AFC confirms Yili as first Chinese global sponsor
July 4 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed dairy giant Yili as an Official Global Partner of the its national team competitions for the 2021 to 2024 rights cycle.
World Football
Guatemala and their fans up the ante with play-off win over Guyana
Prelims Qualifer: Guatemala 4 – Guyana 0
July 4 – A pulsating night of crowd energy and fast paced football in Fort Lauderdale last night ignited the touch paper for the Gold Cup whose group stages start July 10.
Cuba forfeit Gold Cup play-off after no-show in Florida
July 4 – Cuba became the first covid and visa casualty of the return to competitive international football after the country failed to get to Fort Lauderdale in Florida for their 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Preliminary Round (Prelims) qualifier for a spot in the group stages that start July 10.
Guadeloupe siege eventually breaks Bahamas’ defensive wall
Prelim Qualifier: Guadeloupe 2 Bahamas 0
July 3 – Guadeloupe scored twice to overcome a Bahamian rearguard resistance to take them one step nearer to the Gold Cup group stages at the DRV PNK.
Trinidad and Tobago reverse fortunes to dispatch Monserrat in bid for Gold Cup group spot
Trinidad and Tobago 6 Monserrat 1
July 2 – Trinidad and Tobago’s players put the off-field soap opera of their federation’s disastrous administration behind them with an emphatic 6-1 win over Monserrat in the First Round of the 2021 Gold Cup Prelims on Friday night at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Wells’ Gold Cup record sets Bermuda up winner-takes-all Haiti tie
Prelims Qualifier: Bermuda 8 Barbados 1
July 2 – It took just 17 seconds for Nakhi Wells to put Bermuda a goal ahead in the Gold Cup preliminary play-offs and begin what was a night of pain for Barbados as they crashed to an 8-1 defeat.
Haiti extinguish St Vincent challenge
Prelims Qualifier: Haiti 6 St Vincent and the Grenadines 1:
July 2 – Haiti did what was expected of them in rolling over St Vincent and the Grenadines in the opening preliminary qualifier for the Group Stages of the Gold Cup. Duckens Nazon, Haiti’s free scoring forward was their hero. St Vincent had 13 heroes.
Concacaf’s turn: Gold Cup ready for kick off as region showcases its best
July 2 – The Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off tonight in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with the first of three triple header preliminary knockout rounds that will decide the final three qualifiers for group stages that start at the end of next week, July 10.
Haiti open Gold Cup prelims as favourites to secure one of three group berths
July 1 – At the 2019 Gold Cup, Haiti were the surprise package, battling their way to to a semi-final against the tournament’s class act Mexico, a glorious run that was ended in a penalty shoot-out.
Spanish court orders UEFA to stop penalising rebel ESL clubs
July 2 – The legal battle between UEFA and the three remaining heavyweight clubs seeking to keep alive a European Super League has taken another twist with the Spanish courts once again acting to protect their interests.
Late to the party? Nordic culture ministers combine for anti-corruption message
July 1 – Denmark’s culture minister, Joy Mogensen,has criticised the bid process that allowed Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup, saying it was “wrong” and raised questions of corruption in international sports organisations.
Standard Liege given go-ahead to expand Stade Maurice Dufrasne
July 1 – Belgian club Standard Liege have been given the green light by to expand their stadium capacity from 28.700 to 32.000.
UEFA opens up Women’s Champions League to world with game changing DAZN deal
June 30 – UEFA has taking the groundbreaking step of making the first two seasons of its revamped Women’s Champions League free-to-air via a new partnership with DAZN and YouTube.
Brazilian clubs progress CBF breakaway league talks
June 30 – Weeks after telling the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) of new winds in the game, Brazilian clubs have opened talks with potential partners to form a new league structure.
De Boer quits Netherlands as targets are missed
June 30 – Netherlands boss Frank De Boer has stepped down from his role after his team’s 2-0 elimination by Czech Republic at Euro 2020 in the round of sixteen, admitting his “goal has not been achieved”.