A World Cup nation has released a statement after one of their star players was denied entry into the United States, less than 10 days from the start of football’s showpiece event. A lot has been made during the buildup over the issues around Donald Trump’s strict entry rules, and that’s something Breel Embolo has witnessed first-hand.
The Swiss federation confirmed his ESTA travel authorisation was placed under review this week – linking back to a court ruling over a 2018 altercation, as per The Sun. Embolo, the former Basel and Monaco frontman, was convicted in 2023 of making multiple threats and handed a suspended fine.
The verdict was upheld on appeal after judges rejected his account of the incident. Swiss media reported in April that Embolo decided against taking it to the Federal Court, finalising the judgement. In a statement, the country has said: “Unfortunately, Breel Embolo is currently unable to travel to the United States with the team.
“His ESTA authorisation had been approved until this morning. However, at 10.30am, we were informed that his ESTA application had been placed under further review. We are currently in contact with the relevant authorities and expect that Breel will either join the team later today or travel tomorrow and join the squad then.”
A spokesperson told Reuters Embolo had been allowed to travel to the USA to play for Switzerland against the USMNT and Mexico last June. The Rossocrociati flew to Los Angeles and will be based in San Diego throughout the early knockings of the competition.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have reached a verbal agreement to sign Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate ahead of the summer transfer window.
The French international is set to sign a four-year contract with the Spanish club, with Konate putting offers from Saudi Arabia on hold to prioritise a move to Madrid.
It was recently confirmed that Konate would be leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract, which has now opened the door for Real Madrid to make a move.
Whether either player could instantly come in and be a guaranteed starter remains to be seen, so Liverpool need to decide whether to sign a new centre-back this summer.
It’s an incredibly important transfer window coming up for the Reds, especially as they prepare for life under a new manager.
If there is one thing that brings out pride unlike anything else in Australia, it’s national sports. The nation has become synonymous with its sporting achievements on the global stage, whether it’s in cricket or football, athletics or rugby.
Some of the country’s greatest exports have been athletes, who wear the gold and green of Oz with respect, satisfaction, and joy at the nation they represent.
But one question that surrounds the national teams, whichever sport Australia competes in, surrounds the colour combination on the jerseys and uniforms they participate in.
Here’s a look at why Australia wear gold and green in sports, and everything you need to know about the country’s sporting background.
Australia’s Green And Gold Kits
While Australia’s national flag features a predominantly blue background, with red and white on it for the Union Jack, as well as white for the stars, none of these colours are represented by the sports teams in their kit colours.
Instead, there is a gold and green mix, which is actually in reference to the Golden Wattle, also known as the Acacia Pycnantha, which is a flower often spotted in the south-east of the country.
The Australia Coat of Arms includes a wreath of Golden Wattle, which may not be accurate to how they look in real life, but bases the image off of them regardless.
This then translates to the team colours in sports, where the gold and green of the plant in bloom are often used to explain the decision to pick the combination.
That may not be the only symbolism related to the gold and green, however, as Australia’s government has completed a deep dive into the national colours.
The gold is said to represent: “The symbol of Australia’s sporting victories, and the colour of our mineral wealth, beaches, the golden fleece of Australian wool and the harvests of golden grains across every state.”
As for the green, that represents: “The colour of the Australian forests, gum trees, pastures and the endless horizons of growing crops.”
When Did Sports Teams Adopt Australia’s Colours?
It has taken some time for there to be some uniformity across sports for Australia to wear gold and green, with several variations coming before the change.
In football, the men’s national team originally played in a light blue kit in 1922, before they changed to green and gold in 1924, which stayed in place until the 1960s.
From the 1960s onwards, Australia’s football teams have worn predominantly gold and green shirts, along with green shorts and yellow socks.
Raygun broke the internet in the summer of 2024, with her breakdancing performance at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Cricket has taken slightly longer, as traditional test matches were played in cricket whites, with teams distinguished by who is batting and bowling. This meant that neither side needed to stand out in the same way as other sports, and whites continue to be used today in the test cricket format.
However, short-form cricket is where the change to coloured kits gets involved in cricket, with One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 (T20) matches requiring teams to wear colours for each side.
The change to kits came with the limited-overs formats from the 1970s, when ODI cricket started, while T20s were introduced from 2003 onwards.
Australian cricket uses green as the primary colour for T20 matches, with gold used as the secondary colour, while that is inversed for the ODI kits.
In rugby union, Australia would often change their kit depending on where they were playing, but eventually switched to gold and green in 1961.
The rise and fall of Arne Slot has paved the way for talks to gather pace between Liverpool and former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, with the Spaniard now appearing next in line for the Anfield hot seat. It would represent a major change of scenery from the south coast, with the 43-year-old potentially stepping into one of football’s biggest pressure cookers at a club where silverware is demanded.
That expectation, however, appears to cut both ways. Iraola has reportedly requested five new signings should he arrive this summer, while four current squad members could also find themselves on the chopping block as Liverpool look to balance the books and tailor a squad fit for his renowned intensity.
After FSG shattered the British transfer fee record twice in less than 12 months, the funds are clearly there to hand their prospective new manager a sizeable war chest. What lurks just around the corner for the Reds, then, is another busy transfer period.
The Reds are weighing up their options should they decide to sack Arne Slot
The 5 Signings Andoni Iraola Wants to Make at Liverpool
Thanks to securing Champions League football with a fifth-place finish, it had initially been suggested that Slot’s position at Anfield was safe. However, a combination of flat performances and growing frustration in the stands ultimately left the owners with little room to manoeuvre, forcing their hand ahead of another changing of the guard.
With Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all departing on free transfers, Liverpool are crying out for reinforcements this summer. According to ESPN, signing an elite winger is high on the club’s list of priorities, with RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola both under consideration.
Closer to home, the Reds could also turn their attention to West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen after the Hammers suffered relegation from the Premier League on the final day. Meanwhile, midfield is another area in need of attention, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is understood to be a player of interest, with his energetic, front-footed style appearing tailor-made for Iraola’s approach.
Liverpool are also admirers of Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries, who could finally provide a dependable solution at right-back, with his £21.6 million release clause making a deal more than plausible. Both Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong spent lengthy spells on the sidelines during the 2025/26 campaign, leaving the club eager to avoid being caught short in the position they shoehorned Curits Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai in again.
The Liverpool Players Who Could be Axed
In terms of outgoings, Alisson Becker and Curtis Jones are both attracting interest from Italy, with Juventus and Inter Milan reportedly monitoring their situations. Federico Chiesa is also expected to head back to his native country.
While Jones and Chiesa have largely become peripheral figures in a squad that has arguably outgrown them, the potential departure of Alisson would force Liverpool into a major decision: continue placing their faith in Giorgi Mamardashvili or enter the market for a new No. 1.
Liverpool’s 2025/26 squad has been ranked ahead of the summer transfer window, and many players could face uncertain futures.
Joe Gomez’s future is also far from certain heading into the summer window, although reports suggest the England international could see out the final year of his contract before moving on next summer. Meanwhile, the other player whose future has come under scrutiny is Cody Gakpo.
Much of that discussion has been driven by sections of the Anfield faithful, who feel his more measured and predictable style of play may not fit Iraola’s high-octane approach. As a result, excitement is beginning to build around highly rated youngster Rio Ngumoha, who is increasingly being tipped for a more prominent role.
