Saudi National Team Selects Austin as Main Camp Base for World Cup 2026

The selection of Austin followed a comprehensive technical and logistical evaluation that included field visits - SPA
The selection of Austin followed a comprehensive technical and logistical evaluation that included field visits - SPA
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Saudi National Team Selects Austin as Main Camp Base for World Cup 2026

The selection of Austin followed a comprehensive technical and logistical evaluation that included field visits - SPA
The selection of Austin followed a comprehensive technical and logistical evaluation that included field visits - SPA

The Saudi national football team has selected the city of Austin, Texas, as its main base during its participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026™, which will be held next summer in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The selection of Austin followed a comprehensive technical and logistical evaluation that included field visits and an assessment of the readiness of sports facilities, the suitability of climatic conditions, and the quality of training infrastructure, in addition to its geographic proximity to the host cities for the team’s matches in the tournament, which will help reduce travel time and enhance the efficiency of the daily program, SPA reported.

The designation of the national team’s base comes within the framework of the approved methodology for preparing the team for the World Cup, which focuses on providing a stable and motivating working environment for the technical and administrative staff, enabling the implementation of training and preparation programs in accordance with the highest standards, and enhancing players’ physical and mental readiness throughout the participation period.

The Saudi national team will compete in Group H of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde, in the tournament scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19.



Recent Wins over Chelsea Mean Nothing, Says Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026.  EPA/DAVID CLIFF
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. EPA/DAVID CLIFF
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Recent Wins over Chelsea Mean Nothing, Says Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026.  EPA/DAVID CLIFF
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to his side's 1-4 victory at the end of the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC, in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. EPA/DAVID CLIFF

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is taking no comfort from his team's good record against Chelsea, and the Premier League leaders will be fully prepared to deal with their London rivals' adaptability when they meet on Sunday.

Arsenal beat Chelsea twice in the League Cup semi-finals recently and have not lost to them since 2021, with Arteta's side winning 10 of the last 16 matches between them.

Arsenal were held to a draw by 10-man Chelsea in November, and Liam Rosenior's Chelsea are coming into Sunday's game looking to continue a six-match unbeaten run in the league, Reuters reported.

"We know the importance of the game and the team we are going to have in front of us. We just have to prepare in the best way to earn the right to win it, as I always said," Arteta told reporters on Friday.

"What you have done two weeks or two years ago is irrelevant because every game and every context is different, the players might change, the mood of the team might be different. We are prepared."

Arteta praised Chelsea's ability to adapt to the game under Rosenior, who is yet to lose a league game as Chelsea manager.

"They can change throughout the game and they have a manager very comfortable doing that, so we are prepared for the possible scenarios we can face and then we will try to be better than them," Arteta added.

Asked if Arsenal can become the first English club to win the quadruple - including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and the Champions League - this season, Arteta shrugged off the idea.

"Has it been done? That is how difficult it is," he said.

"So let's go game by game and try to earn the right to be there in the last stage of every competition, and then we will see what happens."


Firing of Ruben Amorim Could Cost Man United $21 Million

FILED - 08 December 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could end up costing the club almost 」16million. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 08 December 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could end up costing the club almost 」16million. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire/dpa
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Firing of Ruben Amorim Could Cost Man United $21 Million

FILED - 08 December 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could end up costing the club almost 」16million. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 08 December 2025, United Kingdom, Wolverhampton: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could end up costing the club almost 」16million. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire/dpa

Manchester United's cost for firing Ruben Amorim could reach 15.9 million pounds ($21.4 million), the Premier League club said in a financial filing.

Amorim was fired as head coach on Jan. 5 after just 14 months in the job, with the announcement coming shortly after he made provocative comments about his position within United’s hierarchy.

“A charge of £6.3 million for the write-off of related intangible assets and a provision of £15.9 million, representing the maximum potential amount of future settlement payments, will be recognized in the statement of profit or (loss) during the second half of the year ending 30 June 2026,” the club wrote of its Amorim-related costs, The AP news reported.

The 6.3 million pounds ($8.5 million) is related to the cost of hiring Amorim from Sporting Lisbon in November 2024.

The figure of 15.9 million pounds represents United's potential maximum owed to Amorim and his coaching staff. The filing didn't specify but media reports indicate the final figure includes factors such as if, or when, Amorim gets a new job.

United's share price closed at $17.62 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. The club is owned by the Glazer family from the United States and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

The 20-time English champion has hired Michael Carrick on a contract to the end of the season, and the former United player has overseen the team's rise to fourth place in the Premier League ahead of Sunday's game against Crystal Palace.


PSG Hit by Injuries ahead of Champions League Round of 16 Face-off with Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) reacts as he speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian forward #07 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) during the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) reacts as he speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian forward #07 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) during the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
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PSG Hit by Injuries ahead of Champions League Round of 16 Face-off with Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) reacts as he speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian forward #07 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) during the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) reacts as he speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian forward #07 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) during the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

French league leader Paris Saint-Germain will be without injured star forward Ousmane Dembélé for Saturday's trip to Le Havre.

PSG said in a statement on Friday that the Ballon d’Or winner remains sidelined after suffering a calf injury and is training on his own. It's unclear whether Dembélé will recover in time for the title holder's clash with Chelsea next month in the Champions League round of 16, The AP news reported.

The midfielder Senny Mayulu, who is continuing his individual training sessions, will also be missing against Le Havre.

PSG added that Fabian Ruiz will carry out an adapted individual training program over the next two weeks to relieve his knee pain. Fellow midfielder João Neves, who is hampered by a left ankle injury, will remain having treatment over the coming days.

The club has a two-point lead over Lens in the French league after 23 rounds.