Khaled Mahmoud

Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior remain apart in contract negotiations as the forward seeks a €20 million net salary that the club fears could disrupt its wage structure alongside stars like Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. With no transfer offers and his contract entering its final stages, both sides are under pressure to reach an agreement quickly. The club also expects stronger on‑field leadership from Vinicius after a demanding season, while Jose Mourinho’s arrival adds urgency for full commitment and focus ahead of the new campaign.

Erling Haaland and several Norway players criticised the officiating after a VAR decision ruled out a second-half goal in their 2-1 World Cup quarter-final loss to England. Haaland argued the contact with Elliot Anderson was normal physical play and described the call as weak and inconsistent. Sander Berge also questioned the standards, adding that similar criteria would result in frequent penalties in domestic football. Norway additionally raised concerns that Jude Bellingham’s equaliser may have deflected off a Spidercam wire. Despite the controversy, England advance to face Argentina while Norway exit after a strong tournament run.

Justin Bieber joins Madonna, Shakira and BTS to co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show in New York, curated by Chris Martin. The performance supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million for global education and football access. Additional performers include Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus, with appearances from The Muppets. FIFA leaders and Global Citizen figures emphasize the event’s cultural impact and call on world leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sánchez, to contribute to the fund.

Emma Hayes relished meeting Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah during her role in the pre-match ceremony before Argentina’s dramatic World Cup win over Egypt, drawing praise from Ian Wright. Argentina overturned a late deficit with goals from Cristian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez to reach the quarterfinals. Hayes, currently focused on preparing the USWNT for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, has revitalized the team since taking charge in 2024.