This episode of The Daily Star podcast "Pitch Perfect" seeks answers to these pressing questions.

Designer Tasmit Afiyat Arny created Bangladesh’s women’s football jersey as a powerful symbol of unity, heritage, and pride — blending cultural motifs like Jamdani with modern identity to celebrate overlooked women athletes through purposeful fashion

Xabi Alonso is looking forward to "starting from scratch" with Real Madrid next season after being thrown in at the deep end as coach of the Spanish giants in the Club World Cup.

Luis Enrique previously told reporters that he believed Dembele is deserving of the Ballon d'Or, and on Wednesday said there was no doubt that the Frenchman had once again shown himself worthy of soccer's top individual honour.

The 38-year-old Argentine star has scored two goals in each of his last four MLS games to become the first MLS player to score multiple goals in four straight games.

Under Spanish law any sentence under two years for a non-violent crime rarely requires a defendant without previous convictions to serve jail time.

Fresh off their historic qualification for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, many of the Bangladesh women’s footballers have had little time to bask in glory.

“I apologise for the two goals. This is my job. I’m sad to see some of the players I played alongside, some of the staff I know upset. Seeing their sadness is difficult, because I know this was their dream."

The 35-year-old Ancelotti is set for his first head coaching job after serving as an assistant to his father at Real Madrid, Everton, Napoli and Bayern Munich.

"Playing against Real Madrid is always a special game," PSG's Spanish coach told reporters.

The shock deaths of Jota, 28, and Andre Silva, 25, on July 3 plunged the football world into mourning, less than two weeks after the striker had got married.

Tottenham signed Japanese international Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale on Tuesday.

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca shrugged off concerns about playing in hot and humid mid-afternoon conditions in Tuesday's Club World Cup semi-final against Brazilian side Fluminense, for which the Blues will be without both Liam Delap and Levi Colwill.

"He's a legend of football, a top player," Marc Cucurella, a teammate of Silva's for two years.

If the Bangladesh women's football team had surpassed all expectations by emerging as SAFF champions in 2022, they have completely blown it out of the water in 2025, by qualifying for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026.

Modric, who turns 40 in September, joined Madrid from Tottenham in 2012 and has been linked with a move to Italy since early June, after announcing he would leave the Spanish giants at the end of his contract.

Captain Afeida Khandakar, her voice steady with emotion, said: “This is a moment we will never forget."

Arsenal have signed defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said on Sunday as the club reinforced a key position weakened by departures last month.

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany said he was furious after Jamal Musiala sustained a horrific injury during the first half of their Club World Cup quarter-final defeat by Paris St Germain in Atlanta on Saturday.

After topping their group and securing a spot in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the very first time, the Bangladesh women’s football team is set to return to the country at midnight today and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has made the bizarre decision of hosting a felicitation programme for the team at 2:30 in the night.