Sports
20 Ethiopians Disappear From Football Team Playing at Gothia Cup
Rather alarming reports have emerged in Sweden, revealing that 20 people from a youth team playing at the World Youth Cup in Gothenburg disappeared on the day of the final. Police have now shared a statement on the events in Gothenburg.
The Gothia Cup, or World Youth Cup, this year featured 1,956 teams from 78 countries, including four teams from Ethiopia. According to Swedish police, via The Local Sweden, 20 Ethiopians involved in the football tournament have disappeared.
The hosts at a school where players from the youth football team were staying are said to have discovered, on the day of the final, that Ethiopian players and several of the adults accompanying them had disappeared.
Police Suspect That Disappearance is Voluntary
The police have now confirmed that the group have not returned to Ethiopia and believe that they disappeared of their own accord. They suspect that this is a voluntary case of illegal migration.
Ellinor Halldi has given a statement on behalf of the unit for missing people at the Swedish police’s western region, telling The Local Sweden:
“We have no idea if they’re trying to stay in Sweden. That would just be speculation. In the past, we’ve had disappearances before in the Gothia Cup but never so many as this. Those have been for different reasons, either they’ve already gone home or they’ve wanted to stay in Sweden or another country.”
Halldi stated her unit was working with the Migration Agency, the Swedish border police, and authorities in other countries to try and find the missing people, and expected to get notified if one or more of the missing people attempted to cross a border or was encountered by the authorities for another reason.
She added: “There is no indication that anything illegal lies behind this, such as people smuggling or something similar. My experience is that they usually trickle in gradually in the end.”
Press spokesperson at the Gothia Cup, Fredrik Beckman, has also commented on the matter. He explained to local press: “From our perspective it’s strange because this is a team that we have a good relationship with.”
Beckman added that the tournament’s management had filed a report to the police as a “precautionary measure”, and now – ten days after the end of the tournament – the team was still missing.
It’s also reported that the tournament organisers last received correspondence from the Ethiopian team when the club’s contact person thanked them for their “consideration” and added that “it seems that the problem was a communication problem.” But in the email, the contact person gives no information on where the team are or whether they have returned home.
With the World Youth Cup – ‘the world’s largest and most international youth football event’ – hosting different age group competitions, the winners in 2026 came from Sweden, France, Japan, Nigeria, Norway, Ghana, Germany, Tanzania, England, Spain, Kenya, India, and Iceland.
Sports
Red Dragons Home & Away Shirts Revealed
Wrexham AFC has released its new home and away kits for this year’s Championship campaign as they eye promotion in a bright and fresh jersey.
The Welsh club has risen to prominence in the last few years following the takeover of Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and narrowly missed out on the playoffs, finishing in seventh place.
One of the United Kingdom’s oldest and historic clubs is in a fantastically promising position to chart a course to the Premier League, something which seemed impossible when they were languishing in the National League for over a decade before the ownership change.
The new home and away kits speak to its rich history, Welsh heritage and current modern standing. Here is everything you need to know about the new Red Dragons kits, from design details to prices.
Wrexham 2026/27 Home Kit
Bold, the bright red kit brings an instant identity that speaks to its Welsh heritage with the front-of-shirt sponsor Firefox marking the new modern commercial era. However, beyond that and the familiar club crest, the detailing provides plenty of thoughtful features.
A standout feature is the subtle pattern across the front, which is said to be inspired by the safety barriers that once lined the old Kop terrace at the Racecourse Ground. In addition, a nod to the street location is across the front of the jersey while six flagpoles on the nape spell out ‘CAE RAS’ (Welsh for Racecourse) alongside the club’s founding year, 1864.
Another intimate detail is the in the lower hem, as the shirt remembers the 266 victims of the 1934 Gresford Colliery Disaster that also includes an internal silicone tape which reads ‘Our Ground, Our Spirit.’
It’s worth noting that the reveal of the kit was certainly a blockbuster event: it was unveiled in New York, tied to a Nasdaq bell-ringing ceremony. And Wrexham fans will be hoping for a Hollywood-style season as they eye promotion.
Wrexham 2026/27 Away Kit
Debuting at the pre-season friendly Wisla Kraków, the away kit offers a strong contrast to the home strip. A dark anthracite grey base is coupled with a mandarin collar and graphic red lines running through it.
The design speaks to the slate quarries of North Wales, further referencing history in terms of the region’s industrial heritage. Wrexham’s crest and Macron Hero logo are both silicone-printed in a striking red.
Firefox debuts with Nex debuting on the sleeve. In terms of manufacturing, it is made primarily from Macron’s Eco 3D Knit Matrix. It also carries ‘Y Ddraig Goch’—the Red Dragon — on the nape.
Plus, it pairs with the wording ‘Wrexham is the Name’ with Macron’s ‘Designed in Bologna’, marking ten years of the partnership.
Wrexham 2026/27 Kits Price & Where to Buy
In terms of the pricing and where to purchase, both kits are available now via the official Wrexham AFC club store and Macron’s international store, with global retail partners also stocking them.
UK buyers can secure standard authentic shirts at a retail price of around the £60. There are additional add-ons such as the competition sleeve badges and name-and-number personalisation, costing around £6 for the former and £18 for the latter.
US buyers are best served by visiting the Macron US store, where the authentic home shirt is priced at $74 for the short-sleeve, with Macron’s international store listing the long-sleeve home match jersey at $130. Name-and-number personalisation is an additional $21, with competition sleeve badges at $7 each.
Sports
UEFA Countries Will Boycott World Cup Amid FIFA’s Plan to Sell
UEFA countries have made a unanimous call when deciding if they should boycott the World Cup in protest at FIFA’s plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors. An emergency virtual meeting was held this week to discuss the matter.
FIFA want to form a new commercial subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprises (FFE), which will take responsibility for its major international competitions, such as the World Cup and the Club World Cup. They will maintain a majority stake of 51 per cent to ensure control, but will sell the remaining individual stakes to private investors.
Infantino is set to make millions from the plan, and has warned the national member associations of FIFA that their football programmes will miss out on as much as $40m (£30.1m) if they reject the proposal.
UEFA Countries Make FIFA Boycott Call
As reported by The Times, after an emergency virtual meeting, UEFA countries have all ‘unanimously in support of boycotting World Cup.’ They do so in protest at FIFA’s plan to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors.
European footballing body UEFA were among the first to strongly condemn Infantino’s plan. An immediate statement after the news broke read: “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game.
“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”
A new statement published by UEFA on Thursday (July 30) explained the current stance:
“UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.
“It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game.”
UEFA added: “As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.”
UEFA Boycott Would Be Catastrophic For FIFA
The decision was made after a crisis meeting. With all 55 UEFA nations backing the boycott, Infantino’s scheme will surely come to a swift halt. A seperate Sky News report notes ‘there has been fury’ within UEFA that FIFA head Infantino has been secretly working on partly selling off the money-making parts of the governing body to external investors.
It’s close to impossible to imagine a World Cup without UEFA teams competing. In the 21st century, Argentina (in 2022) are the only non-European nation to win the tournament. A total of 16 UEFA teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup, with Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland qualifying directly. The final four – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Sweden, and Turkiye – came through the play-offs.
In the aftermath of the 2026 World Cup, Infantino’s growing unpopularity has been much spoken about. Reports have even suggested that those within UEFA may look to put forward an alternative candidate for the next FIFA presidential elections.
Some UEFA federations, including Belgium and Poland, may back a move for PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, but he has no such ambition to stand for office. An alternative name is Legia Warsaw owner Dariusz Mioduski, who has been discussed by the Bosnian, Norwegian, Swedish, German and Spanish football federations.
Sports
Jon Jones Reacts to Anthony Smith’s Domestic Violence Arrest
UFC legend Jon Jones has made his feelings clear after former opponent Anthony Smith was arrested and charged with three felonies.
The 38-year-old was taken into custody in Sarpy County, Nebraska, on Monday in relation to charges of first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats, and first-degree false imprisonment.
Smith was subsequently released after posting a $500,000 bond. However, under the terms of his bond, the veteran fighter must not have any contact with his wife until after his trial has concluded.
The Charges Against Anthony Smith
Details surrounding the case against Smith have now emerged via a prosecutor from the Sarpy County Attorney’s Office. They make for uncomfortable reading.
“It is alleged that on July 26, 2026, the defendant was involved in an altercation with his wife at a bar in Gretna, Neb, during which he reportedly threatened to kill her if she did not get into his vehicle and go home with him.
“He is further accused of grabbing and pushing her inside the vehicle. At one point, during the drive, she was able to exit the vehicle. The defendant allegedly continued making threats, demanding that she get back inside the vehicle.
“After arriving home, she again exited the vehicle. Investigators allege that the defendant attempted multiple times to use the vehicle to strike her. The defendant’s wife was able to get out of the way and avoid any physical harm.”
Jones, who defeated Smith via unanimous decision when they met for the light heavyweight title in March 2019 at UFC 235, is no stranger to legal issues himself. Among his various brushes with the law, the Alberquerque native was arrested on domestic violence charges in September 2021. These were resolved three months later as he accepted a plea deal in order to avoid jail time.
The former two-division UFC champion retired from the Octagon in June 2025, but has continued to tease a possible return to the cage, while insisting that he is now a changed man.
Jon Jones Reacts to Anthony Smith’s Arrest
Taking to social media in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Jones referenced the charges against Smith as he wrote on X:
“Your boy over here looking more and more like Gandhi these days.”
Smith is the latest UFC fighter to find himself in legal trouble. Last month, former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Dustin Poirier hit the headlines after being arrested for public intoxication at a Georgia airport. Jones also addressed that matter on social media.
Asked by a fan for his direct reaction to Smith’s arrest, Jones stated: “I hope he prays. I know there’s no problem too big for Jesus. He can literally change any situation.”
Known as ‘Lionheart’, Smith retired from the UFC following his loss to Zhang Mingyang in April 2025, although he did return to MMA when he beat Chase Sherman on a Gamebred MMA show in April.
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