Italy's bid to end a 12-year World Cup absence will continue after beating Northern Ireland 2-0 on Thursday to reach the play-off final.

Bangladesh Under-20 football team have qualified for the semifinal of the ongoing SAFF U-20 Championship from Group B after Pakistan’s second successive defeat in the group-stage on Thursday.

Senegal football boss Abdoulaye Fall on Thursday labelled the decision to strip the country of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title the "most blatant administrative scam in the history of our sport".

All three goals came in the first half.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended an exhibition football match between former national players -- divided into Red and Green teams -- at the National Stadium in Dhaka today, organised to mark the 56th Independence Day. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister urged those involved in the sports arena to build a vibrant sports culture regardless of political differences. "I believe that sports can bring honor to the country and is capable of creating a beautiful bond of friendship and brotherhood among us," he said.

Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain's visit to second-placed Lens, set for April 11, has been postponed to May 13 to allow them more time to prepare for their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) said on Thursday.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it has fined Benfica 40,000 euros ($46,250) for "racist and/or discriminatory behaviour" by supporters during their Champions League match against Real Madrid last month.

The draw for January's Asian Cup finals, which was due to be held in Riyadh on April 11, has been postponed, the Asian Football Confederation announced on Thursday.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire said former manager Ruben Amorim had strong ideas, but they ultimately “didn’t work” at Old Trafford, further praising interim manager Michael Carrick for overseeing a smooth transition.

The fourth and final ticket sales phase for the 2026 World Cup will open on April 1, FIFA announced on Wednesday, without specifying how many tickets will be made available.

"I feel more at ease, I'm happier, and when I'm happier, everyone around me is happier and more confident too," Vinicius told reporters ahead of Thursday's friendly match against France

The Azzurri host the Northern Irish in Bergamo on Thursday trying to end a 12-year absence from the World Cup finals after failing to qualify for the last two editions in Russia and Qatar.

"The reality of the World Cups -- every World Cup FIFA has put on -- there's always been geopolitical issues. Always," he told the Business of Soccer conference in Atlanta.

A decision in a fraction of a second, a flawless reaction, was made at the very edge of human capability.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Senegal's appeal "seeks to set aside the CAF decision and declare the FSF winners of AFCON".

Bangladesh will look to build confidence from facing a ‘strong’ Vietnam side in a FIFA international friendly today, ahead of their Singapore tie.

Salah is one of the few survivors from the Liverpool side that won the 2019 Champions League under Klopp, along with goalkeeper Alisson Becker and defenders Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.

Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera has said the team will take a cautious approach regarding the availability of Hamza Choudhury for their FIFA international friendly against Vietnam on Thursday.

Brazil and France will be among the leading contenders for World Cup glory later this year and the two heavyweight nations continue their preparations for the tournament by facing off in a glamour friendly in the United States this week.

Italy are hoping to end a 12-year absence from the World Cup as one of the planet's most important footballing nations heads to the qualifying play-offs in the midst of another identity crisis.