While Australia have had to fight hard to reach the final, it has been a far easier ride for Japan.

A clinical Japan swept past South Korea 4-1 on Wednesday to set up a Women's Asian Cup final against hosts Australia, with the two-time champions putting on a masterclass.

Iranian women's national football squad arrived in eastern Turkey and headed to the Iran border on their way home Wednesday, among them several players who withdrew an asylum bid in Australia.

Senegal have condemned the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations title, labelling it “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable”, and saying it casts a shadow over African football.

Does the World Cup belong only to the big teams and superstar footballers? A glance through history suggests that the real drama often lies with sides that arrive with limited expectations -- or none at all.

Pep Guardiola believes a new-look Manchester City need time to match the feats of his earlier years in charge after bowing out of the Champions League to Real Madrid for the third consecutive season.

"It will be a tough game tomorrow. They're a physical team, aggressive man-to-man, in transition they are fast players," said Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.

Most of the damage for Pep Guardiola's men was inflicted last week in a 3-0 first leg defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The 26-year-old, who has 44 international caps, has now recovered from a lateral meniscus cartilage injury and returned to the preliminary squad for upcoming fixtures against Vietnam and Singapore.

Paris Saint-Germain snuffed out any chance of a Chelsea comeback with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia among the scorers in a clinical 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, which took the holders through to the Champions League quarterfinals 8-2 on aggregate.

Real Madrid dumped 10-man Manchester City out of the Champions League for the fourth time in five seasons as a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium completed a 5-1 aggregate victory for the Spanish giants.

Arsenal eased into the Champions League quarterfinals as Eberechi Eze's stunning strike inspired a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 second leg on Tuesday.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday stripped Senegal of the Africa Cup of Nations title they won in January and declared Morocco champions.

World champions Argentina will play Guatemala in a friendly to replace the cancelled Finalissima match against European champions Spain in Qatar, which fell foul to the Middle East war.

Sporting Lisbon made an impressive comeback to hammer Norwegian giantkillers Bodo/Glimt 5-0 on Tuesday and reach the Champions League quarterfinals 5-3 on aggregate.

Before facing Singapore, the men in red and green will test themselves in a friendly against Vietnam on March 26.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday that her country is prepared to host Iran's first-round matches at the 2026 World Cup if needed due to the conflict in the Middle East.

The two players are being housed at an undisclosed location and receiving support from the government and the Iranian diaspora community in Australia.

Victory in Spain would send Newcastle into uncharted territory as the Magpies have never progressed beyond the Champions League round of 16.

Hansi Flick said on Tuesday that he does not know yet if he will extend his Barcelona contract, but is certain that leading the Catalan giants will be his last job in football.