VANCOUVER (CANADA) (ITALPRESS) – The next World Cup will be the richest ever. The FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver approved a further increase in prize money to be distributed to the 48 national teams competing in the World Cup, scheduled for June and July in Canada, Mexico, and the United States: $871 million, over €743 million, 15% more than announced last December.

Specifically, the amount allocated to cover preparation costs (from $1.5 million to $2.5 million) and the qualification prize (from $9 million to $10 million) will increase. More than $16 million will also be allocated in the form of subsidies for delegation costs and increased ticket quotas allocated to teams.

The remaining revenue will continue to be redistributed to benefit all 211 member associations.

“FIFA is proud to be in its strongest financial position ever, enabling us to support all our associations in an unprecedented way. This is a further example of how FIFA’s resources are reinvested in football,” said President Gianni Infantino.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The Tunisia–Italy Days on the conservation and enhancement of archaeological heritage have concluded in Tunis. The initiative was organised by the Italian Embassy in Tunis in collaboration with the National Heritage Institute (INP), the Italian Trade Agency, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Assorestauro, OICE, and Conect – the Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises.

The event was inaugurated by INP Director General Tarek Baccouche and Italian Ambassador Alessandro Prunas, and closed with remarks by Alfonsina Russo, Head of the Department for the Enhancement of Cultural Heritage at Italy’s Ministry of Culture.

For the first time, the event combined its academic and cultural dimension with a strong economic component. Numerous joint archaeological projects and missions were presented, confirming Italy as Tunisia’s leading partner in the sector. These were accompanied by a business forum and B2B meetings between Italian and Tunisian companies specialising in restoration.

“An integrated approach that brings together culture, research and the economy,” reads the Embassy’s closing statement, “in the spirit of the Mattei Plan, to further promote Tunisia’s extraordinary archaeological heritage on an international scale.”

– Photo: Italian Embassy in Tunis –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – After Bernardo Silva, another departure has been announced at Manchester City. John Stones will also leave the Etihad, as confirmed by both the club and the player. One of the first signings of the Guardiola era in 2016, Stones has made around 300 appearances since his arrival, contributing to 19 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League. Limited to just 16 appearances this season due to injuries, the 31-year-old English defender was purchased from Everton for approximately £50 million. “This has been my home for the last 10 years and it will be for the rest of my life,” Stones wrote on social media. “I arrived as a boy, and I will leave as a man, a father, and a husband, having fulfilled all my footballing dreams on the pitch.”

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – José Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid remains a concrete possibility. According to “The Athletic,” unlike last season when he merely endorsed director José Angel Sanchez’s choice of Xabi Alonso, Florentino Perez intends to take personal responsibility for identifying Real Madrid’s next manager. And at the top of his list is the Special One. Perez, also disappointed with Arbeloa, wants to revive Real after two trophyless seasons and believes Mourinho, who already held the Merengues’ helm from 2010 to 2013, is the right man: the Portuguese coach managed three titles at the time, including the 2011-12 La Liga title with a record points tally.

But within the Casa Blanca, there are also dissenting voices, given that Mourinho was also a divisive figure in the dressing room and there was no shortage of tension with then-captain Iker Casillas.

Added to this is the criticism leveled at Vinicius over the incident on February 17 in the Champions League, when the Brazilian accused Prestianni—who was subsequently suspended for six matches for homophobic behavior—of racist insults.

In Portugal, they assure us that the 63-year-old coach is focused on the end of the season with Benfica, where he has a contract until 2027, but there is a clause of approximately €3 million that allows either party to terminate his contract within 10 days of the final match of the season.

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Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Barcelona wants to keep Marcus Rashford but is trying to lower his fees. Last summer, the Blaugrana agreed a €30 million loan deal with Manchester United with an option to buy, a figure that today, according to Sky Deutschland, the Blaugrana are unwilling to pay. Hence the attempt with the Red Devils to keep the player on loan for another season or buy him for a lower fee. In any case, Rashford seems destined to stay, as manager Hansi Flick has also given the green light to his stay.

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Source: medNews

ISTANBUL (TURKEY) (ITALPRESS) — Fenerbahçe have announced the dismissal of head coach Domenico Tedesco and his coaching staff. The decisive factor was the 3–0 defeat to Galatasaray, which handed the title to their historic rivals.

The 40-year-old Italian-German coach had joined Fenerbahçe in September following the club’s split with José Mourinho. The club has also parted ways with sporting director Devin Özek.

“We thank them for their contribution to our club and wish them success in their future careers,” the statement reads.

Assistant coach Zeki Murat Göle will take charge of the team for the remaining matches of the season.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) — FIFA is expected to introduce a second phase of “amnesty” at the 2026 World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, by cancelling all yellow cards accumulated after the group stage, in addition to those already wiped after the quarter-finals. This was reported by BBC Sport.

Under current rules, a player who receives two yellow cards in two different matches is automatically suspended for the next game. At present, the yellow card count is reset only once, after the quarter-finals (to prevent a player from missing the final due to a booking received in the semi-final).

With the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, an additional round (the round of 32) has been introduced. Therefore, without a rule change, “FIFA fears that many players could find themselves in a difficult situation, having to play up to six matches before the quarter-finals and thus risking missing the semi-final,” the British broadcaster reports.

Under the new rule, a player would be suspended if they receive a yellow card in two of the three group-stage matches, or if they receive two yellow cards in the first three knockout rounds (round of 32, round of 16, and quarter-finals) of the tournament. The change is expected to be approved at the next FIFA Congress, scheduled for Thursday in Vancouver, Canada, about six weeks before the start of the World Cup.

– Photo IPA Agency –
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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has formally entered election mode after President Myriam Spiteri Debono dissolved parliament and signed the writ for a general election, bringing the country’s 14th legislature to a close. The election will be held on May, 30.

Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party Robert Abela, is campaigning on stability and experience, presenting his party as best equipped to navigate global uncertainty. Abela pledged an electoral manifesto featuring costed measures and a new “wellbeing index” to assess policy impact, though details remain limited.

Framing Labour as a reliable choice, Abela told voters the party offers clarity and continuity. He argued Labour alone has the capacity to improve citizens’ lives, positioning it as a “trusted hand” in uncertain times.

Opposition leader Alex Borg of the Nationalist Party set out a contrasting vision focused on fairness. Borg said his party would sustain Malta’s economic growth while ensuring its benefits are more evenly shared.

In his address, Borg repeatedly highlighted a disconnect between strong economic indicators and everyday realities. While the economy is expanding, he questioned whether ordinary citizens are truly experiencing the gains.

With both parties centering their campaigns on economic management, voters are set to decide between continuity and a recalibrated approach to growth as Malta prepares to head to the polls.

– Photo DOI –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced he will ask the President to dissolve Parliament immediately, setting the stage for a snap general election on Saturday, 30 May.

The decision, confirmed on Monday evening, ends weeks of speculation over an early election and sends voters to the polls nearly a year ahead of schedule. Abela is expected to formally request the dissolution of Parliament in the coming hours.

The move echoes the 2017 snap election, when then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat sought a fresh mandate amid political turmoil and went on to secure a decisive victory.

Abela will aim to maintain the strong parliamentary majority he won in the March 2022 election, when the Labour Party secured 55.9% of the vote against the Nationalist Party’s 41.7%, translating into a margin of around 41,600 votes.

However, that election also recorded the lowest voter turnout since independence, with participation dropping to 85.5%, raising concerns about voter engagement.

The current legislature was not due to expire until May 2027, giving Abela the option to wait another year before calling an election. Government sources, however, suggest that delaying could have posed greater risks, citing a more energised opposition, ongoing court cases involving former officials, and economic uncertainty linked to international conflicts.

By calling an early vote, Abela has effectively shortened the parliamentary term and initiated a five-week campaign period expected to dominate the political landscape in the coming weeks.

Parliament is set to be formally dissolved within days, officially triggering the election process.

-Photo DOI-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Eder Militao will undergo surgery for the hamstring injury in his left leg sustained against Alaves. The Real Madrid defender will undergo surgery this week in Finland, effectively ending his season and ending his dream of playing in the World Cup with Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil.

According to the Spanish newspaper “Marca” website, he will be out of action for approximately five months. Militao could have opted for conservative treatment, which would have reduced his recovery time to five weeks, but this would have led to a much higher risk of recurrence, which surgery, however, should rule out. Marca emphasizes that the surgeon in charge of Militao’s surgery is Dr. Lasse Lempainen, considered the world’s leading specialist for this type of injury.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews