Lionel Messi marked his return from injury with a penalty as Argentina defeated Iceland 3-0 in a World Cup warm-up match in Alabama.
The Inter Miami captain was introduced in the 70th minute to the delight of an 88,000-strong crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
He confidently converted from the spot shortly after his arrival to double the advantage for Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Ezequiel Barco had previously opened the scoring in the first half, while Thiago Almada added a third goal to seal a comprehensive victory.
Managing the captain’s fitness
The veteran forward has been carefully navigating a left hamstring issue ahead of the upcoming Fifa World Cup.
He recently exited a domestic fixture against the Philadelphia Union with muscle fatigue, forcing him to miss his national team’s previous friendly victory over Honduras.
However, the coaching staff have gradually integrated him back into group training to ensure his readiness for their tournament opener against Algeria on 16 June.
“We’re going to distribute the minutes of the players who will play tomorrow to try to avoid any mishaps.”
This was the cautious approach outlined by manager Scaloni prior to the fixture, ensuring his squad avoided unnecessary strain.
World Cup defence preparations
The penalty against Iceland represented the 911th career goal for the Argentine icon across both club and international football.
It also takes his phenomenal international tally to 117 goals for the South American nation.
The reigning world champions look to be in formidable form as they prepare to defend the global crown they famously secured in 2022.
Jordan Staal scored twice, including a remarkable third-period winner, as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 on Tuesday to level the Stanley Cup Final at 2-2.
The veteran forward struck the decisive blow while stretched out on his stomach just over six minutes into the final frame in Las Vegas.
His acrobatic effort ensured the visitors wrestled back momentum in a wildly unpredictable and high-scoring championship series.
Game five takes place in Raleigh on Thursday, giving the Hurricanes an opportunity to edge closer to their first title in two decades.
Staal matches historic scoring record
The Carolina captain has now found the net in each of the first four games of the championship round.
He becomes the first player to achieve that specific playoff feat since Mike Bossy managed it for the New York Islanders 44 years ago.
Rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi was handed a surprise start for the road team and delivered 18 crucial saves to secure the vital victory.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour opted to rest regular starter Frederik Andersen, elevating Pyotr Kochetkov to backup duties on the bench.
The inexperienced netminder was quick to praise his captain’s game-winning intervention during the post-match interviews.
“He’s a big-time player. He leads us every day, plays the right way and is rewarded.”
A final defined by dramatic momentum shifts
Tuesday’s encounter was the first match of this gripping final not to be decided by a single goal.
Remarkably, a two-goal lead has vanished in all four matchups so far, highlighting the volatile nature of the contest.
The 33 combined goals scored across the opening four fixtures tie the third-highest offensive tally in Cup final history.
Nikolaj Ehlers sealed the win with a late empty-net strike, capping a superb individual performance that included two assists.
Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven also registered on the scoresheet for the triumphant Eastern Conference outfit.
Bussi steps up on the biggest stage
The unexpected starting goaltender expressed his delight at making an immediate impact in such a high-stakes environment.
“This is what a lot of kids grow up dreaming of doing. I’m honored to have the opportunity.”
Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Brett Howden all beat the debutant, but the hosts ultimately fell short despite a resilient third-period push.
Vegas goaltender Carter Hart stopped 23 shots, though his efforts could not prevent the Golden Knights from surrendering their overall series advantage.
The United States defeated Brazil 1-0 in a chaotic international friendly in Fortaleza on Tuesday night as the hosts remarkably received eight red cards.
The narrow victory provided a measure of revenge for Emma Hayes’ side after suffering a 3-1 defeat to the same opposition on Sunday.
Following a fiercely contested and scoreless opening period, the decisive moment arrived early in the second half.
A shot from Portland Thorns striker Sophia Wilson deflected off Isabela Chagas to force a match-winning own goal.
Disciplinary collapse in Fortaleza
However, the fixture will be remembered primarily for an astonishing breakdown in discipline from the home side.
Emotions boiled over in front of a passionate crowd at the Arena Castelão as the Brazilian head coach and several staff members were dismissed in the second half.
Forward Bia Zaneratto was also sent off as the hosts began to completely lose their composure.
Tarciane was subsequently shown a red card for elbowing the American goal creator, reducing the South Americans to nine players on the pitch.
Building toward next year’s World Cup
The disciplinary collapse continued even after the final whistle sounded.
Referee Paola Cebollada López dismissed two more players following the conclusion of the match, bringing the staggering total to eight.
The demanding physical encounter fulfilled the expectations of the American manager, who had stressed the need for greater toughness on the road against next summer’s Women’s World Cup hosts.
The four-time world champions will now enter a lengthy hiatus from international action.
They return to competitive play on 27 November when they face El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship.
Real Madrid have agreed to pay Benfica £12.9m to reappoint Jose Mourinho as their head coach following the departure of Alvaro Arbeloa.
The Portuguese tactician’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu accelerated after Florentino Perez was re-elected as club president over the weekend.
An official announcement is expected imminently after the Spanish giants confirmed Arbeloa had stepped down from his position on Tuesday evening.
Arbeloa departs the Bernabeu
Real Madrid CF and Alvaro Arbeloa have reached an agreement to end his time as first team coach.
Los Blancos issued a statement thanking the departing manager for his loyalty, commitment, and professionalism throughout his lengthy association with the club.
Real Madrid, which will always be his home, wishes Alvaro Arbeloa and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.
Mourinho previously managed the La Liga heavyweights between 2010 and 2013, famously winning the domestic title in record-breaking fashion during his second season.
His impending arrival triggers a swift managerial shuffle in Lisbon, with former Fulham boss Marco Silva stepping into the immediate vacancy.
Silva secures Benfica switch
The reigning Portuguese champions confirmed the financial compensation package from Madrid via a formal regulatory statement on social media.
Benfica SAD has informed the CMVM that Real Madrid CF has formally expressed its intention to hire Jose Mourinho for the amount of 15 million euros, with the coach having given his agreement.
Silva has formally signed an initial two-year employment contract with the Eagles to replace the departing head coach.
This new agreement includes an option to extend the 46-year-old’s tenure at the Estadio da Luz until the end of the 2028-29 campaign.
The Republic of Ireland have secured a seeded play-off spot for next year’s World Cup in Brazil despite narrowly missing out on automatic qualification following a 1-0 defeat to France in Grenoble.
Carla Ward’s side finished third in a daunting League A qualifying group, registering three impressive victories over the course of the campaign.
The bottom seeds were widely tipped for immediate relegation but defied expectations to become the first promoted team to survive in the top tier.
Pride amid qualification heartbreak
The visitors pushed the group winners all the way at the Stade des Alpes before a fine strike from Melvine Malard settled the fiercely contested match.
Momentum briefly swung in the away side’s favour when Thiniba Samoura received a red card for bringing down Emily Murphy.
However, the Irish failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, with Abbie Larkin missing a crucial opportunity to level the scoreline moments later.
Ward looks ahead to crucial autumn play-offs
Their third-place finish ensures the team will be a formidable seeded opponent when the play-off draw is conducted on 18 June.
The manager expressed a mixture of deep pride and frustration after her squad fell agonisingly short of an automatic tournament berth.
“I’m incredibly proud of this group and I said it to them there,” Ward told RTE.
“We’ve got a special, special group who work unbelievably hard.”
“France are a top, top side and the fact we are here disappointed tells you an awful lot about where we are.”
The former top-flight boss remains highly optimistic about their prospects, emphasizing the significant growth her players have shown throughout a grueling qualification schedule.
“We are in a really good place going into October and that has to be the focus,” she added.
Arsenal and Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after failing to recover from a persistent groin injury.
The 24-year-old suffered the initial issue during a Premier League match against Everton in March and has struggled to regain full fitness.
Despite featuring for more than 50 minutes as a substitute in Arsenal’s recent Champions League final penalty shootout defeat by Paris St-Germain, he was deemed medically unfit for a gruelling international tournament.
Heartbreak for Dutch defender
The versatile full-back expressed his devastation on social media after missing out on a lifelong ambition to play on the global stage.
“Representing my country on the biggest stage is something I’ve always dreamed of, and it’s difficult to accept that injury has taken that opportunity away from me.”
The Dutch football federation confirmed the withdrawal in an official statement on Monday, noting that he could not participate in a medically responsible manner.
Geertruida steps in as replacement
Sunderland defender Lutscharel Geertruida has been called up to Ronald Koeman’s squad to fill the vacant defensive position.
The injured Arsenal man had been training with the national team at their pre-camp in New York ahead of upcoming group-stage fixtures against Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.
He will now depart the training camp following the Netherlands’ final warm-up match against Uzbekistan.
Family dream put on hold
This untimely absence means the London-based star will not be able to feature alongside his twin brother, Quinten.
The Marseille midfielder remains in the squad for the tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Quinten will now fly the flag alone for the family on the world stage.
LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil has stopped short of guaranteeing the final four events of the season will take place amid growing concerns over future funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Speaking to CNBC on Tuesday, the American businessman stated the breakaway circuit must trust its financial backers to honour their commitment for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
The uncertainty follows reports suggesting that PIF funding, which is expected to surpass $6bn (£4.8bn) by the end of the year, could dry up prematurely.
Investor search intensifies
O’Neil is currently attempting to raise $350m (£280m) in new capital to replace the existing Saudi investment and secure the league’s immediate future.
The chief executive confirmed he has held five meetings with prospective investors this week alone, with a further 18 scheduled.
Despite the aggressive fundraising push, he refused to definitively confirm that the remaining four tournaments on the calendar will proceed as planned.
“What I can guarantee is a heck of a return if you come invest in this business,” O’Neil said when pressed on the remaining schedule.
He added that the existing management team and playing roster remain fully committed to completing the ongoing season.
Upcoming fixtures hang in the balance
The Saudi-backed league is next scheduled to visit the United Kingdom, with a tournament planned at JCB Golf & Country Club in Staffordshire from 23 to 26 July.
That English event is supposed to be followed by three stateside tournaments, culminating in the season-ending team championship in Michigan late in August.
However, an executive from one of the circuit’s commercial partners recently claimed that every remaining tournament is currently hanging in the balance.
Should the necessary capital be raised over the summer, O’Neil has promised a dramatically different second iteration of the league featuring strict expense cuts.
The chief executive insists the reformed organisation could become profitable within three years if the crucial relaunch funding is secured.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed the national team will continue to manage Bukayo Saka’s playing time ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup warm-up friendly against Costa Rica.
The Arsenal winger missed the recent 1-0 victory over New Zealand after joining the squad late following his participation in the Champions League final.
The 22-year-old had previously sustained a knock during the March international camp, forcing him to miss six consecutive domestic club fixtures.
Despite returning to start four of his team’s final five matches, the national setup remains cautious with their dynamic attacker.
Caution urged for star forward
“We have to take care with Bukayo who had an injury in the March camp and carried it through to the club campaign,” the England head coach explained.
“He made himself available and was brilliant. He was managed in between matches – we are also building him up.”
“That continues at the moment.”
Trio return to full fitness
Moving beyond the pacey forward, the manager delivered positive news regarding the rest of his tournament squad.
Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke are completely fit and ready to feature for the first time since returning from European club duty.
The Three Lions boss stated that there are no ongoing physical complaints following their opening warm-up fixture.
“No-one needs a break. Everyone is available which is very good news. No injury complaints after the first match.”
“We are ready to give it a push tomorrow; meaning more than 45 minutes. Players will play 60, maybe 70 minutes.”
Final preparations before Kansas
Following the clash with the Central American side, the squad will face a final behind-closed-doors match at their training facility.
This private fixture will conclude the preliminary camp before the European nation departs for their tournament base in Kansas.
“Tomorrow, we expect a physical push. Physically, with intensity and style and play.”
“We want to take the next step and we feel ready for it.”