11vs11Arena - Football News

FIFA unveiled the winning trophy for the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup that begins next summer.

Created in collaboration with Tiffany & Co., the 24-karat gold vermeil trophy's shield can transform into a multifaceted and orbital structure.

It's inspired by four key elements: maps of pioneering journeys, the periodic table, astronomy and the Voyager Golden Records.

The trophy includes a neat design element. There are celestial symbols that represent the approximate positions of the planets when FIFA was founded on May 21, 1904 in Paris and the tournament's opening match on June 15.

Also featured are inscriptions of the world map, all 211 FIFA member associations, laser-engraved descriptions of the game — such as a bicycle kick and diving save — and wording in 13 languages including Braille on the hardware.

Space is left on the trophy to laser-engrave the emblems of the winning clubs from the 24 editions of the tournament. The central disc includes various icons that capture football's traditions.

Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has won the men's Ballon d'Or. The 28-year-old was awarded the prize in Paris after helping Spain win Euro 2024 in July. He also won the Premier League, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup with City.

Rodri claimed the award ahead of Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was third. Real Madrid won the award for club of the year and their manager Carlo Ancelotti was the winner of the men's coach of the year award, but there was no-one from the club present to receive the prizes.

Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe shared the Gerd Muller Trophy - the award for the best goalscorer - after both scoring 52 goals in all competitions last season.

The Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best performing player under the age of 21, went to Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal.

Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Yashin Trophy - the award for the best goalkeeper - for the second year running.

The Friedkin Group, which also owns Serie A side AS Roma and is led by American billionaire Dan Friedkin, has agreed on a deal to take over Everton owner Farhad Moshiri's 94.1% controlling stake, the club announced on Monday.

The deal struck between Blue Heaven Holdings - run by Farhad Moshiri - and The Friedkin Group is subject to regulatory approval, including from the Premier League, the Football Association and the Financial Conduct Authority.

The Friedkin Group stressed the Everton deal would not affect their commitment to Roma.

AS Roma have confirmed that CEO Lina Souloukou handed her resignation today morning, following the protests and insults against her, which also threatened the security of her children.

As frustrations from the supporters towards Souloukou grew, the CEO had been placed under police protection according to reports form La Repubblica. 

It was suggested by Sky Italia that Souloukou was involved in the decision to dismiss head coach De Rossi, who had a meeting a day before the sacking and it involved the now ex-CEO, Florent Ghisolfi and the club’s owners. The decision was informed to De Rossi before he took training the next day.

San Marino won their first ever competitive match by beating Liechtenstein 1-0 in the Nations League on Thursday, 20 years since their only other victory, also against Liechtenstein.

FIFA’s lowest-ranked team - bottom of the federation’s rankings of 210 national sides - had only previously won one game in their history, a 1-0 victory over the same opposition in 2004, but they added to that on Wednesday night after Nicko Sensoli scored to beat their 199th-ranked opponents.

It was the first time they had ever recorded a competitive victory, with that previous triumph against Liechtenstein having come in a friendly.

Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson has passed away aged 76 after a long illness.

Eriksson revealed in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and that he likely had “at best” about a year to live. He had stood down from his final job, as sporting director at Karlstad in his native Sweden, the previous February because of what he described at the time as “health issues which are under investigation”.

Eriksson also coached Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Lazio, Manchester City and Leicester among others, winning 18 trophies.
The Swede also had spells in charge of Mexico, Ivory Coast and the Philippines.

Girondins de Bordeaux have confirmed they have filed for bankruptcy following their decision not to appeal the DNCG’s ruling to hand them an administrative demotion into third-tier National 1.

Following the withdrawal of Fenway Sports Group from talks of a club takeover, Bordeaux could not provide a realistic solution to the DNCG that would address the financial watchdog’s concerns.

In consequence, Bordeaux are not a professional football club anymore. All professional players from Albert Riera’s squad will be released from their contracts, and the famous academy that nurtured the likes of Zinédine Zidane, Bixente Lizarazu, Jules Koundé or Aurélien Tchouaméni is set to be closed. 

In their statement, Bordeaux add their intent remains to play in the third tier for next season to allow the 6-time French champions a return to the highest level with “improving finances and renewed ambition.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) is filing a legal complaint over "racist and discriminatory remarks" by Argentina players in postmatch chants about France's team after the Copa América final.

Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 on Sunday. A video posted on Instagram by Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández and widely viewed on X showed Argentina players singing about French players with African heritage.

Fernández later apologized for singing the song featured in the video. The same chants - by some Argentina fans - emerged before France and Argentina met in the World Cup final two years ago, which Argentina won. (ESPN)

Argentina retained their Copa América crown after beating Colombia 1-0 after extra time in Miami, ending their opponent's record 28-game unbeaten run.

Lionel Messi’s teammates stepped up when the 37-year-old superstar captain was tearfully subbed off in the second half with an injury, and Argentina finally broke through in the 112th minute on a goal from Copa América top scorer Lautaro Martínez, his fifth of the tournament.

The win makes Argentina the first-ever nation to win two consecutive Copa Américas and the World Cup in between them.

Spain have won EURO 2024 after beating England 2-1 in Berlin to lift their fourth title, becoming the most successful team in the competition after a tournament to remember for Luis de la Fuente and his players.

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams combined brilliantly for the latter to give Spain the lead 75 seconds into the second half, after their influential midfielder Rodri was withdrawn at the break with a hamstring injury. England hit back through Cole Palmer in the 73rd minute, before Oyarzabal won it for Spain in the closing stages.

It is Spain’s fourth Euro title – having previously won in 1964, 2008 and 2012 – while for England, it is heartbreak for a second straight European Championship having been beaten by Italy on penalties at Euro 2020.

Real Madrid were crowned kings of Europe for a record-extending 15th time with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday.

Dani Carvajal scored the opener in the 74th minute to open the scoring, while Vinicius Junior doubled the lead for the Spanish giants in the 83rd minute. The Victory sealed a record-extending fifth Champions League title for coach Carlo Ancelotti, his third with Madrid.

American fund Oaktree have now officially completed the takeover of Serie A giants Inter.

Suning and Steven Zhang had taken a major loan from Oaktree back in 2021, when Inter were struggling financially. But it was taken with the promise that the amount would be repaid with interest by the 20th of May, 2024. But Suning have failed to pay the amount, meaning that they have now lost ownership of the Nerazzurri.

Olympiacos have claimed the UEFA Conference League trophy after defeating Fiorentina 1-0 after extra time in Athens. It is the Greek club's first-ever senior European cup triumph.

A giant of Greek football with 47 domestic league titles, Piraeus-based, Olympiacos were powered to the win over Fiorentina in Athens courtesy of Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored in the dying minutes of extra time.

Manchester United have won the FA Cup after beating rivals Manchester City 2-1 in the final at Wembley.

First-half goals from Man United teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo secured a momentous 2-1 win for Erik ten Hag’s men and booked the Red Devils' spot in the UEFA Europa League next season.

West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been charged by the Football Association for allegedly getting booked deliberately "for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market".

An FA statement said: "It's alleged that he [Paqueta] directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting."

Paqueta has until 3 June to respond and could be facing a lengthy ban if a breach is proven.

Atalanta have won their first major European trophy by beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to lift the Europa League trophy in Dublin, ending Leverkusen's unbeaten streak of 51 games in all competitions.

Atalanta's Ademola Lookman became the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final, helping the club win their second major trophy in history.

Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions for the eighth time after beating West Ham United on Sunday.

A 3-1 win at Etihad Stadium secured the title, their sixth under manager Pep Guardiola, and sees them become the first team in the history of English football to win four successive top-flight league championships.

Bayer Leverkusen have created yet more history in a remarkable campaign after Thursday’s 2-2 dramatic draw against Roma in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final saw Xabi Alonso’s side go a record 49th match this season without defeat, surpassing the previous record held by Eusebio’s Benfica between December 1963 and February 1965.

Having already secured the Bundesliga title, Leverkusen will now come up against Bochum and Augsburg in their final two league outings before Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final and Atalanta in the Europa League final.

UEFA have officially confirmed squad sizes for this summer’s European Championship in Germany have been increased from 23 to 26.

A statement released on Friday confirmed: ‘The UEFA Executive Committee has today decided to increase the maximum squad size of the teams participating in the upcoming UEFA EURO 2024 from the original quota of 23 to 26 players.’

Real Madrid claimed a record 36th league title on Saturday after a 3-0 win over Cadiz before Barcelona lost to Catalan rivals Girona 4-2 later in the evening.

After missing out on the championship last year to arch-rivals Barca, the Madridstas clinched their second crown under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti, who led them to top spot during the 2021/22 season.