Busy season of world footy heats up
Opinion
Sometimes it seems so much is going on that you don't stand a chance of keeping track of it all. World football's tournament season certainly has this effect, what with men's and women's competitions in just about every configuration and age group crowding the international calendar.
But it can also be a whole lot of fun, provided you can focus on your favourite events and put the rest to the side.
For our purposes, in these pages, we'll be following a number of tournaments into and through the summer. They'll take us around the world and involve many of the sport's top players. They'll also contain surprises — which has happened already — and introduce storylines we've not yet considered.
MARTIN MEISSNER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Spain's Lamine Yamal smiles after scoring his side's third goal against France during Nations League semifinal action Thursday. The 17-year-old phenom is set to battle against Portuguese veteran Cristian Ronaldo in the all-Iberian Final on Sunday.
By narrowing our focus we'll be able to indulge our interests, maximize our enjoyment and come out of the summer with our sanity intact.
Here's what we'll be watching.
UEFA Nations League Final (Sunday, 2:00 p.m., DAZN)
Forty-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo put Portugal into a second Nations League Final when his winner stunned ascendant Germany on Wednesday. A day later, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal scored twice as Spain won a 5-4 thriller against France. The two superstars, representing two distinct generations of international football, will now square off in an intriguing all-Iberian Final. It may be the only time they face one another for either club or country.
FIFA World Cup Qualifying (Ongoing on DAZN and FUBO TV)
The 2026 World Cup kicks off in one year and four days, and 38 spots remain up for grabs. As qualification enters its final stretch the 46-team field is starting to take shape. Already, we have two debutantes. Jordan's 3-0 win over Oman on Thursday secured a first-ever berth for The Chivalrous Ones, and Uzbekistan's scoreless draw in Abu Dhabi punched a maiden ticket for The White Wolves. Elsewhere, Brazil only managed a nil-nil in Carlo Ancelotti's first match as manager while Paraguay stunned Uruguay 2-0 on Thursday. Europe resumed its campaign on Friday, and today Albania will host Serbia (1:45 p.m., DAZN) in a qualifier charged with ethnic and political tension. A 2014 match between the two countries was abandoned when a drone carrying the Albanian flag flew low over Belgrade stadium, causing an all-out brawl.
CONCACAF Gold Cup (June 14-July 6, FUBO TV)
In a Monday interview with TSN, Canada manager Jesse Marsch remarked that he and his players would view the upcoming Gold Cup as a disappointment if they didn't end up winning it. 'That's just the reality of how we feel internally about where we are as a team,' he said. The Canadian men will face Ukraine Saturday afternoon in a Canadian Shield match (2:30 p.m., FUBO TV) and Côte D'Ivoire Tuesday (7:30 p.m., FUBO TV), after which they'll head to Vancouver where they'll open the Gold Cup against Honduras (June 17, 9:30 p.m., FUBO TV). Assuming they finish atop a group that also includes Curacao and El Salvador, a tricky quarterfinal against one of Panama and Jamaica will likely await them. From there, they could face either Costa Rica or the United States in a semifinal. The U.S. and Mexico have traded championships since Canada last lifted the Gold Cup in 2000.
UEFA Women's European Championship (July 2-27)
Wednesdays
Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture.
In 2017, the Netherlands ended Germany's run of six straight European championships. In 2022, the most recent competition, England beat Germany after extra time in the final. That's a down-cycle by the Frauenteam's standards, but it looks to have ended with last summer's Olympic bronze medal win over World Cup winners Spain. Since then, they've beat England in London, the Netherlands home and away, and are unbeaten in 2025. Striker Lea Schuller, midfielders Sara Dabritz and Lena Oberdorf, and defender Giulia Gwinn have this Germany team primed and ready to roar back to the European summit.
FIFA U-20 World Cup (September 27- October 19)
International football's equivalent to the World Junior Hockey Championship is taking place a lot later than it should be — the result of FIFA's attention being fixed elsewhere, where it shouldn't. As a result, this typically compelling tournament will extend between two international breaks and be of even less interest to European participants who tend to favour the U-21 category. Even so, the U-20 World Cup is a high-profile event for teenage stars from everywhere else, especially South America. Chile are the 2025 hosts and will feature Atletico Mineiro defender Ivan Roman and Udinese striker Damian Pizzaro. Other youngsters to keep an eye on, assuming they're released by their clubs, will include Ecuador midfielder Kendry Paez, Argentina playmaker Franco Mastantuono and Brazil winger Estevao.
jerradpeters@gmail.com
@jerradpeters.bsky.social
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
US coach Mauricio Pochettino says ‘We're going to have the possibility to win the World Cup'
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A third straight loss didn't prevent Mauricio Pochettino from thinking big. 'We need to believe. We need to compete like today and for sure we're going to have the possibility to win the World Cup,' the U.S. coach said after the Americans lost their third straight game, wasting an early lead in a 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a friendly on Saturday. Jack McGlynn scored 59 seconds in for the U.S., which was missing many regulars as Pochettino revamped his roster following a dismal performance at the CONCACAF Nations League final four in March. Turkey took advantage of a sloppy defense as Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored in a 2-minute, 20-second span midway through the first half. While the U.S. had 60% possession and outshot Turkey 13-11, the Americans dropped to 5-4 under Pochettino, who took over after first-round elimination at last year's Copa America led the U.S. Soccer Federation to fire coach Gregg Berhalter. They have lost three straight for the second time in a year. 'Today, who is going to tell me, oh, we showed lack of, we showed lack of — lack of what today?' said Pochettino, a 53-year-old from Argentina who coached Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. 'The team showed what (it) needed to show. … Playing in this way, they are going to win most of the games.' Coaching a nation that hasn't reached the World Cup semifinals since 1930 or the quarterfinals since 2022, Pochettino changed eight starters from the Nations League loss to Canada in March and kept only left back Max Arfsten, winger Diego Luna and forward Patrick Agyemang. 'Some guys that are coming in — and they're not thinking twice about taking someone on. It's not playing safe. It's like, let's take risks and try to go after this thing,' said midfielder Tyler Adams, who entered at the start of the second half. 'I think having fresh faces, guys that aren't fearless, young guys, that's going to help us.' With a year to go before co-hosting the World Cup, the U.S. plays Switzerland on Tuesday at Nashville, Tennessee, in another friendly, then opens the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15. 'I am really sad because I think this group of players are working so hard and I think we deserve (a) better result today,' Pochettino said. 'I think we performed well. I think we're brave enough. I think the attitude was: Go and press, match in every single aspect a team like Turkey that is one of the best teams in the last year in Europe.' Defender Alex Freeman, a 20-year-old son of former NFL All-Pro receiver Antonio Freeman, started in his U.S. debut. Matt Freese, a starter at Major League Soccer's New York City, made his debut in goal. Matt Turner, the usual starter since 2022, didn't play for Crystal Palace after March 1. Midfielder Quinn Sullivan and defender Nathan Harriel made debuts as 65th-minute substitutes. McGlynn scored when he ran onto a pass from Malik Tilman, took several touches, cut inside and curled a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area inside the far post for his second goal in five international appearances. It was the earliest U.S. goal since Shaq Moore scored 20 seconds in against Canada during the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Turkey tied it in the 24th minute when Freese tapped the ball to Johnny Cardoso, whose pass ricocheted off a leg and past Freese for Güler's fifth international goal. Then in the 27th, Miles Robinson tried to clear Oğuz Aydın's shot and the ball went to Aktürkoğlu, who one-timed a bouncing shot past Freese for his 12th international goal and sixth in eight games. 'Of the goals that we concede, that created a big mess on the team,' Pochettino said. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Athletes Unlimited Softball League opens with high hopes and support from MLB and USA Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Athletes Unlimited Softball League made its debut after a year of buildup and a recent collaboration with Major League Baseball. The Bandits beat the Talons 3-1 in the first game Saturday in Rosemont, Illinois. The Volts were set to play the Blaze in Wichita, Kansas later in the day. 'I kind of feel like we blinked and it was here,' Cat Osterman, general manager of the Volts, said. 'But then there were moments where it felt like we weren't ever going to get here either because it took a whole year of process. We're all excited.' Athletes Unlimited has featured softball since 2020, when it unveiled a unique format that crowned an individual champion. The organization that focuses exclusively on women's sports now has launched a traditional four-team softball league in a traveling format. The Blaze, Volts, Bandits and Talons will play 24 games each, touring to 12 cities. The top two teams will compete in the best-of-three AUSL Championship from July 26-28 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. MLB said last month that it is making a strategic investment in the league. It will include an undisclosed amount for operational costs and a commitment to help it gain visibility. It will market the AUSL and its athletes during its All-Star Game, throughout the postseason and during broadcasts on the MLB Network and streams on USA Softball executive director Craig Cress likes the fact that a league with MLB's backing exists for players to join after their college careers. He sees it as an opportunity to keep the top American players facing elite competition so Team USA will be ready for Olympic softball that will be played in Oklahoma City in 2028. Japan has won the past two Olympic gold medals in the sport. Cress said he hopes the AUSL emerges as something comparable to Japan's well-established softball leagues. 'We have a great respect and a great rivalry,' Cress said of the history with Japan. 'But this Olympics on our home soil is our gold medal. We need to go get it. So from that standpoint, I know we've got a long way to go, but that's the end goal.' Cress said it was smart for Athletes Unlimited to add former MLB executive Kim Ng as commissioner and to seek out the league as a partner. He hopes the AUSL can catch fire the way the WNBA has the past two years with Caitlin Clark. 'The WNBA is now starting to really do some things with the star power they have coming in,' he said. 'But what got them to the point to be able to keep their athletes from going overseas to play? It was the involvement of the NBA.' There are indicators that this league could last longer than those that have come and gone over the years, starting with the well-structured support system, stability and the experience Athletes Unlimited had with the sport before launching this league. 'I think that one thing you hear about Athletes Unlimited from anybody that's been around it is we've done what we said we were going to do,' Athletes Unlimited co-founder Jon Patricof said. 'We've been around now for five years.' Bri Ellis, who was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year for Arkansas this season, played for the Talons on Saturday after being the No. 2 overall pick in the AUSL draft last month. She said she's thrilled about the timing of the league's rollout. 'It was kind of this relief that I don't have to be done now,' she said. 'I can keep going and keep playing and there's still a story to be written for me in my career, and so I'm just really grateful for everyone that's come before me and has worked their tails off to get the sport to where it is now.' ___ AP sports:
Toronto Sun
5 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Haliburton and Kawhi miracles just two of many crazy shots Pascal Siakam's been part of
Few players have been on the floor for as many classic shots in the playoffs as the former Raptor. Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inbox Pacers' Pascal Siakam (left) drives to the basket against Luguentz Dort of the Thunder during the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 5, 2025. Photo by Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Pascal Siakam has a pretty good basketball resume: Champion; Eastern Conference Final MVP; Two-time All-NBA; Most Improved Player. But he's also been on the court for some historic, and pretty rare moments. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Other than legendary clutch dagger wielder Robert Horry, it's hard to come up with a player who has been on the floor for as many massive shots as Siakam over his time in the league. When Tyrese Haliburton's long two-pointer fell in Game 1 Thursday just ahead of the buzzer, giving Indiana its first lead of the game and the win, it was an all-time experience for just about everyone. Just not Siakam. After all, he had an on-court view for an even bigger shot six years ago, one of the biggest in NBA history. That would be Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater over an outstretched Joel Embiid, which rattled around four times before dropping and eliminated the Philadelphia 76ers. It was one of the few series-enders at the buzzer in league history and helped propel the Raptors to the championship. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It's hard for that one to be topped and the only way Haliburton's dagger in Game 1 has a chance to do so would be for the Pacers to go on to win as well. Either way, Siakam's the only player that was there for both of them. Of course Siakam was also there for Haliburton's other three shots in these playoffs that either won or forced overtime, as well as his layup to knock out the Milwaukee Bucks. Haliburton also sank the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the second round after another huge comeback, forced overtime in stunning fashion in the conference finals against the New York Knicks and eliminated Milwaukee in Round 1 with a layup. Incredibly, Siakam has also been out there for two other classics, even if they weren't quite as important in the long run: This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A year before Kawhi's heroics, long-time Toronto tormentor LeBron James made it look easy, dropping a running, one-handed shot at the buzzer to put Cleveland up 3-0 in a series where the Raptors had homecourt advantage. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And a year after Kawhi, there was OG Anunoby's 'I don't shoot trying to miss' moment in the Bubble off a great pass from Kyle Lowry, which won Game 3 against Boston in the playoffs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. STATS PACK There's not shortage of interesting stats from Game 1. Here's a sampling: – Indiana became the first team since 2014 to win a Finals game without anyone scoring 20 points (Siakam had 19, just under his career Finals average of 19.7 per game in seven outings). 'Elite role players, call it,' Myles Turner told reporters in Oklahoma City on Saturday. 'We have two All-Stars on our team, but at the same time they will be the first to tell you that it can be anybody's night at any given time. We are just really following that philosophy.' Read More – Indiana was only 21-20 on the road in the regular season, barely above .500, yet, when things get exponentially tougher in the playoffs, is now 7-2 away from home. – Indiana has not lost consecutive games since March 10. – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is just the ninth player to attempt 30 shots in a Finals game since 2000 (he hit 14-of-30). And one from ESPN's Zach Kram: 'The Thunder threw just 208 passes — the fewest for any team in any game all season (and the second-fewest in a playoff game since 2013-14).' @WolstatSun Olympics Columnists Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Opinion
