Manchester City have sold out a fresh allocation of over 4,000 Flexi season tickets as they open a scheme for local residents.

Manchester City knew that the jokes would come when they announced £10 tickets for their most local fans. There are thousands of original wits on the internet waiting to make a joke about empty seats.

Making fun of your rivals is part of what makes football so good, but another thing that makes the sport is people being able to go to games and watch them. That is an increasing worry in a business that was built on working-class fans but is now in the hands of sheikhs, hedge funds, and billionaires – and FIFA, let us not forget.

One of the lingering questions around City expanding their stadium again to take the capacity to over 60,000 was how they were going to fill it. That will get easier once everything else around that part of the ground is up and running, but that will take some time.

And yet City are doing just fine actually. It went under the radar given the World Cup and everything else going on in the world, but the club have recently sold out of the new allocation of more than 4,000 Flexi season tickets that have come up in the new Pep Guardiola stand.

There’s a philosophical debate to be had over how authentic the Flexi tickets are, yet the bottom line is that there will now be over 40,000 Blues in the Etihad every week who have a ticket that means they can attend every home game. The fact that half of that number was ringfenced for junior Blues means that the stadium expansion has allowed more of the next generation of City fans to get their foot in the door.

That doesn’t mean that everything at the club is perfect or that they get everything right on tickets, but when there have been concerns at City and elsewhere about families being priced out and season ticket holders being phased out these are clear steps at the Etihad to shut down the worries and reverse the trend.

This has been done at a time when it would have been very easy for City to follow most of their rivals in putting up prices around the ground and making it more and more difficult for their most local and loyal supporters. No wonder there were so many fans of other clubs responding to the new scheme with residents jealous that (Liverpool excepted) their fanbase isn’t offered that.

The offer of £10 tickets for adults who live in five wards surrounding the Etihad will not please everyone, and there are plenty of Mancunians who have stopped going in recent years because the cost or the effort got too much. The scheme, with between 100 and 500 tickets offered every game, will surely help the atmosphere for those rainy, rearranged midweek games in the middle of the season when many regulars decide to swerve a match.

At the same time though, the number of tickets has been deliberately capped at a maximum 500 after negotiations with fan board City Matters because it was felt by those regular supporters that the fanbase should not be more heavily diluted. Given the stadium will be more than two-thirds full with season-ticket holders, that is a healthy base to build on.

Giving away cheap or free tickets can see big clubs laughed at or looked down on, but in a game that is becoming more and more expensive at the top, any attempts to keep prices down should be appreciated. As a football club, you should want people to be excited to come and support the team rather than resent the price or have the expectation of being entertained.

Going to the football is not like going to the theatre or the concerts, and those in charge of setting prices should remember that. City haven’t always, but in recent years have started to listen more to their fans. When supporters voted with their feet on ticket prices, excluding the next generation, season tickets and the detested ticket transfer policy, the club have responded to try to make things better.

You could, of course, argue that it was the club that created the problems in the first place, but in a time when the general direction in football – and the country – has been to ignore the difficulties of people being increasingly unable to afford what they previously could, City deserve credit for listening and acting. Judging by recent sales, making their tickets more affordable has made them more attractive.

By showing local fans that they care about them as a community rather than simply assets, City are earning goodwill and loyalty that can rival cold hard cash for value to a football club. And with the new scheme for local residents inviting more fans, the Blues can chortle along with the jokes around it all the way to the bank as they enjoy the last laugh.

A friendly social media wager between Norwegian Air and British Airways culminated in the Norwegian carrier temporarily replacing its Instagram profile logo with British Airways’ iconic Speedmarque after England defeated Norway 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.

The challenge, agreed upon days before the match, required the losing airline to adopt its rival’s logo for a day. Following England’s extra-time victory in Miami, Norwegian honoured the agreement with a congratulatory post, bringing to a close a light-hearted campaign that attracted widespread attention and prompted several international airlines to join the online exchange.

How the World Cup wager began

The challenge started on July 8 when Norwegian Air tagged British Airways on Instagram and asked whether it was prepared to “risk your logo”. It proposed that the losing airline would replace its Instagram profile picture with that of its rival for one day after the England-Norway quarter-final.

British Airways responded in similar fashion, first saying Norwegian should not make bets it could not win before joking that it was “Nor-way” scared. After several exchanges, the British carrier formally accepted the challenge, saying Norwegian should not be surprised if it claimed victory “at cruising altitude”.

To mark the agreement, representatives from both airlines later appeared in a joint video, shaking hands and confirming that the wager was purely a friendly contest linked to the World Cup.

Check the video here:

Bellingham then scored again early in extra time to complete England’s comeback and send the Three Lions into the FIFA World Cup semi-finals. The result meant Norwegian Air had officially lost the wager.

Norwegian Air changes its logo

Honouring its promise, Norwegian Air replaced its Instagram profile picture with British Airways’ Speedmarque logo shortly after the match.

In its post, the airline congratulated England and British Airways, saying “It’s coming home” while wishing them well for the semi-finals. It added that although Norway’s World Cup journey had ended, the friendly wager would remain memorable and expressed hope that England would go on to “bring football home”.

Check the post here:

Malaysia Airlines joked that it would watch the contest with “satay in one hand and a signature drink in the other”, while Austrian Airlines responded that it would “bring the schnitzel”. SWISS also joined the thread, joking that it had no time for popcorn because it had to prepare for Argentina and Lionel Messi.

After Norwegian changed its logo, Malaysia Airlines returned with another humorous comment, saying it respected the airline because “most airlines need six months and 14 approvals to change a logo”.

Other carriers, including Finnair, airBaltic, KLM, Riyadh Air, Qantas, Virgin Australia and Kenya Airways, also participated in the conversation, helping turn a simple World Cup wager into one of the tournament’s most widely shared brand interactions on social media.

Yesterday, the quarter-finals came to an end with Argentina’s win over Switzerland, and now the World Cup gets even more exciting with the two blockbuster semi-final clashes: France-Spain and Argentina-England. 

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Meanwhile, the transfer market continues to heat up. Here are the most important stories of the day.

Juve, Carnevali makes a move for Pellegrino

Juventus have made their first move to sign Mateo Pellegrino, submitting an initial official offer to Parma for the Argentine striker. According to Tuttosport, the Bianconeri are looking for a new centre-forward, and the Argentine’s profile has become the top priority for the management led by Carnevali.

Juventus’ offer is a loan with an obligation to buy set at €30 million, which would be triggered if the club finishes in 10th place in Serie A. A condition considered easy to meet, but one that does not convince Parma. The Emilian club would prefer to receive the €30 million immediately, without waiting for the permanent transfer clause to kick in. The negotiations therefore remain open, with Juventus now having to assess their next move.

Milan, Cardinale digs in over Rabiot

The future of Adrien Rabiot continues to be a talking point. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, despite recent rumours linking him with Napoli, Rabiot has no intention of forcing a move away. The midfielder signed a contract last summer until 2028, and his departure could only materialise in the face of a particularly significant offer.

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Gerry Cardinale has reportedly already expressed his desire to keep the Frenchman, ruling out the possibility of a sale that could strengthen Napoli. In addition, coach Amorim considers Rabiot a key part of his project, envisioning him in the holding midfield role in his 3-4-2-1 system.

Inter, Doué is the alternative to Khalaili

Inter continue to wait for updates on Khalaili’s condition, with the player set to undergo further medical tests tomorrow. According to Sky Sport, the Nerazzurri remain confident and hope the checks will yield a positive result, allowing the deal to be completed.

At the moment, it is still too early to assess alternative scenarios. However, if the deal for Khalaili does not go through, Inter have already opened initial exploratory talks for Doué, a profile they could return to in the coming hours.

Napoli, Zeballos is getting closer

Napoli are close to completing the signing of Exequiel Zeballos. According to Tuttosport, talks with Boca Juniors are now in the final details, and the Azzurri are ready to secure one of the most promising talents in Argentine football. Boca Juniors are expected to receive around €10 million. As for the player, a long-term contract until 2031 is ready, with an initial salary of around €1.4 million per season.

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The deal, again according to the newspaper, has entered its final stage, and Napoli are aiming to sort out the last details to complete the arrival of the Argentine winger.

Roma, D’Amico studies the formula for Garnacho

Roma continue to track Alejandro Garnacho as a reinforcement for the transfer market. According to Il Messaggero, the Giallorossi have identified the Argentine and Diego Moreira as their main targets to strengthen the squad. As for Garnacho, news emerged in recent hours of his exclusion from Chelsea’s training camp. The Blues are aiming for a permanent sale, but Roma consider the valuation of around €45-50 million too high.

For this reason, sporting director D’Amico would like to structure the deal along the lines of the Malen transfer, including conditions that would trigger an obligation to buy, such as a certain number of goals or Roma qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Lazio, Doekhi emerges as a defensive option

Lazio continue to work in the market in search of defensive reinforcements following the major departures of Romagnoli, who moved to Saudi Arabia, and Gila, fresh from signing with Milan. With the market virtually at a standstill and the need to sell before thinking about any incomings, the Biancocelesti are looking into a free transfer signing. According to Fabrizio Romano, Lazio have set their sights on Danilho Doekhi. 

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The defender, formerly of Union Berlin, represents a free-agent opportunity and is on Lazio’s shortlist, with initial contacts already having been made. 

Fiorentina, gap with Trabzonspor over Oulai

Among the profiles Fiorentina are following for midfield is Christ Inao Oulai, currently at Trabzonspor. According to La Nazione, the Viola have repeatedly stated that the player is not a concrete transfer target, but reports from Turkey continue to link him with Paratici’s side.

Trabzonspor value Oulai at around €40 million, a price considered very high. Fiorentina, on the other hand, could go a little above €20 million, leaving a significant gap between the parties.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

Argentina booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in Kansas City, with Julian Alvarez’s stunning strike proving the turning point in a tense quarter-final.

The reigning world champions will now face England in a blockbuster last-four clash after surviving a determined Swiss performance.

Here are the major talking points from the thrilling encounter:

Alvarez’s Moment of Magic Sends Argentina Through

With the match level at 1-1 and heading towards penalties, Julian Alvarez produced a moment of brilliance in extra time. The Manchester City forward curled a superb 25-yard strike beyond goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to give Argentina the lead.

Lautaro Martinez later sealed the victory on the counter-attack as Switzerland searched desperately for another equaliser.

Embolo’s Red Card Sparks Huge Controversy

The biggest talking point came midway through the second half when Switzerland striker Breel Embolo was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

Initially, Leandro Paredes was booked for what appeared to be a foul on Embolo. However, after a VAR review under the mistaken identity rule, the referee overturned the booking after replays showed Embolo had simulated contact.

The Swiss striker, who had already been cautioned earlier, received a second yellow card for diving and was sent off in tears, leaving Switzerland to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.

Switzerland Impress Despite Heartbreak

Switzerland produced one of their best performances of the tournament and looked the better side for long periods.

Dan Ndoye cancelled out Alexis Mac Allister’s early opener with a well-worked equaliser in the 67th minute after combining with Ricardo Rodriguez before finishing through Emiliano Martinez’s legs.

Even after the dismissal of Embolo, Switzerland defended bravely but were eventually undone in extra time.

Messi Creates History Again

Although Lionel Messi failed to score for the first time at this World Cup, the Argentina captain still made history.

His corner led to Mac Allister’s opening goal, making Messi the first player ever to register 10 assists in FIFA World Cup matches.

Argentina Continue Incredible Scoring Run

Argentina also set a new World Cup record after scoring at least twice for the 11th consecutive World Cup match.

The South Americans have now scored in 15 straight World Cup matches, breaking Uruguay’s previous record for the longest run of scoring multiple goals in the competition.

England Await in Mouth-Watering Semi-final

Argentina’s reward is a heavyweight semi-final against England on Wednesday, 15 July, in Atlanta.

The winner of that clash will advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where either France or Spain will be waiting. With both teams packed with world-class talent, the meeting promises to be one of the biggest matches of the tournament.

The San Diego Padres staked starter Walker Buehler to a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. He immediately surrendered four runs and the Padres headed back to their dugout for their turn at the plate in the bottom of the inning, trailing the Blue Jays, 4-2. Both teams traded blows with the game being tied two times at 4-4 and 7-7 before Ty France hit a decisive solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead San Diego to an 8-7 win at Petco Park on Saturday night.

Buehler had his third consecutive disappointing outing. He allowed four runs on three hits with four walks and one strikeout over just two innings. Matt Waldron who just returned to the Padres, was forced into action and was effective over three innings. He did not allow a run and limited the Blue Jays to just two hits. San Diego held a 7-4 lead when Waldron left the game, but Bradgley Rodriguez came on to pitch for Yuki Matsui with two on in the top of the sixth inning and surrendered a three-run home run to Vladamir Guerrero Jr. which tied the game at 7-7.

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France responded in the bottom of the sixth inning when he connected on a solo home run with two outs in the inning that put the Padres ahead by a run. Both teams failed to add to their run totals over the next two innings and Mason Miller came on to close the game and ensure the win for San Diego.

The Padres will look to win the series against the Blue Jays to head into the All-Star break with a .500 record today at 1:10 p.m.

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England head coach Thomas Tuchel talks to England’s Jude Bellingham (10) during the World Cup round of 32 football match between England and Congo in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo)

Jude Bellingham appeared surprised after learning that England manager Thomas Tuchel was unhappy with the team’s performance despite their 2-1 extra-time win over Norway in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.England booked their place in the last four in Miami, with Bellingham scoring both goals. While the players celebrated on the pitch, Tuchel made it clear in his post-match interview that he was not satisfied with the overall display.The England manager said: “Not happy with the performance…“We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today.”“The result is fantastic, we’re in the last four it’s amazing, but we’re not happy with the performance. The commitment is there but we made life very difficult for us in the way we played, how we played.”“Sloppy, lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. We were lucky today.” Tuchel said after the match.Tuchel was then asked if the pressure of the occasion had affected his players.He rejected the suggestion, saying: “It’s not a mentality problem — this is pure mentality.”“How can you ask about mentality now? This is pure mentality, you can bottle it up and sell it. It’s the quality of our games. That’s it. It has nothing to do with mentality.”Later, during his own post-match interview with ITV, Bellingham was informed of Tuchel’s comments. The midfielder appeared frustrated, responding with an eye roll and saying, “whatever.”He then added: “It is difficult out there. It was a tough shift.”Bellingham also praised his teammates for the effort they put in during the match.Asked about Tuchel’s remarks, the Real Madrid midfielder said: “Maybe he doesn’t know what it takes to play in those conditions against Erling Haaland, Nusa, Sorloth, that’s not an easy team to play against.“I think we have tried to create a positive environment we should continue that into the final four.”“I can’t think highly enough of the lads. You’re not going to win every game popping a thousand passes, sometimes you have to win dirty.”