LIVE | Orlando Pirates vs Córdoba CF – pre-season friendly

Orlando Pirates begin their pre-season campaign in Spain on Wednesday evening when they face Spanish Segunda División side Córdoba CF at the Marbella Football Centre.

The encounter marks the Buccaneers’ first on-field outing under new head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou as preparations gather pace ahead of what promises to be another demanding domestic and continental campaign. game-sweetbonanza.com

Having arrived in Spain over the weekend, Pirates have returned to Málaga for a fourth successive pre-season camp, where they will face five opponents during their stay as they fine-tune their preparations for the 2026/27 season.

READ | Orlando Pirates vs Cordoba FC: Date, kick-off time, how to watch, predicted line-up

Fresh faces set for first outing

Wednesday’s clash offers Orlando Pirates supporters an early look at several new signings and emerging academy stars.

New arrivals Ghampani Lungu, Neo Rapoo and Mthetheleli Mthiyane are all expected to feature, while DStv Diski Challenge-winning youngsters Cristian Derbyshire, Simphiwe Masilela and Mpho Padime have earned first-team call-ups after impressing with the club’s reserve side.

The mix of experienced campaigners, new recruits and exciting young talent gives Ouaddou an opportunity to begin shaping his preferred combinations ahead of a season in which Orlando Pirates will challenge for silverware on multiple fronts, including the Betway Premiership, domestic cup competitions and the CAF Champions League.

Spanish opposition targeting promotion

Orlando Pirates’ first opponents are a Córdoba side hoping to secure promotion to La Liga for the first time since their brief top-flight return in 2014/15.

Founded in 1954, the Andalusian club enjoyed its most successful period during the 1960s before enduring decades outside Spain’s top division.

After dropping as low as the fourth tier in 2021, Córdoba have steadily climbed back to the Segunda División under head coach Iván Ania, whose high-intensity, possession-based style has transformed the club into promotion contenders.

The Spanish side narrowly missed the promotion play-offs last season and has strengthened its squad ahead of the new campaign with the arrivals of Dani Tasende from Real Zaragoza and Egoitz Muñoz on loan from Alavés.

However, Córdoba have also lost prolific striker Adrián Fuentes, who has joined Mallorca, while veteran forward Sergi Guardiola has retired.

How to watch

The pre-season friendly kicks off at 19:00 (SA time) on Wednesday and will be streamed live on Pirates TV on YouTube.

Le sélectionneur Sébastien Migné n’est plus, ce mercredi, à la tête d’Haïti après un communiqué de la Fédération.

Après une expérience d’adjoint de Rigobert sur le banc du Cameroun entre 2022 et 2024, le technicien français Sébastien Migné était devenu sélectionneur d’Haïti en mars 2024 et a dirigé 27 matchs des Grenadiers jusqu’à son départ, ces dernières heures, annoncé officiellement par la Fédération haïtienne de football dans un communiqué.

Après avoir qualifié la nation 88e au classement mondial, il avait concédé trois défaites dans le groupe C face au Brésil, l’Ecosse et le Maroc avec deux buts inscrits lors du dernier match contre les Lions de l’Atlas. La Fédération indique être « parvenu, ce jour, à un accord avec le sélectionneur national, M. Sébastien Migné, mettant fin, d’un commun accord et à l’amiable, à leur collaboration ».

Elle a rendu hommage au technicien français salué pour « son professionnalisme, son engagement et son dévouement », et remercié chaleureusement « pour sa contribution au développement du football haïtien », dans des mots écrits par la FHF dans son message.

The post Sébastien Migné quitte le banc de la sélection nationale d’Haïti appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Spain right-back Pedro Porro described reaching the World Cup final as a dream come true after playing a key role in helping La Roja beat France.

La Roja booked their place in the World Cup final after claiming a 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals.

The Tottenham Hotspur right-back got his name on the score sheet to score his first goal at the World Cup and only his second goal for Spain.

Porro praised the collective effort of the squad, insisting the achievement belongs to the entire team as Spain moved to within one victory of lifting football’s biggest prize.

“It’s a dream come true. It’s honestly beyond my wildest dreams. I think we played a great game, did everything we had to do to reach the final,” Porro told FIFA.

“We knew we were up against a really, really tough team. This is the team’s achievement, not mine at all. It’s simply about congratulating everyone because they played a fantastic match.”

The post Porro Reflects on Spain’s World Cup Final Berth appeared first on SportsClub.

Football’s greatest rivalries take center stage once again as England and Argentina lock horns in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday evening, with a place in Sunday’s final at stake.

England booked their spot in the last four with an impressive victory over Norway, inspired by a brilliant brace from Jude Bellingham. Argentina, meanwhile, overcame a resilient Switzerland side thanks to a moment of magic from Julián Álvarez, whose stunning strike proved the difference.

With history, pride, and a place in the World Cup final on the line, another captivating chapter is set to be written in one of international football’s fiercest rivalries. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the semifinal showdown.

Head-to-head

Matches played 14
England wins 6
Argentina wins 3
Draws 5
England goals 24
Argentina goals 19

England and Argentina have met in 14 matches, with the Three Lions claiming six wins compared
to three for Argentina, while five games have been drawn. Five of their matches have come in the
World Cup, and include iconic clashes such as the 1986 Quarterfinal in which Diego Maradona
scored both goals in a 2-1 win for Argentina, and the 1998 Round of 16 match in which David
Beckham was sent off and the South Americans advanced on penalties.

The teams’ most recent match was a friendly in Geneva in 2005 which England won 3-2.

Players to watch

England – Jude Bellingham
Tournament stats

• Appearances: 6
• Goals: 6
• Assists: 1
• Yellow/red cards: 1/0

A brace of goals in the Quarterfinal against Norway underlined Bellingham’s importance to
England. He is not just a goal scorer, but a talismanic figure whose composure, leadership and
determination inspires his teammates to lift their games.

Argentina – Lionel Messi

Tournament stats

• Appearances: 6
• Goals: 8
• Assists: 2
• Yellow/red cards: 0/0

Lionel Messi has been brilliant for Argentina in this tournament, with 10 goal involvements (8 goals,
2 assists). He may have struggled to assert himself against Switzerland this past weekend, but you
can bet he will be hungry to take on the English defence.

Key stats

• 6 – Both Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored 6 goals each for England at this World
  Cup.
• 3 – The 2026 World Cup is just the third time that the Three Lions have reached the semifinals of
  the tournament.
• 0 – Argentina have never lost a World Cup semifinal in four previous appearances in this round
  (1986, 1990, 2014 and 2022).
• 8 – Lionel Messi is the tournament’s co-leading scorer, having scored 8 times (level with France’s
  Kylian Mbappe).

Tactical battle

• England and Argentina arrive in Atlanta with contrasting but equally dangerous identities. England
• under Thomas Tuchel are structured and adaptable, mixing controlled possession with mid-block
• pressing and rapid transitions, often funnelling attacks through Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.

Argentina, by contrast, are fluid and unpredictable, shifting between systems while building around
a technically dominant midfield and Lionel Messi’s free role between the lines.

The key battle will be central control: if England’s double pivot can disrupt Argentina’s rhythm, they
can spring forward quickly. But if Argentina dictate tempo and isolate England’s defence, Messi
and their runners can exploit gaps decisively.

Broadcast details (Times CAT)
Wednesday 15 July, 21:00: Semifinal 2 – England v Argentina – Live on SuperSport World Cup Central

The post FIFA World Cup 2026: England vs Argentina full match preview appeared first on SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips.