Category: Football

An AI-generated video claiming to show one of the football stadiums for the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia made waves on social media this week, but it has nothing to do with the kingdom’s official plans.

The video of a glowing arena built atop a towering skyscraper was shared by thousands of social media accounts, with millions of users believing it was the official visual revealed by Saudi Arabia.

While Riyadh has unveiled plans to build a football area on top of a real estate complex in The Line, a futuristic new megacity project, the official plans bear no resemblance to the clip that went viral in recent days.

“This design is completely fake and bears no resemblance to anything Saudi Arabia is planning. It appears in no official sources,” a source close to the matter told AFP.

Several French media outlets, which had referred to the viral video as a representation of the kingdom’s official project, have since deleted or updated their articles.

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AFP’s digital investigation team traced the video to the Instagram account “hyporaultraworks”, which regularly posts AI-generated content of futuristic stadiums.

The video was described as “an aerial flyby of a skyscraper stadium design” in the caption. The account holder told AFP on Friday that they were the original creator of the viral clip.

“What started as a simple AI concept has taken on a life of its own; over 50 million views later, our ‘Sky Stadium’ design has gone global (and slightly off the rails),” the user also wrote on their Facebook page.

“I had no idea about any Saudi project when I made this,” they said, adding it was “purely an imaginative AI concept, exploring what a vertical, skyscraper-style football stadium could look like.”

Saudi Arabia is spending big on infrastructure as the desert nation prepares to host the world’s biggest football event in 2034.

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Tottenham Hotspur coach Thomas Frank stated he won’t take risks over the fitness of Cristian Romero as the club captain prepares to return against Chelsea on Saturday.

Romero has not featured for Tottenham since the start of October due to an adductor issue, but Frank is set to involve the Argentine for Chelsea’s visit to north London.

The centre-back also returned for the corresponding fixture last December, only to suffer another injury and miss three months as a result.

Frank is confident Romero is fully ready to feature, but will take the blame if there is another injury issue for the 27-year-old.

“The positive news is that Romero, Destiny (Udogie) and Wilson (Odobert) are available for selection for Saturday,” Frank told reporters on Friday.

“I am fully aware of the importance of making the best possible decisions. While I will receive a lot of information from the medical staff and performance team, ultimately, the responsibility rests with me.”

“If a player breaks down, it is on me. It is not on the medical staff, not on the performance staff, always me.

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“I take decisions, I get all the information and then I have to take a difficult choice or a braver choice, or an easy choice, so that is it.

“If Romero was fit enough, he would have been involved on Wednesday (against Newcastle), but he is ready to be involved and let’s see how he is.”

Chelsea have won the last four meetings with rivals Tottenham, including two memorable fixtures in N17 under Frank’s predecessor, Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou infamously made Tottenham play a high defensive line despite being down to nine men for a large chunk of a 2023 clash, which ended in a 4-1 defeat.

“It was entertaining and we are in the entertainment business aren’t we? I remember the first, was that with nine men and 4-1? Yeah, I remember that one. That was crazy, but yeah, that is in the past,” said Frank, whose side are currently third in the Premier League.

“Some games we are a part of that everyone will remember for whatever reason and hopefully we are part of a game everyone will remember tomorrow and we come out on the winning side.

“It’s a London derby between two big rivals, there is so much on it and against a very good Chelsea team. Under the floodlights, it has got everything to be a top game.”

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Mikel Arteta warned that player welfare should be the primary concern for football’s rule-makers as Arsenal’s fixture pile-up threatens to put his team at risk.

Arteta’s side are set to face Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-finals on December 16.

But that would mean Palace facing three matches in just five days, and the FA Cup holders are hopeful of moving their match at the Emirates Stadium to the following week.

It is understood Arsenal’s preferred option is for the last-eight clash to remain on December 16 to avoid exacerbating the hectic Christmas schedule.

Arsenal are currently in a run of seven matches in just 22 days, with the Premier League leaders heading to Burnley on Saturday before returning to Champions League action at Slavia Prague on Tuesday.

“Every decision that we make in terms of a fixture has to be guided on two main things; players’ welfare, and then supporters, and that is it, and the rest has to come very, very far away from that. And we should never forget that principle,” Arteta told reporters on Friday.

“If we have that big piece of paper with those two principles there in front before we make any decision, all of us in our industry, we won’t get there. If we don’t and we just ignore that, then anything is possible.”

Manchester City midfielder Rodri said last season that players could strike amid an increase in fixtures.

Pressed on whether the talk of player strikes could resume as the fixtures mount, Arteta said: “If we look after the players’ welfare and our supporters, we are never going to get to that point.

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“We have to close the window there. We cannot open that window. It has to be closed. It’s our most precious value.”

Arsenal secured their place in the League Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Brighton on Wednesday.

That made it eight successive victories in all competitions for the red-hot Gunners.

They will travel to Burnley with a four-point lead at the top of the table and a defence that has not been breached for six matches.

Arsenal are hoping to win the English title for the first time since 2004 after finishing as runners-up for the last three seasons.

Asked if there is a feeling within his camp that Arsenal are unstoppable at the moment.

“No, because you always have that sense of urgency, and you see the complications and the challenges that the next opponent is going to bring you, and we know that, and every three days, we have very little time to train and prepare,” Arteta said.

“It’s a big opportunity that we have ahead of us, but we have to continue with that level of consistency, and we know how difficult that is.

“We’re going to have to again hit those performance levels.”

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Vinicius Jr. will face no disciplinary action for his El Clasico substitution outburst, Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso revealed on Friday.

The Brazilian remonstrated with Alonso and marched off down the tunnel after he was hauled off in the 72nd minute in last weekend’s tense 2-1 win over Madrid’s arch-rivals, Barcelona.

The 25-year-old player issued an apology to Real fans, his teammates, the club and president Florentino Perez — but pointedly not to Alonso — in midweek.

But the Real manager assured Vinicius the affair was “over”.

He told a press conference on the eve of Valencia’s visit in La Liga: “On Wednesday, we had a meeting with all the staff, players, and Vinicius gave an impeccable speech.

“He spoke sincerely, from the heart. For me, this matter has been closed since Wednesday.”

Alonso said there would be no “reprisals” against the Brazilian forward.

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He added, “We are all in the same boat and rowing in the same direction. I think the whole team is focused on the field, which is the most important thing.”

“We are competitors, all players want to be on the pitch, and that’s a good thing. Now, we want to keep moving forward towards our goals, one match at a time.”

The Vinicius flashpoint comes with negotiations ongoing over a new contract, although his current deal does not expire until 2027.

He has weighed in with five goals this season in La Liga, although he has been replaced as the main man in the Real squad by Kylian Mbappe, with the Frenchman on 16 goals in 13 appearances in all competitions so far, after scoring 44 in all competitions in his first season at the club.

Real Madrid sit at the top of La Liga on 27 points, five clear of Barcelona, and hosts struggling Valencia on Saturday.

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Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., son of Portugal captain and global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, made his international debut for the country’s Under-16 team in the Federation Cup in Turkey.

The 15-year-old forward came off the bench during stoppage time as Portugal U16 cruised to a 2–0 win over hosts Turkey in Antalya, with goals from Sporting CP’s Samuel Tavares and SC Braga’s Rafael Cabral sealing the result.

Though Ronaldo Jr.’s cameo was brief, it marked a significant milestone in a journey that has already captured worldwide attention.

Having honed his skills at Al Nassr’s youth setup in Saudi Arabia, where his father currently stars, the youngster’s progression through the Portuguese ranks has been rapid.

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Earlier this year, he impressed with a brace in Portugal’s 3–2 victory over Croatia in the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament final, further strengthening his credentials as one to watch.

This debut comes as his father, Cristiano Ronaldo Sr., continues to redefine football longevity, having recently surpassed 950 career goals and extended his record as the highest scorer in men’s international football.

Portugal’s U16 side, having opened their campaign with a win, will next face Wales on November 1 before taking on England on November 4 in the group stages.

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Saudi Arabia declined an offer to sign Lionel Messi for a short-term stint in the Saudi Pro League before next year’s World Cup, according to a senior sports official.

“During the last Club World Cup, Messi’s team contacted me and offered for him to play in Saudi Arabia because the MLS will stop for nearly four months,” Abdullah Hammad, CEO of the Mahd Sports Academy, said during a podcast with Saudi platform Thmanyah.

“The player wanted to remain in shape and prepare himself for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.”

“This happened with David Beckham when he was with Los Angeles Galaxy and went to AC Milan (in 2010),” he added.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi moved to Inter Miami in 2023, following speculation about a potential switch to Saudi Arabia.

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That followed a two-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain, the club he joined in 2021 after ending his long association with Barcelona.

Hammad explained that he relayed the offer to the minister of sports, who rejected it. “The minister made it clear that the Saudi league would not serve as a preparation platform for other tournaments,” he said.

In response to a question about whether Saudi Arabia had rejected Messi, he replied: “That’s true.”

Since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr after the last World Cup, the Saudi league has attracted numerous stars from major European clubs, including Neymar and Karim Benzema, while the kingdom has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup.

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Borussia Dortmund eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt from the German Cup in the second round on Tuesday, winning 4-2 on penalties after the match finished 1-1.

Dortmund were faultless from the spot with Fabio Silva, Niklas Suele, Carney Chukwuemeka and Felix Nmecha all converting, while Ritsu Doan and Fares Chaibi both missed penalties for the home side.

Frankfurt’s Mario Goetze and Ansgar Knauff, both cup winners with Dortmund, combined to put the home side in front after seven minutes. Goetze threaded the ball through the Dortmund defence, allowing Knauff to stroke home.

Dortmund hit back three minutes after the break, Julian Brandt tapping in a pinpoint Julian Ryerson cross from close range.

The match went to extra time, and Germany striker Jonathan Burkardt looked to have sealed it for the hosts when he scored in the 115th minute, but the strike was ruled out for offside.

In the shootout, Can Uzun and former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi both converted for Frankfurt, but Doan blasted his attempt well over the bar.

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Chaibi needed to convert Frankfurt’s fourth kick to keep his side in with a chance, but blasted the ball straight at Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, sending the visitors to the last 16.

“We’ve got a sensational goalie and plenty of good penalty shooters. It feels nice,” Brandt told reporters.

The game was a rematch of the 2017 German Cup final, won 2-1 by Dortmund, with current Borussia coach Niko Kovac then in the Frankfurt dugout.

Two-time winners RB Leipzig cantered to a 4-1 victory at neighbours Energie Cottbus, with Johan Bakayoko and Christoph Baumgartner both scoring doubles for the visitors.

Bochum eliminated top-flight Augsburg 1-0 away, and Borussia Moenchengladbach won 3-1 at home against Karlsruhe.

Elsewhere, Hertha Berlin beat Elversberg 3-0 in the German capital, Hamburg won 1-0 at Heidenheim and second-division Holstein Kiel beat hosts Wolfsburg 1-0.

On Wednesday, 20-time winners Bayern Munich travel to Cologne while holders Stuttgart play at Mainz.

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says he will continue to rotate his side as they attempt to compete on four fronts this season.

The Blues visit Wolves in the League Cup fourth round on Wednesday, looking to bounce back from a 2-1 home loss to Sunderland in the Premier League.

Maresca has been using the depth of his large squad this season, making 10 changes for their 5-1 Champions League win over Ajax last week.

“We need to rotate,” Maresca said on Tuesday. “We need to protect the players because if we go with the same XI, we are going to struggle during the season.

“We probably will make some changes against Wolves, I don’t know how many, but we will make changes.

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“I don’t know if it’s going to be nine or 10 like it was from (Nottingham) Forest to Ajax, but for sure, we need to make some to rotate and help protect the players.”

Striker Liam Delap, signed from relegated Ipswich, could return for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in August.

“Liam completed the whole session with us yesterday with no problems, and he is available for tomorrow,” Maresca said.

“We have to be careful with Liam and (it is unlikely he will play) 90 minutes, no. He has been out for two months, so he needs to be gradually brought back up to 100 percent.”

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Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal could miss more than two months after the La Liga leaders said Monday he needed further knee surgery.

Real captain Carvajal came back from injury to play as a substitute in Madrid’s 2-1 win over Barcelona on Sunday.

But the 33-year-old defender will miss the Champions League trip to Liverpool next week, and is likely to be sidelined for Manchester City’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu on December 10.

“Following tests carried out on our captain, Dani Carvajal, by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with the presence of a loose body in his right knee joint. Carvajal will now undergo an arthroscopy,” said Madrid in a statement.

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The club did not specify his expected absence period; however, it is believed that the right-back’s absence will last upwards of six weeks, potentially sidelining him until January 2026.

Dani Carvajal suffered a severe knee injury in the same leg in 2024 and had an operation, which kept him out for most of last season.

Spanish media reports suggested the Spanish right-back could miss between six and 10 weeks, meaning he will not feature in his country’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers in November.

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Lionel Messi has expressed his desire to play for Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he says he will listen to his body before deciding whether he can make that dream a reality.

The 38-year-old striker for Inter Miami of MLS led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and yearns to be on the field when the “Albiceleste” defend the crown next year in North America.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi told NBC News in an interview broadcast on Monday that he will see next year how his body feels before deciding on whether or not he can play in the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup and I would love to,” said Messi, who turns 39 next June.

“I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there.

“And I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter and see if I can really be 100%, if I can be useful to the group, to the national team, and then make a decision.”

Messi, who has been playing professionally since 2004, wants the chance for one more star turn on football’s biggest stage.

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“I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup. We’re coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions.”

Messi, who debuted with Barcelona in La Liga at age 17, joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and moved to MLS in 2023.

“The truth is that I like everything about living here,” Messi said of Miami.

“I spent a lot of time in Barcelona, which for me is an extraordinary city, where I grew up and had many spectacular moments, and which we miss a lot.

“But Miami is a city that allows us to live very well, that makes us enjoy life, that allows us to be calm, that allows the kids to be themselves and live day to day.”

Messi has 195 appearances for the Argentine national team, scoring 114 goals.

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