ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – The play-off between Giroud and Lloris’ Los Angeles FC and Mexicans Club America has been set for May 31 at 7:30 p.m. local time, at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, to secure the last available spot at the next Club FIFA World Cup to replace Leon, excluded by the CAS because the admission criteria relating to timeshare were not met as the company is headed by the same majority shareholder as Pachuca, another team admitted to the tournament.

The play-off – which includes extra time and penalties in the case of a draw – will therefore pit LAFC, the finalist of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League won by Leon, against Club America, the first of the excluded teams according to the ranking. The winner will be placed in Group D with Flamengo, Fenerbahce and Chelsea.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Diplomatic incident among international soccer’s top brass in Paraguay. A number of European leaders, including Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin, left the proceedings of the 75th Fifa Congress because they were annoyed by the delay of Uefa President Gianni Infantino, who was returning from a trip he made to the Middle East along with U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Changing the work schedule at the last minute for reasons that appear to be simply related to private political interests does soccer no favors and risks putting its interests on the back burner,” Uefa reported in a note.

“As Fifa president, my responsibility is to make decisions in the interest of the organization. I had to be there (in Qatar and Saudi Arabia) to represent soccer and each of you,” Infantino said instead about his trip.

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Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela is among 47 European leaders in Tirana for the sixth summit of the European Political Community (EPC).

The EPC, established through an initiative by French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to enhance dialogue among European nations on key political and security challenges. The summit, held under the theme “New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation – Joint Action,” tackles pressing issues ranging from regional security to economic resilience, against the ongoing backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

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Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has triumphed at the Eurovision Song Contest, securing a place in the grand final thanks to a powerful performance by singer Miriana Conte. Her song Serving captivated audiences and judges alike during Thursday night’s second semi-final in Basel, Switzerland, clinching a coveted spot in Saturday’s final.

This marks Malta’s first qualification to the Eurovision final since 2021, breaking a four-year drought and reigniting national excitement around the contest. Conte’s emotionally charged delivery and stage presence earned praise across social media and Eurovision fan communities, even as Serving had previously stirred some controversy over its provocative title.

Miriana Conte’s qualification has sparked renewed optimism among Maltese Eurovision fans, many of whom hope her bold and unforgettable performance of Serving can push Malta toward its long-sought first Eurovision win.

Malta was one of 16 nations competing in Thursday’s semi-final, from which only 10 advanced. Joining Malta in the final are Armenia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, and Luxembourg.

These countries now join the 10 who qualified from Tuesday’s first semi-final, alongside the five automatic qualifiers – the “Big Five” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) – and this year’s host country, Switzerland, completing the 26-strong lineup for Saturday’s final showdown.

The Eurovision Grand Final will take place on Saturday, May 18, live from Basel’s St. Jakobshalle.

-Photo IPA Agency-
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Source: medNews

RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL) (ITALPRESS) – The Court of Justice in Rio de Janeiro has ordered the removal of Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) President Ednaldo Rodrigues, declaring “null and void” the agreement that had kept him in office.

This decision comes just days after the CBF appointed Carlo Ancelotti as coach of the five-time world champion Selecao, just over a year before the 2026 World Cup.

Fernando Sarney, vice-president, was given the post of interim number one, with a request to hold elections “as soon as possible.”

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

SEOUL (SOUTH KOREA) (ITALPRESS) – Tottenham striker and captain Son Heung-min has reported to South Korean police an extortion attempt against him. According to Yonhap news agency, a woman in her twenties contacted Son last year claiming to be pregnant with his child and asking for money in exchange for silence. Subsequently, a man in his 40s came forward last March also attempting to extort money from the footballer. Both blackmailers have already been arrested by Gangnam police.

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(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LISBON (PORTUGAL) (ITALPRESS) – Josè Mourinho next coach of Portugal? From Lisbon they deny it. The Turkish newspaper “HT Spor” reported that the Special One, currently coach of Fenerbahce, has reached an agreement with the president of the Lusitanian Football Federation (FPF), Pedro Proença, to terminate his contract with the Turkish club early and take over the leadership of Portugal in place of Roberto Martinez after the Final Four of the Nations League in June.

A choice, that of the FPF, linked among other things to Mourinho’s experience in managing cumbersome personalities such as Cristiano Ronaldo. But the Federation, contacted by “Sapo Desporto”, “categorically” denied any contact or approach with Mourinho, recalling that the current coach Martinez is under contract until the 2026 World Cup.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “This season has been tough. It is not nice to lose so many games. It is boring and not fun. That’s why we need to finish well and get a trophy”. Erling Haaland uses no half-measures and, in an interview with BBC Sport, he defines with these adjectives the season of his Manchester City. “It is a good habit to reach Wembley and always important to win trophies. We have the FA Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this”.

“When you have won four league titles in a row, if you don’t win five it’s not going to be a successful season,” said Haaland. “Those are the standards we have set. We haven’t done good enough in the league but still hoping for Champions League qualification”.

Regarding the FA Cup, Haaland has great respect for Crystal Palace: “Crystal Palace are a really difficult club to play against. At Selhurst Park we drew and they started really well at the Etihad. They are an amazing team with quality players”, he concluded.

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Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “El Madrid ficha a Huijsen”. Marca leaves no room for doubt and gives certainty about the future of the Dutch defender, a naturalized Spanish national. Real Madrid and Bournemouth have started exchanging documents on the basis of an agreement already has been reached, although the signatures are still missing and thinking about when to make an operation that sees Juventus are also directly involved.

“Blancos” will be in the English club’s coffers, the amount of the rescission clause, £50 million (approximately €59 million), in three rate. 10% will go to Juve, the company that last summer The 20-year-old was transferred to Bournemouth. Real market window that runs from 1 to 10 June and that FIFA puts Arrangement of clubs committed to the World Cup by club. There were many more big on the player who is already part of the Spanish national team: Chelsea in particular, but Real Madrid won and in the next few days will officialize the engagement.

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Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has once again secured the top position in the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map Equality Index, marking the tenth consecutive year the country has led the rankings. The index evaluates the civil rights and protections afforded to LGBTIQ+ individuals across 49 European countries.

Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg hailed the ranking as a testament to the government’s political commitment and the active role of civil society in fostering a more equal and inclusive society.

“This recognition strengthens our determination to uphold the highest standards in this area,” said Buttigieg. “It ensures that the rights gained in recent years are not rolled back.”

Buttigieg emphasized that the advancement and protection of LGBTIQ+ rights are deeply tied to the core values of democracy and fundamental freedoms for all.

As part of ongoing efforts to lead in this space, Malta will host the upcoming IDAHOT+ Forum and Expert Meetings next week. The events, taking place under Malta’s Presidency of the Council of Europe, will gather European leaders and activists to discuss key issues related to LGBTIQ+ rights and equality.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews