Sports
Chelsea thrash PSG 3-0 to win FIFA Club World Cup
Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half and struck again to make it two on the half-hour mark, before taking advantage of passive defending to set up Joao Pedro for the third on 43 minutes.
Chelsea’s players celebrate with the trophy during the award ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Champions, following the final football match between England’s Chelsea and France’s Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP).
Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium to win the first edition of FIFA’s new competition.
PSG were the favourites for a game attended by Donald Trump after coming to the United States fresh from winning the UEFA Champions League and having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals.
But having been three goals ahead midway through the first half in the semis, this time the roles were reversed as PSG found themselves 3-0 down by the break.
Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half and struck again to make it two on the half-hour mark, before taking advantage of passive defending to set up Joao Pedro for the third on 43 minutes.
A bad day for PSG was summed up when Joao Neves was shown red following a VAR review four minutes from the end for pulling Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball.
It was a scoreline that few could have predicted as Chelsea capped what has been a long but memorable season — they are the first ever winners of the 32-team Club World Cup having also won the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League.
They will also take away around $125 million in prize money, meaning the prospect of a drastically curtailed summer break before returning for next season will surely feel worth it.
For PSG, meanwhile, the financial rewards are similar but there will be genuine disappointment at falling short of adding this title to their Champions League triumph and French league and cup double.
Nevertheless, conquering Europe was always the main aim this season for Luis Enrique’s team, who now have exactly a month to digest this and take a holiday before returning to action in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.
Sports
FIFA proposes one‑minute off‑field rule for injured players
If approved, the measure would be incorporated into football’s global rulebook.
FIFA on Monday proposed a new rule that would require players who receive on-field medical treatment to remain off the pitch for at least one minute.
BBC Sport reported that the proposal which is aimed at reducing time-wasting on the pitch, will be discussed during the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board, the body responsible for the Laws of the Game.
If approved, the measure would be incorporated into football’s global rulebook.
At present, the Laws of the Game do not specify a mandatory period that injured players must stay off the field after treatment. Domestic competitions are allowed to implement their own guidelines.
Sports
48 nations to compete as FIFA releases schedule for Series 2026
Twelve groups of four teams each—nine men’s groups and three women’s groups—will compete, hosted by 11 FIFA Member Associations.
FIFA has released the full match schedule for the FIFA Series 2026, the expanded edition of its international friendly tournament, which will bring together 48 national teams from all six confederations.
The fixtures, published on the association’s website on Monday, are scheduled for the March and April 2026 international match window.
Twelve groups of four teams each—nine men’s groups and three women’s groups—will compete, hosted by 11 FIFA Member Associations.
Rwanda will stage two groups, while other hosts include Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.
All matches are official international friendlies and will be broadcast globally, providing fans worldwide with access and giving participating teams valuable exposure, particularly for those that rarely face opponents from other confederations.
According to FIFA, participating Member Associations have chosen their preferred competition formats within each group, either a semi-final and final structure.
Sports
FIFA commits $75m to rebuild war-damaged football facilities in Gaza
According to FIFA, the initiative includes plans to construct a football academy, a new 20,000-seat national stadium and dozens of mini-pitches across Gaza.
The world football governing body, FIFA, has announced plans to mobilise $75 million to rebuild football facilities in Gaza destroyed during the war between Israel and Hamas.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace,” convened in Washington by U.S. President Donald Trump. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also attended the meeting, which focused primarily on reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.
Trump disclosed that FIFA would help raise “a total of $75 million for projects in Gaza,” noting that the initiative would include football-related investments such as playing fields and high-profile visits by global football stars.
“I’m also pleased to announce that FIFA will be helping to raise a total of $75 million for projects in Gaza,” Trump said, adding that the projects would centre on building fields and attracting some of the sport’s biggest names.
According to FIFA, the initiative includes plans to construct a football academy, a new 20,000-seat national stadium and dozens of mini-pitches across Gaza.
The first phase will prioritise building small-sided fields within three to six months, while the proposed stadium is expected to take between 18 and 36 months to complete.
FIFA also confirmed plans to help establish youth and amateur leagues as part of the long-term development strategy.
Infantino described the agreement as “a landmark partnership” designed to channel investment into football, supporting recovery efforts in post-conflict areas.
-
News2 days agoFire Engulfs MMIA Terminal One, but no casualties
-
News2 days agoLagos increases BRT fares by 13%
-
Crime3 days agoAt Least 10 Killed in Coordinated Night Attacks on Two Communities in Plateau State’s Riyom LGA (Photos)
-
Sports2 days ago48 nations to compete as FIFA releases schedule for Series 2026
-
News2 days agoBayelsa Assembly Confirms Pastor Peter Akpe as Deputy Governor
-
News2 days agoEl-Rufai takes ICPC to court, demands N1bn compensation over ‘unlawful invasion of residence’
-
Business2 days agoBudget Office DG Defends Presidential Assent of Executive Order 9
-
Sports2 days agoFIFA proposes one‑minute off‑field rule for injured players
