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De Bruyne, Belgium Need 2nd Chance to Impress at World Cup 

Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne arrives at a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 25, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne arrives at a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 25, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
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De Bruyne, Belgium Need 2nd Chance to Impress at World Cup 

Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne arrives at a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 25, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne arrives at a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 25, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne knew he didn't play well in his team's opening World Cup game. He said as much when he accepted the man of the match award. 

"I don’t know why I got the trophy," De Bruyne said. "Maybe it’s because of my name." 

With De Bruyne looking to improve after the unimpressive 1-0 win over Canada, Belgium has a second chance against Morocco on Sunday to show why it is the No. 2-ranked team in the world behind Brazil. 

This could also be the last World Cup chance for many on the highly-rated Belgian squad, as the "golden generation" has often been reminded in the runup to Qatar. The spine of the team — De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois — are all in their 30s. 

Coach Roberto Martinez, who said the performance against Canada was one of Belgium's worst since he's been in charge, might be tempted to bring in fresh faces against Morocco. 

Martinez would dearly love to bring back powerful striker Romelu Lukaku, who missed the Canada opener with a left thigh injury and is doubtful for the entire group stage. Some Belgian media has been reporting that Belgium's record goal-scorer could make an earlier-than-expected return against the Moroccans at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. 

Morocco will be less fazed at the prospect of trying to contain De Bruyne having already succeeded at subduing another of the world's best midfielders in Luka Modric. 

A 0-0 draw with 2018 World Cup finalist Croatia in their first Group F game was a promising start to the World Cup for Morocco and especially for coach Walid Regragui, who had less than three months to prepare his team having only been hired at the end of August. 

He had coached Morocco in just three friendly games before entering the World Cup. Compare that to Zlatko Dalic's five years in charge of Croatia. Or Martinez's six years with Belgium. 

The World Cup schedule gave Morocco a daunting start with 2018 runners-up Modric and Croatia followed by De Bruyne and Belgium, who finished third in that last World Cup. But the point against Croatia provided a real confidence-booster. 

"Arriving in these conditions is not easy, but I accepted the challenge," Regragui said. And the Croatia result "made us believe," he added. 

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Newcastle Say No Manager Change 'at the Moment'

22 March 2026, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe (C) reacts from the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcaslte United and Sunderland at St James' Park. Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/dpa
22 March 2026, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe (C) reacts from the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcaslte United and Sunderland at St James' Park. Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/dpa
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Newcastle Say No Manager Change 'at the Moment'

22 March 2026, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe (C) reacts from the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcaslte United and Sunderland at St James' Park. Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/dpa
22 March 2026, United Kingdom, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe (C) reacts from the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcaslte United and Sunderland at St James' Park. Photo: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/dpa

Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson said Tuesday the club have no plans "at the moment" to replace Eddie Howe as manager.

The Magpies were knocked out of the Champions League after a 7-2 loss at Barcelona earlier this month, before a home defeat by rivals Sunderland left them 12th in the Premier League.

"Eddie's our manager," said Hopkinson, speaking as Newcastle released their latest financial figures, of the 48-year-old.

"I expect to have a great run to the end of the season here and we'll talk about the future when it's time."

Hopkinson, asked to specify his comments, added: "We are not looking to make a change at the moment. We are not having those conversations.

"We are still in the midst of the season. Right now, we are focused on the seven matches we have remaining and not distracting ourselves with speculation about what we may or may not do in the summer."

Newcastle will return to Premier League action after the international break seven points adrift of fifth place, which will likely be enough for Champions League qualification.

Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Tino Livramento have all been linked with moves away from St James' Park, but Hopkinson insisted there would be no repeat of the protracted drama that saw Alexander Isak force through a £130 million ($172 million) move to Liverpool last year.

"I wasn't here for the Isak situation, so I don't want to comment on something I didn't see first-hand," AFP quoted Hopkinson as saying.

"What I do know is that players that leave this club will need to do so on our terms... To me, Isak was a good sale."

Sports

After Travel Ordeal, Iraq Faces Bolivia for World Cup Spot

Iraq's coach Graham Arnold gestures during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, March 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Iraq's coach Graham Arnold gestures during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, March 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
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After Travel Ordeal, Iraq Faces Bolivia for World Cup Spot

Iraq's coach Graham Arnold gestures during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, March 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Iraq's coach Graham Arnold gestures during a training session ahead of a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Bolivia in Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, March 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Earlier this month, Iraq coach Graham Arnold was stranded in Fujairah, on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, due to the Mideast war. He wondered if his national team would even be able to compete for one last chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

After traveling a long and winding road to reach Mexico, Arnold and Iraq will seek to return to a World Cup after an absence of 40 years when they face Bolivia in the final of their intercontinental playoff in Monterrey in northern Mexico on Tuesday.

“It’s been very difficult being stranded, I’d rather not talk about it, I try to remove all of that from the players' brains because a lot of things are going on in the Middle East,” Arnold said Monday in a media conference. “But players know what they’re doing, they seem very relaxed and ready to go.”

Arnold was with his wife in a hotel in Fujairah after a series of Iranian missiles hit nearby when the war between the United States and Iran began. The Australian coach was able to move to Dubai, but he was unable to join the team for several days.

Iraqi players were also stranded because the country's airspace was closed, preventing the team from using commercial flights to leave the country. Team officials officially asked FIFA to postpone the playoff match.

“I came from Europe directly to Monterrey, but for the rest of the players who play in the Iraqi local league, they had a long trip, but we had a lot of time to recover from that,” said Merchas Doski, who plays as a left back for Viktoria Plzen, in the Czech first league. "We are fully prepared."

The team also faced visa complications because Mexico does not have an embassy in Iraq and players struggled to obtain the necessary visas to enter the country. But the issue was resolved when the Mexican foreign affairs ministry facilitated visas at other regional embassies, The Associated Press reported.

The team finally arrived in Monterrey on March 21 after a 25-hour journey that included navigating travel restrictions and a stopover in Portugal.

“It has been very tough 20 days for us, but it is an honor and a privilege to be here — I lived in Australia for a long time and I know that qualifying for a World Cup can change a nation," said Arnold, who guided the Socceroos to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup.

Since arriving in Mexico, the team has had plenty of time to adjust to the climate and players have practiced without incident. They have also been able to fraternize with children from local schools who have visited them during their training sessions.

“They (Mexican fans) have been amazing. It’s really fun to see that they cheer us,” said Aimar Sher, who plays for Sarpsborg 08 in Norway. “We talked about it a couple of days ago that their support means a lot to us and we’re very happy to have them by our side.”

To qualify for its second World Cup, their first since Mexico in 1986, Iraq must defeat Bolivia, which eliminated Suriname 2-1 in the intercontinental playoff semifinals last week.

“It has been fantastic, it is an absolute honor to get Iraq to his part of the playoffs after 40 years and with just one more game to go,” Arnold said. “I am confident that it will be a very special night for Iraq.”

Sports

Italy Pushing Youth Reform as Ailing Football Nation Eyes World Cup Return

Italy's supporters cheer during the play-off FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification semifinal against North Ireland in Bergamo on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
Italy's supporters cheer during the play-off FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification semifinal against North Ireland in Bergamo on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
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Italy Pushing Youth Reform as Ailing Football Nation Eyes World Cup Return

Italy's supporters cheer during the play-off FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification semifinal against North Ireland in Bergamo on March 26, 2026. (AFP)
Italy's supporters cheer during the play-off FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification semifinal against North Ireland in Bergamo on March 26, 2026. (AFP)

As Italian football fans worry that their national team might miss out on a third straight World Cup in Tuesday's play-off decider with Bosnia and Herzegovina, moves are afoot to take the Azzurri back to the top.

Announced earlier this month, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has launched a project for youth football in a country which once produced some of the world's very best players but hasn't done so for a generation.

The team that will line-up in Zenica lacks the star power of years gone by, such as Alessandro Del Piero, Andrea Pirlo, Fabio Cannavaro or Francesco Totti who won Italy the World Cup in 2006.

The feeling of being left by the wayside was exacerbated by dreadful performances on the continent this season by Italy's top clubs and the continuation of a golden age for the country in a host of other sports.

On Sunday tennis star Jannik Sinner cruised to victory at the Miami Masters, yet another win for the four-time Grand Slam champion who at the age of 24 is the dominant force in men's tennis alongside Spanish rival Carlos Alcaraz.

Kimi Antonelli and Marco Bezzecchi lead the Formula One and MotoGP championships, while alpine skier Federica Brignone's double gold at the Winter Olympics the highlight of a record-breaking medal haul of 30.

Even the rugby union team is more a source of national pride than the footballers thanks to a historic win over England in the Six Nations.

So the FIGC, after years of criticism from media and fans alike, has decided for grassroots reform and deeper involvement in youth football across the country.

"Everyone who's played for the national team started out in neighborhood clubs. That means that every coach in charge of these kids has to be trained," former Italy midfielder Simone Perrotta tells AFP.

Now 48 years old, Perotta, who spent the majority of his club career at Roma, played alongside Del Piero and Totti in that talent-packed Italy team two decades ago.

- Football culture -

Alongside another World Cup winner in Gianluca Zambrotta, Perrotta now reports to the FIGC's new head of development Maurizio Viscidi, the long-time head of the national youth team set-up who now oversees every aspect of youth football.

The FIGC wants to harmonize as much as possible training across a vast number of clubs which coach around 700,000 kids aged between five and 15, with the aim of teaching coaches to prioritize young players developing individual skills so that a new generation of stars can come through.

"There isn't a shared methodology that says 'let's try to develop this way of playing football'," says Perotta, who added that he believes there has been an "impoverishment" of technical ability among Italian footballers.

The project provides free online courses for coaches while small groups of FIGC training staff based around the country will visit youth football clubs every fortnight, with Perrotta saying that the idea is "to get the federation inside the clubs".

The experimental phase will be rolled out, Perrotta hopes, by this October and will be centered on the 162 clubs in Serie D, Italy's regional fourth tier and the highest level of amateur football in the country.

One of the frequent talking points in Italy is that youngsters no longer play football unaccompanied in the streets as Perrotta says he did as a child, while the cost of sending children to football clubs is a barrier to kids from poorer backgrounds.

The FIGC is aiming to increase base participation by working with local councils to try and create more spaces where young people can play without having to pay.

"We want to work with institutions here to help increase the number of hours kids play because one of the things we've noticed is the difference between here and other countries in how much they train and how much contact they have with the ball," says Perrotta.

"It's systemic. It can't just be the federation's project, it can't just be down to us."