Latest news with #CopaAmerica
Saba Yemen
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Saba Yemen
FIFA approves Qatar as host for 2025 Club World Cup
Zurich - Saba: The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) approved on Friday Qatar's hosting of the Copa America, the Challenge Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup final as part of the 2025 Club World Cup. This marks the second consecutive time Qatar will host the tournament. Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli will participate in the tournament, beginning their campaign in the second match at Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah on September 23, 2025. They will face the winner of the first match between Egypt's Pyramids FC (CAF Champions League winners) and New Zealand's Auckland City (Oceania champions), scheduled for September 14 at Cairo's Air Defense Stadium. The winner will directly qualify for the unified tournament in Doha, where they will face the Copa America champion on December 13. (The Copa America final will be held on December 10 between Mexico's Cruz Azul, CONCACAF champions, and the yet-to-be-determined South American champion.) The winner will advance to the tournament final on December 17, where they will face France's Paris Saint-Germain, the UEFA Champions League winners. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Will Enzo Fernandez be punished for racism row? Latest update on Chelsea star's inflammatory song about Kylian Mbappe
ENZO FERNANDEZ takes on his old club Benfica tonight at the heart of the Chelsea revolution under boss Enzo Maresca. The Portuguese giants made a staggering £96million PROFIT when they sold the Argentinian midfielder to the Blues in 2023 — just six months after buying him for £10m. 2 2 Even so, the fixture reopens old wounds over his departure — and a most unsavoury incident which took place a year ago next month. Benfica were angry at the way they claimed Chelsea unsettled their player and then ducked and dived during negotiations. But that's business. What is not 'business' is the cloud of racism hanging over the Blues' vice-captain that is not yet fully cleared. Fans back in England have seen plenty of great football from Fernandez this past 12 months. But nothing has been heard from the authorities charged with investigating the moment of madness that has followed the player around since he went viral for all the wrong reasons. Fernandez, 24, was filmed heartily joining in with dreadful songs alongside his Argentina team-mates questioning the heritage of black French players. The midfielder had just won Copa America for his country, only to let himself down massively when he should have been in a celebratory mood. With a large contingent of black French players in Chelsea's squad — Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi — the reaction was understandably incendiary. The Instagram post also carried a transphobic jibe at French superstar Kylian Mbappe and a reported relationship with transgender model Ines Rau. Fernandez apologised profusely. Fofana and those affected by the bombshell video say they have accepted it and have moved on. Club World Cup 2025 Guide SOME of the world's biggest clubs are in action at this summer's Club World Cup in the United States! Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Man City, and Inter Miami are among the 32 teams taking part in the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 13. The likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane are showcasing their skills to packed crowds across the US. Watch EVERY match of the Club World Cup 2025 on DAZN INFO Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup LATEST NEWS & FEATURES There certainly does not appear to be any disharmony over it within the Chelsea camp. For that, those players in the dressing room who were so hurt by the rash actions of a team-mate deserve unreserved respect and admiration. News of a 'probe' being launched was posted on social media not long after Argentina had beaten Colombia 1-0 in the final yet there is still no conclusion. Fifa says it is the responsibility of South America's governing body Conmebol and SunSport has contacted them for an update — but is yet to receive a reply. Fernandez made a donation to an anti-discrimination charity as well as saying sorry to his team-mates, say Chelsea. And the club also claimed they would use the episode as an opportunity to 're-educate' their player. At the last time of asking there was no clear detail available of what that actually entails. The club wants to keep it in-house. And, in a remarkable show of defiance, new head coach Maresca backed his man by making him captain for the opening Premier League game of last season against Manchester City. Fernandez appears to have put the whole thing behind him and is now a key figure in a team that is back in the Champions League. But the silence around the investigation into a moment of madness that went worldwide within hours — and damaged the reputation of a fine player and an upstanding football club — is deafening.
The Irish Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Will Enzo Fernandez be punished for racism row? Latest update on Chelsea star's inflammatory song about Kylian Mbappe
ENZO FERNANDEZ takes on his old club Benfica tonight at the heart of the Chelsea revolution under boss Enzo Maresca. The Portuguese giants made a staggering £96million PROFIT when they sold the Argentinian midfielder to the Blues in 2023 — just six months after buying him for £10m. 2 Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez will take on former side Benfica at the Club World Cup Credit: Getty 2 It comes nearly a year on from his racism storm with Argentina Even so, the fixture reopens old wounds over his departure — and a most unsavoury incident which took place a year ago next month. Benfica were angry at the way they claimed What is not 'business' is the cloud of racism hanging over the Blues' vice-captain that is not yet fully cleared. Fans back in England have seen plenty of great football from Fernandez this past 12 months. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL But Fernandez, 24, was filmed heartily joining in with dreadful songs alongside his Argentina team-mates The midfielder had just won Copa America for his country, only to let himself down massively when he should have been in a celebratory mood. Most read in Football With a large contingent of black French players in Chelsea's squad — Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi — the reaction was understandably incendiary. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS The Instagram post also carried a transphobic jibe at French superstar Kylian Mbappe and a reported relationship with transgender model Ines Rau. Chelsea vs Tottenham fan battle - 'Kane's better than Drogba at EVERYTHING' | Stoppage Time Club World Cup 2025 Guide SOME of the world's biggest clubs are in action at this summer's Club World Cup in the United States! Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Man City, and Inter Miami are among the 32 teams taking part in the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 13. The likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane are showcasing their skills to packed crowds across the US. INFO Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup LATEST NEWS & FEATURES Club World Cup top scorers There certainly does not appear to be any disharmony over it within the Chelsea camp. For that, those players in the dressing room who were so hurt by the rash actions of a team-mate deserve unreserved respect and admiration. News of a 'probe' being launched was posted on social media not long after Argentina had beaten Colombia 1-0 in the final yet there is still no conclusion. Fifa says it is the responsibility of South America's governing body Conmebol and SunSport has contacted them for an update — but is yet to receive a reply. Fernandez made a donation to an anti-discrimination charity as well as saying sorry to his team-mates, say Chelsea. And the club also claimed they would use the episode as an opportunity to 're-educate' their player. At the last time of asking there was no clear detail available of what that actually entails. The club wants to keep it in-house. And, in a remarkable show of defiance, new head coach Maresca backed his man by making him captain for the opening Premier League game of last season against Manchester City. Fernandez appears to have put the whole thing behind him and is now a key figure in a team that is back in the Champions League. But the silence around the investigation into a moment of madness that went worldwide within hours — and damaged the reputation of a fine player and an upstanding football club — is deafening.
Canada News.Net
a day ago
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Colombia, Canada to meet in October friendly
BOGOTA, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Colombia and Canada will meet in an international friendly in October as they seek to step up preparations for next year's FIFA World Cup, both countries' football federations said on Thursday. The fixture will be played in New Jersey on October 14, coinciding with an official FIFA international window. "We look forward to facing more South American competition following our experience at the 2024 Copa America," Canada Soccer said in a statement on its official website. "Colombia is the type of high-level opponent that we want to be competing against as we continue our preparations for the upcoming World Cup," it added. Canada has automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as co-hosts alongside the United States and Mexico. Colombia is currently sixth in South America's qualifying group and will play its last two qualifiers against Bolivia at home and Venezuela away in September. The group's top six teams will earn automatic entry to football's showpiece tournament while the seventh-ranked side will dispute a playoff.
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Canadian men to face No. 14 Colombia in October friendly
Canada will face No. 14 Colombia in a men's soccer friendly during the October FIFA international window. The game is scheduled for Oct. 14 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., the home of the New York Red Bulls. 'We look forward to facing more South American competition following our experience at the 2024 Copa America,' Canada coach Jesse Marsch said in a statement. 'Colombia is the type of high-level opponent that we want to be competing against as we continue our preparations for the upcoming World Cup.' The 30th-ranked Canadian men, who finished fourth at last summer's Copa America, have played Colombia three times before. Canada defeated the South Americans 2-0 in the final of the 2000 Gold Cup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and lost in two friendlies: 1-0 in October 2014 at the same New Jersey venue and 3-0 in March 1988 in Armenia, Colombia. Colombia was runner-up to top-ranked Argentina at last year's Copa America, losing 1-0 after extra time. Colombia captain James Rodriguez, who plays for Mexico's Leon, earned the Best Player Award and was named to the tournament all-star team along with Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez (Galatasary, Turkey). Fullback/wingback Alistair Johnston (Celtic, Scotland) was the lone Canadian on the Copa all-star squad. The Canadian men will play a second game in the October window in Montreal against a yet-to-be-announced opponent, Canada Soccer said. The Colombia fixture adds to a Canadian calendar that includes games against No. 45 Romania on Sept. 5 in Bucharest and No. 29 Wales on Sept. 9 in Swansea. Canada is currently at the CONCACAF Gold Cup where it faces No. 106 Guatemala in quarterfinal action Sunday in Minneapolis. The Canadians went 2-1-0 in the Gold Cup group stage, defeating No. 75 Honduras 6-0 and No. 81 El Salvador 2-0, and drawing 1-1 with No. 90 Curaçao. With two matchdays remaining in South American World Cup qualifying, Colombia stands sixth at 5-4-7, four points ahead of No. 47 Venezuela and five ahead of No. 80 Bolivia in the 10-team table. The Colombians, who drew Argentina 1-1 in Buenos Aires in their last qualifying outing, are scheduled to host Bolivia and visit Venezuela in the September window. The top six South American teams automatically qualify for the expanded 48-team World Cup. The seventh-place side has a chance to join them via an inter-confederation playoff. Colombia winger Luis Diaz, who plays his club football for England's Liverpool, leads South American qualifying in scoring with seven goals.
