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Striker Memphis Depay is fit to play for the Netherlands in their World Cup qualifier at home to Poland on Thursday, giving him the opportunity to become the country's top goalscorer, Reuters reported.

The 31-year-old equalled Robin van Persie's record of 50 goals in their last outing in June when the Dutch beat Malta 8-0 as they won a second match in Group G.

There had been some doubt over Depay's fitness for Thursday's match in Rotterdam as he only recently returned to club action for Corinthians in Brazil, but coach Ronald Koeman told a Wednesday press conference the striker was fit and in line to start the match, according to Reuters.

Four-time world champions Germany have set their sights firmly on winning the 2026 World Cup, coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Wednesday ahead of their first qualifier against Slovakia on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Germany kick off their World Cup Group A qualifying campaign in Bratislava before next hosting Northern Ireland on September 7 in Cologne.

Nagelsmann said they were eager to make a winning start in their bid to qualify for the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico next year, according to Reuters.

Belgium have picked Youri Tielemans to be their captain, with coach Rudi Garcia choosing the Aston Villa midfielder over several more experienced players in the squad, Reuters reported.

Following Garcia’s appointment earlier this year, he rotated the captaincy as he said he was searching for the right leader for the squad but on Wednesday announced the 28-year-old would be taking charge.

“Youri Tielemans will be our permanent captain,” Garcia told a press conference on the eve of Thursday’s World Cup qualifier in Liechtenstein, according to Reuters.

Dynamic pricing will be in operation during the first phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup, with fans paying different prices according to market demand and seats starting at $60, FIFA said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Fans will have their first chance to secure tickets for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico during the Visa Presale Draw, opening on September 10, at 1100 ET (1500 CET) and running until September 19.

Open to qualifying Visa cardholders, tickets for group-stage matches will start at $60, with pricing for later stages, including the final, reaching up to $6,730, FIFA said, according to Reuters.

Lionel Messi is set to play his final World Cup qualifier in Argentina on Thursday, while four South American teams are still competing for the remaining automatic places at the 2026 tournament in what could be a dramatic climax, Reuters reported.

The 38-year-old Argentina captain will take to the pitch at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires to face Venezuela in what he describes as a very special match, with his family set to be in attendance, including his wife, children, parents and siblings.

"It's going to be very special for me because it will be my last qualifying match. I don't know if there will be friendlies or more matches after that," the eight-times Ballon d'Or winner said last week, according to Reuters.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters on Wednesday that it was "going to be emotional, special and beautiful".

The secretariat meeting of the ruling CPN-UML is taking place today on the eve of the party's Second Statute General Convention.

UML's Publicity Department Chief, Rajendra Gautam, said that the meeting is scheduled to begin at 3 this afternoon. 

Gautam shared that the political report, statute amendment proposal report and organizational report to be tabled at the Statute General Convention would be discussed in today's secretariat meeting. 

The Statute General Convention of the UML is beginning on Friday. 

The three-day-long event will be held in Godavari, Lalitpur.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Nepal.

Prime Minister Oli invited President Putin to visit Nepal during his meeting in Tianjin.

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai said that discussions were also held on the participation of Nepalis in the Russian army.

According to him, those issues will be resolved through diplomatic channels.

Similarly, they also discussed various aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Foreign Secretary Rai said that discussions were also held on the issue of operating direct flights between Nepal and Russia.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has returned home after completing his official visit to China. 

A 23-member delegation led by PM Oli had left for China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit on August 30. 

The Prime Minister was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, and Chief Secretary Eka Narayan Aryal at VVIP Lounge in Tribhuvan International Airport this night. 

High ranking government officials, chiefs of security agencies and representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal were also present on the occasion.

A contingent of the Nepali Army accorded a guard of honour to the Prime Minister.

Before returning home, Prime Minister Oli participated in the 80th anniversary celebration and special military parade organized in Beijing today. 

During the China visit, Prime Minister Oli addressed the SCO summit on September 1. 

Nepal has been a SCO dialogue partner since 2016.

Similarly, PM Oli had separate bilateral meetings with world dignitaries including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM Oli was accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Raghuji Pant, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Pandey, Vice President of the Nepali Congress and lawmaker, Purna Bahadur Khadka, PM's Advisor on Economic and Development Affairs, Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada, UML lawmake Chhabi Lal Bishwokarma and high level government officials.