تحدثت صحف نيوزيلندا عن مواجهة منتخب مصر في بطولة كأس العالم، نسخة 2026، وذلك حسب القرعة التي تمت اليوم في مركز “جون كينيدي” في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

وتستضيف كل من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك نهائيات النسخة المقبلة من بطولة كأس العالم، في الفترة بين 11 يونيو و19 يوليو.

وتُعد تلك هي النسخة الأولى من بطولة كأس العالم، بعد استحداث نظامها، حيث سيشارك فيها 48 منتخبًا، سيتم تقسيمهم على 12 مجموعة، ويتأهل متصدر ووصيف كل مجموعة إلى دور الـ32، بالإضافة إلى أفضل 8 منتخبات في مركز ثالث.

وشهدت القرعة تواجد كل من: بلجيكا، مصر، إيران ونيوزيلندا في المجموعة السابعة في بطولة كأس العالم الصيف المقبل (لمطالعة التفاصيل كاملة عن القرعة من هنا).

وقالت صحيفة “rnz” النيوزيلندية: “وُضعت نيوزيلندا ضمن أسهل المجموعات الاثنتي عشرة في بطولة العالم العام المقبل، على الرغم من أنها ستظل من غير المرشحين للتأهل إلى مرحلة خروج المغلوب لأول مرة في تاريخها، لقد تجنبت نيوزيلندا بعضًا من الفرق الكبيرة في كرة القدم، لكنها ستواجه صعوبة بالغة في مواجهة بلجيكا، المصنفة ثامنًا، وإيران، المصنفة 20، ومصر، المصنفة 34”.

وأضافت: “صُنفت مصر من بين أقوى الفرق في المستوى الثالث، مما يعني أنه لا يوجد فريق يقارب نيوزيلندا في ترتيبها المتدني نسبيًا، ولعب منتخب نيوزيلندا ضد مصر في مارس من العام الماضي، وخسر بنتيجة 1-0 في مباراة تنافسية في القاهرة حُسمت بركلة جزاء مثيرة للجدل، على الرغم من أن الفريق الإفريقي كان بدون نجمه محمد صلاح، مهاجم ليفربول”.

في حين قالت صحيفة “1news” بعد القرعة: “سيواجه منتخب نيوزيلندا بلجيكا ومصر وإيران في كأس العالم 2026! لقد احتفظوا بأفضل ما لديهم للنهاية، حيث كانت نيوزيلندا آخر منتخب تم سحب ورقته، ستكون بلجيكا، المصنفة ثامنًا، خصمًا صعبًا للنيوزيلنديين، لكن من بين فرق المستوى الأول، هذه ليست أسوأ قرعة، بينما سيواجه محمد صلاح، جناح مصر وليفربول، منتخب نيوزيلندا في المجموعة نفسها”.

بينما قالت صحيفة “thepress” عن القرعة نفسها: “سيخوض منتخب نيوزيلندا مواجهات قوية مع بلجيكا ومصر وإيران في كأس العالم لكرة القدم العام المقبل، حيث سيواجه إيران أولًا يوم 16 يونيو ثم مصر 22 وبلجيكا 27”.

With higher honours seemingly around the corner, Glenn Phillips’ brother is adding to his set of skills and trying to live up to the potential he has always had

Deivarayan Muthu22-Aug-2025Glenn Phillips can do incredible things in the field and with the bat. His younger brother Dale Phillips isn’t too bad either. Just look at this. And like Glenn, Dale can also play some trick shots, including the scoop, which he was honing during his stint at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in June.Leaving the fear of failure behind and expanding his range have put Dale on the radar of his national team. After training in Chennai during the New Zealand winter, Dale is now set to travel with the New Zealand A team to South Africa, his country of birth, to play three one-dayers and two four-day games.”I think my role was different earlier. I was conservative and getting out of the box opened up a lot more options,” Dale told ESPNcricinfo during his stint in Chennai. “People may see the scoop as a high-risk option, but for me if I get out scooping and I’ve got the right theory behind it [that’s okay], and I’m not going to get a slap on the wrist. I think being fearless and not being worried about getting out helps when you’re playing aggressively. As soon as you start to worry about [getting out], that’s when the poor things start to creep in.”Related

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Dale credits his former coach at Otago, Ash Noffke, for helping him realise his white-ball potential in the previous domestic season. In the Ford Trophy, he was the second-highest scorer with 457 runs in ten innings at an average of 45.70 and strike rate of 86.38. Dale also fared well in the Super Smash, coming away as Otago’s second-highest scorer, with 210 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of nearly 155.”With me being a bit of a shorter player, I found scooping a good option,” Dale said. “I think last year with my coach [Noffke], we really worked on it as an attacking option to be able to score especially in the powerplay. If you scoop, then it puts the bowler off and opens up a bit more access to the rest of the ground.”Dale has always been strong on the front foot, and in his quest to become a better-rounded batter, he was looking to find ways to score risk-free runs on the back foot on a variety of pitches, including black and red, against a variety of spinners in Chennai.”I think the main one was I wanted to really nail my strike-rotation options,” Dale said. “I’m relatively good at playing down the ground off the front foot but being able to do it off the back foot and being able to get a good reach to rotate the good-length balls through the covers and midwicket and straight as opposed to just defending them – that was the learning.”

“You have to adapt your game to be successful in different areas. Over here in Chennai and Bangladesh, it’s more spin-friendly and you have to develop your spin game more. South Africa [conditions] will be different. So, I think it’s a great experience to be able to play cricket around the world”Dale Phillips

Earlier, Dale used to bowl seam-ups but recently he has switched to offspin. He is eager to improve his secondary skill with help from Glenn, who had refashioned himself into an offspin-bowling allrounder from being a wicketkeeper-batter.”Back in the day I was bowling seam-ups, and I think it got to a point where I didn’t grow taller and at the pace that I was bowling if I wasn’t as accurate it was a lot easier for the batters to hit,” Dale said. “So I decided to change it up to bowl spin, which was maybe more suited to the kind of bowler I could be.”He [Glenn] has always been a pretty good mentor to me. We’re constantly chatting before and after games both technically and tactically. I think we’re slightly different bowlers. He’s obviously a little bit taller than me, but the general skillset is still the same, so he’s definitely a good help.”While Dale has emerged as a “player of interest” for New Zealand in white-ball cricket, his red-ball game has taken a back seat. After scoring a chart-topping 686 runs in 15 innings in the 2023-24 Plunket Shield, his numbers dipped to 427 runs in 15 innings in the following season. Dale hopes to remedy that and re-establish himself as an all-format player.”I think my white-ball game kicked off in the Ford Trophy and T20s in the last season, so potentially because of that development my Plunket Shield took a bit of a hit,” he said. “Now it’s about how I can adapt and make all three [formats] have a good season for me.”Dale Phillips is a “player of interest” for New Zealand in white-ball cricket•Getty ImagesAfter the Chennai camp, Dale returned to New Zealand and completed his move from Otago to Auckland, where his family lives. He is looking forward to working with coach Rob Nicol in the upcoming domestic season.”I enjoyed my time playing for Otago but for my family, with the kids, it’s the right decision to move to Auckland,” Dale said. “It was a good time to move, and I have a good relationship with Rob, and he’ll be able to keep me on the right track as I look to grow my game.”Having travelled to Bangladesh with the New Zealand A team and Chennai with Adi Ashok, Rhys Mariu and Tim Pringle during the New Zealand winter, Dale was looking forward to playing in South Africa.”Being able to play in different areas is cool,” he said. “You have to adapt your game to be successful in different areas. Over here in Chennai and Bangladesh, it’s more spin-friendly and you have to develop your spin game more. South Africa [conditions] will be different. So, I think it’s a great experience to be able to play cricket around the world. That’s the kind of stuff you want to be doing.”

Mike Dean has recently opened up on what it was like to referee Arsenal during his 22 years as a Premier League official, and suggested legendary manager Arsene Wenger wasn’t his biggest fan.

As with most referees, Dean is a divisive figure, but he is one of the Premier League’s most talked about referees, not least because of some of his bizarre antics on the field.

Although officials are much-maligned, it is an impossible job to keep every player and manager happy, with the 57-year-old recently revealing that Craig Bellamy was the toughest player to referee, despite being fine to deal with off the pitch.

Speaking to Jamie Carragher and Wayne Rooney on the latest edition of The Overlap Fan Debate, the former referee also named which manager he found it difficult to get along with, revealing the feeling was very much mutual…

Mike Dean names Arsene Wenger as "hardest" manager to deal with

The Tranmere Rovers supporter revealed he was told by people who used to work at Arsenal that Wenger would effectively write off games when Dean was in charge, believing the Gunners had “no chance”.

Clarifying why Arsene Wenger was tough to deal with, he said: “I never got on with Arsene Wenger, and that was just, I don’t know what it was, whether it was every time I reffed them they lost, I don’t know, but I just couldn’t get on with him.”

Every referee in the 2025/26 Premier League ranked

In 2009, the Arsenal legend was also sent to the stands by Dean in the dying embers of a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United back in 2009, having been seen kicking a water bottle in frustration.

Dean has previously shared details of a particularly ferocious run-in they had after the Gunners drew 1-1 against West Bromwich Albion back in 2017, saying: “He was very aggressive leaning towards me, pointing aggressively at me saying: ‘You’re not honest’ on numerous occasions.

“I replied: ‘So you’re calling me a cheat.’ He replied: ‘I maintain what I say, you’re not honest.

“He then said: ‘You’ve done this to us many times before, you’re supposed to be professional, you’re a disgrace.’ He was then ushered out of the room by the West Brom safety officer.”

While they didn’t see eye-to-eye prior to the 76-year-old leaving Arsenal in 2018, it appears they have since managed to put their differences behind them, with Dean saying: “Since he has finished football I have seen him and he has been great. Cross the white line and everyone is different, like referees. We are normal people.”

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A matter of days after Kevin Thelwell was relieved of his duties as Rangers’ sporting director, a former Premier League winger has revealed exactly why he rejected a move to Ibrox.

Cavenagh reveals reasoning behind Thelwell's Rangers exit

Thelwell’s exit looked on the cards as soon as he appointed Russell Martin. The sporting director instantly failed to win the fans over after a disastrous summer of decisions and has now paid the price alongside chief executive Patrick Stewart.

Revealing the news, chairman Andrew Cavenagh said: “Paraag and I have analysed the club’s needs, and as we reflect on what the club needs today, and where Kevin and Patrick are, we think we need something different.

“Our focus the first part of this season, the first part of our ownership period, has been on the sporting side and that’s where all of our attention went to for obvious reasons.

“With Danny coming in, he has started to improve the on-pitch performance, and that has created the space to allow Paraag and I to look at other parts of the club with new eyes and assess what we need going forward.”

Rangers dud is rivalling Chermiti for being one of Thelwell's worst signings

This Glasgow Rangers flop has been as bad of a signing as Youssef Chermiti was by Kevin Thelwell.

ByDan Emery Nov 25, 2025

It’s a major decision from the 49ers, who have seen Rangers get back on track on the pitch since Danny Rohl’s arrival. The German has won all four of his Scottish Premiership games, but his side still sit nine points behind shock leaders Hearts to highlight the damage done by Martin’s time at the club.

Thelwell’s downfall can be pinpointed to his decision to hire Martin, but also his transfer decisions, including times when he missed out on top targets like Carlos Forbs.

Carlos Forbs reveals "one conversation" before Rangers rejection

Speaking to Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg, Forbs revealed why he rejected Rangers and Thelwell in favour of a move to Club Brugge in the summer.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee had quite the decision to make in the summer and Thelwell just couldn’t lure him to Rangers in what was a sign of things to come.

Since then, the now-former sporting director failed to get deals over the line to hire the likes of Steven Gerrard, before finally turning to Rohl. From appointing Martin, to missing out on Forbs and then Gerrard, the clock was always ticking on Thelwell’s time in Scotland.

"Rotten" Thelwell signing is Rangers' biggest waste of time since Dowell

Harmer ran through Pakistan on the fourth morning before South Africa made short work of the chase

Danyal Rasool23-Oct-2025

Ultimately, Pakistan’s overnight hope was built on a bed of straw. South Africa did not even need to huff or puff particularly hard to blow the house down. It took them five balls to dismiss an ostensibly back-to-form Babar Azam, nine runs to take four wickets that put the conclusion beyond doubt, and one session to dispatch the paltry 68 they had been set for victory. Along the way, Simon Harmer took six wickets to take his tally to exactly 1000 first-class wickets, becoming the fourth South African to do so.It took South Africa to a thumping eight-wicket series-levelling win, their first in their defence of the World Test Championship title. For Pakistan, it is their first home defeat after winning the toss since they resorted to spin-friendly tracks at home, their recent third innings malaise coming back to haunt them in its full splendour. Babar’s little tickle into the onside off the day’s second ball got him to a first home Test half-century since 2022, but what should have been the bedrock of his innings was instead its culmination point. Three balls later, he stepped back into his crease off a similar, gentle off spinner, but this one kept slightly low, and rapped him just below the knee roll to begin Pakistan’s slide.A superb Harmer kept the pressure on, but there was assistance aplenty from a Pakistan side that immediately began to go to pieces. Harmer gave Rizwan generous flight, who stretched out well beyond his crease try and get to the pitch to defend. Instead, he got an inside edge onto the pad, which looped up to Tony de Zorzi at short leg, and Harmer went to 999.Related

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The four-figure dismissal was all about Harmer, though, and a microcosm of what has made him so successful for so long. He went around the wicket to Noman Ali, flighting it well and landing on a sixpence into some of the footmarks the left-arm bowlers have created. It spat up and away from Noman, kissing the outside edge on its way into Kyle Verreynne’s hands. Harmer threw his head up into the sky and let out a roar to rouse any part of Pindi that might still have been asleep.But Pakistan kept hoisting themselves by their own petard. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Agha worked themselves up into calling for a run, taking on Ryan Rickelton who dived forward to effect a direct hit that sent Shaheen on his way, and Pakistan had gone from 105 for 5 to 105 for 8 – yet another middle and lower order collapse in a series they have been sprinkled like confetti.Ryan Rickelton collided with Shaheen Shah Afridi while running him out•AFP/Getty Images

At the other end stood Agha, not so much like a rock of resistance as a young oak waiting to be felled. Maharaj duly did the honours in his first over, the arm ball cutting Agha in half as he chopped back on. Sajid Khan tried to take him on the following over, only to find himself well adrift of his crease for Verreynne to do the honours.Pakistan turned immediately to spin, but there was no intimidating South Africa with a target this shallow. They were off and away with an Aiden Markram mow across the line for four, and Rickelton began to get his kicks in shortly after. Pakistan kept recycling through some combination of their three finger spinners, and South Africa kept putting them away for four, speeding towards the target as lunch approached.Noman got Pakistan the dubious consolation prize of a late couple of wickets when South Africa’s target was in single digits. Markram was trapped in front as he went for another one of his productive sweeps that had fetched him six of his eight fours in the innings, and found Tristan Stubbs’ outside edge for a duck three balls later. But Rickelton made the ignominy official with a whack over long-off for six in the following over.After the previous Test, Pakistan captain Shan Masood had talked about how Pakistan would look to play if they lost the toss to try and stay competitive. South Africa showed they had been listening carefully, and across these four days, executed that plan to perfection.

William Saliba will not play for Arsenal against Chelsea in a top of the table clash on Sunday afternoon. The defender picked up a knock in training and will not be fit enough to play for the Gunners at Stamford Bridge. With Gabriel also out injured, Mikel Arteta has entrusted Pierro Hincapie and Christhian Mosquera as his centre-half pairing for the London derby.

• Gunners lose key defender

  The injury to the Frenchman is a bitter blow for Arteta, who will have to play without one of Saliba or Gabriel in the middle of his defence for only the second time in the Premier League since Saliba made his debut at the start of the 2022-23 season. It represents a key test to Hincapie and Mosquera, both new signings in the summer, who play in the Premier League together for the first time. Hincapie impressed last week for the Gunners in their 4-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, but Chelsea will provide a different test to the young defender on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.

  On Saliba's absence, Arteta said: "He was uncomfortable yesterday, so we need to explore a little bit more what happened.

  "I don’t think it’s something major, but enough not to be involved in the game."

  There is some good news for the Spanish coach however, with Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres returning to the Arsenal squad and taking their place on the substitutes' bench. Jesus has hardly played for the Gunners in 2025 having sustained an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in January. The Brazilian’s return is a huge boost for Arteta, who will be hoping the former Manchester City man will provide something different to his existing options.

  Gyokeres will also be hoping to get back onto the field and could provide an impact off of the bench for the Gunners, who have been relying on Mikel Merino to lead the line in recent weeks. The Spaniard has chipped in with a couple of assists, against Sunderland and Spurs, but Arteta will be relieved to have the Swedish goal machine back from the medical table.

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  Huge six pointer at top of Premier League

  Sunday’s clash represents a huge chance for the Gunners to pull yet further away at the top of the Premier League. They will go seven points clear of second-place Manchester City with victory over the Blues, but will have been frustrated to see Phil Foden steal a late winner against Leeds on Sunday. Had Pep Guardiola’s team drawn against the Yorkshire side, Arsenal could have been as many as nine points clear by the end of the weekend.

  Arsenal also know that defeat in west London could bring them back down into the thick of a title race. Chelsea can move within just three points of the league leaders and will be desperate to show their city rivals and the rest of the division that they are a genuine challenger for the title. The Blues are also uplifted by the return of an injured star, with Cole Palmer back as an option off the bench for Enzo Maresca.

• Madueke returns to west London

  Arsenal will also be without Leandro Trossard, who limped off the field against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The Gunners do have reinforcements to call upon however, with Gabriel Martinelli getting the nod to start on the left-wing.

  Noni Madueke returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time since joining Arsenal in the summer, but is only named amongst the substitutes. The English winger was on hand to grab his first goal as a Gunner in the 3-1 win over the German champions and will be relishing the chance to show his former side what they are missing.

  Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard could make his first appearance in the Premier League in almost two months having sustained an injury to his knee against West Ham on 4 October. The Arsenal captain will hope to get some more minutes under his belt, but might struggle to dislodge Eberechi Eze in the Gunners' midfield.

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  Chelsea look to stop rampant Gunners

  Enzo Maresca's Chelsea side will be desperate to put a stop to a superb Arsenal, who have been one of the best sides in Europe this season. The Blues will hope their home support, as well as a weakened Gunners defence, can halt their opponent's title charge.

He put on a dominant performance in his first innings of the season while Kurtis Patterson also made an excellent century

AAP29-Oct-2025Steven Smith issued an ominous warning to England ahead of the Ashes, slamming 118 for New South Wales in his first game of cricket in more than two months.Fresh off a six-week stint in New York where he didn’t pick up a bat, Smith looked in imperious touch as he helped NSW to 349 for 5 in the Sheffield Shield against Queensland.Related

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After the opening day’s play at the Gabba was washed out through rain, Kurtis Patterson also hit 122 while youngster Will Salzmann impressed with 65 while opening.The only sour point for NSW was Sam Konstas being bowled middle stump for 10, leaving a ball from left-armer Hayden Kerr that angled straight into his wickets.Konstas is now essentially no chance of retaining his spot as Australia’s opener, and could benefit from a summer out of the spotlight in the Shield.But there is no question mark over Smith’s form heading into the first Test in Perth on November 21, where he will captain Australia in place of the injured Pat Cummins.Smith played out 21 dot balls to start his innings on Wednesday, but from the moment he on-drove Sam Skelly to the boundary to get off the mark, the right-hander looked on.A flurry of drives and pull shots followed, with the 36-year-old treating the Gabba as his playground and looking every bit at his best three weeks out from the first Test.Sam Konstas was bowled by Hayden Kerr•Getty ImagesSome 86 of his runs came in boundaries, including a big six down the ground of Mitchell Swepson when he charged the legspinner and took him on.Three boundaries came in three balls at one stage off quick James Bazley, with the first two crunches through the covers and the last a classic straight drive.Once renowned for being a cricket nuffy who perhaps trained too much, Smith insisted last week he now needed only two hits in the nets to prepare for a summer.And by the time he drove Tom Straker to bring up his century off 158 balls on Wednesday, the proof of that was clear and England had been put on notice.Smith was eventually well caught by Matt Renshaw at gully, but by then he looked well placed to set himself up for a big Ashes summer.Arguably Australia’s best-performing batter in Ashes history aside from Don Bradman, Smith has hit 12 career centuries against England and averages 56.01.His runs on Wednesday came as England’s ODI side collapsed on Wednesday across the Tasman, all out for 175 in a five-wicket defeat to New Zealand.Smith’s century also overshadowed the superb innings of Patterson. The former Test batter found form following a lean start to the Shield season, after his late-career revival last summer was one of the best stories of Australian cricket.Patterson cover-drove superbly and hit 14 boundaries in total, before being caught behind trying to drive Marnus Labuschagne late in the day.For NSW to win this match they will likely need to score big and only bat once, while Queensland’s hopes are effectively gone through Smith and Patterson’s 202-run third-wicket stand.

The tournament is not perfect, but it’s not the disaster England have often tried to paint it as being

Matt Roller19-Jun-2025The World Test Championship might be fundamentally flawed but after three missed attempts to reach the final on home soil, it is time for England to take it seriously. Ben Stokes believes it is “utterly confusing” but he must have looked on with envy as Temba Bavuma lifted the golden mace at Lord’s last week, capping a comeback victory that was celebrated throughout South Africa.The third WTC final was the best yet, one that underlined the significance of a concept that has added plenty to Test cricket despite its flaws. The quality of cricket was incredibly high, embodied in the performances of Pat Cummins, Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada, and the occasion was clearly enhanced by the jeopardy created by a one-off final.But England’s attitude towards the WTC has been ambivalent. The ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket believes it is “hard to understand”, the chairman has called for it to be “fairer and more competitive”, and the chief executive said last week that it is “not the be-all and end-all” when compared to the results of five-Test series against India and Australia.Related

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These are not just sour grapes from a team that has finished fourth, fourth and fifth in the first three cycles. Even the WTC’s most vocal proponents would accept that it is a long way from perfect: no sporting league with any competitive integrity should be superimposed onto a fixture list decided between individual boards, as this one effectively is.The uneven, unequal fixture list has been a clear frustration for England: the percentage-point system effectively penalises them for playing longer series against high-quality opponents. Still, Australia and India have overcome similar scheduling to reach two finals each out of three; England, by contrast, have never come close.But the reality is that for all its flaws, the WTC has been a success: it has created a showpiece final for the Test format, which in turn has provided context and incentives that did not previously exist for smaller nations. For New Zealand’s and South Africa’s players, winning the WTC was a bigger achievement than any single series win of their careers.England must accept that they will have to adapt accordingly. The ECB has made the case that the over-rate penalties they have faced have been outsized, considering that they have only drawn one of their last 36 Tests, but every other team has been able to get through their overs more quickly. Their complaints will be taken more seriously from a position of strength.They have also developed a bad habit of ending series poorly: in four of their last five series, they have won the first Test but lost the last. Stokes has attributed that to mental and physical fatigue, but there have been hints of complacency too, not least against Sri Lanka at The Oval last year.England have been the perfect hosts for the first three WTC finals, but as a team they have been ambivalent towards the tournament•Gareth Copley / GettyIt was a series that England needed to win 3-0 to retain realistic ambitions of reaching the final, but their performance suggested a team who considered the match to be a dead rubber: they handed a debut to an incredibly raw fast bowler, and were bowled out in 34 overs in a frenetic second innings. It was anything but ruthless.The great curiosity of England’s position is that they appear to have taken a sudden interest in the ICC’s Test rankings, despite the WTC rendering them almost irrelevant. Stokes texted Brendon McCullum and Rob Key to say, “One more place to go,” when England briefly rose to second last month, and Key has publicly targeted the No. 1 spot.It is a strange focus as a new WTC cycle starts, akin to an international football team talking about the FIFA rankings at the start of a World Cup. England’s public stance is that they focus on winning every Test match they play in, and that winning enough will get them into the final: “As a group, we’re probably not looking that far ahead,” Brydon Carse said on Wednesday.England’s fixture list in the 2025-27 cycle is frontloaded. If they emerge from their next ten Tests – five against India, five in Australia – with a winning record, then they should be well positioned for their four remaining series: three Tests apiece against Pakistan and New Zealand at home, three in South Africa, and two in Bangladesh.The ECB is keen to retain hosting rights for the WTC final, and the indications are that it will do so at next month’s ICC conference in Singapore. If that happens, it will provide their side with yet another prime opportunity to reach the final in home conditions; to do so, they must engage with the WTC’s oddities rather than fighting against them.

The Apertura 2025 Liguilla is officially set, and once again the Play-In delivered more noise than impact. For the third straight year, the top eight teams from the regular-season table advanced, reaffirming criticism of a format that never allowed ninth or 10th place to break through. With Liga MX preparing to scrap the Play-In in 2026, attention now shifts fully to the quarterfinals and Toluca’s bid for back-to-back titles.

Getty Images SportWhat is at stake?

Tijuana, Juárez, Pachuca, and Pumas battled for the final two postseason spots, but the decisive matchup only reinforced the existing hierarchy. Juárez earned its first-ever Liguilla berth by beating Pachuca – though the Bravos were already eighth in the table – adding to the belief that the Play-In has created more fatigue than competitive balance. This will be the final tournament using the format before the league returns to a traditional top-eight qualification system in Clausura 2026.

With the bracket set, the quarterfinals begin Wednesday, Nov. 26: FC Juárez vs. Toluca, Rayados vs. América, Tijuana vs. Tigres. On Thursday, Nov. 27, Chivas vs. Cruz Azul closes the first legs.

The second legs follow on Saturday, Nov. 29, before Cruz Azul vs. Chivas wraps the round on Sunday, Nov. 30.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNo 1. Toluca vs. No. 8 FC Juárez – The most uneven quarterfinal duel

Juárez’s qualification came with a dramatic 2-1 win over Pachuca, but the Bravos now face the tournament’s most dominant side. Toluca enter the Liguilla as the reigning champions, top of the table, and overwhelming favorites.

The clubs have no Liguilla history between them; their only knockout meeting was a Repechaje won by Toluca. Their most recent league match ended 2-0 for the Diablos at Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez, with goals from Paulinho and Juan Domínguez.

Toluca – Key to Success

Long rest may be their only concern. With 18 days since their last official match, rhythm could be an issue. Otherwise, Antonio Mohamed’s team has been a powerhouse all season. Over two legs, they remain heavy favorites.

Player to Watch: Paulinho

The Portuguese striker claimed his third consecutive Liga MX Golden Boot and formed a dangerous partnership with Alexis Vega.

FC Juárez – Key to Success

Juárez enter as a pure underdog. To shock the champions, they must contain Paulinho and Vega at the Nemesio Díez – something few clubs have managed.

Player to Watch: Óscar Estupiñán

Eight goals in 13 matches made him Juárez’s primary threat. He’ll need a near-perfect series.

GOAL's Pick: Toluca advance comfortably.

Getty Images SportNo. 2 Tigres vs. No. 7 Tijuana – Ángel Correa vs. Gilberto Mora

Tigres and Tijuana have met only once in Liguilla history, a matchup won by Tigres. Their regular-season meeting also went to Tigres, 2-0, with goals from Gignac and Correa.

Tigres – Key to Success

Guido Pizarro’s side had the league’s best away record (four wins, four draws, no losses) and the best defense (16 goals conceded). They were also the second-best attack. Maintaining those standards should be enough.

Player to Watch: Ángel Correa

The World Cup winner has adapted seamlessly and is central to Tigres’ attack alongside Brunetta, Lainez, and Gorriarán.

Xolos – Key to Success

Sebastián Abreu’s side looked sharp in the Play-In but now face one of Liga MX’s toughest teams. Xolos must take advantage of the first leg at home to have any chance.

Player to Watch: Gilberto Mora

The 17-year-old showed confidence with a Panenka against Juárez, but Xolos need more than just him to pull an upset.

GOAL's Pick: Tigres move on.

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AFPNo. 3 Cruz Azul vs. No. 6 Chivas – A matchup that promises plenty

Cruz Azul and Chivas have met three times in Liguilla play, with Guadalajara winning two series. Their most recent match came on Matchday 7, a 2-1 Cruz Azul win at Estadio Akron.

Cruz Azul – Key to Success

Nicolás Larcamón’s team secured third place and turned Estadio Olímpico Universitario into a fortress. If they maintain their defensive consistency, they enter as favorites.

Player to Watch: Gabriel Fernández

Unexpectedly retained, Fernández delivered with seven goals in the tournament.

Chivas – Key to Success

Gabriel Milito’s side closed the season strongly with a three-match winning streak. However, they ranked low among qualifiers in goals scored and need Armando González to continue his breakout form.

Player to Watch: Armando González

The 13-goal scorer shared the Golden Boot and is essential to Chivas’ chances.

GOAL's Pick: Cruz Azul in a tight series.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been handed a fairly concerning injury update on the condition of Kai Havertz, who was rumoured to be in contention for this weekend’s looming North London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.

After losing star defender Gabriel Magalhaes to a thigh injury earlier this week, which cut short his international tour of duty with Brazil, the last thing Arteta needs is another injury setback.

Arsenal, who top the Premier League table after a sensational run of form and haven’t lost a single game since their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in August, have done extraordinarily well to cope without a plethora of key attackers lately — including Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus and Havertz.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Odegaard, Madueke, Havertz and Jesus have been on the treatment table for extended periods, with the latter last in line to return to action after he ruptured his ACL against Man United at the start of 2025.

Madueke is racing to be fit for this weekend’s clash with Tottenham after impressing Arsenal rehab staff in his recovery from a knee problem, with Odegaard in the same boat according to reliable media sources like Standard Sport.

Havertz was believed to be in contention as well, but an update from Nagelsmann threatens to cast some doubt over his involvement against Spurs on Sunday.

The 26-year-old was sidelined in the opening week of the Premier League campaign and required surgery on a knee issue, having only just returned from a hamstring injury which kept him out for months.

It’s been a frustrating time for Havertz, and while reports suggest he’s been excelling in his Arsenal rehab similar to Madueke, Nagelsmann has actually made a suggestion to the contrary.

Julian Nagelsmann makes Kai Havertz injury claim in worry for Arsenal

Speaking to reporters this week, the Germany boss made an interesting prediction, stating that he expects Havertz to return “towards the end of the year”.

This comes after the £280,000-per-week star also suffered a “minor relapse” of his knee injury, though Nagelsmann has moved to say that Havertz is “doing well” all things considered.

While this doesn’t mean that Havertz is definitively out for this weekend’s all-important derby clash, it doesn’t exactly paint a certain picture of his involvement either, so Arsenal could have another injury worry on their hands here after a few scares over the international break.

Luckily for Arteta, while Gabriel is a major doubt to face Tottenham, Riccardo Calafiori has been given the all-clear to play this weekend, according to Fabrizio Romano.

If Havertz does turn out to be ready for Sunday, with uncertainty surrounding him right now, it would come as an almighty boost.

Gyokeres is another Arsenal player who could miss the derby, so a return for Havertz would undoubtedly do wonders to alleviate the Swede’s absence, otherwise Mikel Merino is in line to start his third successive game as Arteta’s makeshift striker.