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Czech Republic sack coach Hasek after Faroes flop

PRAGUE: The Czech football federation (FACR) announced the sacking of national team coach Ivan Hasek on Wednesday, following a humiliating 2-1 defeat in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands. Seeking their first World Cup appearance since 2006, the Czechs are not even completely sure of a berth in the playoffs next March — a situation compounded by their loss in Torshavn on Sunday. Croatia top Group L, three points ahead of the Czech Republic, and the 2018 World Cup runners-up also have a game in hand on their rivals. The Faroes lie one point behind the Czechs, with both having one match remaining in their campaign. “We have terminated cooperation with Ivan Hasek as of today,” FACR head David Trunda told reporters. Trunda added that the FACR would now look for a new coach, possibly a foreigner. An “interim coach” is meanwhile likely to lead the team in their last World Cup qualifier at home to Gibraltar in November. Hasek started his second stint as national team coach ahead of Euro 2024, at which the Czechs were knocked out in the group stage. Pundits criticized the 62-year-old former midfielder for his unattractive style of play, while he bemoaned having no players coming even close to the level of former Czech greats such as Pavel Nedved or Tomas Rosicky. Hasek came under heavy fire following a 5-1 defeat in a World Cup qualifier in Croatia in June. As a player.

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Trump says FIFA chief would back moving World Cup games

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that FIFA chief Gianni Infantino would support moving 2026 World Cup games from US cities for security reasons if necessary. In September, Trump raised the possibility of moving games amid his crackdown on Democratic-run cities, but at the time FIFA said that it was up to football’s governing body to decide where games are held. “If somebody is doing a bad job and if I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, let’s move it to another location. And he would do that,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if games could be moved from Boston, one of the host cities. “Very easily he would do it.” Trump’s comments came a day after he met close friend Infantino in Egypt at a summit on a Gaza ceasefire, where the FIFA boss joined more than two dozen world leaders who were discussing peace in the Middle East. The US president also suggested that, if necessary, events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could also be moved. “I could say the same thing for the Olympics,” Trump said.

Italian Pro-Palestinian activists clash with police, demand Israel boycott before World Cup qualifier

UDINE: Italy’s 2026 World Cup qualifier with Israel was prefaced by clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and police on Tuesday as thousands of people marched through Udine in anger at the hosting of a match they felt should not be played. The Gaza ceasefire deal signed on Monday and a hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas did nothing to dampen the resolve of around 10,000 protesters who descended on the small city in Italy’s far north-east, a small section of whom were involved in disorder at the end of the march. Over 1,000 police officers and army personnel were deployed while helicopters and drones flew overhead to keep a watch on a demonstration which was kept several kilometers away from the Bluenergy Stadium hosting the Group I fixture. There was little chance of protesters reaching the stadium as checkpoints were put up in a ring around it, with spectators having to pass concrete barriers and metal detectors in order to watch a match which is key to Italy’s bid to ensure they qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 2014. The security operation was designed to stop rioting and ensure no-one gets near the ground or the Israel team, but although the march started peacefully in warm autumn sunshine it ended with police using a water cannon and tear gas on some of the marchers who threw rocks at officers. There was little sign of violent disorder when the march started at around 1800 local time , with the loudest noise the drumming and sound systems accompanying dancing from people of ages, who waved Palestinian flags and banners which read “show Israel the red card.” “There’s no more bombs and that makes us happy, but the problem with this peace plan is that there is no talk of a

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Japan Sport News

Czech Republic sack coach Hasek after Faroes flop

Japan's Ueda sets sights on World Cup success

Coach Lopetegui heralds history makers Qatar after sealing World Cup qualification

The Saudi Derby forges links with Kentucky Derby

Son wants South Korea to be more aggressive at World Cup

Qatar Qualifies For 2026 World Cup For 2nd Straight Appearance

Trump says FIFA chief would back moving World Cup games

Italian Pro-Palestinian activists clash with police, demand Israel boycott before World Cup qualifier