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The 40-year-old Bosnian veteran Dzeko has renewed with Schalke 04 for one year and will play in the Bundesliga next season. Since joining in the winter, he has contributed 6 goals and 3 assists in 11 matches, helping the team return to the top flight and becoming one of eight players over 40 at the 2026 World Cup. Dzeko said promotion to the Bundesliga was a career highlight, and Schalke's management praised his role as a model, believing he can still shine in the Bundesliga.

Liverpool's US pre-season tour ends with new manager Andoni Iraola facing a defensive crisis and a race against time. With Joe Gomez injured and Virgil van Dijk absent, the backline relies on young stand-ins; the club pursues Bradley Barcola while Inter Milan target Curtis Jones. Management changes and promising youth emerge as the Reds need reinforcements before the Premier League opener.

Barcelona boss Flick says the club must act in the transfer market to find Lewandowski's successor. Ferran Torres' future remains uncertain, Alvarez is still the priority target but talks are stalled, and Flick believes Gordon, Adeyemi and Yamal can play centrally as other options are explored. Kroupi stays due to injury. The season opener is away to Elche on August 23.

Real Madrid have resumed contract renewal talks with Vinicius Junior after the World Cup, offering a new deal worth an annual salary of €22 million, up from his current €17.5 million but still short of the €30 million demanded by the player's camp. The length of the contract was not disclosed. If an agreement is not reached, Vinicius could leave on a free transfer in January next year, and Real Madrid are reportedly open to his departure this summer. The player believes 26 will be a crucial contract window.

Bernardo Silva, after completing his first training session with Real Madrid, stated in an interview that he "never hesitated" in joining Real Madrid, saying he couldn't say "no" to the world's greatest club. He admitted that being closer to family and Portugal, as well as cultural similarities, were factors, but playing for Real Madrid itself is an honor. Silva ended his nine-year Manchester City career as a free agent this summer, having won 20 trophies, and became one of five new signings for Real Madrid this season.

The Welsh FA became the first to publicly withdraw support for Infantino's reelection, after his World Cup share-selling plan failed and sparked governance and leadership concerns. Prime Minister Burnham said he was not the right man, and the FA called for a full review. Infantino, originally set to stand for reelection in March next year, now faces an unprecedented trust crisis.

Real Madrid has publicly backed UEFA and praised FIFA's decision to abandon the plan to sell shares in its World Cup subsidiary to private investors. Real Madrid believes the move protects the public value of football, thanks the continental confederations for their united opposition, and stresses that national team competitions must not be reduced to financial assets for the profit of a few, while remaining wary of future capital encroachment on football's essence.

Chelsea have officially announced the signing of Argentine defender Barco on a seven-year contract, with the player capable of playing left-back or midfield. Barco came through River Plate's youth system and previously played for Brighton and Sevilla. During his time at Strasbourg, he recorded 3 goals and 11 assists in 58 matches, and represented Argentina at the World Cup. The Blues have already signed Rogers, Palestra and other reinforcements this summer, with Xabi Alonso as head coach.

In a pre-season friendly in Chicago, Leeds United came from two goals down to score four in the second half and beat Liverpool 4-2. Calvert-Lewin scored twice, with Ampadu providing two assists. Liverpool boss Iraola said after the match that Frimpong appeared to be suffering from overload and should be fine, and admitted the team could learn from the second-half loss.

Latest transfer news: Salah is close to joining Trabzonspor as Besiktas talks stall, while Manchester City target Chelsea winger Pedro Neto for a potential £70m fee. Godts, Scalvini, Ferran Torres, Osimhen and others are also involved in ongoing transfer sagas.

Arsenal won their first pre-season match 4-1 against Girona, with 16-year-old Dowman shining with a goal and an assist, new signing Ziolis scoring on debut, and Havertz and Jesus also netting.

A month after Argentina's World Cup final defeat, Messi returns to Inter Miami's matchday squad as a substitute for the Columbus Crew match. During the World Cup, he recorded 8 goals and 4 assists, losing the final to Spain in extra time. Teammate De Paul starts, while new signing Casemiro makes his home debut. Coach Hoyos welcomed both players back, with the team then shifting focus to the Leagues Cup.

Barcelona have signed Club Brugge's 18-year-old winger Biswu for €8.5 million plus a 20% sell-on clause, on a five-year contract, as their third attacking signing of the summer. The club are rebuilding their attack, with Lewandowski and Rashford having left; they may add another No. 9, with Alvarez as the primary target. Biswu has never played for Brugge's first team and was a UEFA Youth League runner-up with the U19 side last season.

Infantino has formally withdrawn the proposal to sell World Cup equity, a plan that sought to consolidate tournament commercial operations into a $20 billion subsidiary and sell a 20% stake, which triggered boycott threats from European nations and resignations among senior officials before being scrapped due to excessive division.

Real Madrid are open-minded about the Vinicius contract stalemate, will not increase their offer, and are allowing him to leave. The player's contract has only one year left, and Arsenal are believed to be interested but have not yet made contact. Vinicius had an unhappy time at Real Madrid last season, and the team have gone two years without a title. Real Madrid have been active in this summer's transfer market, with new signing Espi and others named in the pre-season squad.

Singapore held defending champions Vietnam to a 0-0 draw in a tough Group A match in Hanoi, retaining the top spot in the group standings. Vietnam hit the woodwork twice, and Singapore relied on resilient defense and the help of the goalposts to earn a valuable point, laying an important foundation for their 2026 championship campaign.

UEFA announced a boycott of all FIFA tournaments, including the men's and women's World Cups, following emergency talks, in opposition to Infantino's $20 billion privatisation plan. European heavyweights like Germany, France, and Spain will withdraw, with the first test being the U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland this September. UEFA stressed the World Cup is not an investment asset and condemned FIFA's lack of consultation. CONCACAF also plans an emergency meeting.

English defender Stones leaves Manchester City as a free agent, joins Inter Milan on a two-year deal until 2028. He ends his decade at City, having won six Premier League titles and the 2023 treble, also helping England to a World Cup third-place finish. Inter won Serie A last season.

Singapore face defending champions Vietnam away at My Dinh National Stadium in a crucial ASEAN Championship Group A showdown, with coach Gavin Lee targeting a win to measure the Lions' progress ahead of next year's Asian Cup.

Australia women's football (Matildas) will face Germany in a friendly on October 10 in Karlsruhe, a key step in preparing for the Brazil World Cup. Germany, a two-time World Cup winner, is a strong opponent. Recent head-to-head: Germany beat Australia 3-0 at the Paris Olympics, while Australia won 2-1 in a 2024 friendly. Coach Montemurro emphasizes this as a chance to challenge themselves and experience different styles. With European leagues already running, overseas-based players may feature, while A-League Women players are unlikely to be selected due to the league's later start.