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South China Morning Post

Today News

15

Fifa’s neutrality ‘broken’ after Donald Trump role at World Cup draw: German politician

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A vice-president of Germany’s parliament has hit out at Fifa over a “disgusting” World Cup draw ceremony where American President Donald Trump played a big role and “completely insane” ticket prices for the tournament.

04

Roberto Losada to quit Eastern days after being named interim Hong Kong boss

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Roberto Losada confirmed on Sunday that he plans to quit as Eastern head coach after 4½ years in charge, just 48 hours after being named as Hong Kong’s interim boss.

Saturday, Dec 13

11

Another Lionel Messi farce as angry Indian fans riot, vandalise stadium

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Angry spectators broke down barricades and stormed the pitch at a stadium in India after football star Lionel Messi, who is on a three-day tour of the country, abruptly left the arena.

06

Arsenal legend Silva defends World Cup expansion, fears Brazil aren’t good enough to win

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Brazil and Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva believes Fifa is moving with the times by expanding the World Cup and introducing a quadrennial 32-team club equivalent.

02

Civil war to refugee camp to career in Hong Kong for South Sudanese footballer

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It was only after his family were granted permission to start a new life in Australia that footballer Valentino Yuel realised there was a world beyond the Kenyan refugee camp where he spent his first 11 years.

Friday, Dec 12

09

Losada named Hong Kong’s interim coach as FA hunts for boss with ‘global vision’

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Roberto Losada was named interim Hong Kong head coach on Friday, as the local football association began its hunt for a boss with “a global vision and professional competence” to replace Ashley Westwood.

05

Can you afford Fifa World Cup tickets? Will US check your social media? Read this first

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Football fans have accused Fifa of a “monumental betrayal” over World Cup tickets and called for sales to be halted, after the latest prices were revealed.

Thursday, Dec 11

17

AFC Champions League 2: Tai Po win hot-tempered clash but Eastern humiliated 9-0

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An inspired Tai Po beat Cong An Hanoi 1-0 in a bad-tempered clash at Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday to bid a stirring farewell to their AFC Champions League Two campaign.

01

AFC Champions League 2: Tai Po boss aiming for grand finale, but team have ‘lots to learn’

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Lee Chi-kin acknowledged Tai Po “still have a lot to learn” about competing against the continent’s best teams, ahead of their farewell AFC Champions League Two clash with Cong An Hanoi on Thursday.

Monday, Dec 8

08

Woman who blackmailed South Korean football star Son Heung-min jailed: reports

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A woman who blackmailed South Korean football superstar Son Heung-min was handed a four-year jail sentence on Monday, Yonhap News TV reported.

Saturday, Dec 6

09

Fifa World Cup draw: who Asian teams will play, how Ronaldo v Messi could happen

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Nine Asian and Pacific nations discovered their 2026 Fifa World Cup opponents when the tournament draw took place in Washington on Friday, while the Saudi-based Cristiano Ronaldo learned he could share a last dance of sorts with Lionel…

04

Fifa World Cup draw: France face Senegal, England play Croatia in repeat of famous clashes

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Argentina and Lionel Messi will play Algeria to open their World Cup title defence as part of a group that also includes Austria.

Friday, Dec 5

19

Fifa gives Trump its new peace prize at World Cup draw

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US President Donald Trump was awarded the new Fifa peace prize on Friday at the 2026 World Cup draw – giving the soccer spectacle to set matchups for the quadrennial tournament even more of a Trumpian flair.

08

Fifa World Cup 2026 draw: how to watch, who plays where, will Trump win peace prize?

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The draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup takes place on Friday (US time), ahead of the tournament from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Thursday, Dec 4

19

Trump and Sheinbaum to meet for first time at Fifa World Cup draw in Washington

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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said she will hold a short in-person meeting with US President Donald Trump this week in Washington, as they continue to negotiate over US tariffs on her nation’s goods.

14

Tai Po players ‘here to help’ community as they play first match in Hong Kong since fire

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Tai Po’s footballers had their community in mind as they returned to domestic action on Thursday following the fire that killed at least 159 people in the district.

08

Donald Trump looms over Fifa World Cup draw as it starts countdown to 2026 finals

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The countdown to the first 48-team Fifa World Cup begins in earnest on Friday as the draw for the 2026 finals takes place in Washington, with Donald Trump set to dominate much of the attention.

02

As Hong Kong end Westwood era, student who ‘has everything’ is tipped for debut

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With the Hong Kong team set for a changing of the guard after the departure of head coach Ashley Westwood, a bright international future has been predicted for young Kitchee defender Jason Kam Chi-kin.

Tuesday, Dec 2

17

Report into 1989 Hillsborough disaster finds 12 UK police officers would have faced charges

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Twelve police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings for their failings during and after the 1989 Hillsborough stadium football tragedy, a long-running investigation has found.

08

Footballers in Malaysia eligibility scandal are ‘victims’, ban is unfair, says union

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Global footballers’ union FIFPro says that seven players embroiled in a Malaysian national team eligibility scandal are themselves victims and their 12-month bans “grossly disproportionate”.

Monday, Dec 1

13

Chinese fans slam EPL club Brighton over Kaoru Mitoma’s Imperial Japan soldier post

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Chinese football fans have condemned club side Brighton & Hove Albion and the Premier League side’s Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma after a social media post showed him smiling and holding an image of the last Japanese soldier to surrender in…

02

Sham Shui Po edge South China in Hong Kong Division 1 as players, fans back call to play on

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South China suffered a blow in their bid for a return to the big time on Sunday, while players and supporters largely backed the decision for the Hong Kong lower-league show to go on after last week’s tragic fire in Tai Po.

Saturday, Nov 29

11

Not a typical footballer: how Inigo Calderon stands out from Hong Kong crowd

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After Inigo Calderon quit playing football in 2019, he planned to travel the world for a year, indulging his fondness for “going out and feeling free”.

03

Why new coach Gavin Lee could be key to Singapore football’s revival: ‘future is bright’

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Singapore’s long-frustrated football fans are daring to hope again after a landmark Asian Cup qualification win and the appointment of a home-grown coach they believe can restore pride to a national side long eclipsed at home by English…

Friday, Nov 28

09

South Korea, Japan considering ‘not impossible’ joint bid for 2035 men’s football Asian Cup

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South Korea and Japan are mulling a bid to co-host the 2035 men’s Asian Cup, an official said Friday, joining forces again after staging the World Cup in 2002.

Singapore names Gavin Lee permanent head football coach after Hong Kong win

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Gavin Lee was on Friday named as permanent head coach of the Singapore men’s national football team.

01

Eastern boss and Tai Po resident Roberto Losada praying for victims of deadly fire

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The Eastern head coach, Roberto Losada, said he was praying for the victims of the deadly fire in his home district of Tai Po.

Thursday, Nov 27

19

Cristiano Ronaldo is only foreign player worth his pay, says Saudi ex-sports chief

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Former Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad said Cristiano Ronaldo – who joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 – was the only foreign player in the Saudi Pro League who truly deserved his multimillion-dollar salary.

16

Tai Po footballers pay tribute to Hong Kong fire victims during match in Sydney

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Tai Po footballers paid tribute to the victims of the fire that has devastated their community as their match against Macarthur went ahead in Australia on Thursday.

01

As Hong Kong seeks new football coach, Roberto Losada says he is ‘super-ready’

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Roberto Losada has said he would be “super-ready” to become the new Hong Kong head coach if asked, after Ashley Westwood vacated the position on Monday.