Submit your Article

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino scored twice as Spain beat Bulgaria to move closer to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, BBC reported.

Spain boast a formidable record in Group E with this their fourth win from four, while they have scored 15 goals and conceded none.

But Turkey's win against Georgia keeps them in the running to finish top of the standings, as they sit second on nine points, three behind Spain, according to BBC.

Italy beat Israel 3-0 at home on Tuesday thanks to a Mateo Retegui double and a late goal from Gianluca Mancini, securing at least a World Cup playoff berth amid tension between police and some demonstrators at a pro-Palestinian march, Reuters reported.

Retegui put Italy ahead just before the break after he was fouled and converted the resulting penalty. He netted the second in the 74th minute by winning possession on the edge of the area, cutting inside and curling his effort into the top corner.

Defender Mancini scored with a close-range header in second-half stoppage time to wrap up a comfortable win, according to Reuters.

Ivory Coast overcame Kenya 3-0 in their final qualifier on Tuesday to finish top of their group and secure a berth at next year's World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the U.S, Reuters reported.

The Ivorians are reigning African champions and will be competing at a fourth World Cup but first since 2014.

Nepal’s top-tier football competition, the Sahid Smarak A-Division League, will not begin as scheduled. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) announced on Tuesday that the league will not be held in a home-and-away format this season.

“Based on suggestions from the clubs, we have decided not to organize the league in a home-and-away format this time. It may be implemented from the next season,” said ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai during a press conference.

He added that ANFA will hold further discussions with the clubs after the Chhath festival. “Both the National League and A-Division fall under the top-tier structure. We will decide which one to organize and how after further consultations,” Rai said.

The 2022/23 season of the league concluded on 6 June 2023, and no new season has started since. Church Boys United were the last A-Division League champions.

With no domestic league taking place, several Nepali footballers have joined foreign clubs. National team captain Kiran Chemjong and forward Anjan Bista are currently playing in the Bangladeshi league, along with other Nepali players.