Arsenal’s quest to claim the Emirates Cup remains unfulfilled following a 3-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday afternoon. Despite an encouraging start by Mikel Arteta’s side, Dortmund struck first when Samuele Inacio capitalized on a defensive lapse. Konstantinos Karetsas then extended the visitors’ lead with a brilliant curling shot.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Ethan Nwaneri gave the Gunners a lifeline just before halftime by pulling a goal back. However, Dortmund re-established their two-goal cushion shortly after through a scrappy corner-kick finish.

Arsenal kept pressing and eventually won a penalty, allowing new acquisition Viktor Gyokeres to calmly convert and bring the score to 3-2. Although they fought hard for a late equalizer, the hosts ran out of time, extending their drought in the tournament to five consecutive years. Arteta’s squad will look to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the new Premier League season when they face Italian club Como on Wednesday.

Algeria and Morocco have officially earned their spots at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil following victories in their respective Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final matches. By advancing to the tournament’s semi-finals, both North African squads automatically secured their places on the global stage.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Algeria’s Historic Milestone: Algeria achieved a historic first-ever World Cup qualification by overcoming an early deficit to defeat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in a hard-fought comeback.

• Morocco’s Continued Impressive Run: Playing as the tournament hosts, Morocco secured a 2-1 victory over reigning African champions South Africa, guaranteeing their spot in both the WAFCON semi-finals and the upcoming World Cup.

Upcoming Matches and Play-Off Path

The remaining quarter-final fixtures will determine two more automatic African qualifiers:

• Cameroon faces Nigeria, with the winner securing an immediate ticket to Brazil.

• Malawi goes head-to-head with Ghana for the other automatic semi-final spot.

Meanwhile, defeated quarter-finalists Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa still retain a pathway to the global tournament. They are scheduled to meet in a play-off match on August 13, keeping their hopes alive for a spot at the 2027 showpiece event.

• GLOBAL GRIEF: The global football community—highlighted by powerhouse clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, alongside the Argentine Football Association—has united in deep sorrow following the passing of Jorge Messi, the father and long-time agent of football icon Lionel Messi, at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • TRIBUTES FROM GIANTS: Real Madrid released an official statement offering heartfelt condolences to the Messi family, while FC Barcelona honored Jorge’s profound dedication, thanking him for trusting the club with the formative years and legendary career of his son.

  • THE ARCHITECT OF A LEGEND: Serving as Lionel’s representative since the player was just 14, Jorge was widely recognized as the foundational pillar who guided his son’s journey from Newell’s Old Boys to global superstardom, including eight Ballon d’Or titles and a historic 2022 World Cup victory.

  • FAMILY AND LEGACY: Jorge, whose passing follows previous health battles and past media false alarms, is survived by his devoted wife, Celia Cuccittini, and their four children: Lionel, Rodrigo, Matias, and Maria Sol.