Football
*Chelsea advanced to the Club World Cup final after Joao Pedro scored twice against his former club Fluminense in a 2-0 victory. Fluminense’s deep run in the tournament has sparked calls for greater respect for Brazilian coaches.
Real Madrid’s plane was forced to circle Virginia for an hour due to stormy weather ahead of their Club World Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
*Luis Enrique, PSG coach, avoided discussing Kylian Mbappe ahead of PSG’s clash with Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-final.
*Tottenham Hotspur signed Japanese defender Kota Takai on a five-year deal from Kawasaki Frontale.
Liverpool clinched the Premier League title for the 2024-25 season under new manager Arne Slot, who is expected to receive a large transfer budget.
*Arsenal reached the UEFA Women’s Champions League final after a remarkable comeback against Lyon, while Barcelona also advanced after defeating Chelsea.
*In South African football, the Premier Soccer League continues to be competitive with recent matches including Sekhukhune United boosting their top-three hopes and TS Galaxy holding Kaizer Chiefs to a late 1-1 draw. There is also a renewed focus on youth development and community engagement in South African soccer.
Portugal kept their Euro 2025 quarter-final hopes alive with a late result, while Sweden secured a knockout spot in the Women’s Euro 2025 with a 3-0 win over Poland