Latest news with #FIFAClubWorldCup
First Post
35 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Chelsea V PSG: Trump Booed at Club World Cup, FIFA Exposed First Sports With Rupha Ramani
Chelsea V PSG: Trump Booed at Club World Cup, FIFA Exposed | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G Chelsea V PSG: Trump Booed at Club World Cup, FIFA Exposed | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was supposed to be a celebration of elite football — but it ended in controversy, chaos, and a political spectacle. Chelsea crushed PSG 3-0 in the final, but their historic win was overshadowed by US President Donald Trump's awkward presence, a stadium full of boos, and FIFA's desperate attempts to save face. From military salutes to mistaking Cole Palmer for Lionel Messi, Trump's actions raised eyebrows — while FIFA President Gianni Infantino continued to call it a "huge success." Rupha Ramani breaks down the final, the fan outrage, and how the world's biggest sport is slowly being hijacked by power, optics, and politics. See More
Arab News
an hour ago
- Business
- Arab News
‘We are expected to win.' Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada eyes bright future following FIFA Club World Cup
DUBAI: Football fans around the world were treated to a sight they did not expect at the recent FIFA Club World Cup — but one with which supporters in Saudi Arabia and Asia are very familiar: Al-Hilal going toe-to-toe with the best and, often, coming out on top. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Watching proudly from the stands of stadiums across the US was Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada. The Spaniard joined the Riyadh giants one and half years ago and has since been, in his own words, on an 'exciting journey.' Calzada told Arab News: 'I joined as part of the new era in Saudi football. With the Public Investment Fund leading —having the majority of the club, and supporting our chairman Fahad bin Saad bin Nafel — we've got something which is very important in football, which is stability. That is really needed so that players perform, and we can make plans for the future. And this is why I'm here — alongside other people that have come. Some of us came from abroad, some others were already here, and they are local. It is absolutely essential for all of us to be successful. It's not only the foreigners coming with new ideas, just like it's not only the locals doing things always in the same way, but the combination of the two is what can take you to the sweet spot and to be successful.' Success is something Al-Hilal's owners, management and players — not to mention their passionate fans — demand. The recent FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the US shows the potential of the club to succeed at the highest level when Calzada's 'sweet spot' is hit. 'We don't (often) have the opportunity to play the biggest clubs in the world, which is what this tournament offered us,' he said. 'And with the results we got, we got the opportunity to show that we have a competitive team, that we have big ambitions and it's been amazing in all fronts — the most important being on the pitch, but then also off the pitch. It's our job now to make sure we stay in the spotlight, with the challenge that we will not play Real Madrid or Manchester City every other week.' It was not Al-Hilal's first participation in one of the incarnations of this competition, having previously competed in 2019, 2021 and 2022, when they reached the final in Rabat only to lose to Real Madrid. Calzada says the tournament in the US brought with it many positives and some logistical challenges. 'I think the experience was good,' he said. 'Obviously, the weather cannot be changed. In our case, coming from the Middle East, we are used to the heat, but it's true that it was a bit humid and it was a bit complicated, especially depending on the kick-off times. But, obviously, for us, we can only say positive things about this tournament, because it's been historical for us and time will put it in perspective.' Al-Hilal ultimately exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage after a 2-1 loss to Brazilian club Fluminense, but they impressed the watching world with their exciting brand of football. New coach Simon Inzaghi, in charge for just a few weeks, rightly received widespread acclaim. 'We're very proud that our shareholders, led by our chairman and the PIF, were determined that this was the coach that we wanted, and then we were lucky to get him, and to get him in time for the tournament, with little time to train,' said Calzada. 'He has already made an impact, obviously, on the pitch, but also in terms of the credibility of the project. It shows our ambition.' Inzaghi's presence, Calzada believes, will further change global perceptions of the club. 'For players that might have been doubting whether to join us or not, having him as a coach is a great attraction, especially when they have seen the way we play,' he said. 'If you listen to the likes of Ruben Neves, or Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, talking about the strength of the league, or saying their GPS after training shows more kilometers than when they were back in Europe, all of that together delivers a positive message. As for the coach, we are extremely happy to have him with us, and we're very excited about what's ahead.' Al-Hilal drew with Real Madrid and beat Manchester City, with pundits and fans surprised by how quickly Inzahghi had managed to implement his style of play. 'I think I can say — and everyone will agree — that the way we played was very attractive. It's not just parking the bus and making sure Real Madrid doesn't score and come out with a draw. In certain moments of the game, we played beautiful football with players combining on the ball, starting the game from the back, instead of with long balls, and that certainly caught the attention of the world and gave us a very good result, which actually could have been even better,' Calzada said. 'We think that if we had won the game, no one would have been surprised. 'This is a very ambitious club, we are expected to win every competition, every friendly game — anything that is not winning or coming first is not a success for us, and that means that even having drawn against Real Madrid, we thought we could have won, just like even when we then went this far in the tournament, we were still hoping to make it even further,' he continued. 'Even against Fluminense, we could have won.' Al-Hilal delivered arguably the result of the tournament when they beat Manchester City 4-3 in the Round of 16 at Orlando's Camping World Stadium. It was a match that had extra meaning for Calzada. 'It was very special, personally, just because I worked 12 years in the City Football Group, so I was basically facing my ex-colleagues, and I had to just make sure I did not celebrate too much — just like when a striker scores a goal against his former team, he tries to show some respect,' he said. 'For me, it was very emotional. But having said that, of course it was amazing to share that with our colleagues and understand that — as time will, and has started to, prove — we were making history.' While the players take a well-earned rest before returning to the business of the Saudi Pro League, Calzada's job is to ensure every aspect of the club is run efficiently. 'We've got very ambitious plans for the future,' he said. 'We've been working on a strategic plan for the club, which is about globalization, about growing.' Engagement during the Club World Cup, Calzada pointed out, exceeded expectations. 'We collected almost half a billion video views during the (tournament),' he said. 'This is only behind four clubs, which are the biggest ones: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich. (We were) number one on video views on Twitter, number four on TikTok — a very good performance. And we gained 1 million followers on social media during the tournament. We are now at 45 million followers across social media platforms, which is a remarkable number. 'And, also interesting to mention, the shirt that was developed specifically for the tournament alongside our partner Puma, is the most successful shirt ever in terms of the days that it was on the market,' Calzada continued. 'And we just launched the new shirt for the new season. That was also a very successful initiative in terms of sales, as well as all the activities that we've been doing around the Club World Cup. And these numbers come with the hard work of a lot of people that have been working on very special content.' Calzada noted that, during the tournament, all the club's content-creation teams relocated to the US to be close to the team and 'to produce the best content possible.' Some of that included fan activations at each of the stadiums the club played at, ensuring their supporters — the 'Hilalis' — were captured enjoying the action and celebrating the successes. 'We just launched our new website, and we've got a number of initiatives in different fields, including infrastructure. We've got very ambitious plans,' Calzada said. 'Ultimately, our job is to manage the club in the most sustainable way possible, to generate as much revenue as possible so that we can reinvest in having the best players so that we can compete to win trophies.' Last week's announcement of the signing of French international defender Theo Hernandez from Milan showed the Hilal content team at their creative best, with many slick videos and photos that went viral. 'Certainly, we identified content as one of the biggest opportunities for growth, to win new funds, to bring new sponsors in so that we can also give them returns. That only works with the combination of local knowledge and international expertise,' he said. 'We hope we can continue being successful. The pieces that we're doing got a lot of engagement in a situation that is very challenging because we talk to different types of audiences. And sometimes what resonates with global audiences is not liked by our local fans, because the way we communicate locally is: (We are) clearly the big leaders. We lead the way. This is part of our positioning. The others follow us.' But that approach needs to be tweaked when engaging with global audiences, he added. 'Ultimately, it is down to producing high quality content, which is what we're trying to do,' he continued. 'Obviously, it takes time, and it's a challenge, because sometimes you've got to do sponsored content to generate revenue. Sometimes our fans have difficulty understanding that.' Calzada is proud of his good relationship with Al-Hilal supporters, and at the Club World Cub was seen mixing with many of them at several activations. No doubt the fact that he has been learning Arabic and can now more than hold his own in conversation helps endear him to the locals. He is keen that those fans continue to support the club's creative direction on social media. 'You've got to do content that maybe here is not so well understood, but we know for a fact that it will work elsewhere because it's been working with all the other bigger clubs,' he said. 'This is certainly a learning curve, but we're starting to see the results. Having that recognition, which is also coming from the numbers that we're seeing, gives me and my team the energy to keep on working.' As holders of a record number of Saudi league titles, with 19, and AFC Champions League wins, with four, Al-Hilal are often called the Real Madrid of Asia. The Club World Cup has showcased them to the rest of the world. Calzada welcomes the club's growing international popularity, but maintains that there is work still to be done. 'We're very popular in Brazil, for obvious reasons,' he said, alluding to the club's several Brazilian players. 'And in some other countries as well, like the UK, because we have Ruben (Neves) and (Aleksandar) Mitrovic that played there. So, we are in transition — or we want to transition — into being a global club. It would be a bit pretentious to say that we are already there. We are on that journey. But certainly, something that I've learned over the last one and a half years is the ambition of this club. I am also a very ambitious person. That's why I left Manchester City, where I had been in a winning position for 12 years. 'I could only come to a place where we would still be expected to win,' Calzada concluded. 'And I'm glad that I got the opportunity to do so here with the backing of our shareholders and our board.' -ENDS-
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Cole Palmer and girlfriend fuel rumours with social media antics after 'difficult' admission
Chelsea and England ace Cole Palmer has been dating influencer Connie Grace, but there has been speculation that the couple have broken up after it emerged that they are no longer following each other on social media Cole Palmer and his influencer girlfriend Connie Grace have unfollowed each other on social media, prompting rumours that the couple have broken up. Palmer recently won the FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea, starring in the final as the Blues beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0. Palmer had a hand in all three goals, scoring two and notching an assist, but Grace was not among the other wives and girlfriends that joined Chelsea on the pitch at MetLife Stadium to celebrate the victory. And the couple have now sparked speculation of a break-up by no longer following each other on Instagram. Palmer and Grace have known each other since they were 17, but did not go public with their relationship until November last year when they appeared together at the GQ Men of the Year Awards. Grace has 38,000 followers on Instagram and runs her own nail salon business in Manchester. Opening up about their relationship in Amazon Prime documentary 'England's Lions: A New Generation', Grace said: "I think we knew me through mutual friends so I think he probably had his eye on me. "Oh, he's warm and cuddly. Well, with me, hopefully with no one else. When you know how much someone wants something and you know that's someone's dream, you just feel so proud." Grace continued: "Cole now is still the same Cole that I met when I was 17. Obviously, he's changed, he's grown up, and his life now is completely different, but he's still the same boy, he's still laid-back Cole. "Cole will adapt to whatever situation he's in. He's not bothered that he's that far from home because all he wants to do is play football and if it means leaving home and being in a place which is completely different to where he's from, he'll do it. "He's not bothered about the whole fame side of it and he's not bothered what people think of him. "He is only just bothered about scoring goals and doing well for his team, doing well for his country, and you've got to love him for that." However, rumours of their breakup comes after Palmer admitted he has been having a "difficult time" recently. After scoring against Palmeiras in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup, Palmer ran over to the Chelsea bench to celebrate with teammate Tosin Adabioyo. And when asked about the celebration, Palmer explained: "That's my boy. Obviously, I've had a difficult time these past whatever months on and off the pitch, but he's always been there for me and he's helped me a lot. "So, yeah, I just thought I'd go over to him."
Observer
3 hours ago
- Health
- Observer
Trump diagnosed with vein issue
Washington - US President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a common, benign vein condition, the White House said Thursday, following speculation about his heavily bruised hand and swollen legs. The 79-year-old, who in January became the oldest person ever to assume the presidency, was found to have "chronic venous insufficiency," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. The widely noted discoloration on Trump's right hand, meanwhile, was "tissue irritation from frequent handshaking" and the use of aspirin as part of a standard cardiovascular treatment, she said. Presidential physician Sean Barbabella said Trump "remains in excellent health" despite the condition, in a letter released by the White House. The Republican frequently boasts of his good health and energy levels, while the administration recently even posted an image depicting him as Superman. Trump has alleged that Democrats covered up the mental and physical decline of his predecessor, Joe Biden, who was 82 when he left office in January. Now, Trump, who said after undergoing a routine medical check-up that he was in "very good shape," has been forced to answer questions about his health. Leavitt's revelations follow widespread online discussions about the president's visibly swollen ankles, seen in particular at the recent FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, and a bruised hand that often appeared to be covered with make-up. "In recent weeks, President Trump noted mild swelling in his lower legs," Leavitt said, adding that he was examined by White House doctors "out of an abundance of caution." Ultrasound tests "revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70." The condition involves damaged leg veins that fail to keep blood flowing properly. Leavitt said Trump had asked her to share the diagnosis "in the effort of transparency." - 'Pretty common' - Dr. Matt Heinz, an internist and hospitalist from Tucson, Arizona, told AFP that chronic venous insufficiency is "pretty common," especially in older adults. It results from the venous valves becoming less effective. "It comes with age, gravity, and obesity doesn't help if that's a condition that people suffer from. I know the president's been losing some weight, though, so I think that's probably a little better," he said. The White House pressed home its message that the condition did not pose a serious risk to Trump, saying that "importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease." Trump had "normal cardiac structure and function, no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness," added Leavitt. Of the hand bruising issue, Leavitt said: "This is a well-known and benign side effect of aspirin therapy." For months, however, the White House had previously dismissed questions about Trump's bruised hand, saying that it was purely down to handshaking. The health of US presidents has always been closely watched, but with the White House seeing its two oldest ever occupants since 2017, the scrutiny is now heavier than ever . Biden's health was a key issue in the 2024 election, and the then-president was forced to drop his campaign for a second term after a disastrous debate performance against Trump. Republicans in the House of Representatives have issued subpoenas to several Biden aides, including his doctor, to get them to testify in an investigation into the Democrat's mental fitness. Biden was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in May. As far as Trump was concerned, his condition was likely to be treated with compression socks, activity, and maybe weight loss, rather than any "invasive" treatment such as prosthetic valves, Heinz said. Swelling could indicate something more serious, such as heart issues, "but I don't have that information."
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool STRIPPED of status as world champions with Fifa announcing new name for titles they won
M ANCHESTER UNITED, Liverpool and Man City, all previous winners of the Club World Cup , have been dethroned of their titles. Fifa has named Chelsea as the 'first ever' FIFA Club World Cup Champions. 9 Manchester City won the Club World Cup in 2023 but the name has been changed now Credit: Rex 9 Manchester United were the first British team to win the competition in 2008 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 9 Liverpool also won the competition in Doha in 2019 Credit: Getty 9 Chelsea won the tournament this summer Credit: Getty In a jaw-dropping final, the Blues stunned favourites Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-1 victory last Sunday night. It was a Cole Palmer masterclass as the Chelsea forward bagged a brace and assisted another. But it's not just the trophy that Chelsea took home, their win has shifted all the history books as well. In a bombshell move, Fifa has now rebranded all former Club World Cup titles as the FIFA Intercontinental Championship . READ MORE FOOTBALL That means the likes of Liverpool, Man United and even Barcelona are no longer officially world champions. The Club World Cup had its roots back in 2000 before making a grand return in 2005 and going annual until 2023. In a dramatic overhaul, the competition expanded to 32 teams for the first time this summer. Before Chelsea's win on Sunday, four English clubs had lifted the trophy. Most read in Football 9 Cole Palmer stole the show and even Donald Trump was impressed Credit: Getty 9 Sanchez and the US president went viral after the game Credit: Reuters 9 Cole Palmer was the undisputed star of the show JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS But now, their titles are nothing but a footnote, with Chelsea claiming the new era. Fifa confirmed the shake-up with a proud social media post: "The first-ever FIFA CWC Champions." Donald Trump reveals he's keeping Club World Cup trophy after gatecrashing Chelsea celebrations as Blues get replica It wasn't just the game that turned heads, Donald Trump made an unexpected appearance, with his First Lady Melania and Fifa boss Gianni Infantino in tow. The President, who was given the royal treatment took centre stage during the trophy presentation. Trump, visibly out of his element, was booed by parts of the crowd. But he took it all in stride even handing Robert Sanchez the tournament's Golden Glove Award. Then came an awkward moment between Trump and Chelsea's hero of the match, Cole Palmer . Lip-read expert Jeremy Freeman claims Trump praised Palmer for his performance, saying: "Chelsea's biggest fan. I'm a big fan of you. So well done, you." Palmer, known for being shy with the press, responded simply with a polite ' Thank you' before heading back to his team. The most bizarre moment came when Trump, not reading the room, refused to leave the stage after handing the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James . Fifa's Gianni Infantino could be seen frantically trying to usher Trump off, but the President wasn't budging, standing next to the players as they tried to celebrate. James, in a moment of confusion, asked Trump for permission to lift the trophy. Chelsea's victory marks the dawn of a new era and evidence that owners model of buying youngster can be beneficial financially as well as winning on the field. They won the Europa Conference League and secured Champions League football by finishing fourth in the league before their Club World Cup win. 9 This Chelsea team ended the season strongly with a major win Credit: AP 9 Chelsea have gone from a laughing stock to kings of the world in months Credit: Getty
