Jonker says Dutch “still belong” after historic EURO 2025 defeat
July 10 – Dutch manager Andries Jonker brushed off his side’s historic 4-0 capitulation against England and vowed to prove they still belong amongst the elite.
News
US and Mexico Gold Cup final draws best-ever audience
July 10 – Sometimes failure is more compelling than success, a fact US broadcasting giant Fox can now attest to after it saw its Concacaf Gold Cup final numbers boom, with viewers tuning in to watch the US Men’s National Team’s latest capitulation.
Chiellini’s LAFC love story gets serious with investment
July 10 – Giorgio Chiellini has gone from hired gun to part-owner at LAFC, with the Italian legend officially joining the club’s ownership group.
Olympique Lyonnais saved from relegation on appeal
July 10 – Olympique Lyonnais have pulled off the great escape, with French football’s financial watchdogs at the DNCG reversing their previous decision to relegate the historic Ligue 1 club.
The 2025 Gold Cup by numbers
July 10 – The 2025 Gold Cup will go down as one of the most competitive and evenly matched finals tournaments in Gold Cup history. Of the 31 matches played, 24 were decided by single goal.
Nine matches finished as a draw. In the quarter finals three of the four match-ups were decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Welsh passion not enough to quell a rampant France
France 1 Wales 1
July 9 – A rampant France booked their ticket to the quarter-finals with a commanding 4-1 win over Wales in St. Gallen on Wednesday night. Despite heavy rotation, the French side pulled no punches against the Euro debutants, delivering a dominant performance that sends a clear message to whoever awaits them next week.
Donald Trump is going to the game
July 9 – US president Donald Trump will attend the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday at Metlife Stadium, he confirmed.
Sketch: FIFA celebrates (iconic) Trump Tower office opening with (iconic) CWC trophy display
July 8 – They say that criminals always return to the scene of the crime. In 2015 the US Department of Homeland Security blew the administration of world football off its feet with the FIFAgate scandal and indictment of more than 40 FIFA federation officials.
Lauren James leads England’s dismantling of the Dutch
England 4 Netherlands 0
July 9 – The European champions responded in style to the pressure that had been building after their opening 2-1 defeat against France. England comprehensively demolished the Netherlands 4-0 with Lauren James scoring a brace.
British MPs could vote on Premier League free-to-air plan
July 9 – In a development that would make even the most cynical observer marvel at the English government’s capacity for theatrical intervention, Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled an amendment to the Football Governance Bill demanding at least ten Premier League matches be made available on free-to-air television each season.
Real Madrid asks LaLiga to postpone opener as CWC fixtures compound player welfare crisis
July 9 – La Liga President Javier Tebas has been one of the most vehement critics of FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup, denouncing the tournament as a disruptive force that fundamentally “upsets the ecosystem of football”.
Chelsea extend Fanatics digital merchandising deal
July 9 – Premier League Chelsea have renewed and expanded their long-term partnership with Fanatics, extending the sports merchandise group’s role in managing the club’s global eCommerce operations while also granting it increased design and manufacturing rights.
OVG woo Saints fans with a nicer pie and better pint to get them through the Championship season
July 9 – Having suffered with low attendances to finish the Premier League season, largely due to their championship-found fate being sealed as early as March, Southampton FC have appointed Oak View Group (OVG) to manage and upgrade all food and beverage operations at St Mary’s Stadium – with the club looking to modernise its matchday experience and boost fan engagement through improved hospitality.
Bookies find a way to beat the Italian gambling regulators
July 9 – A subsidiary of international online gambling giant Bet365 has orchestrated a deal with Italian champions Napoli that could beat the new Italian regulations on betting sponsorship and advertising in sport – a manoeuvre that highlights the increasingly sophisticated lengths to which operators will go to penetrate Europe’s fragmented regulatory landscape.
Wiegman keeps focus on bouncing back, not out
July 9 – England manager Sarina Wiegman has downplayed the consequences of defeat against the Netherlands, but England are starring down the barrel in a must-win game.