u/TheAthletic

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has secured a rare concession from FIFA after negotiating 1,000 tickets to matches at the upcoming World Cup finals priced at $50, which will be distributed by ballot to local residents.

The 1,000 tickets include five group-stage fixtures, a round of 32 tie and a round of 16 game, but not the final on July 19. It is the only citywide access program of this kind that has so far been announced for the tournament.

The $50 seats are the cheapest available for fans to purchase through the primary ticket market at the World Cup. Buyers will also receive free round-trip bus travel to attend.

The tickets will be apportioned via a ballot and will only be available to New York City residents, following on from Mamdani’s campaign demand during his mayoral run for locals to be given greater access by FIFA to this summer’s tournament.

The Athletic has learned, via sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations, that Mamdani raised the issue directly with FIFA president Gianni Infantino during a meeting at City Hall in Manhattan in March — a meeting in which Mamdani, a lifelong fan of new Premier League champions Arsenal, was also introduced via FaceTime to Arsene Wenger, the former Arsenal manager and now FIFA’s chief of global development.

The peak reached, the mountain climbed. Aston Villa bathed in euphoria in Istanbul. It was glorious.

Captain John McGinn and manager Unai Emery are legends immortalised into club folklore with the Europa League secured in Besiktas Park after victory over Freiburg.

The Villa supporters, far more than the 11,000 allocation — and who partied in the heavy rain earlier in the day — serenaded nearly every player and coach. Villa are crowned Europa League champions, winning their first major trophy in three decades and their first European trophy in 44 years.

This has been the most tumultuous season of any other under Emery, too. Defender Ezri Konsa aptly described it as a “rollercoaster”, enduring the lowest lows in his tenure and now, after a win against Freiburg, the highest of highs.

“This was like the ending of Mission Impossible,” said a senior club source, who, like others in this piece, spoke on the condition of anonymity. “Many twists against us, but we made it.”

“Unai Emery, mate… genius,” said a first-team staff member, in response to The Athletic asking how Villa recovered from the many setbacks this season.

This is the story of how Villa and Emery achieved immortality for those in claret and blue.

Middlesbrough will play Hull City in Saturday’s Championship play-off final after Southampton failed in an appeal to overturn their expulsion.

Middlesbrough, who had lost their semi-final tie to Southampton, were awarded a place in the final on Tuesday after the south-coast club — who have also been docked four points for the 2026-27 Championship campaign — admitted to spying on rival teams

NEW YORK — So … worst loss in Cleveland Cavaliers history?

I suppose the answer lies in what ultimately happens in this Eastern Conference finals. If, somehow, the Cavs recover against the New York Knicks, then this one will sink to the bottom of the Hudson River.

But being on the wrong end of the second-largest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA playoff history? Sue us if we’re thinking it’s the Cavs with their feet in concrete, plunging into very cold, very dark waters.

“We (expletive) blew it,” Donovan Mitchell conceded.

Read the rest for free here.

Enzo Maresca has started working on summer transfer activity and pre-season planning before his impending appointment by Manchester City.

The Italian is set to replace Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, with the Catalan bringing to an end his glittering 10-year tenure.

Sources briefed on the situation, not authorised to speak publicly, say he has already been collaborating closely with sporting director Hugo Viana for pre-season, the new campaign and beyond in preparation to take over.

Eric Garcia has been brilliant for Barcelona.

A football obsessive who “loves tactics”, his versatility and intelligence made him a fundamental part of their La Liga title defence.

He spoke with Pol Ballús on:

🧠 Impressing Pep Guardiola with tactical knowledge at 18

🤝 His evolving chemistry with Lamine Yamal

🇪🇸 World Cup hopes with Spain this summer

🇩🇪 How 'father figure' Hansi Flick saved him from a Camp Nou exit

The inside story of ‘Spygate’ and how it left the EFL in chaos:

• Incriminating WhatsApps by Southampton boss Eckert
• Analyst was supposed to watch Boro train a second time
• Eastleigh disguise used to monitor Ipswich
• Christmas Eve operation to snoop on Oxford
• Players left furious at club’s handling of affair
• Hull anger at disruption to Wembley plans
• Saints feel punishment is disproportionate, confident over appeal

Southampton players are exploring their options regarding legal action against the club if the English Football League’s verdict to expel them from the Championship play-off final is upheld.

A source close to the dressing room, speaking anonymously as they were not authorised to do so, confirmed that Tonda Eckert’s squad had largely been kept away from the affair and only had the basic details communicated to them by the club.

The players were furious at the EFL verdict, having only found out at the same time as everyone else, with members of the squad who had taken 40 per cent pay cuts after suffering relegation from the top flight year were due to have that reinstated in the event of promotion to the Premier League.

They are due to meet with the club on Wednesday, and sources with knowledge of the players’ situation confirmed to The Athletic that they have contacted the Professional Footballers’ Association for advice.

Twenty-two years in the waiting, six years in the making: the Premier League title is Arsenal’s again.

The first-team squad gathered at their London Colney training ground on Tuesday to watch Bournemouth’s draw with Manchester City, handing the north London club their long-awaited 14th domestic championship.

The story of Arsenal’s 2025-26 triumph is relatively unusual in modern football. Yes, it has some of the classic components: an exceptional team, a coaching guru and the obligatory enormous expenditure on transfers. But it is distinct because it is a tale of persistence and continuity.

This title is the result of a true long-term plan, crafted with unusual patience and forensic detail. After three straight years finishing as runners-up, Arsenal have forced their way over the line this time. Two decades on from being Invincible, Arsenal have become Undeniable.

Newcastle United’s owners are open to selling a minority stake in the club in order to help fund significant infrastructure projects, including a potential replacement for St James’ Park and a purpose-built training ground.

While people familiar with the matter have told The Athletic that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) retain a long-term commitment to Newcastle, the club they bought from Mike Ashley for £305million in 2021, they are willing to dilute their current 85 per cent shareholding and have been approached by possible investors.

Newcastle are believed to have spent £20m-£25m buying buildings on Leazes Terrace, which is opposite their East Stand.

Does this mean expanding St James’ Park is now the focus?

No, even if that is the obvious and understandable conclusion that many will jump to.

The firm message from inside the club is that the focus has not suddenly shifted towards prioritising the expansion of St James’ over moving to a new state-of-the-art stadium.

Newcastle sources insist this purchase offers the club “optionality” when it comes to the stadium-future question. They view it as being of strategic benefit, whatever they ultimately decide to do, and are adamant that no final decision on staying or relocating has been made.

Chris Waugh explains the situation.

Key points include:

• Alonso was the front-runner throughout, though outgoing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola also impressed the Chelsea hierarchy during talks.
• Chelsea offered Alonso the title of manager in recognition of his experience, track record and leadership qualities.
• Liverpool never pursued Alonso because they still believe in Arne Slot, who was their preferred candidate to succeed Jurgen Klopp and who they felt to be a much better fit for their squad in terms of style and formation.
• Alonso sought clarification on the club’s sporting structure and signalled his desire to build a team of “mentality monsters” at Stamford Bridge.
• Chelsea are targeting at least two starting-calibre signings in this summer’s transfer market, with proven talent set to be prioritised.

Sir Alex Ferguson will probably always win the argument as the Premier League’s greatest manager thanks to that longevity and the extra silverware which came with it.

But Pep Guardiola is surely the most transformative, owing to the way his style, and variations on it, has been adopted across the nation from grassroots to top flight.

History tells us that certain managers at certain clubs are simply impossible to follow, and Guardiola’s impact at Manchester City surely puts him in that bracket.