World Cup
Sacked Spalletti to leave Italy job after Moldova match
Luciano Spalletti has been sacked from his role as Italy’s coach, with the manager announcing the decision himself on Sunday, following their heavy loss to Norway, but he will take charge of Monday’s game against Moldova.
Spalletti was speaking at a press conference ahead of the Moldova match which comes after Norway stunned Italy with a 3-0 win on Friday, handing the visitors a humiliating start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
“Last night we were together with (Italian football federation) president (Gabriele) Gravina. He told me that I will be relieved of my position as coach of the national team,” Spalletti said.
“I had no intention of giving up. I would have preferred to stay in my place and continue doing my job. I’ll be there tomorrow evening against Moldova, then we’ll resolve the contract.”
Spalletti’s dismissal comes after less than two years in the role, having replaced Roberto Mancini and taking charge in September 2023. While Spalletti took Italy to Euro 2024, their disappointing performance there had already put the manager under pressure.
Italy went into the Euros last year in Germany as defending champions but after winning their opening game against Albania, they lost to Spain and snatched a late draw with Croatia to make the last 16 where they were beaten 2-0 by Switzerland.
Spalletti’s side seemed to have recovered as they put in an impressive Nations League campaign, beating France 3-1 away and losing just once. They lost at home to the French in the final group game to finish behind France on goal difference.
Italy began this year with a 2-1 loss at the San Siro in their Nations League quarter-final first leg with Germany and found themselves 3-0 down at halftime in the return game in Dortmund.
Spalletti’s side came back to salvage a draw but missed out on a semi-final place and when they fell 3-0 behind at the break against Norway, this time Italy had no reply.
The loss left Spalletti’s side already facing an uphill battle to secure automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup, and after Italy missed out on the last two finals, the Italian football federation (FIGC) decided to act.
“I was convinced I could get to the World Cup, and I remain convinced this national team can get there,” Spalletti added.
“I love this shirt, the players I have coached, and tomorrow night I will ask them to show everything they have.”
Spalletti was asked if he felt betrayed, but the manager could hardly get any more words out, and with tears in his eyes he left the press room.
The 66-year-old, who previously managed the likes of AS Roma, Zenit St Petersburg and Inter Milan, came into the Italian job on the back of leading Napoli to the Scudetto in 2023, but was unable to bring that success to the national side.
Italian media reports suggest Stefano Pioli, currently boss of Saudi club Al-Nassr and a Serie A title winner with AC Milan, is one of the favourites to replace Spalletti, with Claudio Ranieri’s name also mentioned.
Ranieri recently retired for a second time after his spell at Roma last season, but the 73-year-old could be tempted to return once more if offered his dream job with Italy.
-Reuters
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By Kunle Solaja.
Global music stars Shakira and Burna Boy have joined forces to release Dai Dai, the Official Song of the FIFA World Cup 2026, in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
FIFA announced on Friday that the song, released via Sony Music Latin, is now available on all major streaming platforms as excitement continues to build ahead of the expanded World Cup tournament to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.
According to FIFA, Dai Dai combines the global sounds and energy of Shakira and Burna Boy in what it described as a vibrant celebration of football, culture and unity.
The song will also serve a humanitarian purpose, with royalties supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative targeting the raising of $100 million before the end of the tournament to provide children around the world with access to quality education and football opportunities.
FIFA revealed that Shakira will donate her royalties from the song to the fund, while Sony Music will match the first $250,000 raised through an additional contribution.
The release further strengthens Burna Boy’s growing global profile and marks another major collaboration between African music and international football events.
FIFA also confirmed that Shakira will co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show on July 19, introducing a historic first for the World Cup final. The halftime spectacle is expected to unite global artists in a celebration blending sport, music and social impact in support of the education fund.
Dai Dai follows earlier releases including Lighter, Por Ella, Echo and Illuminate as part of the buildup to the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album, with more singles expected in the coming weeks.
FIFA said the album project reflects the diversity and global spirit of the World Cup by featuring artists from different continents, genres and cultures, while using football and music as unifying forces for fans worldwide.
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Uncapped goalkeeper Robin Risser and Crystal Palace duo Maxence Lacroix and Jean-Philippe Mateta were all named in France’s World Cup squad by coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday.
Risser was picked on the back of his performances for Racing Lens, who will finish second in Ligue 1 and compete in the French Cup final later this month. The 21-year-old was voted Ligue 1’s best goalkeeper earlier this week.
He gets a first call-up at the expense of Lucas Chevalier, who had been expected to feature but was overlooked after losing his starting berth in the Paris Saint-Germain team and being sidelined injured. Chevalier has not played since January.
Striker Mateta, who debuted last October, has won three caps and was selected ahead of Randal Kolo Muani to fill the place vacated by Hugo Ekitike, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon playing for Liverpool against PSG in the Champions League last month.
“He has a different profile to other strikers,” said Deschamps of his choice.
CAMAVINGA WILL BE DISAPPOINTED WITH OMISSION
There was also speculation about whether Deschamps would stick with Eduardo Camavinga, after a disappointing season with Real Madrid, but the coach chose defender Lacroix, who made an impressive debut against Brazil in March.
“I would imagine it is a huge disappointment for him, but he has had a tough season with injury as well,” the coach said of Camavinga.
There were no other surprises in the 26-man squad, which has 10 players who featured in the last World Cup final in Qatar four years ago, while Lucas Hernandez, N’Golo Kante and Kylian Mbappe remain from the side that won in Moscow in 2018.
Captain Mbappe leads a formidable attack that also features Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and rising star Michael Olise.
The squad was announced live on the main nightly news bulletin on France’s TF1 channel.
France compete in Group I at the World Cup against Iraq, Norway and Senegal.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Racing Lens), Brice Samba (Stade Rennais)
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (Paris St Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Fenerbahce), Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris St Germain)
Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (Paris St Germain), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue (both Paris St Germain), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan).
-Reuters
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Carlo Ancelotti extended his contract as Brazil manager until the 2030 World Cup, the Brazilian soccer federation (CBF) said in a statement on Thursday.
Ancelotti joined Brazil in 2025 and will lead the team at this year’s World Cup, which kicks off on June 11 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
-Reuters
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