• FIFA World Cup 2026 Trophy (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)

FIFA on Monday unveiled an 11-member Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, with former players and coaches set to analyse matches and decide the winners of major individual awards during the tournament.

The panel, unveiled during a virtual media briefing will be led by FIFA Senior Football Expert Pascal Zuberbühler and includes former Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, ex-Germany striker and coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, former Ghana coach Otto Addo, Costa Rica legend Paulo Wanchope and Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva.

Others on the panel are Tobin Heath, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Jayne Ludlow and Aron Winter.

FIFA said that the group will also decide the winners of the Golden Ball, Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards during the tournament.

The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time, with 104 matches scheduled across the competition.

• Image: Victor Osimhen (R) tussles with Besiktas’ Emirhan Topçu during their match in the Turkish topflight.

Okoroma United football club of Nembe Local Government Area edged out Akinima Biogbo of Ogboloma in Yenagoa Local Government Area 1-0 to win the 2026 Bayelsa State Governor’s Cup.

The finals in both male and female categories were played at Sampson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The new champions went home with the star prize of N30 million while Akinima Biogbo received N13 million cash prize.

In the women’s final, Active Ladies of Agudama defeated the defending champions, Afini Ladies of Amarata by a lone goal to clinch the prize money of N10 million while the runners up got N7 million.

Barcelona secured their 29th Spanish league title after beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the Clasico on Sunday.

Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres struck in the first half to help Hansi Flick’s side clinch La Liga in consecutive years, while consigning Madrid to a trophy less season.

Barca moved an unassailable 14 points clear of second-place Los Blancos with three matches remaining.

This was only the second time the outcome of La Liga has been decided directly by the result of a Clasico, with record 36-time champions Real Madrid winning their first title in 1932 after a draw with Barca.

Barcelona’s players celebrate winning the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on May 10, 2026. Barcelona won 2-0. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)

Madrid arrived at the match embroiled in chaos, after midfielder Fede Valverde was ruled out with a head injury following a training ground scuffle with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni, who started.

Barca coach Flick received bad news before the game, with his father passing away, but took his place on the touchline regardless, to oversee his side’s comfortable triumph.