An eerie silence had fallen across the field. As if some invisible force had swallowed the roar of thousands in a single breath. Under the blazing lights of that vast green stage stood one man.

Italy has played down suggestions that its national team could replace Iran at the World Cup, following reports that an envoy to US President Donald Trump had asked FIFA to consider the move.

The prospect of Iran being replaced at the “greatest show on earth” has stirred a mix of disbelief and indifference across Italy, after a suggestion by a US envoy reignited debate over the intersection of politics and sport.

Spain's Lamine Yamal has picked up a hamstring injury, but is expected to be fit for the upcoming World Cup, his club Barcelona announced Thursday.

Luis Suarez scored his first goal of the Major League Soccer season but Lionel Messi failed to get on the scoresheet as champions Inter Miami struck late to beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 on Wednesday.

The early 1990s. The skies over the Balkans were no longer blue, but choked with black smoke from relentless airstrikes. Sirens would halt games mid-play, and footballers’ boots were replaced by the heavy gear of soldiers. Croatia was no longer just a defined line on a map -- it had become the name of a blood-soaked struggle.

The 18-year-old prodigy suffered a Grade 4 hamstring injury and is "highly unlikely" to be ready for the start of the North American tournament on June 11, The Athletic reported on Wednesday.

The teenage Spain star won and converted a penalty to clinch a narrow triumph but hurt himself as he took it and was replaced before half-time.

The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president's attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

After reeling Arsenal in they now lead the table on goals scored with both sides on 70 points from 33 games and with an identical goal difference of plus 37.

Bangladesh football stands at the foothills of a new beginning. The chapter of Javier Cabrera has come to a close, leaving behind a dugout that is now almost a blank canvas. Yet, for a country languishing near the bottom of the FIFA rankings, master tacticians from across the world are eager to leave their mark.

The former Arsenal player has been a regular member of Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann's squad.

Chattogram City FC confirmed their promotion to the Bangladesh Football League with three matches to spare following a 2-1 win over Chittagong Abahani in the Bangladesh Championship League on Wednesday.

Calum McFarlane, who was Rosenior's assistant, will take charge as a caretaker for the rest of the season.

Defending champions Bangladesh have been drawn with host India in the SAFF Women's Championship, which will be held in Goa from May 25 to June 6.

Inter Milan reached the Italian Cup final on Tuesday after coming back from two goals down to win 3-2 and go through by the same scoreline on aggregate.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has reportedly received 300 CVs (curriculum vitae) after floating a circular for the appointment of a new head coach for the senior men’s team, a member of the federation said.

Leicester City fans confronted the players after they came out of the ground following relegation to third tier. A few headed straight to their cars, but Hamza Choudhury—who also represents the Bangladesh national team—took the opportunity to speak and apologise.

The victory ended a two-match winless run in La Liga for Madrid and moved them back to within six points of leaders Barcelona, who host Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

There was once a team that, when they stepped onto the pitch, did not seem to be there to just play football -- they seemed to be there to paint on an invisible canvas.