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Brazil to Face South Korea, Japan in World Cup Build-up 

Son Heung-min #7 of LAFC reacts after after a draw in the MLS soccer game between FC Dallas and Los Angeles Football Club at Toyota Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Getty Images/AFP)
Son Heung-min #7 of LAFC reacts after after a draw in the MLS soccer game between FC Dallas and Los Angeles Football Club at Toyota Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Brazil to Face South Korea, Japan in World Cup Build-up 

Son Heung-min #7 of LAFC reacts after after a draw in the MLS soccer game between FC Dallas and Los Angeles Football Club at Toyota Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Getty Images/AFP)
Son Heung-min #7 of LAFC reacts after after a draw in the MLS soccer game between FC Dallas and Los Angeles Football Club at Toyota Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. (Getty Images/AFP)

Brazil will play October friendlies in South Korea and Japan as all three teams step up their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

Coached by the Italian Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil will be one of the favorites to win the tournament next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

They will face a South Korea side captained by Son Heung-min at the 66,000-capacity Seoul World Cup Stadium on October 10, the Korea Football Association said late Tuesday.

The Brazilians last visited South Korea for a friendly in June 2022, ahead of the Qatar World Cup, and thrashed the hosts 5-1 with Neymar scoring twice from the penalty spot.

Ancelotti's men will then play Japan at Tokyo Stadium, which has a capacity of just under 50,000, on October 14, the Japanese FA said.

Neymar again scored from the spot as Brazil won 1-0 in the Japanese capital in June 2022.

The 33-year-old Neymar has not worn the Brazil jersey for nearly two years because of repeated injuries and did not make Ancelotti's latest squad.

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Watkins Joins Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal from Villa

27 June 2026, US, East Rutherford: England's Ollie Watkins thanks the fans after the FIFA 2026 World Cup group L match between Panama and England at New York-New Jersey Stadium.(dpa)
27 June 2026, US, East Rutherford: England's Ollie Watkins thanks the fans after the FIFA 2026 World Cup group L match between Panama and England at New York-New Jersey Stadium.(dpa)
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Watkins Joins Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal from Villa

27 June 2026, US, East Rutherford: England's Ollie Watkins thanks the fans after the FIFA 2026 World Cup group L match between Panama and England at New York-New Jersey Stadium.(dpa)
27 June 2026, US, East Rutherford: England's Ollie Watkins thanks the fans after the FIFA 2026 World Cup group L match between Panama and England at New York-New Jersey Stadium.(dpa)

England forward Ollie Watkins has left Aston Villa to join Al Hilal, his new Saudi club announced on Sunday.

The deal follows Villa's signing of Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea.

Al Hilal said the 30-year-old Watkins had signed a three-year deal and will be in line to play in their league match against Al Ahli on Tuesday.

He joins a squad including Crysencio Summerville, who signed from West Ham earlier in the transfer window.

Watkins has scored seven goals in 24 appearances for England.

Villa coach Unai Emery had criticized Watkins for refusing to play in last weekend's 4-0 defeat to Brighton to open their Premier League campaign as he sought to force through his move to Al Hilal.

But Emery said on Friday that there were no hard feelings.

"Last week I was a little bit disappointed. I was disappointed, but we spoke about it, and now (it's) clear, he is a fantastic player, fantastic guy and one mistake is not closing all the good things he did here," Emery said ahead of Arsenal's visit to Villa Park on Monday.

Watkins began his career at Exeter City in League Two before he moved to Brentford in the Championship.

He then joined Villa, where he spent six fruitful seasons, culminating in a Europa League victory last season.

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Barcelona’s Yamal Getting Back to ‘Top Level’, Says Flick

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)
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Barcelona’s Yamal Getting Back to ‘Top Level’, Says Flick

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)

Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Athletic Club - Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 27, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Athletic Club's Adama Boiro. (Reuters)

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick indicated teenage star Lamine Yamal is finding his way back to his "top level" ahead of Monday's LaLiga clash against Rayo Vallecano.

The 19-year-old struggled in Barca's first match of the season at Elche but improved against Athletic Bilbao in the second, albeit without finding the net.

Flick said the Spanish World Cup winner is returning to his best, which Yamal has not hit since suffering a hamstring injury in April.

The winger returned at the World Cup but, despite Spain's success, had limited individual impact at the tournament.

"I know everyone is worried about how is Lamine, how is he doing. And of course, look at his situation, he played a World Cup after a huge injury," Flick told reporters Sunday.

"Now he's coming back after three weeks' holiday... and also the first game maybe was not his best game.

"But I said this, I was very happy that he starts the game and he worked for the team."

Yamal disappointed in the first half against Athletic on Thursday, but stepped up a gear after the break.

"He played 90 minutes against Bilbao. And for him at the moment, it's also good to (have) 90 minutes on the pitch," continued Flick.

"We saw him in some situations really on this top level. And now, you couldn't see this in the training (session) today, but I saw it and it was excellent.

"Everyone loves Lamine and he's in a good way. And we have to support him and we do that."

Yamal seemed in a bad mood after the game against Elche, but happier in training ahead of the Rayo clash.

"Of course, it's always good when the players are smiling, but it's not every day the same day," added Flick.

"I'm also not smiling every day -- it's like that."

Barca won both of their opening fixtures with Raphinha playing as a makeshift number nine, with the champions unable to land top target Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.

"Of course I'm happy with my team, (sporting director) Deco is working on that to strengthen the team. We don't have pressure," said Flick, reiterating he is content with the players available to him if Barca don't sign a new striker.

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Spurs’ Second-Half Collapse Shows Size of De Zerbi’s Task

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
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Spurs’ Second-Half Collapse Shows Size of De Zerbi’s Task

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)
Tottenham Hotspur's manager Roberto De Zerbi gestures during the English Premier League match of Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United, in London, Britain, 29 August 2026. (EPA)

Tottenham Hotspur's initially improved ‌performance against Newcastle United gave way once again to familiar failings in Saturday's limp 2-0 loss, leaving coach Roberto De Zerbi's attempt to establish a connection with their fans in tatters.

After a dreadful display at Brentford last weekend, in which the scoreline of 3-0 arguably flattered the visitors, Spurs looked sharper for much of the first hour against Newcastle before any optimism was dashed by two cheap goals.

Spurs showed glimpses of the crisp attacking play De Zerbi was hired to bring. Then the fragility that led to the Italian becoming their third ‌coach of ‌last season came to the fore as they ‌unraveled ⁠in the second ⁠half.

De Zerbi wrote in his program notes that he wanted the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to become "a fortress". Instead, there were thousands of empty seats by the end of Spurs' 21st defeat in their last 39 home league games.

A summer splurge of more than £300 million ($406 million) was an attempt to overhaul a squad which had finished 17th in consecutive ⁠seasons. But, as De Zerbi frankly admitted, "you can't buy ‌mentality in the transfer market".

DE ZERBI ‌INSISTS SPURS IMPROVING

"I'm sorry for the fans, for the environment, because after two ‌defeats, maybe somebody can think it's the same history, the same ‌as the last two seasons," De Zerbi told reporters.

"I have no doubt it's not like this. I can't change my opinion for two defeats. I have big, big confidence in the qualities of my players."

Though even as ‌De Zerbi talked up the "great project" of rebuilding Spurs, he hinted at a future without him, saying ⁠the squad ⁠would show its quality "with me or with another coach".

Newcastle, meanwhile, are almost a mirror image of Spurs, with an unbeaten start dispelling doubts which had grown over the summer after key players Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes left the club, as did coach Eddie Howe.

Wissa, who suffered from injuries after he joined last summer, has already matched his haul of league goals last season and said Newcastle's remaining players "have to step up" after a summer of significant departures.

Newcastle's new recruits have started well, with midfielder Nico Gonzalez particularly impressive on his debut, though Wissa reserved special praise for new coach Matthias Jaissle: "I think he's the best signing of Newcastle so far."