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John Torode, who has presented BBC’s MasterChef with Gregg Wallace since it was revived as MasterChef Goes Large in 2005, said he had “no recollection of the incident”

John Torode says he is “shocked and saddened” by the allegation he used racist language working on MasterChef.

The presenter, who has hosted the BBC show with Gregg Wallace since it was revived as MasterChef Goes Large in 2005, insists he has “absolutely no recollection” of the incident, which was upheld as part of a review into the behaviour of Wallace.

Wallace, 60, was sacked last week after a nearly year-long investigation into misconduct claims. Some 50 made fresh misconduct claims against the TV presenter, according to BBC News, though Wallace denied all allegations.

Now, it has emerged two standalone allegations were made against other people, one of which was the use of racist language made by 59-year-old Torode. Speaking last night in the wake of the fresh developments, another blow to the MasterChef brand, Torode said: “Following publication of the Executive Summary of the investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld.

“For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion. The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.

“I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”

READ MORE: MasterChef’s new host Grace Dent savaged show and dished up Gregg Wallace barbs

The chef, who has also been a regular on This Morning, posted his piece on Instagram following Wallace’s statement, in which he said he was “deeply sorry for any distress caused”. The entrepreneur, originally from Peckham, southeast London, added he “never set out to harm or humiliate” in the wake of the report, which said one allegation of “unwelcome physical contact” was upheld. In all, 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated, the report by MasterChef production company Banijay UK and led by law firm Lewis Silkin found.

As soon as the investigation into the historical allegations of misconduct was opened last year, Wallace stepped down from his role on the BBC programme. Yet, in a statement last week, the father of three made a reference to “trial by media” – despite dozens of allegations being upheld.

“For eight months, my family and I have lived under a cloud. Trial by media, fuelled by rumour and clickbait. None of the serious allegations against me were upheld. I challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended,” Wallace, who has also been on Saturday Kitchen, said.

The report found that the “majority of the allegations against Mr Wallace (94%) related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018”, with only one allegation substantiated after 2018. MasterChef returned to our screens in 2005 – after a four-year break – under the guise of MasterChef Goes Large and has since been branded as MasterChef. Two Christmas specials scheduled to air in the festive period last year were pulled by the BBC amid the investigation.

CHANTELLE CAMERON takes on Jessica Camara in a HUGE clash at Madison Square Garden.

Cameron and Camara come to blows on the undercard of the hotly anticipated Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3 card in New York.

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34-year-old British boxer Cameron comes into the clash with a record of 20-1-0, having won her last two fights.

Cameron has recently had two fights against Katie Taylor, beating her in 2023 to hand her a first and only loss in her career, before Taylor came back and won the rematch later in 2023.

Camara comes into the fight with a record of 14-4-1, most recently drawing with Caroline Dubois in January of 2025, but had won four consecutive bouts prior to the draw.

SunSport has everything you need to know ahead of the pair clashing at MSG.

When is Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica Camara?

• Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica Camara will take place THIS Friday, June 11.
• The clash is one of the earlier fights on the card, so ringwalks are expected around 12am BST.

How can I watch Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica Camara and is there a live stream?

• Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica Camara will be broadcast LIVE on Netflix as part of the Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3 card.
• The huge trilogy bout will come at no additional cost to Netflix subscription holders.
• If you don’t hold a Netflix subscription, packages start from £5.99 per month, with the most expensive membership priced at £18.99.
• Alternatively, SunSport will live blog the action as it happens.

How to get tickets for Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica Camara

Limited tickets for Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3 card, including the Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica Camara clash, are still available via Ticketmaster.

Secondary tickets are also available on StubHub.

**Please note that StubHub and similar secondary ticket resale sites may list tickets above face value.

Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica Camara full card

• Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano; undisputed women’s junior welterweight championship
• Alycia Baumgardner vs Jennifer Miranda; WBO, WBC & WBA super-featherweight titles
• Savannah Marshall vs Shadasia Green; IBF & WBO super-middleweight titles
• Ellie Scotney vs Yamileth Mercado; IBF, WBO & WBC super-bantamweight titles
• Chantelle Cameron vs Jessica Camara; Interim WBC World female super lightweight title
• Cherneka Johnson vs Shuretta Metcalf; IBF, WBC & WBO bantamweight world titles
• Tamm Thibeault vs Mary Casamassa
• Ramla Ali vs Lita Furtado

Loose Women is among ITV’s daytime shows that are facing budget cuts in the coming months as insiders warn the show will be completely stripped back from its usual setup

Loose Women is facing its biggest shake-up in decades, with dramatic changes that have left fans and cast members reeling as insiders fear the ITV favourite could be axed altogether within the next year.

The iconic lunchtime chat show, known for its bold debates and A-list guests, is expected to cut celebrity interviews completely from January as part of sweeping budget cuts across ITV Daytime. The move comes just months after bosses announced the show would only air for 30 weeks of the year rather than its usual 52, slashing production time nearly in half.

Now, with viewing figures predicted to tumble even further, sources claim Loose Women is “on borrowed time” as ITV pivots its focus to sister shows Lorraine and This Morning.

READ MORE: Good Morning Britain host announces break from ITV show and will be off air for weeks

“It’s a real shame. In January, the programme will become a shell of its former self before it is inevitably cancelled altogether,” one TV insider told Mail Online.

No more celebrity guests

Over its 25 year history, Loose Women has welcomed some of the world’s biggest stars to the panel – from Naomi Campbell and Janet Jackson to Dame Joan Collins and even former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

But sources claim the show will no longer feature famous faces promoting their projects because there won’t be enough staff to manage guests behind the scenes.

Instead, those high-profile bookings will now reportedly be prioritised for Lorraine and This Morning, leaving Loose Women to rely solely on its panel discussions of the day’s news and lifestyle topics.

“Not having guests is a big blow for both the presenters and viewers at home,” an insider revealed.

“The celebrity interviews are often one of the highlights of the show and bring a unique energy you don’t get on other programmes. It feels like a strange decision to cut them altogether.”

Behind the scenes, the panel – including long-serving stars like Nadia Sawalha, Ruth Langsford and Coleen Nolan – are said to be “deeply upset” by the changes.

Studio audience scrapped

The cuts don’t stop there. Loose Women has already axed its live studio audience, a move that has left both the panel and crew heartbroken.

Nadia Sawalha admitted she was “totally devastated” at the loss of the audience and spoke out in support of her close friend and warm-up artist Lee Peart, who lost his job as a result.

“The audience is so important for the show,” Nadia said. “What a lot of people don’t realise is that we’re self-employed. Every contract is a new contract – I could be let go tomorrow or in five years. It’s brutal.”

She added: “Hundreds of people are going to be made redundant out of the blue. A lot of my friends and colleagues on this show and at ITV have been there for decades, and I can’t tell you how upsetting it was to see people walking around numb with shock and fear about what they were going to do.”

Reason behind changes

ITV bosses have blamed “insane inflation” and rising costs for the daytime cuts, which have also seen Lorraine halved to 30 minutes and reduced to term-time broadcasts.

In May, ITV confirmed that production of Good Morning Britain will shift to a dedicated team at ITV News, while Loose Women, Lorraine, and This Morning will merge behind-the-scenes teams to save costs.

But industry insiders warn that these measures will likely spell the end for Loose Women.

An ITV spokesperson said: “The Loose Women team is still working on the show and its content for next year.”

READ MORE: Amazon slashes ‘superb’ and ‘easy to use’ Lavazza coffee machine to under £50 in rare deal

Emmerdale and Coronation Street face a huge schedule change this week as ITV continue with their sports coverage. Here’s when you’ll find Emmerdale and Coronation Street on this week

Emmerdale and Coronation Street fans face a huge shake-up this week as the soaps move times for the football. As usually happens, the soaps have been displaced this week on ITV to allow for the airing of various football matches.

Those hoping to kick off their week with some Emmerdale and Coronation Street will be sorely disappointed as both soaps won’t air on Monday due to back to back football coverage. The same will apply for Wednesday, with no soaps on.

On Tuesday, viewers will be treated to a trip to the Dales whilst on Thursday, soap fans who love the drama in the Woolpack and the chaos on the Cobbles will get two full hours of soaps – one hour from each programme.

Friday is the only day where the soaps will air as normal, with Emmerdale airing at 7.30pm and Coronation Street airing for its usual hour slot at 8pm. There will be no soaps on the weekend, despite ‘missing’ episodes.

Usually we get three hours of Coronation Street every week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and three hours of Emmerdale every week (half an hour each day and an hour on Thursday). However, this week, we will only get two hours of Emmerdale and two hours of Coronation Street across the five days.

This actually aligns more with the plans for the soaps from 2026. From next January, the soaps have been cut by half an hour each. Instead of airing at their current pattern, there will be a ‘power hour’ of soaps.

Emmerdale episodes will air at 8pm, and Coronation Street episodes will air at 8.30pm. These will air in half an hour slots from 2026, meaning the soaps will be cut down by half an hour each each week.

Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, said: “This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30 minute drama this successfully.

“It creates a soap power hour that’s consistent, and easy to find in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps. This new commissioning pattern will mean five hours of soaps a week, rather than the current six. We are conscious this will have an impact for the people who work on the soaps team. We will support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes, and will do what we can to mitigate the impact on our people.”

Emmerdale and Coronation Street’s full soap schedule for this week:

Monday: No soaps

Tuesday: Emmerdale 7.30pm

Wednesday: No soaps

Thursday: Emmerdale 7.30pm (hour long episode), Coronation Street 9pm

Friday: Emmerdale 7.30pm, Coronation Street 8pm

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Strictly Come Dancing 2025 is only a few months away and rumours are already rife about who will be strutting their stuff in sequins on the much-loved BBC series

It seems like only yesterday that Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell waltzed away with the Glitterball trophy, but the new series of Strictly Come Dancing is only a few months away. The BBC often reveals its line-up of celebrity contestants in August, but that hans’t stopped the rumour mill from churning.

A whole host of famous faces are said to be on the top of producers’ lists this year, including Sort Your Life Out star, Stacey Solomon, and Love Island winner, Dani Dyer, who recently tied the knot with West Ham player, Jarrod Bowen. So, as we wait and see who will be strutting their stuff on the dance floor when the new series kicks off in September, here’s the rumoured line-up, starting with mum-of-five, and DIY enthusiast Stacey Solomon…

Stacey Solomon

Stacey is among many names said to be lined up for Strictly. The Sort Your Life Out star, 35, has a whole host of reality TV shows under her belt, including I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, which she won.

The plucky DIY enthusiast also has a fly-on-the-wall show with husband, Joe Swash called Stacey and Joe. In the series, filmed in Pickle Cottage, the pair navigate marriage and parenthood with their combined brood of six kids.

Dani Dyer

Fresh from her marriage to West Ham star, Jarrod Bowen, Danny Dyer’s daughter, Dani, could be coming to Strictly. The mum-of-three won Love Island and has a popular podcast with her famous dad in which they discuss all manner of things with refreshing honesty.

Dani, 28, gained a huge following after Love Island and as a proud parent of three kids, including twin girls, Summer and Star, she would be a great addition to the show as a working mum.

Paul C. Brunson

Married At First Sight guru, Paul C. Brunson, 50, is a huge hit with fans after dishing out advice on the popular Channel 4 dating show. He is also has a successful podcast, We Need To Talk, in which he interviews a host of celebrities, who wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Referring to the scandals that have plagued Strictly in recent years, a source told The Sun: “Paul would be the ideal tonic to the dark clouds over Strictly as he’s clean-cut, very intelligent and has no scandals to worry about.”

Vicky Pattison- Ramadan

Geordie Shore star, Vicky, 37, is also rumoured to be in the line-up and has a load of experience on TV. Since shooting to fame on Geordie Shore, she has carved out a successful career, appearing on shows, including I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, which she won in 2015.

She got married to husband Ercan Ramadan last year in two ceremonies, including a lavish bash in Italy, which was attended by the couple’s famous pals.

Ashley Cain

Ex On The Beach star, Ashley Cain, 34, could also be slipping into sequins in September. The former footballer, who has load of reality TV experience, is said to have also impressed BBC bosses with his presenting work.

A source told The Mirror: “He’s a proper character with a very interesting background that looks the part. He would be a great addition to the Strictly line-up. He’s presented a couple of BBC shows and has really impressed.”

Tom Parker-Bowles

Queen Camilla’s son, Tom, 50 is said to be top of Strictly bosses’ wish lists. The food critic has published a number of books, including titles for posh shop, Fortnum and Mason.

Tom is the Queen’s oldest child child from her first marriage to retired Army officer Andrew Parker-Bowles.

Angellica Bell

Fresh from her stint on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, Kids TV star, Angellica, 49, could be lining up for some more screen time.

The TV presenter has expressed her interest in taking part in Strictly, having recently told The Sun: “So people have done it and say it’s really good. So when I’ve had, like, in-depth conversations with people who are my friends and they say it’s great, I would definitely go from their recommendation. And they always say, oh, you should do it.”

The Mirror has contacted the BBC for comment.

* Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

READ MORE: Kickers’ ‘durable’ Back to School shoe range that ‘last all year’

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An epic all-European clash and an upstart Brazilian side takes on London’s finest in the final four.

Three European teams and one from South America have their sights set on the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) 2025 trophy as the tournament enters the semifinal stage on Tuesday.

The final two clubs qualified for the final four on Saturday. UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) spectacularly defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarterfinals despite being reduced to nine men. Five-time CWC winners Real Madrid played out a five-goal thriller to beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 to seal their semifinal spot.

Here’s how the Club World Cup semifinals line up:

⚽ First semifinal : Fluminense vs Chelsea

When: Tuesday at 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

The opening semifinal pitches Brazil’s Fluminense against English Premier League side Chelsea.

Fluminense continue to impress at the CWC with goals from Matheus Martinelli and Hercules securing their place in the last four with a 2-1 win against Al Hilal in Orlando, Florida.

Chelsea scored the go-ahead goal on Malo Gusto’s 83rd-minute shot, which went in after a pair of deflections, beating Palmeiras 2-1 on Friday night to secure their spot in the semifinals.

Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead in the 16th minute, but Estevao, an 18-year-old who will transfer to Chelsea after the CWC, tied the score against his future club in the 53rd. Gusto’s match-winning shot after a short corner kick that appeared to deflect off defender Agustin Giay and goalkeeper Weverton sent the Chelsea fans among the 65,782 spectators into a frenzy.

The match will take place at the 88,000-seat MetLife Stadium just outside New York City.

⚽ Second semifinal: PSG vs Real Madrid

When: Wednesday at 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Where: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

The second semifinal features a mouthwatering European heavyweight matchup between PSG and Real Madrid.

Nine-man Paris Saint-Germain advanced after defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 with goals from Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele keeping the French side on track to achieve a historic quadruple of major titles in one season.

Luis Enrique’s side needed to dig deep in front of 67,000 fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, after late red cards for Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez.

Meanwhile, Gonzalo Garcia scored his fourth goal of the Club World Cup and Kylian Mbappe his first as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in the final quarterfinal on Saturday.

Garcia put Madrid ahead from close range early on during a hot afternoon at the MetLife Stadium, and Fran Garcia then doubled their lead before the midway point.

Dortmund never seriously threatened a comeback before a remarkable late flurry of activity with Maximilian Beier pulling one back in the 93rd minute and superstar forward Mbappe registering Madrid’s third goal with a stunning overhead kick.

Mbappe, who has battled illness for most of the CWC, will face his previous club PSG for the first time since he departed the Paris-based side for Real Madrid in June 2024.

The final will be played on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium, which will also the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

The winning team in the Club World Cup could pocket as much as $125m in prize money.

The #FIFACWC final four…

BUY TICKETS | https://t.co/QE1Z92ZlhG pic.twitter.com/Qnyji7YLE0

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 5, 2025

The budget airline has announced a change to luggage limits for free baggage – which will come into action in just a few weeks – here’s everything you need to know

Europe’s biggest budget airline, Ryanair, has revealed a huge change to luggage limits for free baggage, set to be implemented in weeks.

At present, the airline allows a carry-on bag measuring 40 x 25 x 20cm on board at no extra charge, offering a volume of 20 litres. But soon, travellers will be able to pack a little more generously as the new dimensions will change to 40 x 30 x 20cm – effectively increasing the volume to 24 litres.

This increase in the free allowance is a response to an initiative by the European Commission to encourage airlines across Europe to standardise. In a statement, Ryanair confirmed the change and said it would be introduced in time for the summer holidays in a few weeks.

A spokesperson said: “Ryanair’s current free ‘personal bag’ size is 40 x 25 x 20cm. Following the new EU minimum bag size of 40 x 30 x 15cm, Ryanair will increase its max ‘personal bag’ dimensions to 40 x 30 x 20cm, so that Ryanair’s ‘personal bag’ allowance is bigger than the EU standard.

READ MORE: Ryanair axes 170 flights as France air traffic control strikes spark holiday chaos

“This change will be implemented over the coming weeks, as our airport bag sizers are adjusted.” The spokesperson confirmed that the expanded luggage limit would be free, reports Belfast Live.

Airlines for Europe (A4E) has been in discussions with the transport commissioner in Brussels, Adina Vălean, about making life simpler for passengers. The organisation says that “all A4E airlines will roll out the guaranteed dimensions and have them in place by the end of the 2025 summer season.”

Ourania Georgoutsakou, the organisation’s managing director, added: “This will align A4E members with the decision of member states made last month and bring more clarity to passengers across Europe. From city-hoppers to family travellers, everyone will benefit from the same clear rule across our members’ networks.”

Despite the new “standardised” baggage dimensions, most airlines are set to carry on with their current practices. British Airways, Jet2, and easyJet already offer allowances that surpass these dimensions.

According to The Independent, an easyJet spokesperson confirmed their dimensions will remain the same, at 45 x 36 x 20cm, giving a maximum volume of 32 litres. British Airways and Jet2 currently offer a slightly similar size of 40 x 30 x 15cm for a small bag that fits underneath the seat in front.

Additionally, British Airways also offers the option of taking a 56 x 45 x 25cm cabin bag onboard for free. As it stands, Ryanair appears to be the only major airline set to make the change.

The adjustment in rules will require recalibration at all airport sizing stations, which means passengers with previously acceptable luggage will now have to shop for new ones.

Last month saw MEPs advocating for airlines to allow two pieces of cabin luggage per passenger. However, airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air staunchly oppose this, citing impracticality.

The EU Parliament’s transport committee has also endorsed an amendment aiming to scrap charges for small carry-on items. Under a prospective new EU regulation, passengers would have the right to carry handbags up to 7kg free of additional fees.

A number of airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air, presently charge extra for larger cabin bags intended for the overhead locker as part of their standard fares, with only a small under-seat bag included in the basic ticket price.

Under the proposed policy, passengers would be entitled to one free cabin bag weighing up to 7kg and not exceeding 100cms in size, in addition to a smaller personal item that can fit under the seat. This policy would apply to all flights to and from the EU, including routes between the EU and the UK.

When asked for a comment, Ryanair referred to a statement by Airlines for Europe regarding the EU’s plans, stating: “Airlines for Europe (A4E) today confirmed that its member airlines have started applying the guaranteed set of dimensions of 40 × 30 × 15 cm for the item of cabin baggage that usually is placed under the seat in front- the ‘personal item’- agreed by member states last month.

“The agreement reached on June 5, 2025, sets out the dimensions of the personal item, which passengers can already bring into the cabin at no extra cost. It is defined as an unchecked bag with “dimensions of 40 × 30 × 15 cm”.”

All A4E airlines are set to introduce guaranteed cabin-bag dimensions by the end of the 2025 summer season. Carriers will still have the freedom to allow larger personal items, as many already do.

READ MORE: Large garden parasol with LED solar lights reduced by £85 at little-known retailer

EXPLAINER

Two all-European clashes, Brazilian flair and a Saudi surprise form the last-eight clashes of the Club World Cup.

Eight teams from across three continents have their sights set on the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 trophy as the tournament enters the second stage of its knockout matches.

After an extra-time thriller, two major upsets, three close encounters and two thumping wins, the quarterfinal lineup for the tournament has been completed as Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund became the last two teams to seal their spots.

The last-eight stage pits four European giants against each other, provides a Middle Eastern club the chance to build on their deserved success and two Brazilian teams the opportunity to take the continent further.

Here’s how the Club World Cup quarterfinal lineup looks:

⚽ First quarterfinal : Fluminense vs Al Hilal

When: Friday, July 4 at 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

Emotions will run high and the stands will be replete with colour and noise when one of Brazil’s oldest football clubs take on Saudi Arabia’s football giants Al Hilal at the 65,000-capacity venue in Florida.

Al Hilal will ride on the high of beating the tournament’s defending champions Manchester City 4-3 in an extra-time thriller in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history on Tuesday.

Their Brazilian opponents, too, achieved similar success as they ousted Italian giants and UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan in a 2-0 win.

There will be no lack of noise and colour when fans of the two underdogs descend upon the Camping World Stadium on Friday.

⚽ Second quarterfinal : Palmeiras vs Chelsea

When: Friday, July 4 at 9pm (01:00 GMT, July 5 )
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Palmeiras, the second Brazilian club to enter the quarterfinals, will face the former English champions Chelsea in Friday’s second quarterfinal in Philadelphia.

Runners-up in the last season of Serie A, the top tier of Brazil’s club football, Palmeiras beat compatriots Botafogo in a heated clash in the round of 16 and have been one of the strongest defensive lineups in the tournament.

Their opponents, who won the Club World Cup in 2021, will look to move past a disappointing season at home and enter the business end of the competition for a chance to lift a trophy.

The last-eight clash will be the final match held at the 69,000-capacity Lincoln Field stadium.

The winner will face the team that emerges victorious from the Al Hilal vs Fluminense match in the first semifinal.

⚽ Third quarterfinal : PSG vs Bayern Munich

When: Saturday, July 5 at 12pm (16:00 GMT)
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Arguably, the biggest clash of the quarterfinals pits two of the three title favourites remaining in the competition.

A win over German giants Bayern will consolidate European champions PSG‘s pedigree as one of the biggest clubs in the world and offer them a chance to complete a sensational season quadruple.

Bayern are the joint top goal-scoring team in the competition, with 16 goals in their four games so far, but their attack will be tested against the French champions at the 75,000-capacity stadium in Georgia.

⚽ Fourth quarterfinal: Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

When: Saturday, July 5 at 4pm (20:00 GMT)
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

The undisputed kings of the Club World Cup will come face-to-face with the German team that consistently finds itself amongst the best European clubs.

Real have welcomed back their star forward Kylian Mbappe and will hope he returns to his goalscoring form in a tough last-eight clash against a talented Dortmund team.

The match at the tournament’s biggest stadium and the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final will provide a test for the organisers, whether they can fill up a huge stadium with fans of one of the most widely followed clubs in the world.

The winner of this clash will meet the winner of the PSG-Bayern match in the second semifinal.

Next up: #FIFACWC Quarter-Finals. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/T49Cj3bOOy

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) July 2, 2025

The Candace Curse struck early.

On a day the Sparks retired the jersey of the superstar whose departure has coincided with their five-year funk, Candace Parker nearly missed her pregame news conference.

With a room full of media types eager to write that rare positive Sparks story, Parker got caught in convention traffic and was so late that the game was starting and she took just five minutes’ worth of questions.

The Candace Curse struck late.

In the fourth quarter against the Chicago Sky at Crypto.com Arena, in front of a crowd waving yellow Candace Parker T-shirts, the Sparks did something they’ve been doing in bunches since Parker skipped town after the 2020 season.

They lost.

A dreary Sky team missing star Kamilla Cardoso still managed to beat a Sparks team filled with Parker inspiration, winning 92-85 with a fourth-quarter rally and turning what should have been the best day of the year into the worst loss of the season.

“It’s tough,” said the Sparks’ Emma Cannon.

Tough to play, tougher to watch, this being the Sparks’ 12th loss in 17 games as they spiral toward their familiar spot in the bottom of the WNBA standings.

This was once a special franchise, as the classy halftime jersey retirement ceremony for Parker reminded everyone, with Lisa Leslie introducing and Parker embracing and the standing crowd a little teary.

This is now a blight of a franchise, as the surrounding 40 minutes of basketball reminded everyone, the Sparks playing hard but sorely lacking in talent, direction and any sort of playoff future.

In the final five of Parker’s 13 seasons here, the team went 108-50 and reached the Finals twice while winning their third championship.

In the five years since then, they are 55-110 and haven’t reached the playoffs.

If that’s not a curse, it’s a mighty powerful coincidence.

History shows that it could have been, and should have been, so much different.

Parker, a two-time MVP and seven-time All-Star, should have played her entire career here. She never should have left as a free agent. Like Leslie, she should have been a Spark forever.

“No idea how they let her get away,” said Leslie to The Times’ Anthony De Leon.

The jersey of former Sparks player Candace Parker is displayed during her jersey retirement ceremony.

(Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)

She left because of problems with then-coach Derek Fisher, because of the Penny Toler postgame-tirade controversy, because the organization had already begun its downward spiral.

If the Mark Walter-led ownership group had been paying attention, she would have stayed a Spark. If the owners put the same effort they put into running the Dodgers, the issues would have been handled and Parker would have been prioritized. She was not, and then she was gone.

“The culture was toxic…I was part of that culture and had been absorbed in that toxicity,” Parker wrote in her book, “The Can-do Mindset.”

She also left because she wanted to play near her Chicago-area hometown, and she later bolted there for Las Vegas, and won titles in both places when she should have been winning them here. Here’s guessing she would have rather won them here, as Sunday she acknowledged Los Angeles had become her home.

“L.A. isn’t just about ball,” she told the crowd during the halftime ceremony. “For me anymore, it’s now where we call home and we will forever call home. So thank you so much, I love you all, I’m so appreciative, and I can’t believe it. Thank you all. Thank you.”

One can’t blame her if she no longer recognizes her former team. The Sparks no longer have a superstar, a deep bench, a championship hope in hell.

Full disclosure: I am a Sparks honk. I’m such a fan that my daughter MC and I have partial season tickets.

Also full disclosure: When picking our seats for this season, we had a choice to sit behind either bench, so we took the ones behind the visiting bench. The visitors always have more stars, the visitors are always more fun.

Certainly, these Sparks have some shining moments. Kelsey Plum works as hard as any star in any local sport, Azurá Stevens is one of the league’s underrated forces and Dearica Hamby is solid.

But a series of lousy draft picks and a lack of an attractive infrastructure — that imaginary permanent practice facility is being built any day now! — have kept them from acquiring the sort of superstars that carry teams in crunch time, the kind of difference-makers this town deserves.

“I feel like we’re right there,” Plum told me before Sunday’s game. “We’re young, we lack depth and cohesion, those things take time, I have faith that throughout the season we’ll continue to build.”

Plum has been an outstanding addition since coming here last winter in a trade, she works harder in pregame warmups than some players during the entire game, but what she’s saying, we’ve heard before.

Candace Parker was a two-time MVP, rookie of the year and led the Sparks to the 2016 title in her 13 seasons with the team.

(Associated Press)

The latest spin is that the Sparks’ No. 2 overall draft pick Cameron Brink will make a big difference when she returns from knee surgery later this summer. But she didn’t make a huge difference early last season when she played. Their other top draft pick from last season, Rickea Jackson, scored six points Sunday and has basically been a bust.

Barring the signing of a major free agent — who wants to play on a team with no permanent home? — there’s not much help coming next year because they’ve traded their first-round pick.

So their motto should be…Waiting for JuJu?

It’s all so depressing, especially on a day that should have been so uplifting.

Before the game, new coach Lynne Roberts — her honeymoon is already over — called this a “must-win.”

Since the Candace Curse, that has meant, “About to lose.”

England will look to hold on to their crown when the 14th edition of the UEFA European Women’s Championship, or Women’s Euro 2025, begins in Switzerland on Wednesday.

The continent’s top nations will compete over the course of the 26-day tournament across eight host cities.

Here’s everything you need to know about the championship:

When and where is Euro 2025?

Switzerland is playing host to the Women’s Euro for the first time.

The tournament begins in Thun on Wednesday, July 2 and concludes in Basel on Sunday, July 27.

How many countries are participating in the Women’s Euro 2025?

Of the 51 national women’s bodies associated with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), 16 have qualified for the championship.

They will be divided into four groups:

Group A

• Switzerland
• Norway
• Iceland
• Finland

Group B

• Spain
• Portugal
• Belgium
• Italy

Group C

• Germany
• Poland
• Denmark
• Sweden

Group D

• France
• England
• Wales
• Netherlands

Which teams are favourites to win Women’s Euro 2025?

Apart from holders England and world champions Spain, former Olympic gold medal winners Germany are firm favourites to lift the trophy. Here’s a brief look at each team’s pedigree:

• England: The defending champions will gain confidence from their top rank in UEFA’s rankings heading into the tournament. Under the leadership of their trusted coach, Sarina Wiegman, the Lionesses enter the tournament on the back of mixed results in their UEFA Nations League matches. The young-looking squad will lean on the experienced Lucy Bronze, who will be playing in her fourth Euro, as they look to build on the success of their predecessors.
• Spain: Arguably the most exciting women’s team to watch thanks to their prowess in front of the goal, Spain are the current world champions. The women in red and gold would like to one up their men’s team of the early 2010s by winning the Euro on top of a World Cup title. La Roja have won five of their six competitive matches in 2025, scoring 21 goals in the process.
• Germany: Germans are the undeniable queens of European football, having won the tournament on a whopping eight occasions, including six consecutive titles from 1995 to 2013. Also the world champions twice, they are another in-form team, having won five of their six games in 2025 with 26 goals scored and only three conceded.

Will Aitana Bonmati play in Euro 2025?

Up until Friday, Bonmati’s participation in the tournament was unquestionable as the superstar midfielder is the centrepiece of the Spanish side. However, the 27-year-old tested positive for viral meningitis and was hospitalised in Madrid.

The Spanish football federation, RFEF, however, is hopeful that the star player will return to the squad in a few days despite not being part of the contingent travelling to Switzerland on Sunday.

“After several days hospitalised with viral meningitis, Aitana Bonmati has been discharged from the hospital and will join the Spanish national team in the coming days,” RFEF said in a brief statement.

The Barcelona player, winner of the Ballon d’Or award in 2023 and 2024, posted a photo from her hospital bed on social media on Sunday, giving a thumbs-up and stating: “Fortunately, everything is going well. I hope to return soon.”

Bonmati has been pivotal for Spain, scoring 30 goals in 78 appearances and helping them win the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and last year’s UEFA Nations League.

Gracias a tod@s por los mensajes recibidos y a l@s que me habéis ayudado estos días. Afortunadamente todo va bien, espero volver pronto. 💪🏼⚔️🧠

Gràcies a totes i tots, us he sentit a prop❤️ pic.twitter.com/GV6ORVEn8i

— Aitana Bonmatí Conca (@AitanaBonmati) June 29, 2025

Who are the key players to watch at Euro 2025?

• Ewa Pajor (Poland): The Barcelona forward is ranked among the world’s top strikers and has scored 43 goals in her 45 appearances for the club in the past season. She has won more than 100 caps for her country, scoring 68 goals in the process and has been named the nation’s top women’s player on five occasions. The tournament debutantes will rely on Pajor’s red-hot form to see them through to the knockouts and beyond.
• Alexia Putellas (Spain): Arguably one of the greatest women to play the game, Putellas will be the mainstay of Spain’s midfield and attack as the world champions seek a third title. The Barcelona player had another incredible season for the Spanish champions, scoring 17 goals in 25 appearances to add to her control of the team’s midfield. Putellas missed out on the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 and would like to make up for it with a Euro win.
• Klara Buhl (Germany): The German winger has been playing for the European giants Bayern Munich since 2020 and has made 102 appearances. Making her international debut in 2019, Buhl has scored 28 goals for Germany in 67 games. She will be among the top young players at the 2025 championship.
• Lauren James (England): Another bright young European footballer, James has swiftly climbed up the ranks in Wiegman’s squad. The 23-year-old will have plenty of eyes on her as she leads England’s attack in Switzerland. She scored 22 goals for Chelsea in the last season and has seven goals in 27 international appearances.

Who are the past winners of the Women’s Euro championships?

• 1984: Sweden
• 1987: Norway
• 1989: West Germany
• 1991: West Germany
• 1993: Norway
• 1995: Germany
• 1997: Germany
• 2001: Germany
• 2005: Germany
• 2009: Germany
• 2013: Germany
• 2017: Netherlands
• 2022: England

Where are the Women’s Euro 2025 venues?

From stadiums located in the heart of Switzerland’s main cities, to picturesque arenas sitting in the lap of the Alps, these are the eight venues hosting the championship:

• Basel (St Jakob-Park): The venue in Switzerland’s most populous city will host five games, including the home team’s opener, the last quarterfinal and the final. The 35,000-capacity stadium was opened in March 2001 and is the home ground for the city’s eponymous team in the Swiss league.
• Bern (Stadion Wankdorf): The 32,000-capacity home of the Young Boys football club was rebuilt on the site of the 1925-built Wankdorf Stadium, which hosted the famous “Miracle of Bern” FIFA World Cup 1954 final between West Germany and Hungary. It will host four Women’s Euro 2025 fixtures, including the third quarterfinal.
• Geneva (Stade de Geneve): The venue was one of the co-hosts for the UEFA Euro 2008 and has also held rugby games. In the Women’s Euro 2025, the 30,000-capacity stadium will host five matches, including the first quarterfinal and the first semifinal.
• Lucerne (Allmend Stadion): The glittering golden structure of the Swissporarena stands out in the city of Lucerne and is home to its Swiss Super League side. It will host three group-stage games during the tournament.
• St Gallen (Arena St Gallen): The venue in the northwest of Switzerland can host close to 20,000 football fans. It will also host three group-stage games.
• Sion (Stade de Tourbillon): A picturesque football venue, the Stade de Tourbillon sits amid the Alps, overlooked by two prehistoric castles. It is the smallest venue by capacity, 9,570, and will host three group-stage games.
• Thun (Arena Thun): Spectators will have a view of a football match on the field and the Alps in the background when they attend one of the three group-stage games in Thun.
• Zurich (Stadion Letzigrund): The Stadion Letzigrund in Switzerland’s largest city will host three group-stage fixtures, as well as the second quarterfinal and the second semifinal. The home ground for two of the city’s football clubs has a capacity of more than 24,000.

What is the prize money for the Women’s Euro 2025?

According to UEFA, the total prize pot for the tournament is 41 million euros ($48m), more than double the 16 million euros (about $19m) given in 2022.

The champions can get a maximum of 5.1 million euros (about $6m) if they also win all three of their group-stage matches.

All 16 teams will receive a participation fee of 1.8 million euros ($2.1m).

How to buy tickets for the Women’s Euro 2025?

Tickets for all games go on sale at 09:00 GMT on every match day from the group stage up until the knockouts. They will be available on the UEFA ticketing website and start from 22 Swiss Francs ($27.5) and go up to 90 Swiss Francs ($112).

How to watch Euro 2025?

The tournament will be streamed live on the UEFA.tv website, as well as regional broadcasters and streaming services.

Al Jazeera Sport will provide live text and photo commentary stream for a selection of knockout matches, including the final.

What is the format and full match schedule of the Women’s Euro 2025?

Format: All four teams in each of the four groups will play each other once, and the top two teams will progress to the knockout stage, which begins with the quarterfinals.

⚽ Women’s Euro 2025 group stage schedule

Wednesday, July 2
Group A: Iceland vs Finland (16:00 GMT, Thun)
Group A: Switzerland vs Norway (19:00 GMT, Basel)

Thursday, July 3
Group B: Belgium vs Italy (16:00 GMT, Sion)
Group B: Spain vs Portugal (19:00 GMT, Bern)

Friday, July 4
Group C: Denmark vs Sweden (16:00 GMT, Geneva)
Group C: Germany vs Poland (19:00 GMT, St Gallen)

Saturday, July 5
Group D: Wales vs Netherlands (16:00 GMT, Lucerne)
Group D: France vs England (19:00 GMT, Zurich)

Sunday, July 6
Group A: Norway vs Finland (16:00 GMT, Sion)
Group A: Switzerland vs Iceland (19:00 GMT, Bern)

Monday, July 7
Group B: Spain vs Belgium (16:00 GMT, Thun)
Group B: Portugal vs Italy (19:00 GMT, Geneva)

Tuesday, July 8
Group C: Germany vs Denmark (16:00 GMT, Basel)
Group C: Poland vs Sweden (19:00 GMT, Lucerne)

Wednesday, July 9
Group D: England vs Netherlands (16:00 GMT, Zurich)
Group D: France vs Wales (19:00 GMT, St Gallen)

Thursday, July 10
Group A: Finland vs Switzerland (19:00 GMT, Geneva)
Group A: Norway vs Iceland (19:00 GMT, Thun)

Friday, July 11
Group B: Italy vs Spain (19:00 GMT, Bern)
Group B: Portugal vs Belgium (19:00 GMT, Sion)

Saturday, July 12
Group C: Sweden vs Germany (19:00 GMT, Zurich)
Group C: Poland vs Denmark (19:00 GMT, Lucerne)

Sunday, July 13
Group D: Netherlands vs France (19:00 GMT, Basel)
Group D: England vs Wales (19:00 GMT, St Gallen)

⚽ Women’s Euro 2025 quarterfinals

Wednesday, July 16
Winners of Group A vs Runners-up of Group B (Geneva, 19:00 GMT)

Thursday, July 17
Winners of Group C vs Runners-up of Group D (Zurich, 19:00 GMT)

Friday, July 18
Winners of Group B vs Runners-up of Group A (Bern, 19:00 GMT)

Saturday, July 19
Winners of Group D vs Runners-up of Group C (Basel, 19:00 GMT)

⚽ Women’s Euro 2025 semifinals

Tuesday, July 22
Winners of quarterfinal 3 vs winners of quarterfinal 1 (Geneva, 19:00 GMT)

Wednesday, July 23
Winners of quarterfinal 4 vs winners of quarterfinal 2 (Zurich, 19:00 GMT)

⚽ Women’s Euro 2025 final

Sunday, July 27
Winners of semifinal 1 vs winners of semifinal 2 (Basel, 19:00 GMT)

Former Sky News journalist Dermot Murnaghan has opened up about his journey with stage four prostate cancer, with an important message for other men. And it’s not the first time the sporty broadcaster has shared details about his health

Dermot Murnaghan has today revealed he has been diagnosed with stage four cancer. The 67-year-old broadcaster told how he’s undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, and urged other men to make sure they get themselves tested.

Praising his “outstanding medical team”, former Sky News reporter Dermot issued a statement via social media platform X, writing: “Some personal news……I’ve been diagnosed with Stage IV advanced prostate cancer I’m fortunate to have a simply outstanding medical team looking after me, who I can’t thank enough – they are administering the best possible care with expertise, compassion and sensitivity.”

He continued: “I’m responding positively to their excellent treatment and feeling well. I’m blessed to be fortified by the monumental love and support of my wife, family and close friends. Needless to say, my message to all men over 50, in high-risk groups, or displaying symptoms, is get yourself tested and campaign for routine prostate screening by the NHS.”

READ MORE: Dermot Murnaghan sends plea to men after devastating stage four cancer diagnosis

Journalist Dermot went on to share that, going forward, he hopes to participate in Sir Chris Hoy’s fundraising charity bike ride in Glasgow this September, encouraging followers to make a donation if they can.

In a previous interview with the Mail Online, keen cyclist Dermot opened up about his health, describing himself as “fairly fit”.

He shared that his father had “lived till the ripe old age of 86”, before offering his own thoughts on the prospect of “living forever”. He reflected: “Only if everyone else I knew could. Being old without your loved ones could be very lonely. “

The Devon-born media personality also opened up about his healthy diet, which he supplements with immune-boosting vitamin C and zinc tablets, and spoke about his “worst illness or injury”, telling the publication how he was injured after a dog lunged at his bike.

He said: “A few years ago, I broke four ribs when a pitbull knocked me off my bike. The charming owner then had the audacity to reprimand me for scaring his dog. They can’t do much for broken ribs, you’re just sent off with strong painkillers. For eight weeks, sleeping was very uncomfortable and sneezing, coughing or laughing could aggravate it. Even now, when I turn to my right side, I often feel a twinge.”

This, unfortunately, isn’t the only time that Dermot has found himself in peril while on the road. In 2017, the newsreader shared photographs of his bruised face after he was injured in a hit-and-run incident. He told fans at the time: “Here’s why I haven’t been on air for 2 days. A hit and run in Kentish Town yesterday. Police were fantastic.”

Delving into the incident in more detail on Sky News, Dermot explained: “Having worked on Breakfast TV for 10 years in two stints, I’ve become a bit of an early bird. So last Thursday I woke at 6am, put on my hi-vis cycling jacket got on my bike to meet my mates for a few healthy miles before work.

“Twenty minutes later, I was lying by the side of the road with a broken cycle helmet and a hobbled bike, still spinning, lights shining – and a variety of cuts, bruises and abrasions. But thankfully, no broken bones.”

He added: “On an empty road in north London, a guy in a car on a mobile phone pulled out from the side of the road without indicating. I swerved that. But a millisecond later, he U-turned into me and wiped me out.

“The Good Samaritan who saw it says the driver then sped off. I didn’t catch his name in the muddle, so if you read this, thank you from the bottom of my heart. The perpetrator was too interested in his phone to bother to stop and would have left me lying in the road.

“Police were there within five minutes and were absolutely fantastic. Took all the details and went to check the CCTV. Then drove me and my crushed bike home. Professional through and through. “

Do you have a story to share? Email me at [email protected]. Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

READ MORE: Sky News’ Dermot Murnaghan diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer

After announcing the “very successful” US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, United States President Donald Trump addressed the nation.

Here is the full transcript of his speech on Saturday evening:

A short time ago, the US military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise. Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.

Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace.

If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.

For 40 years, Iran has been saying, “Death to America, death to Israel”.

They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs – that was their speciality.

We lost over a thousand people, and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate, in particular, so many were killed by their general, Qassem Soleimani.

I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen.

It will not continue.

I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.

I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they’ve done and, most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight, and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.

Hopefully, we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that’s so. I also want to congratulate the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan “Razin” Caine – spectacular general – and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack.

With all of that being said, this cannot continue.

There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.

Remember, there are many targets left. Tonight’s was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal, but if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.

There’s no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight, not even close. There has never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago.

Tomorrow, General Caine, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, will have a press conference at 8am (12:00 GMT) at the Pentagon, and I want to just thank everybody, and in particular, God.

I want to just say, “We love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them.” God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel, and God bless America.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says Iran is ‘for the time being’ focused on targeting Israeli sites only as conflict enters sixth day.

Iran has warned that any intervention by the United States in its conflict with Israel would risk an “all-out war”, as the regional rivals traded missile fire for a sixth day.

After President Donald Trump hinted at greater US involvement in the conflict and sent warplanes to the region, Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday pledged that Iran would defend itself with “all force”.

Here are some key takeaways from an exclusive interview the Iranian official gave to Al Jazeera.

Will Iran attack US forces?

Baghaei said Iran is “under an attack by a genocidal regime”, adding it will defend itself with “full force” against Israel’s “war of aggression”.

He said Iran is “for the time being” focused on targeting Israeli sites only, and Tehran trusts its neighbours would not allow the US to use their territory for attacks against it.

“Right now, we focus on defending ourselves from attacks from Israel, and that is why we have been very careful, very responsible, very calculated in our response to these attacks. We have targeted military bases, security bases inside the occupied lands, so for the time being, we are focused on that,” he said.

“We have very good relations with Arab countries, and they are very cognisant of the fact that Israel has been trying to drag others into the war … We are sure our Arab countries hosting US bases would not allow their territory to be used against their Muslim neighbours,” he added.

“I trust that the understanding between Iran and our neighbouring countries would not allow any third party to abuse their territory,” he said.

Is Iran willing to engage in diplomacy?

According to Baghaei, “diplomacy never ends”. But he said Tehran no longer trusts Washington.

“We were in the middle of [nuclear] negotiations [with the US], and all of a sudden, Israel started attacking Iran. And no one can imagine in our region, not only in Iran, that Israel started this war without a prior green light from the US,” he said.

“So I think what is at stake is the credibility of a country that is supposed to be a global power. What is at stake is the international law that has been almost annihilated because of all the atrocities committed in occupied Palestine and in Syria and elsewhere,” he noted.

Baghaei said Iran is in contact with other countries, including Russia, because it is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. “We expect everyone that has leeway, that has a mandate under the UN Security Council, to act to help achieve a resolution in condemnation of this attack,” he said.

Will Iran give up its nuclear programme?

Israel has said its attacks on Iran came to stop Tehran from building nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied that it seeks nuclear bombs and that its nuclear programme is peaceful.

Baghaei argued: “Where are the IAEA’s violation reports? The true criminals bomb inspected facilities.”

“Our nuclear programme has been part and parcel of our right under the NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty]. So we have not done anything wrong under international law. Our nuclear programme started in the 1950s and it has continued for the past five decades completely peacefully,” he said.

He accused Israel of attacking a “peaceful installation” in Iran and questioned why members of the NPT allowed the attack to happen.

“This is completely banned under international law. This is completely criminal. And in accordance with Article 573 of [the UN convention on nuclear safety, as adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency] IAEA … the threat of attack against a country’s peaceful installation constitutes a threat to peace and security,” he noted.

“Now, we are witnessing a serious breach of peace … so I think the international community must make Israel and its supporters accountable for what they have done in their aggression against Iran.”

Tucked away from the crowds is a seaside town that is perfect for a weekend escape. The ‘underrated’ destination is full of history and has an ‘enormous food scene’

As temperatures soar to a sizzling 30C, Brits are flocking to their favourite coastal spots to bask in the sun and enjoy the refreshing sea breeze. But before you rush off to the usual hotspots like Brighton or Margate, consider exploring some of the lesser-known seaside gems that are teeming with life.

Time Out has ranked the best seaside towns and unveiled a hidden treasure that’s often overlooked due to its more famous neighbours.

Nestled away from the bustling crowds is the quaint town of Deal in Kent. With its cosy charm, breathtaking coastal views, and an unexpectedly lively food scene, it’s the ideal location for a weekend getaway.

Time Out praised Deal as a “Proper seaside town with a creative community and really great food. The travel guru went on to say: “It’s smaller and less well known than its ever-popular Kentish neighbours Margate and Whitstable, but overlooking little Deal would be a mistake. Stretching along the seafront and an enormous pebble beach, Deal is a gem.”, reports the Express.

Deal is characterised as “quaint, quirky, and one of the most charming coastal towns in Kent.” The town is steeped in history, boasting a variety of maritime exhibits at the Deal Museum and the Timeball Tower Museum, as well as ancient castles.

Visitors can stroll along Deal’s historic pier and take in a view that has remained virtually unchanged for over a century. The town also has a rich history, with its narrow streets and alleyways once infamous for 18th-century smuggling, according to Visit South East England.

The pebbly shores of a British beach have earned an impressive 4.2 bubbles on TripAdvisor, despite not boasting the golden sands many might expect beside the clear blue sea.

One visitor raved about their experience: “Lovely clean beach…..of shingle, not sand. Ideal for swimmers and families. Seafront is clean and accessible, being very flat and with a smooth surface.”

They continued to praise the area, saying, “Ideal for all, from runners, cyclists, dog walkers, those in wheelchairs and disabled. There are plenty of places to stop with benches along the seafront. Nice looking pier that is flat and easy to walk on with buggies and wheelchairs. Again, with plenty of seating.”

A local resident added their thoughts: “Well, I live in Deal, 500 yards from the beach, so I can’t say anything bad about it. The beach is huge and stretches for several miles between Kingsdown and Sandwich. At the height of summer, the beach is never crowded.”

However, they did offer a word of caution: “Be aware that the beach is very stony and is quite steep down to the water. The water current is fairly strong when the tide is running, and you can very quickly get out of your depth.”

Adding to the allure, Time Out has spotlighted Deal’s culinary scene, stating: “It’s dotted with delicious places to eat, buzzy places to drink and gorgeous places to look at or buy beautiful things. Try 81 Beach Street, wine bar Le Pinardier and Smugglers Records for starters.”

81 Beach Street reigns as Deal’s top dining spot on TripAdvisor, boasting over two decades on the scenic seafront. Their commitment to local produce shines on their webpage, proclaiming their passion for the freshest ingredients from Deal and Kent’s local small businesses.

They say: “Put together by one of the most experienced and talented kitchen teams in the area, there is always a great choice of fresh, creative plates; meals that taste as good as they look!” The eatery’s menu tempts with a variety of freshly prepared fish specials along with succulent steaks and juicy burgers.

A gourmet reviewer at Muddy Stilettos praised the restaurant: “It’s a real crowd pleaser and would appeal for a lunchtime gathering with family, and equally a fun and foodie-filled destination for a date night.”

Other hot recommendations from TripAdvisor include The Sea View and V Gastropub & Bar.

Tel Aviv, Israel – For the fourth night in a row, missiles have hit Israeli cities. Iran’s retaliatory strikes, triggered by Israeli attacks, saw people sheltering in stairwells and bomb shelters as the scale of the damage and Iranian rockets managing to penetrate one of the world’s most sophisticated defence systems have left many reeling.

On Friday, Israel began its assault on Iran, targeting military and nuclear facilities and killing high-profile security, intelligence and military commanders as well as scientists. Israel’s attacks, which have also targeted residential areas, have killed more than 224 people and wounded at least 1,481, according to Iranian authorities. The government said most of those killed and wounded have been civilians.

In response, Iran has fired barrages of missiles towards Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities.

Hundreds of Iranian missiles have been launched since Friday, and Israel’s air defence systems, though robust, have been unable to stop all of them. While the number of missiles fired by Iran appears to have gone down on a night-by-night basis, the scale of the attacks continues to be unprecedented for Israelis.

Central Tel Aviv, Haifa, the scientific hub of Rehovot and homes have been struck. At least 24 people in Israel have been killed in the strikes and hundreds wounded.

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, a source of national pride and a cornerstone of Israeli military research, was among the hardest hit. Its laboratories were torn open, glass panes shattered, and cables and rebar left dangling.

“This isn’t just damage to buildings,” said Jenia Kerimov, 34, a biology PhD candidate who lives nearby. “It’s years of research, equipment we can’t easily replace, data that might be lost forever.”

She had been in a bomb shelter a block away when the institute was struck. “We’re supposed to be helping protect the country. But now even our work, our home, feels exposed.”

Shelters across the country are packed. In older neighbourhoods without bunkers, residents crowd into communal safe rooms. In Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem, stairwells have become makeshift bedrooms. The Israeli military’s Home Front Command has evacuated hundreds of people to hotels after buildings that were hit were deemed uninhabitable.

‘No shelter in our building’

Yacov Shemesh, a retired social worker in West Jerusalem, said his wife has been sleeping on the stairs in their apartment block since the attacks began.

“There’s no shelter in our building,” the 74-year-old explained. “I went to the roof Sunday night to see what was happening. I saw a flash in the sky and then a boom. But I couldn’t find anything in the news. Maybe they [the state] don’t want us to know how close it came.”

The barrage has triggered panic in a society long shaped by conflict – but where, until now, the destruction and wars were inflicted elsewhere – in Gaza, Jenin or southern Lebanon. Now, many Israelis are being confronted with destruction in their home cities for the first time.

In Tel Aviv, long lines snaked through the aisles of a grocery store. Despite being crowded, the atmosphere was hushed as customers tapped their phones, their faces drawn tight.

Gil Simchon, 38, a farmer from near the Ramat David Airbase, east of Haifa, stacked bottles of water in his arms.

“It’s one thing to hear for decades about the Iranian threat,” he said, “but another to see it with your own eyes – to see high rises in Tel Aviv hit.”

On Monday night, he used a bomb shelter for the first time in his life.

Even the Kirya, Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, was struck although damage was limited. Iran’s ability to hit such a fortified and symbolically vital target has deeply rattled a population raised on the reliability of its multilayered defence architecture.

While much of Israel is covered by the Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow defence systems, officials admit these were not designed for a saturation attack involving ballistic missiles with heavy warheads. “These aren’t homemade rockets from Gaza,” one analyst said on Israeli television. “These are battlefield weapons.”

On Saturday night, the streets of West Jerusalem were quiet. One of the few lit spaces was a gym. Its owner gestured to the staircase descending underground. “We’re protected,” he said. Then with a smile, he added, “Gymgoers are crazy. If you’re working out at night, the gym had better be open.”

Outside, the night air buzzed with tension. A neon sign flared against the darkness. A small group gathered, eyes fixed on the sky. Moments earlier, streaks of light had passed overhead.

“They’re headed somewhere else – Haifa, I think,” a young man muttered. Minutes later, sirens wailed. Video soon appeared online showing flames erupting from a gas installation near Haifa.

Initially, social media was flooded with footage of missile impacts – some from residential balconies, others from dashcams. By the third night, multiple reports were published of people being arrested for documenting the attacks while Israeli officials warned foreign media against breaking a ban on broadcasting such content, describing it as a security offence.

Meanwhile, fears of power outages are growing. In Tel Aviv, drivers queued at petrol stations, anxious to keep their tanks full. A father strapped his children into the back seat before speeding away. His eyes flicked to the clouds, then the rear-view mirror.

‘Protecting ourselves and making it worse’

For some Israelis abroad, a feeling of helplessness has deepened. Eran, 37, who lives and works in New York, spoke to his elderly parents near the city of Beit Shemesh. “They’ve gone to shelters before, but this time, the fear was different,” he tells Al Jazeera. “The shelter was full. When they returned home, they found pieces of interceptor debris in the yard.”

Eran, a former conscientious objector who refused Israel’s mandatory military draft – for which he spent time in jail – and asked to use a pseudonym for fear of state reprisal upon his return to Israel, has long been critical of Israeli policies. Now watching his family in danger, he feels more certain than ever.

“Israel claims to act for all Jews,” he said. “But its crimes in Gaza and elsewhere just bring danger to families like mine. Even in New York, it impacts me.”

For others, the picture is murkier.

“I don’t know any more where the line is between protecting ourselves and making it worse,” Gil said. “You grow up believing we’re defending something. But now, the missiles, the shelters, the fear – it feels like a cycle we can’t see out of.”

The Israeli government, meanwhile, has struck a belligerent tone, promising to make Tehran “pay a heavy price”. But in the shelters, tension is mixed with exhaustion and a growing recognition that something fundamental has changed.

“It’s like the feeling of a meat lover after they visit a meat-packing factory,” Gil said quietly. “You grow up on it, you believe in it – but when you see how it’s made, it makes you uneasy.”

This piece was published in collaboration with Egab.

ENGLAND will be represented by a double dose of Luke this week as Littler and Humphries pair up at the World Cup of Darts 2025 – and the action is unfolding RIGHT NOW!

The men’s England football team failed to bring it home during the Euro 2024, but Luke Humphries and Michael Smith made the nation proud in last year’s World Cup of Darts.

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A combination of composure and superb throwing saw Cool Hand and Bully Boy beat their Austrian opponents 10-6 in an epic final.

And it was a result that wrote England’s name in the history books as they now hold the record for the most amount of wins in the iconic competition with five.

Sadly for Smith, his world ranking positioning meant he missed out on the chance to retain back-to-back titles.

And England could have done with him after Luke Littler and Humphries got dumped out by Germany in their opening match.

Welsh stars Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price are now firm favourites to lift the title.

When is the World Cup of Darts 2025?

The World Cup of Darts 2025 got underway on Thursday, June 12.

It will run over four days, concluding on Sunday, June 15.

Eissporthalle am Ratsweg in Frankfurt, Germany is the chosen venue for this iconic tournament.

Group stage matches begin at 6pm BST and then the latter stage fixtures are split in afternoon sessions (11am/12pm) and evening sessions (6pm).

The quarter-finals, semi-final and final will ALL be held on Sunday, June 15.

What TV channel is the World Cup of Darts 2025 on and can it be live streamed?

• The World Cup of Darts 2025 will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sports.
• Subscription members can stream the entire four-day event on NOW TV.
• Alternatively, SunSport will be running a live blog providing leg-by-leg coverage of the World Cup of Darts 2025.

What is the World Cup of Darts 2025 format?

There will be 40 different nations taking part at this year’s World Cup of Darts.

The top four seeded nations go straight into the second round, while the remaining 36 nations are split into 12 groups of three.

Each group winner will progress through to the second round, and then the tournament will be knockout from then on.

And each group stage game sees teams compete in a best-of-seven legs match, before the second round, quarter-finals and semi-finals are all best of 15 legs.

The World Cup final will then be best of 19 legs.

All matches are played in the doubles format, with teammates taking turns at the oche.

World Cup of Darts 2025 groups

Group A

Netherlands (Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen)

Italy (Michele Turetta and Massimo Dalla Rosa)

Hungary (Gyorgy Jehirszki and Gergely Lakatos)

Group B

Belgium (Mike de Decker and Dimitri van den Bergh)

Latvia (Madars Razma and Valters Melderis)

Philippines (Lourence Ilagan and Paolo Nebrida)

Group C

Germany (Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko)

Portugal (Jose de Sousa and Bruno Nascimento)

Singapore (Paul Lim and Phuay Wei Tan)

Group D

Republic of Ireland (William O’Connor and Keane Barry)

Gibraltar (Craig Galliano and Justin Hewitt)

China (Xiaochen Zong and Lihao Wen)

Group E

Poland (Krzysztof Ratajski and Radek Szaganski)

South Africa (Cameron Carolissen and Devon Petersen)

Norway (Cor Dekker and Kent Joran Sivertsen)

Group F

Canada (Matt Campbell and Jim Long)

Malaysia (Tengku Shah and Tan Jenn Ming)

Denmark (Denjamin Drue Reus and Andreas Hyllgaardhus)

Group G

Sweden (Jeffrey de Graaf and Oskar Lukasiak)

Lithuania (Darius Labanauskas and Mindaugas Barauskas)

France (Thibault Tricole and Jacques Labre)

Group H

Austria (Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez)

Spain (Daniel Zapata and Ricardo Fernandez)

Australia (Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock)

Group I

United States (Danny Lauby and Jules van Dongen)

Hong Kong (Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee)

Bahrain (Sadeq Mohamed and Hasan Bucheeri)

Group J

Czech Republic (Karel Sedlacek and Petr Krivka)

India (Nitin Kumar and Mohan Goel)

Chinese Taipei (Teng Lieh Pupo and An-Sheng Lu)

Group K

Croatia (Pero Ljubic and Boris Krcmar)

Japan (Ryusei Azemoto and Tomoya Goto)

Switzerland (Stefan Bellmont and Alex Fehlmann)

Group L

Finland (Teemu Harju and Marko Kantele)

New Zealand (Haupai Puha and Mark Cleaver)

Argentina (Jesus Salate and Victor Guillin)

World Cup of Darts 2025 schedule and results

Thursday June 12
From 6pm BST
Group Stage – Opening Matches

• Sweden 4-1 Lithuania
• Czech Republic 4-2 Chinese Taipei
• Croatia 3-4 Japan
• Ireland 4-2 Gibraltar
• Canada 1-4 Malaysia
• USA 1-4 Hong Kong
• Poland 4-3 South Africa
• Belgium 4-1 Latvia
• Netherlands 4-0 Italy
• Germany 4-2 Portugal
• Austria 4-1 Spain
• Finland 0-4 New Zealand

Friday June 13
Afternoon Session
From 11am BST
Group Stage – Second Matches

• Lithuania 4-3 France
• Chinese Taipei 4-2 India
• Croatia 4-3 Switzerland
• Gibraltar 4-2 China
• Canada 1-4 Denmark
• USA 4-1 Bahrain
• South Africa 4-1 Norway
• Latvia 2-4 Philippines
• Italy 4-0 Hungary
• Portugal 2-4 Singapore
• Spain 0-4 Australia
• Finland 1-4 Argentina

Evening Session
From 6pm BST
Group Stage – Final Matches

• Sweden 3-4 France
• Czech Republic 4-2 India
• Japan 1-4 Switzerland
• Ireland 2-4 China
• Malaysia 4-1 Denmark
• Hong Kong 4-0 Bahrain
• Poland 2-4 Norway
• Belgium 3-4 Philippines
• Netherlands 4-0 Hungary
• Germany 4-0 Singapore
• Austria 1-4 Australia
• New Zealand 3-4 Argentina

Saturday June 14
Afternoon Session
From 12pm BST
Second Round

• Malaysia 3-8 Czech Republic
• Hong Kong 8-4 Sweden
• Switzerland 3-8 Ireland
• Northern Ireland 8-2 South Africa

Evening Session
From 6pm BST
Second Round

• Wales 8-2 Philippines
• Scotland 0-8 Netherlands
• England 4-8 Germany
• Argentina 1-8 Australia

Sunday June 15
Afternoon Session
From 12pm BST

• Northern Ireland 8-5 Republic of Ireland
• Wales vs Hong Kong
• Netherlands vs Czech Republic
• Germany vs Australia

Evening Session
From 6pm BST
Semi-Finals
Final

Lunging men are perceived as dangerous.

In an America that has long weaponized descriptions of how men of color look and move to justify use of force, that is especially true of dark men lunging at white women.

So when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said after Sen. Alex Padilla interrupted her news conference Thursday that “people need to identify themselves before they start lunging” — it’s hard to believe it wasn’t meant to be an intentionally loaded word, with loaded results.

For those of you who don’t watch Fox and other right-wing media, I’ll fill you in on how Noem’s description played out. Padilla, the Trumpian version of the story now goes, got what he deserved: He busted into a press conference uninvited, they say, pushed his way toward the stage and failed to identify himself.

Just ask my inbox.

“Here is what your article should have said,” wrote one fan of my column about the incident. “‘DEI appointee Senator Alex Padilla, dressed like a truck driver and acting like a potential attacker or mental case, burst into a press conference being conducted by a high ranking member of the Cabinet and started shouting and interrupting her.’”

Another reader put that dog-whistle racism more succinctly.

“No Juan above the law,” the reader quipped.

We’ll get to whether Padilla lunged or not and just how dangerous a lunge really is. But the larger issue is the alternate reality the Trump administration is building to cultivate fear and build support for a military crackdown. The ask isn’t that we believe Padilla was a threat, but that we believe that America has devolved into a immigrant-induced chaos that only the military can quell, and that Trump needs the powers of a king to lead the military to our salvation.

So the question isn’t really whether Padilla lunged or not — since, as the video shows, it’s clear he was nowhere close to Noem and had no intent to harm — but rather why Noem chose to call it a lunge.

“It was very disingenuous of Kristi Noem to make the claim that he lunged at her,” Joan Donovan told me. She’s an expert on disinformation and an assistant professor of journalism at Boston University.

“The Trump administration is salivating over a major contestation that would allow them to roll the military out into any old town,” she said. “They are making it seem as if without this kind of major intervention and excessive force, that these people are ungovernable.”

Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, is known to be a level-headed guy. My colleague Gustavo Arellano describes him as a “goody-two-shoes.”

But these aren’t level-headed days. Padilla said that he was in the federal building on Thursday for a briefing with a general, because for weeks he’s been trying unsuccessfully to get answers about how deportations are being handled.

That briefing was delayed by Noem’s news conference, and so — escorted by federal authorities who knew exactly who they were escorting, Padilla said — he went to listen to Noem in the hopes of getting some information.

Padilla said he got fed up listening to her remarks about criminals and invasions and tried to ask a question, while moving forward past the wall of television cameras. In the videos I’ve watched, multiple federal agents — seemingly some from Homeland Security and the FBI — block his way then begin pushing him back. Padilla seems to continue to push forward, but is overpowered and forced into the hallway. It’s here where he’s taken to the ground and cuffed.

It’s hard to see a lunge in there. And if there was one, it was from at least a good 10 feet away from Noem, at a minimum. Use-of-force expert Ed Obayashi told me that in situations such as this, law enforcement officers are expected to use their judgment on what is a danger.

“They were trying to keep him from approaching,” Obayashi said, pointing out it was the officers’ job to protect Noem. “They were trying to do what they could under the circumstances to prevent him from getting closer.”

But, he added, from what we can see in the videos, it doesn’t look like Padilla showed “intent” to cause harm and he was really far away. Distance makes a difference when judging whether a lunge is a threat.

“It doesn’t seem like he was going to rush up,” Obayashi said.

So, to be fair to officers who may or may not have at first realized they were manhandling a U.S. senator, they had a job to do and were doing it, even if a bit zealously.

But Noem knows better. It’s hard to imagine she didn’t recognize Padilla, who served on her confirmation committee and is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety.

And if she didn’t, her confidant and close advisor Corey Lewandowski certainly did. Padilla told the New York Times that he was being detained in the hallway “when of all people, Corey Lewandowski … comes running down the hall and he starts yelling, ‘Let him go! Let him go!’”

And of course, Padilla was yelling that he was a senator, and forcefully denies any lunge.

“I wasn’t lunging at her or anybody, and yes, I identified myself,” he said on CNN.

Noem, of course, could have said something in the moment to defuse the situation. She could have asked Padilla back into the room to answer his question. Padilla said the two met after the news conference and spoke for about 15 minutes, which means Noem knew his intentions when she later accused him of “lunging.”

So what could have been handled as an unfortunate encounter was instead purposely upgraded for propaganda purposes. Shortly after Noem’s statement, the White House press secretary posted on X that Padilla “recklessly lunged toward the podium,” cementing that narrative into right-wing conscientiousness.

For weeks, the Trump administration has been ramping up its war on dissent. Weeks before Padilla was handcuffed, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) was indicted by a grand jury for “forcibly impeding and interfering” with federal law enforcement after a scuffle outside of a New Jersey ICE detention center. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested during the same incident, but charges were later dropped.

In April, Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested inside her own courthouse after being accused of helping an immigrant appearing in her court to evade ICE officers by allowing him to exit through a public door.

And just before the Padilla incident, Noem claimed that federal agents would remain in Los Angeles despite protests, where hundreds have been cited or arrested. By Friday, Marines had been deployed in Los Angeles, with little clarity on whether their guns contained live rounds and under what circumstances they were authorized to fire.

“We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city,” Noem said, right before Padilla interrupted.

Liberate an American city. With troops.

Quash dissent. With fear.

A survey last fall by PRRI found that 26% of Republicans say that “it is necessary for the progress of this country that the president has the power to limit the influence of opposing parties and groups.”

It also found that there is a “strong overlap among Americans who hold Christian nationalist and authoritarian views.”

“If it is the case that Trump and Kristi Noem and Pete Hegseth are going to continue arresting Democratic representatives, then that is authoritarianism,” Donovan said. “Those are the people whose job it is to represent the common man, and if they can’t do that because they’re so bogged down with false charges or trumped-up charges, then we don’t live in a democracy.”

Padilla may have lost his trademark cool during that press conference, but Noem did not.

She knew exactly what she was saying, and why. A Padilla asking questions is a threat to Trump.

A Padilla lunging becomes a threat to society, one that only Trump can stop.

Confirmed squad list for the 32 teams ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

The 21st edition of the FIFA Club World Cup begins in the United States on Saturday with the tournament opener between Inter Miami and Egyptian club Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.

Manchester City are the defending champions after winning the last tournament in December 2023.

The 32 teams have now announced their full squads for the new-look, monthlong expanded intercontinental club competition.

Here is the confirmed squad list of all the teams in a tournament which features mega clubs Real Madrid, Boca Juniors, Inter Milan, PSG, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Flamengo:

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 confirmed squads – all teams and players

⚽ Group A: Al Ahly, Inter Miami, Palmeiras, Porto

Al Ahly (Egypt): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawy, Mostafa Shobeir, Mohamed Ahmed, Mostafa Makhlouf
• Defenders: Yasser Ibrahim, Achraf Dari, Mostafa el-Aash, Omar Kamal, Ahmed Ramadan, Mohamed Hani, Ahmed ‘Kouka’ Nabil, Yahya Attiat Allah, Karim el-Debes, Khaled Abdel-Fattah
• Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Hamdi Fathi, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Mahmoud Hassan, Aliou Dieng, Emam Ashour, Ahmed Reda Hashem, Taher Mohamed, Hussein El-Shahat, Mohamed Magdy
• Forwards: Wessam Abou Ali, Achraf Bencharki, Nejc Gradisar

Inter Miami (USA): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Drake Callender, Rocco Rios Novo, Oscar Ustari, William Yarbrough
• Defenders: Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Tomas Aviles, Israel Boatwright, Maximiliano Falcon, Ian Fray, Gonzalo Lujan, Tyler Hall, David Martinez, Ryan Sailor, Marcelo Weigandt
• Midfielders: Yannick Bright, Sergio Busquets, Benjamin Cremaschi, Santiago Morales, Federico Redondo, Baltasar Rodriguez, David Ruiz, Telasco Segovia
• Forwards: Leo Afonso, Tadeo Allende, Lionel Messi, Allen Obando, Fafa Picault, Luis Suarez

Palmeiras (Brazil): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Weverton, Marcelo Lomba, Mateus
• Defenders: Gustavo Gomez, Murilo, Bruno Fuchs, Micael, Naves, Benedetti, Giay, Marcos Rocha, Mayke, Piquerez, Vanderlan
• Midfielders: Anibal Moreno, Emiliano Martinez, Lucas Evangelista, Richard Rios, Raphael Veiga, Mauricio, Allan, Felipe Anderson
• Forwards: Estevao, Facundo Torres, Paulinho, Flaco Lopez, Luighi, Thalys, Vitor Roque

Porto (Portugal): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Claudio Ramos, Diogo Fernandes
• Defenders: Ivan Marcano, Otavio, Nehuen Pérez, Ze Pedro, Gabriel Bras, Zaidu, Joao Mario, Martim Fernandes, Moura
• Midfielders: Stephen Eustaquio, Tomas Perez, Alan Varela, Andre Oliveira, Vasco Sousa, Andre Franco, Gabri Veiga, Fabio Vieira
• Forwards: Pepe, Mora, Angel Alarcon, William, Borges, Namaso, Deniz Gul, Samu Aghehowa

⚽ Group B: Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Paris Saint-Germain, Seattle Sounders

Atletico de Madrid (Spain): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Joan Musso, Jan Oblak, Antonio Gomis, Salvi Esquivel
• Defenders: Jose Maria Gimenez, Cesar Azpilicueta, Clement Lenglet, Nahuel Molina, Axel Witsel, Javi Galan, Reinildo, Robin Le Normand, Ilias Kostis
• Midfielders: Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo De Paul, Koke, Pablo Barrios, Thomas Lemar, Samu Lino, Marcos Llorente, Rodrigo Riquelme, Javi Serrano, Taufik Seidu, Rayane Belaid
• Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Alexander Sorloth, Angel Correa, Carlos Martin, Julian Alvarez, Guiliano Simeone

Botafogo (Brazil): full squad

• Goalkeepers: John, Leo Linck, Raul, Christhian Loor
• Defenders: Alexander Barboza, Alex Telles, Bastos, Cuiabano, David Ricardo, Jair Cunha, Kaio Fernando, Marcal, Mateo Ponte, Vitinho
• Midfielders: Allan, Danilo Barbosa, Gregore, Marlon Freitas, Newton
• Forwards: Alvaro Montoro, Artur, Igor Jesus, Kayke, Mastriani, Matheus Martins, Nathan Fernandes, Santiago Rodriguez, Wran Cruz, Savarino

Paris Saint-Germain (France): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matvey Safonov, Arnau Tenas
• Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lucas Peraldo, Presnel Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes, Lucas Hernandez, William Pacho, Noham Kamara
• Midfielders: Gabriel Moscardo, Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves, Senny Mayulu, Warren Zaire-Emery, Vitinha
• Forwards: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Goncalo Ramos, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Lee Kang-In, Bradley Barcola, Ibrahim Mbaye

Seattle Sounders (USA): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Stefan Frei, Andrew Thomas, Jacob Castro
• Defenders: Travian Sousa, Nouhou Tolo, Jon Bell, Alex Roldan, Kim Kee-hee, Jackson Ragen, Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Cody Baker, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi
• Midfielders: Joao Paulo, Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnak, Obed Vargas, Reed Baker-Whiting, Danny Leyva
• Forwards: Jesus Ferreira, Pedro de la Vega, Jordan Morris, Paul Rothrock, Danny Musovski, Ryan Kent, Georgi Minoungou, Osaze de Rosario

⚽ Group C: Auckland City, Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors, Benfica

Auckland City (New Zealand): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Conor Tracey, Areya Prasad, Nathan Garrow
• Defenders: Adam Mitchell, Christian Gray, Nikko Boxall, Regont Murati, Nathan Lobo, Jordan Vale, Dylan Connolly, Adam Bell, Alfie Rogers, Ryan Ellis
• Midfielders: Gerard Garriga, Mario Ilich, Dylan Manickum, Jeremy Foo, Joe Lee, Jerson Lagos, Matt Ellis, Tong Zhou, Michael Den Heijer, David Yoo, Haris Zeb, Jackson Manuel, Paris Domfeh
• Forwards: Myer Bevan, Angus Kilkolly, Ryan de Vries

Bayern Munich (Germany): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Daniel Peretz, Jonas Urbig, Leon Klanac
• Defenders: Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Raphael Guerreiro, Cassiano Kiala, Josip Stanic, Kim Min-Jae, Sacha Boey
• Midfielders: Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Joao Palhinha, Tom Bischof, Konrad Laimer, Jama Musiala, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Lennart Karl, David Santos Daiber
• Forwards: Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Muller, Maurice Krattenmacher, Michael Olise, Jonah Kusi-Asare, Harry Kane

Benfica (Portugal): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Antonily Trubin, Diogo Ferreira, Andre Gomes
• Defenders: Alvaro Carreras, Antonio Silva, Samuel Dahl, Nicolas Otamendi, Rui Silva, Goncalo Oliveira, Joshua Wynder, Leandro Santos, Adrian Bajrami
• Midfielders: Fredrik Aursnes, Orkun Kokcu, Leandro Barreiro, Florentino Luis, Joao Veloso, Rafael Luis, Joao Rego, Renato Sanches, Diogo Prioste
• Forwards: Angel di Maria, Vangelis Pavlidis, Kerem Akturkoglu, Andrea Belotti, Andreas Schjelderup, Gianluca Prestianni, Bruma, Tiago Gouveia, Eduardo Fernandes

Boca Juniors (Argentina): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Leandro Brey, Javier Garcia, Augustin Marchesin
• Defenders: Marcelo Saracchi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Figal, Marco Pellegrino, Rodrigo Battaglia, Luis Advincula, Frank Fabra, Lautaro Blanco, Juan Barinaga, Aryton Costa, Mateo Mendia, Lautaro di Lollo, Lucas Blondel, Walter Molas
• Midfielders: Carlos Palacios, Ignacio Miramon, Malcom Braida, Williams Alarcon, Agustin Martegani, Alan Velasco, Andre Herrera, Kevin Zenon, Tomas Belmonte, Camilo Rey Domenech, Milton Delgado, Santiago Dalmasso, Joaquin Ruiz
• Forwards: Exequiel Zeballos, Milton Gimenez, Edinson Cavani, Lucas Janson, Miguel Merentiel, Brian Aguirre

⚽ Group D: Chelsea, ES Tunis, Flamengo, Los Angeles FC

Chelsea (England): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders, Gaga Slonina
• Defenders: Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Mamadou Sarr, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Aaron Anselmino, Josh Achaempong
• Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Dario Essugo, Andrey Santos, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia
• Forwards: Pedro Neto, Liam Delap, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu

Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Bechir Ben Said, Amanallah Memmiche, Mohamed Sedki Debchi
• Defenders: Yassine Meriah, Mohamed Amine Tougai, Hamza Jelassi, Raed Bouchniba, Mohamed Ben Ali, Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida, Ayman Ben Mohamed
• Midfielders: Onuche Ogbelu, Khalil Guenichi, Chiheb Jebali, Mohamed Wael Derbali, Houssem Tka, Abdramane Konate, Yan Sasse, Youcef Belaili, Elias Mokwana
• Forwards: Achref Jabri, Rodrigo Rodrigues, Haythem Dhaou

Flamengo (Brazil): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Dyogo Alves, Leo Nannetti, Matheus Cunha, Rossi
• Defenders: Alex Sandro, Ayrton Lucas, Vina, Wesley, Guillermo Varela, Danilo, Leo Pereira, Leo Ortiz, Cleiton, Joao Victor
• Midfielders: Evertton Araujo, Jorginho, Erick, De La Cruz, Gerson, Matheus Goncalves, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Joshua
• Forwards: Wallace Yan, Plata, Michael, Luiz Araujo

Los Angeles FC (USA): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Thomas Hasal, David Ochoa, Cabral Carter
• Defenders: Eddie Segura, Marlon, Sergi Palencia, Lorenzo Dellavalle, Ryan Raposo, Ryan Hollingshead, Maxime Chanot, Artem Smoliakov, Aaron Long, Kenny Nielsen, Nkosi Tafari
• Midfielders: Igor Jesus, Marky Delgado, Timothy Tillman, Yaw Yeboah, Frankie Amaya, Adam Saldana, Jude Terry, Matt Evans, Odin Holm
• Forwards: Olivier Giroud, Jeremy Ebobisse, Javairo Dilrosun, Nathan Ordaz, David Martinez, Afrian Wibowo, Denis Bouanga

⚽ Group E: Inter Milan, Monterrey, River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds

Inter Milan (Italy): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer, Raffaele Di Gennaro, Josep Martinez, Alessandro Calligaris
• Defenders: Denzel Dumfries, Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi, Benjamin Pavard, Carlos Augusto, Yann Aurel Bisseck, Federico Dimarco, Matteo Darmian, Gabriele Re Cecconi, Matteo Cocchi, Nicola Zalewski, Alessandro Bastoni
• Midfielders: Petar Sucic, Piotr Zielinski, Davide Frattesi, Hakan Calhanoglu, Kristjan Asllani, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Nicolo Barella, Valentin Carboni, Thomas Berenbruch
• Forwards: Marcus Thuram, Lautaro Martinez, Luis Henrique, Rodrigo Palacio, Giacomo De Pieri, Sebastiano Esposito, Francesco Pio Esposito, Mehdi Taremi

Monterrey (Mexico): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Esteban Andrada, Luis Cardenas, Santiago Mele, Santiago Perez
• Defenders: Ricardo Chavez, Gerardo Arteaga, Victor Guzman, Carlos Salcedo, Erick Aguirre, Hector Moreno, Luis Reyes, Gustavo Sanchez, Tony Leone, Stefan Medina, Sergio Ramos
• Midfielders: Fidel Ambriz, Nelson Deossa, Oliver Torres, Sergio Canales, Jesus Corona, Jordi Cortizo, Lucas Ocampos, Jorge Rodriguez, Iker Fimbres
• Forwards: German Berterame, Alfonso Alvarado, Johan Rojas, Alfonso Gonzalez, Roberto de la Rosa, Joaquin Moxica

River Plate (Argentina): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Jeremias Ledesma, Lucas Lavagnino, Santiago Beltran
• Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Fabricio Bustos, German Pezzella, Federico Gattoni, Paulo Diaz, Leandro González Pirez, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Lautaro Rivero, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
• Midfielders: Enzo Perez, Kevin Castano, Matias Kranevitter, Rodrigo Aliendro, Santiago Simon, Maximiliano Meza, Ignacio Fernandez, Manuel Lanzini, Gonzalo Martínez, Matias Rojas, Giuliano Galoppo, Franco Mastantuono, Santiago Lencina, Giorgio Costantini
• Forwards: Miguel Borja, Facundo Colidio, Sebastian Driussi, Gonzalo Tapia, Ian Subiabre, Bautista Dadin

Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Shusaku Nishikawa, Ayumi Niekawa, Shun Yoshida, Alex Keita Malcolm.
• Defenders: Danilo Boza, Hirokazu Ishihara, Marius Hoibraten, Takuya Ogiwara, Kento Nemoto, Rikito Inoue, Yoshitaka Tanaka
• Midfielders: Taishi Matsumoto, Matheus Savio, Genki Haraguchi, Shoya Nakajima, Samuel Gustafson, Ryoma Watanabe, Takahiro Sekine, Tomoaki Okubo, Kai Shibato, Yusuke Matsuo, Kaito Yasui, Jumpei Hayakawa, Takeshi Wada, Takuro Kaneko, Yoichi Naganuma
• Forwards: Hiroki Abe, Thiago Santana, Hiiro Komori, Toshiki Takahashi, Toshikazu Teruuchi, Rio Nitta.

⚽ Group F: Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense, Mamelodi Sundowns, Ulsan HD FC

Borussia Dortmund (Germany): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel, Silas Ostrzinski, Alexander Meyer
• Defenders: Yan Couto, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini, Daniel Svensson, Niklas Sule, Julian Ryerson, Filippo Mane, Soumaila Coulibaly, Elias Benkara
• Midfielders: Giovanni Reyna, Felix Nmecha, Julian Brandt, Pascal Gross, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcel Sabitzer, Ayman Azhil, Jobe Bellingham
• Forwards: Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier, Julien Duranville, Karim Adeyemi, Cole Campbell, Samuele Inacio, Mathis Albert, Jamie Gittens

Fluminense (Brazil): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Fabio, Gustavo Ramalho, Marcelo Pitaluga, Vitor Eudes
• Defenders: Juan Freytes, Gabriel Fuentes, Guga, Ignacio, Manoel, Rene, Samuel Xavier, Thiago Santos, Thiago Silva
• Midfielders: Facudo Bernal, Hercules, Isaque, Ruben Lezcano, Lima, Martinelli, Nonato, Ganso, Riquelme, Wallace Davi
• Forwards: Agustin Canobbio, Everaldo, German Cano, Jhon Arias, Keno, Kevin Serna, Joaquin Lavega, Paulo Baya

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams, Denis Onyango, and Reyaad Pieterse
• Defenders: Mothobi Mvala, Divine Lunga, Aubrey Modiba, Thapelo Morena, Mosa Lebusa, Keanu Cupido, Grant Kekana, Khuliso Mudau, and Malibongwe Khoza
• Midfielders: Neo Maema, Siyabonga Mabena, Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, Marcelo Allende, Jayden Adams, Bathusi Aubaas, Tashreeq Matthews, and Sphelele Mkhulise
• Forwards: Peter Shalulile, Lucas Ribeiro, Arthur Sales, Lebogang Mothiba, Kutlwano Letlhaku, Iqraam Rayners

Ulsan HD (South Korea): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Jo Hyeonwoo, Moon Jungin, Ryu Seongmin
• Defenders: Kang Minwoo, Seo Myunggmuan, Kang Sangwoo, Kim Yonggwon, Yoon Jonggyu, Park Minseo, Lee Jaeik, Milosz Trojak, Choi Seokhyun
• Midfielders: Jung Wooyoung, Darijan Bojanic, Ko Seung-beom, Kim Minwoo, Um Wonsang, Lee Jinhyun, Lee Huigyun, Gustav Ludwigson, Kim Minhyeok, Lee Chung-yong, Yoon Jaeseok, Matias Lacava, Park Sangjun, Back Inwoo, Erick Farias
• Forwards: Heo Yool, Yago Cariello

⚽ Group G: Al Ain, Juventus, Manchester City, Wydad

Al Ain (United Arab Emirates): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio, Khalid Eisa, Hassan Muhammed, Vedad Alibasic
• Defenders: Kouame Autonne, Yahya Benkhaleq, Marcel Ratnik, Khalid Alhashmi, Ramy Rabia, Fabio Cardoso, Facundo Zabala, Dramane Koumare, Amadou Niang Adis Jasic
• Midfielders: Park Yongwoo, Yahia Nader, Matias Segovia, Mohammed Abbas, Jonatas Santos, Erik, Mateo Sanabria, Matias Palacios, Soufiane Rahimi, Nassim Chadli, Hazim Abbas, Abdoul Karim Traore, Joshua Udoh
• Forwards: Kodjo Laba, Kaku, Houssine Rahimi, Mohamed Awadalla, Rolwanu Sarki, Josna Loulendo

Juventus (Italy): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Michele Di Gregorio, Carlo Pinsoglio, Giovanni Daffara, Giovanni Garofani
• Defenders: Alberto Costa, Gleison Bremer, Federico Gatti, Lloyd Kelly, Pierre Kalulu, Daniele Rugani, Andrea Cambiaso, Nicolo Savona, Jonas Rouhi, Javier Gil Puche
• Midfielders: Manuel Locatelli, Teun Koopmeiners, Weston McKennie, Filip Kostic, Khephren Thuram, Douglas Luiz, Stefano Turco, Augusto Owusu
• Forwards: Francisco Conceicao, Dusan Vlahovic, Kenan Yildiz, Nico Gonzalez, Arek Milik, Vasilije Adzic, Randal Kolo Muani, Timothy Weah, Lorenzo Anghele, Alessandro Pietrelli, Samuel Mbangula, Nicolo Cudrig, Tommaso Mancini

Manchester City (England): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Marcus Bettinelli, Stefan Ortega Moreno, Ederson
• Defenders: Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Vitor Reis, Josep Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis
• Midfielders: Tijjani Reijnders, Jeremy Doku, Nico, Rodrigo, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes, Rayan Cherki, Claudio Echeverri, Phil Foden, Oscar Bobb, Nico O’Reilly
• Forwards: Omar Marmoush, Erling Haaland, Savinho

Wydad (Morocco): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Omar Aqzdaou, Youssef El Motie, El Mehdi Benabid
• Defenders: Fahad Moufi, Ayoub Bouchta, Bart Meijers, Abdelmounaim Boutouil, Jamal Harakass, Mohamed Moufid
• Midfielders: Ismail Moutaraji, Oussama Zemraoui, Mehdi Moubarik, Zakaria Fatihi, Thembinkosi Lorch, Stephane Aziz Ki, Ismael Benktib, Pedrinho, Arthur, Mickael Malsa
• Forwards: Mohamed Rayhi, Samuel Obeng, Selemani Mwalimo, Cassius Mailula, Nordi Amrabat, Hamza Hannouri

⚽ Group H: Al-Hilal, FC Salzburg, Pachuca, Real Madrid

Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al-Rubaie, Yassine Bounou, Ahmad Abu Rasen, Abdulelah Al-Ghamdi
• Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly, Khalifah Al-Dawsari, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Joao Cancelo, Moteb Al-Harbi, Rayan Al-Ghamdi, Saleh Barnawi, Saud Haroun, Saad Al-Muthary, Ali Lajami, Hassan Altambakti, Hamad Al-Yami
• Midfielders: Renan Lodi, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Ruben Neves, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwayr, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Kaio Cesar, Mohamed Kanno, Salem Al-Dawsari, Mohammed bin Muhaysh, Abdulaziz Hadhood, Malcom, Abdulelah Almalki
• Forwards: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Marcos Leonardo, Turki Al-Ghumayl, Abdullah Al-Hamdan

FC Salzburg (Austria): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Alexander Schlager, Jonas Krumrey, Christian Zawieschitzky, Salko Hamzic
• Defenders: Jacob Rasmussen, Samson Baidoo, Frans Kratzig, Stefan Lainer, Joane Gadou, John Mellberg, Tim Trummer, Jannik Schuster
• Midfielders: Soumaila Diabate, Sota Kitano, Maurits Kjaergaard, Mamady Diambou, Takumu Kawamura, Mads Bidstrup, Oscar Gloukh, Valentin Sulzbacher, Moussa Yeo
• Forwards: Karim Onisiwo, Yorbe Vertessen, Edmund Baidoa, Petar Ratkov, Adam Daghim, Enrique Aguilar, Dorgeles Nene

Pachuca (Mexico): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Sebastian Jurado, Carlos Moreno, Jose Eulogio
• Defenders: Sergio Barreto, Alonso Aceves, Eduardo Bauermann, Bryan Gonzalez, Carlos Sanchez, Federico Pereira, Jose Castillo, Gustavo Cabral, Luis Rodriguez, Jorge Berlanga
• Midfielders: Pedro Pederaza, Santiago Homenchenko, Israel Luna, Agustin Palavecino, Eduardo Lopez, Alan Bautista, Brian Garcia, Elias Montiel, Victor Guzman
• Forwards: Emilio Rodriguez, Ilian Hernandez, John Kennedy, Oussama Idrissi, Alexei Dominguez, Salomon Rondon, Kenedy, Aviles Hurtado

Real Madrid (Spain): full squad

• Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Fran Gonzalez, Sergio Mestre
• Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lucas Vazquez, Fran Garcia, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, Yusi, Jacobo Ramon, Raul Asencio, Diego Aguado
• Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde, Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Dani Ceballos, Chema Andres, Mario Martin
• Forwards: Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Endrick, Brahim Diaz, Gonzalo Garcia, Victor Munoz

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 kicks off in the United States on Saturday, with 32 teams vying for the title in the new-look expanded intercontinental club competition.

Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament:

What is the FIFA Club World Cup?

Until 2023, the FIFA Club World Cup was staged as an annual tournament every December and participation was limited to the winners of the continental club competitions, with the number ranging between six to eight clubs.

Starting in 2025, football’s governing body expanded the tournament to 32 teams and decided to run the revamped competition on a quadrennial cycle instead, similar to its showpiece FIFA World Cup.

A new FIFA Intercontinental Cup replaced the old Club World Cup as an annual competition in December 2024 with Real Madrid winning the inaugural edition held in Qatar.

How does the new Club World Cup work?

Historically, the Club World Cup has featured no more than eight teams, but the 2025 edition is vastly different.

This year’s edition on US soil will be the first in the tournament’s 24-year history to feature 32 clubs – the same number of teams as recent FIFA World Cups – including the winners of the four previous continental championships.

The teams will be divided into eight groups of four competing in a round-robin group stage with the top two clubs from each group advancing to the knockouts, which begin with the round of 16 and end with the final.

When is the FIFA Club World Cup?

The competition will begin on June 14, with the final scheduled for July 13. Here’s a breakdown of the schedule.

• Group stage: June 14 to 26
• Round of 16: June 28 to July 1
• Quarterfinals: July 4 and 5
• Semifinals: July 8 and 9
• Final: July 13

Which teams will participate in the Club World Cup?

“Soccer” fans in the US will have the chance to watch some of the most popular clubs, including last season’s UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, 10-time English champions Manchester City and Italian heavyweights Inter Milan.

Qualified teams were determined by the winners of the continental club competitions, such as the Champions League, and the confederation’s four-year rankings.

Outside of Europe, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is also part of the tournament, having controversially earned a spot as a representative of the host nation. Inter Miami won the Supporters’ Shield, handed to the team with the best regular-season record.

Of the 32 clubs, Europe (UEFA) is the best-represented confederation with 12 teams, followed by South America (CONMEBOL) with six. Asia (AFC), Africa (AFC) and North, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) have four teams each.

Oceania is represented by one club, while the final slot has been allocated to the host nation’s representative, Inter Miami.

Mexican club Leon had qualified by winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2023, but were removed by FIFA due to an ownership rule breach. FIFA said that Club Leon and another Mexican club in the tournament, Pachuca, did not meet regulations on multi-club ownership. Pachuca’s spot in the competition was unaffected.

After the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Leon’s appeal, FIFA confirmed a playoff between Los Angeles FC and Mexican side Club America that was won by LAFC.

Here is a list of the eight groups:

• Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
• Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
• Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica
• Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, LAFC
• Group E: River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
• Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD FC, Mamelodi Sundowns
• Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
• Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, FC Salzburg

Why are Chelsea, Inter Miami in, and Barcelona, Liverpool out of the FIFA Club World Cup?

FIFA rules for the Club World Cup state that only two teams from each country can play in the tournament, and European clubs’ participation was decided by their performances in the Champions League over the last four seasons.

Man City (2023) and Chelsea (2021) won the Champions League during that four-year window, taking up the two spots.

Other popular clubs such as Napoli, AC Milan, Barcelona, RB Leipzig and Sevilla also missed out due to UEFA’s four-year club coefficient rankings and two-team restrictions.

Where are the Club World Cup venues?

The 63 matches will be played across 12 venues in 11 cities. The opening match, Al Ahly vs Inter Miami, will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which has a spectator capacity of 65,000.

The MetLife Stadium, which serves as the home for the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL), will host both the semifinals and the final. MetLife is an 82,500-seat venue and was also chosen as the venue of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, best known as a college American football venue, is the biggest stadium with a capacity of 88,500. It is no stranger to hosting big events: the Rose Bowl was the site for the football gold medal match at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, as well as the men’s World Cup final a decade later. It will also be a venue for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.

Here’s the full list of venues:

• MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
• Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, Florida)
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Lumen Field (Seattle, Washington)
• Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
• TQL Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles, California)
• GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
• Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
• Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• Audi Field (Washington, DC)

Will Messi and Ronaldo play in the FIFA Club World Cup?

Messi will, thanks to Inter Miami’s surprise qualification.

Messi’s club found a place as the club with the most points in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) regular season, instead of LA Galaxy, who won the MLS Cup, which is regarded as the highest prize in the MLS.

FIFA announced Miami’s addition to the Club World Cup in October after they broke MLS’s regular-season points record with a 6-2 win over New England Revolution to reach 74 points. New England had set the previous record in 2021 with 73 points.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo and his Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr did not qualify for the tournament, but it didn’t stop FIFA President Gianni Infantino from suggesting that the Portugal star could switch to one of the teams participating in the tournament.

“Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup,” Infantino told online streamer IShowSpeed in late May. “There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows? Still, a few weeks’ time, will be fun.”

However, Ronaldo cleared his position by saying, “You can’t take part in everything.”

“You have to think about the short, medium and long term. It’s a decision practically made on my part not to go to the Club World Cup, but I’ve had quite a few invitations to go.”

How much is the prize money for the Club World Cup?

The total prize pot is $1bn, with the champions earning up to $125m.

About half of the $1bn will be divided between the 32 clubs, with the amount per club based on sporting and commercial criteria. It means that clubs such as Manchester City and Real Madrid will receive a greater percentage than smaller clubs in a model FIFA developed with the European Club Association.

A further $475m will be awarded on a performance-related basis. Hence, the team with the most wins over a potential seven matches will bank more cash, with a maximum pot of $125m available.

How to follow and stream the Club World Cup live

Al Jazeera Sport will run a live photo and text commentary stream for a selection of the biggest group stage and knockout games.

Online provider DAZN will stream the tournament worldwide, with territorial sublicensing to local free-to-air linear broadcast networks a possibility.

June 11 (UPI) — The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly advanced legislation for a regulatory method for payment with stablecoins.

The cloture, which ended debate, was approved 68-30, including 18 Democrats. It clears the way for final approval for the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, or GENIUS. Two Republicans, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Josh Hawley of Missouri, voted no.

A stablecoin, which supporters say is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, is typically pegged to another asset such as a currency such as a U.S. dollar or a commodity, including gold. Other digital cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, can experience significant price fluctuations and are not part of the Senate legislation.

For passage in the Senate, there needs to be at least 60 votes. On Tuesday, two House committees easily approved a bill that establishes a regulatory framework for digital assets, not just stablecoin, called the CLARITY Act.

“We want to bring cryptocurrency into the mainstream, and the GENIUS Act will help us do that,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, adding there was “more work to be done” for Congress in regard to digital assets, referring to the House’s bill.

The bill would require stablecoins to be fully backed by U.S. dollars or similar liquid assets, mandate annual audits for issuers with more than $50 billion in market capitalization and add language around foreign issuance.

The cloture ended an open amendments process. Democrats had sought to add a provision that would prevent President Donald Trump and other elected officials from profiting off stablecoins.

“Let me be clear, this did not happen by accident,” Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, R-S.C., said on the Senate floor before the vote. “It happened because we led. To those who said Washington could not act, to those who said Washington could not act, to those who doubted bipartisanship — let’s prove them wrong.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York voted against the bill along with other prominent Democrats.

“The GENIUS act attempts to set up some guardrails for buying and selling a type of cryptocurrency, one type called a stablecoin,” Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said on the Senate floor before his no vote.

“Well, we need guardrails that ensure that government officials aren’t openly asking people to buy their coins in order to increase their personal profit or their family’s profit,” he added. “Where are those guardrails in this bill? They’re completely, totally absent.”

Some Democrats were concerned about foreign issuers, anti-money laundering standards, potential corporate issuance of stablecoins and Trump’s deepening ties to crypto ventures.

Trump and his wife, Melania, launched meme coins days before his inauguration on Jan. 20. His affiliated venture, World Liberty Financial, recently launched its stablecoin. Trump Media is planning to build a multi-billion dollar Bitcoin treasury. And American Bitcoin,a mining firm backed by his sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., is planning to go public via a Gryphon merger.

“It’s extremely unhelpful that we have a president who’s involved in this industry, and I would love to ban this activity, but that does not diminish the excellent work of this legislation,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who approved the measure, said.

“It does not diminish the hard work that bipartisan group of senators put into this to make a difference and to write a law that can protect consumers, that can protect our financial services industry, that can protect the strength of the dollar, and that can protect people who would like access to capital.”

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who voted against cloture, said: “Through his crypto business, Trump has created an efficient means to trade presidential favors like tariff exemptions, pardons and government appointments for hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of dollars from foreign governments, from billionaires and from large corporations. By passing the GENIUS Act, the Senate is not only about to bless this corruption, but to actively facilitate its expansion.”