BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) (ITALPRESS) – Rudi Garcia and Belgium are parting ways: the Federation announced that his contract, which expires at the end of the month, will not be renewed. The Frenchman was hired in February 2025 to replace Domenico Tedesco, and under his guidance, the Red Devils secured a place in League A of the Nations League and reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Spain. Belgium was also the only national team to score against La Roja.

“Rudi Garcia has made a decisive contribution to the rebirth of the Red Devils,” said Vincent Mannaert, sporting director of the Belgian Football Association. “He was appointed coach in a difficult sporting and financial context. Thanks in part to his commitment and experience, the team’s cohesion was restored and an excellent result was achieved at the last World Cup. We are now preparing a new cycle, which will also include the appointment of a new coach.”

“After discussions with the Belgian Football Association, we have decided not to continue the excellent collaboration of the last 18 months,” commented the former Roma and Napoli coach. “I am leaving Belgium in League A of the Nations League and among the eight best national teams in the world.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

FREETOWN (SIERRA LEONE) (ITALPRESS) – The Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, welcomed the signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) governing the development of the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic African Gas Pipeline (AAGP), an energy infrastructure project spanning approximately 6,800 kilometers, intended to transport natural gas from Nigeria to Morocco, before connecting to the European gas grid.

This was reported by the Moroccan news agency MAP, which noted that the signing of the agreement marks the accession of ECOWAS member states to the strategic project, launched at the initiative of King Mohammed VI and former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, with the renewed support of current Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The project is being developed by Morocco’s National Hydrocarbons and Mines Office (ONHYM) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).

The next steps include the establishment of the project company, which will be based in Casablanca, and the Pipeline Higher Authority, whose headquarters will be in Abuja. The process will be completed with the joint signature of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, non-ECOWAS members.

The Atlantic-African pipeline will cross 13 countries and, according to the MAP agency, the infrastructure will have a transport capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, of which up to 15 billion cubic meters may be destined for Morocco and European markets, while the remaining volume will supply regional markets in West Africa.

The investment is estimated at approximately $25 billion, with the first sections expected to enter into operation at the beginning of the next decade.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Italy has been following, “from the very beginning, with the utmost attention and sympathy, the developments in the tragic case involving Moroccan citizen Fakir Abderrahim,” said Youssef Balla, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Italy, according to a statement.

“At such a painful time, on behalf of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, I wish to express our deepest condolences and our sincere sympathy to the victim’s family. Instructions have been given from the outset to the competent Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco to ensure the family receives all the necessary moral support and consular assistance required in such grave circumstances,” the ambassador stated.

“The Consulate General has also been asked to maintain constant contact with the Italian judicial authorities in charge of the investigation, in full compliance with applicable international conventions and the procedures established by the Italian judicial system,” Balla continued.

“It is in everyone’s interest to shed full light on this dramatic affair, rigorously and transparently verifying all the circumstances surrounding it. We reiterate our full confidence in the Italian judicial system and are confident that the investigations will provide complete clarity on what happened,” he concluded.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – It’s official: Lucas Digne will become a PSG player. The Parisian club has activated the 33-year-old Aston Villa defender’s release clause, worth approximately €10 million, and he will undergo a medical in the next few hours. Digne, fresh from the World Cup with France and seen in Italy with Roma in the 2015-2016 season, will sign a three-year contract with Luis Enrique’s European champions.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli could part ways after just one season. The 35-year-old Belgian attacking midfielder has one more year left on his contract, but after a disappointing first season (21 appearances overall, 5 goals and 4 assists), partly due to the injury that sidelined him for several months, he’s reportedly looking elsewhere.

According to “L’Equipe,” in particular, several intermediaries have been tasked with finding him a new project. So far, however, the search hasn’t yielded much fruit: several Turkish clubs have reportedly expressed interest but haven’t taken it any further. Keep an eye on the Saudi Arabian league, which could represent the most viable option.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NEW YORK (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – “Today more than ever, I am proud to represent this country, this national team, and to be part of an incredible group of people who would give their lives for these colors and who put their heart and soul into every single moment. All I can say is: thank you. I promise to give absolutely everything I have to bring this trophy back to Argentina.” This was the message Argentina midfielder Nico Paz shared on social media after remaining an unused substitute in yesterday’s World Cup final defeat to Lamine Yamal and Spain.

“Congratulations to Spain and to all Spaniards,” added the Como playmaker. “Come on, Argentina—always, through good times and bad!”

– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – After three seasons with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brazilian midfielder João Gomes has completed a €40 million move to Aston Villa.

Having made 41 appearances for Wolves this season, the South American midfielder joins the Villans, who lifted the UEFA Europa League trophy last May with a 3-0 victory over Freiburg.

A 10-cap Brazil international, Gomes is expected to replace Youri Tielemans, who recently joined Manchester United in a €41 million transfer.

Gomes becomes Aston Villa’s third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Modou Keba Cissé from LASK for €5.5 million and Switzerland World Cup star Johan Manzambi for €60 million.

The Birmingham club, which will compete in next season’s UEFA Champions League, will kick off its campaign on August 12 in the UEFA Super Cup against Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.

– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The international press has unanimously praised Spain’s achievement after they defeated defending champions Argentina in extra time to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

L’Équipe, France’s leading sports daily, headlined its coverage “The New Kings”, hailing Luis de la Fuente’s side as “the greatest national team of the 21st century,” citing not only the 2026 World Cup triumph but also Spain’s 2010 World Cup title and their European Championship victories in 2008, 2012, and 2024.

In the United Kingdom, the BBC celebrated Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, describing Spain as “superior” after dominating every area of the pitch.

Germany’s Bild focused on the symbolic generational showdown between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, portraying it as a passing of the torch that crowned “the Spanish superstar” while marking what could be Messi’s farewell to international football. The Argentine legend, now with Inter Miami, was described by the newspaper as “weak and defeated.”

Portugal’s A Bola was even more emphatic, declaring that “Spain humiliated La Albiceleste.”

Meanwhile, Argentina’s Olé adopted a sporting tone, acknowledging that “Spain deserved the title,” while stressing that Lionel Scaloni’s men “gave everything and fought until the very end.”

– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – A record-breaking World Cup, even for FIFA’s coffers. According to the Guardian, the international federation informed its members yesterday that the tournament, which concludes tonight with the final between Spain and Argentina, will generate $15 billion (over €13 billion), far exceeding expectations, given that forecasts had hovered around $11 billion. This is thanks to hospitality services and ticket sales, in a secondary market characterized by very high prices, with President Gianni Infantino thus strengthening his position ahead of the FIFA presidential elections to be held in March 2027.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Reflections are underway. The World Cup, which concludes tonight with Spain vs. Argentina, was also a tournament of innovations, starting with the much-discussed hydration breaks, whose future is still unclear. “Sometimes people didn’t like them,” acknowledged Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s head of global football development.

“I don’t think they changed the results of matches, but we’re here to serve the people who watch football, and we’ll draw conclusions for the future. At the end of the tournament, we’ll analyze their impact.” Opinions among coaches were divided, with some, like Tuchel, stating their complete opposition, while others, like Garcia and de la Fuente, saw a certain benefit in the breaks.

UEFA has already announced that they will not be adopted in Europe, but TV channels can certainly be satisfied: according to “The Hollywood Reporter,” Fox, the broadcaster that broadcast the World Cup in the United States, earned at least $250 million (€218 million) from advertising space sold for hydration breaks alone.

Wenger, however, fully endorsed the 48-team format: “It was the right decision and it was a great success. We concluded that it was ethically necessary to give a greater number of teams an opportunity.” These words could serve as a prelude to a further expansion to 64 national teams by 2030 or 2034, which Gianni Infantino has already confirmed will be analyzed.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews