Manchester United's hopes of signing Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni have quickly evaporated. Although rumors of his move to the Red Devils were rampant this week, it has proven to be nothing more than a "price-hiking" smokescreen orchestrated by his agent to secure a new deal. The 26-year-old French defensive midfielder has reached a verbal agreement with Real Madrid to extend his contract, and after the World Cup, he will officially sign a new deal lasting until 2031.

France will face Morocco in the opening match of the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals on July 10. This highly anticipated clash pits the reigning runner-up against the world's fourth-ranked team. In this rematch, Les Bleus' potent attack must find a way to breach the "concrete" defensive wall erected by Morocco.

According to a TTXVN correspondent in France, after many years associated with a strong emphasis on defensive solidity, coach Didier Deschamps is making his mark with a more open attacking style at the 2026 World Cup.

On July 9, Beijing time, according to renowned reporter Shams, free-agent center Mo Bamba has signed a two-year contract to rejoin the Utah Jazz. The Jazz finalized the agreement today with his agent team—Mark Bartelstein and Greer Love—bringing back the big man, who had a brief stint with the Jazz last season.

Ha Tinh Club is drawing significant attention as it simultaneously trials three very young overseas Vietnamese players in preparation for the new season.

At SoFi Stadium on the night of June 15, when Elijah Just executed a flying volley to put New Zealand ahead of Iran for the second time, the Los Angeles stands erupted with a strange mix of emotions: astonishment mixed with a sense of football's irony. The team ranked lowest among the 48 World Cup participants, at 85th—even below Haiti—had twice taken the lead against a traditional football nation like Iran, before ultimately being held to a 2-2 draw.

Forty years after their debut at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Iraq returned to the tournament through an unprecedented marathon: 21 matches spanning 28 months, taking them through Basra, Hanoi, Manila, Jakarta, Kuwait City, Seoul, Muscat, Amman, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, and culminating in a nail-biting victory over Bolivia in Monterrey. Yet that grueling odyssey unraveled in less than two weeks: losses to Norway 1-4, France 0-3, and Senegal 0-5 meant Iraq left the competition with zero points, a goal difference of -11, almost identical to the team of 1986.

On July 9, Beijing time, the Houston Rockets made it official today that they have added two players: guards Bogdan Bogdanovic and Qudire Copeland. According to earlier reports, Bogdanovic signed a one-year veteran minimum deal, while Copeland received a two-way contract. Copeland will suit up for the Rockets in this year's summer league.

On July 9, Beijing time, according to local Dallas media, Mark Cuban accused Mavericks' new owner Patrick Dumont of deliberately excluding him from the project to relocate the team out of downtown and build a new arena, stripping him of related business investment opportunities.

MU has secured a deal to bring in Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos as the "Red Devils" look to strengthen their midfield line.