A late own-goal by goalkeeper Weverton took Chelsea through to the Club World Cup semi-finals on Friday as the Premier League side edged Palmeiras of Brazil 2-1 in a last-eight tie that had been lit up by a moment of magic from young star Estevao Willian.

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said superstar striker Kylian Mbappe is "better" ahead of the Club World Cup quarter-final clash against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, but would not confirm if the Frenchman will start.

Substitute Hercules struck a 70th-minute winner as Brazil's Fluminense defeated Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal 2-1 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup.

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey was on Friday charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after complaints by three women, UK police said.

Mohamed Salah said the death of Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota in a car crash had left him "frightened" to return to the club as the Premier League champions postponed the return of some players for pre-season training.

Athletic Bilbao announced on Friday that coveted Spain forward Nico Williams had extended his contract to 2035 with an increased release clause, warding off reported interest from La Liga champions Barcelona.

Just weeks after publicly demanding the resignation of national team’s head coach Javier Cabrera, Bangladesh Football Federation’s (BFF) executive committee member Shakhawat Hossain Bhuiyan Shaheen has himself been relieved of his duties from the National Teams Committee.

It was a reminder that even elite athletes need their moments of play.

In Peter Butler’s system, the Bangladesh goalie is also the first attacker.

The 28-year-old Jota died alongside his younger brother André after their vehicle veered off a motorway in northern Spain before bursting into flames on Thursday.

If winning the SAFF Championship in 2022 and 2024 warranted the Bangladesh women’s team an open-top bus parade, what would be a proportionally appropriate celebration for the miracle they have just pulled off in Myanmar?

Paul Pogba said during his unveiling at new club Monaco on Thursday a return to the French national team "would of course still be a dream and a bonus for me".

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he was "heartbroken" to learn Diogo Jota, who he signed in 2020, had died with his younger brother Andre in a car crash on Thursday.

"Ritu Porna is Bangladesh's Messi. There's no doubt Hamza [Choudhury] is also a good footballer. Hamza, too, is a matter of pride for our country," Kiron told reporters on Thursday. 

The Liverpool and Portugal star, 28, died along with his younger brother Andre when their vehicle veered off a motorway and burst into flames shortly after midnight in the municipality of Cernadilla in Zamora province, Spain.

'Jota was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person'

Having already secured their place in the AFC Women's Asian Cup for the very first time, Bangladesh women’s football team now has a chance to qualify for the 2027 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics as well.

The Portuguese married Rute Cardoso on 22 June 2025, just 10 days before his death

Milan's San Siro is one of the most famous stadiums in world soccer, but the storied home of AC Milan and Inter Milan is showing its age and lags behind what other major European clubs offer their fans.

The Asian Cup berth not only gives Bangladesh an opportunity to rub shoulders against the top 11 teams of the continent, it also opens up their path to the qualifiers for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and the Los Angeles Olympics the following year.