Lionel Messi - players.bio

Messi a doubtful starter for Argentina; Vinicius back with Brazil for World Cup qualifying

SAO PAULO: Lionel Messi is again a doubtful starter for Argentina in the next World Cup qualifying match against Paraguay.

Palestine team withdraws from Malaysia tournament

WEST BANK: The Palestine soccer team has withdrawn from a tournament in Malaysia after a fresh crisis broke out between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas over the weekend, disrupting the team’s travel arrangements, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) said on Tuesday. “The withdrawal came due to players being unable to travel because of the events and circumstances that the Palestinian territories are going through,” Firas Abu Hilal, secretary-general of the Palestinian Football Association, told Reuters. The Palestine national football team had been scheduled to compete in the Merdeka Cup — an international friendly tournament in Malaysia — from Oct. 13-17 along with India, Tajikistan and host country, Malaysia. Hilal said the players’ plans had been disrupted by the repeated closure of a crossing connecting Jordan to the Palestinian territories, through which they would have traveled to Malaysia. The Palestine team are due to play 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Lebanon and Australia in November.

’It makes us proud’ — Turks happy to host Euro 2032

ANKARA: Turks voiced pride on Tuesday on hearing that their country was to co-host soccer’s 2032 European Championship with Italy, the most prestigious sporting event it has ever staged. “The heart of football will beat in Turkiye in 2032. We are delighted to co-host Euro 2032 with our friendly country Italy,” said Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak. “Hosting the Euros will be an important step forward for Turkish football.