Pep Guardiola, Italy and Giovanni Malago
Wednesday

Italian Football Federation president Giovanni Malago confirmed talks have taken place with Pep Guardiola over becoming Italy head coach. He also said financial exceptions could be made, though Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo remain among the candidates.

Italy are without a manager after Gennaro Gattuso resigned following a third straight World Cup failure. Guardiola left Manchester City in May, making him a high-profile but expensive option for the Azzurri rebuild.

Spain, Morocco, FIFA and the 2030 World Cup organisers
Ahead of the 2030 World Cup

Spain and Morocco are competing to host the 2030 World Cup final, with Madrid’s Bernabeu and Morocco’s planned Stade Hassan II viewed as the leading contenders for the showpiece match.

Spain has history, football power and established infrastructure, while Morocco is building a 115,000-seat stadium and pushing hard politically. FIFA’s final decision could hinge on control, government support and strategic relationships.

Belgium, Mark van Bommel and Rudi Garcia
Wednesday

Belgium have reportedly reached an agreement for Mark van Bommel to become their next manager. The Dutchman is expected to replace Rudi Garcia, who left after Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final defeat by Spain.

Van Bommel’s deal is said to run until June 2028, covering the next major international cycle. He brings experience from PSV, Wolfsburg and Royal Antwerp, but limited exposure at elite national-team level.

Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico and his former clubs
Tuesday

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has announced his retirement from professional football after a 22-year career. The 41-year-old ended speculation over a possible new club after saying the 2026 World Cup would be his last tournament.

Ochoa played at six World Cups, a tally matched only by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He won major honours with Club America, Standard Liege and Mexico, becoming one of his country’s most recognised footballers.

FIFA, Fox, Telemundo and North American viewers
Tuesday after the World Cup final

Spain’s 1-0 World Cup final win over Argentina drew more than 60 million viewers across the United States when Fox and Telemundo audiences were combined. Fox said its English-language broadcast set a US soccer record.

Fox reported 38.937 million viewers and a peak of 51.685 million, while Telemundo’s preliminary Spanish-language number reached 22.6 million. Strong ratings helped validate North America’s expanded 48-team World Cup.

Cairo Economic Court, Streameast operators and sports broadcasters
Tuesday

Two men involved in a major Streameast illegal sports streaming network have been handed two-year prison sentences in Egypt. They were convicted of cybercrime, copyright, unlicensed media and encrypted-channel offences.

Investigators said the network included more than 120 domains and drew an annual audience of 1.6 billion. The case is a major legal win for sports broadcasters fighting piracy across football, NFL, NBA and MLB.

Manchester United, season-ticket holders and supporter groups
Tuesday

Manchester United fans reacted angrily after thousands of season-ticket accounts were restricted in a crackdown on suspected touting. Supporters say loyal matchgoers have been wrongly targeted and left unclear about the accusations.

United used largely automated third-party software to identify suspicious ticket activity, while fan groups demanded transparency and proportionate enforcement. The dispute intensifies wider concerns over digital tickets, transfers and clubs prioritising higher-revenue seats.

Liverpool, FSG and Amit Bhatia’s consortium
Tuesday

A consortium led by businessman Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in buying a minority stake in Liverpool. Fenway Sports Group confirmed the approach, though BBC Sport said no deal has been finalised.

The Financial Times reported the potential deal would value Liverpool above $6bn, or about £4.5bn. FSG previously sold a minority stake to Dynasty in 2023 and remains open to strategic outside investment.

Anthony Taylor, Pro Ref and English football
Tuesday

Anthony Taylor has announced his immediate retirement after a 20-year refereeing career. The 47-year-old officiated 831 matches, including 432 Premier League games, domestic cup finals and major international tournaments.

Taylor cited intense pressure and constant scrutiny as reasons for stepping aside. His retirement leaves a major gap at the top of English refereeing as Pro Ref reshapes its professional official group for the new season.

Rangers, Celtic, Scottish FA and SPFL
Tuesday

An independent review into Old Firm Scottish Cup disorder has criticised both clubs, authorities, police and fan groups. The report warned the Ibrox scenes came close to a violent mass confrontation.

Lead author Mark Blackbourne said fines are not changing behaviour and urged immediate crowd restrictions for serious incidents. The review also described some ultra groups as organised entities needing an intelligence-led, multi-agency response.