At stumps, Pakistan were 266 for two in reply to the West Indies’ first-innings total of 344, trailing by 78 runs with eight wickets still in hand.

The visitors were well placed thanks to an unbroken 168-run partnership for the third wicket between Abdullah and Babar, who wrested control of the match after Pakistan lost their second wicket at 98.

Resuming the day on 239 for five, the West Indies added 105 runs before being bowled out for 344.

Justin Greaves, who resumed on his overnight score, made 73, while Roston Chase contributed 70.

Pakistan made early inroads in the morning session when Ali Usman dismissed Greaves, whose leading edge was safely caught by debutant Awais Zafar.

Fast bowler Ubaid Shah then struck with the first ball of the day to remove Chase before the remaining wickets fell steadily.

Off-spinner Sajid Khan was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four wickets for 85 runs, while Mohammad Ali, Ubaid Shah and Ali Usman chipped in with two wickets each.

Pakistan’s reply began positively despite the early loss of Imam-ul-Haq for 14.

Opener Azan Awais kept the scoreboard moving with an aggressive 55 off 71 deliveries, hitting 10 boundaries before becoming the second wicket to fall.

After Azan Awais’s departure, Abdullah and Babar settled in and steadily built Pakistan’s innings with a mixture of disciplined defence and attacking strokeplay.

Abdullah brought up his sixth Test century — and first since 2024 — off 173 deliveries.

The right-hander remained unbeaten on 107 at the close, having struck 10 fours and two sixes during his 185-ball stay at the crease.

At the other end, Babar continued his fine form, reaching his half-century from just 67 balls.

The Pakistan skipper ended the day unbeaten on 86 from 126 deliveries, laced with 10 fours and a six, and is just 14 runs away from his 10th Test century.

With two well-set batters at the crease, Pakistan look to erase the deficit and build a substantial lead when play resumes on day three.

The 46-year-old will work with the national side across both Test and limited-overs formats and is set to join the squad ahead of the three-match Test series against England, which begins on August 19, according to a PCB statement.

Smith enjoyed a decade-long domestic playing career between 2003 and 2013, featuring in 89 first-class matches, 72 List A games and 16 T20s.

The right-handed batter amassed 7,029 runs across formats, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries.

A Level 4-qualified coach, Smith brings extensive coaching experience to the role.

He has previously been part of the coaching staff of HBL Pakistan Super League franchises Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans.

He has also served as batting coach for Australia’s Hobart Hurricanes and Cricket Tasmania, while working as a coaching consultant with South Africa’s KZN Inland and Eastern Province.

The PCB said Smith will begin his tenure with the national side in time for Pakistan’s upcoming Test assignment against England.

FIFA’s ambitious plan to unlock up to $4.2 billion from ‌private investors by selling a roughly 20% stake in a new entity overseeing competitions including the World Cup ended in retreat on Friday after fierce resistance from stakeholders.

With the plan abandoned, attention has turned ​to the potential repercussions for Infantino, whose bid for another term as FIFA ​president could face increased scrutiny following the failed initiative.

Failure of good governance

Wales ⁠became the first national federation to formally withdraw its support for Infantino.

“The Football Association ​of Wales hereby confirms its withdrawal of support for the candidature of Mr Gianni Infantino, ​for re-election as FIFA President for the 2027–2031 term,” the Welsh FA said in a statement.

“The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a ​position where Mr Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at ​the helm of world football.

“Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we ‌cannot accept.”

Reuters ⁠has contacted FIFA for comment.

Infantino is under unprecedented fire after regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF said on Saturday they had lost confidence in his leadership.

The European governing body, which led the backlash to Infantino’s plans and welcomed the decision to scrap it, did not confirm media ​reports that it ​was preparing to take ⁠legal action against FIFA over the issue.

UEFA said it had sent a document preservation order, which stops the destruction of emails, files, ​or data when an investigation is expected.

Infantino had said in April ​he intended ⁠to seek re-election for a fourth term as FIFA chief. Since taking over from Sepp Blatter in 2016, the Swiss has been re-elected unopposed twice and appeared in control of the ⁠body.

While his ​re-election for the 2027-31 term had appeared a formality, ​experts told Reuters the backlash against the failed proposal exposed dissatisfaction among FIFA members and could complicate his path ​ahead of March’s Congress in Morocco.

Mohammad Ali was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers with figures of 2-49, while Sajid Khan, Ali Usman and Test debutant Ubaid Shah claimed one wicket apiece.

Greaves remained unbeaten on 64, with West Indies captain Chase unbeaten on 36 after the pair added 66 runs for the sixth wicket to frustrate the visitors late in the day.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the West Indies made a brisk start through Brandon King and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who put on 49 runs in the opening 10 overs.

Pakistan’s breakthrough came just before a rain delay forced an early lunch, with Mohammad Ali dismissing Chanderpaul, who pulled a delivery to fine leg where Sajid Khan completed the catch.

Following the resumption, Pakistan’s spinners found assistance from the surface.

Ali Usman trapped King lbw for 46 after Pakistan successfully reviewed the on-field decision.

King struck nine boundaries during his 50-ball knock.

Sajid then removed Kavem Hodge for 10 after another successful review overturned the umpire’s original decision, with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan taking the catch behind the stumps as West Indies slipped to 91-3.

Debutant Ubaid Shah claimed his maiden Test wicket when Amir Jangoo edged a leg-side delivery through to Rizwan, reducing the hosts to 120-4.

Greaves and Shai Hope rebuilt the innings with a 53-run partnership to guide the West Indies to 165-4 at tea.

However, Mohammad Ali struck again soon after the interval, dismissing Hope for 29 after the batter dragged the ball onto his stumps.

Greaves brought up his half-century from 92 balls and remained unbeaten on 64 off 125 deliveries, hitting eight fours.

Chase provided solid support with an unbeaten 36 as the duo ensured there were no further breakthroughs before bad light ended play after 74 overs.

Mohammad Ali finished with 2-49 from 17 overs, including five maidens.

Ali Usman bowled 25 overs for figures of 1-64, while Sajid Khan returned 1-55 from 22 overs.

Ubaid Shah marked his Test debut with figures of 1-56.

Before the start of play, Awais Zafar and Ubaid Shah were presented with their Test caps.

Infantino is facing the biggest crisis of his decade-long tenure after regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF declared no confidence in his leadership following the abortive proposal to bring private equity into the World Cup.

He confirmed his intention to stand for a fourth term at next year’s Congress in April, but the pressure on Infantino may ​not wait until the election.

Wales on Monday became the first soccer federation to formally withdraw support for Infantino, while European body UEFA confirmed it had ​written to the 56-year-old Swiss to inform him it was weighing legal action against him regarding the proposal.

Opponents can ⁠mount a push to depose him with a vote at an Extraordinary Congress (EC) if 20% of FIFA’s membership of 211 member associations request one in writing.

An ​EC would need to be held within three months of a request, providing time for rival candidates to emerge.

UEFA, whose 55 member nations voted to boycott all ​FIFA tournaments if the stake sale went ahead, alone could trigger an EC with a unanimous vote.

But getting a majority of FIFA’s membership to vote Infantino out at the EC may not be an easy task.

Despite vast disparities in wealth, soccer development and influence across the footballing world, all 211 nations have an equal vote.

Rather than smoothing things over with ​established football giants like France, Spain and England, Infantino’s best chance of clinging to power may rest with members like Bhutan and Vanuatu — emerging nations ​that have never competed at a World Cup and rely overwhelmingly on FIFA to support their football programmes and participate in international events.

FIFA members have been able to claim up ‌to $3 million ⁠for soccer development projects over the course of the 2023-26 World Cup cycle, $1 million more than the previous cycle.

The money is small beer for rich nations with professional teams but vital for football’s have-nots.

The stake sale was always aimed at the latter members, and many have done well under Infantino’s patronage.

Vanuatu experience

Vanuatu are ranked 160th in the world, and sixth among the Oceania confederation teams, but their football association head Lambert Maltock has a seat at FIFA’s highest table ​as one of eight vice-presidents in the ​body’s Executive Council.

FIFA gave the island ⁠nation of about 340,000 people a development grant of $4.15 million to help build a 6,500-seat stadium in the capital Port Vila, which was completed in 2022.

For Vanuatu’s first professional player, Brian Kaltak, Infantino’s backing has been a huge boost ​for the country and developing nations generally.

“First of all, he gave a chance for our president to be part ​of FIFA and ⁠then, with development projects, he’s been trying to grow the game — not just Vanuatu but all third-world countries,” the Perth Glory defender told Reuters on Monday.

“He’s opening up more chances for a team like ours, for nations like ours to make it … It’s been a massive help.”

Similar funding splashes are common across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean ⁠and the ​Pacific, where FIFA grants have financed training pitches, gyms and soccer programmes that national associations would ​otherwise struggle to finance.

For critics, however, that same funding model has reinforced a system in which FIFA trades financial power for political influence, making it difficult to build a coalition to unseat ​an incumbent president.

Any campaign to remove Infantino may ultimately be a numbers game that extends far beyond Europe’s traditional elite.

Masood has been ruled out after sustaining an injury to the index finger of his left hand during the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, where he was struck by a delivery from West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales in Pakistan’s first innings.

After undergoing scans and a clinical assessment, the left-hander is receiving treatment under the supervision of the Pakistan team’s medical staff.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Masood’s availability for the opening Test against England, which begins on August 19 at Headingley in Leeds, will depend on his recovery and clinical progress.

Shan Masood, who scored a century in the first Test, will remain with the squad during his rehabilitation.

The injury comes as Pakistan look to bounce back from a 90-run defeat in the series opener, where batting failures proved decisive.

Masood’s absence leaves Pakistan with several options to bolster their batting line-up.

Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel, who were added to the squad before the first Test after Abdullah Fazal was ruled out with a back injury, are among the leading candidates to replace him.

Uncapped right-hander Awais Zafar is also in contention for a Test debut.

The avalanche struck on Thursday, cutting off contact with the international expedition led by 43-year-old British-Nepali climber Purja on Broad Peak in northern Pakistan.

“It is with profound sadness and immense heartbreak that we confirm that Nirmal Purja tragically lost his life following the avalanche on Broad Peak,” Purja’s company Elite Expeditions said on social media.

“We have also received confirmation that other members of the expedition sadly did not survive,” it added.

The remains recovered so far — flown by helicopter to hospital for formal identification — included an American woman, an Omani woman and a Nepali man, the regional government said in a statement released on Friday night.

Purja, who served with Britain’s Brigade of Gurkhas before joining the Special Boat Squadron of the Royal Marines, broke multiple climbing records since becoming a full-time mountaineer and tour guide.

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah offered his condolences over the “tragic” deaths of Purja and the other climbers, which he said “has shocked us”.

“The physical journey of all the deceased climbers… has been interrupted, but the history of their courage, dedication, and contributions will always remain inspiring,” Shah said in a statement on social media.

Police in the mountainous northern Gilgit-Baltistan region said in a statement that high-altitude porters and rescue teams were carrying out a second day of the operation on Saturday, after the search was paused a day earlier due to difficult weather conditions.

Rescuers and military helicopters had been scouring the area, and teams stayed at the base camp overnight, according to the regional government.

“The rescue operation is being conducted under extremely challenging terrain and high-altitude weather conditions by the Pakistani army in coordination with local high-altitude climbers and rescuers,” it said.

Powerful avalanche

The avalanche struck while the mountaineers were on a mission to summit Broad Peak (8,047 metres, or 26,400 feet) on Thursday and while the team was ascending at an altitude of around 6,600 metres, according to regional authorities.

The expedition comprised 10 people — including Purja, five Nepalis, a Pakistani, an Omani, an American, and a climber from China.

The team was last in contact on Thursday morning, the official statement said, with reports emerging that evening of the powerful avalanche.

“Data from their tracking devices indicates that they were thrown hundreds of metres down the mountainside,” Naila Kiani, from Pakistan’s Alpine Club, told Le Monde newspaper.

Fida Ali, a climber in the area who worked closely with Purja since 2023, told AFP their focus for the climbing season was summiting Broad Peak but they had first tackled another mountain, G2, in harsh weather.

Ali also joined the expedition to Broad Peak in its initial stages but returned early to accompany a Russian climber who was feeling the effects of exhaustion - narrowly avoiding the fatal avalanche.

“I wanted to go with him (Purja) but couldn’t and came back with her. I was part of the team but survived,” he told AFP.

Super peaks

Purja had written on X this week that he was close to becoming the first person to climb all 14 “super peaks” twice without oxygen.

“Broad Peak, I ask for nothing but safe passage up and back down,” he wrote.

He had climbed all 14 “eight-thousanders” (peaks above 8,000 metres) in six months and six days between April and October 2019 — then a record.

Broad Peak is the world’s 12th highest mountain, located in the Karakoram range in northern Pakistan, and is regarded as one of the toughest and most technical climbs of all the 8,000-metre-plus ascents.

It was first summited in 1957 by an Austrian team.

Root replaced Ben ​Stokes after the all-rounder retired following the home series against New Zealand. ‌

Fleming succeeds compatriot Brendon McCullum, whose four-year test tenure ended last month, though he remains England’s white-ball coach.

“If I’m being brutally honest, it was a big reason why I wanted ​to do it,” Root told the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“I’m very ​excited by the way he sees the game, where he ⁠sees us sit as a team, and the work that we have to ​do to get to where we want to get to. All of that ​got me very excited about taking this role on.”

“He’s obviously got a wealth of experience and done some amazing things within the game as a player and as a coach, and ​I’m very much looking forward to the next little while, and us ​trying to build something pretty special together.”

Former New Zealand captain Fleming coached Chennai Super Kings for ‌17 years in the Indian Premier League before leaving last month.

Root led England as their full-time test captain between 2017 and 2022 before he was replaced by Stokes.

Stokes and McCullum championed a take-no-prisoners approach, which endeared them to the fans, and ​Root hinted he and ​Fleming would like ⁠to retain that attacking mindset.

“The last four years have been the most fun I’ve had in professional cricket…,” said ​the 35-year-old.

“Clearly, the last little while is probably what’s fresh ​in everyone’s ⁠mind, but you’re looking at a four-year period where we did a lot of amazing things.

“I’ve taken a lot from that, and I feel it will be ⁠a big ​part of how I want to approach things ​moving forward as a leader of this team.”

England host Pakistan for a three-test series beginning in ​Leeds on August 19.

A FIFA statement, ​attributed to Infantino, conceded that the proposal to create a commercial entity to run the World Cup and other tournaments, 20% of which would be sold to private investors, was divisive ‌and dead in the water.

The concession ended three days of civil war in the football world, which peaked when Europe’s UEFA, the richest and most influential of soccer’s six regional confederations, announced a boycott of all FIFA events until the proposal was ditched.

The plan was Infantino’s baby and its demise less than two weeks after the most lucrative World Cup in history has left the 56-year-old Swiss administrator isolated at the top of an organisation he had been planning to run for another 4-1/2 years.

“A week ago, Infantino was riding high and was ​almost certain to get elected overwhelmingly because he’s run against such a financially successful tournament,” Victor Matheson, professor of economics at the College Of The Holy Cross in Massachusetts, told Reuters. “That’s all in jeopardy now.”

Before ​the World Cup, Infantino’s re-election for a fourth term at the FIFA Congress in Morocco in March had looked like a slam dunk with no rival candidates in the ⁠frame.

The picture has shifted radically after three days during which even the most loyal confederations raged at the lack of consultation over the proposal, and Infantino faced accusations of selling the soul of the game.

After FIFA doubled down on ​the plan on Friday with a statement that reiterated the promise of millions of dollars of new funding for national federations, some of those closest to Infantino distanced themselves from it.

Senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, calling it “a bad ​deal for football”, while FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour alleged staff had been “deceived” by Infantino and described the proposal as a “project of one person”.

Exasperated by leadership style

Infantino, who took over at FIFA in 2016 after a corruption scandal had ended Sepp Blatter’s 17-year reign as president, had frequently exasperated those around him with his independent leadership style, sources told Reuters.

His authority and ability to keep FIFA’s coffers full, though, had previously been strong enough to allow him to recover from his missteps.

He backed down from a plan ​promising 25 billion dollars in private investment for the Club World Cup in 2018 after strong opposition from UEFA.

He sailed through a storm of outrage over his defence of Qatar as the 2022 World Cup host and his ​bizarre pre-tournament speech in which he declared: “Today, I feel gay. Today, I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker.”

This week’s gambit, however, backfired spectacularly.

Infantino failed to build any consensus, and key stakeholders knew nothing of the plan until FIFA’s rushed announcement on ‌Tuesday when details ⁠leaked to newspapers.

They were kept in the dark as Infantino met investors and chose Joshua Kushner-founded Thrive Capital, a firm with close familial links to US President Donald Trump, to lead the proposed investor group.

For the Asian Football Confederation, it was a “totally unacceptable“ dismissal of the usual protocols and the 47-member body on Friday called for institutional reform at FIFA.

Close ties with Trump

Infantino’s close relationship with Trump was already under scrutiny after FIFA awarded the US President its inaugural Peace Prize last December.

Jim Boyce, a former FIFA vice-president who knew Infantino when the Swiss worked at UEFA, suggested Infantino’s head might have been turned by his proximity to political power.

“I think what has happened here is that fame appears ​to have gone a little bit to Gianni’s head, ​and his relationship with Donald Trump during that World ⁠Cup is nothing more than astounding,” the Northern Irishman told the BBC this week.

At the World Cup, Trump said he had called Infantino to ask for US player Folarin Balogun’s suspension for a red card to be rescinded so he could play in a knockout match.

That Balogun was ultimately allowed to play after a ruling by FIFA’s independent disciplinary ​body did nothing to dispel the perception that Trump was interfering with football matters through Infantino.

“It didn’t help that you had a Kushner involved in this whole ​thing,” Sports Marketing analyst Bob ⁠Dorfman told Reuters.

“Especially what was going on during the World Cup with Balogun and Trump. To have a Trump relative involved in this only made the whole thing much worse.”

Trump said on Friday that he did not speak with Infantino about the proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup.

Too early to write off Infantino

Although rival candidates are now almost certain to emerge before the presidential election, it is probably too early to write off even a wounded Infantino if he decides to run.

The ⁠stake sale proposal ​was always aimed squarely at the 211 national soccer federations who will vote, many of which rely on FIFA funding to make ​ends meet and have done well under Infantino’s patronage.

Infantino would need a two-thirds majority in the first round or a simple majority in subsequent rounds to extend his presidency until 2031, and Dorfman said a note of contrition might just do the trick.

“I know that’s not in his ​manner to do things like that, but maybe he has to start apologising a little bit and say: ‘Maybe I handled this wrong’.”

Competing in Glasgow, Fatima was beaten by the Canadian boxer in the last-four clash.

The Canadian boxer took a 4-1 lead after the opening round before the referee stopped the contest in the second round.

Despite the defeat, Fatima claimed the bronze medal, having reached the semi-finals with an impressive quarter-final victory over New Zealand’s Jordan Wilson.

The medal marks Pakistan’s first boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games since 2014 and makes Fatima Zahra the first Pakistani woman to win a boxing medal in the history of the Games.

Speaking after the semi-final, Fatima said the achievement was only the beginning and expressed hope of winning gold in future competitions.

“This is our first step. We were hoping to win the gold medal, but this bronze is extremely important for Pakistani women boxers,” she said.

She added that the team had worked hard to reach this stage and viewed the medal as a sign that women’s boxing in Pakistan was moving in the right direction.

“We have come a long way to reach this point. It shows that we are progressing in the right direction,” she said.

The women’s 60kg final will be contested on Saturday between India’s Priya and Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh.

Nadeem, who claimed Commonwealth gold in 2022 with a record-breaking throw of 90.18 metres, endured a disappointing title defence from the outset.

The 29-year-old opened the final with a foul before managing only 77.41 metres on his second attempt, leaving him ninth in the standings.

Needing a significant improvement to break into the top eight and earn three additional throws, Nadeem could only register 75.61 metres on his third attempt, ending his campaign in ninth place and ruling him out of medal contention.

His early elimination capped a difficult competition after he had also struggled in the qualification round, where he finished seventh with a best throw of 78.63 metres.

None of the competitors reached the automatic qualification mark of 84 metres during qualifying, with the 12 athletes recording the longest throws progressing to the final.

Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage topped the qualification standings with 82.84 metres, followed by Grenada’s Anderson Peters (81.29m) and South Africa’s Douw Smit (80.64m).

Pakistan’s Yasir Sultan failed to qualify for the final after finishing 14th with a best throw of 74.36 metres.

In the final, Sri Lanka’s Pathirage clinched the gold medal with a superb second-round throw of 89.75 metres.

Although his remaining five attempts were all fouls, his winning effort proved enough to secure the title.

India’s Neeraj Chopra took the silver medal with a season-best throw of 85.83 metres, while compatriot Yash Vir Singh claimed bronze after producing an impressive final-round effort of 85.41 metres.

FIFA’s plan ‌was to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling about a 20% stake in a new unit that would run FIFA events, including the World Cup.

The proposal, first announced on Tuesday, immediately faced a storm of opposition.

European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, threatened a boycott of events and accused FIFA of putting the sport’s “soul” up for sale.

“Having listened carefully ​to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level ​of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place,” Infantino said ⁠in a statement on Friday evening.

“Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will ​not proceed.”

FIFA had argued that selling the minority stake in its commercial operations would raise billions of dollars to fund global sports development, and accused ​the media of mischaracterising the proposal.

Infantino had written to member associations to tell them that they would receive $40 million each if they agreed to FIFA’s proposal by September 19.

“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and ​with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support,” Infantino said in Friday’s statement.

Resignation

Opposition to the ​plan snowballed over the week.

On Thursday, UEFA’s 55 member nations voted unanimously to boycott all FIFA tournaments until the proposal was withdrawn, saying that the World Cup “cannot be treated ‌as an ⁠investment product.”

CONCACAF, the 41-member federation for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, rejected the proposal during a meeting on Thursday.

On Friday, the Asian Football Confederation, which has 47 members, issued a statement saying it “stands in solidarity” with UEFA and CONCACAF.

UEFA, CONCACAF and the AFC combined have 143 national associations, well over half of FIFA’s 211 members.

A majority of the members would have needed to vote in support of the plan for it to ​proceed.

Disagreement was also internal.

On Friday, ​Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned ⁠with immediate effect, calling the plan “a bad deal for football,” while FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour said staff had been “deceived” by Infantino, describing the proposal as a “project of one person”.

Infantino, 56, is up for reelection next ​year. North American football chief Victor Montagliani is reportedly looking to challenge him.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told reporters ​that Infantino was “the ⁠wrong man to lead the organisation.”

FIFA had proposed creating a $20-billion subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to run the World Cup and its other events.

Thrive Eternal, a fund run by Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, had been slated to lead the proposed investor group, according to FIFA.

Joshua is the brother of Jared Kushner, ⁠US President ​Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

Trump and Infantino have developed a close relationship, with the US co-hosting ​the recent 2026 World Cup.

Trump said he had not spoken with Infantino about the external investment plan.

A damaging blow to FIFA president Gianni Infantino came with the later resignation of a senior advisor Carlos Cordeiro, who issued an excoriating statement.

“As a senior advisor to the FIFA president, a former banker, and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup,” wrote Cordeiro, a former head of the US Soccer Federation.

“Let me be clear: I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally.

“It is a bad deal for FIFA’s member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”

His resignation and the AFC statement came hours after FIFA vowed to press ahead with an “open and democratic” consultation on the plan.

The statement followed a pledge by Europe’s governing body UEFA to boycott the World Cup if FIFA went ahead with its plan which set alarm bells ringing within the AFC.

“The AFC stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal,” the Kuala Lumpur-based body said in a statement.

“The fact that the situation has reached the point where the real possibility of a FIFA World Cup boycott has entered public discourse should concern everyone who cares about the future of our game,” said the AFC, which represents 47 member nations, including Australia, China, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

FIFA said in a statement all of its member associations should have a chance to consider the plan.

“Nobody is selling football,” it said.

“This is not something FIFA would ever entertain.”

It also said it had heard feedback from UEFA and CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North and Central America, which said all 41 of its member associations had rejected FIFA’s proposal to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup.

The world body also said its planned consultation process had been “disrupted by incorrect media reports”.

“We respect the feedback and concern aired in public and reaffirm our commitment to an open and democratic consultation,” FIFA’s statement said.

“We will proceed with this consultation process to ensure that each (member association) has the ability to express its vote based on facts,” it said.

FIFA has said the plan it announced on Tuesday could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), the commercial subsidiary it proposed to run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

If approved, the project could provide each of FIFA’s 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027 and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8.0 million to $20 million.

Private investors would be allowed under the proposal to acquire stakes in the company but would remain minority shareholders.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that Infantino “is the wrong man to lead” FIFA, calling the plan an “outrageous suggestion”.

‘Time for a hydration break’

UEFA said in an earlier statement none of its national teams would participate in any FIFA competition “for so long as these proposals remain alive”.

“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product… No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” it said.

Infantino had described the initiative on Wednesday as a “golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally”.

However, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who boycotted the World Cup final to show unhappiness with FIFA, said there was no place in world football for such a model.

“Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return,” he said.

“Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.”

The European Union praised UEFA on Thursday for “defending the integrity of the game”.

UEFA also received approval from Chelsea’s Spanish coach Xabi Alonso, who was a member of the 2010 World Cup-winning side.

“We have seen a great World Cup, and some things they (should) stay the same way. So it’s good to defend the interests from other people,” he said in Sydney, where the London club are on a pre-season tour.

CONCACAF members, including the three co-hosts of the recent World Cup, unanimously rejected the proposal on Thursday.

On a lighter note a beer brand that is a major UEFA sponsor posted an advert with the line ‘Time for a hydration break, Gianni? Probably,’ referring to the pauses in each half for the players at the World Cup.

The avalanche hit the 10-member expedition around midday on Thursday as the team attempted to summit Broad Peak, the world’s 12th-highest mountain.

According to base camp and local sources, four bodies have so far been recovered from the snow debris.

Two of the victims have been identified as Nepali mountaineer Pur Bahadur Gurung, also known as “Yukta”, and Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy. The identities of the remaining two bodies are yet to be confirmed.

The search and rescue mission is being led by renowned Pakistani mountaineer Sarbaz Khan, with helicopters, ground teams and specialised rescue equipment deployed despite difficult weather and high-altitude conditions.

The missing expedition includes climbers from the United States, Nepal, Oman, China and Pakistan.

Those still unaccounted for include expedition leader Nirmal Purja “Nims Dai”, Nepali climbers Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa, Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi of Hunza, American climber Mallory Geis, and Chinese climber Wang Zhong.

Earlier, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said all 10 climbers lost contact after the avalanche and described the incident as deeply concerning.

Two rescue helicopters carrying personnel and specialised equipment were dispatched on Friday to reinforce ground teams operating in the challenging terrain.

ACP President Major General Irfan Arshad (Retd) said the organisation remained in close coordination with government authorities to ensure all available resources were mobilised for the rescue effort.

Broad Peak, known locally as Falchan Kangri, lies near K2 on the Pakistan-China border. Although considered less technically demanding than some other 8,000-metre peaks, it is prone to avalanches and remains one of the world’s most challenging high-altitude climbing destinations.

Rescue teams said the operation would continue as weather and terrain conditions permit, while the ACP expressed hope for the safe recovery of the remaining climbers.

In a statement that pulled no punches, Europe presented a united front to ‌FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, whose proposal this week blindsided regional confederations and caused uproar just weeks after the World Cup was staged in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Six of the top 10 ranked teams in both men’s and women’s soccer are from Europe, including world champions Spain.

CONCACAF and its 41 member associations also rejected FIFA’s plan during a meeting on Thursday, although the Mexican Football Federation later said that they have not yet made a decision and will wait for the round-table discussions organised by FIFA to ​provide further information and documentation relating to the new model.

The Asian Football Confederation, meanwhile, issued a scathing letter to the continent’s 47 member associations and warned the proposal would never succeed without the ​support of all six regional blocs.

UEFA’s stance raised the stakes dramatically, with immediate implications for the 2027 women’s World Cup due to be hosted in Brazil. Spain ⁠and Portugal are co-hosts of the 2030 men’s World Cup along with Morocco.

Members of UEFA voted 55-0 in favour of the boycott at an emergency meeting, a soccer source told Reuters.

“We unanimously and unequivocally reject ​FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors,” UEFA said in a statement.

“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these ​proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.”

Not for sale

UEFA said the World Cup was not for sale and could not be treated as an investment product or surrendered to private investors.

Infantino’s plan would create a $20 billion subsidiary to run the World Cup and its other events, while offering minority stakes to private investors.

He has offered FIFA’s 211 member ​associations $40 million each if they agree to the proposal by September 19 as part of a $10 billion package to become available from January 1, 2027.

If rejected, the package would revert to the $2.7 billion previously offered, around $10 ​million per member association.

“This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football,” UEFA said of a proposal which has triggered a major governance crisis.

“The moment external investors ‌acquire ownership ⁠interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.”

UEFA, whose elite club competitions generated €4.4 billion ($5 billion) in the 2024/25 season alone, and FIFA have long waged a battle for power and control in a sport that has become a mighty money machine.

Infantino, who is up for reelection as head of FIFA next year, has cast the move as pushing global “democratisation” by broadening access to its financial largesse.

Others have taken a different view.

“Football belongs to the fans, not billionaire investors. Enough is enough. It’s time to take a stand to protect our game,” said Britain’s culture minister Lisa Nandy after ​the UEFA statement.

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa ​said his body was not consulted by FIFA ⁠at any level before the public announcement. That, and the lack of any detailed governance, financial or legal analysis of the proposal, was “totally unacceptable”, he added.

“FIFA’s unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of continental football, which are based on solidarity, cooperation and transparency,” added the Bahraini.

“Such an initiative will not succeed without ​the support of all the confederations, which is not the case now.”

Concacaf rejects the FIFA proposal

CONCACAF, the regional bloc for North America, Central America and ​the Caribbean, also held a ⁠meeting on Thursday where the presidents of its member associations expressed “deep concerns” about what they called a lack of due process surrounding the proposal, a short deadline and the absence of any review or approval by relevant FIFA governance bodies.

“The discussion reinforced the need for greater transparency and proper governance,” CONCACAF said in a statement. “For these reasons, CONCACAF and its 41 Member Associations have rejected the proposal.”

The African confederation’s executive committee meets next week to evaluate ⁠the proposal, while ​the Oceania confederation, the smallest regional bloc with 11 full member nations, said it would discuss the proposal at a meeting ​next month.

South American governing body CONMEBOL, which has yet to comment publicly, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Players’ bodies have also expressed opposition to FIFA’s plan, with FIFPRO, the global players’ union, warning the proposal would irreversibly reshape the incentives ​underpinning the tournaments in which players work and build careers.

The 28-year-old produced a composed performance in the qualifying round, finishing seventh among 18 competitors to seal his place in the medal event.

Arshad registered his best throw of 78.63 metres on his opening attempt.

His second throw was ruled a foul, while he recorded 75.65 metres with his third attempt.

India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra also advanced to the final, finishing fifth in the qualifying standings with a best throw of 79.61 metres.

Chopra opened with a throw of 76.28 metres before improving to 79.61 metres on his second attempt.

According to the event organisers, the men’s javelin throw final will be held on Friday night.

According to the ICC, both bowlers were found guilty of a Level 1 offence during the opening match of the ICC World Test Championship series between Pakistan and the West Indies.

The governing body said Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Abbas breached Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which relates to using language, gestures or actions after dismissing a batter that could provoke an aggressive reaction.

Khurram Shahzad was fined 15% of his match fee after celebrating close to West Indies batter Shai Hope in an aggressive manner following his dismissal in the 17th over of the visitors’ second innings.

Mohammad Abbas, meanwhile, received an official warning for celebrating too closely to Jomel Warrican after dismissing him to end the West Indies innings.

The ICC also added one demerit point to the disciplinary records of both players.

According to the ICC, the two cricketers admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Jeff Crowe of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Richard Kettleborough, along with third umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal.

The ICC said a Level 1 offence carries a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum fine of 50% of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.

Under ICC regulations, the accumulation of four or more demerit points within a 24-month period results in suspension points.

Two suspension points translate into a ban from one Test match or two ODIs or two T20 Internationals.

Demerit points remain on a player’s disciplinary record for 24 months before expiring.

The decision was announced by PHF ad hoc president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani on the recommendation of the federation’s Professional Development Committee.

According to the PHF, Abu Bakr was chosen in recognition of his impressive performances at the international level, leadership qualities and outstanding contributions to the national team.

He will lead Pakistan in the World Cup and other upcoming international competitions.

The federation said the leadership change was made as part of its strategy and preparations for the World Cup.

Imad Butt will remain part of the national squad and continue to guide the team as a senior player, the PHF said.

Chasing 211 for victory on a deteriorating fourth-day pitch, Pakistan were bundled out for 120 after collapsing to 71-9 before a spirited last-wicket stand delayed the inevitable.

Seales finished with outstanding figures of 5-20, wrapping up the match by trapping Muhammad Abbas lbw for 23 to complete Pakistan’s defeat shortly after tea.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam fought a lone battle with an unbeaten 58 and shared a 49-run partnership for the final wicket with Abbas, but ran out of partners as the visitors slumped to their eighth consecutive away Test defeat.

Earlier in the day, West Indies added valuable runs to their overnight total of 126-7, stretching their second innings lead by scoring 55 more runs before being dismissed.

Shamar Joseph led the lower-order resistance with a brisk 38 off 27 deliveries, including four sixes, while Kemar Roach contributed a patient 18.

Abbas was Pakistan’s standout bowler, claiming 5-22 to finish with a five-wicket haul.

Pakistan’s chase quickly unravelled before lunch as Seales struck three early blows, removing Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais and Salman Ali Agha to leave the visitors reeling.

Justin Greaves, who had claimed an extraordinary five wickets without conceding a run on the third day, dismissed Mohammad Rizwan before trapping Aamer Jamal lbw to tighten West Indies’ grip on the contest.

Former captain Shan Masood, batting despite a fractured finger, briefly resisted before edging a catch to backward point as the visitors’ hopes faded.

Despite Babar’s determined half-century, Pakistan failed to recover from the early collapse.

“We played good cricket in the last few days, but today we were not up to the mark as a batting unit,” Babar said after the match.

“There was uneven bounce in the pitch, but we should have built partnerships. The basics remain the same — survive the new ball and score once it gets older.”

West Indies captain Roston Chase dedicated the victory to cricket legend Garfield Sobers, who recently passed away and would have celebrated his 90th birthday on the day of the win.

“We wanted to make him proud and spoke about it before the match. I hope he is smiling down on us,” Chase said.

The second and final Test of the series will begin in Port of Spain on August 2.

Despite conceding a 29-run first-innings lead, Pakistan’s bowlers fought back strongly to reduce the West Indies to 126-7 in their second innings by stumps.

The hosts lead by 155 runs, with Kemar Roach unbeaten on five and Shamar Joseph on 22.

Resuming the day on 199-3, Pakistan were bowled out for 282 after Shan anchored the innings with a composed 109 off 184 deliveries, his seventh Test century.

The left-hander struck 12 boundaries and was the backbone of Pakistan’s reply after the West Indies posted 311 in their first innings.

Shan added 47 runs with Salman Ali Agha for the fourth wicket before Salman fell for 20 to Shamar Joseph.

The former skipper was dismissed in the following over when Justin Greaves forced an inside edge onto the stumps.

Pakistan’s lower order failed to build on Shan’s platform as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Khurram Shahzad chipped in with a useful 19, while Mohammad Ali remained unbeaten on two.

Greaves starred with the ball, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket with figures of 5-27.

Pakistan’s fast bowlers then swung the momentum back in their favour with a disciplined display.

Mohammad Abbas struck twice in the fifth over, removing Brandon King for five before dismissing first-innings half-centurion Kavem Hodge for a duck just three balls later.

Mohammad Ali added to the pressure with a sharp return catch to send Amir Jangoo back for four, leaving the West Indies reeling at 28-3.

Khurram Shahzad then bowled Shai Hope for 10 to further dent the hosts.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Justin Greaves steadied the innings with a 37-run stand before Aamir Jamal dismissed Chanderpaul for 35.

Abbas returned to remove Greaves for 20, while Shahzad accounted for captain Roston Chase for eight as the West Indies slipped to 93-7.

Shamar Joseph counter-attacked late in the day with an unbeaten 22 off just 13 balls, smashing three sixes to help the hosts stretch their lead beyond 150 without losing another wicket before stumps.

Abbas was Pakistan’s standout performer with figures of 3-14 from 13 overs, including six maidens.

Shahzad picked up 2-36, while Mohammad Ali and Aamir Jamal claimed one wicket apiece.

With two days remaining, Pakistan will look to wrap up the West Indies innings quickly on Tuesday and chase what could prove to be a challenging fourth-innings target.

According to the PHF, matches will be played at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad from July 30 to August 7, with all matches scheduled to begin at 5:15pm.

Under the schedule, the first Test will be played on July 30, followed by the second Test on August 1, the third Test on August 4, and the fourth and final Test on August 7.

The PHF also announced the panel of technical officials for the series.

Faiz Muhammad has been appointed Umpire Manager, while Haroon Rashid, Yasir Khurshid, Fahad Ali Khan, Asad Abbas and Sajid Raza will serve as umpires.

Muhammad Shafiq Bhatti has been named the Technical Delegate, while Hamza Tufail, M. Waqas Ahmed, Adnan Shehzad, Mehboob Javed and Mirza Javed will perform duties as technical officials.

The federation also appointed Waqas Sheikh as Media Coordinator, Najeeb Khattak as Chief Coordinator, and Habibur Rehman as Assistant Chief Coordinator for the series.

The PHF said the schedule and appointments were formally approved by PHF President Mohiuddin Ahmad Wani.

After West Indies elected to bat, experienced pacer Mohammad Abbas provided Pakistan with the early breakthrough, dismissing Brandon King for 12.

King attempted to cut a delivery close to his body but dragged the ball onto his stumps, leaving the hosts at 13 for one.

Only 14.1 overs were possible during the morning session due to rain, with West Indies reaching 23 for one at lunch. Pakistan’s seamers maintained tight lines and made scoring difficult in helpful conditions.

Following the resumption, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kavem Hodge added 51 runs for the second wicket before Aamir Jamal struck in his first over.

Chanderpaul, who scored 21, edged a delivery outside off stump to Salman Ali Agha at second slip.

Abbas then claimed his second wicket when Amir Jangoo was trapped leg-before for 21.

The on-field decision was overturned after Pakistan captain Babar Azam opted for a successful review, reducing West Indies to 106 for three.

Hodge, however, led the hosts’ recovery with an unbeaten 83 from 181 balls, including nine fours.

He received valuable support from Shai Hope, who remained unbeaten on 39 as the pair added an unbroken 88 runs for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan continued to maintain pressure throughout the final session, with Abbas, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali keeping the scoring rate under control.

Test debutant Ali Usman also bowled 12 overs and conceded 34 runs.

Play was called off after 67 overs due to bad light, with the hosts closing on 194 for three.

The association had announced a countrywide shutdown of petrol pumps on Thursday in protest against the government’s new daily fuel pricing mechanism and other issues affecting the petroleum retail sector. The strike was deferred after talks between the government and representatives of petrol pump owners.

During the meeting, the association presented three key demands. It sought an increase in profit margin from the current 2.6 per cent to 8pc, restoration of the previous fortnightly or monthly fuel price revision mechanism instead of daily pricing, and abolition of the quota system imposed by oil marketing companies.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik acknowledged the challenges faced by consumers and the petroleum sector, saying the government was fully aware of the burden created by rising international oil prices.

He said Pakistan, as a net importer of petroleum products, had little choice but to pass on increases in global oil prices to domestic consumers.

He added that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) was compelled to revise fuel prices on a daily basis under the new mechanism due to fluctuations in international markets.

The minister said the issue of margins had remained unresolved for several years and assured stakeholders that, in consultation with OGRA, a summary would be submitted to the federal cabinet. He pledged that the matter would be resolved within the next two weeks.

He also said the government would review the daily fuel pricing mechanism after a two-week trial period, adding that the new system was introduced to improve transparency.

He further announced that OGRA would begin publishing daily fuel price notifications in Urdu alongside English on its website.

Referring to the regional situation, the minister said renewed tensions had increased pressure on global energy markets.

He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar were making diplomatic efforts to help maintain regional stability.

Following the meeting, representatives of the association confirmed that a written agreement had been signed with the petroleum minister.

They expressed hope that the issue of profit margins would be resolved within two days and welcomed the government’s commitment to review the daily pricing policy.

The association said the daily fuel pricing system would continue on a trial basis for two weeks before a final decision is taken.

The federal government transferred the authority to determine petroleum product prices to OGRA on July 18, introducing a daily pricing mechanism under which petrol and high-speed diesel prices are announced every day on the regulator’s website.

The policy has drawn criticism from consumers, transporters and petrol pump owners, particularly after recent increases in diesel prices led to higher transport fares across the country.

The appointment of former Real Madrid manager Zidane comes ​two weeks after Didier Deschamps’ tenure as ​coach ended following France’s fourth-place finish at ⁠the World Cup.

His final match ​in charge was a 6-4 defeat by ​England.

The 54-year-old Zidane is expected to begin his reign with an away Nations League game against Turkiye ​before France host Italy at the ​Stade de France on October 2.

Deschamps, who left the ‌role ⁠after 14 years at the helm, oversaw 185 matches and 120 victories, guiding France to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2020-21 ​Nations League ​trophy, and ⁠the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals.

The two ​share a long association, having been ​teammates in France’s 1998 World Cup-winning side on home soil.

Zidane played a pivotal role in ⁠that ​triumph and won the ​Ballon d’Or that year.

Spain captain Rodri held the World Cup trophy aloft at the top of the stairs as he descended from the Iberia plane that flew the team home from the United States after clinching their second star.

Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday, secured by a Ferran Torres strike in extra-time, has sparked an outpouring of national pride in the football-mad country, whose only other World Cup triumph came in 2010.

Many younger supporters were not yet born when Andres Iniesta’s extra-time goal against the Netherlands secured Spain’s first World Cup in South Africa 16 years ago.

On Monday morning, the Castellana, Madrid’s main avenue, bore the marks of a boozy evening — the tarmac strewn with trash, beer cans and shards of glass.

Among the last remaining supporters, some slept with grins on their faces on the pavement or on benches, while others were still staggering home as cleaning crews worked from the early hours to prepare the route for tonight’s party.

“I didn’t sleep much, because… (of) the celebration and then the tension of the match – I think it was a little more difficult for all of us to fall asleep,” Madrid mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida told RNE radio.

After landing, the players will be received by King Felipe VI at Zarzuela Palace, on the outskirts of Madrid, according to the mayor.

The team will then be met by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the government headquarters, La Moncloa.

Spain’s World Cup winners will enjoy an open-top bus parade, starting at Moncloa and heading to Cibeles square, the central government’s representative in Madrid, Francisco Martin, told Spanish public television.

A ceremony involving the players will then be held at the square, the traditional gathering point for celebrations by the Spanish national team and its supporters.

Around one million people are expected to line the parade route, with additional security and transport measures planned to handle the crowds, Martin said.

Some supporters, who already had only a short night’s sleep, are planning to celebrate again, like Bruno Gonzalez del Yerro, a 32-year-old financier.

“We’ll have to celebrate it one way or another, given that it only happens every four years and that Spain hadn’t won it for about (sixteen) years now — it definitely deserves a party,” he said.

Spain’s women’s side won the World Cup in 2023, meaning for the first time a country has both trophies at the same time.

In 2030, Spain will defend their crown on home soil, as one of the World Cup hosts along with Portugal and Morocco.

‘All-time’ kings

The Spanish press was running out of superlatives to describe its heroes after they overcame favourites France in the semi-finals before downing Argentina.

“The kings of all-time!” wrote Marca, celebrating a “second star that will now be stitched onto the Spanish jersey after yet another masterclass in collective play.”

On a tragic note, a 13-year-old boy was killed around midnight in the town of Ciudad Rodrigo in the west, after a fountain crumbled under the weight of supporters who had climbed onto it to celebrate.

In Buenos Aires, the initial silence after defeat was striking, and then the tears came once the reality sank in. Their hopes of a fourth World Cup were dashed, but hundreds of thousands of people are expected to greet the team on their return at 5:00 pm local time (20:00 GMT).

After more than five weeks of competition with the expanded format and 48 teams, only Spain and Argentina were left standing by the 104th and final match.

The 2022 champions, despite the presence of all-time great Lionel Messi, failed to create clear chances against Spain’s well-organised and more positive side.

Enzo Fernandez’s red card left Argentina with their backs pinned to the wall, and Barcelona forward Torres slammed home after fellow substitute Nico Williams teed him up.

“It’s not my goal, it’s the goal of 47 million people,” said Spain’s match-winner.

Messi had a sensational World Cup but drifted through the final like a ghost, shedding tears at the end. In Madrid, tears will also flow on Monday night, but tears of joy.

The biggest prize in football deserved a classic. Instead, the world’s two finest teams produced a suffocating stalemate that drifted towards penalties before Torres finally found the breakthrough with Spain’s 20th attempt on goal.

It was perhaps fitting that the final whistle sparked the game’s liveliest moments, with players pushing, shoving and falling to the ground ​as Argentina’s frustrations finally boiled over into a brawl.

The euphemism “one for the purists” might have been coined to describe this contest. It was a match almost entirely ​devoid of quality, chances and risk until Torres, introduced from the bench, finally broke the deadlock.

Messi, the second player after Brazilian great Cafu to ⁠feature in three World Cup finals, was a pale shadow of his earlier self, unable to inspire his team.

For Spain, Lamine Yamal barely registered. These two had been billed ​as the stars of this match, but it was Spain substitutes Torres and Nico Williams who injected some much-needed energy and dynamism into a drab affair.

It was the fifth of the ​last six World Cup finals to go to extra time, but none of those crowds had endured such flat, joyless football.

SHOT-SHY ARGENTINA

Spain, masters of the suffocating, pressing style, had nothing to press, nothing to suffocate. The Argentines were the first-ever team to fail to muster one shot on target or off for the entire 90 minutes of a World Cup final.

Argentina seemed content to niggle, pull shirts, shove, foul and disrupt ​rather than attack. In some respects, it was remarkable that they finished with only one red card, Enzo Fernandez being dismissed for flattening Pau Cubarsi in stoppage time.

After more than a month of ​scintillating goals and exhilarating sport, this was no advertisement for what the hosts call soccer.

One can only imagine what US President Donald Trump, watching alongside FIFA chief Gianni Infantino in a glassed-off VIP box, ‌made of ⁠the spectacle.

In truth, this was the toughest of sells, even for the purists. Spain dominated possession but were toothless in attack.

In total, they had 20 attempts on goal, 12 on target. Possession only gets you so far in a sport where goals settle results.

The official FIFA statistics registered Argentina as having two attempts at goal. None were on target, and the term attempt was being used loosely.

SHOWBIZ RAZZMATAZZ

Singers, flags, fireworks, podiums, pop stars and Hollywood idols had flooded the pitch in the buildup to this clash. The greater surprise was ​that the kickoff was delayed only five ​minutes by all the showbiz razzmatazz.

Three-quarters of ⁠the stadium resembled a Buenos Aires barrio, with supporters draped in blue and white belting out Argentine chants, as the 2022 champions kicked off.

But Spain were denied what they needed to perform at their best — an attacking, dangerous opponent. Instead, Argentina looked as ​though their stirring semi-final comeback in the 2-1 win against England had been their last great surge.

Spain played without an out-and-out striker, something ​they could have done with ⁠, as they repeatedly opted against shooting and relied on cutback after cutback with nobody willing or able to apply the killer touch.

Few might have expected Justin Bieber, Madonna and fictional coach Ted Lasso to provide the afternoon’s most memorable entertainment in the halftime show, but that was how pedestrian the football had become.

“Allez, let’s go,” sang Shakira. Well, quite.

‘Light it Up’, the big ⁠screen flashed, and ​the word Dynamite flickered across the Jumbotron, almost as a taunt to two teams who had failed ​to light any sort of fuse.

The traditional break of 15 minutes almost doubled in length with all the singing, dancing, fireworks and packing away, but the extended interval brought no change in tempo.

None of that will bother the ​Spaniards, though, or their delighted coach, Luis de la Fuente, who, aged 65, became the oldest World Cup-winning coach.

‘WE’VE WON EVERYTHING,’ SAYS DE LA ⁠FUENTE

De la Fuente ​led Spain to the 2024 European Championship title, and his team are now unbeaten in 38 matches in all competitions — a ​record for any side from Europe or South America.

“I’m so proud of this generation of footballers who have grown up with this philosophy, remained true to it, made it even better and set an example as a team and a family - they’re excellent, world-class ​footballers with exceptional talent,” he told reporters.

“I’m very moved. Looking back and thinking about them, we’ve won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Torres broke the deadlock early ​in the second half of extra ⁠time, firing home on the ​rebound to give the European ​champions their second World Cup title.
• Argentina were down to 10 men when Enzo Fernandez ​was dismissed with a second ​booking in second-half stoppage time.
• The Argentines were ‌toothless ⁠in attack and did not have a shot on or off target for 115 minutes.
• At 65 ​years old, ​Spain’s Luis ⁠de la Fuente became the oldest World Cup-winning ​coach.
• Argentina’s 39-year-old captain, Lionel Messi, became only the second player to feature in three World Cup finals and also the oldest outfield player to appear in a final.

Keegan’s family and Newcastle announced in January ‌that the two-time European Footballer of the Year was undergoing cancer treatment, without disclosing details of his illness. In June, Keegan revealed he had stage four cancer.

“We are devastated to learn ​of the passing of Kevin Keegan, one of the most iconic, influential ​and deeply loved figures in our club’s history,” the Premier League ⁠club said in a statement.

“As a player, he brought world-class talent, ambition ​and belief to St. James’ Park, helping to transform perceptions of what Newcastle United ​could be.

“As a manager, he ignited our city. Kevin gave supporters hope and pride, and led a team whose style, spirit and passion captured the imagination of football fans around ​the world. He was so much more than an entertainer.”

One of English football’s most ​charismatic figures, Keegan enjoyed a glittering playing career as a forward, winning multiple trophies with ‌Liverpool ⁠before starring in Germany with Hamburg. His achievements earned him the Ballon d’Or in 1978 and 1979.

He scored 21 goals in 63 appearances for England between 1972 and 1982, captaining the side 31 times.

Keegan later moved into management, revitalising Newcastle ​United and taking ​the club to ⁠the brink of the Premier League title in the mid-1990s before enduring a more difficult spell as England manager.

“It is ​with immense sadness that we announce that Kevin Keegan has ​passed away ⁠at the age of 75,” Keegan’s family said in a statement, as quoted by Sky Sports.

“The former England player and manager had been battling cancer and was ⁠surrounded by ​his wife and daughters in his final moments.”

His ​death marks the passing of one of the most influential figures of his generation in English ​football.

Argentina ​coach Lionel Scaloni ​intervened to cool tempers down at ‌the end of a fierce encounter.

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez was dismissed for ​the South ​Americans ⁠in second-half stoppage time.

Spain beat Argentina ​after extra time ​thanks ⁠to a goal by substitute Ferran Torres ⁠to ​clinch their ​second World Cup.

Spain secured their 1–0 victory with a goal in extra time, crushing Argentina’s dream in the United States of repeating their 2022 ​Qatar triumph and claiming a fourth title.

“I recognise when a team plays well, and Spain played very well,” ​said Fernanda Ramayon, 39, a psychologist who watched the game at a Buenos Aires restaurant ⁠with her children and husband.

“I think it’s a lot to have reached the final. I’m happy anyway.”

Many Argentines started the ​World Cup with tempered expectations, not daring to believe that their country could achieve the rare feat of clinching two ​consecutive World Cups as only Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) have done.

But nerves and expectations swelled as the team led by star Lionel Messi pushed through nail-biting knockout stage wins over Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland.

Several Argentines on Sunday said the semi-final victory against England had left ​them satisfied enough with the team.

That match carried heavy symbolism for Argentines, framed by the history of England’s win at ​the 1966 World Cup, Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in 1986 and the memory of the 1982 war over the Falkland Islands, ‌known in ⁠Argentina as the Islas Malvinas.

Players brandished a banner declaring “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”) after the 2-1 win.

“Of course, it’s a very bitter sensation, but we still beat the British, Messi had been missing that,” said Ornella Godoy, a 24-year-old who works in publicity, on her way back from watching the match with friends outside a bar.

Messi had never before played ​against England.

“End of a dream”

“It’s ​the end of a dream,” ⁠said the headline of La Nacion, one of Argentina’s largest newspapers, on its website after the match, under an image of Messi’s distraught face.

But thousands of Argentines still gathered around ​the Obelisk monument in downtown Buenos Aires, where fireworks went off.

It was a far cry ​from 2022, when ⁠more than a million people filled downtown Buenos Aires the night that Argentina won the World Cup.

When the national team arrived two days later, millions more paralysed the city to welcome them home in the country’s largest street party, forcing Messi ⁠and his ​teammates to be flown in helicopters across the city to join the ​celebrations.

Many suspect that this will be the last World Cup for Messi, who turned 39 last month, but Godoy was optimistic.

“We have faith in the ​players that are left,” she said.

Runners-up Argentina will earn $34 million, while FIFA will distribute a record $871 million among all 48 participating teams, making the 2026 edition the richest World Cup in history, according to a report in Fortune.

The expanded prize fund includes more than $100 million added earlier this year after several European football federations urged FIFA to increase financial support, citing the higher costs of staging a tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Every team competing at the World Cup is guaranteed at least $12.5 million, comprising $10 million for qualifying and participating in the group stage and $2.5 million to cover pre-tournament training and preparation expenses.

The payment structure was designed to ease financial pressures on national federations and avoid disputes over player bonuses before the tournament.

Here is what they are getting:

Runner-up: $34 million

Third place (England): $30 million

Fourth place (France): $28 million

Quarterfinalists (fifth to eight): $20 million each

Round of 16 (ninth to 16th): $16 million each

Round of 32 (17th to 32nd): $12 million each

Group stage (33rd-48th): $10 million each

The prize money increases with each stage of the competition.

Third-placed England will receive $30 million, while fourth-placed France will earn $28 million.

Quarter-finalists are awarded $20 million each; teams reaching the round of 16 receive $16 million, those eliminated in the round of 32 collect $12 million, and teams exiting in the group stage receive $10 million.

The 2026 payouts represent a significant increase from the $440 million distributed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when champions Argentina received $42 million.

Despite the record reward, the World Cup winner’s prize remains modest compared with the financial scale of club football.

Chelsea reportedly earned $115 million for winning the expanded FIFA Club World Cup last year, while transfer fees for top players can also exceed the amount awarded to the World Cup champions.

In addition to the prize money, FIFA covers business-class return flights, accommodation, domestic travel and transport for official 50-member team delegations throughout the tournament.

National football associations remain responsible for insurance, incidental hotel expenses and additional delegation costs.

While the winner lifts the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy during the post-match celebrations, the original trophy will remain in FIFA’s possession.

Champions receive a gold-plated replica to keep permanently.

FIFA pays the prize money directly to national football associations rather than players, leaving each federation to determine how the funds are distributed among players, coaches and football development programmes.