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Italy's national team secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland, significantly enhancing their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The win sets up a playoff final against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, with a victory guaranteeing Italy a spot in the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.Italy's coach, Gennaro Gattuso, acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, 'We made life a bit difficult for ourselves, but in the second half we found our rhythm.' He emphasized the importance of the upcoming final, noting that both teams will feel the tension.In other playoff matches, Kosovo will host Turkiye after Kosovo's thrilling 4-3 win over Slovakia and Turkiye's 1-0 victory over Romania. Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Denmark also won their semifinals, setting up additional playoff matches.The 2026 World Cup, featuring an expanded 48 teams, offers more nations a chance to qualify. Twelve European countries have already secured spots through group stage wins, while the playoffs involve second-placed teams and those who performed well in the Nations League.

Iran has introduced a ban on its sports teams traveling to countries it considers 'hostile', as reported by Iranian state TV. This move comes ahead of Tractor SC's scheduled football match in Saudi Arabia as part of the Asian Champions League. The ban was announced nearly a month after US-Israeli attacks on Iran led to war on February 28. The Iranian Ministry of Sports stated that the presence of national and club teams in countries unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes is prohibited until further notice. The decision specifically affects Tractor's playoff game against Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai in Saudi Arabia, set to take place next month. The Iranian football federation and clubs are responsible for notifying the Asian Football Confederation to relocate the games. Although the statement did not list countries deemed hostile, it mentioned that the western zone playoffs have been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah, with the tournament quarterfinals, semifinals, and final set for April 16-25 in the Saudi city. This development is separate from Iran's participation in the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the US in June and July, for which Iran has qualified. The Iranian ambassador in Mexico City has been negotiating with FIFA to move Iran's group-stage matches from the US to Mexico due to safety concerns raised by US President Donald Trump. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed a desire for the tournament to proceed as scheduled. The Iranian national team is currently training in Turkey ahead of friendly matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica.

The Women's Super League and WSL2 are gearing up for an exciting derby weekend, with six local rivalries set to be reignited. This weekend's schedule has been criticized for potentially diluting the impact of these matches by staging too many high-profile games simultaneously.On Saturday, Everton host Liverpool, Manchester United welcome Manchester City, and Arsenal entertain Tottenham, all within a span of six hours. The attendances for these matches are expected to be high, with over 45,000 tickets sold for the north London showdown at the Emirates Stadium.While the initial numbers are encouraging, there is an argument that staggering these derbies across the season may draw greater cumulative focus. The buildup to the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park has felt low-profile this time, overshadowed by the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.The WSL's growth timeline and dependence on stadium availability and broadcast partners must be considered. The league's scheduling strategy, including timing the opening weekend to coincide with the September men's international window, is crucial for its development.This weekend's matches promise to be close-fought affairs, with the top two teams going head-to-head at Old Trafford. Arsenal's Kim Little has signed a new one-year contract, and Tottenham's Martin Ho has extended his stay with the club.

US international forward Catarina Macario has made a significant move in the world of women's soccer, joining the San Diego Wave on a five-year deal worth $8m. This contract is reportedly the largest by total value in women's soccer history.The 26-year-old forward is expected to immediately become the focal point of the Wave's attack. Macario's contract with Chelsea was set to expire at the end of the WSL season, and she will now use the NWSL's new high impact player rule to pay her salary.Macario's move to San Diego represents a homecoming for the player, who began her development in Brazil before relocating to San Diego with her family at the age of 12. She spent five years with the local San Diego Surf, setting the youth league's all-time scoring record, before playing collegiately for Stanford.The addition of Macario to the Wave's roster is expected to greatly benefit the team's system, which often features extensive buildup sequences and passing into the heart of the box. Macario's complete approach to playing striker, including her ability in buildup and difficulty to dispossess, will likely make her a valuable asset to the team.This move also represents an opportunity for Macario to reassert her case to be part of the US women's national team core, particularly with the 2027 World Cup being held in Brazil, her nation of birth. Macario has scored 16 goals across her 29 international caps, including eight goals from 10 national team appearances in 2025.

Ipswich Town chairman and chief executive, Mark Ashton, has issued a public apology for the distress and hurt caused by Nigel Farage's visit to Portman Road earlier this week. The visit, which included Farage holding up an Ipswich No 10 shirt with his name on it, was widely criticized by fans on social media.The club has stated that it remains 'apolitical' and that the visit was not endorsed by the club. However, fans described the visit as 'shameful' and 'embarrassing', leading to a significant backlash on social media.In a statement, Ashton said: 'I unreservedly apologise for any hurt, pain or distress that's been caused'. He acknowledged that mistakes were made and that the club would reconsider its approach to engaging with local politicians and political parties.The controversy has come at a critical time for Ipswich Town, who are currently third in the Championship table and fighting for a return to the Premier League. The unwanted distraction has added pressure to the team's promotion bid, with eight games remaining in the season.Ashton emphasized the importance of moving forward together, stating: 'We are better when we move together as one and there is lots to fight for on and off the pitch'. The club will now review its policy on engaging with politicians and political parties to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to resume, bringing with it a mix of lucrative opportunities and controversy. England's Jos Buttler is among those looking to make an impact, having struggled with form at the recent T20 World Cup. Buttler, who plays for Gujarat Titans, is England's most successful export to the IPL, with seven hundreds in 121 games for three different teams.Buttler's teammate Kevin Pietersen has shared his own experiences of playing in the IPL, revealing that the league saved his career by allowing him to build lasting relationships. Pietersen, who played 36 IPL matches, expressed his joy at the riches enjoyed by modern players, saying, "If you got paid $50m tomorrow to go and play cricket in Saudi Arabia, I'd be so happy for you."The IPL has also been marred by controversy, including political tensions between India and Pakistan. The tournament's impact extends beyond the field, with 12 England players set to participate. However, the event is also overshadowed by the tragic crowd crush at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru last June, which resulted in 11 deaths.In related news, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has been sold for £1.33 billion to a consortium featuring private equity group Blackstone. The team will begin the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, with Buttler and his teammates aiming to make a strong impression.

The weekend's sporting calendar features major events across Formula 1, football, and the Women's Super League, with fans treated to a diverse range of high-profile competitions.On Saturday, the action begins early with Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix qualifying at 6am GMT. Mercedes and Ferrari have emerged as the early favorites after adapting best to Formula One's most radical changes in power and chassis in over a decade. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have won the first two races, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have consistently finished third and fourth. The Suzuka circuit presents a different challenge with its figure-eight layout, narrow twisting sections, and limited passing opportunities. Philip Cornwall will provide live coverage of qualifying, with Giles Richards reporting from Suzuka.Football fans can follow Matchday live from 8am-12.15pm as Billy Munday brings updates on international and domestic action. The coverage will include follow-up from Friday's England international against Uruguay at Wembley, managed by former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, and Scotland's World Cup warm-up against Japan. The day also features three significant Women's Super League derby matches.The first WSL derby kicks off at 1.30pm with Manchester United facing Manchester City. Andrée Jeglertz's pacesetters enter the match on a high after a 5-2 victory over Spurs, featuring Khadija Shaw's record-setting quickest hat-trick in WSL history. Manchester United, meanwhile, secured three points against Everton but suffered a 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final first leg. Xaymaca Awoyungbo will host the live blog, with Tom Garry reporting from Old Trafford.At 5pm, Scotland hosts Japan in an international friendly. This match provides Steve Clarke's side with an opportunity to fine-tune their squad before their World Cup campaign in North America, where they will face Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti in Group C. With only club games remaining before the squad announcement in May, numerous players are eager to impress. Scott Murray will host the live blog, with Ewan Murray reporting from Glasgow.The second WSL derby of the day follows at 5.30pm with Arsenal taking on Tottenham. Renée Slegers' Arsenal side sits fourth in the table, unbeaten in the league since October, and coming off victories over Chelsea and West Ham. Tottenham, managed by Martin Ho, have lost their last two matches and have beaten Arsenal just once in their previous encounter. Rob Smyth will manage the live blog for this north London derby, with Sophie Downey reporting from the Emirates.Sunday's action begins with the Japanese Grand Prix live coverage at 6am BST. Oscar Piastri has raised hopes of a non-Mercedes victory after setting the fastest time in Friday's practice. McLaren has struggled since winning last season's drivers' championship, failing to even start the Chinese Grand Prix due to technical issues. This race is particularly significant as it will be followed by a five-week break before the next F1 event in Miami on May 3rd. Joey Lynch will provide lap-by-lap coverage, with Giles Richards again reporting from Suzuka.Football coverage continues with Matchday live from 8am-12pm as Emillia Hawkins brings updates on Sunday's action and previews England's upcoming World Cup warm-up against Japan. The blog will also cover buildup to three WSL fixtures, with breaking news and match reports. Fans can email [email protected] with their views.The weekend's WSL action concludes at 12pm with Chelsea facing Aston Villa. This match between third-placed Chelsea and an Aston Villa side that recently beat Leicester promises to be particularly compelling. Chelsea has struggled in the title race and suffered Champions League defeat to Arsenal, while also dealing with injuries including Aggie Beever-Jones. There is the possibility of Sam Kerr's return after the Asian Cup. Daniel Harris will host the blog for this fixture.

Everton Football Club is set to offer David Moyes a new contract this summer, recognizing his achievements in turning the team around from relegation threats to potential European qualification contenders. Moyes, who took over in January of last year, has led the team to eighth place in the Premier League, just three points shy of the Champions League qualification spots. Initially viewed as a short-term solution by Everton's owners, the Friedkin Group, Moyes has proven his worth, prompting the club to consider extending his two-and-a-half-year deal. The Friedkin Group, who completed their £400m takeover of Everton the previous month, are now convinced that Moyes is the right manager to lead the club forward. Moyes' potential new contract could also come with increased influence over player recruitment, similar to his first stint at Everton from 2002 to 2013. The 62-year-old manager has downplayed discussions about a new deal, stating, 'I'm not too worried about that, I'm fine.' Everton's improvement under Moyes is notable, especially considering his preference for working with more experienced players, such as Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who joined last summer. This strategy contrasts with younger players like Tyler Dibling, who has made limited appearances. A potential complication for Everton's European aspirations is the ownership situation, as the Friedkin Group also owns AS Roma, currently sixth in Serie A. UEFA regulations prevent clubs under the same ownership from competing in the same European competition. However, the Friedkin Group is confident in their compliance and has an alternative solution in place to ensure both clubs can participate if they qualify for the same competition.

Liverpool FC's Egyptian star Mohamed Salah has announced that he will be leaving the Premier League club at the end of the season. The 33-year-old forward confirmed the news in a video message on social media, marking the 'first part' of his farewell.Salah will depart on a free transfer despite having 12 months remaining on his contract. The reasons behind his departure are not explicitly stated, but earlier in the season, he mentioned having a nonexistent relationship with Liverpool manager Arne Slot.The fan favorite accused the club of making him a scapegoat for their poor start to the Premier League season. Speculation about his next destination has been ongoing, with links to several clubs around the world.Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, stated that no decision has been made about his future. The Saudi Pro League, particularly Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, have been mentioned as potential destinations. A move to the MLS in the United States is also a possibility.Liverpool has respected Salah's wish to announce his departure early, celebrating his achievements and memorable moments with the club. Salah is one of the most decorated players in Premier League history, with 255 goals in 435 appearances and numerous awards, including three PFA Player of the Year titles and four Premier League Golden Boot awards.