Carlos Alcaraz has faced scrutiny from tennis fans, after his new Instagram post debuted a peculiar new haircut for the two-time Wimbledon champion.

The Spaniard has been out of action since sustaining a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open back in April, which has caused the world number three to miss out on some of tennis’ most prestigious tournaments, such as Wimbledon, which was won by Jannik Sinner, and the French Open, with that being taken home by German Alexander Zverev.

Alcaraz has still been busy even with the injury, as his most recent Instagram dump showed him hanging out with Spanish World Cup hero Ferran Torres, after the former Manchester City’s winger’s 106th-minute strike confirmed the Spaniards’ second World Cup and the current US Open champion was there to watch it unfold.

Photos also showed the seven-time major champion rehabbing, as he is expected to return to the court at the Cincinnati Masters 100 before defending his US Open title in New York later this month, with tough competition expected from Sinner and Zverev.

But it looks like Alcaraz will be bringing something new to the tournament, and it involves a haircut, as the Spaniard has picked an interesting style, to say the least, going into his defence.

Carlos Alcaraz’s New Look

The Spanish tennis star usually opts for simple haircuts, with the furthest he has gone in recent times being a buzz cut which he bleached on his way to victory at the Japan Open.

But this time round, Alcaraz will opt for Cornrows going into August, as the youngest Grand Slam winner of all time showed off his look to his adoring fans, who looked on in shock as to see the 23-year-old with this new choice of style.

Many fans were quick to comment on this ambitious look, with multiple fans taking to X to voice their opinion on the topic.

One fan wrote, “GRIM. Sorry that he can’t play tennis. But this hairstyle is detracting from it,” another wrote, “Wait, is that actually Carlos?! Completely unrecognisable! Didn’t see this arc coming at all.”

Another fan looked to have switched sides by announcing that they had “Just joined team Sinner!”, while another fan was looking to convince Alcaraz to go back to the hairstyle he had during the Japan Open: “Carlitos, baby nooo. Just buzz cut platinum blonde again.”

The Spaniard will be hoping this new hair do will help him, as he looks to win his third US Open in the space of five years. One fan even thought it could, with them joking on X: “I like it! Hope it helps him aerodynamically, LOL!”

Six Argentina players could be banned for the 2030 World Cup following a statement made by FIFA, according to reports.

Argentina’s players caused controversy with their behaviour on the pitch during this summer’s tournament. After their victory over England in the semi-final, Argentina’s players held up a political banner which read ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, which translates to ‘The Falklands are Argentine.’

In the final, some of Argentina’s players completely lost their heads after their extra-time defeat to Spain. Full-back Nahuel Molina struck Rodri as he ran past him during the celebrations, while Lenadro Paredes grabbed the throat of Spain defender Eric Garcia and then sent Gavi to the ground.

FIFA Open Disciplinary Proceedings Against Argentina

Reuters/James Lang

FIFA have now opened disciplinary proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association. Their statement read: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened proceedings against the Argentinian Football Association for potential breaches of article 13 paragraph 2 c) (Using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature), article 14 paragraph 5 (Team misconduct), article 15 (Discrimination and racist abuse) and article 17 (Order and security at matches) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code in light of discriminatory chants and gestures, late kick-offs, failure to comply with match and security protocols, the display of inappropriate messages by the team and spectators and the throwing of objects by spectators in relation to several matches of the representative team of Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2026.“

They have also opened disciplinary proceedings against three Argentina players: Molina, Paredes and Thiago Almada.

The statement continued: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has received the report of the appointed Disciplinary and Ethics Prosecutor concerning incidents that occurred during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final (Spain v. Argentina) and, following the recommendation contained therein, has opened disciplinary proceedings – for potential breaches of article 14 paragraph 1 i) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (assault) – against Argentinian players Nahuel Molina (two counts, one completed and one attempted) and Leandro Paredes (three counts) and Argentinian official Roberto Ayala (one count).

“Disciplinary proceedings have also been opened – for potential breaches of article 14 paragraph 1 b) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (unsporting behaviour) – against Argentinian players Nahuel Molina (one count) and Thiago Almada (one count) and Spanish player Pablo Martín Páez Gavira (one count).”

Six Argentina Players at Risk of 2030 World Cup Ban

REUTERS/Mike Segar

The Sun have now reported that six Argentina players could be banned for the 2030 World Cup.

They write that FIFA have the power to issue a ban to the Argentina players who were involved in the Falklands banner and the violence after the final.

Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso were all seen holding the Falklands banner and could be punished. While Molina, Paredes and Almada are in hot water following their actions in the final.

Argentina’s next FIFA match will come at the 2030 World Cup. La Albiceleste will host one match at the tournament in honour of the 100th anniversary of the first edition in 1930.

Because they are co-hosting, they will not have to go through qualifying. So, if suspensions are handed out, the next available match for players to be banned could be Argentina’s opening match of the 2030 World Cup.

West Ham United are now closing in on a deal to sign Celtic star Arne Engels, according to Italian journalist Matteo Moretto.

West Ham are looking to secure an immediate return to the Premier League after a disappointing relegation to the Championship, and it has been a positive summer overall.

Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed he is staying to lead the club back to the top flight, with captain Jarrod Bowen doing the same despite inevitable links for the England international to remain in the Premier League.

Incoming business has been quiet so far, but the club has recouped more than £140m through the double sale of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur, and Crysencio Summerville to Al-Hilal.

Now they have brought in some big money to help with the costs of suffering relegation, they can start to look towards adding new faces to boost a squad that is already one of the favourites to win the league next season.

It appears as though they could now be closing in on a huge transfer coup for a Championship club, in Celtic star Engels.

West Ham ‘Close’ to Signing Celtic Star Arne Engels

According to Moretto, posting on X on Friday morning, West Ham are now closing in on the signing of Celtic midfielder Arne Engels.

The exit of Fernandes for £85m shows what a good player he is, and was for West Ham last season, and the need for him to be replaced.

Engels certainly fits the bill as a strong replacement for the Portugal international, given he is a central midfielder who has an impressive goal contribution record from his time at Parkhead.

The Belgium international joined the Hoops for a then club-record fee in 2024, and has since gone on to score 17 goals and register a further 21 assists in 98 appearances for the Glasgow giants.

Engels is Huge Transfer Coup for West Ham

via Reuters

While no fee has been reported by Moretto yet, you would think that Celtic would want to make a profit on a player they signed for a club-record fee of £11m.

Indeed, it was less than six months ago that the Bhoys rejected an offer worth £25m from Nottingham Forest for the Belgian, showing just how highly they rate the 22-year-old star.

One report from Italy claimed that AS Roma had been quoted £26m if they wanted to bring Engels to Serie A.

Whether West Ham would be willing to go that high as a Championship club is unclear, but it is a real signal of intent that they are determined to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, in what is likely to be a competitive Championship in the 2026-27 season.