United News of Bangladesh

Palmeiras staged a late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami in front of a lively crowd at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night, with both teams securing spots in the Club World Cup round of 16. The Brazilian side, known for its rich football history, found the equalizer in the 87th minute through Mauricio after trailing for most of the game. The draw was enough for both clubs to progress, as they entered the match level on four points at the top of Group A. Nuno Santo signs new three-year deal to stay at Nottingham Forest Inter Miami seemed on course to win the group after building a 2-0 advantage, thanks to goals from Tadeo Allende in the 16th minute and veteran striker Luis Suarez in the 65th. However, Palmeiras turned the game around following key second-half substitutions. Paulinho pulled one back in the 80th minute, setting the stage for Mauricio's late equalizer. Despite plenty of opportunities and the crowd frequently chanting his name, Lionel Messi, who celebrates his 39th birthday on Tuesday, was unable to find the back of the net.  

Bogura DSA beat Sirajganj DSA by 3-0 goals in a Rajshahi zone match of the UCB -BFF Under- 15 National Football League' 2025 in Rajshahi Sunday afternoon. After barren first half, Habib Hossain put Bogra team ahead in the 51st minute (1-0), Sakib Hossain doubled the margin in the 64th minute (2-0) while Mohammad Sami sealed the fate of the match scoring the 3rd goal in the 76th minute (3-0). Karimul Hassan of the Bogura DSA was adjudged the best player of the match.

Borussia Dortmund capitalised on an early defensive error and held off a late surge by Mamelodi Sundowns to secure a 4-3 win in a sweltering Club World Cup group stage clash at TQL Stadium on Saturday. Both players and the crowd of 14,006 endured intense heat, with on-field cooling breaks implemented as temperatures soared to nearly 90°F (32°C) under a heat advisory. The Sundowns struck first with a swift counterattack that Lucas Ribeiro Costa finished in the 11th minute. But Dortmund responded five minutes later when goalkeeper Ronwen Williams mistakenly passed the ball to Felix Nmecha, who easily converted the opportunity to level the score. The Bundesliga side took full momentum from the miscue, building a 3-1 lead by halftime through goals from Serhou Guirassy in the 34th minute and Jobe Bellingham in the 45th. An own goal by Khuliso Mudau, who misdirected Daniel Svensson’s cross in the 59th minute, gave Dortmund a 4-1 advantage. However, the South African champions mounted a strong response. Iqraam Rayners struck in the 62nd minute after his initial header bounced off the post, and Lebo Mothiba netted in the 90th to make it 4-3. Nuno Santo signs new three-year deal to stay at Nottingham Forest Despite the late push, the Sundowns could not recover from earlier defensive lapses. Notably, American midfielder Gio Reyna, who is with Dortmund instead of the U.S. national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, remained on the bench for the second match in a row. Key Moment:Nmecha’s equaliser — gifted by a misplaced pass from the Sundowns keeper — swung the match’s momentum in Dortmund’s favour. Group Implications:The result sends Dortmund to the top of Group H, overtaking Sundowns, who now face a must-win clash against Fluminense on Wednesday. Dortmund will meet Ulsan the same day. What They Said:“I think we did very well first of all, but we just lacked a bit of concentration in a few little bits. … We gave them a hard time,” said Sundowns forward Tashreeq Matthews. Jamal Musiala suffers another injury for Bayern Munich at Club World Cup “It was really difficult, especially for us, being a European team. They played a fantastic game, and I’m sure they’re used to that kind of weather. … In the game, you have to find little fixes,” said Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham. Source: With inputs from agency 

Nuno Espírito Santo has signed a new three-year contract to remain as manager of Nottingham Forest until at least 2028. The 51-year-old led Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season, securing European football for the first time since the 1995-96 season. Although Forest had been in contention for a Champions League spot for much of the campaign, they lost five of their final eight matches. Despite this, club owner Evangelos Marinakis rewarded Nuno for guiding Forest to their highest league finish in 30 years and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, where they were eliminated by Manchester City. Jamal Musiala suffers another injury for Bayern Munich at Club World Cup Nuno expressed his happiness to continue at the club, highlighting the strong connection built between players, fans, and staff that contributed to their success last season. He thanked Marinakis for his ongoing support and emphasized the importance of a solid relationship with the club’s ownership as they aim to create more memorable moments together. Having taken charge in December 2023 following the dismissal of Steve Cooper, Nuno helped Forest avoid relegation on the last day of that season. Marinakis praised Nuno’s positive impact, noting his ability to maximize player performance, develop talent, and successfully integrate young players into the first team. #With inputs from The Guardian

Bayern Munich's star midfielder Jamal Musiala sustained another injury during the Club World Cup match on Friday night, just 25 minutes after being subbed on. He was replaced in the 82nd minute by veteran German international Thomas Müller. Musiala entered the match in the 57th minute against Boca Juniors, but the exact nature of his injury has not yet been disclosed. Liverpool starts Premier League title defense against Bournemouth while Man U hosts Arsenal The 22-year-old had recently been recovering from a torn hamstring sustained during the Bundesliga season. Prior to Friday’s game, he had not featured for Bayern since April and only returned to full training on May 7. Due to his ongoing recovery, Bayern Munich and Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann opted not to include Musiala in the national squad for the UEFA Nations League semifinals held in late May.

US President Donald Trump was presented with a Portugal national team jersey signed by Cristiano Ronaldo during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada. The gift was handed over by European Council President Antonio Costa, who is Portuguese and has held the post since 2024. Costa arrived in Kananaskis, Alberta, on Monday and presented the jersey during a private meeting with Trump. Reading aloud the message inscribed on the shirt, Costa said: "To President Donald J. Trump, Playing for Peace." Holding the No.7 jersey with both hands, Trump, 79, responded: "I like it, playing for peace." Galle Test: Mushfiqur, Litton fall quickly as Bangladesh pass 450 Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, is the top scorer in men's international football history with 138 goals. He recently led Portugal to victory in the UEFA Nations League and is expected to represent his country in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Ronaldo currently plays for Saudi club Al Nassr.Source: ESPN

Liverpool will kick off the 2025-26 Premier League season with a home match against Bournemouth on August 15, while Manchester United will take on Arsenal at Old Trafford in a high-profile opener. The Premier League released the full fixture list for the upcoming season on Wednesday, just weeks after the conclusion of the previous campaign, allowing clubs and supporters to begin preparations. Aiming for their third league title in six years — possibly with Florian Wirtz among their ranks — Liverpool will open the season with a Friday night clash at Anfield against a Bournemouth side that finished ninth last season. It’s a challenging start for manager Arne Slot’s title holders. After facing Bournemouth, they’ll travel to Newcastle before hosting Arsenal, another Champions League participant, in the third round. Even Saudi Arabia and FIFA couldn't get Cristiano Ronaldo to the Club World Cup Arsenal, who finished runners-up for a third consecutive season, will begin with a tough trip to Manchester United and will also face Liverpool, Manchester City, and Newcastle within their first six games. Everton, having said goodbye to Goodison Park at the end of last season, will play their inaugural match at the new 53,000-seat stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock against Brighton on August 23. Tottenham’s new boss Thomas Frank will oversee his first league match at home against newly-promoted Burnley on August 16, just three days after Spurs’ UEFA Super Cup clash against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. Penalty ends Palestinian World Cup hopes, but team’s journey leaves lasting impact Sunderland will return to the Premier League for the first time since the 2016-17 season with a home game against West Ham. Leeds, back in the top division after two years, will face Everton in their first fixture. Source: With inputs froma agency 

In the end, not even the influence of Saudi Arabia or FIFA President Gianni Infantino could bring Cristiano Ronaldo to the Club World Cup. Infantino made a public push last month, even using an interview with YouTuber iShowSpeed to appeal directly to clubs. "If any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup...," he said, hinting at the possibility of a short-term move. With Ronaldo’s contract at Saudi club Al-Nassr nearing its end, FIFA opened a special mini transfer window tailored for its newly rebranded tournament—paving the way for a temporary deal that could have allowed the Real Madrid legend to participate. Given Ronaldo’s strong ties to Saudi Arabia—where he has become a central figure in the kingdom’s bold campaign to attract global football stars—speculation quickly swirled about a possible move to Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia’s most decorated club and the country’s sole Club World Cup participant. However, a major roadblock stood in the way: Al Hilal and Al-Nassr are fierce cross-town rivals in Riyadh. Despite both clubs being majority-owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, switching allegiances—even temporarily—was deemed unacceptable. "While we all respect Ronaldo as a massive player, it goes completely against the logic to sign your biggest rival's top player, even just for three or four weeks," Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada told the BBC. Still, the mere existence of such rumors speaks volumes about the extent to which Saudi Arabia is willing—and able—to stretch the boundaries of modern sport. The oil-rich kingdom has already disrupted golf with LIV, become a dominant force in boxing, secured its place on the F1 calendar, and attracted top-tier tennis tournaments. Among all these ventures, its football ambitions stand out the most. Saudi Arabia has secured hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, taken control of Premier League club Newcastle United, and recruited a lineup of football superstars to a domestic league that remains well behind its European and South American counterparts in prestige. Yet, even with immense resources and FIFA's flexibility, bringing Ronaldo to this year's Club World Cup proved a step too far. Asia Cup Archery: Bangladeshi archer Abdur Rahman Alif enters gold medal race, Himu Bachar battle for bronze medal Which is why it is perhaps surprising that Al Hilal arrives at the Club World Cup without the type of global star Saudi Arabian clubs have been collecting since Ronaldo's move opened the floodgates at the end of 2022. The four-time Asian champion did have Brazil great Neymar - signed for $94 million in 2023 - but he was released in January after an ACL injury reduced him to just seven appearances. A move was made for Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes just before the Club World Cup, but the Portugal midfielder rejected the offer. There are big money recruits in the form of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly and Ruben Neves. But perhaps the significant acquisition was Simone Inzaghi, who left Italian giant Inter Milan earlier this month to become arguably the highest profile coach to head to Saudi Arabia. “My ambition, the ambition of the club, is to try to grow more, to try to make Al Hilal become one of the best football clubs,” he said ahead of his first game in charge - against 15-time European champion Real Madrid at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday. “I believe the time has come to get out of my comfort zone.” Madrid versus Al Hilal could be seen as a case of soccer's old money versus a seemingly unstoppable disrupter. Madrid is the biggest powerhouse in the world's most popular sport - its most successful and most storied team. Soccer, however, is witnessing an undoubted powershift and Saudi Arabia is a coming force. “Sometimes we just focus on what’s going on in Europe, and we think there’s nothing else beyond Europe. We’re too focused on Europe," Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said.

Bangladesh Archery team ranked 5th in both the recurve men’s team and compound mixed team in the qualification round of the 2025 Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament, Stage-2 held in Singapore on Monday. Bangladesh recurve men’s team consisting of Abdur Rahman Alif, Ram Krisna Saha and Mohammad Rakib Miah finished 5th among 14 participting teams scoring 1960 while Bangladesh compound mixed team comprising Himu Bachar and Puspita Zaman was placed 5th among 13 participating teams scoring 1394. In the day’s qualification round of the compound men’s division, Himu Bachar ranked 4th scoring the country’s best 707 out of 720, Newaz Ahmed Rakib finished 28th scoring 689 while Sohel Rana was placed 41st scoring 678. In the compound women’s division, Puspita Zaman finished 12th scoring 687, Bonnya Akter was placed 22nd scoring 680 while Kulsum Akter was placed 36th scoring 657. In the day’s recurve men’s division qualifiers, Abdur Rahman Alif finished 7th scoring 662, Ram Krishna Saha was placed 21st scoring 650, Rakib Miah finished 23rd scoring 648 while Sagor Islam was placed 33rd scoring 641. Monira Akter finished 23rd in the recurve women’s division scoring 629.  The elimination round of recurve men’s, recurve women’s, compound men’s, compound women’s  will be held on Tuesday (June 17) from 9 am Singapore time. A total of 204 archers--105 men and 99 women—from 20 Asian countries are taking part in the 2025 Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament, Stage -2.    

A dramatic and emotionally charged World Cup qualifying journey for Palestine came to a heartbreaking conclusion last Thursday in Amman, when a late penalty decision shattered their dream of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite the setback, the legacy of this team remains a powerful symbol of hope and pride. The Palestinian national team, led by forward Oday Dabbagh, walked off the pitch in tears after a controversial penalty awarded in stoppage time led to a 1-1 draw against Oman—eliminating them from contention. The game, held at King Abdullah II Stadium, had seen Palestine leading until the dying seconds. “It’s incredibly painful,” Dabbagh told the Associated Press. “We gave everything. We were well-prepared, had great team spirit, and strong support. But in a moment, it was all gone.” Ranked 101st in the world, Palestine had to win their final three matches in Group B to qualify for the Asian playoffs that offer a route to the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. They had already defeated Iraq in Basra in March and Kuwait in Kuwait City on June 5. Against Oman, they were on course for a vital win until the penalty deep into stoppage time. In response, the Palestine Football Association filed a formal complaint with FIFA over the decision, although it had no impact on the outcome. Palestine’s head coach Ihab Abujazar praised his squad’s spirit: “These players are heroes. They have brought pride to our nation and have been a bright light for Palestinians in difficult times.” Challenges beyond football Due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Palestine has not hosted any home matches during the third round of qualifying. Instead, the team played in Amman, which has a large Palestinian community. “Playing at home makes a huge difference,” said Dabbagh, who recently helped Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup. “But given the situation, Amman is the closest thing to home—it’s nearby, and our supporters are here.” Since the war escalated in 2023, domestic football in Palestinian territories has come to a standstill. Thousands have died, including hundreds of athletes, and several sports facilities have been damaged or destroyed. “As players, we try to stay focused during games,” Dabbagh said. “But what’s happening back home motivates us to bring some happiness to our people.” Currently, 25 of the 27 players in the national squad play for clubs abroad, mostly in the Middle East and Europe. This marks a significant shift from earlier in the conflict when some players were unable to leave Gaza or the West Bank. Over the past year, the squad held training camps in Algeria, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to prepare for the qualifiers. Had they beaten Oman, Palestine would have secured fourth place in Group B and advanced to the playoff round. Instead, the draw left them fifth, one point short. Looking ahead With the World Cup dream now out of reach, attention turns to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, for which Palestine has already qualified. Dabbagh emphasized the team’s commitment to continuing their mission: “Football remains our way of sending a message to the world about Palestine. The dream isn’t over—it’s just postponed.”