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Newcastle Hosts Man City in League Cup. Madrid Looks to Bounce Back against Las Palmas

24 September 2023, United Kingdom, Sheffield: Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates with team-mate Anthony Gordon after scoring his side's seventh goal during the English Premier League match between Sheffield United and Newcastle United at Bramall Lane. (dpa)
24 September 2023, United Kingdom, Sheffield: Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates with team-mate Anthony Gordon after scoring his side's seventh goal during the English Premier League match between Sheffield United and Newcastle United at Bramall Lane. (dpa)
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Newcastle Hosts Man City in League Cup. Madrid Looks to Bounce Back against Las Palmas

24 September 2023, United Kingdom, Sheffield: Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates with team-mate Anthony Gordon after scoring his side's seventh goal during the English Premier League match between Sheffield United and Newcastle United at Bramall Lane. (dpa)
24 September 2023, United Kingdom, Sheffield: Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates with team-mate Anthony Gordon after scoring his side's seventh goal during the English Premier League match between Sheffield United and Newcastle United at Bramall Lane. (dpa)

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Wednesday:

ENGLAND

Newcastle hosts Manchester City in the third round of the English League Cup on Wednesday. City has made a 100% start to the season, while Newcastle routed Sheffield United 8-0 on Sunday. Newcastle was beaten by Manchester United in last season’s final and is still waiting for its first major trophy since 1969. City won everything but the League Cup last season when it completed a trophy treble of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. Other all-Premier League clashes include Aston Villa vs. Everton, Brentford vs. Arsenal and Chelsea vs. Brighton. Liverpool hosts Leicester.

SPAIN

Real Madrid looks to rebound from its first loss of the season when it hosts promoted Las Palmas in the Spanish league. Madrid had won its first five league games before losing 3-1 at city rival Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Vinícius Júnior is expected to make his return after missing the match against Atletico because of a stomach illness. The Brazil forward had been out before that with a hamstring issue. Las Palmas defeated Granada in the previous round for its first win of the season. Girona, which entered the midweek games tied at the top with Barcelona, visits Villarreal looking for its six straight victory. In other matches, Athletic Bilbao hosts Getafe, Rayo Vallecano visits Cadiz and Real Sociedad is at Valencia.

ITALY

Inter Milan will be looking to continue its perfect start to the Serie A season when it hosts Sassuolo. Inter has won all five of its Italian league matches, conceding just one goal in the process. However, it found it harder than perhaps expected before winning 1-0 at bottom club Empoli at the weekend and faces a Sassuolo team full of confidence after a 4-2 victory over Juventus. AC Milan is just three points behind its city rival and hosts Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari, which is still seeking its first win back in Serie A. Udinese and Salernitana are also winless and play defending champion Napoli and Empoli respectively. Last season’s runner-up Lazio is surprisingly struggling and it hosts Torino, while Atalanta travels to Hellas Verona.

GERMANY

Two-time champion Leipzig begins its German Cup defense at Wehen Wiesbaden, which has lost its last two games and failed to win any of its last four in the second division. Leipzig has made a fine start to season, winning its last four Bundesliga games after an opening defeat at Bayer Leverkusen. Wiesbaden will be hoping the visitors are distracted by their upcoming league game against Bayern Munich on Saturday.

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Sports

Infantino Has 'Complete Confidence' in Mexico to Host World Cup Games Despite Violence

Members of the Civil Guard of Michoacan patrol a highway supported by armored vehicles after a wave of violence in the town of Aguililla, in Tierra Caliente, Mexico, on February 24, 2026. (Photo by Enrique Castro / AFP)
Members of the Civil Guard of Michoacan patrol a highway supported by armored vehicles after a wave of violence in the town of Aguililla, in Tierra Caliente, Mexico, on February 24, 2026. (Photo by Enrique Castro / AFP)
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Infantino Has 'Complete Confidence' in Mexico to Host World Cup Games Despite Violence

Members of the Civil Guard of Michoacan patrol a highway supported by armored vehicles after a wave of violence in the town of Aguililla, in Tierra Caliente, Mexico, on February 24, 2026. (Photo by Enrique Castro / AFP)
Members of the Civil Guard of Michoacan patrol a highway supported by armored vehicles after a wave of violence in the town of Aguililla, in Tierra Caliente, Mexico, on February 24, 2026. (Photo by Enrique Castro / AFP)

The violence that erupted in Mexico after the death of a powerful drug lord has left many questioning whether the country will be able to co-host the World Cup in just over three months.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino thinks it can.

“Of course, we are monitoring the situation in Mexico these days, but I want to say from the outset that we have complete confidence in Mexico, in its president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and in the authorities, and we are convinced that everything will go as smoothly as possible,” Infantino said late Tuesday in a press conference in Colombia.

“Mexico is a great country, like in every country in the world, things happen; we don’t live on the moon or another planet,” Infantino added. “That’s why we have governments, police, and authorities who will ensure order and security.”

 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends the inauguration of the Colombian Football Federation's hotel, where he spoke about his support for Mexico for the World Cup, in Barranquilla, Colombia, February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Jairo Cassiani

The Mexican army killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, on Sunday, sparking several days of violence. Cartel members burned cars and blocked roads in nearly a dozen Mexican states and authorities report that at least 70 people have died.

Four high-level soccer matches from the local leagues were postponed last Sunday, including one in the central city of Queretaro, where Mexico defeated Iceland 4-0 late Wednesday in a friendly match.

Before the match, a minute of silence was held in the Corregidora stadium in honor of the soldiers who died during the operation to capture Oseguera.

Thirteen World Cup matches are scheduled to be held in Mexico, including the opening game in Mexico City on June 11 between the co-host and South Africa. Guadalajara, the central hub for the Jalisco cartel, is scheduled to host four.

Colombia is set to play one game in Mexico City and one in Guadalajara.

“Our first two matches are in Mexico, but we know they will overcome this and move forward,” said Ramón Jesurún, the president of the Colombian Soccer Federation. “I have absolute and total confidence in my geopolitical thinking that this is an issue Mexico will overcome, and overcome very quickly.”

Other nations have expressed more concern. The Portuguese soccer federation said Tuesday that it was closely monitoring developments ahead of a planned friendly against Mexico in March. Jamaica is set to play New Caledonia in Guadalajara on March 26 in an intercontinental playoff semifinal, with the winner advancing to face Congo for a World Cup spot.

“The games are at the end of March, so we still have another month to see what happens; but it is making me very nervous, to be honest,” said Michael Ricketts, the president of the Jamaican Soccer Federation. "We will be listening out for CONCACAF and FIFA to give us instructions (on) whether they are playing the games or whether they are immediately looking for other options.”

Another Mexican city, Monterrey, will host a playoff where Bolivia plays Suriname and the winner faces Iraq for a spot in the tournament.

On Monday, Sheinbaum said there is “every guarantee” that the World Cup matches in Guadalajara will be played as planned and added that there was “no risk.”

“We are in regular contact with the presidency and the authorities in Mexico and we are monitoring the situation,” Infantino said. “The World Cup is going to be an incredible celebration."

Sports

Luis Enrique: PSG Have Been Toughened Up for Later Stages of Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate after the second goal (EPA)
Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate after the second goal (EPA)
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Luis Enrique: PSG Have Been Toughened Up for Later Stages of Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate after the second goal (EPA)
Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate after the second goal (EPA)

Champions League holders Paris ‌Saint-Germain have fought through a tougher schedule than any other side to reach the last 16 in this season’s competition, coach Luis Enrique said after they squeezed past Monaco on Wednesday.

PSG were held 2-2 at the Parc des Princes in the second leg of their knockout-round playoff but advanced 5-4 on aggregate.

Luis Enrique did not hide his disappointment with his team's performance, notably in the first half when they went a goal behind.

"Did I like what ‌I saw? ‌No, no, I didn't like it, but ‌that's ⁠football," he said. "We ⁠had an incredible schedule during the group stage, then we continued with these playoffs against Monaco, they're a great team.

“That's the competition of the Champions League, you have to accept it. I think in the first half we were very imprecise, but in the second half we ⁠were in control, we scored both goals, ‌it was the perfect result, ‌but in the last few minutes we conceded that goal and ‌it was dangerous at the end.

“But we're happy, we ‌know that to win the Champions League you need competition and we're experts at that level."

PSG next face either Barcelona or Chelsea. That will be determined on Friday when the draw ‌for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be made, Reuters reported.

"If there's one team that ⁠has played ⁠against good teams and had the toughest group, it's clearly us,” Luis Enrique added.

PSG’s opponents included Atalanta, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, Sporting and Tottenham Hotspur – all of whom are also through to the last 16.

“We're used to playing these kinds of matches against any team, and of course we can improve, but tonight we faced a very high-level opponent who demonstrated their individual and collective qualities.

"But next time it will be even easier, with Chelsea or Barca, right?” he joked.
“But if there's one team ready, it's ours."

Sports

Mbappe Season on Ice Ahead of Silverware Sprint, World Cup

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe warms up ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid, in Pamplona, Spain, 21 February 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe warms up ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid, in Pamplona, Spain, 21 February 2026. (EPA)
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Mbappe Season on Ice Ahead of Silverware Sprint, World Cup

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe warms up ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid, in Pamplona, Spain, 21 February 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe warms up ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid, in Pamplona, Spain, 21 February 2026. (EPA)

French superstar Kylian Mbappe may have to put his season on hold because of a knee problem, with his main goals fast coming into view -- a first major trophy with Real Madrid, and a second World Cup triumph.

Little more than 100 days from the start of the 2026 World Cup, the France captain seems to be paying the price for efforts he has made to carry his team this season.

According to several sources contacted by AFP, Mbappe, hampered by damage to the outer ligament of his left knee since late 2025, had to withdraw from Madrid's squad to face Benfica in the Champions League play-off round on Wednesday because he felt "pain that was too persistent" in training.

Mbappe is expected to rest for at least 10 days so he can recover from the issue which has troubled him over the past couple of months.

His absence for one of the most important matches of the season, confirmed by Madrid on Wednesday, is a concern for Los Blancos, who lost at Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday to allow Barcelona back in front in the title race.

Beyond a personal quest for glory, having finished his first season at Madrid without a major trophy, the intense pressure and demand for results at the Santiago Bernabeu have contributed to Mbappe playing through the pain in recent weeks.

"It's important to highlight the immense effort Kylian is making and the fact that he's trying to help us out on the patch," said Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa on Tuesday.

- Key figure -

It is hard to imagine where the Spanish giants would be without their No 10's supreme finishing ability, as Mbappe has netted 38 goals in 33 matches this season across all competitions.

At least winger Vinicius Junior has finally hit top form after a slow start to the season and could pick up some of the slack, along with promising young striker Gonzalo Garcia, who Madrid fans are keen to see more of.

Mbappe is top scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League, even in a dysfunctional Madrid side that sacked coach Xabi Alonso in January.

If they are knocked out by Jose Mourinho's Benfica on Wednesday, a result that would trigger a fresh crisis, Madrid might be tempted to push their striker to play to salvage their season.

Should they progress then Mbappe will be eyeing the round of 16 clash against Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon, with the first leg set for March 10 or 11.

The next international break (March 23-30), when France face Brazil and Colombia in the United States, would come at the perfect time to give him another breather -- but could trigger a new club-versus-country conflict.

France are counting on their captain, a source close to the national team told AFP, adding that Mbappe is in "regular contact" with coach Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps is due to announce his squad list for the USA trip on March 19, with the tour including promotional events with American sportswear company Nike, who outfit both the French national team and Mbappe.