Starmer and Football Fans Demand Champions League Final Be Free to Watch The Champions League final is set to be behind a paywall in the UK for the first time ever this weekend, sparking a joint campaign by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) to reverse the decision. The showpiece European club competition final, which will feature Arsenal and Paris St Germain, faces exclusion from free-to-air television and online streaming for the first time in its 34-year history. This marks a significant shift from decades of tradition, where the final was always broadcast without charge to millions of fans. Starmer, a lifelong Arsenal supporter, has joined forces with the FSA and numerous fan groups to urge broadcaster TNT Sports to abandon its plan to keep the final exclusively on a subscription channel. The Prime Minister’s involvement has amplified the campaign, as he has publicly expressed disappointment over the decision. A joint statement released by the FSA and Starmer’s office emphasized the importance of preserving the tradition of free access to European finals, stating, “Football is for the fans. This is bigger than any one club or match. This is about putting fans first.” The statement called on TNT Sports to honor its historical role in making the final available to all, rather than restricting it to paying subscribers. The campaign has garnered widespread support from major supporter trusts and unions across England. Signatories include the Arsenal Supporters Trust, Aston Villa Supporters Trust, Citizens Trust – Manchester City Supporters Union, Chelsea Supporters Trust, and Crystal Palace Independent Supporters Association.#arsenal #tnt_sports #paris_st_germain #keir_starmer #football_supporters_association
France Names Star-Studded 26-Man Squad for 2026 World Cup French football legend Didier Deschamps has finalized his 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, featuring a blend of veteran stars and emerging talents. Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele will spearhead the attack, with Mbappe needing just two more goals to surpass Olivier Giroud as France's all-time men's top scorer. The Real Madrid forward, despite recent thigh injury concerns, is set to captain the team, while Dembele, who won the Champions League with Paris St-Germain last season, aims to break his World Cup goal drought. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and younger prospects, with Bayern Munich's Michael Olise and PSG teammate Desire Doue forming an exciting attacking trio alongside Mbappe and Dembele. Seven Premier League-based players are also named, including Man City's Rayan Cherki and Arsenal defender William Saliba. Full-back Lucas Hernandez and midfielder N'Golo Kante, both key figures from France's 2018 World Cup-winning squad, are retained as the only survivors from that group. Deschamps emphasized the importance of balance over selecting the "26 best players," stating, "It's about how the team comes together." The coach faced criticism for omitting Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga and Tottenham's Randal Kolo Muani, both key players in the 2022 World Cup campaign. PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier also missed out, with uncapped Lens keeper Robin Risser joining Brice Samba as backup to Mike Maignan. Liverpool's Huge Ekitike, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in April, is a notable absentee. France's group stage fixtures include matches against Senegal on June 16, Iraq on June 22, and Norway on June 26.#real_madrid #kylian_mbappe #paris_st_germain #didier_deschamps #ousmane_dembele
Liverpool's Arne Slot Believes Reds Can Defy PSG in Champions League Clash Arne Slot, manager of Liverpool, has expressed unwavering confidence in his team’s ability to overcome Paris St-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League quarter-final return leg at Anfield. The Reds face a daunting task after losing the first leg 2-0 at the Parc des Princes, but Slot insists the challenge is not insurmountable. He emphasized that Liverpool’s history of overcoming deficits in European competitions, albeit rare, proves the team’s potential to deliver a historic comeback. Slot highlighted Liverpool’s track record in home games, noting that in the last 50 matches at Anfield, the team has scored two or more goals in 36 instances. While PSG is a formidable opponent, Slot argued that the Reds’ ability to adapt and perform under pressure remains a key strength. “We are playing against the champions of Europe, so that makes the task more complicated but not impossible,” he said, underscoring the need for exceptional focus and execution. The manager also called on the Anfield crowd to play a pivotal role in energizing the team, referencing the fans’ critical contribution during Liverpool’s dramatic victory over Galatasaray in the previous round. “Their presence will be just as important as our performance,” Slot stated. He acknowledged the psychological edge PSG holds from their previous visit to Anfield, where they advanced on penalties a year earlier, but remained optimistic about the home advantage. Slot addressed the stark contrast between Liverpool’s performance in France and their recent displays at home, citing the team’s capacity for improvement. He used the example of Liverpool’s 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City as a reminder that momentum can shift dramatically in a single match.#liverpool #paris_st_germain #arne_slot #anfield #dominik_szoboszlai
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic creative players, shining brightly in Paris St-Germain’s Champions League campaign. The 25-year-old Georgia winger, known for his electrifying pace and vision, has been central to PSG’s success this season, contributing seven goals and three assists in nine Champions League matches. His performances have made him the club’s top scorer in the competition and the player with the highest overall goal contributions. As PSG prepares to face Chelsea in the last-16 first leg, Kvaratskhelia’s journey from humble beginnings to elite footballing status offers a compelling narrative of perseverance and talent. Kvaratskhelia’s roots trace back to Tbilisi, where he grew up in a modest Soviet-era apartment block. His family home, unremarkable on the outside, became the foundation of his footballing career. His father, Badri, a former Dinamo Tbilisi player and Azerbaijan international, and his mother, Maka, played pivotal roles in shaping his path. Despite football being his life, the road was not without challenges. As a teenager, Kvaratskhelia faced financial struggles, but his determination led to a breakthrough when he joined Lokomotiv Moscow in 2017. There, he earned his first significant salary, which allowed him to fund his father’s life-saving heart surgery. His rise accelerated in 2019 when Lokomotiv Moscow won the Russian Cup, marking Kvaratskhelia’s first major honor. A subsequent move to Rubin Kazan saw him win the best young player award twice in the Russian league. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced him to leave the country, prompting him to return to Georgia and sign with Dinamo Batumi. Just months later, in July 2022, he joined Napoli for £9.5m, a move that proved transformative.#napoli #georgia #khvicha_kvaratskhelia #paris_st_germain #dinamo_tbilisi
Mbappe Suffers Left Knee Sprain, No Surgery Planned Kylian Mbappe, the 27-year-old France international, has been diagnosed with a left knee sprain and will not undergo surgery at this time. The injury affects the external ligament of his left knee and has plagued him since the end of 2025. Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer in June 2024 after his Paris St-Germain contract expired, missed last week’s Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica. He traveled to Paris for additional tests to assess the injury’s severity. Real Madrid confirmed the diagnosis, stating that Mbappe will follow a conservative treatment plan. The club emphasized that no surgical intervention is planned, though further tests are being conducted to refine his recovery strategy. Mbappe’s representatives noted he is in Paris with Real Madrid’s medical team, working to optimize his care and prepare for his return. The striker’s absence extends to the La Liga match against Getafe on Monday. His availability for the Champions League first leg against Manchester City next week remains uncertain. Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa explained that the decision to prioritize Mbappe’s recovery was a mutual agreement between the club and the player. “We think the best thing is that he stops, that he recovers and comes back at 100%,” Arbeloa said. He acknowledged the recovery period would be longer than a few days but expressed hope it would not take an extended timeframe. Mbappe, who has scored 38 goals in 33 appearances for Real Madrid this season, has been a key figure in the team’s success. His injury raises concerns about the club’s attacking options as they navigate the Champions League and La Liga campaigns. The medical team’s focus remains on ensuring a full recovery while minimizing the impact on his career.#real_madrid #alvaro_arbeloa #champions_league #kylian_mbappe #paris_st_germain
