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Last refreshed: 28/06/2026 21:39 · 34 articles added
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FIFA Chief Infantino Accused of Subordinating Football to Political Interests in Trump Era

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has spent eight years cultivating a relationship with Donald Trump, using football's global platform as a political instrument, according to reporting by the New York Times. The United States, alongside Canada and Mexico, is hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a hosting rights decision made in 2018 during Trump's first presidency — and Infantino has consistently sought to align himself with Trump throughout that period. Infantino, who has led world football's governing body since 2016, has drawn criticism for blurring the lines between sport and politics, including reportedly fabricating a so-called "Peace Prize" as part of his tenure. FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the Swiss-based international body that governs global football and organizes the men's World Cup, one of the most-watched sporting events on earth. Critics argue that Infantino's deference to powerful political figures — and in particular to Trump — has undermined FIFA's stated commitment to political neutrality, turning the organization into a vehicle for personal diplomacy and image-building rather than the promotion of sport.

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World Cup Day 7: Fan Stands Motionless in Tribute to Executed Congolese Prime Minister

A striking image from the FIFA Club World Cup has captured global attention: a supporter from the Democratic Republic of Congo stood completely still throughout his team's matches, in silent tribute to a prime minister executed in his country. The fan, identified as Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, remained motionless like a statue during all of DR Congo's games, drawing widespread praise on social media. DR Congo has since been eliminated from the tournament. Meanwhile, Day 7 of the Club World Cup also featured Cristiano Ronaldo as the standout player of the day, with quiz questions and match highlights rounding out the day's coverage.

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Football Legend Yaya Touré Named Head Coach of Slovak Club Slovan Bratislava

Yaya Touré, the former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder widely regarded as one of Africa's greatest ever footballers, has been appointed head coach of Slovan Bratislava, the most successful club in Slovak football history. The appointment brings an international star of rare magnitude to the Slovak top flight, though the move has been met with a mixture of excitement and skepticism. A body language expert analyzing footage of the announcement noted that Touré projected a relaxed, approachable demeanor — described as that of a friendly neighbor — while Ivan Kmotrík, Slovan's powerful and controversial owner who has dominated the club for decades, displayed notably different body language during the event. Slovan Bratislava, which regularly competes in UEFA European competitions and dominates the Slovak Superliga, the country's top football division, represents the pinnacle of Slovak club football. Touré's arrival marks an unprecedented moment for the league, making him arguably the biggest name ever to take a senior coaching role in Slovakia, though his limited managerial experience means his appointment is viewed by some observers as unconventional.

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Pulisic's Availability for Australia Match Remains Uncertain

U.S. men's national soccer team winger Christian Pulisic remains doubtful for his side's upcoming match against Australia after picking up a calf tightness issue. The 27-year-old AC Milan player appeared in the first half of the United States' 4-1 victory over Paraguay before being substituted as a precautionary measure due to the complaint. It is unclear whether Pulisic will recover in time to feature against Australia.

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San Jose Acquires Defenseman Kesselring and 27th Draft Pick from Buffalo

The San Jose Sharks have acquired defenseman Kesselring from the Buffalo Sabres, along with the 27th overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft. The 26-year-old Kesselring had a limited role last season, appearing in just 34 regular-season games and recording two assists, averaging 13 minutes and 24 seconds of ice time per game.

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England Beat Croatia in Tournament's Best Match So Far

England and Croatia produced what observers are calling the standout match of the championship, with England's captain Harry Kane delivering a decisive performance. Kane, who plays his club football for Bayern Munich in Germany, had entered the tournament with questions hanging over whether he could replicate his elite club form on the international stage. He answered those doubts emphatically, scoring the winning goal in a match that showcased the high-quality football both teams are capable of. The result places England among the favourites to go deep in the competition.

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Colombia Defeats Uzbekistan 3-1 at World Cup, Díaz Proves Decisive

Colombia defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in a Group K match at the FIFA World Cup, with Luis Díaz playing a decisive role in securing the victory. The Colombians dominated possession and territorial control from the outset but struggled to break down a well-organized Uzbek defense for much of the match. It was a historic occasion for Uzbekistan, making their debut appearance at a FIFA World Cup.

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Ghana Opens Club World Cup Campaign with 1-0 Win Over Panama

Ghana began their Group L campaign at the Club World Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama. The Ghanaian side will return to action on Tuesday, June 23, at 10:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time, when they face a stiff test against England at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

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Brazil's 2002 World Cup-Winning Coach Hospitalized

Carlos Alberto Parreira, the coach who led Brazil to victory at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, has been hospitalized. The 83-year-old was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer affecting the lymphatic system, in 2023. Parreira is one of the most celebrated figures in Brazilian football history, having guided the national team to their fifth World Cup title in South Korea and Japan.

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Ronaldo's Offside Gamble Backfires as Portugal Stumble at World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo had a disappointing outing at the FIFA World Cup, contributing to Portugal's poor performance by deliberately standing in an offside position and leaving the pitch with hands on hips after the final whistle — a gesture widely read as frustration. The match came one day after Ronaldo's rivals delivered standout performances: Argentina's Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, France's Kylian Mbappé and Norway's Erling Haaland each scored twice, heaping pressure on the 39-year-old Portuguese star to respond in kind. Analysts had predicted Ronaldo would be motivated to grab headlines after watching his contemporaries shine, but the gamble did not pay off. Ronaldo, who plays his club football for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia after leaving European football, has long been defined by his rivalry with Messi and his desire to remain the world's most prominent footballer. His failure to deliver on one of the sport's biggest stages adds fuel to ongoing debate about whether he remains among the global elite.

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Portugal Opens World Cup Campaign With 1-1 Draw Against DR Congo

Portugal began their World Cup group stage campaign with a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, a result that will disappoint a side considered among the tournament favorites. The match was nonetheless marked by a notable milestone: Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's captain and all-time record goalscorer, became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match, taking the field at 41 years and 132 days old. Ronaldo, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, continues to extend his own records at international level despite his advancing age.

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Slovak Table Tennis Players Advance from Group Stage at Cluj Tournament

Three Slovak table tennis players — Arpáš, Palušek, and Flóro — have advanced from the group stage of a tournament taking place in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Arpáš had a mixed start in Group 2, losing his opening match to Turkish player Görkem Öcal 0-3, but recovered to win his next two matches by the same scoreline, defeating Sweden's Peter Alestedt and Obed Asensio of Andorra.

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South African Player Zwane Handed Three-Match Ban Following Red Card

South African footballer Zwane has been suspended for three matches after receiving a red card, Slovakia's football disciplinary commission ruled. While a standard red card offense carries a one-match ban, the disciplinary commission determined that Zwane's challenge constituted dangerous play, adding two additional matches to the standard suspension.

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Former Slovak Footballer and Successful Coach Dies

A prominent former Slovak footballer, who later built a successful career as a coach, has died. After retiring from active play, he also worked as a sporting director and television football analyst. No further details about his identity or cause of death were immediately available.

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Slovakia Drawn from Second Pot for Futsal World Cup Qualifiers

Slovakia will be drawn from the second seeding pot when the qualifying rounds for the Futsal World Cup are determined. Twelve winners from the preliminary round will join 24 teams entering directly into the main qualifying round, creating a field of 36 teams that will be divided by draw into 12 three-team groups.

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Marseille Fined €10 Million by UEFA, Avoids European Cup Ban

French football club Olympique de Marseille has been fined €10 million by UEFA, European football's governing body, after facing potential exclusion from continental competition. UEFA also imposed a transfer restriction on the club, limiting its ability to register new players for the upcoming UEFA Europa League season. The sanctions stop short of a full ban from European competition, allowing Marseille to continue participating in the Europa League — the second-tier club tournament in UEFA's competition structure — despite the financial and registration penalties.

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Czech Club Liberec Parts Ways with Coach Kováč, Slovak Manager Fodrek Set to Take Over

Czech football club FC Slovan Liberec has dismissed head coach Roman Kováč, with Slovak manager Adrián Fodrek expected to be named as his replacement. Fodrek, 45, recently departed from FC DAC Dunajská Streda, a club in western Slovakia, where his exit came as a surprise despite having guided the team to a second-place league finish. His strong record with Dunajská Streda appears to have made him an attractive candidate for Liberec, and his departure from the Slovak club is seen as directly connected to his imminent appointment in the Czech Republic.

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Brezová pod Bradlom Primary School Retains Title of Slovakia's Most All-Round School

A primary school from the western Slovak town of Brezová pod Bradlom has successfully defended its title as Slovakia's most versatile school in multi-sport competition. Young athletes from Dr. Š. Osuský Primary School demonstrated their all-round abilities over three days of competition held at the x-bionic sphere Olympic Training Centre in Šamorín, a state-of-the-art sports facility in southwestern Slovakia. The event tests students across a wide range of physical disciplines, rewarding schools whose pupils perform consistently well across multiple sports rather than excelling in just one.

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