76th minute . Sangay Wangmo netted the lone goal for Bhutan in the 53rd minute. The day's 2nd match between Nepal and Sri Lanka, schedule to start at 7 pm on Tuesday, will now start at 8:30;pm at the practice ground of Bashundhara Kings Arena after the Bangladesh Bhutan match. After first three matches,  Bangladesh comfortably dominated the six- match competition  securing full nine  points from straight three matches. Nepal and Bhutan have secured three points each playing two and three matches respectively.  but Nepal are in the 2nd slot by virtue of better goal differences. Bhutan tasted the first victory in their 2nd match outplaying Sri Lanka by 5-0 goals after suffering 1-6 goals defeat against Nepal in the first match. Bangladesh made a flying start crushing Sri Lanka by 9-1 goals in tournament opener and consolidated their claim for regaining the title beating their main contender Nepal by 3-2 goals, featuring match winner by substitute bpoter Trishna Rani in the added time of the match  In the double league basis matches, Bangladesh will play Bhutan again on July 17, Sri Lanka on July 19 and Nepal on July 21. After the double league basis matches, top team will be the champions

In an unprecedented move in Bangladesh football history, the second half of the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship match between hosts Bangladesh and Bhutan was shifted to a nearby practice ground on Tuesday after the main pitch at the Bashundhara Kings Arena became unplayable due to heavy rain. The match, the third fixture of the ongoing four-nation tournament, kicked off at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the afternoon. Bangladesh were leading 1-0 at half-time thanks to a 7th-minute goal by Shanti Mardi. However, persistent rainfall left the pitch waterlogged and slippery, forcing the referee to halt the match at half-time. After consultations with both teams, the match officials decided to move the second half to the adjacent practice ground of the stadium. Host Bangladesh team dominated the match by 1-0 goal at that  time scored by Shanti Mardi in the 7th minute U-18 Asia Cup Hockey: Airin's hattrick powers Bangladesh women to secure bronze ; men finish 4th The remaining part of the match already to kicked off  from 6:45  pm on Tuesday. The match was stopped due to heavy downpour at the games venue Basundhara Kings Arena here Tuesday afternoon. The day's 2nd match between Nepal and Sri Lanka, schedule to start at 7 pm on Tuesday, will now start at 8:30;pm at the practice ground of Bashundhara Kings Arena after the Bangladesh Bhutan match. After first two matches,  Bangladesh comfortably dominated the six- match tournament securing full six  points from straight two matches. Nepal and Bhutan have secured three points each playing two matches, but Nepal are in the 2nd slot by virtue of better goal difference. Bhutan tasted the first victory in their 2nd match outplaying Sri Lanka by 5-0 goals after suffering 1-6 goals defeat against Nepal in the first match. Bangladesh made a flying start crushing Sri Lanka by 9-1 goals in tournament opener and consolidated their claim for regaining the title beating their main contender Nepal by 3-2 goals, featuring match winning goal by substitute Trishna Rani in the added time of the match  In the double league basis matches, Bangladesh will play Bhutan again on July 17, Sri Lanka on July 19 and Nepal on July 21. After the double league basis matches, top team will be the champions

At 39, Croatian star Luka Modric has signed with AC Milan, aiming to help the Italian giants bounce back from one of their worst seasons in recent memory. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner inked a one-year deal with Milan on Monday, with the option to extend for another season. His move comes after a glittering 13-year spell at Real Madrid, where he won 28 titles, including six Champions League trophies, six Club World Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey, and five Spanish Super Cups. A lifelong Milan fan, Modric admired Croatian legend Zvonimir Boban, who played for the Rossoneri in the 1990s. He had announced in May that he would part ways with Madrid. Milan, who finished eighth in Serie A last season and failed to qualify for European competition, have brought back Massimiliano Allegri as head coach, replacing the sacked Sergio Conceicao. Allegri previously led Milan to the Serie A title in 2011 and later steered Juventus to five consecutive league titles. Scuffle erupts after Club World Cup final as players clash Before finalising the move, Allegri reportedly consulted Carlo Ancelotti—Modric’s former coach at both Madrid and Milan—about the veteran midfielder’s current form. Milan’s new sporting director, Igli Tare, then visited Croatia’s national team camp last month to complete the signing. Although the agreement was reached prior to the Club World Cup, Modric could only join Milan after fulfilling his final commitment with Real Madrid in the United States. His last match ended in a 4-0 semifinal defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Source: Agency 

At 39, Croatian midfield maestro Luka Modric is set to begin a new chapter with AC Milan after a glittering 13-year career at Real Madrid, during which he helped the Spanish club win 28 titles. Modric landed in Italy on Monday for a medical ahead of signing a one-year contract with Milan, with an option for a second season. His move comes as Milan looks to rebuild following a disappointing series a campaign that saw the Rossoneri finish eighth and miss out on European competition. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has long admired Milan, having grown up supporting the club due to his idol, fellow Croatian Zvonimir Boban, who starred for the team in the 1990s. In May, Modric announced his departure from Madrid, where he won six European Cups, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey, and five Spanish Super Cups. FIFA, players' unions agree on minimum rest rules for footballers Milan recently reappointed Massimiliano Allegri as head coach, replacing Sergio Conceicao. Allegri previously led Milan to a Serie A title in 2011 before winning five consecutive league titles with Juventus from 2015 to 2019. Reports indicate Allegri consulted former Madrid and Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti about Modric’s current form before making the move. Milan’s new sporting director Igli Tare also traveled to Croatia’s training camp last month to finalize the agreement. Although the deal was struck before the Club World Cup, Modric only became available after Madrid’s 4-0 semifinal defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the United States — his final match for the Spanish giants.

Tensions flared after the final whistle of the Club World Cup final on Sunday as Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma were seen confronting Chelsea forward João Pedro in a post-match scuffle. Chelsea stunned PSG with a 3-0 victory, netting all three goals in the first half to clinch the title. The match grew increasingly heated, with PSG’s João Neves shown a red card for dragging Marc Cucurella down by his hair, while six yellow cards were also issued. After the game, Enrique was spotted near the center circle, apparently pushing João Pedro in the throat area. Donnarumma also shoved the 23-year-old, causing him to fall. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, also Italian, intervened to pull Donnarumma away from the situation. “This could have been avoided,” Enrique said through a translator. “As always, my intention was to separate the players and prevent things from escalating. There was a lot of pressure and tension, and many were involved in the pushing.” FIFA, players' unions agree on minimum rest rules for footballers PSG defender Achraf Hakimi had earlier been seen gesturing toward João Pedro and Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos. João Pedro said he got involved to defend Santos. “I saw players surrounding him,” he said. “Like any good Brazilian, I stepped in to protect a teammate. It got crowded and I ended up getting shoved. These things happen — some people just don’t know how to lose. Now it’s time to celebrate.” Messi nets fifth consecutive multi-goal performance Maresca said he wasn’t fully aware of how the altercation began. “I noticed something happening, but I’m not sure what exactly sparked it,” he said. Source: Agency