Celebrations Erupt in North London After Arsenal Seal Premier League Title

Arsenal fans celebrate their team winning the English Premier League, outside the Emirates Stadium in London on May 20, 2026. (AFP)
Arsenal fans celebrate their team winning the English Premier League, outside the Emirates Stadium in London on May 20, 2026. (AFP)
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Celebrations Erupt in North London After Arsenal Seal Premier League Title

Arsenal fans celebrate their team winning the English Premier League, outside the Emirates Stadium in London on May 20, 2026. (AFP)
Arsenal fans celebrate their team winning the English Premier League, outside the Emirates Stadium in London on May 20, 2026. (AFP)

Thousands of Arsenal supporters ‌flocked to the streets of North London on Tuesday as the club clinched their first Premier League title in 22 years, sparking wild scenes outside the Emirates Stadium that continued deep into the night.

Arsenal, who had a dominant campaign and led the league for almost the entire season, were confirmed as champions without kicking a ball after second-placed Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth.

The players had gathered at the ‌club's training ‌ground an hour north of London ‌to ⁠watch the match and ⁠video released on social media showed them leaping around and hugging one another once the club's 14th English title was assured.

In London, fans streamed out of houses and gathered outside the club's Emirates Stadium, setting off fireworks and flares while chanting "Champions! ⁠Champions! Ole! Ole! Ole!"

"Words can't describe it, ‌we've been waiting 22 years ‌for this. It's unbelievable," an Arsenal fan told Reuters ‌TV.

"Bournemouth did us a massive favor today, they played ‌so well. And we're deserved champions, so, happy days."

Arsenal great Ian Wright also joined the party outside the stadium and was mobbed by fans singing his name.

"I was absolutely ‌over the moon," Wright, who scored 185 goals for the club in the ⁠1990s, told ⁠Premier League Productions.

"I got in the cab, got my Mrs. and my girls in the cab and I said, 'We're going down there, let's go down to the Emirates.'"

"It's amazing, honestly, and this club deserves it. Our fans deserve it all, around the world and everybody, we deserve this, man."

Arsenal finish their Premier League campaign with a trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday, before they move on to face Paris St Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30.



PSG Moves Opening League Game after Heatwave Causes Damage to Pitch at Parc des Princes

(FILES) A picture shows the empty stands and pitch before the French Cup round of 16 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lille (LOSC) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on March 17, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
(FILES) A picture shows the empty stands and pitch before the French Cup round of 16 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lille (LOSC) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on March 17, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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PSG Moves Opening League Game after Heatwave Causes Damage to Pitch at Parc des Princes

(FILES) A picture shows the empty stands and pitch before the French Cup round of 16 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lille (LOSC) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on March 17, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
(FILES) A picture shows the empty stands and pitch before the French Cup round of 16 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lille (LOSC) at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on March 17, 2021. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Paris Saint-Germain's opening game of its title defense in the French league against Rennes has been relocated at short notice because of damage to the champion's pitch following a heatwave this summer.

Sunday's match will now take place in Rennes, French soccer's competitions committee announced late Wednesday.

PSG said its pitch at Parc des Princes had deteriorated so much “that the current conditions did not allow the match to be held under satisfactory circumstances, particularly with regard to the safety and physical well-being of the players.”

The change of venue has been decided “in agreement” with Rennes, PSG said, and thanked its opponent for “making the match possible,” The Associated Press reported.

“Paris Saint-Germain fully understands the inconvenience caused by this change for its supporters and all those who had planned to attend this match at the Parc des Princes,” PSG added, saying “the club regrets this exceptional situation.”

PSG said it had “identified a solution for replacing the pitch at the Parc des Princes for the upcoming matches,” starting with its next home game in Ligue 1 against Monaco on Sept. 4.


Verstappen Commits to Red Bull Until End of 2030

(FILES) Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen speaks during a press conference at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, three days ahead of the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix, on July 16, 2026. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)
(FILES) Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen speaks during a press conference at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, three days ahead of the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix, on July 16, 2026. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)
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Verstappen Commits to Red Bull Until End of 2030

(FILES) Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen speaks during a press conference at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, three days ahead of the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix, on July 16, 2026. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)
(FILES) Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen speaks during a press conference at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, three days ahead of the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix, on July 16, 2026. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)

Max Verstappen signed a contract extension with Red Bull to the end of 2030 on Thursday, ending speculation about the four-time world champion's near-term Formula One future.

The 28-year-old already had a contract to the end of 2028 but with break clauses offering a potential way out should the team fail to meet his expectations and provide a winning car.

Such performance-related clauses were believed to have been triggered this season, according to Dutch media reports.

Red Bull lie fourth ⁠overall this season, ⁠and Verstappen sixth, 110 points behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, after 11 races and ahead of his home grand prix this weekend.

The Dutch driver had been linked in media reports to both McLaren, who have signed his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase from 2028 at the latest, and championship leaders Mercedes.

"I am really pleased with the ⁠contract extension," Verstappen, who joined Red Bull's junior program in 2014 and has won all his titles with the team, said in a team statement.

"We have the best people and I'm excited to keep working together with everyone to get back to the top again. This remains the ultimate goal that all of us have been working towards and will continue to pursue.

"I have always said it: The team is like a second family for me and I feel very at home ... to continue this journey with the same Team that I have ⁠been with ⁠my whole career is really special and something I have always wanted to do."

According to Reuters, team boss Laurent Mekies said very few partnerships in sport had achieved what Verstappen and Red Bull had, and the extension was rooted in trust.

"Since the very beginning, Max has embodied everything that makes Oracle Red Bull Racing special: uncompromising competitiveness, relentless determination and the courage to challenge convention," said the Frenchman.

"His impact on our team and on Red Bull's motorsport story has been transformational, and he has been fundamental to everything we have accomplished together.

"But we are not done yet. There are more races to win, more milestones to achieve and more history to write."


Messi Scores Emotional 1st Goal Since Father's Death

CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 19: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up before the match against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on August 19, 2026 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images/AFP
CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 19: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up before the match against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on August 19, 2026 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images/AFP
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Messi Scores Emotional 1st Goal Since Father's Death

CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 19: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up before the match against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on August 19, 2026 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images/AFP
CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 19: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up before the match against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on August 19, 2026 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images/AFP

Lionel Messi scored his first goal since the death of his father earlier this month in Inter Miami's 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.

Messi's father and longtime representative Jorge died aged 68 on August 8 in Rosario, Argentina.

In the 26th minute at Subaru Park, ⁠Messi shook off ⁠his marker and sent a left-footed shot into the net to give Miami a 2-1 first-half lead before being embraced by his teammates.

The 39-year-old also ⁠assisted on his team's first goal on a hot and humid night in Pennsylvania, Reuters reported.

Messi paid an emotional tribute to his father last week, saying he did not know how to continue without him.

The draw ended a three-game losing streak for defending MLS Cup ⁠champions ⁠Miami. The goal was Messi's 13th of the season, putting him one behind Dallas striker Petar Musa in the race for the MLS Golden Boot, which he won last season.

Messi also captained Argentina to this year's World Cup final, where they lost to Spain.