… Conte left Napoli after two seasons last month. Maldini spent his entire playing career with AC Milan, winning seven Italian league titles and five Champions League trophies. …
… The World Cup is likely the last hurrah for the remainder of the nation's so-called Golden Generation, including creative midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku, both of whom now play for Napoli. …
… Romelu Lukaku, Belgium's record scorer, played barely an hour for Napoli this past season due to a nagging hamstring injury, but he has made an impact off the bench at the tournament. …
… The Napoli attacking midfielder, scorer of an iconic overhead kick in the decisive win over Denmark which sealed qualification, was fit to start this game after shaking off a stomach bug. …
… Napoli midfielder McTominay has become an icon in Scotland since his stunning overhead kick goal in the 4-2 win over Denmark last November which sealed his team's qualification for a first World Cup since 1998. …
… The Italian league is set for a coaching shake-up with in addition to Sassuolo and likely Fiorentina, Bologna, Napoli, AC Milan, and Lazio have changed manager or are about to change coaches.
… "He is no longer playing at the top level club-wise and also he will miss (Angel) Di Maria, who after Messi, was crucial at the 2022 World Cup." -'Passage of time'- Bertoni, who played in Europe following the 1978 triumph for clubs including Sevilla and Napoli, said being defendi …
… It must be difficult to stay humble after being labelled "Kvaradona" as the Georgian was at Italians Napoli, where Argentine great Diego Maradona became an icon, before he joined PSG in 2025. …
Rudi Garcia has stepped down as Belgium's head coach after the team lost to Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals. Garcia, who took over in January 2025, led Belgium to Nations League A qualification during his 18-month tenure.
Rudi Garcia has stepped down as Belgium's head coach after the team lost to Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals. Garcia, who took over in January 2025, led Belgium to Nations League A qualification during his 18-month tenure.
Ex-Italian international Paolo Maldini has been appointed technical director of the national football federation (FIGC) to rebuild the Italian national team after it failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. The 58-year-old will oversee the senior and youth national teams through the 2030 World Cup, working alongside former PSG sporting director Leonardo as his advisor.
Belgium meet Spain in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium, with Spain having recorded six consecutive World Cup clean sheets, including a 1-0 win over Portugal. Spain are playing possession-based football similar to their 2010 World Cup winning side, while Belgium must breach their watertight defence.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia says his squad is now fully available and in better physical condition ahead of their World Cup last-32 match against Senegal in Seattle, with key players including Romelu Lukaku, Jeremy Doku, and Charles De Ketelaere recovering from earlier fitness issues.
John McGinn's goal just before half-time gave Scotland a 1-0 victory over Haiti on Saturday, marking their first World Cup win since 1990 and their first major tournament victory in 30 years. The win puts Scotland top of Group C and on course to reach the knockout stages.
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil play surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco on Saturday in one of the standout group-stage matchups at the expanded 48-team tournament.
Former Italy international Fabio Grosso, who resigned as Sassuolo coach, has signed a two-year contract with Serie A club Fiorentina. Grosso scored against Germany in the 2006 World Cup semi-finals and the decisive penalty in the final victory over France.
Fabio Grosso has resigned as coach of Serie A side Sassuolo after leading them back to the top flight last season, with Italian press reporting he is set to join Fiorentina as their next manager.
Argentine footballer Daniel Bertoni warns that coach Lionel Scaloni should not rely too heavily on the players who won the 2022 World Cup, as loyalty to that squad could undermine Argentina's chances of successfully defending their title in the 2026 tournament.
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain face off in the Champions League final in Budapest, with the match potentially decided by the performances of their star wingers—Bukayo Saka for Arsenal and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for PSG, who has scored 10 goals in the competition including seven in the knockout phase.
PSG's Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has become a key symbol of Luis Enrique's attacking side ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. The player, signed by Napoli from Dinamo Batumi in 2022 for around 10 million euros, brings improvisation and menace to PSG's already talented attacking lineup.
Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois have been drawn in Group G of the 2026 World Cup alongside New Zealand and Iran, with the tournament likely being their last chance for glory on football's biggest stage.
AC Milan announced the sacking of coach Massimiliano Allegri and senior management after the club missed Champions League qualification following a 2-1 home loss to Cagliari in the final league game of the season.
Juventus faces Sunday's derby against Torino in sixth place after a 2-0 home loss to Fiorentina, needing a win and help from other results to secure a top-four Champions League spot. Coach Luciano Spalletti's team, hired in October to achieve Champions League qualification, risks missing European football and its financial impact.
Roma defeated local rivals Lazio 2-0 in a derby match on Sunday, with defender Gianluca Mancini scoring two headers from corners. The victory moves Roma to fourth place and within reach of Champions League qualification, needing only a win against relegated Verona next weekend to secure a spot in Europe's elite competition.
Inter Milan secured their 21st Italian title and third Serie A championship in six seasons following a 2-0 win over Parma at San Siro on May 3, 2026, with goals from Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The victory gave Inter a 12-point lead over reigning champions Napoli with three matches remaining.
Inter Milan could clinch their 21st league title this weekend against Parma, holding a 10-point lead over second-place Napoli with four matches remaining. A brewing refereeing scandal threatens the integrity of Italy's top flight.