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We are mere days away from the return of the Premier League and the resumption of Arsenal's now three-year quest to kick Manchester City off the top of the table.

Mikel Arteta's side came painfully close to doing so last season, but their 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa sealed their fate, and they finished the campaign two points off the Sky Blues.

The game against Villans was symptomatic of the North Londoners' primary weakness, as despite having plenty of chances, they failed to score, just like in the defeats to Fulham away and West Ham United at home.

So, it's unsurprising that, over the last couple of months, the Gunners have been linked with several strikers, from Victor Osimhen to Viktor Gyokeres and, most recently, Ivan Toney.

The England international still hasn't left Brentford, and recent reports have linked him back to Arsenal. While he's older than the players the club has targeted in recent years, Edu Gaspar could balance out his move by signing another player who was touted for a move to the side earlier this year and has shades of Gabriel Martinelli about him.

Ivan Toney to Arsenal

So, despite it looking like Arsenal had completely ruled out any plans to sign Toney this summer, a report this week has revealed that their interest in the Englishman remains.

Now, how much he'd cost the North Londoners is still a mystery, with some suggesting that he could be the subject of a £30m bid from the Saudi Pro League, while other reports have claimed that Brentford still want £60m for their star striker.

Regardless of how high or low his transfer fee will ultimately be, he'd bring a serious goal threat to the Gunners' frontline.

In his last three seasons of Premier League football, he has scored 36 goals and provided 11 assists in 83 appearances, equating to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.76 games.

However, one of the potential drawbacks to signing the Northampton-born poacher is the fact that he's 28 years old, which is on the upper end of the players Edu and Co have been targeting in recent months, although that could be compensated for with another target previously linked with the club who could be like Martinelli.

Semih Kılıçsoy comparison to Martinelli

Yes, the youngster in question is Beskitas wonderkid Semih Kılıçsoy, who was touted for a £22m move to the Emirates earlier this summer, and if he does end up joining Arsenal, he will share several similarities to Martinelli.

The first is that, like the Brazilian ace, he'd be moving to the Premier League from a league outside the traditional top five in Turkey's tremendously entertaining Süper Lig.

The next is two-fold, as while he would still be a teenager at the time of the move, he already looks ready to contribute to the first team, just like the Gunners number 11 did in his first campaign for the club.

Appearances

35

Minutes

2086'

Goals

12

Assists

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.42

Minutes per Goal Involvement

139.06'

For example, while he wasn't the first name on the teamsheet for the Kara Kartallar last season, the 18-year-old "monster", as described by data analyst Ben Mattinson, still scored 12 goals and provided three assists in just 35 appearances, meaning he maintained a seriously impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.33 games.

If he's already putting up numbers like that, envision the possibilities of Kılıçsoy playing alongside a seasoned striker like Toney and under the guidance of a manager as impressive as Arteta. The potential for his growth and development is immense.

The final similarity the Istanbul-born prospect shares with the former Ituano gem is his versatility. He has the potential to be developed to play either on the wings or in a central role, similar to the early discussions about Martinelli's best position.

Ultimately, it does seem unlikely that Arsenal will sign Kılıçsoy this summer, but given his rapid development, impressive campaign last season and similarities to the club's dynamic number 11, maybe they should – especially if they plan to bring in the older Toney for the here and now.

Arsenal could banish Nketiah by signing "one of the best CFs in the world"

The incredible striker would be an excellent addition to the squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 13, 2024

The visitors stumbled to 14 for 3 in the chase but such is their ability to recover they won with two overs to spare

Andrew McGlashan28-Mar-2021Australia wobbled but, as so often when that happens, the world champions came through with flying colours to take the first T20I in Hamilton. Ashleigh Gardner walked in with the team at 14 for 3 and finished unbeaten on a superb 73, muscling the chase home alongside the returning Ellyse Perry.Australia had kept control of New Zealand’s innings for the majority of the 20 overs with the home side largely unable to capitalise on having on having eight wickets in hand as the final five overs approached. The loss of top-scorer Amy Satterthwaite was one of three quick wickets to fall although a late flurry pushed the total to 130.That looked a much more significant target when Jess Kerr and Frankie Mackay took out Australia’s top three inside four overs and they were lifted again when Meg Lanning departed. The game then swung when Gardner was given a life on 30 and such was her power that a few overs later there was only going to be one winner.Vlaeminck’s lively comebackHaving not played for Australia since last February, Tayla Vlaeminck was handed the first over and sent a down a maiden where she touched 123kph. The second over did not go quite as well as she conceded 12 – including a no-ball and a wide – with New Zealand starting to show better intent in the Powerplay but the pace, which is difference she can provide, was sustained. Lanning then brought her back in the 11th over and she should have had a wicket when Satterthwaite top-edged a pull but Alyssa Healy, having made good ground, couldn’t hang on at backward square leg. With her last delivery being pulled for four by Satterthwaite, the final figures may not leap off the page but it was a performance that will have ticked a lot of boxes.New Zealand’s failed accelerationThis was a better batting performance than some New Zealand managed against England, but they could never fully break free. Sophie Devine threatened before picking out deep midwicket (one of two wickets in three balls for Jess Jonassen) and Satterthwaite was shaping for a final push when she found deep midwicket two balls after sending Nicola Carey for six. The 16th and 17th overs, bowled by Jonassen and Georgia Wareham, went for five runs in total as the impetus drained from the innings – Amelia Kerr soaking up 29 balls for 20 – before Brooke Halliday and Maddy Green helped take 32 off the last three. Carey did a good job with her wicket-to-wicket line, especially her first two overs that went for just six, and the eight overs between Jonassen and Wareham brought 4 for 44.Australia’s wobbleThere was no barnstorming Healy-led start on this occasion. She drove a catch to cover at the end of the first over against Mackay’s offspin and then next ball Beth Mooney edged her first delivery to slip – this time Mackay in the action in the field. Jess Kerr found considerable swing with her trademark, sharp induckers but it was a shorter delivery, which Rachael Haynes clothed to mid-on, that brought the third wicket and left a proper rebuilding job needed. In Lanning they have a master of it and for a while it looked like she could be the one to take the lead, but trying to launch Amelia Kerr down the ground she picked out long-on.Gardner’s finishThe ball followed Green around. Before taking the chance off Lanning she made a spectacular attempt four balls previously. Then in the over after holding the catch, the ball came her way again but she needed to make more ground as Gardner lofted straight and as her knees dug into the turf, she could not hold on. A few moments later, Gardner twice deposited Amelia Kerr over the rope – a calculated approach from the Australians to target New Zealand’s trump card – and it was the decisive swing as Gardner reached fifty from 37 balls. Four overs after the asking rate had ticked over eight it was back under a run-a-ball and the game was finished in style by Perry, who had calmly fed Gardner the strike, when she slotted away consecutive boundaries.

Also said the Australia women have received some advice from their male counterparts on how to adjust to cricket after a period of quarantine in NZ

Andrew McGlashan25-Mar-2021It has been more than a year since Ellyse Perry limped out of the T20 World Cup after severely injuring her hamstring. She has admitted it has taken her all that time to return to a level close to what she was pre-injury. And there’s more work to be done too.She has also used the opportunity – and the imbalance between training and playing created by the Covid-19 – to make adjustments to her run-up, which have taken time to feel natural. Her Australia comeback will be against the same side she was facing when the dreams of a home World Cup final were shattered.Perry sat out Australia’s one international assignment since the World Cup – the visit by New Zealand last September – before returning to action in the WBBL with Sydney Sixers which followed shortly after.The runs came at a good volume – 390 at 48.75 – but a strike-rate of below 100 (96.53) was enough to create some debate about her batting. Meanwhile, with the ball, it was a struggle as she claimed eight wickets with an economy rate of 8.35 and that was followed by a WNCL campaign for Victoria where she took just two wickets in six matches.”Throughout my rehab process I saw that as a great opportunity to work on a few different things and one of those was improving the efficiency or effectiveness of my run-up to give me a little more balance and power at the crease,” Perry explained. “That was a work in progress and bringing it into the first round of actual competition at the start of the WNCL, I didn’t expect it to go smoothly. Those first couple of games against New South Wales probably weren’t perfect but since then it’s been really great because I’ve been able to iron that out. It feels fine now.”Related

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“That’s always the challenge and the best part of being involved in sport is the constant need to improve and evolve as a player,” she added. “It’s no different for any player. At different points in your career, there are different challenges and ways to go about things, but from a bit of a broader picture, it’s probably taken me the best part of 12 months to feel like I’m back to full playing fitness and performance levels.”By no means do I think I was close where I was before I got injured during the WBBL, and it’s probably still a bit of a work in progress, but it’s been a really nice opportunity to work on various aspects of my game.”A trade-off for this tour currently taking place is that the Australia players have missed the final stages of the WNCL with the final between Victoria and Queensland taking place in Melbourne on Saturday. Victoria, who are without six names plus the injured Annabel Sutherland, made a request to Cricket Australia about delaying the final to allow the Australia players to be available, but the original schedule has been retained.”In the current climate you’ve got to make the most of opportunities to play cricket,” Perry said. “The fact there’s a final going ahead is the most important thing because you just don’t what will happen at the moment. It was worth a shot asking the question. Domestic cricket means a lot to all of us.”It’s a shame, it would have been really nice to play the whole season but it’s also very hard to complain when there’s an opportunity to play international cricket as well.”Australia will complete their managed isolation in Christchurch on Saturday ahead of the first T20I in Hamilton on Sunday evening. They will be aiming to use advice passed on from the men’s side who found themselves off the pace at the start of their series against New Zealand last month.”Some of the mail we got from the men’s team was that when they came over here adjusting to the pace of a match again after being in quarantine for two weeks and just training was probably the biggest shock for them,” Perry said. “So there’s something to be aware of, just making sure we step up from training to competition again and we are not on our heels from the get-go.”

Ibrahima Konate shared a "frustrating" update on his injury as the Liverpool star is set to miss the summit clash with Manchester City.

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Konate picked up a knock against Real MadridWill miss out on the next few gamesGomez or Quansah can potentially replace himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Konate played a crucial role in Liverpool’s midweek victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League. However, he picked up an injury during a collision with Madrid’s young forward Endrick, where Konate appeared to injure his knee, forcing him to leave the field.

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Konate has been a consistent presence in Liverpool’s backline, starting 11 of their 12 Premier League games this season. However, his absence will now create a significant void in the squad as Liverpool prepares for one of their toughest challenges of the season against City.

WHAT KONATE SAID

Taking to social media, Konate expressed his frustration over the untimely injury but assured fans of his commitment to returning stronger.

He wrote: "So frustrating to pick up this injury right at the end of a great game on Wednesday night. Now we start the recovery process but one thing I promise is I will come back and be the best I can be once again. Thank you for the amazing support at Anfield. Inshallah we will keep going and I will support the team every step of the way."

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With Konate’s absence confirmed Liverpool manager Arne Slot faces a challenging task in adjusting his defensive lineup against City. Joe Gomez, who came on as a late substitute against Madrid, is likely to step in as a central defender. Another option for Slot is 20-year-old Jarell Quansah, who has impressed in limited appearances this season.

Newcastle United will kick off their Premier League campaign a week on Saturday, as they look to work towards their goal of qualifying for European football once again. Last term, the Magpies missed out on such qualification, with Manchester United stealing the final spot thanks to their FA Cup win, despite Newcastle finishing higher in the top flight.

To kick off their season on the 17th of August, Eddie Howe’s side host newly promoted Southampton at St James’ Park, who returned to the Premier League via the playoffs. The following weekend sees a long away trip on the cards for Newcastle themselves, as they travel to the Vitality Stadium to face an exciting Bournemouth team, Howe's former club.

The Magpies' final game before the September international break will see them host Tottenham Hotspur at home. This was a fixture in which Howe’s side ended up on the right side, with the result being a destructive 4-0 victory helped by two goals from Alexander Isak.

To help their case for European qualification next term, Newcastle will no doubt need to strengthen certain areas of their squad and add firepower to help them achieve their goal. They have recently been linked with one winger who could add strength and depth in wide areas.

Newcastle target La Liga winger

The player in question here is Barcelona and Brazilian international winger Raphinha. The 27-year-old could be one of the players Barca move on this summer in order to make room for new marquee signings, and a return to the Premier League is on the cards.

According to reports from Spain, via Football365, Newcastle are the club that ‘insists the most’ on bringing the former Leeds United man to their club this summer, although the winger would prefer to stay at Barca, a move which he called his ‘childhood dream’ the day he was presented by the club.

However, the Magpies are seemingly one of many sides looking to add the Brazilian to their squad. Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa have been linked, as have clubs in Saudi Arabia, although the player would prefer to stay in Europe at this stage.

In terms of a price for the winger this summer, Blaugrana president Joan Laporta would ideally like to hold out for £51m, after already turning down two bids from the North East outfit, worth £34m and £39m. However, the Magpies have shown signs of a willingness to negotiate, after 'reactivating talks with Laporta’ recently.

Why Raphinha would be a good signing

The Brazilian has a more than respectable record during his time at Barca so far. In 87 games for the club, he has scored 20 goals and grabbed 25 assists, which included six goals and nine assists in just 28 La Liga appearances in the 2023/24 campaign.

Given the fact Barca are looking to add Euro 2024 winners Dani Olmo and Nico Williams to their side, and need to sell players to raise funds, Raphinha could present a key opportunity to the Magpies this summer to add attacking firepower on the right wing.

As per SofaScore, his 15 goals and assists in the top flight last term would have been beaten by just two Newcastle players; Isak, who got 23 goal involvements, and Anthony Gordon, who scored and assisted 21 times. Raphinha’s international teammate, Bruno Guimaraes, also registered 15 goal involvements.

Should Howe’s side pursue a move for the in-demand talent this summer, he could help form an excellent partnership with Sweden international Isak. The 24-year-old was quite exceptional last season, and still scored 21 times in 30 Premier League appearances, despite an injury which caused him to miss a fair amount of games.

This could be a deadly duo given Raphinha’s tendency to create chances from seemingly nowhere. He is a creative force on the right-hand side, which he showed during his final season at Leeds, where his 14 goal involvements helped keep them in the top flight of England.

This creativity and ability to fashion chances for himself and a teammate is reflected in his FBref stats. The 27-year-old’s 0.59 assists per 90 minutes last term ranked him in the top 1% of wingers and attacking midfielders in Europe. He actually exceeded his expected assist numbers, averaging 0.31xA in 2023/24, which ranked him in the top 7%.

However, it was not just these stats which showed how impressive the 5 foot 9 winger was from a creative point of view. He also ranked highly for key passes last term, averaging 2.5 per game, which ranked him in the top 14% of wingers across Europe.

Stat (per 90)

Number

Assists

0.59

Expected assists

0.31xA

Progressive passes

3.28

Key passes

2.5

Passes into the final third

2.15

Passes into the penalty box

1.86

The Brazilian’s habit of creating chances from out of nowhere in all kinds of situations is certainly reflected in his stats, too. Last term, he averaged 5.39 shot-creating actions and 0.78 goal-creating actions each game, which ranked him in the top 12% and 7% respectively amongst wingers and attacking midfielders in Europe.

This is certainly something that could pair up well with Newcastle’s number 14. Isak is the sort of striker who has a natural-born killer instinct in the penalty box, able to sniff out and get on the end of chances. That is shown by his impressive goal record from last season, which didn’t just happen out of luck.

However, the Sweden striker also loves to get on the ball and run in behind, and this is another area in which the pair could form a dream partnership. As the stats show, the wideman likes to play those balls into the final third from deeper areas, and with Isak running onto those passes, it could be cause for concern for opposition Premier League defences next term.

Raphinha is a “world class” winger, according to football analyst Ben Mattinson, and he has the potential to make Isak unstoppable next season. Although he could cost a pretty penny, the Brazilian could be a perfect option for Newcastle as they look to add depth out wide and strengthen their cause for European football once again.

Alongside Osula: Newcastle could sign Isak 2.0 in "frightening" £45m talent

The Magpies have previously been linked with a move for the forward.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 2, 2024

Pakistan allrounder is set to become first beneficiary of the board’s maternity leave plans

Umar Farooq16-Apr-2021Pakistan batting allrounder Bismah Maroof is taking an indefinite break from cricket as she prepares to embrace motherhood. And the PCB is likely to use the opportunity to introduce pregnancy provisions in its central contracts system for the first time.The PCB’s central contracts for its women cricketers doesn’t have any specific clauses covering maternity leaves, but the board is now likely to amend the contracts to offer relevant support to female cricketers in the country. Maroof would, therefore, continue to earn her monthly retainer as per the PCB’s ‘A’ category contracts system and, at the time of absence, be eligible for all medical perks, becoming the first player to benefit from the new pregnancy provision.

Congratulations, @maroof_bismah! pic.twitter.com/y28KG1xC3i

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 16, 2021

The designated Pakistan captain, Maroof, 29, last played an international match in February last year, during the T20 World Cup in Australia. She had pulled out of the tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier this year owing to “family reasons”, with Javeria Khan stepping in as captain.Maroof is Pakistan’s second-most-capped women’s player in ODIs, with 108 appearances against her name, with Sana Mir leading the list with 120. In the ODI run chart, too, Maroof is second with her tally of 2602 runs, after Khan’s 2693. In T20Is, Maroof 108 appearances is most by a Pakistani woman and she is the top run-scorer among them with a tally of 2225.The tour of Africa remains Pakistan’s only assignment since the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic in early March last year. The PCB recently called up a group of 26 national women cricketers for a skills and fitness camp in Karachi as a part of their preparation for a proposed tour of Sri Lanka next month. The probables are due to assemble in the city on Saturday for a seven days of quarantine before the 15-day camp will formally begins on April 24.

Still in search of another attacking reinforcement, West Ham United are now reportedly seen as the most likely destination for a striker who knows all about the Premier League.

West Ham transfer news

The Hammers' search for a striker has been a fairly open secret this summer. Some would have believed that Niclas Fullkrug's arrival was the end of their search but, at 31 years old, he was never going to be a long-term solution for those at the London Stadium. Instead, it was Jhon Duran who seemed to be mentioned the most, only for the inevitable to happen up against the forward on the Premier League's opening weekend.

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The Hammers are looking to get one over on Villa off the pitch…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 17, 2024

Squaring off against Aston Villa and Duran, West Ham conceded a late winner from the forward, who starred from the bench and made his intentions of staying put in the Midlands clear for all to see, despite controversial antics earlier this summer.

With that said, West Ham have seemingly turned their attention towards a Serie A star. According to Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness, West Ham are now seen as the most likely destination for Tammy Abraham, who is valued at €25m (£21m) by AS Roma this month.

The forward came through the Chelsea academy, briefly acting as their starting striker, before leaving Stamford Bridge for Italian football. Now, in quite the move, he could be on his way back to English football and the Blues' London rivals, West Ham.

A player with plenty of Premier League know-how, Abraham, who has scored twice against the Hammers in the past, may just be the answer to Julen Lopetegui's problem.

"Great" Abraham could compete with Fullkrug

Whilst Fullkrug's impact should be imminent, the long-term solution may well be Abraham if West Ham land his signature before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month. The England international has battled back from an ACL injury and a return to English football could be exactly what he needs to rediscover his most clinical form in front of goal.

Now 26 years old, Abraham, dubbed a "goal machine" by academy coach Stephan Elliott, should be at the peak of his powers in a rise that former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard likely saw coming. Full of praise for the academy graduate during his tenure, Lampard once said: "I’m delighted with Tammy. He has a really great attitude in training, a desire to score goals and his all-round game was really good as well.

"Myself and the staff are working closely with him on little bits of his game where I think he can be even better and he’s been very receptive to that."

If this is to be it for Abraham in Italy, then he will leave having scored 37 goals and assisted a further 13 in 119 games following a mixed spell of form throughout his time at Roma.

Pep Guardiola slammed critics who claimed that he only won at Barcelona "because of Lionel Messi" after years of domination with Manchester City.

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Guardiola took charge of Barcelona in 2008Guided Barcelona to two UCL titlesMessi played a critical role during his reign at BarcaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Guardiola began his managerial career at Barcelona in 2008, making an immediate impact in his debut season. Under his guidance, the team secured every available title, including La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League, completing a historic treble. During his four-year tenure, Guardiola led the Catalan giants to 14 trophies, cementing their dominance in European football.

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Messi played a pivotal role in this golden era, thriving under Guardiola’s tactical system. The Argentine forward scored an astonishing 211 goals and provided 94 assists in 219 appearances during Guardiola’s reign. This remarkable period also saw Messi win four consecutive Ballon d’Or awards between 2009 and 2012, underscoring his influence on Barcelona’s success.

WHAT GURADIOLA SAID

Criticism of Guardiola’s early success often pointed to Messi’s brilliance as the primary factor. Addressing these claims, Guardiola recently remarked in a press conference, "I remember many people said: He wins because he’s in Barcelona with Leo Messi and the other ones. He has to prove it in England. Ok! We did it."

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Guardiola’s tenure at City has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has led the team to six Premier League titles, including a record-equalling four consecutive championships. The crowning achievement came in the 2022-23 season when City clinched their first Champions League title, completing a historic treble of their own.

Fast bowler also “mindful” of not wanting “to go searching too much” with the Dukes ball

ESPNcricinfo staff26-May-2021New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson will have “conversations” with his fellow quicks about the Duke ball and be “mindful” of how it behaves during the upcoming tour of England.One big reason for New Zealand’s consistency in Test cricket over the last few years has been the battery of pacers they have built, including their latest recruit Jamieson. On his first England tour, Jamieson has for company the experience of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Doug Bracewell and Matt Henry, who have combined to play 14 Tests in the country.”Their experience [will be really helpful] – from the guys like Tim, Wags, Doug and even Henry as well, who’s played a lot over here,” Jamieson said. “There’s so much experience around English conditions and what the Dukes ball can do. So I’ll try and look [and] lean on for the next few weeks.”Related

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Like most sides that tour England, the talk among the visiting bowlers is expected to be around the Dukes ball, which tends to aid a lot more swing than both the Kookaburra – used in New Zealand – as well as the SG ball. But Jamieson first wants to get used to the Dukes ball and its challenges, already wary of expecting it to do a lot.”It’s is certainly a bit different – it’s a bit darker and harder as well, [and] the seam is a little bit more narrow. So it’s just [about] trying to get used to that and the hands,” he said. “There have been conversations around what the Dukes ball can do, but whilst being mindful of the fact that you don’t want to go searching too much and try to move the ball too much, and then getting caught on the bounce a little bit. So I’m sure over the next few days we’ll have a few more conversations on what it looks like and then go from there.”New Zealand’s scheduled warm-up fixture was replaced with a two-day intra-squad practice game instead to begin on Thursday. This will now facilitate an extra day of training outdoors, with the first Test against England set to start next Wednesday at Lord’s before the second Test at Edgbaston from June 10. The World Test Championship final against India will be starting on June 18 in Southampton.

Cristiano Ronaldo has sent out an emotional message after Portugal were confirmed as World Cup 2030 co-hosts.

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Portugal confirmed as 2030 co-hostsRonaldo thrilled with newsSaudi Arabia to host World Cup 2034Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱social gfxWHAT HAPPENED?

FIFA officially confirmed on Wednesday that Portugal, Spain and Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup. The announcement comes as no surprise as the joint bid was the only one presented. The opening three matches of the tournament will be held in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay – to mark the competition's centenary – before the action switches back to Europe and North Africa.

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The news has gone down well in Portugal with Ronaldo who is clearly thrilled at the news. The Al-Nassr superstar is being tipped to play at World Cup 2026, even though he will be 41 when the tournament rolls around, and says it's a dream to see his nation awarded the 2030 edition of the famous tournament.

WHAT RONALDO SAID

He posted on Instagram: "A dream come true. Portugal will host the World Cup 2030 and make us proud. Together!"

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FIFA also confirmed the 2034 World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia where Ronaldo currently plies his trade with Pro League side Al-Nassr.