Ukraine have joined Spain and Portugal in a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, it was announced on Wednesday.
Spain and Portugal had already joined forces with an Iberian bid to host but Ukraine have joined as a third host, with the bid now being referred to as a European bid .
Reports on Tuesday revealed Ukraine s involvement, and it was confirmed on Wednesday by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) at UEFA s Swiss headquarters, with Europe s governing body backing the bid.
According to reports, the plan is for Ukraine to play host to one group in the 48-team tournament – which will be the second with expanded teams after the 2026 World Cup in North America; hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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Newcastle United are interested in signing Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla in the summer transfer now, according to . The report has claimed that the Premier League club are willing to pay the La Liga outfit €10 million + variables for the 34-year-old Croatian midfielder.
Rakitic starred for Sevilla from 2011 until 2014 before he moved to Barcelona. The Croatian was a massive success at Camp Nou, as he won the La Liga title four times, the Copa del Rey on four occasions, and the UEFA Champions League once.
The 34-year-old moved back to Sevilla in 2020, but his second spell at the Spanish club has not been hugely successful. Rakitic is past his prime, but he should still be able to do a decent job for Newcastle in the middle of the park.
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Xavi says he will leave Barcelona with no regrets and continue to follow their fortunes as a fan, after his impending departure from the club was confirmed.
The former midfielder revealed in January that he would be leaving Barca at the end of the season, but was convinced to remain in charge last month by club president Joan Laporta.
However on Friday ahead of the Blaugrana s final match of the LaLiga season against Sevilla this weekend the club confirmed Xavi would be departing after all.
The 44-year-old guided Barca to the LaLiga title last season in his first full campaign in charge, but they will finish at least 12 points adrift of champions Real Madrid in second place this time around.
It turned into a trophyless campaign for the Blaugrana, who bowe…
Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer are 10-in-a-row heroes for Bayern Munich, the lone mainstays of a decade of Bundesliga dominance.
Saturday s win against Borussia Dortmund means Bayern are German champions again, and veterans Muller and Neuer have been instrumental in the latest success.
Muller now has 11 Bundesliga titles in all, having also been a part of the triumphant 2009-10 team, and that stands as an all-time record.
There have been times in recent seasons when both Muller and Neuer have come under scrutiny, their places in the Bayern side being called into question.
Stats Perform has looked at how these two pivotal figures for Die Roten have bounced back in magnificent style.
The reinvention of Thomas Muller
Muller was integral to the …
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 700th career goal but it was not enough as Ukraine beat Portugal 2-1 in Kiev to book a place in the Euro 2020 finals, leaving their opponents with work to do if they are to qualify.
The hosts needed just a point in Monday s qualifier to secure a top-two finish in Group B, but picked up all three as they inflicted a first defeat in 14 games on the reigning European champions.
First-half strikes from Roman Yaremchuk and Andriy Yarmolenko earned victory for Andriy Shevchenko s side, who held on with 10 men after Taras Stepanenko was shown a second yellow card for handling the ball inside the box.
Ronaldo scored the resulting penalty 72 minutes in to bring up his personal landmark, but Portugal could not find a leveller and may now ne…
Ryan Jack will have Euro 2024 thoughts at the back of his mind until next summer after Scotland’s qualifiers concluded with a 3-3 draw against Norway.
Steve Clarke’s had already qualified for the tournament in Germany before the final two Group A games in Georgia and against the Norwegians at Hampden Park.
A 2-2 draw in Tbilisi on Thursday was followed by a thrilling match against Norway on Sunday, when the 31-year-old Rangers midfielder came on as a late substitute.
The draw will take place on December 2, after which the race will be on to make Clarke’s 23-man squad.
Jack said: “We all go back to our clubs. There is obviously a lot of football to be played, everyone will have a lot of big games to play from now to then.
“It is always at…
Frank Lampard hopes Chelsea will be able to take a huge leap to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title next season but acknowledges recruitment will be key.
Chelsea served a transfer ban ahead of the current 2019-20 campaign, which was then reduced to ensure the Blues can make signings in January.
Lampard, appointed at the start of 2019-20, will get the opportunity to influence Chelsea s involvement in the transfer market for the first time, but he already has the team in a healthy position.
Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League table, inspired by academy stars Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham, and Lampard hopes their talented prospects can be boosted by new recruits before 2020-21.
I definitely don t want to declare [a title challenge] at this…
LaLiga leaders Barcelona return to action on Saturday looking to pick up where they left off before the World Cup and end 2023 on a high.
The Blaugrana won each of their last five league games prior to Qatar 2022, leaving them top of the table during the break.
They will be confident of making it six in a row this weekend.
While local derbies can be particularly difficult to predict, Barcelona s duels with Espanyol tend to go one way.
A one-sided derby
This isn t a derby that s been defined by unpredictability in recent years.
Barcelona haven t lost any of their past 24 league meetings with Espanyol (W18 D6), which is their longest run without a defeat against them in the top flight.
Their last such defeat was almost 14 years ago i…
Arsenal face another major obstacle in their quest to land a first Premier League title in 19 years when they travel to Liverpool on Sunday.
The Gunners have historically struggled at Anfield, though Mikel Arteta s men have passed most tests this season en route to opening up a healthy lead over Manchester City.
While Arsenal will be looking to continue their good form, having won seven league games in a row, it is the start of another new chapter for Chelsea when they head to Wolves.
Frank Lampard was this week appointed as caretaker manager for the rest of the season following the sacking of Graham Potter, with Chelsea way down in 11th place.
There are plenty of other big games at the top and bottom of the division this weekend, not least at Old Traffor…
Bayern Munich are interested in signing Joe Gomez from Liverpool in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that new Bayern manager Vincent Kompany personally wants to bring Gomez to the Allianz Arena.
Gomez has been on the books of Liverpool since 2015 when he joined from Charlton Athletic. The England international has not always been a regular for the Reds, but he has shown his importance to the Merseyside club from time to time.
The 27-year-old made 17 starts and 15 substitute appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool last season. He gave one assist in those games. Gomez also provided two assists in six starts and four substitute appearances in the UEFA Europa League. The English defender made four starts and one substitute appearan…