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Rudiger Returns, Sane Dropped for Germany World Cup Qualifiers

Real Madrid center-back Antonio Rudiger has been called up to Germany's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in September. (Getty Images/AFP)
Real Madrid center-back Antonio Rudiger has been called up to Germany's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in September. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Rudiger Returns, Sane Dropped for Germany World Cup Qualifiers

Real Madrid center-back Antonio Rudiger has been called up to Germany's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in September. (Getty Images/AFP)
Real Madrid center-back Antonio Rudiger has been called up to Germany's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in September. (Getty Images/AFP)

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has brought back center-back Antonio Rudiger while dropping winger Leroy Sane in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in September.

The Germany coach was hit with a wave of injuries and is without forwards Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Tim Kleindienst, first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and defenders Nico Schlotterbeck and Benjamin Henrichs.

The Germany coach named three newcomers in the 23-man squad, Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nnamdi Collins, Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen and midfielder Paul Nebel from Mainz.

Sane, who has made 70 Germany appearances since making his debut in 2015, was left out of the first squad announced since he moved from Bayern Munich to Galatasaray in the summer.

Rudiger has been called up for the first time since his outburst in the Spanish Cup final in May, when the Real Madrid center-back threw an object at the referee while verbally abusing him.

In May, Nagelsmann criticized Rudiger's behavior, saying: "He knows this can't happen again, otherwise there will be very serious consequences."

In an interview with Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Rudiger apologized for his "wrong and excessive" behavior.

In addition to Rudiger, Nagelsmann also recalled Stuttgart duo Angelo Stiller and Jamie Leweling, along with Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri.

Dahmen, who is also eligible to represent England, comes into the squad to replace the injured Barcelona keeper ter Stegen.

Germany face Slovakia in Bratislava on September 4 before hosting Northern Ireland three days later in Cologne.

Germany must win their four-team group with Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg to guarantee qualification for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Germany squad:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nuebel (Stuttgart)

Defenders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nnamdi Collins (Eintracht Frankfurt), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid/ESP), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Borussia Dortmund), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Paul Nebel (Mainz), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool/ENG)

Forwards: Niclas Fuellkrug (West Ham/ENG), Nick Woltemade (Stuttgart)

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Sports

Antonelli Bids for Hat-trick as F1 Returns in Miami

FILE - Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car in pit lane during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in Suzuki, Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Franck Robichon⁩/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car in pit lane during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in Suzuki, Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Franck Robichon⁩/Pool Photo via AP, File)
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Antonelli Bids for Hat-trick as F1 Returns in Miami

FILE - Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car in pit lane during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in Suzuki, Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Franck Robichon⁩/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car in pit lane during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix in Suzuki, Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Franck Robichon⁩/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, the youngest championship leader in F1 history, will seek to complete a hat-trick of early season victories this weekend as Formula One returns after a month's enforced absence due to the Middle East war.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, triumphant in China and Japan, leads team-mate George Russell, who won the season-opening Australian race, by nine points ahead of what is effectively the start of another season, complete with revised rules and widespread car upgrades, at the Miami Grand Prix.

"After a month without any racing, we are ready to get back on track," said Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff. "We've used this break to analyze the opening races, address our weaknesses and rase our level.

"We've started the season well, but that counts for very little if you stand still. We know our competitors will have used this time to improve and build a deeper understanding of their cars so we expect the field to be closer in Miami.

"That's the reality of F1 - it's a challenge we must rise to."

Antonelli's early triumphs made him the first Italian driver since Alberto Ascari in 1953 to win two consecutive races. Ascari completed his treble that season.

Wolff also addressed the tweaks to the regulations to be introduced in Miami, aimed at making the cars and the spectacle more natural with reduced battery re-charging in qualifying and increased super-clipping power to reduce dangerous speed differentials.

According to AFP, he said the revised rules would "respect the DNA of our sport" and deliver an improved spectacle without any significant reduction to Mercedes' early-season performance advantage.

For Mercedes, this Sunday's race is an opportunity for a first win in Florida since the event was launched five years ago. It has been won twice by four-time champion Max Verstappen for Red Bull and twice by McLaren with a win apiece for world champion Lando Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri.

They will harbor hopes of claiming points too with success in Saturday's sprint race, won last year by Norris, but Ferrari are widely expected to be strong contenders too as they arrive in Miami, like McLaren, who are bringing an almost "completely new car", with a heavily revised package.

"It was one of our best tracks for pure pace, compared to others, last year," said Norris. "It's a different track and it may still suit us a little more than others."

After winning in 2022 and 2023, Verstappen will be aiming to stop Mercedes' winning run and revive Red Bull's challenge this year after a discouraging start. He is ninth, on 12 points, 60 adrift of Antonelli, with team-mate Isack Hadjar 12th on four.

Ferrari's duo of Charles Leclerc and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton are third and fourth respectively on 49 and 41 points with many paddock observers suggesting they are poised to fight for a first win since Carlos Sainz's success in Mexico in October 2024.

Leclerc's eighth and last win came at Austin, Texas, shortly before Sainz's triumph while Hamilton is chasing his 106th win and first since the 2024 Belgian race before he joined Ferrari. After a desultory first year, the Briton said he is relishing the challenge of a new formula that has seen him rediscover his racing mojo.

"We're all re-charged after the break," said Russell, expressing the feelings of most drivers. "I'm hoping we can continue where we left off."

It will mark newcomers Cadillac's first racing appearance on home soil in the United States when Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas venture out at the Hard Rock Stadium in a new American livery.

Sports

Burnley Boss Parker Leaves Club after Relegation

(FILES) Burnley's English manager Scott Parker arrives before the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, north-west England on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
(FILES) Burnley's English manager Scott Parker arrives before the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, north-west England on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
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Burnley Boss Parker Leaves Club after Relegation

(FILES) Burnley's English manager Scott Parker arrives before the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, north-west England on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
(FILES) Burnley's English manager Scott Parker arrives before the English Premier League football match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor in Burnley, north-west England on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Scott Parker has left his position as head coach of Burnley by mutual consent following the club's relegation from the Premier League, it was announced on Thursday.

Burnley said in a statement that Parker and the board had "mutually agreed that his time at Turf Moor would conclude" following one season back in the English top division.

Parker led the Clarets to promotion last year but this season has been a struggle, with just four league wins in total.

Burnley's fate was confirmed on April 22 after a 1-0 home defeat by Manchester City, two days after Wolves were relegated.

Parker, who has previously managed Fulham, Bournemouth and Belgian side Club Brugge, signed a three-year contract in July 2024, succeeding Vincent Kompany.

He oversaw a remarkable 2024/25 season in the Championship, which included a 31-match unbeaten run and 30 clean sheets, taking them back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

But Burnley have conceded 68 goals in 34 league matches in the current campaign, the most of any side, and were knocked out of the FA Cup and League Cup by third-tier teams.

"The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Scott for his professionalism, dedication and contribution," AFP quoted Burnley as saying in a statement.

"He leaves with the respect and gratitude of everyone connected with Burnley Football Club."

Former England midfielder Parker, 45, said in a statement on the club's website that it had been an "immense privilege" to lead Burnley.

"I have enjoyed every moment of our journey together, but feel that now is the right time for both parties to move in a different direction," he said.

"I reflect back with great pride on what we achieved during my time at the club, especially our unforgettable promotion season in 2024/25, and it was a true honor to lead this team into the Premier League."

The club said Parker's assistant, Mike Jackson, would take charge for the club's four remaining Premier League fixtures, beginning with Friday's match at Leeds United.

It said the process of appointing a new permanent head coach ahead of the 2026/27 season had begun.

Sports

Canadian Official Backs Up Report that Iran’s Soccer Chief Denied Entry for FIFA Event

The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico (Reuters)
The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico (Reuters)
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Canadian Official Backs Up Report that Iran’s Soccer Chief Denied Entry for FIFA Event

The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico (Reuters)
The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico (Reuters)

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday it was her “understanding” that Iranian soccer officials were denied entry into her country ahead of the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver just weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Anand appeared to confirm a report from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but she said the denial was “unintentional.”

Tasnim reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and two other Iranian officials were denied entry due to “inappropriate behavior of immigration officials” at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

“It’s not my personal lead, but my understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave it to the minister to indicate,” Anand said, apparently referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

The online news outlet Iran International first reported that Taj had been granted a visa Monday and had been removed from Canada late Tuesday evening due to his connections to the IRGC, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.

An emailed response from Diab’s office said all visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by trained officials, Reuters reported.

“While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” said Taous Ait, Diab’s press secretary.

The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. Representatives from each of the 211 federations in soccer’s governing body were expected to attend the event that begins Thursday.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Iran's status for the event.