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      in Soccer

      What is the Leagues Cup?

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      LIONEL MESSI will be thrown straight into the thick of things as he prepares to make his debut in the US. The Leagues Cup gets underway this week and there are plenty of teams vying to get their hands on some silverware.
      Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami earlier this summer in a huge deal for the MLSCredit: Getty
      Messi already has a cabinet full of trophies at home, but he’ll be after his very first with Inter Miami on American soil later this year.
      Though the MLS is still in the middle of its season, the Leagues Cup will now take precedent for North America’s best players.
      What is the Leagues Cup?
      The Leagues Cup will all 29 MLS clubs thrown into a World-Cup style competition with the 18 Liga MX clubs to compete for one trophy.
      Both the MLS and Liga MX, the top league in Mexico, will come to a halt while the Leagues Cup is going on.

      The winner will eventually qualify for the last-16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
      Every team will play two group stage games each, and the top two teams from each group will make the round of 32.
      No draws are allowed, so if a game is level after 90 minutes, the game will go straight to penalties.
      A team gets three points for a win, 1 point for a draw after 90 minutes, and an extra point if they win the shootout.
      Most read in Football
      When is the Leagues Cup?
      The Leagues Cup will be held between July 21 and August 19.
      The first game of the tournament will be between Messi’s Inter Miami and Cruz Azul. More

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      in Soccer

      When is Arsenal vs Man Utd? Team news, TV channel and live stream info for pre-season friendly

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      ARSENAL and Manchester United battle in an upcoming pre-season friendly this Saturday – and here’s what you need to know. Premier League rivals are prepping away before their meet-up in New York this weekend.
      Arsenal take on Manchester United in New York this Saturday.Credit: Getty
      Mikel Arteta’s side smashed the MLS All-Stars 5-0 on Wednesday but this will be United’s first game of their US tour.
      Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber have made their unofficial debuts and are expected to face Andre Onana on Erik ten Hag’s side this weekend.
      With Harry Maguire stripped of his captaincy the leader of the Red Devils this weekend is still up in the air.
      Both teams finished in the top three last season with Arsenal finishing nine points ahead of the Red Devils.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Harry Maguire is no longer captain leaving the spot up for grabs this weekend.Credit: AP
      When is Arsenal vs Man Utd?

      The pre-season friendly will be on Saturday, 22 July
      Kick-off in the USA is scheduled for 5pm which is 10pm UK time

      Where is Arsenal vs Man Utd being played?

      The game will be held at the MetLife Stadium, New York
      MetLife holds around 82,000 fans.

      What TV channel is it on and can I live stream it?

      The game will be broadcast live on MUTV which can be viewed on the Manchester United App or on manutd.com.
      Fans can sign up to watch the game on MUTV for £7.99.

      What is the team news?
      New signing Rice and Timber are expected to feature in this weekend’s games alongside Kai Havertz.
      Most read in Football
      Folarin Balogun who has been linked to a move with Inter Milan has travelled to the USA for The Gunner’s pre-season tour.
      Meanwhile, Onana has completed his medical and will join his new teammates in New York later today, according to reports.
      Marcus Rashford is set to play after renewing a staggering £325k weekly contract with the team.
      New signing Mason Mount will also be expected on the line-up, while the captaincy of the team is still unknown after Harry Maguire was stripped of the title. More

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      in Soccer

      Why is Sam Kerr not playing for Australia vs Ireland in the Women’s World Cup?

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      SAM Kerr has risen to fame showing off her football skills.The Australian star has become a fan favourite over the years, but why is she not playing for Australia vs Ireland in the Women’s World Cup?
      Sam Kerr has a calf injuryCredit: Getty
      Why is Sam Kerr not playing for Australia vs Ireland in the Women’s World Cup?
      Sam Kerr is not playing in the Australian vs Ireland Women’s World Cup match due to an injury.
      She has been ruled out for the first two matches because of a calf injury she sustained while training.
      She is set to miss the opening Group B game against the Republic of Ireland at Stadium Australia on Thursday as well as being absent against Nigeria on July 27.
      The Chelsea forward posted on Instagram: “Unfortunately I sustained a calf injury yesterday in training. I wanted to share this with everyone so there is no distraction from us doing what we came here to achieve.

      “Of course I would have loved to have been out there tonight but I can’t wait to be a part of this amazing journey which starts now.”
      A statement posted to the Australia team’s Twitter account read: “Sam Kerr is unavailable tonight after she picked up a calf injury at training on matchday minus-one.
      “Sam will be unavailable for the next two matches with the Matildas medical team to re-assess her following our second group-stage match.”
      Who will replace Sem Kerr?
      Sam is set to be replaced by Arsenal defender Steph Catley.
      Most read in Football
      It’s hoped that Kerr will have recovered enough in order to play in Australia’s final match in Group B, against Canada on July 31.
      How long does it take to recover from a calf injury?
      Depending how serious the calf injury is, it can take up to three months to recover fully.
      A typical grade I calf strain will heal in seven to 10 days but a grade II injury can take four to six weeks.
      If you have a grade III calf strain you are looking at three months of recovery.
      The most common calf injury tends to be grade II. More

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      in Soccer

      Who are Lionel Messi’s parents?

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      BEFORE Lionel Messi was one of the greatest football players of all time, he was only known as the son of Jorge Messi and Celia María Cuccittini. His parents have stood by his side since the beginning, and now they play a crucial role in his brand.
      Lionel Messi is the son of Jorge and CeliaCredit: Instagram/ jorge.sole
      Who are Lionel Messi’s parents?
      Lionel Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, to Jorge and Celia.
      Growing up, Jorge worked as a factory worker while Celia worked at a magnet manufacturing workshop.
      Now, Celia often stays out of the spotlight, while her husband works on growing and running their son’s career.
      When did Jorge Messi become Lionel’s agent?
      Lionel’s parents always knew their son was special, which is why Jorge took an early interest in managing his career.
      Read More on Lionel
      Since the early 2000s, Jorge has served as Lionel’s agent. He is often the go-to guy when it comes to Lionel’s career and business decisions.
      “He tries to do everything for his son. He has not learned how to step back and move aside and let other people work in a more professional way,” a source told The Athletic.
      “They are a good family, they love each other, but they do not seem to be particularly good at building relationships with people who can help them.”
      Jorge runs things remotely from Rosario and has an office in central Barcelona, with a receptionist, a German financial controller, private banker Alfonso Nebot, who takes care of his investments, and a former Barcelona employee Pau Negre, responsible for his international commercial work.
      Most read in Football
      At this time, it is not known if Jorge will move his operation now that his son is playing in the MLS for Inter Miami.
      Lionel Messi’s father is also his agentCredit: Instagram/jorge.sole
      How many siblings does Lionel Messi have?
      While Lionel might be the most well-known Messi family member, he is not Jorge and Celia’s only child.
      Jorge and Celia are also the parents of Lionel’s older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and his younger sister, Maria Sol.
      While the Messi kids might have a high-profile brother, they often stay out of the spotlight as much as possible. More

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      in Soccer

      Why is Lionel Messi not playing for MLS All-Stars?

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      INTERNATIONAL football star Lionel Messi has officially signed his new contract with Inter Miami, which will last through 2025. He signed the contract just days before the start of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game, but he will ultimately not be playing and now fans want to know why.
      Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023Credit: Sunday Times
      Why is Lionel Messi not playing for MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal?
      Lionel Messi joined David Beckham’s Inter Miami team after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired in June 2023.
      The agreement was signed before the MLS All-Star game against Arsenal began, which is why many fans thought he would be taking the field, but by the time terms were reached, he was unable to be a part of the player selection process.
      Who is playing for MLS All-Stars?
      The MLS All-Star roster is made up of 12 players who were voted in by fans, media, and players, 14 players who were selected by MLS All-Star head coach Wayne Rooney, and two who were chosen by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
      Those players include:
      Read More on MLS All-Stars
      Forwards and Wingers

      Midfielders

      No. 11 Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati)
      No. 23 Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
      No. 29 Mathieu Choinière (CF Montréal)
      Carles Gil (New England Revolution)
      No. 16 Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC)
      No. 8 José Martínez (Philadelphia Union)
      No. 5 Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew)
      No. 10 Hany Mukhtar (Nashville, SC)
      No. 6 Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy)
      No. 30 Lucas Zelarayán (Columbus Crew)

      Defenders

      No. 31 Álvaro Barreal (FC Cincinnati)
      No. 17 Jon Gallagher (Austin FC)
      Jakob Glesnes (Philadelphia Union)
      No. 24 Ryan Hollingshead (Los Angeles Football Club)
      No. 21 Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati)
      No. 26 Tim Parker (St. Louis City SC)
      No. 47 John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls)
      No. 25 Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

      Goalkeepers

      No. 1 Roman Bürki (St. Louis City SC)
      No. 28 Tyler Miller (DC United)
      No. 12 Djordje Petrovic (New England Revolution)

      Most read in Football
      The MLS All-Star Game will be played on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at Audi Field in Washington, DC.
      Inter Miami will not play in the 2023 MLS All-Stars GameCredit: AP
      When will Lionel Messi make his debut?
      The Messi effect is in full swing in Miami, Florida, and the superstar is eager to get started.
      “I’m sure we’re going to have many wonderful experiences,” Messi told a crowd of fans after he signed his multi-million-dollar MLS contract, via the Associated Press.
      “I’m very much moved to be here in Miami, to be with you,” he continued.
      “I want to thank you, all of you, on behalf of my family, for the kindness that you have given me.”
      He is expected to make his Inter Miami debut against Cruz Azul on July 21 in the Leagues Cup.
      Tickets to watch Messi’s debut for Inter Miami against Cruz Azul will cost anywhere from $350 to $2,000 on Ticketmaster. More

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      in Boxing

      Naoya Inoue vs Stephen Fulton: UK start time, live stream, TV channel, undercard for huge title fight in Tokyo

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      NAOYA INOUE is looking to become a four-weight world champion as he takes on Stephen Fulton in a huge Tokyo clash. Regarded as one of the best boxers in the world, Inoue is undefeated and boasts and impressive knockout ratio.
      Naoya Inoue knocked out Nonito Donaire last summerCredit: AFP
      Stephen Fulton holds the WBC and WBO titles at super-bantamweight
      Fulton, however, is no slouch himself and holds the WBC and WBO belts at super-bantamweight, which Inoue will experience for the first time.
      The Philadelphia fighter has big wins over Angelo Leo, Brandon Figueroa and Danny Roman.
      Inoue is coming off a victory over Brit Paul Butler at bantamweight, where he won all four belts.
      And now he’s looking to reign supreme at 122lbs, but he’s chosen an incredibly tricky opponent in Fulton.
      When is Inoue vs Fulton?
      Fulton’s big clash against Inoue will take place on Tuesday, July 25.
      Ring-walks will get going from around 11.30am BST.
      Inoue vs Fulton will be held at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
      What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
      Inoue vs Fulton will be shown live on Sky Sports Arena in the UK.
      Most read in Boxing
      You can live stream the action from the NOW TV or Sky Go app, both of which are available for download from your mobile or tablet device.
      Inoue vs Fulton full card

      Stephen Fulton vs. Naoya Inoue for the WBC and WBO Super-bantamweight titles
      Robeisy Ramirez vs. Satoshi Shimizu for the WBO featherweight title
      Chihiro Iwashita vs. Hiroyuki Takahara; Super-featherweight
      Kanamu Sakama vs. Ryu Horikawa; Super-flyweight
      Taiga Imanaga vs. Hebi Marapu; Lightweight
      Yoshiki Takei vs. Ronnie Baldonado; Super-bantamweight
      Yuki Kajitani vs. Masato Shinoda; Super-flyweight
      Kenta Yamakawa vs. Ryosuke Nakamura; Featherweight
      Takero Kitano vs. Kenta Kawakami; Featherweight More

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      in Soccer

      Who is England striker Bethany England and what clubs has she played for?

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      ENGLISH professional football player Bethany England is one of the well-known players of the English team. Her skill as a striker has afforded her a highly successful career so far and she will be taking her skills to Tottenham Hotspur.
      Bethany has been one of the top goal scorers at Chelsea FCCredit: Getty
      Who is Bethany England?
      Bethany England was born and raised in Barnsley, England, on June 3, 1994.
      She grew up with her parents, twin sister and her other sister in the South Yorkshire town.
      The future Lioness started playing football at a young age, first joining a team when she was six years old.
      The first team she played with was a boy’s team called Junior Tykes for almost four years.
      Read more on Bethany England
      Bethany attended Barnsley Sixth Form College before studying law through a partnership with BPP University and the Doncaster Belles.
      Bethany proudly identifies as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
      What teams has Bethany England played for?
      The Tottenham striker has played for a few different teams so far in her career.
      During her youth career, she played for Sheffield United.
      Most read in Football
      She also represented England for their under-19 and under-23 teams from 2011 until 2017.
      She made her senior professional football debut with Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2011.
      She played for Doncaster until 2015 and was then transferred to Chelsea FC.
      She spent almost 7 years with Chelsea FC, making 99 appearances and scoring 45 goals.

      Part was through her time at Chelsea she was loaned to Liverpool, making 16 appearances and scoring 10 goals for them in one season.
      On January 4, 2023, Bethany’s transfer from Chelsea to Tottenham Hotspur was announced.
      It was reported that her transfer fee was £250,000, breaking the record for a domestic women’s football transfer.
      She is contracted to stay with Tottenham until June 2026 at the earliest.
      Bethany has also earned quite a few accolades throughout her professional career.
      In 2020 Bethany was named the league’s Player of the Year and PFA Women’s Player of the Year.
      She was awarded these after helping Chelsea win the 2019/20 FA WSL and the 2019/20 FA Women’s League Cup.
      Bethany was also part of the England team that won the UEFA Women’s Championship in 2022.
      Read More on The Sun
      When did Bethany England win her first international cap?
      Bethany made her senior international debut for the England women’s team in a friendly against Belgium in 2019.
      Off the back of being Chelsea’s top striker the season prior, she was brought on for the final quarter of an hour of the game. More

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      in Motorsport

      F1 Hungarian Grand Prix 2023: Start time, TV channel, live stream and schedule as Verstappen eyes seventh straight win

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN extended his run to six consecutive Grand Prix wins following his triumph at Silverstone last time out.Should the Dutchman win again in Hungary, he will join the likes of Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher and Alberto Ascari on seven successive wins.
      Max Verstappen after winning the British Grand Prix at the SilverstoneCredit: GETTY
      Verstappen could break Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive wins this season if he keeps up his current form.
      Red Bull are also seeking a record for successive victories by an F1 constructor as they eye a 12th straight win in Hungary.
      The Austrian outfit equalled McLaren’s record of 11 consecutive wins after Verstappen’s victory at the British Grand Prix.
      In other news, Daniel Ricciardo will make his F1 comeback at the Hungarian Grand Prix and replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri.
      READ MORE IN F1
      When is the Hungarian Grand Prix 2023

      The Hungarian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, July 23.
      The race is scheduled to begin at 2pm BST.
      The Hungaroring will be the racetrack.

      What channel is the Hungarian Grand Prix 2023 on and can it be live streamed?

      The Hungarian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
      Sky Sports customers can live stream the Hungarian Grand Prix via the NOW app.
      Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all of the action by following SunSport’s live blog.

      Full schedule
      Friday, July 21

      Practice 1: 12.30pm – 1.30pm
      Practice 2: 4pm – 5pm

      Most read in Motorsport
      Saturday, July 22

      Practice 3: 11.30am – 12.30pm
      Qualifying: 3pm – 4pm

      Sunday, July 23

      Grand Prix: 2pm

      Full F1 calendar
      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More