Cristiano Ronaldo netted a record-extending 141st international goal with a spot-kick just before the hour.

With five games played, the Norwegians top Group I on 15 points, six ahead of second-placed Italy, who have a game in hand.

It is the first time Brazil have failed to reach 30 points since the format began in 1996.

With Lionel Messi absent and Lionel Scaloni fielding an alternative lineup, the world champions struggled for rhythm in a tense contest that saw two red cards and a decisive VAR intervention.

The team was scheduled to depart Tribhuvan International Airport at 3:00pm local time today, said a press release issued by the chief adviser's press wing tonight

Barcelona will use the tiny Johan Cruyff stadium at their training ground to host Valencia in La Liga on Sunday, with the Spotify Camp Nou not yet licensed to reopen amid a rebuild.

Former Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco has replaced Jose Mourinho as manager of Turkish outfit Fenerbahce on a two-year contract, the Istanbul club said Tuesday.

Argentina will close their South American 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Ecuador in Guayaquil tomorrow at 5:00 am (Bangladesh Time), but captain Lionel Messi will not feature.

The Bangladesh U-23 football team recorded their first victory in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in six years, breaking a seven-match losing streak with an emphatic 4-1 win over Singapore in their final Group C encounter in Vietnam yesterday.

A four-goal spree in 12 second-half minutes saw the men in red and green beat Singapore.

Italy fans once again turned their backs in protest during the Israel national anthem ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifier in Debrecen.

Bangladesh football team have remained confined to Crowne Imperial hotel in Kathmandu as their 3:00pm flight to Dhaka was cancelled owing to the closure of the Tribhuvan International Airport in the wake of escalating violence in Nepal.

Last season the club finished seventh in the Premier League, their highest since 1994/95.

Their second FIFA friendly, slated for today in Kathmandu, was cancelled as protests against corruption and a government-imposed social media ban swept Kathmandu.

Italy prevailed in a whirlwind game to beat Israel 5-4 in their World Cup qualifier in Hungary on Monday after the Italians scored two own goals, twice came from behind and conceded a late equaliser but scrambled a win to stay in the hunt in Group I.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has outlined plans to incorporate more long throw-ins and long balls into his side's approach ahead of next year's World Cup.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) general secretary Emran Hossain confirmed to The Daily Star that the friendly had indeed been called off.

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has welcomed the arrival of British record signing Alexander Isak and says he is excited about the challenge of competing for a place in the line-up with the Swedish forward.

Mikel Merino scored a hat-trick as a majestic Spain thumped Turkey 6-0 away in World Cup qualifying on Sunday, while a brilliant Florian Wirtz free-kick helped Germany beat Northern Ireland 3-1 to get their bid up and running.

Memphis Depay became the Netherlands' all-time top goalscorer with a brace in their 3-2 win in Lithuania in World Cup qualifying on Sunday.