Hot football news lunchtime on July 3rd: The Vietnam National Team begins their training camp in South Korea

Thai Nguyen gears up to introduce a professional club, the Vietnam National Team holds a training camp in South Korea, Ronaldo creates a stir with his pre-penalty moment, England is wary of Mexican supporters, and MU targets Ismaila Sarr.

Thai Nguyen is about to have its own professional club

Vietnamese football is set to welcome another new representative as Thai Nguyen province is advancing plans to establish a men's football club to compete in the 2026/27 National First Division. The team is expected to launch in August, using the Thai Nguyen Stadium as its home ground, and will be built upon the foundation of the Hanoi youth team that won the 2026 Second Division under the guidance of coach Pham Minh Duc.

In addition to a pool of talented young players, the club is also planning to sign foreign players and overseas Vietnamese to boost its competitiveness. In the long run, Thai Nguyen aims to establish a youth academy, with the goal of reaching the V-League during the 2029-2030 season, using local talent as the backbone.

The Vietnam National Team begins training in South Korea

The Vietnam National Team has arrived in Incheon, South Korea, to start a training camp from July 2nd to 14th, aiming to defend their ASEAN Cup 2026 title. After completing entry procedures, Coach Kim Sang-sik and his players quickly moved to their base and will have their first training session on July 3rd.

During their nearly two-week stay in South Korea, the team will play friendly matches against Siheung FC (July 5th), Yongin FC (July 8th), and Gangwon FC (July 13th). This is an opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate the squad, test tactics, and assess form before returning home for a friendly against Myanmar on July 18th, the final dress rehearsal before the 2026 ASEAN Championship.

Ronaldo prays before taking a penalty against Croatia

Cristiano Ronaldo became the center of attention after Portugal's 2-1 victory over Croatia, as a video captured the moment he murmured something before the penalty kick went viral on social media. Many fans believe that CR7 said "Bismillah" before taking the equalizing shot, although the 41-year-old striker has never confirmed this. This is not the first time Ronaldo has been reported to use this familiar Islamic phrase before set pieces, especially since joining Al Nassr.

Alongside the debated moment, the goal from the penalty spot also helped Ronaldo set another historic milestone, becoming the oldest player to score in a World Cup and finding the net for the first time in the tournament's knockout stages.

England team on guard against Mexican fans

The England team is reportedly planning to keep their accommodation location confidential before the match against Mexico in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, to avoid a repeat of the incident Ecuador recently experienced. Earlier, hundreds of Mexican fans gathered outside Ecuador's hotel, using car horns, motorcycles, and high-powered speakers to create noise throughout the night, prompting the Ecuadorian Football Federation to file a complaint with FIFA.

In addition to the pressure from the host nation's fans, Coach Thomas Tuchel's team must also adapt to the harsh playing conditions at the Azteca Stadium, which sits at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters above sea level. Meanwhile, Mexico holds a significant advantage, having won all four of their matches and not conceded a single goal at the 2026 World Cup.

Manchester United targets Ismaila Sarr

Manchester United is intensifying their plans to bolster their attack by placing Ismaila Sarr at the top of their target list for the summer transfer window. According to British media, the Old Trafford club has contacted the agent of the Senegalese international to explore the possibility of negotiations. Sarr has impressed with 4 goals and 1 assist at the 2026 World Cup, following an explosive season with Crystal Palace where he scored around 20 goals and won the UEFA Conference League.

However, the deal is expected to be difficult as Crystal Palace values the 28-year-old star at over £45 million, and he still has three years left on his contract. Besides Manchester United, Juventus is also closely monitoring the situation of the Senegalese forward.