July 18 – The return journey from military base to national football stadium has been a long one for the Mogadishu Stadium and the Somali FA. On Friday the stadium was full to capacity for the first time since 2004. The SFA only took control of the renovated facility in June last year.
Group C: Suriname 1 Costa Rica 2
July 17 – Costa Rica rode their luck in a pulsating second half of their second Group C qualifying game against Suriname to qualify for the knock out rounds.
Group C: Jamaica 2 Guadeloupe 1
July 16 – Jamaica took a big step towards the knock out stages of the Gold Cup with a 2-1 win over Guadeloupe. But it they made hard work of it and needed a piece of individual skill by substitute Junior Flemings in the 87thminute to save Jamaica’s blushes.
July 16 – Five people have been arrested in the wake of the racist abuse meted out to the three black players who missed penalties in England’s shootout defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020.
July 16 – The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has rejected a Madrid court’s request for an accelerated judicial procedure in the European Super League case.
July 16 – The owner of Beitar Jerusalem, Israel’s most extremist top-flight club and the only one never to have signed an Arab player, has called off a friendly with Barcelona over its refusal to hold the game in the contested city.
July 16 – Premier League newcomers Brentford have announced SafetyCultureas the club’s first sleeve sponsor in an initial two-season deal.
July 16 – The Argentina Football Association (AFA) have sold the naming rights to their top tier league to their crypto fan token partner Socios.com. The one-year deal will see the league renamed the Torneo Socios.com.
July 16 – Gambling blocking software business Gamban has become a member of sports integrity group SIGA (Sport Integrity Global Alliance).
July 16 – Inter Milan’s technology partner Lenovo has expanded its relationship with the club to become its back-of-shirt sponsor in a reported #3 million a year deal.
Group B: Martinique 1 USA 6
July 15 – The USA cruised past Martinique to take maximum points into their final group decider with Canada. Both teams are unbeaten though Canada top the group on goal difference.
Group B: Canada 4 Haiti 1
July 15 – Canada secured their place at the top of Group B and progression to the knockout rounds with what was, in the end, an emphatic 4-1 win over a Covid-depleted Haiti.
July 15 – The Group B decider July 18 between the USA and Canada in Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park is sold out.
July 15 – After all manner of speculation stretching back several weeks, Lionel Messi is set to stay at Barcelona until 2026, effectively the end of his career, despite taking a 50% wage cut according to Spanish reports.
July 13 – LaLiga has told the Spanish FA (RFEF) and its president Luis Rubiales that under no circumstances will it be changing the format of its competitions which are working successfully, growing commercially and are sustainably supporting a football industry in Spain.