Southgate to Discuss England Contract in Next Few Weeks

England manager Gareth Southgate. (Reuters)
England manager Gareth Southgate. (Reuters)
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Southgate to Discuss England Contract in Next Few Weeks

England manager Gareth Southgate. (Reuters)
England manager Gareth Southgate. (Reuters)

England manager Gareth Southgate said he will speak to the Football Association about his contract in the next few weeks as his immediate focus is helping the team reach the 2022 World Cup finals.

Southgate guided England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals in Russia before securing a third-place finish in the inaugural 2019 UEFA Nations League. The team were runners-up to Italy in the European Championship earlier this year.

The 51-year-old is under contract until after the World Cup but FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said in June they were keen to extend the deal.

England, who host Hungary in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, are top of Group I with 19 points from seven games.

"I said last month I had asked to put that (contract talks) further back into the autumn as I just wanted to focus on these games and also to give the time to make the right decision," Southgate told reporters.

"After the Euros there's a huge amount of emotion and feeling and fatigue from going through a tournament like that. I want to make sure that I'm making the right decisions for the right reasons.

"Discussions are very much open and Mark has been really supportive but I've felt this task of getting the country to the World Cup was the priority. We can look at everything in the next few weeks."



Vinícius Júnior Scores and Assists in Real Madrid's 3-0 Win Over Salzburg to Advance in CWC

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid reacts after scoring the 1-0 goal against FC Salzburg during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between FC Salzburg and Real Madrid in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 26 June 2025. EPA/WILL OLIVER
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid reacts after scoring the 1-0 goal against FC Salzburg during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between FC Salzburg and Real Madrid in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 26 June 2025. EPA/WILL OLIVER
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Vinícius Júnior Scores and Assists in Real Madrid's 3-0 Win Over Salzburg to Advance in CWC

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid reacts after scoring the 1-0 goal against FC Salzburg during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between FC Salzburg and Real Madrid in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 26 June 2025. EPA/WILL OLIVER
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid reacts after scoring the 1-0 goal against FC Salzburg during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between FC Salzburg and Real Madrid in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 26 June 2025. EPA/WILL OLIVER

Vinícius Júnior scored a goal and assisted on another in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Salzburg on Thursday night that secured the Spanish powerhouse first place in the Club World Cup's Group H and a spot in the round of 16.

Vinícius gave the 64,811 soaking wet fans at Lincoln Financial Field something to cheer for by scoring on a left-footed shot right outside the penalty box in the 40th minute. Jude Bellingham left Vinícius in position to score with a breakaway pass that took advantage of the wet field conditions caused by the rain.

Eight minutes later, a deflected pass by Mamady Diambou left Vinícius one-on-one against Joane Gadou inside Salzburg's penalty box. Having no angle to shoot, Vinícius delivered a backheel pass to Federico Valverde that left the Uruguayan wide open to score from 10 yards out.

Antonio Rüdiger suffered an apparent hamstring injury in the 60th minute after completing a long sprint down the right wing. He continued playing, but was subbed out six minutes later. His availability will be one to watch for Real Madrid's upcoming game as they are thin at the center back position due to multiple injuries and a suspension to Raúl Asencio.

Gonzalo García put the game to bed in the 84th minute with a chip shot after a counterattack he initiated by stealing the ball from Gadou in midfield.

With the win, Real Madrid became the ninth European team to advance to the round of 16. From the 12 European teams in the tournament, only Atlético Madrid, Porto, and Salzburg were eliminated in the group stage, The Associated Press reported.

Key moment Vinícius' backheel pass to set up Valverde inside the penalty box to score Madrid's second goal.

Takeaways Real Madrid finished atop Group H with seven points. Madrid will face Juventus, a 5-2 loser to Manchester City, on Tuesday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Salzburg finished third in Group H with four points. They were eliminated as Al Hilal finished with five points, one more than the Austrian team, after defeating Pachuca 2-0 on Thursday night.