The feature is ideal for privacy – and those massive group chats

WhatsApp users can now reserve their own username amid upcoming changes to the app.

The feature is ideal for people who want to join groups and chat to new pals without sharing their phone number with people they don’t know. This can be domne by using a unique username instead of a phone number.

Early reservation is now live meaning users can secure their preferred username before the feature launches later this year. WhatsApp explains: “You can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch this feature.

“With over three billion people on WhatsApp a lot of names overlap, which is why we’re opening reservations early so everyone has the opportunity to select the username that matters to them.”

Advertisement

It adds: “For most people, choosing a WhatsApp username should be something unique that only people you want to contact you will know. If you need help picking one, we have a username generator to make one work just for you.

“We also know that some people like creators, small businesses, and organisations may want to maintain a consistent presence online. For them, we reserved an option to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp.

“Usernames are our latest step to make WhatsApp even more private. There’s no directory to browse and no suggestions – people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time. To help control who can reach you on WhatsApp with your username, we’ve built an optional username key that others will need to know to message you.

Advertisement

“Once we launch usernames, when you message a person or business for the first time they will no longer see your phone number, if you enabled your username.”

How to reserve my WhatsApp username?

All you need to do is go to WhatsApp, click on Settings then Account and select Username.

It adds: “We’ll be rolling out usernames gradually over the coming months and will notify you in WhatsApp when they’re available in your country.”

China’s case is perhaps more puzzling. In recent decades, it has become one of the most successful countries in Olympic history. But its forays into men’s football have not borne similar fruit.

“There’s no reason [in theory] why China can’t produce world-class footballers,” Mark Dreyer, a Beijing-based Chinese football expert, believes.

“The main problem is that in China everything is controlled by the state and everything is top-down. You need footballing people making footballing decisions, but there’s far too much political interference.”

China has not returned to the World Cup since 2002, despite heavy investment in the game since the 2010s – which included the flooding of its professional league with various high-profile names from South American and European football in a bid to elevate the standard of play.

Like China, Indonesia has also tasted World Cup action once before – in 1938, when it competed as the Dutch East Indies, then a colony of the Netherlands.

The South East Asian side had a good run in 2026 though, reaching the final qualifying round.

But that performance is perhaps better explained by a decision to recruit European players with Indonesian heritage rather than relying on homegrown talent.

“At times there were eight or nine European-born players in Indonesia’s starting XI,” says Jerome Wirawan, News Editor at the BBC’s Indonesian service.

Pakistan and Bangladesh exited the Asian qualifiers at the group stage, with no wins in six matches. Pakistan was also banned from international football three times by Fifa between 2017 and 2025 for political infighting in its governing body.

The BBC and ITV are in stiff competition over every aspect of World Cup coverage – but there’s only one winner when it comes to the television pundits.

Some have been an instant hit with viewers, others a damp squib. Now it it time for Daily Mail Sport to have our say on who has stood out from the crowd.

The main considerations are how influential their opinions are, how distinctive they are as pundits, and how their coverage has been received by the audience.

We have decided to only include the regular television pundits. One-off guests have been cast aside, so our sincere apologies to Gary Lineker after his ITV cameo. 

Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

25. Olivier Giroud (BBC)

Olivier Giroud has brought a certain je ne sais quoi to his World Cup coverage, but in a very literal sense. People don’t know what he’s talking about.  

The Frenchman has been pelted with rotten tomatoes on social media after a difficult start to life as a pundit. Some have called him a ‘big problem’, ‘boring,’ and ‘clueless’, with others even calling for him to be replaced. A bit harsh on the current Lille striker.

Sadly, the key issue is that his command of the English language, naturally, lags behind high-quality broadcasters and so he does stick out like a sore thumb. He’s only making his baby steps as a pundit, but whether he’ll get a chance to reach adolescence remains to be seen. 

24. Gael Clichy (BBC)

We promise we don’t have anything against French pundits!

Again, fair play to Gael Clichy for giving punditry a go in a foreign language. One main criticism is that he seems overly attached to Cristiano Ronaldo. He has continually eulogised the Portugal forward when his performances have called for a more balanced critique. 

At least his lack of familiarity with English broadcasting convention led to one funny incident. ‘Ronaldo used to take the p*** out of people,’ he said moments before the Portugal-DR Congo game, well before the watershed. French TV tends to be less puritanical. 

Gael Clichy is another tackling the punditry game in a language foreign to his own 

23. Cesar Azpilicueta (BBC)

Cesar Azpilicueta celebrated his first punditry outing with a 253-word LinkedIn post gushing about how enriching it has been, much like a bright-eyed intern. You can’t fault his enthusiasm.

While the former Chelsea defender hasn’t pulled up any trees, he has looked immediately comfortable on TV at the very least.

Unfortunately he has been the victim of fake quotes being spread on social media. Welcome to the internet, Cesar.

Cesar Azpilicueta hasn’t pulled up any trees but looks immediately comfortable on BBC’s panel

22. Juan Mata (ITV)

Juan Mata is another punditry newbie and as such he has been given some of the more toilsome work, making his debut for Australia-Turkey at 5am.

It’s early days but the Spaniard has at least demonstrated the conviction to nail his flag to the mast.

Asked by Laura Woods whether he’d rather have Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona in a team, he gave a definitive answer (he opted for little Leo) where others might have equivocated. 

Juan Mata made his World Cup punditry debut during Australia’s clash with Turkey on ITV

21. Karen Carney (ITV)

Karen Carney is among the most targeted pundits on social media, often due to blatant sexism, so it is to her credit that she soldiers on and earns her crust.

As much as she generates it, Carney doesn’t court controversy. She approaches her work professionally. She has the football IQ to be at the top table. 

However, the overriding sentiment among viewers is that her punditry is bland.

20. Jobi McAnuff (ITV) 

Listen to Jobi McAnuff and you will notice how eloquent he is. No one can fault the depth of his research either. That might sound a bare minimum but it’s not always the case in a land of bleating broadcasters.

Unfortunately the former Reading and Leyton Orient midfielder’s name doesn’t carry the weight to drive the agenda in the way that some of his ITV colleagues can. 

19. Rachel Corsie (BBC)

Former Scotland women’s captain Rachel Corsie clearly prepares well and is a very detail-oriented pundit. 

The BBC has treated her in a very narrow sense of: ‘explain this football match to us.’ She hasn’t been given much of a chance to show her personality or strike up a rapport with fellow Tartan Army pundit Scott Brown, so her input has been quite limited.  

Rachel Corsie is a well-prepared pundit but hasn’t been given a very broad remit 

18. Scott Brown (BBC)

Brown has lots of potential as a pundit but failed to really unleash himself at this World Cup and often felt quite monotone.

After Scotland’s 3-0 defeat by Brazil, the strongest adjective he could muster was ‘disappointing,’ which fell short of expressing the feelings of the fans back home. Was this not gut-wrenching and a catastrophe? 

When he spreads his wings, Brown is impressive. He was highly energetic and insightful in some of his recent analyses with tactics correspondent Umir Irfan.  

The BBC could have allowed Scott Brown to spread his wings more for Scotland’s coverage

17. Steph Houghton (BBC) 

Former England captain Steph Houghton certainly had the pedigree to talk about World Cups after playing in three of them. Houghton, of course, missed a penalty against the United States in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals. 

That she even finds the capacity to work is remarkable. Her husband, former Liverpool player Stephen Darby, who she has supported so much, is currently suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. 

Like other female pundits, she has faced inestimable levels of vitriol online. Kindness is in short supply. Houghton, when you listen, is well-prepared and knowledgeable. 

16. Lucas Leiva (BBC) 

Lucas Leiva does not look like he has aged a day in the nine years since he left Liverpool – and his cheeky chappy personality hasn’t changed, either. 

The Brazilian has been a good source of knowledge on his homeland, who are more under the radar than usual, and has brought some levity to the late-night broadcasts.

He also had the grace to not stick the boot in too much when the Selecao beat Scotland…

15. Benni McCarthy (BBC)

Former Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy has pulled no punches when talking about his beloved South Africa’s struggles at the World Cup.

The 48-year-old even jokingly offered his own services after their draw against the Czech Republic, quipping: ‘They really could have done with someone like me up front!’

An energetic speaker with splashes of humour – he went viral for his speechless reaction to Bafana Bafana’s opening-day defeat against Mexico – McCarthy is an easy watch.

Former Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy has brought flashes of humour to his BBC punditry

Advertisement

14. Bradley Wright-Phillips (ITV)

One thing is for certain with Bradley Wright-Phillips: he tells it like it is.

‘They’ve got no hope,’ he said after Scotland’s defeat against Brazil. ‘They’ve shot themselves in the foot too many times. The worst thing as a player is looking back and regretting. In that camp, they’ll look back and think: “We could have done more.” That’s the hardest thing to live with. No disrespect to Haiti, go and score some goals against them.’

Where the BBC’s pundits were mealy-mouthed on Scotland, he gave a bold opinion. His on-air reunion with his dad, Ian Wright, after 18 months apart was touching.  

13. Ashley Williams (BBC)

Ashley Williams is a good and likeable pundit but unfortunately his standout moment this tournament was getting ribbed on social media.

After Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria, the former Wales defender appeared to have a lightbulb moment, saying: ‘Are we looking at the greatest player ever? It’s possible. It’s definitely worth the debate. We might have just witnessed the greatest player that football has ever seen.’

Cue all the jokes about him living under a rock for 20 years. That debate has been and gone, Ashley. Kinder viewers will note his analytical skill and tendency to bring his co-panelists into the discussion, giving the broadcast a conversational feel.

Ashley Williams’ standout moment this tournament was him getting ribbed on social media

12. Patrick Vieira (ITV)

Patrick Vieira is an experienced hand with this punditry dance and isn’t likely to drop many clangers.

Until ITV stick him next to his old rival Roy Keane, they’re probably not going to make the most of him. Not much to note so far.

Experienced Patrick Vieira has had a quiet start to the World Cup but is a safe pair of hands

11. Wayne Rooney (BBC)

Rooney has come on leaps and bounds as a speaker. Watch him now and compare it to a few years back and the contrast is like night and day.

He speaks with a lot more confidence and fluency and appears to be more comfortable in himself. Rooney has previously admitted to his nerves and while there are still a few shaky moments, he is more polished as a pundit now.

His next step is to build a distinctive style as a pundit. Few come close to his level of experience in football and we’re starting to see why the BBC thinks he has potential.

Wayne Rooney has come on leaps and bounds as a speaker as part of BBC’s punditry team

10. Ellen White (BBC)

Ellen White has been bunged with some of the less glamorous overnight jobs – Croatia vs Panama at midnight, for example – but has done a good job.

She’s warm, articulate and, where she can, tends to favour praising players than tearing them down.

The Lionesses’ record goalscorer exudes a more traditional charm, rather than pandering to social media with powderkeg opinions or laugh-a-minute tomfoolery. That can see her go under the radar.

9. Joe Hart (BBC)

Joe Hart is arguably the brightest talent among the ‘new wave’ of pundits.

The 75-cap former England captain is genuinely illuminating when talking about his fellow goalkeepers. He’ll break down their footwork, timing, how they jump, hand shape, any minutiae you haven’t even thought of.

His analysis of why so many long shots have gone in – because the Trionda ball doesn’t spin much when it’s flying – is much more detailed than what most of his rivals could ever offer.

Joe Hart is one of punditry’s rising stars and offers excellent analysis in the goalkeeper role

8. Thomas Frank (BBC)

A recent Premier League manager, Thomas Frank is thoughtful and meticulous. You could trust him with the most obscure game and he’ll pick things out other people haven’t noticed.

He carries himself with a slightly eccentric manner – you never quite know which way his thoughts are going to veer – and it makes him an engaging watch. However, he might not be everybody’s cup of tea.

Thomas Frank carries himself with a slightly eccentric manner – which makes him engaging

Advertisement

7. Ange Postecoglou (ITV)

‘Big Ange’ brings an Australian lilt and charm to his punditry which provides a pleasing contrast to some of his more stiff-collared counterparts. ‘Mate, he’s in an off-side position,’ he drawled at one juncture.

Like Frank, he brings a sharper eye and deeper analysis than most and presents his thoughts in a clear manner. He’s also less predictable than the likes of Gary Neville and Roy Keane, though he will always bang the drum for attacking football.

At times he can stray into being too academic, talking of less familiar concepts such as ‘half-spaces’, but you always come away feeling like you’ve learned something.

Ex-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou brings charm and thorough analysis to ITV’s punditry panel

Advertisement

6. Duncan Ferguson (ITV) 

Former Everton and Newcastle striker Duncan Ferguson has been one of the surprise packages of this tournament’s punditry panel.

He’s honest, passionate, and funny. Not only that, he’s highly adaptable – stick him on any match or in any situation and he looks right at home.

In the same broadcast, he questioned Steve Clarke’s resignation (against the grain) and then put himself forward for the job. He’s bantered with Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean. His self-deprecating touch – joking about his 10 operations, for example, have made him a hit with his co-pundits and the audience. Should be called on more often during the next Premier League season. 

Advertisement

5. Emma Hayes (ITV)

Emma Hayes has the hardest job of any talking head at the World Cup and is making it look like a piece of cake.

Her insights – delivered during FIFA’s money-grabbing hydration breaks – are second to none. The ability to watch a game live, spot trends, and explain them succinctly to viewers is a real skill. She does it at a moment’s notice and without assistance from anyone else in the studio.

The legendary ex-Lionesses manager has withstood a putrid tide of sexist abuse on social media and made her critics look like buffoons. You don’t have to like her, but her authority and competence are unimpeachable.

Emma Hayes has been superb at giving detailed analysis during FIFA’s hydration breaks

Advertisement

4. Micah Richards (BBC)

It’s an interesting thought experiment: can Micah Richards survive when he is unplugged from Roy Keane and Alan Shearer? Does he simply subsist to poke fun at them and laugh at his own jokes, or does he have an alternative setting?

As it turns out, he is more versatile than he gets credit for. Richards is not merely a rent-a-joke entertainer. His experience on Match of the Day and Sky Sports has made him a fine clip analyst.

Any broadcast with Richards on is brighter and bolder. Even in this more constrained mode with the BBC, he stands out for how he brings energy to the discussion and coaxes the best out of the other pundits around him. The best the BBC have got. 

3. Roy Keane (ITV)

It is interesting to see Roy Keane mellow. His most popular moments now are his (intentional) unintentional comedic moments. Re-watch his analysis from Portugal’s demolition of Uzbekistan and you’ll see that he spends most of his time making quips at Gary Neville’s expense.

He still remains one of the only true forthright pundits, a man who will criticise players without fear or favour, though he has toned things down a tad. 

2. Gary Neville (ITV)

Gary Neville has to be in the conversation for king of the jungle. He has nailed the art of punditry.  

As always, Neville has been well-informed and outspoken. On ITV’s airwaves he has held FIFA to account over ticket prices and given a balanced appraisal of Cristiano Ronaldo.

His ongoing commitment to his podcast may detract from his availability for ITV, but he’s an automatic headline dispenser when they’ve got him on, drawing attention to their coverage over the BBC’s. 

Gary Neville has been juggling his ITV work with his ongoing podcast commitment 

1. Ian Wright (ITV) 

Ian Wright has become an uncle to the nation. Pretty much anything he says about the beautiful game, at least in the big-picture sense, hits the nail on the head. 

You can trust him to challenge FIFA to the very last breath as they continue to do their worst at running the game. His video posted shortly after Somalian referee Omar Artan was banned from entering the United States has garnered 8.7million views. People care about what he has to say and he connects with the public. 

He has not always behaved perfectly, but in his punditry, he carries himself with a humanity and a natural sympathy for players, particularly young ones. A man who treats his microphone responsibly. ITV bagging him over the BBC is a knockout blow. 

Ian Wright has once again shown himself to be a humane and outspoken pundit 

Verdict

ITV have six of the seven best. The BBC has the three worst. There’s no debate over which broadcaster has won the battle.

How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE

Mourners flooded the streets of Tehran as funeral ceremonies for Iran‘s supreme leader Ali Khamenei officially began on Saturday, amid chants of ‘death to America!’ over his killing.

Iranian authorities say they anticipate between 15 and 20 million participants in the capital alone over the next three days for tributes to the man who ran the country for 36 years.

Six days of funeral ceremonies are planned to commemorate Khamenei, who ruled the Islamic republic as its number one from 1989 until his killing aged 86 on the first day of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28.

Intelligence analysts are likely to look for any signs of Khamenei’s son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named supreme leader a week after the killing of his father but is yet to appear in public.

Iran chose July 4, the 250th anniversary of the creation of the US, to begin the funeral.

Thousands of mourners carrying flags and red banners – a symbol of vengeance – were seen gathering in the courtyard of Tehran’s vast Grand Mosalla religious complex waiting for the arrival of Khamenei’s coffin.

Meanwhile billboards across the city bore Khamenei’s image.

Crowds of men rhythmically beat their chests in mourning, a common practice at Shiite funerals. 

When it arrived, authorities unveiled the casket containing Khamenei’s body in a glass case. Mourners wept at the sight, with some chanting ‘death to America’ and ‘our word is one! Revenge! Revenge!’ 

Some mourners were reported to have walked several kilometres to reach the venue. Hundreds of supporters of the Islamic republic were already waiting on Friday evening outside the Grand Mosalla.

Thousands of mourners carrying flags and red banners – a symbol of vengeance

Crowds gathered in the courtyard of Tehran’s vast Grand Mosalla religious complex awaiting the arrival of Khamenei’s coffin 

Thousands of Iranian women, all wearing black chadors, gathered with banners and flags

The area around the complex was awash with flags and banners as the ceremony began

Advertisement

Millions are expected by authorities to flood the streets of Tehran over the coming days 

A mourner carries flowers and a portrait of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with a child

The casket containing Khamenei’s body has gone on display in a glass case with his black turban atop it

Other relatives killed in the strikes alongside Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will also be buried, including Ali Khamenei’s infant granddaughter and Mojtaba Khamenei’s late wife

Advertisement

‘I am here to say goodbye to my beloved leader Ali Khamenei,’ said a weeping Hananeh Mousavi, 27, who attended the funeral alongside her mother. ‘I never expected to see such a day. I wish I had died before this tragedy.’ 

Fellow mourner Somayye Hamedi said: ‘We want to say a final goodbye to our leader, which is why waiting like this isn’t painful or difficult for us.’ 

‘We attended the funeral to show that we are all committed to defend our country and religion,’ said Ali Kazemi, who came from the northwestern city of Tabriz, some 530 kilometers (330 miles) away from Tehran. 

An outdoor stage set up at the Grand Mosalla resembled the stage where Khamenei once gave his speeches at a husseiniyah at his compound in downtown Tehran. 

That site was destroyed in the Israeli airstrike that killed Khamenei and some of his family at the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28. 

The caskets of his dead family members sat beneath his, which had his black turban atop it, identifying him as a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad.

Significant security measures have been imposed, with roads blocked and airspace expected to be closed for what is set to be the largest-scale public event in Iran since the burial of Khamenei’s predecessor Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989.

Six days of funeral ceremonies are planned to commemorate Khamenei, who ruled the Islamic republic as its number one from 1989 until his killing aged 86 on the first day of the US-Israeli war with Iran on February 28

Advertisement

The funeral ceremonies began on Saturday at the grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran

Mourners chanted and held up banners calling for ‘revenge’ and ‘death to America!’

A woman holds up an image of US President Donald Trump with a target and the words ‘there will be blood’ in a call for revenge over Khomeini’s killing

Some mourners were reported to have walked several kilometres to reach the venue

Advertisement

The funeral is set to be the largest-scale public event in Iran since the burial of Khamenei’s predecessor Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989

Mourners were seen holding their heads and beating their chests during the farewell ceremony

The coffin will lie in state until Monday, when a procession will pass through Tehran. On Tuesday it will move to the clerical hub of Qom, before moving on Wednesday to cities holy to Shia Muslims in neighbouring Iraq, then proceeding for burial on Thursday in Khamenei’s home city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.

Officials who survived the war showed their grief and displayed a united front on Friday, with parliament speaker and top negotiator in the US talks Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visibly tearful.

Top Iranian officials paying their respects included Ahmad Vahidi, who was named chief of the powerful Revolutionary Guards after his predecessor was killed in the same strikes that killed Khamenei but had not been seen since.

The coming days will be closely watched for signs of Mojtaba Khamenei, who has communicated only by written statements and is said to have been wounded in the same strikes, though the extent of his injuries was never made clear.

Other relatives killed in the strikes will also be buried, including Ali Khamenei’s infant granddaughter and Mojtaba Khamenei’s late wife.

International guests paying respects on Friday included Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been mediating between Iran and the US, and Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of the Russian security council, who attended on behalf of President Vladimir Putin.

International guests paying respects on Friday included Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of the Russian security council, who attended on behalf of President Vladimir Putin

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been mediating between Iran and the US, was also in attendance at a farewell ceremony on Friday

The Taliban government in Afghanistan was also represented at Friday’s ceremony

Turkish representatives, including Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, (centre) also attended 

Advertisement

Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah, both backed by Tehran, were also represented, as was the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

After five weeks of fighting, the Middle East conflict is on hold following an initial accord between Iran and the US. But Iranian officials have warned Tehran is ready to resume fighting if needed.

‘The nation’s call for vengeance must ring in the ears of the whole world,’ said Ghalibaf, who urged Iranians to turn out en masse.

Army chief Amir Hatami vowed Israel and the US ‘will pay for the blood of the martyred leader and all the nation’s martyrs’.

But authorities will also want the event to go smoothly, deeply aware of the risk of crowd crushes, which have marred similar events in the past, with TV broadcasting guidelines on how to stay safe.

With temperatures well over 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) expected over the next few days in Tehran, tankers were stationed to spray water on the roads to cool down attendees.

Ahead of the ceremonies, media sources reported that Tehran was quieter than usual with many normally busy streets free of the capital’s notorious traffic.

As the official mourning period began, US President Donald Trump gave a speech in South Dakota in front of Mount Rushmore.

‘We knocked the hell out of Iran’, he began. ‘They want to settle so badly. We gave them a week off for a funeral.’

The American president was not forgotten in Tehran. 

In the crowd in Grand Mosalla, several mourners held a large flag that read: “#KillTrump.”

Meanwhile Israel’s repeated threats to kill Mojtaba Khamenei drew a warning from Iran’s joint military command Thursday, which told Israel and the US ‘to avoid any miscalculation’ over the coming days. 

A week on from the tragedy, flowers were left at the scene at Clifton Country Park along with tributes to a young man affectionately known as “Leon the Champion” and “King Leon.”

Police officers have said previously that there are no suspicious circumstances in connection with the incident.

Speaking earlier this week, Detective Inspector Dave Ogden from Salford CID said: “Saturday’s incident is truly heart-breaking, and my thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of the young boy who has so tragically lost his life.

“While we are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances, this incident is an incredibly upsetting reminder of the serious risks associated with open water.

Tributes have been left at the scene were a boy tragically died (Image: Phil Taylor)

“We understand people want to make the most of the warm weather, but we would urge everyone to stay safe and avoid entering reservoirs, rivers, canals, or ponds.

“Please take care and enjoy the weather in a safe way.”

Officers confirmed on Monday, June 29, that after a three-day search at Clifton Country Park, a popular visitors’ destination in the region, they had found a body at the scene.

The tragedy occurred at Clifton Country Park in Salford (Image: Phil Taylor)

His body was eventually found and recovered by the North West Under Water Search and Marine Unit.

They had been called to the scene after a 15-year-old boy was believed to have entered the water and got into difficulty on Saturday, June 27.

Firefighters from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service were also called to the scene along with paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service.

Flowers and messages have been left at the scene (Image: Phil Taylor)

Salford City Council confirmed earlier this week it was cooperating with an investigation into the incident.

A spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the devastating news that a body has now been recovered by emergency services, following the tragic incident at Clifton Country Park.

“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the individual at this extremely distressing time.”

Members of the public have been urged to always call 999 in the event of an emergency as soon as it is safe to do so.

The man could have important information, police say

Officers have released a CCTV image amid an investigation in north Manchester. Greater Manchester Police says it was called out to reports of an attempted burglary on Carron Avenue, in Moston, on Wednesday (July 1).

An investigation has been taking shape in the last few days. GMP released an image showing a man they wish to speak to on Friday evening. Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to come forward.

A GMP Manchester North spokesperson said: “Officers would like to speak with the man pictured as they believe he could help with an ongoing investigation. We were called to reports of an attempted burglary at an address on Carron Avenue in Manchester on Wednesday, July 1 2026.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or via https://orlo.uk/lL7xm, quoting crime reference CRI/06A1/0013303/26. Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our
articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local
services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local
community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need
as much support as possible during these challenging times.

England were booed as they arrived at their Mexico City hotel to prepare for their World Cup last-16 game against Mexico.

England face the tournament co-hosts on Sunday (01:00 BST, Monday), a match which will be shown live on BBC One and iPlayer.

There is increased security at England’s hotel after Ecuador, whom Mexico played in the last 32 in Mexico City, lodged a noise complaint with Fifa.

Ecuador players were deliberately kept awake by local supporters, who used loudspeakers, horns and motorcycles outside the team hotel late at night.

Mexico went on to win 2-0.

Ecuador stayed in the Westin Hotel and England wanted to keep their location undisclosed, but there were concerns that the location would be leaked.

Hundreds of locals were waiting outside their hotel as the team coach arrived on Friday, with some chanting “Mexico” and others booing.

Members of Mexico’s National Guard lined the entrance to England’s hotel, while police officers in riot gear stood next to barriers on the road outside the hotel.

Eastern Airways, which operated regional services from airports across the UK, entered administration at the end of last year.

The firm suffered financial difficulties after the loss of a contract with airline KLM.

Now, a potential rescue deal for the company and its affiliated company, Air Kilroe, has fallen through.

When did Eastern Airways enter administration?

Eastern Airways suspended operations at the beginning of November, with all operated flights cancelled.

Selina Chadha, Consumer & Markets Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said at the time: “We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all Eastern Airways flights are cancelled.

“Eastern Airways customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website for the latest information.”

Eastern Airways was founded in 1997 and was headquartered at Humberside Airport near the village of Kirmington in North Lincolnshire.

The airline operated domestic, international and private charter flights, with more than a million passengers flying with the airline per rolling year.

It provided 200 flights per day and employed around 330 staff members at its peak, and as well as routes across the UK, it also had some routes to Ireland and Europe.

The airline also had its own hubs in Aberdeen and Humberside.

Eastern Airways to disappear after 29 years as rescue deal fails

A potential rescue deal for Eastern Airlines, and its affiliated company Air Kilroe, has now fallen through, meaning administrators are unable to save the airline.

Administrators RSM UK are now set to break up and sell the businesses’ assets separately, according to a report from The Sun.

A joint sale of Eastern and Air Kilroe had been looked at, as the companies had operated under a single business.

At the time the business collapsed, RSM said “high fixed overheads” and its staff base had “ultimately proved too high to be sustainable”.

Jamie Miller, partner at RSM UK and joint administrator, said at the time: “The unexpected and sudden termination of Eastern’s KLM contract, along with other economic factors, unfortunately left the directors with no choice but to appoint administrators.”

Now, all nine of Eastern Airways’ aircraft fleet have been sold, along with plane parts and components.

Airlines and travel companies that have gone into liquidation or administration in 2026

Four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation this year:

Several airlines also entered liquidation in 2025, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, including:

• Blue Islands Limited (UK)
• Air Kilroe Limited t/a Eastern Airways (UK)
• Play Airlines (Iceland)

Several travel companies have also entered administration this year, including:

Luxury UK holiday company Salamander Voyages shut down back in April after entering administration.

Just last month, Groupia Ltd, which also trades as Groupia Golf, GoHen, StagWeb, Groupia School Trips, and Company Away Days, also fell into administration.

It offered customers “the best” group travel holidays to destinations in the UK and abroad, including Prague, Split, and Barcelona.

More than 750,000 travellers have used the company since it began back in 2002, booking everything from stag and hen weekends to golf trips, team tours, and spa breaks.

After 24 years in business, Groupia, which is based in Bath, has now fallen into administration.

Nigel Fox and Christopher Marsden of S&W Partners LLP were appointed joint administrators on June 16, according to the Groupia website.

It continues: “The Company has now ceased taking new bookings, and arrangements are in place with ABTOT to support customers with existing bookings.”

Bookings on or before August 31, 2026, are expected to go ahead as planned, the Groupia website says, thanks to an arrangement with ABTOT (financial protection company).

Any holidays booked with Groupia for after September 1, 2026, have been cancelled.

Have you been affected by any airline or travel company closures so far this year? Let us know in the comments.