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Committee on reforming football welcomes Olympic chief as new co-chair next to ex-World Cup star

A new government-formed committee on reforming Korean football was officially launched Monday with its inaugural meeting, as former FIFA World Cup hero Park Ji-sung welcomed the national Olympic chief Ryu Seung-min as his new co-chair. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism first announced the formation of the "K-football Innovation Committee" last Friday, with Park and Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young introduced as co-leaders. The new committee will hold "comprehensive discussions" on ways that can help Korean football's global competitiveness, according to the ministry, and those talks will cover areas such as football governance, youth development and adoption of the latest technologies. The committee appointed seven members, including Ryu, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee; Kim Seung-hee, executive director of the Korea Football Association (KFA); and two former national team players Lee Young-pyo and Park Joo-ho. The committee was assembled in the aftermath of Korea's elimination from the group stage at the ongoing FIFA World Cup. The KFA has been criticized for

Jul 6, 2026By Yonhap
Committee on reforming football welcomes Olympic chief as new co-chair next to ex-World Cup star
Sports

England hands Mexico its first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, winning 3-2 to reach quarterfinals

MEXICO CITY — Jude Bellingham scored two goals 98 seconds apart, Harry Kane converted a penalty when England was down to 10 men, and the Three Lions handed Mexico its first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, a wild 3-2 victory on Sunday night to reach the quarterfinals. England moves on to face Norway on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida, for a spot in the semifinals. Bellingham stunned the crowd of more than 80,000 at a venue where Mexico was unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches, including three this year, when he scored on a header in the 36th minute and again in the 38th on a pass from Kane. Julián Quiñones scored for El Tri in the 42nd minute, and the game appeared to turn in Mexico’s favor when England’s Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 54th for a dangerous foul on Jesús Gallardo. But England was awarded a penalty for a challenge by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, and Kane converted for his sixth goal of this tournament and 14th of his World Cup career, matching Gerd Müller of West Germany for fifth on the scoring list. Kane has six goals in this tournament, one behind Lione

Jul 6, 2026By AP
England hands Mexico its first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, winning 3-2 to reach quarterfinals
Sports

Chung Mong-gyu resigns as nat'l football chief

Chung Mong-gyu resigned as head of the national football federation on Monday. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Chung submitted his formal resignation letter earlier in the day after presiding over his final meeting with senior executives at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, some 90 kilometers south of Seoul. Chung had been at the helm since January 2013. On May 29, Chung announced he would step down as KFA president following the end of the ongoing FIFA World Cup. Although the tournament will end on July 20 in Korean time, Chung chose to leave his post two weeks ahead in the aftermath of the national team's earlier-than-expected elimination from the group stage. Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, finished third in Group A with three points from a win and two losses and could not squeeze into the last 16 as one of the eight best third-place teams. Hong resigned immediately after his team's fate was sealed. Chung had been under fire for what many critics claimed was an opaque process in hiring Hong in July 2024. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted a wide-ranging prob

Jul 6, 2026By Yonhap
Chung Mong-gyu resigns as nat'l football chief
Sports

Ronaldo says it again: His 6th World Cup will be his last

ARLINGTON, Texas — Cristiano Ronaldo's sometimes playful banter in a rare World Cup news conference ended in an exchange between Portugal's superstar and a reporter from Argentina. Ronaldo took the moment on the eve of a round of 16 clash with border rival Spain to repeat something he has said at least once before. This sixth World Cup for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star will be his last. “What remains with me is the people — the people who love you. I share hotels with the staff, Latino people, and those are spectacular memories. Yesterday on the flight, there was an Argentine flight attendant. And knew she was Argentine by the way she looked at me: ‘I knew you were Argentine by the way you looked at me. If you look away quickly, it means you don’t like Cristiano,’” Ronaldo said in translated remarks Sunday, breaking into a smile. “I want to enjoy what will be my last World Cup to the fullest,” Ronaldo continued. “Hopefully, tomorrow won’t be my last match. That way, you can keep bashing me some more.” Ronaldo, the career leader in international

Jul 6, 2026By AP
Ronaldo says it again: His 6th World Cup will be his last
Sports

Neymar says after World Cup elimination he is done playing for Brazil

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Neymar said Sunday he is done playing for Brazil’s national team, making the announcement after he and his teammates were knocked out of the World Cup with a 2-1 loss to Norway in the round of 16. “I tried,” Neymar said. “It started here at MetLife Stadium, and I finished here. It is now over.” Neymar, 34, played his first game for Brazil on Aug. 10, 2010 — a friendly against the U.S. at the stadium in the Meadowlands in northern New Jersey. Against Norway, he scored on a penalty kick in the final minutes after subbing in off the bench. Because of a nagging right calf injury , Neymar appeared in only two of Brazil's five games in the tournament. He also was on the field for 15 minutes against Scotland in group play. Brazil’s best player for more than a decade had been slowed by injuries in recent years that limited his impact. The country is now entering a period of transition, with the next generation taking over. “We ask that people will have the patience with the new generation and support them from the get-go,” captain Marquinhos said.

Jul 6, 2026By AP
Neymar says after World Cup elimination he is done playing for Brazil
Sports

Detroit Tigers trade Korean reliever Go Woo-suk to Minnesota Twins: reports

The Detroit Tigers have reportedly traded reliever Go Woo-suk to the Minnesota Twins, putting the Korean pitcher on the verge of a major league debut. MLive Media Group's Evan Woodbery tweeted Sunday (U.S. local time) that the Twins were getting Go in exchange for cash consideration. Per Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Go, who had not been on the Tigers' 40-man roster, has an assignment clause in his contract and must now be added to the Twins' roster. Later in the day, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Go will be added to his new club's 26-man roster for Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field in Minneapolis. If Go takes the mound this week, he will become the 30th Korean player in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. He will also join his brother-in-law, San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo, as the only two active Korean players in MLB at the moment. Two others who have seen action this season, Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves, are currently in the minors and on the injured list, respectively. Go, 27, has b

Jul 6, 2026By Yonhap
Detroit Tigers trade Korean reliever Go Woo-suk to Minnesota Twins: reports
Sports

KBO's top 2 clubs set for clash in final series before break

The two best clubs in the Korean baseball standings will square off in their final series before the annual midseason break this week, with the top spot up for grabs. The LG Twins, in first place with a record of 51-31-0 (wins-losses-ties), will visit second-place Samsung Lions (49-31-2) at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in the southeastern city of Daegu from Tuesday to Thursday. This is their final three-game set before the All-Star break, which will go on from Friday to July 15. The season will resume July 16. The Twins, the defending Korean Series champions who also won the 2023 title, have been in first place every day since May 30. However, they are now in danger of falling to second place, as the Lions have moved within one game on the heels of their four-game winning streak. So far this season, these two rivals have split their season series, 4-4-0. The Lions have been swinging a hot bat over their past 10 games, leading the Korea Baseball Organization with 8.9 runs per game and a .314 batting average during this stretch. The Twins, on the other hand, have been scrambling to get by with m

Jul 6, 2026By Yonhap
KBO's top 2 clubs set for clash in final series before break
Sports

International Swimming League to pay overdue 2021 prize money, eyes comeback

The International Swimming League (ISL) will pay more than 300 athletes long-overdue prize money owed from its 2021 season, Commissioner Ben Allen told Reuters, as the professional swimming circuit seeks to rebuild trust and relaunch after years of inactivity. Allen said the ISL would pay all the prize money owed, with just over $7 million due to about 312 athletes who were being informed in a letter from the ISL being sent out on Sunday. Among the notable swimmers set to receive payments are multiple Olympic champions Ryan Murphy, Sarah Sjostrom and Summer McIntosh. Payments will be made in four instalments of 25 percent, with the first scheduled by the end of this year and the rest expected annually, though the league would accelerate the process if possible. Some Russian athletes will have to wait longer to receive their funds due to technical issues regarding their bank accounts. "We are paying our 2021 prize money," Allen said in an interview where he broke news of the payments. "It's unfortunate that it's been a couple of years. We've been hit by a couple of different issues — the

Jul 5, 2026By Reuters
International Swimming League to pay overdue 2021 prize money, eyes comeback
Sports

Braves' Kim Ha-seong out with finger injury

Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves has hit the sidelines with right middle finger inflammation, as his frustrating season took a turn for the worse. The Braves placed Kim on the 10-day injured list Saturday (U.S. local time), with Kyle Farmer being activated in a corresponding move. For Kim, this is the same finger that was surgically repaired after he slipped on ice in his native Korea and tore a ligament in January. The incident occurred soon after Kim had signed a one-year, $20 million contract with the Braves, who had designs on having the former Gold Glove winner as their primary shortstop. Kim only made his season debut in mid-May and has been struggling mightily at the plate, batting just .068 (5-for-73) in 27 games with zero home runs, three RBIs and 22 strikeouts against only nine walks. The Braves have been rotating Mauricio Dubon, Jorge Mateo and Jim Jarvis as their starting shortstop. With Kim out, San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo is now the only active Korean player in Major League Baseball.

Jul 5, 2026By Yonhap
Braves' Kim Ha-seong out with finger injury
Sports

Police delayed probe into Hong Myung-bo appointment despite calls for swift action

Police investigating alleged irregularities in the appointment of former national football team coach Hong Myung-bo left the case dormant for over nine months despite an internal oversight body's recommendation for a swift investigation. Although the case was recently transferred to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), police are facing mounting criticism that the investigation came too late, after public and political pressure intensified following the national team’s disappointing World Cup result. On Sept. 23 last year, the SMPA instructed Jongno Police Station to expedite its investigation into a complaint accusing Lee Lim-saeng, the former technical director of the Korea Football Association (KFA), of obstruction of business. The case stemmed from a complaint filed by a citizen in July 2024, alleging that Lee violated the KFA's bylaws and national team operating regulations during the appointment of Hong as national team head coach. After police repeatedly delayed a decision, the complainant sought an investigative review, a procedure that examines whether an investigation

Jul 5, 2026By Jung Da-hyun
Police delayed probe into Hong Myung-bo appointment despite calls for swift action
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