Baresi spent his entire 20-year playing career with the club from 1977 until he retired in 1997, winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups/Champions Leagues.
Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, with AC Milan saying their former captain's "example and integrity will be forever etched into the club's DNA".Baresi spent his entire 20-year playing career with the club from 1977 until he retired in 1997, winning six Serie A titles and three European Cups/Champions Leagues. Regarded as one of the greatest defenders to play the game, Baresi captained Milan for 15 seasons, making 719 appearances and scoring 33 goals. He was capped 81 times by Italy and was part of the squad which won the 1982 World Cup. He played in the 1994 final, which Italy lost to Brazil.In 2020, Baresi became honorary vice-president of AC Milan, with the club retiring his number six shirt four years later.Baresi formed part of one of European football's most celebrated defences alongside Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti. He also lifted four Supercoppa Italianas, two European Super Cups and the Intercontinental Cup twice. In the 1994 World Cup, he returned from a knee injury to play in the final and largely nullified the threat of Brazil's Romario and Bebeto in a 0-0 draw.It was the first World Cup final to be decided by a shootout and Baresi missed the first penalty, with Brazil eventually winning it 3-2. Baresi had surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule, and his last public appearance was at the San Siro Stadium for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in February. In a statement on X, AC Milan wrote: "Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the club's DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is." In a further post on the club's website,, external they added: "Announcing the loss of someone who embodied the heart and soul of AC Milan is incredibly difficult. But everyone at the club and all the Milanisti must live up to Franco Baresi's memory."In memory of Franco, we stand united, knowing he'll guide and push us throughout our Rossoneri journey. Forever. Because Baresi is forever."
Rodri #16 of Spain lifts the FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy after the team's victory following the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. David Ramos/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption David Ramos/Getty Images Perhaps you saw the ecstatic scenes this week of Spain's World Cup Championship team arriving back home after they won the tournament in a thrilling 1- zero — excuse me, it's soccer — one - nil victory over Argentina. La Roja, as they've become known for their red jerseys, took off from Newark airport, landed in Madrid and rode in an open-topped red bus emblazoned "STARS SHINE TOGETHER", to be acclaimed by an estimated 2 million fans, shouting, cheering, and sobbing, as the team hoisted the FIFA World Cup trophy. You may wonder: what fuels great athletes to play 120 minutes against their mightiest competitors, win by a single goal, and then fly through the night across the Atlantic to parade before their grateful nation? Love of country? Love of the game? Or pizza from West Orange, New Jersey? Shortly after Spain secured their victory, the phone trilled at Bagels by Jarrett, or BXJ, which also call themselves, "The most confused bagel shop you've ever loved." The owner, Jarrett Seltzer, and his crew also make pizza, and had made a stack of them for Norway's World Cup team after they defeated Brazil in the Round of 16. "I guess they don't have a lot of pizza in Norway," Jarrett Selzer told us. Maybe when the world's best soccer players flop to the ground in theatrical pain to try and draw fouls, they whisper to each other, "Pssst: Try the pizza at BXJ," because on Norway's apparent recommendation, the Spanish team ordered 46 pies: pepperoni, margherita, and buffalo chicken. "And a few gluten free," Seltzer told us. He also said he had been restlessly experimenting for months to perfect his recipe for pizza dough. "To go from good to better," he said. "But hard work really does pay off," he told us. "To feed the guys who just won the World Cup? I don't know if there's a cooler feeling. "You try and do something as good as you can, and get better and better, and then just one day, it all pays off," Jarrett Seltzer said. "Like it did for us and those guys on the team. They're always eating such healthy diets. What's a better way to say, 'Finally, we won!' than a big New Jersey pizza?"
Europe wildfires latest: More than 130,000 evacuated across France and Spain BBC Wildfires in France and Spain Drive Tens of Thousands From Their Homes The New York Times Ninety thousand people flee raging wildfires in France and Spain, some escaping by boat AP News France orders total evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as wildfires rage Reuters More than 100,000 people flee or are locked down as wildfires sweep France and Spain The Guardian
Skip linksSkip to Content Live Navigation menuNewsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificWorld CupMiddle EastExplainedOpinionVideoFeaturesEconomySportHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Content Live Navigation menuWorld Cup 2026LIVE: Spain vs ArgentinaClosing ceremony, half-time showGaza cheers for Spain in World CupGoals and reactionResults and FixturesFans in Madrid go wild as Spain beat Argentina to win second World CupNewsFeedFans in Madrid erupted in celebration after Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final. The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes across the Spanish capital.Published On 19 Jul 2026
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be staged across six countries, with opening matches in South America before the competition moves to its main hosts in Europe and Africa.The unique format will allow FIFA to celebrate the tournament’s 100th anniversary with centenary matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.Here is what to know about the next tournament:When is the next FIFA World Cup?The next FIFA World Cup will be held in 2030.According to FIFA’s proposed schedule, centenary matches will take place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay on June 8 and 9, followed by the opening matches in Morocco, Portugal and Spain on June 13 and 14.The World Cup final is expected to be played on July 21, although FIFA has not yet confirmed the full match schedule.Where will the 2030 World Cup be held?Spain, Portugal and Morocco will host the majority of the tournament. To mark the competition’s 100th anniversary, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will each stage one opening-round match before the remaining fixtures move to the three main host nations.According to FIFA, Uruguay will host a match in recognition of staging the inaugural World Cup in 1930, while Argentina’s game will acknowledge its role as runner-up in that tournament. Paraguay will also host a game as the home of CONMEBOL, the only continental football confederation in existence at the time.The tournament will become the first men’s World Cup to be held across six countries and three continents.Uruguay’s first goal in the World Cup Final against Argentina, in Montevideo, Uruguay, July 30, 1930. Uruguay defeated Argentina by four goals to two [FILE: Associated Press]Which countries have already qualified?Six countries have already secured their places at the 2030 FIFA World Cup through automatic qualification as hosts. They are Spain, Portugal and Morocco, the tournament’s three main cohosts, as well as Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.The remaining 42 places will be decided through FIFA’s continental qualifying tournaments over the coming years.What do we know about the schedule?The teams taking part in the three matches in South America will be given additional time to travel, rest and prepare before their next group games.After the centenary fixtures on June 8 and 9, the main opening ceremony and first matches in Morocco, Portugal and Spain are expected to take place on June 13 and 14.The remaining teams in the groups containing Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay would begin their campaigns on June 15 and 16. The second round of matches in those groups is scheduled for June 21 and 22.FIFA has yet to release the complete calendar.Could the tournament expand to 64 teams?The 2030 FIFA World Cup is currently set to feature 48 teams, the same format that debuted at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said the governing body will examine a proposal to expand the tournament to 64 teams.Speaking to Swiss media outlet Bluewin, Infantino described the 48-team format as a “huge success”, saying it had given more countries the opportunity to compete at the highest level and helped grow the game globally.He pointed to the performances of smaller football nations at the 2026 World Cup, arguing that broader participation benefits the sport. Asked whether the tournament could eventually expand to 64 teams, Infantino said the proposal “will be examined and discussed”.What else do we know about the history of the FIFA World Cup?The FIFA World Cup was created after the success of the men’s football tournaments at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games, both won by Uruguay. At the time, football at the Olympics was organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), leading FIFA to create its own tournament for national teams.According to FIFA, the 1924 Olympic final in Paris drew a crowd of nearly 50,000 as Uruguay beat Switzerland 3-0 to win the gold medal. Four years later, Uruguay defended its title by defeating Argentina 2-1, helping c
All the biggest talking points and stats from the first 45 minutes of a goalless World Cup final in New Jersey in the US.After a star-studded tournament ceremony and the logistical delays caused by the arrival of US President Donald Trump, the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina ended in a goalless scoreline at half-time.The match at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday has been a cagey affair, with Spain enjoying greater possession and Argentina looking to make the game into a scrap.The final kicked off six minutes late in New Jersey following a pre-match show that included singer Robbie Williams and actor Tom Cruise.Once the football actually began, Spain looked to control the ball and force Argentina to chase the game. The South American giants were mostly restricted to their own half and looked to make it a physical battle.Here are some of the biggest talking points from the first half.A cagey affair in New JerseyIt all started so promisingly, with Lamine Yamal forcing a save from Emi Martinez after just five minutes. The teenager shot from a tight angle inside the box following some brilliant link-up play with Dani Olmo.Since then, chances have been at a premium, with just three shots at goal in the entire first half, all by La Roja, with Argentina yet to register an effort.Spain striker Mikel Oyarzabal tested Martinez on 39 minutes, but his shot from just outside the area was easily saved by the Argentine keeper. Marc Cucurella also dragged an effort wide late on.While Spain saw more of the ball, Argentina looked to get stuck in and make it a scrappy final. So far, the defending champions’ game plan has worked.Spain’s Rodri and Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez fight for the ball [AFP]Referee keeps his cards in his pocketsSlovenian official Slavko Vincic declined to brandish a yellow card until the 40th minute, despite some hefty challenges in the first half.Spain were furious when the referee didn’t penalise Alexis Mac Allister after a late challenge on Olmo just 15 minutes into the final.The Argentine midfielder dived in, missing the ball entirely as he wiped Olmo out. The Spanish bench erupted, but the referee decided not to book the Liverpool man.The first yellow card was eventually shown when Lisandro Martinez dragged Oyarzabal down from behind.Lisandro Martinez fouls Mikel Oyarzabal [Jeenah Moon/Reuters]Martinez heads off injuredArgentina suffered a late blow in the first half as key defender Lisandro Martinez was forced off with an injury.Martinez has played a crucial role at the heart of defence for Argentina in this tournament, but they will now have to cope without him for the second half of the final.Veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi is now tasked with keeping the likes of Yamal and Oyarzabal quiet.What were the head-to-head stats in the first half of the Spain-Argentina final?Spain saw a lot more of the ball and enjoyed 64.6 percent possession. They also had three shots at goal, compared to none for Argentina.The South Americans committed two more fouls than their opponents and picked up one yellow card.Spain have been awarded two corners so far, whilst Argentina have had none.
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