Fernando Kallas

Spain’s final World Cup training session in New York was canceled due to thunderstorms, with FIFA stating that no alternative slot was available. Argentina’s session proceeded with delay, while Spain trained indoors under U.S. storm safety protocol. Heavy wildfire smoke from Canadian fires continued to affect the region, though rain was expected to improve air quality ahead of Sunday’s final at New York New Jersey Stadium. Forecasters predicted conditions would remain below ideal but significantly better than the previous day, with more than 80,000 attendees expected.

Lamine Yamal says he is fit to play limited minutes but is not yet ready for a full match as he continues his return from a hamstring injury. The Barcelona forward played 25 minutes in Spain’s goalless World Cup opener against Cape Verde and remains available for the match against Saudi Arabia. Yamal urged supporters and teammates to remain calm after criticism of the draw, arguing that early struggles do not determine a team’s tournament prospects, while acknowledging that Spain must win its next fixture.

Brazil defeated Panama 6-2 in a World Cup 2026 warm-up match at the Maracana, with Vinicius Jr scoring an early goal and assisting Casemiro. Rayan, Lucas Paqueta, Igor Thiago and Danilo also scored for Brazil, while Michael Murillo and Carlos Harvey replied for Panama. Brazil were missing Neymar and several players following the Champions League final, and will face Egypt next before opening their Group C campaign against Morocco. Panama, drawn with England, Croatia and Ghana, have further friendlies before their World Cup debut.

Real Madrid presidential challenger Enrique Riquelme has unveiled plans to transform the Valdebebas training ground into a members’ hub with accommodation, sports facilities and a new 15,000-capacity basketball arena. He also proposes halving membership fees and using a lottery to allocate 10,000 season tickets. Riquelme opposes Florentino Pérez’s proposal to create a subsidiary allowing outside investors to acquire about 5% of the club, arguing that it would undermine Real Madrid’s identity as a members’ club. The ambitious project has reportedly been in development since 2021, but its cost and financing have not been disclosed.

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez says Cristiano Ronaldo’s age will not determine whether he is selected for the 2026 World Cup. Martinez intends to assess the 41-year-old captain on current form, training performances, attitude, tactical suitability and contribution to the team rather than his past achievements. He highlighted Ronaldo’s 25 goals in 30 appearances under his management, his ability to create space and his leadership, while stressing that Ronaldo’s role—whether as a starter or substitute—will depend on merit and the team’s needs.

Federico Valverde suffered a head injury during an altercation with Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni and was treated for a cut before being sent home to rest for 10 to 14 days. Real Madrid opened disciplinary proceedings against both players after an emergency meeting at the training ground. The incident adds to wider unrest within the squad, as the club struggles under Alvaro Arbeloa following Xabi Alonso’s dismissal, a Champions League quarter-final exit and an 11-point deficit to LaLiga leaders Barcelona with four matches remaining.

Real Madrid defender Éder Militão will miss the upcoming World Cup after surgery for a tear in the proximal biceps femoris tendon in his left leg. The injury, a recurrence of a previous problem, adds to his history of serious knee injuries and deprives Brazil of a likely starting defender. Brazil is also expected to be without Real Madrid teammate Rodrygo, while manager Carlo Ancelotti must reassess his plans. Brazil will begin its Group C campaign against Morocco before facing Haiti and Scotland.

Barcelona were eliminated from the Champions League by Atlético Madrid 3–2 on aggregate despite winning the second leg 2–1. Raphinha, who missed both matches through injury, accused referees Clement Turpin and Istvan Kovacs of repeatedly making decisions that disadvantaged Barcelona, including VAR-assisted red cards for Pau Cubarsí and Eric García. He called the tie a robbery and questioned why referees appeared afraid of Barcelona winning. The club also protested a disputed penalty incident from the first leg, but UEFA rejected its complaint.

Atletico Madrid advanced to the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Barcelona despite losing the second leg 2-1 at home. Barcelona raced into a two-goal lead through Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, but Lookman's goal restored Atletico's aggregate advantage. Barcelona controlled much of the second half and had another goal disallowed for offside before Eric Garcia was sent off following a VAR review. Atletico held on under intense pressure and will face either Arsenal or Sporting in the semi-finals.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick criticized referee István Kovács and VAR after Barcelona's 2-0 home defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. Flick argued that Marc Pubill's handball should have produced a penalty and a second yellow card, while also questioning Pau Cubarsí's first-half red card. Atlético manager Diego Simeone defended the referee's decisions. Cubarsí's dismissal preceded Julián Álvarez's free-kick goal before half-time, and Alexander Sørloth added a second after the break, leaving Barcelona with a major knockout-stage setback.

Manchester United are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes for about €80 million, viewing the Brazilian midfielder as Casemiro’s replacement. Real Madrid’s renewed interest, supported by coach Carlo Ancelotti, threatens to disrupt the deal as the Spanish club seeks midfield reinforcements amid Eduardo Camavinga’s reported impending departure. Guimaraes previously came close to joining Real Madrid before Newcastle signed him from Olympique Lyonnais in 2022.

Getafe defender Abdel Abqar was shown a straight red card after VAR footage revealed him grabbing Atlético Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth’s genitals during an off-the-ball incident. Sørloth was booked for reacting by grabbing Abqar’s arm and pulling him down. The lengthy review disrupted the match, which Atlético won 1-0 through Nahuel Molina’s first-half goal. Atlético remained third in LaLiga, six points behind Real Madrid and 10 behind leaders Barcelona, with both rivals having a game in hand.

London has emerged as the leading alternative venue for the Finalissima between Spain and Argentina after Qatar suspended football tournaments amid regional conflict and security concerns. Wembley is unavailable, but other London stadiums could host the 27 March match. Spain wants to preserve the final international window before the World Cup and is considering alternative opponents if the fixture collapses. Madrid, Morocco and Miami have been ruled out for logistical or political reasons, while UEFA, CONMEBOL, FIFA and the Spanish and Argentine federations continue negotiations.

Real Madrid forward and Brazil international Rodrygo will miss the rest of the season and the 2026 World Cup after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and outer meniscus in his right knee during a defeat by Getafe. The 25-year-old had recently returned from a muscle injury and is a significant loss for Brazil, who begin their World Cup campaign against Morocco on 13 June. Rodrygo has earned 37 caps, scored nine international goals and played at the 2022 World Cup.

Flamengo sacked manager Filipe Luis just hours after an 8-0 win over Madureira secured a place in the Rio de Janeiro state championship final. Luis had led the club to five titles in just over a year, including the Brazilian Cup, Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Championship, but Flamengo's worst start to a season in a decade prompted the decision. He leaves with 63 wins in 101 matches, while Portuguese manager Leonardo Jardim is reportedly the frontrunner to replace him. The dismissal could also affect hopes that a Brazilian coach will return to managing at an elite European club.

Real Madrid beat Benfica 2-1 at the Bernabeu to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory and reach the Champions League last 16. Benfica took an early lead through Rafa Silva, but Aurelien Tchouameni equalised before Vinicius Jr scored in the 80th minute to settle the tie. The match followed an alleged racist incident involving Vinicius and Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, who was provisionally suspended by UEFA.

Joan Laporta has stepped down as Barcelona president to comply with club statutes before seeking re-election later in the year. Vice-president Rafa Yuste will serve as interim president, with Laporta aiming to return on 1 July and facing rivals including Victor Font, Xavier Vilajoana and Marc Ciria. The election will use multiple polling venues across Catalonia and Andorra, but postal voting will not be allowed despite opposition requests. Laporta’s latest tenure has included Lionel Messi’s departure, Barcelona’s withdrawal from the European Super League, continued stadium renovations and renewed optimism under coach Hansi Flick and emerging star Lamine Yamal.

A delayed VAR review during the Brazilian Super Cup led to Flamengo midfielder Jorge Carrascal being sent off after the second half had begun for an alleged elbow on Corinthians’ Breno Bidon before halftime. Flamengo manager Filipe Luis condemned the unusual procedure, while the Brazilian Football Confederation attributed the delay to a power outage affecting the VAR control room and said later footage provided conclusive evidence. Corinthians won 2–0 with goals from Gabriel Paulista and Yuri Alberto.

Brazil has confirmed its intention to bid to host the 2029 Club World Cup, although FIFA has not yet opened the bidding process. The announcement followed a meeting in Brasília involving President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Brazilian Football Confederation head Samir Xaud, Sports Minister André Fufuca and coach Carlo Ancelotti. Brazil is expected to face potential bids from Spain and Morocco, which will host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal, and Qatar. The 2025 Club World Cup was hosted by the United States and won by Chelsea, while Brazil is preparing to host the 2027 Women's World Cup.

Spanish authorities are investigating the apparent theft of a life-size bronze statue of golf legend Seve Ballesteros from La Barquería Park in Pedreña, his hometown near Santander. The Marina de Cudeyo Town Council has asked residents to report suspicious activity, while police seek to recover the monument and identify those responsible. The statue, created by Salvador García Ceballos, commemorated Ballesteros’s celebrated career, which included five major championships and a strong Ryder Cup record.

Kylian Mbappe urged Real Madrid supporters to stop singling out Vinicius Jr for the team’s struggles and said any criticism should be directed at the entire squad. His comments followed boos aimed at the Brazilian winger during Real Madrid’s win over Levante, amid frustration caused by defeats to Barcelona and Albacete and Xabi Alonso’s dismissal. Mbappe said Vinicius needs collective support as Real Madrid prepare to face Monaco in the Champions League.

Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone apologised to Florentino Pérez and Vinícius Jr. for taunting the Real Madrid winger during Atlético’s 2–1 Spanish Super Cup semi-final defeat, but said he would not ask for forgiveness. Simeone was filmed provoking Vinícius and mocking the crowd during the player’s substitution. Real Madrid later lost the final 3–2 to Barcelona, with Vinícius scoring, while Xabi Alonso criticised Simeone’s conduct as unsportsmanlike. Atlético are fourth in LaLiga, 11 points behind leaders Barcelona.

La Liga president Javier Tebas says the league still aims to stage a domestic match abroad and is considering Saudi Arabia after a proposed Barcelona–Villarreal fixture in Miami was cancelled. The Miami plan faced player protests, legal challenges and opposition from Real Madrid, which argued that La Liga and the Spanish federation had bypassed clubs. FIFA has yet to decide whether domestic league matches may be played outside their home countries, but Tebas believes an overseas fixture would help expand La Liga’s audiovisual business.

Abel Braga apologised after using a homophobic slur while discussing pink training shirts during his first press conference as Internacional’s new coach. The 73-year-old former club manager said the remark was intended humorously to ease tension in a struggling squad, but faced immediate social-media backlash. Internacional has not yet secured safety from relegation, with two matches remaining, and neither the club nor Brazil’s football federation has commented. Braga returned from a three-year retirement to coach the team without pay for the decisive final fixtures.

Barcelona marked their first match at Camp Nou in 909 days with a commanding 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring after an Athletic defensive error, while Ferran Torres scored twice and Fermín López added another goal. Lamine Yamal supplied two assists, and Athletic were further weakened when Oihan Sancet was sent off. The win put Barcelona level on points with Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, while the partially renovated stadium hosted 45,401 fans at reduced capacity.

Xabi Alonso refused to engage with Lamine Yamal’s accusation that Real Madrid cheat and complain, despite repeated questions ahead of Sunday’s El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu. With Real leading La Liga by two points over Barcelona, Alonso said his priority was the match itself and preparing his players for an intense, competitive contest. The fixture offers Real Madrid an opportunity to reassert themselves after heavy defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid and four consecutive losses to Barcelona last season.

Barcelona’s injury crisis has worsened with Raphinha ruled out of Sunday’s El Clásico, joining Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi and both first-choice goalkeepers among the absentees. Ferran Torres, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie De Jong have trained, but their availability and roles remain uncertain. Assistant coach Marcus Sorg will lead the team because Hansi Flick is suspended, while Real Madrid enter the match two points ahead after eight games. Barcelona remain encouraged by their strong record against Real last season but face a difficult contest at the Bernabéu.

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League, with Goncalo Ramos scoring the 90th-minute winner after Ferran Torres had opened the scoring and Senny Mayulu equalised. Villarreal denied Juventus a first win with Renato Veiga’s late header in a 2-2 draw. Borussia Dortmund beat Athletic Bilbao 4-1, while Napoli defeated Sporting 2-1 and PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen.

Serie A and LaLiga have rejected EU sports commissioner Glenn Micallef’s criticism of plans to stage domestic league matches outside Europe. Serie A intends to move AC Milan’s match against Como to Perth, while LaLiga hopes to host Villarreal versus Barcelona in Miami. Both leagues argue that relocating one match among 380 would expand their global audiences and benefit international fans, while acknowledging the sacrifice for some local supporters. The Italian and Spanish football authorities have approved the proposals, but UEFA and FIFA approval is still required.

Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a Club World Cup quarter-final at MetLife Stadium, taking an early two-goal lead through Gonzalo Garcia and Fran Garcia. Kylian Mbappe restored the advantage after Dortmund scored in added time, before Serhou Guirassy’s penalty made the finish tense. Real defender Dean Huijsen was sent off, but Thibaut Courtois saved Marcel Sabitzer’s late effort to preserve the victory. Real Madrid will face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final.

The expanded Club World Cup has produced unexpected successes for Brazilian and Saudi clubs and vibrant support from South American and Arabic fans, but extreme heat, thunderstorms, player-safety concerns and weak U.S. attendances have overshadowed the later stages. FIFPRO is considering longer halftime periods and additional cooling breaks, while FIFA says player protection must guide collective discussions. With the 2026 World Cup also taking place in North America, the tournament’s weather disruptions and empty seats could influence future scheduling, cooling protocols and efforts to build the competition’s appeal.

Barcelona won their 28th La Liga title by defeating city rivals Espanyol 2–0, securing an unassailable seven-point lead over Real Madrid with two matches remaining. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring with a trademark curling strike before Fermín López sealed the victory in stoppage time. The result completed Hansi Flick’s first-season domestic double, with Barcelona also having won the Copa del Rey. The match followed a delay caused by injuries to fans outside the stadium, while Espanyol’s Leandro Cabrera was sent off late in the game.

Real Madrid defeated Mallorca 2-1 with Jacobo Ramón scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time, delaying Barcelona’s La Liga title celebrations and keeping Madrid’s slim hopes alive. Carlo Ancelotti praised his depleted squad, which was missing 12 injured players, and said the team’s effort and 40 shots reflected an improved attitude. Barcelona remain four points clear with a game in hand and can secure their 28th league title by beating city rivals Espanyol. Ancelotti, who will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season to coach Brazil, said he would remain focused on the club until 26 May.

Antonio Rüdiger apologised for his reaction during Real Madrid’s 3–2 extra-time defeat by Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, after throwing ice toward referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and receiving a straight red card. Lucas Vázquez and Jude Bellingham were also sent off after the match, but Rüdiger could face the most severe punishment, potentially a four- to 12-match suspension across domestic competitions. Barcelona’s victory leaves Real Madrid four points behind in La Liga with five fixtures remaining.

Copa del Rey final referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea became tearful while discussing a critical video published by Real Madrid TV, which highlighted alleged errors from his career. He defended his integrity and condemned the pressure and abuse faced by referees, including at grassroots level. VAR official Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes warned that officials may take action, potentially including a strike. The Spanish federation has previously raised concerns about referee abuse, while Real Madrid has not immediately responded.

Barcelona defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, taking a commanding advantage into the return match in Germany. Raphinha opened the scoring before Robert Lewandowski added two goals, with Lamine Yamal completing the victory. Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made several saves, but Barcelona's dominance continued after halftime. The result extended Barcelona's unbeaten run to 23 matches and kept them in contention for three trophies.

Argentina defeated Brazil 4-1 in Buenos Aires, handing Brazil their heaviest loss in a World Cup qualifier. Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Giuliano Simeone scored for Argentina, while Matheus Cunha briefly reduced the deficit. Brazil managed only three attempts and remain fourth in the South American qualifying standings on 21 points, with their automatic 2026 World Cup place not yet secured. Captain Marquinhos apologized to supporters, accepted collective responsibility alongside manager Dorival Jr and called for an immediate improvement, while Lionel Scaloni praised Argentina’s team performance after they secured qualification.

Barcelona’s La Liga match against Osasuna was postponed minutes before kick-off after the death of Barcelona first-team doctor Carles Miñarro García. The teams had announced their line-ups and begun warming up when the postponement was announced. La Liga’s competition committee will set a new date, while Barcelona, Real Madrid and others expressed condolences to García’s family, colleagues and friends.

Real Madrid defeated Atlético Madrid 2–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Rodrygo opened the scoring, Julián Álvarez equalised with a spectacular strike, and Brahim Diaz restored Real’s lead in the 55th minute. Atlético controlled long stretches and missed chances to improve the result, leaving the tie open before the second leg at the Metropolitano. Elsewhere, Arsenal put themselves in a commanding position with a 7–1 win over PSV Eindhoven, while Borussia Dortmund and Lille drew 1–1.

Flamengo defeated Botafogo 1-0 in a heated Carioca Championship derby, but the match ended in a mass brawl. Botafogo defender Alexander Barboza lost a front tooth after being punched by Flamengo substitute Cleiton, while Barboza, Cleiton, Bruno Henrique and Gerson were all sent off. Flamengo’s Leo Ortiz scored the winner, moving his team top of the table, while Botafogo fell to sixth ahead of a trip to Argentina for the Recopa.

Kylian Mbappe says overthinking and difficulty adapting to a new team contributed to his poor start at Real Madrid. He identifies a 2-1 defeat by Athletic Bilbao, during which he missed his second penalty in a week, as a turning point that prompted him to change his mentality and work harder. Since then, he has improved his scoring record to 12 LaLiga goals and 17 overall, and says humility, pressure and continued effort are essential to performing at Madrid.

Germany defeated Canada 2-0 in the Davis Cup quarter-finals to reach the semi-finals, overcoming the absence of world number two Alexander Zverev. Daniel Altmaier beat Gabriel Diallo in straight sets before Jan-Lennard Struff rallied past Denis Shapovalov in a deciding tie-break. Germany will face the Netherlands, who upset hosts Spain, while defending champions Italy meet Argentina and the United States play Australia in the other quarter-finals.

Rafael Nadal says he will focus on helping Spain win the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga rather than dwelling on his impending retirement. The 22-time Grand Slam champion may play doubles if that gives Spain the best chance of winning, potentially alongside Carlos Alcaraz. Spain will open against the Netherlands in the eight-nation tournament, which is expected to mark the end of Nadal’s more than two-decade career.

The opening Billie Jean King Cup Finals tie between Spain and Poland in Malaga was postponed from 13 to 15 November 2024 after Spanish authorities issued a red alert for extreme rain and flooding. The International Tennis Federation said the change was made to protect participants and spectators. The rescheduled match will precede Great Britain’s tie against Germany, while the tournament is set to overlap with the men’s Davis Cup Finals, where Rafael Nadal is expected to make his final appearance before retiring.

Andres Iniesta has retired from football at age 40 after a 24-year career with Spain, Barcelona and several clubs abroad. He won the 2010 World Cup with Spain by scoring the winning goal in the final, helped Spain claim the 2008 and 2012 European Championships, and collected numerous domestic and European trophies with Barcelona. Iniesta became emotional while announcing his decision, describing his career as the fulfillment of a childhood dream. Former teammate Lionel Messi paid tribute to him, while Iniesta's recent career included spells with Vissel Kobe in Japan and Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates.

Manchester City and Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes was briefly arrested in Madrid on 8 September over an allegation that he forcibly took a high-end mobile phone from a 58-year-old man in a nightclub. Nunes reportedly believed the man had photographed him without consent. Police treated the incident as robbery because the phone was valued at more than €300, and released him pending trial. A spokesperson for Nunes did not immediately comment.

Jude Bellingham scored England’s winning goal with an early header in their 1-0 Euro 2024 Group C victory over Serbia and was named Player of the Match. England fans serenaded the Real Madrid midfielder with The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” a gesture he said he greatly enjoyed. Bellingham also praised the supporters’ energy, discussed coping with Serbia’s physical tactics, and reflected on his outstanding debut season at Real Madrid.

Spain are placing significant faith in a new generation of young players ahead of Euro 2024, with Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal expected to be a major attacking figure despite being only 16. He follows the breakthrough of teammates Pedri and Gavi, while coach Luis de la Fuente has also promoted Pau Cubarsí and Nico Williams. The team will face Croatia, Italy and Albania in a difficult Group B, seeking to build a new era after the golden generation that won two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.

Real Madrid secured a record-extending 36th LaLiga title after Girona defeated Barcelona, leaving Carlo Ancelotti’s team an unassailable 13 points clear with four matches remaining. The title followed a 3-0 win over Cadiz, in which Jude Bellingham returned from the bench, and capped a season in which Real overcame major defensive injuries and Karim Benzema’s departure. Ancelotti’s tactical changes, Bellingham’s goalscoring, and a defense led by Antonio Rüdiger were central to the success. Real Madrid now turns its attention to the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.

Xavi Hernández has reversed his January decision to leave FC Barcelona and will remain manager for the 2024/25 season, honoring the final year of his contract. The decision followed meetings with club officials, who reportedly promised continuity among his staff and support for signing top players. Xavi’s continuation comes amid poor results, including Champions League elimination by Paris Saint-Germain and an 11-point LaLiga deficit to Real Madrid. The club also faces major financial constraints from its wage bill and the €1.6 billion Camp Nou renovation, potentially limiting its transfer activity.

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Real Sociedad 2–0 at home in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring in the 58th minute from Marquinhos’ corner before Bradley Barcola added a second three minutes later, scoring his first Champions League goal. Real Sociedad had been unbeaten in the competition but failed to score for a fifth consecutive match. Mbappe and Marquinhos credited a halftime intervention from Luis Enrique with helping PSG overcome Sociedad’s pressing and secure a clean sheet.

Carlos Alcaraz aims to defeat defending champion Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open and reclaim the world number one ranking. The Spaniard missed the 2023 tournament through injury but has no ranking points to defend, meaning a title would guarantee top spot and even a deep run could be enough if Djokovic falls earlier. Their rivalry intensified after Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, before Djokovic responded at the US Open and ATP Finals.

Argentina defeated Brazil 1–0 at the Maracanã in a World Cup qualifier, with Nicolás Otamendi scoring the decisive header. The match was delayed after Brazilian police clashed with Argentina supporters, prompting Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to leave the pitch; Messi warned that the violence could have ended in tragedy. Brazil missed major chances, lost Joelinton to a late red card, and fell to a third straight defeat, while Argentina strengthened its position at the top of the standings. After the victory, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni unexpectedly suggested he was considering whether to continue in the role.

After Argentina’s 1–0 World Cup qualifying victory over Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, manager Lionel Scaloni said he needed time to consider whether to continue in the role. Scaloni cited the pressure of maintaining Argentina’s exceptionally high standards after winning the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup. Defender Cristian Romero said the squad hoped to persuade him to stay.

Barcelona’s 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal became La Liga’s youngest-ever goalscorer at 16 years and 87 days, scoring against Granada in added time before halftime. He surpassed the previous record held by Fabrice Olinga. Yamal had already become Barcelona’s youngest official-match debutant and Spain’s youngest international and scorer, while his senior call-up for Spain ended hopes that he would represent Morocco.

Barcelona has been added as a suspect in a Spanish investigation into alleged active bribery and possible systemic corruption within the refereeing committee. Prosecutors allege that more than €7.3 million was paid over 17 years to companies owned by José María Enríquez Negreira, a former refereeing committee vice-president, though investigators have found no evidence that he paid referees to influence match results. Barcelona says the payments were for standard technical refereeing reports and denies wrongdoing, while Real Madrid has joined the case as an injured party.

Spain women's coach Montse Tomé said she was confident of retaining her position after players ended their boycott following promises of immediate and profound changes at the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The boycott began after former federation president Luis Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso after Spain's World Cup victory. Spain responded with wins over Sweden and Switzerland, including a 5-0 victory over Switzerland, while Olga Carmona publicly expressed satisfaction with Tomé and the team's response. Between six and nine senior federation officials are expected to leave or be dismissed, with Andreu Camps and Miguel García Caba already removed.

Spain’s women’s players ended their boycott of the national team after the Royal Spanish Football Federation agreed to immediate and profound structural changes following Luis Rubiales’s unsolicited kiss of Jenni Hermoso. Aitana Bonmatí said the team was relieved to refocus on football while continuing to push for gender equality and better conditions for future players. After only one training session, Spain defeated top-ranked Sweden 3–2 in the Nations League. Several senior RFEF officials, including secretary general Andreu Camps and integrity director Miguel García Caba, were removed or expected to leave as part of the agreement.

Carlos Alcaraz begins his US Open title defence as world number one and a leading figure in the changing of the guard in men’s tennis. His Wimbledon final victory over Novak Djokovic was followed by Djokovic’s dramatic win over Alcaraz in the Cincinnati Open final, leaving their ranking battle level and raising expectations of another clash in New York. Their rivalry has already produced closely fought matches at Wimbledon, the French Open and Cincinnati, with Djokovic’s experience continuing to test the 20-year-old Spaniard.