Bilbao re-sign defender Laporte after FIFA approval
Athletic Bilbao have signed Aymeric Laporte from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr after FIFA approved the transfer of the Spanish defender, the LaLiga club said
Spain Sport News
FIFA receives 1.5 million World Cup ticket applications in 24 hours
More than 1.5 million ticket applications from fans in 210 countries have been received by FIFA within 24 hours of the presale draw for the 2026 World Cup being launched, the governing body of world soccer said on Thursday.
Promoted Hamburg brace for tough return to Bayern Munich
MUNICH: Once a Bundesliga highlight, Bayern Munich’s first home game against promoted Hamburg SV in seven years lacks the top billing of the past but still holds promise for lots of goals — at least for the home side. Long before the six-time German champions were relegated to the second division for the first time in their history in 2018, Hamburg had become Bayern’s punching bag in Munich, conceding a total of 50 goals in their last eight trips to Allianz Arena. The wave of exhilaration that accompanied Hamburg’s return to the top division has subsided after two Bundesliga games, with the former European champions drawing one and losing the other. They have yet to score or create a single scoring chance in either of the two matches so far, according to Bundesliga statistics. Losing the Hamburg derby to visitors St. Pauli just before the international break dampened spirits further but despite their rough return to the Bundesliga, coach Merlin Polzin said his team were looking forward to Saturday. “We’re incredibly excited about this match,” he added.
Veteran Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa joins Cyprus’ Limassol
MEXICO CITY: Veteran Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa on Thursday signed for Cypriot club AEL Limassol in a bid to prove his fitness to go to a sixth World Cup next year. The 40-year-old played for AVS in the Portuguese topflight last season, helping the club avoid relegation.
Madrid and Warsaw to host men's and women's Champions League finals in 2027
Madrid and Warsaw will host the 2027 men's and women's Champions League finals respectively, UEFA announced on Thursday, but European soccer's governing body did not take a decision on requests from LaLiga and Serie A to play a league match abroad.
UEFA ExCo puts brakes on planned Barcelona game in Miami - ESPN
The UEFA Executive Committee on Thursday delayed making a decision on the request from the Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) to clear a Villarreal-Barcelona LaLiga match for Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
Ganna glides to Vuelta time trial win, Almeida gains on Vingegaard
VALLADOLID, Spain : Italian Filippo Ganna tore through the final third of Thursday's shortened individual time trial to win stage 18 of the Vuelta a Espana in Valladolid, and third-placed Joao Almeida gained 10 seconds on overall leader Jonas Vingegaard.
FIFA U-turn allows Athletic Bilbao to sign Laporte
BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao will sign Aymeric Laporte after world football governing body FIFA changed their stance on Thursday. The Basque side tried to bring in the Spanish defender from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr on Sept. 1 but the move was not completed before the transfer deadline. FIFA last week rejected a request from the Spanish football federation (RFEF) to make an exception for Laporte’s move, but Athletic said the RFEF request has now been granted after they sought to overturn the decision.