Sports
FIFA leadership stands by Infantino after World Cup rights fallout
FIFA sought to steady the ship on Wednesday after the collapse of its controversial World Cup commercial rights proposal, with the organization’s senior leadership reaffirming its support for President Gianni Infantino while issuing a formal apology to member associations over the way the plan was handled.
Following a crisis meeting in Rabat, Morocco, FIFA acknowledged that mistakes were made during the process that led to the now-abandoned proposal, which would have involved selling a minority stake in a new commercial rights entity to private investors. The governing body said it regretted that national associations and FIFA Council members felt excluded from discussions and pledged to review its decision-making process.
The proposal, which was withdrawn last Friday after widespread opposition, had envisioned selling a 20% stake in a newly created commercial rights company in a deal reportedly valued at about $4.2 billion. The plan quickly became one of the biggest governance controversies of Infantino’s presidency, drawing criticism from football confederations, clubs and senior officials, while raising fresh questions about his leadership ahead of FIFA’s presidential election in March.
In a statement issued after Wednesday’s meeting, FIFA said Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom and members of the FIFA Management Board “reaffirmed their full support” for Infantino. The president, in turn, expressed his confidence in Grafstrom and FIFA’s administration, praising their work in delivering the organization’s objectives.
FIFA said the meeting marked an important step toward restoring confidence within the organization.
“FIFA’s top management is fully confident that the outcomes of today’s meeting will strengthen FIFA’s governance, help restore confidence in the organization and enable us to prepare for the major events and challenges ahead in a united and transparent manner while continuing our mission to develop the game around the world,” the statement said.
The governing body confirmed that letters had been sent to FIFA Council members and all 211 member associations acknowledging errors in the process and apologizing for the lack of consultation.
“It was not the intention for the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations to feel excluded from the process and the process should have been handled differently,” FIFA said, adding that the proposal had been permanently shelved and that a full review would be presented at the Council’s next scheduled meeting.
At the same time, FIFA defended its governance standards, saying it would “no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process” and would take the necessary steps to protect its reputation.
Behind the scenes, however, the fallout has exposed deep divisions within world football.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Grafstrom circulated an internal memo to FIFA staff this week describing the affair as a “sad and reproachable series of events” that resulted in the project’s permanent abandonment.
Although he did not mention Infantino by name, he wrote that “individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go,” while emphasizing that FIFA’s broader mission would continue.
His comments echoed those made days earlier by FIFA Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour, who reportedly told staff they had been “deceived” by what he characterized as the project of a single individual.
The abandoned proposal also attracted additional scrutiny because of the reported involvement of a company with family ties to U.S. President Donald Trump, further fueling criticism from football stakeholders.
UEFA led the opposition, saying it had lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership after the proposal was presented without sufficient consultation. CONCACAF adopted a similar position, while the Asian Football Confederation criticized FIFA for presenting the plan as effectively a completed decision rather than a proposal open for discussion.
The backlash extended beyond football’s governing bodies.
Former Portugal star Luis Figo said Infantino should resign over the controversy, while UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister described the episode as a defining leadership crisis for the FIFA president.
On Wednesday, European Leagues, representing more than 1,300 clubs across the continent, urged FIFA to stop making unilateral decisions that affect clubs, players and supporters. The organization also criticized the governing body’s decision to allow only four weeks for stakeholders to evaluate a separate proposal to expand the 2030 World Cup from 48 to 64 teams.
The controversy has also sparked speculation about Infantino’s political future.
Under FIFA statutes, an Extraordinary Congress can be convened if at least 43 member associations submit a formal written request. While no such movement has materialized, several European federations have reportedly withdrawn their support for the Swiss-Italian administrator following the collapse of the commercial rights proposal.
Despite mounting criticism, Infantino continues to enjoy significant support across other regions.
Many football associations in Africa, Asia and Oceania rely heavily on FIFA development funding, and several have publicly backed the 56-year-old president. Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines have all reaffirmed their support, even as the AFC criticized the consultation process.
The Confederation of African Football has yet to adopt an official position, while Oceania’s executive committee is scheduled to meet next week to determine its stance.
FIFA’s one-member, one-vote system also remains a major advantage for Infantino. Every national association, from world champions such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain to San Marino, whose men’s national team sits at the bottom of the FIFA rankings, carries equal voting power in presidential elections.
With no prominent challenger yet emerging ahead of March’s election, Infantino still appears well placed to seek another term that would extend his presidency through 2031.
Morocco, one of the first associations to publicly support Infantino after the proposal was abandoned, remains among his key allies. The country will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal and hopes to stage the tournament final.
FIFA, however, rejected reports suggesting Infantino had promised Morocco hosting rights for the final in exchange for political support.
“It is false and misleading to claim the FIFA president has made any promise in relation to hosting the FIFA World Cup 2030 final,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
“A decision will be made by FIFA in due course.”
Fenerbahçe moved a step closer to the UEFA Champions League playoffs with a commanding 2-0 victory over Austrian champions Sturm Graz in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie on Wednesday, combining clinical finishing with a disciplined defensive display to earn a deserved advantage ahead of next week’s return match.
Backed by nearly 40,000 supporters at Chobani Stadium in Istanbul, the Turkish side controlled the contest from start to finish, with Anderson Talisca and Mason Greenwood finding the net before halftime while the visitors struggled to create meaningful opportunities.
The result leaves İsmail Kartal’s team in a strong position before traveling to Austria on Aug. 11, although the Fenerbahçe coach insisted the tie remains far from over.
“We could have won 3-0 or 4-0,” Kartal said after the match. “But Champions League ties are always difficult because they are played over two legs. We’ll approach the return match as if the score is still 0-0. A 2-0 lead guarantees nothing.”
Fenerbahçe wasted little time asserting themselves.
Talisca opened the scoring in the ninth minute after Kerem Aktürkoğlu slipped a pass into the penalty area. The Brazilian controlled the ball with his back to goal, turned sharply and drove a left-footed finish beyond goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov into the bottom corner.
The hosts continued to dominate possession and pinned Sturm Graz deep inside their own half. Their pressure paid off again in first-half stoppage time when a short-corner routine caught the Austrian defense off guard. Marco Asensio rolled the ball to Greenwood outside the area, and the English forward curled a precise left-footed strike inside the near post for his first goal in a Fenerbahçe shirt.
The second half followed a similar pattern.
Fenerbahçe dictated possession, controlled the tempo and rarely allowed Sturm Graz to threaten. Milan Škriniar marshaled the defense superbly, while Khudyakov prevented the scoreline from becoming more emphatic with impressive saves from Greenwood, Talisca and Aktürkoğlu.
The statistics highlighted the gulf between the teams. Fenerbahçe finished with about 72% possession, outshot Sturm Graz 17-5 and forced 10 saves on target compared with just one effort from the visitors. Attendance was 39,800, with English referee Chris Kavanagh in charge.
Kartal’s plans were briefly disrupted when left back Jayden Oosterwolde limped off with a hamstring injury around the half-hour mark, forcing Archie Brown into the match. Fred and İrfan Can Kahveci were among the substitutes introduced later as Fenerbahçe comfortably protected their lead.
Kartal said Oosterwolde’s condition would only become clear after medical tests.
“He told me he felt something in his hamstring,” Kartal said. “We’ll know the extent of the injury after the MRI.”
The Fenerbahçe manager also praised his squad’s tactical discipline, revealing he held detailed meetings with the players before the match.
“We prepared very well all week and analyzed our opponent carefully,” he said. “Everything we worked on in training appeared on the field. I’m pleased the players followed the tactical plan because we hardly allowed our opponents any chances.”
Kartal was equally encouraged by the performances of several of his new signings.
Greenwood, who marked his European debut for the club with a goal, is still working toward full fitness, according to the coach.
“We signed Greenwood because we know his quality,” Kartal said. “He’s training with great determination and gives us everything we ask for. He’s probably around 70% of his physical condition now, but I expect him to be close to 100% within a week.”
The coach also praised midfielder N’Golo Kanté, saying the veteran’s intelligence and work ethic made him a natural fit for Fenerbahçe’s system, while highlighting Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s response after an inconsistent opening half.
“Kerem is a very important player for us,” Kartal said. “I spoke to him at halftime and asked him to keep the ball more and help with the pressing. He responded brilliantly and had a very good second half.”
Sturm Graz coach Fabio Ingolitsch admitted his side struggled against the quality of their opponents and acknowledged the intimidating atmosphere in Istanbul.
“It wasn’t as easy as we hoped,” Ingolitsch said. “Fenerbahçe’s quality players made the difference. We wanted to change things in the second half, but they didn’t allow us to play the game we wanted.”
He said the home crowd made life even more difficult for his players.
“When you feel the atmosphere here, it’s difficult to expect a normal performance,” Ingolitsch said. “Fenerbahçe are a very strong team, and they showed that through both their quality and the way they played.”
The Austrian coach reserved particular praise for Talisca, whose movement and finishing proved decisive.
“It’s very difficult to stop Talisca,” Ingolitsch said. “You can try to limit his influence, but eventually his quality comes through. It’s not only difficult for us. Any team would struggle to contain a player like him.”
Despite trailing by two goals, Ingolitsch insisted the tie is still alive and believes Sturm Graz can mount a comeback in front of their own supporters.
“We’ll try to use the advantage of playing at home,” he said. “Our objective is to take control early and try to turn the tie around.”
The aggregate winner will advance to the Champions League playoff round, where a meeting with either Sparta Prague or Olympique Lyon awaits.
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Cincinnati Open because of a lingering right wrist injury, dealing another setback in his bid to return before defending his U.S. Open title later this month.
Tournament organizers confirmed the withdrawal Tuesday, extending the world No. 2’s absence from competition to more than four months and raising fresh uncertainty over whether he will be ready for the year’s final Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has not played since the Barcelona Open in April.
Alcaraz defeated qualifier Otto Virtanen 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round but said he felt his wrist give way during the match.
Medical examinations later revealed the injury was more serious than initially believed, forcing him to pull out before his scheduled second-round match against Tomas Machac.
The injury abruptly ended his clay-court campaign and sidelined him for the Madrid Open, the Italian Open, where he was the defending champion, and the French Open, where he was seeking a third consecutive title. He also missed the entire grass-court season, including Wimbledon, marking the longest injury layoff of his season.
Cincinnati had been expected to mark Alcaraz’s return. The ATP Masters 1000 event, scheduled for Aug. 13-23, is where he captured the 2025 title after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner retired from the final because of illness. That victory helped propel the Spaniard to his second U.S. Open championship, adding to the title he first won in 2022.
Recent training videos posted on social media had fueled optimism that Alcaraz was nearing a comeback, but tournament director Bob Moran said the Spaniard is continuing to prioritize his recovery.
“We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible,” Moran said in a statement. “We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future.”
The withdrawal leaves Alcaraz without any competitive hard-court matches before the U.S. Open unless he opts to play the Winston-Salem Open, an ATP 250 tournament beginning Aug. 23. The event represents his final opportunity to gain match fitness before the U.S. Open begins on Aug. 30, although he has not indicated whether he plans to enter.
Alcaraz remains on the entry list for the U.S. Open, where he will attempt to defend the title he won last year, but his participation will likely depend on how his wrist responds over the coming weeks.
Before the injury, Alcaraz had enjoyed another outstanding start to the season. He captured the Australian Open title by defeating Novak Djokovic in the final, becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam. He followed that triumph with a title in Doha and reached the Monte Carlo Masters final before the wrist injury halted his momentum.
He compiled a 22-3 record before being sidelined and remains ranked No. 2 in the world behind Sinner.
While Alcaraz has been recovering, Sinner has strengthened his grip on the top ranking by successfully defending his Wimbledon title and increasing his Grand Slam tally to five. Alcaraz will also surrender the ranking points earned from last year’s Cincinnati championship after withdrawing from this year’s tournament.
His team has consistently favored a cautious rehabilitation rather than rushing his return, even as his training intensity has increased in recent weeks. Whether Alcaraz chooses to compete in Winston-Salem, heads straight to New York, or delays his comeback further will depend on the progress of his recovery.
Beşiktaş will continue their bid to reach the UEFA Europa League league phase when they travel to the Czech Republic on Thursday to face Hradec Kralove in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie, with Vincenzo Italiano’s side looking to build on an impressive start to the new season.
Kickoff at Malsovicka Arena is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Türkiye time (5:00 p.m. GMT).
Beşiktaş arrive in the Czech Republic full of confidence after winning both of their competitive matches this season.
The Black Eagles advanced to the third qualifying round by defeating Danish club Midtjylland 3-0 on aggregate, securing a 1-0 home victory before completing the job with a commanding 2-0 win away.
Italiano has made an encouraging start since taking charge, with his side showing defensive solidity and attacking efficiency as optimism grows around the club’s revamped squad.
Hradec Kralove, however, have proven to be one of the surprise packages of the qualifying rounds.
The Czech side earned its place in the third round by eliminating Norway’s Tromso with convincing 3-1 and 1-0 victories, advancing 4-1 on aggregate.
David Horejs’s team has been particularly formidable at home, winning seven consecutive matches at FINEP Arena while conceding just four goals during that stretch.
The club is also dreaming of its first appearance in the main stage of a UEFA competition since competing in the 1995-96 Cup Winners’ Cup.
Trossard ruled out despite recent arrival
Much of the attention before kickoff has centered on new signing Leandro Trossard.
Beşiktaş had the option of adding the Belgian international to its UEFA squad up to 24 hours before the match if registration formalities were completed.
However, Trossard will not feature after recently returning from post-World Cup leave and only resuming training on Monday. Club officials determined he is not yet physically ready for competitive action.
His absence means Italiano will continue with the squad that comfortably dispatched Midtjylland.
Strong European pedigree
Summer signing Orkun Kökçü has quickly emerged as one of Beşiktaş’s most influential players.
The Turkish international scored twice in the previous round, opening the scoring with a long-range strike in the first leg before converting a penalty in the return match in Denmark. Milot Rashica added the other goal as Beşiktaş completed an unbeaten passage into the third qualifying round.
Thursday’s encounter will mark Beşiktaş’s 261st match in European competition.
The Turkish club has compiled a record of 99 wins, 50 draws and 111 defeats across its previous 260 European fixtures, scoring 351 goals while conceding 395.
It will also be Beşiktaş’s 131st away match in European competition. In its previous 130 road games, the Istanbul club has recorded 34 wins, 24 draws and 72 defeats, scoring 150 goals and allowing 245.
In the UEFA Cup and Europa League, Beşiktaş has played 135 matches, posting 59 victories, 25 draws and 51 losses while scoring 212 goals and conceding 180.
Familiar opponents
Beşiktaş has faced Czech clubs six times in European competition and owns a favorable record.
Its first meeting came against Slavia Prague in the 2002-03 UEFA Cup Round of 16, progressing despite losing the away leg after winning 4-2 in Istanbul.
The following season, Beşiktaş split two UEFA Champions League group-stage meetings with Sparta Prague, winning at home before losing away.
Its most recent meetings with Czech opposition came against Viktoria Plzeň in the 2010-11 Europa League qualifiers, where Beşiktaş advanced after a 3-0 home victory followed by a 1-1 draw in the return leg.
Hradec seek another upset
Hradec Kralove have carried last season’s momentum into the new campaign after finishing fourth in the Czech First League.
The club opened the domestic season with a 2-1 win over Pardubice before drawing 0-0 away to Bohemians, collecting four points from its first two league matches.
The attack has been led by Mick van Buren, Tom Sloncik and Ondrej Mihalik, who all scored during the second-leg victory over Tromso and are expected to spearhead another energetic performance against the Turkish visitors.
The return leg will be played in Istanbul on Aug. 13.
The winner of the tie will advance to the Europa League playoff round, where it will face the loser of the Dinamo Zagreb and Kauno Zalgiris matchup for a place in the league phase.
The losing side will drop into the UEFA Conference League playoff round and face the winner of the Panathinaikos and CSKA 1948 tie.
Mohamed Salah received a hero’s welcome in Türkiye on Wednesday as the Egyptian superstar moved a step closer to completing a blockbuster free transfer to Trabzonspor, a signing widely regarded as the biggest in the club’s history and one of the most significant in Turkish football.
Hundreds of supporters packed Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport General Aviation Terminal to greet the former Liverpool forward after he arrived aboard a private jet wearing Trabzonspor’s iconic claret-and-sky-blue colors.
Fans chanted his name, waved club scarves and sang traditional songs as Salah acknowledged the crowd before leaving for medical examinations ahead of his expected unveiling in Trabzon on Thursday.
The 34-year-old appeared in a video released by the club while wearing his new jersey during the flight to Türkiye.
“Trabzon, are you ready? I can hear you. See you very soon,” Salah said before ending with Trabzonspor’s famous slogan, “Bize Her Yer Trabzon” (“Everywhere is Trabzon for us”).
Turkish television later showed Salah arriving in Istanbul wearing a jersey bearing the No. 61, the license plate number of Trabzon province, although reports have also suggested he could ultimately wear his familiar No. 11 shirt.
Club chairman Ertuğrul Doğan said the official signing ceremony is expected to take place Thursday in the Black Sea city.
The transfer represents a remarkable coup for Trabzonspor after Salah became a free agent following the end of his Liverpool career.
Despite attracting interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, Major League Soccer teams and several European sides, the Turkish club moved decisively after negotiations with Beşiktaş reportedly collapsed over financial terms, image rights, merchandise revenue and agent commissions.
Trabzonspor formally announced the negotiations through Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), a move that immediately energized supporters and investors alike.
The club’s shares climbed approximately 6.5% following the disclosure, underscoring the commercial impact of signing one of world football’s biggest stars.
Multiple Turkish and international reports indicate Salah has agreed to a two-year contract through June 2028 worth around 17 million euros ($19.6 million) per season, with additional performance bonuses and a share of revenue from officially licensed merchandise bearing his name.
The agreement would make him the highest-paid player in Turkish football history.
The excitement surrounding Salah’s arrival has spread far beyond the airport.
Trabzon has embraced the signing with a festival-like atmosphere as thousands of supporters prepare to welcome him to the city.
Social media has been flooded with messages celebrating the move, while demand for season tickets has surged.
Local reports indicate nearly 10,000 additional season tickets have been sold over the past two days outside supporter group allocations.
“I think Salah will achieve great things,” supporter Yiğit Kanber said. “I hope he becomes the league’s top scorer and leads us to the championship.”
Another fan, Esma Cansu Bayraktar, described an emotional night before Salah’s arrival.
“We were so excited we couldn’t sleep,” she said. “He is a global football icon, and I believe he will add even more value to Trabzon’s growing international reputation. Coach Fatih Tekke has built a disciplined team, and I believe we can challenge for the title this season.”
Supporter Hayati Turhan called the transfer “a huge gain for Trabzon, Trabzonspor and Türkiye,” saying Salah’s arrival would place the city in front of a worldwide audience.
Even 95-year-old supporter Hemdiye, affectionately known as “Grandma Hemdiye,” shared the city’s optimism.
“With this effort, we’re getting closer to another trophy,” she said. “We’ve signed good players, and this is the year we can become champions.”
Salah leaves Liverpool after an extraordinary nine-year spell that cemented his place among the club’s greatest players.
He scored 257 goals in 442 appearances, making him Liverpool’s third-highest scorer of all time, while winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, two League Cups and the Community Shield.
His final season, however, proved challenging. Salah saw his playing time reduced, endured a public disagreement with then-manager Arne Slot and finished with 12 goals in all competitions after scoring 34 the previous campaign. He announced in March that he would leave despite having one year remaining on his contract, with both sides agreeing to end the deal early.
Rather than accepting lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, Salah opted to remain in European football, where he will continue competing domestically and in UEFA competitions. Trabzonspor finished third in last season’s Süper Lig to secure a place in the UEFA Europa League playoffs and view Salah as the centerpiece of an ambitious project under manager Fatih Tekke.
The transfer also adds another milestone to Trabzonspor’s history.
Salah becomes the club’s 207th foreign player since its foundation and only the fourth Egyptian to wear the Trabzonspor jersey after Ayman Abdelaziz, Sayed Moawad and Trezeguet. He is also the 37th foreign signing made since Doğan became club president in March 2023.
Trabzonspor have signed players from 54 different countries throughout their history, with Brazilians accounting for the largest foreign contingent at 18. Previous marquee arrivals included Daniel Sturridge and Nicolas Pepe, but none carried the global stature of Salah.
Fenerbahçe’s bid to reach the UEFA Champions League league phase for the first time resumes Wednesday when the Turkish giants host Austria’s Sturm Graz in the first leg of their third qualifying round at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, looking to build a home advantage before next week’s decisive return leg.
After edging Polish side Gornik Zabrze 2-1 on aggregate in the previous round, Fenerbahçe are now two ties away from ending one of the club’s longest European absences.
Sturm Graz arrive in Istanbul full of confidence after cruising past Scottish club Hearts 6-0 over two legs.
For Fenerbahçe, returning to Europe’s biggest club competition has become an annual objective that has repeatedly fallen short.
The Istanbul club have not appeared in the Champions League proper since the 2008-09 season, while their wait for another Turkish Super Lig title stretches back to 2013-14 after finishing runners-up for a fifth straight campaign last season, four times behind fierce rival Galatasaray.
New head coach Ismail Kartal has returned for another spell in charge with the responsibility of restoring both domestic and European success.
He began his latest tenure positively, guiding Fenerbahçe past Gornik Zabrze with a 1-0 home victory before securing qualification through a 1-1 draw in Poland.
The club will hope Kartal succeeds where recent managers fell short. Fenerbahçe were eliminated in the Champions League qualifying playoffs last season and now see this campaign as another opportunity to finally break back into Europe’s elite competition.
Home form offers additional encouragement. The Yellow Canaries are unbeaten in their last eight competitive matches at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, winning five and drawing three. Their last defeat at the venue, however, came in European competition, a heavy 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League knockout playoff round, providing another reminder of the fine margins on the continental stage.
Familiar opponents return
Wednesday’s meeting marks the third competitive encounter between Fenerbahçe and Sturm Graz.
Their previous meetings came in the third qualifying round of the 2017 Europa League. Fenerbahçe won the first leg in Austria 2-1 before securing progression with a 1-1 draw in Istanbul to advance 3-2 on aggregate.
Sturm Graz also have considerable experience against Turkish opposition.
Besides those two matches with Fenerbahçe, the Austrian side faced Galatasaray four times in European competition, defeating the Turkish champions 3-0 at home during the 2000-01 Champions League group stage before drawing 2-2 in Istanbul.
The clubs met again in the 2009-10 Europa League group stage, drawing 1-1 in Istanbul before Sturm Graz claimed a 1-0 home victory.
Wednesday’s match will be Sturm Graz’s seventh competitive fixture against Turkish opposition.
Austrian champions arrive in strong form
Sturm Graz reached the Champions League proper as recently as the 2024-25 season but were unable to progress beyond last season’s Europa League league phase.
Fabio Ingolitsch’s side have made an impressive start to this year’s European campaign, overwhelming Hearts with a 4-0 victory at home before completing the job with a 2-0 win in Edinburgh.
Although their momentum slowed slightly after opening the Austrian Bundesliga season with a 1-1 draw against WSG Tirol, Sturm Graz remain unbeaten in four competitive matches this season, recording three wins and one draw.
The visitors will also take confidence from their previous performance in Istanbul, where they earned a draw against Fenerbahçe despite ultimately losing the tie on aggregate.
Milestone night for Fenerbahçe
The match will be Fenerbahçe’s 303rd appearance in European competition.
In their previous 302 continental matches, the Turkish club have recorded 119 wins, 66 draws and 117 defeats, scoring 411 goals while conceding 424.
It will also be their 45th Champions League qualifying match. Fenerbahçe have won 16, drawn 14 and lost 14 of their previous 44 qualifiers, scoring 64 goals and conceding 51.
Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca has carried Fenerbahçe’s attacking threat in the opening weeks of the season.
The 32-year-old scored the only goal from a free kick in the home win over Gornik Zabrze before converting a penalty in the second leg, giving him both of Fenerbahçe’s goals in their two competitive matches this season.
Kartal will assess the fitness of Talisca and defender Nelson Semedo after both picked up minor knocks in Poland.
Summer signing Mason Greenwood is pushing for his first start after appearing as a substitute in both matches against Gornik, while World Cup winner N’Golo Kante is available again after returning to full training following an extended offseason break.
Kosovo striker Vedat Muriqi could make his long-awaited return after rejoining Fenerbahçe six years after leaving the club. A muscle injury kept him out of both matches against Gornik Zabrze, but the experienced forward has resumed training and is expected to feature against Sturm Graz.
If Muriqi plays, it will mark his first competitive appearance for Fenerbahçe since July 19, 2020, when he featured against Besiktas before departing the club.
Sturm Graz continue to deal with several injury concerns. Amady Camara remains sidelined with a thigh problem, while Luca Weinhandl, Otar Kiteishvili and Nelson Weiper also miss out after sitting out the Austrian Bundesliga opener.
Forward Szymon Wlodarczyk boosted his chances of starting after scoring against WSG Tirol, while defender Jeyland Mitchell is expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested at the weekend.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez have once again become the focus of intense wedding speculation after reports claimed the longtime couple could finally marry in Portugal this week.
While multiple media outlets have published details of an alleged ceremony, neither Ronaldo nor Rodriguez has confirmed a wedding date, leaving the reports unverified.
The latest rumors gained momentum after the couple were photographed wearing eye-catching diamond rings during a private jet trip and while vacationing in Mallorca. Rodriguez also shared photos on social media featuring her engagement ring, prompting fresh speculation that wedding plans could be imminent.
Ronaldo and Rodriguez first met in Madrid in 2016 while she was working at a Gucci boutique and he was starring for Real Madrid. They made their relationship public the following year and have since built a family together. Rodriguez has played a central role in raising Ronaldo’s children, including Cristiano Jr., twins Eva Maria and Mateo, and the couple’s daughters Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda. Their son Angel tragically died during childbirth in 2022.
The engagement became official in August 2025 after Ronaldo proposed. Rodriguez announced the news on social media with a heartfelt acceptance message alongside a photo of her massive oval-cut diamond ring, which jewelry experts have valued at several million dollars.
Later that year, Ronaldo revealed more about the proposal during an interview with Piers Morgan, saying he knew the time was right to ask Rodriguez to marry him.
“I will marry her because I believe the right time has come. Not just because she is the mother of my children, but because she is the person I love most in life.”
The Portugal captain also said at the time that he hoped the wedding would take place after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Portugal’s tournament ended in the round of 16, fueling expectations that the ceremony could follow soon afterward.
Initial reports from Portuguese media suggested the wedding would be held on Aug. 1 at the historic Quinta da Regaleira estate in Sintra. Those claims quickly unraveled after the venue remained open to tourists and scheduled public events proceeded as planned.
Spanish magazine ¡Hola! dismissed the reports, while a close associate of Rodriguez reportedly described the alleged wedding invitation circulating online as fake. Ronaldo added to the speculation by posting family vacation photos captioned “Ainda nao” (“Not yet”), seemingly signaling that no ceremony had taken place. His sister, Katia Aveiro, also said publicly that no wedding date had been set.
Attention has since shifted to Ronaldo’s hometown of Madeira.
According to reports from British tabloid The Sun and Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã, the couple are now rumored to be planning a ceremony on Aug. 8 at Funchal Cathedral, followed by a private reception at the luxury Savoy Palace hotel.
The reports claim sections of the hotel have been reserved for a private event, although no official confirmation has been provided by the couple, their representatives or the venues involved.
Madeira would be a fitting location given Ronaldo’s deep ties to the island, where he was born and maintains several business interests.
Despite the growing speculation, the only confirmed fact remains the couple’s engagement. Neither Ronaldo nor Rodriguez has announced a wedding date, venue or guest list, and previous rumors have repeatedly been denied or disproved.
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