England must navigate the standard qualification process for Euro 2028 after Uefa opted against granting automatic entry to the tournament’s co-hosts.
The Three Lions will stage the European Championship alongside their fellow home nations and the Republic of Ireland.
European football’s governing body has allocated only two reserved spaces for the staging nations.
As a result, the national team will be drawn into standard qualifying groups to earn their place on merit.
Safety net for struggling hosts
All 12 group winners and the eight best runners-up will secure their places conventionally.
The two reserved host slots will act as a fallback option for any staging nation that fails to progress.
If more than two hosts fall short during the preliminary rounds, those safety-net places will be awarded based on overall qualifying rankings.
Contrast with global approach
This strict stance differs significantly from Fifa’s handling of the 2030 World Cup.
The global governing body handed automatic places to all six countries involved in their centenary event.
Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are the primary hosts, while Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay will stage opening fixtures.
The South American trio are consequently guaranteed their spots regardless of their qualification performance.
Wembley awaits the finalists
The 2028 European Championship will feature 24 teams competing across 51 matches.
London’s iconic Wembley Stadium has already been selected to host both the semi-finals and the showpiece final.
England will be heavily fancied to reach the home tournament following consecutive European Championship final appearances.
European football’s governing body Uefa has reacted with fury to proposals from Fifa seeking private investment in the World Cup.
The global governing body intends to expand its football development funding to more than £7.5bn in a controversial bid to grow the game.
However, this sweeping financial move remains subject to approval by member associations across the globe.
Financial controversy surrounds Infantino
The proposed structural changes were initially brought to light by reports in the Financial Times and the Times.
Claims suggest these new commercial avenues could potentially earn president Gianni Infantino tens of millions of pounds personally.
This lucrative prospect has alarmed leaders within the European game, prompting an unprecedented public rebuke.
Tournament ‘not for sale’
A strongly worded statement from the European organisation made their staunch opposition to the commercialisation of international tournaments perfectly clear.
This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross.
Uefa
Officials further emphasised that the sport’s most prestigious international competition cannot be treated as a privately owned commercial asset.
None of us are the owners of football. [The World Cup] is not Fifa’s to sell.
Uefa
Manchester City have omitted Jack Grealish from their pre-season tour of Asia as the winger continues to recover from a long-term foot injury.
The 30-year-old recently returned to the Etihad Stadium following a loan spell at Premier League rivals Everton.
His time with the Toffees during the 2025-26 campaign was severely restricted after sustaining the initial foot problem.
Maresca evaluates squad options
Missing the overseas trip denies the former Aston Villa captain a crucial opportunity to impress newly appointed manager Enzo Maresca.
The club are scheduled to face Inter Milan in Hong Kong before travelling to South Korea to play the K-League All-Stars and Atletico Madrid.
“At the moment, he’s here. He’s a Man City player,” Maresca said last week.
“I have a good relation with Jack since I left. Also, we keep in touch, and the reason why is because he has a big heart and he’s a very good guy.”
Uncertain future for former record signing
The £100m signing currently has just one year remaining on his lucrative contract.
Since his high-profile transfer, the attacker has registered 17 goals in 157 appearances while helping secure three league titles and a Champions League trophy.
Former team-mate Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested the player could seek a transfer abroad before the window closes.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he moves somewhere else in Europe, I don’t see him staying in the Premier League,” Agbonlahor explained.
The pundit also speculated that a return to Goodison Park under David Moyes could remain a viable option despite potential wage obstacles.
Former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has admitted to making several mistakes during his turbulent 15-month reign at Old Trafford before taking charge of AC Milan.
The 41-year-old was sacked by the Red Devils in January after winning just 25 of his 63 matches across all competitions.
He originally arrived in October 2024 to replace Erik ten Hag, but was eventually succeeded by Michael Carrick following a disappointing run of domestic results.
Reflecting on Old Trafford exit
Speaking ahead of the new Serie A campaign, the Portuguese tactician took full responsibility for his role in the English club’s recent struggles.
“It would be hard to point to one thing, but the important thing that I clearly know is that I made a lot of mistakes,” Amorim told Sky Italy.
“When you do this kind of reflection, and you understand that it was not just their fault, but also my fault, I think you can be a better coach and a better man.”
Despite his difficult tenure in Manchester, the former Sporting boss is determined to learn from the high-pressure environment.
“There’s a history, then something happens, the context changes, and you focus on the next challenge,” he added.
A boyhood dream in Italy
Having put his Premier League disappointment behind him, the newly appointed head coach is now entirely focused on rebuilding the Rossoneri.
He revealed that exchanging messages with club legends Daniele Massaro and Franco Baresi helped solidify his decision to move to San Siro.
“For me, it was easier this time, because I’ve been a Milan fan since I was a boy,” he explained.
“Our goal is to be the new future. They chose me for a reason, and one of the reasons is that I like to look at teams that are struggling.”
Despite the immense task of restoring the Italian giants to their former glory, the manager expressed complete satisfaction with his new surroundings.
“If this is my final destination, I’ll be pleased because it’s a dream to coach this club.”
Celtic have completed the club-record £11m signing of Denmark international striker Kasper Hogh from Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
The 25-year-old arrives in Glasgow on a four-year contract, with the Scottish champions holding an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months.
He had been identified as the primary attacking target for the summer window following a prolific goalscoring spell in Scandinavia.
Champions League pedigree
The highly sought-after forward registered an impressive 53 goals in 102 appearances during his successful tenure with his previous employers.
Celtic originally enquired about his availability in January, but the Danish attacker opted to remain in Norway to complete a historic European run.
That decision proved fruitful as he scored in a famous victory over Atletico Madrid, helping the Eliteserien outfit reach the Champions League last 16.
Maeda departs for Premier League
Hogh’s arrival coincides with the departure of fan favourite Daizen Maeda, who has sealed a move to newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town.
The Japanese international departs Celtic Park having secured five Premiership titles, three Scottish Cups, and two League Cups during a trophy-laden stint.
Although the versatile winger struggled for consistency through much of last season, he finished strongly by netting nine times in the final seven matches to help secure a domestic double.
The Tractor Boys have handed the former Hoops star a three-year deal following his exploits at the summer World Cup, where Japan reached the last 32 before suffering a defeat to Brazil.
Roberto Mancini has returned for a second spell as Italy manager, with Claudio Ranieri appointed as technical director following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malago confirmed the double appointment during a Federal Council meeting on Tuesday.
The former Manchester City boss replaces Gattuso, who stepped down in April after the Azzurri suffered a World Cup play-off defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
That devastating loss meant the four-time world champions missed out on a third consecutive global tournament.
Familiar faces return to rebuild
Mancini previously managed the national side between 2018 and 2023, famously guiding them to the European Championship title with a penalty shootout victory over England at Wembley.
He now brings a wealth of club experience back to the international setup, having secured domestic honours with Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Manchester City.
“I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini.”
Giovanni Malago, FIGC President
Joining the 59-year-old is fellow Premier League winner Ranieri, who succeeds Paolo Maldini in the boardroom.
The 74-year-old, renowned for orchestrating Leicester City’s miraculous title triumph in 2016, will oversee elite football development across the country’s national structures.
Federation turbulence and blocked appointments
These significant appointments arrive after a period of intense turbulence for the Italian federation.
Maldini and fellow adviser Leonardo both resigned from their posts on Monday following internal disagreements over the managerial search.
Their preferred candidate, Andrea Pirlo, saw his potential appointment blocked due to alleged ties with a Russian betting firm.
Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola also turned down initial approaches from the FIGC earlier this month following his departure from English football.
“I needed someone with whom I could share the decision on the coach, because without that shared view my reasoning would have carried little weight,” Malago explained.
The newly formed management team will face their first test when the European giants return to Nations League action against Belgium on 25 September.
United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has delayed making a decision on his future despite receiving a contract extension offer ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
The 52-year-old was initially hired through to the end of the 2026 tournament, which saw the Americans exit in the round of 16.
Following that elimination 22 days ago, the Argentine admitted there are no guarantees he will remain in charge for the upcoming cycle.
“We are evaluating it, looking at it,” Pochettino said on 16 July regarding an extension.
“[U.S. Soccer] have made me an offer to continue, and we will see. Next week we will make a decision.”
Clock ticking for next World Cup cycle
That self-imposed deadline has now passed without any public announcement from the American federation.
The next international window arrives in just two months, providing the first test in the four-year build-up to 2030.
This lingering uncertainty raises questions about whether the national setup can afford to wait much longer for clarity.
Stability crucial for golden generation
The upcoming 2030 tournament could represent a final opportunity for a talented core of players to peak on the global stage.
Stars such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Chris Richards will all be in their early 30s by the time the competition begins.
Standout striker Folarin Balogun will also be in his late 20s, anchoring what many consider a golden generation for the squad.
Recent international tournaments have demonstrated a strong correlation between sustained managerial stability and lifting major trophies.
World champions Spain have been guided by Luis de la Fuente for four years, while finalists Argentina have thrived under Lionel Scaloni since 2018.
Even if the former Tottenham manager does commit his immediate future to the United States, the constant lure of top European clubs may prevent him completing the full cycle.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri will undergo a short period of rehabilitation after having back surgery on Monday to resolve an ongoing issue.
The Spanish international had been feeling persistent discomfort for some time before the club opted for a medical procedure.
New manager Enzo Maresca confirmed the operation on Friday while addressing the media.
“He needs a holiday, he needs to rest and recover and then he will be back with us.”
No specific timeline has been established for the return of the midfield anchor.
Crucial fixtures looming for City
The team faces Arsenal in the Community Shield on 16 August.
Following that encounter, their Premier League opener takes place against Bournemouth on 23 August.
It remains unclear if the recovering star will be available for either of these early-season clashes.
Transfer speculation and injury history
The influential playmaker recently guided Spain to World Cup glory and was named player of the tournament.
Entering the final year of his current contract, the tournament winner has been strongly linked with a high-profile move to Real Madrid.
His recent career has unfortunately been heavily disrupted by physical setbacks over the past two seasons.
The 28-year-old previously missed the majority of the 2024-25 campaign due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.