Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has agreed a deal in principle to become Germany’s head coach until the 2030 World Cup following the departure of Julian Nagelsmann.

Negotiations progressed during meetings in New York on Friday between the 59-year-old and the German Football Association.

An official announcement from the governing body is expected to be made on Saturday once final contractual details are concluded.

This historic appointment marks a return to management for the two-time Champions League winner, who has been away from the dugout since leaving Anfield in 2024.

Red Bull exit clause activated

To facilitate the move, an imminent departure from Red Bull Group is expected to be finalised with chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff early next week.

The highly-regarded tactician had recently taken up a position as head of global soccer for the energy drink company.

However, a specially negotiated exit clause within that agreement has cleared the path for him to take his first international management job.

Rebuilding after World Cup failure

The prominent vacancy arose after Nagelsmann stepped down in the wake of a shock last-32 elimination against Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup.

The outgoing boss had originally taken charge in September 2023 and previously guided the four-time world champions to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on home soil.

Now, the incoming manager faces the substantial task of rebuilding a fractured squad ahead of the next major tournament cycle.

South Africa and Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams has died at the age of 25, just days after representing his country at the World Cup.

The tragic passing of the 25-year-old was confirmed on Saturday, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the footballing community.

He was a key domestic figure for South African top-flight side Sundowns.

International career and tournament impact

The talented playmaker featured in all three of his nation’s group stage matches during the recent international tournament.

However, he remained an unused substitute during their narrow 1-0 knockout defeat to Canada in the round of 32.

His sudden death cuts short a promising career that had recently reached new heights on the global stage.

Tributes paid to rising star

Supporters and teammates have begun sharing their condolences across social media following the devastating news.

The domestic league and national football association are expected to officially honour the late midfielder in their upcoming fixtures.

Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka guided Switzerland to their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954 following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Colombia on Tuesday.

The inspirational captain dropped to his knees in tears of joy at the Vancouver Stadium.

His commanding performance encapsulated a battling team spirit that overcame a dominant South American crowd.

This international milestone marks another remarkable chapter in a dramatic career resurgence.

From Arsenal exile to North East hero

Just five years ago, the experienced playmaker looked destined to leave English football entirely.

Frustrated Arsenal supporters famously booed the midfielder off the pitch during a Premier League clash against Crystal Palace in October 2019.

Former Gunners manager Unai Emery stripped him of the club captaincy following that explosive reaction.

However, the resilient Swiss international rebuilt his reputation under Mikel Arteta before departing for Germany.

A phenomenally successful stint at Bayer Leverkusen yielded an invincible domestic league and cup double.

That stunning form earned a Premier League return with newly-promoted Sunderland last summer.

Driving Sunderland to European qualification

The combative star played a pivotal role as the Black Cats shocked the division to finish seventh.

His elite mentality helped secure a highly lucrative Europa League qualification spot for the Wearside club.

Former Arsenal team-mate Theo Walcott praised the veteran’s unwavering vocal presence.

“No matter where you were in the training ground you could hear him speaking to someone,” Walcott told Match of the Day.

Walcott noted that his former colleague’s time abroad significantly elevated those natural leadership qualities.

Rejecting Chelsea to build a legacy

Such dominant midfield displays naturally caught the attention of heavy-spending Chelsea during the recent transfer window.

Yet the former Basel youth product reaffirmed his commitment to the Sunderland project instead.

BBC Radio Newcastle journalist Ian Murtagh compared the signing’s monumental impact to Kevin Keegan’s legendary 1982 arrival at Newcastle United.

“In terms of influence, in terms of driving up the standards, in terms of communicating with his team-mates, I think there are huge similarities between the two,” Murtagh explained.

Now, the rejuvenated tournament star hopes to orchestrate an unprecedented World Cup semi-final appearance for his nation.

Manchester City are expected to face a further lengthy wait for a verdict regarding their alleged Financial Fair Play breaches, with a finance expert labelling the ongoing delay as unacceptable.

The Premier League champions were initially charged with 115 alleged rule breaches in February 2023.

This figure was subsequently adjusted to 130 following an extensive investigation into the club’s financial practices.

Unprecedented legal complexities

The extensive allegations against the Etihad outfit span a nine-year period from the 2009-10 campaign.

The primary charges relate to several key financial and regulatory areas:

The Manchester club also face multiple counts of allegedly failing to cooperate with investigators over a five-year period.

Frustration over arbitration timeline

Initial rumours suggested a judgement would be delivered by May, but those expectations have failed to materialise.

Speaking to talkSPORT, football finance expert Stefan Borson expressed his disbelief at the protracted legal timeline.

The case has been ongoing for many years. It’s not acceptable, but there’s no decision in the case.
That’s clearly completely ludicrous that we are now 20 months on from the end of the hearing and we don’t have a decision.

Borson noted that while sporting arbitration can sometimes stretch to 24 months, the current delay remains highly unusual.

Potential grounds for appeal

The ongoing uncertainty continues to cast a significant shadow over the English top flight.

Borson warned that the immense delay could ultimately provide grounds for the losing party to challenge the final ruling.

It does put the judgement when it comes in a territory where if it goes against one of the parties, they may well say, ‘look, this is just unsafe now.’

He added that appellants might argue the independent panel is no longer close enough to the original evidence to reach a fair and safe conclusion.

Former striker Romario has demanded that Brazil sack manager Carlo Ancelotti following the nation’s disastrous Round of 16 exit at the 2026 World Cup.

The South American giants were eliminated by Norway after Erling Haaland scored twice to render Neymar’s late penalty a mere consolation.

It marks the earliest departure from the global tournament for the Selecao since the 1990 competition in Italy.

The Italian manager was initially appointed to replicate his unprecedented club success on the international stage.

‘A national disgrace’

The 1994 World Cup winner has launched a scathing attack on the current regime, insisting the veteran tactician must be dismissed immediately.

“He cannot remain Brazil’s head coach,” Romario told talkSPORT.

If I had been in charge of the federation, I would have walked into the dressing room, told him to go to hell and torn up his contract on the spot.

The 58-year-old even suggested he would explore legal avenues against the former Real Madrid boss over the defeat.

“The match against Norway was a disgrace,” he added.

“I’d even take him to court.”

Selection controversies and media bias

The European coach has faced intense scrutiny for his squad selection ahead of the tournament.

Critics have heavily questioned the decision to include an injury-plagued, 34-year-old Neymar at the expense of Chelsea forward Joao Pedro.

Romario also accused the domestic media of offering the foreign manager a level of protection never afforded to his Brazilian predecessors.

“We had Dunga, he lost, and he left,” the legendary forward explained.

“Now we have this damned Ancelotti, who has lost and will keep on losing.

“If he were a Brazilian coach, you would have torn him apart by now, but because he’s a foreigner, nobody says anything.”

Ancelotti vows to rebuild

Despite the vitriol surrounding his position, the five-time Champions League-winning manager remains defiant about his future.

He acknowledged the profound sadness surrounding the early elimination but described the tournament as a valuable learning experience.

“We must continue to work and improve and find new ideas,” Ancelotti stated after the match.

“I believe that this loss is not the end, but the beginning of a new cycle.”

Jude Bellingham has firmly cemented his status as an indispensable figure for his country after driving England to the World Cup quarter-finals in the USA with four goals and a crucial assist.

The Real Madrid midfielder has delivered a mesmerising body of work that ranks among the finest individual performances seen in an England shirt during recent major tournaments.

Following a 2-0 victory over Panama, where the former Borussia Dortmund star set up Harry Kane, travelling supporters have been loudly serenading the 23-year-old across America.

It now seems utterly ludicrous that there was ever genuine debate surrounding whether the talented playmaker would even secure a starting place in this tournament squad.

Rapid rise from Birmingham to Madrid

Of course, the global superstar is entirely accustomed to this level of adulation having burst onto the professional scene in spectacular fashion back in 2019.

Making his senior debut for hometown club Birmingham City at just 16 years and 38 days old, the prodigy shattered a long-standing record held by club legend Trevor Francis.

Early scouting reports immediately highlighted the teenager’s exceptional athleticism, graceful running, and an uncanny ability to effortlessly carry the ball away from intense pressure.

Within a year, a high-profile £20.7m transfer took the midfield maestro to the German Bundesliga, prompting his childhood club to famously retire his number 22 shirt after a mere 44 appearances.

Earning international recognition under Southgate

Sir Gareth Southgate quickly recognised this generational talent, fast-tracking the 17-year-old into the senior national side for a debut against the Republic of Ireland in November 2020.

Despite mounting public clamour for a regular starting berth following brilliant domestic displays in Germany, the then-England manager cautiously restricted his young prospect to three substitute appearances during the delayed Euro 2020 campaign.

Today, the accomplished Champions League winner has completely vindicated those early advocates by dominating the international stage and carrying his nation’s hopes deep into the knockout phases.

Jordan Pickford will become England’s most capped player in World Cup history when he makes his 18th tournament appearance against Norway in the quarter-final in Miami.

The 32-year-old surpasses the previous national record held by legendary shot-stopper Peter Shilton.

This landmark occasion will also mark his 90th international cap overall across five major tournaments.

Consistent excellence on the global stage

The Everton number one maintained his unrivalled status following a magnificent individual display during the recent 3-2 victory over Mexico in the Azteca.

Since making his senior debut against Germany in November 2017, the Wearsider has fended off every challenger to keep the gloves.

He has conceded just 59 goals and registered 44 clean sheets in his 89 games for the Three Lions so far.

According to Opta statistics, the reliable custodian has made only two errors leading directly to goals throughout his entire international career.

Earning long-overdue recognition

His domestic form has been equally impressive, securing 23 clean sheets in his last two Premier League campaigns.

That figure places the former Sunderland academy graduate second only to Arsenal’s David Raya in the top-flight rankings.

Former national team goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes the current incumbent remains vastly under-appreciated despite these stellar numbers.

I think he has been under-appreciated for Everton and England when you look at the numbers he’s posting, the games he is playing and the number of clean sheets he has.

Paul Robinson

With England, you look at his experience, the way he has gone deep into tournaments.

Robinson highlighted how the veteran’s superb long-range distribution served as a potent attacking weapon during the recent triumph in Mexico City.

I also think he’s worked on his short distribution as well and I think he’s evolved as a goalkeeper and a person.

The Colombian football federation has strongly condemned death threats directed at Jaminton Campaz after the midfielder’s extra-time miss contributed to a World Cup shootout exit against Switzerland.

The 24-year-old missed a critical scoring opportunity during the round of 16 tie when his decisive shot went wide of the target.

Following the tense defeat, the Rosario Central player saw his social media accounts flooded with hostile comments and severe intimidation.

As a precaution, the embattled international limited his online interactions and decided against taking the return flight to South America alongside his teammates.

Authorities urged to launch swift investigation

Colombian football officials have urgently requested the country’s attorney general to expedite a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators.

“No athlete, nor any member of their inner circle, should be subjected to intimidation for representing their country in a sporting arena.”

The governing body released a robust statement demanding that sporting disappointments must never translate into real-world aggression.

“Football must be a space for unity, respect, and hope – never a setting for hatred, intimidation or violence.”

Tragic historical echoes for Colombian football

Taking to Instagram, the targeted playmaker shared an image of himself covering his face in frustration alongside a heartfelt plea for respect.

“We may think differently or feel frustration and sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear.”

This sinister harassment inevitably evokes tragic memories of a notoriously dark chapter in the South American nation’s sporting history.

During the 1994 tournament in the United States, defender Andres Escobar scored an own-goal in a devastating group-stage loss to the host nation.

Just days after the squad was eliminated and returned home, the beloved centre-back was murdered in the city of Medellin.