GM football fans. It’s Thursday, July. 10 - Uefa clarify their rules on home advantage in the Champions League, Lyon winning an appeal to stay in Ligue 1 puts Crystal Palace’s Europa League hopes in jeopardy, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY RESULTS
Club World Cup, semi-final: Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Real Madrid. PSG blew past Real Madrid to reach the Club World Cup final, where they will face Chelsea on Sunday. Dating back to the Coupe de France final, PSG have won their last five knockout round matches in all competitions by a combined score of 18-0. Midfielder Fabian Ruiz was named Man of the Match, having scored twice inside the 24th minute, while Ballon d’Or contender Ousmane Dembele added a goal and an assist. Collectively, the Parisians handed Madrid their first-ever defeat in Club World Cup history. Read the full match report here.
Results…
U.S. Open Cup quarter-finals: San Jose 2-2 Austin (Austin win 4-2 on penalties) | Minnesota 3-1 Chicago | Philadelphia vs. New York & Nashville vs. D.C. United to conclude shortly after publication (See Results)
Canadian Championship, quarter-finals: Cavalry 1-1 Vancouver FC (Agg 2-2, Van win 5-4 on penalties) | York United 3-4 Atletico (Agg 4-6) | Montreal vs. Forge FC & Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Valour to conclude shortly after publication (See Results)
TOP TALKING POINTS
Champions League Rule Change
UEFA has clarified that home advantage in the Champions League knockout rounds will only be awarded to teams that finish in the top four of the League Phase. Earlier reports in May suggested that teams would play the second leg at home—widely considered an advantage—if they finished higher than their opponent in the League Phase. Uefa has now confirmed that this is not the case.
Instead, only the teams ranked 1st to 4th are guaranteed to host the second leg in both the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals. The most controversial element of the system is that if one of these top four teams is eliminated, the team that knocks them out inherits their home-leg priority in future rounds. For example, if a 15th-ranked team beats the 1st-ranked team in the Round of 16, that lower-ranked team will claim home advantage in the next round.
Arsenal, who formally complained to Uefa after being denied home advantage despite finishing above both Real Madrid and PSG in the League Phase, would not benefit under the new rule. Although Arsenal finished third, PSG knocked out first-place Liverpool in the Round of 16, meaning the French side retained the right to play the second leg at home.
Lyon Relegation Overturned
Lyon will remain in Ligue 1 next season after winning their appeal against relegation by French football’s financial regulator, the DNCG. The seven-time champions had been demoted to Ligue 2 last month due to their financial situation. French reports suggest nine Lyon representatives made a compelling case, emphasising that the club’s current leadership under Michele Kang is distinct from the previous regime.
The ruling also secures Lyon’s place in next season’s Europa League. Their qualification complicates Crystal Palace’s participation in the competition due to Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules—John Textor’s Eagle Football holds stakes in both clubs. With Lyon finishing higher in their domestic league, their place takes precedence.
Uefa have delayed its decision on Palace’s participation pending the outcome of Lyon’s appeal. It is now reviewing whether Textor had a decisive influence at the south London club, which it denies. In the case that Uefa finds the club has breached multi-club ownership rules, they will likely be demoted to the Conference League, with Nottingham Forest replacing Palace in the Europa League.
EFL Multi-Club Ownership
The English Football League (EFL) has changed its multi-club ownership rules to allow members to own clubs in the Scottish and Irish leagues for the first time. Supporters of the move argue it will attract greater investment and development opportunities for EFL clubs.
The policy change could make it easier to sign foreign players, as freedom of movement was curtailed post-Brexit. Scotland’s work permit system is less restrictive than England’s, and Ireland—still within the EU—offers a smoother path. Players in Scottish or Irish clubs can accumulate Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points, which are required to qualify for transfers to English clubs.
The EFL is now aligned with the Premier League, where owners have already expanded into Scottish football. Brighton owner Tony Bloom acquired a 29% stake in Hearts for £10m last month, while Bournemouth owner Bill Foley invested £6m for 25% of Hibernian last year.
POLL
Is Mauricio Pochettino the right coach to lead the USMNT into the 2026 World Cup?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Carlo Ancelotti has been sentenced to prison for one year by a Spanish court for tax evasion—but he won’t serve time, as non-violent sentences under two years in Spain are typically suspended (More)
> Tottenham have agreed to sign Mohammed Kudus from West Ham for £55m on a six-year contract (More) | Everton are the latest club to consider selling a stake in its women’s team (More)
> Victor Osimhen has informed Napoli that he wants a permanent move to Turkish side Galatasaray, who will pay his $75m release clause (More)
Americas
> U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed he will attend Sunday's Fifa Club World Cup final in New Jersey (More)
> Former Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini has joined LAFC’s ownership group (More)
> An investigation found that Bay FC coach Albertin Montoya did not violate the NWSL’s anti-harassment, discrimination, and bullying policy (More)
> Brazilian club Botafogo have hired Davide Ancelotti, son of Carlo Ancelotti, as its new manager (More)
Rest of the World
> The president of the Republic of the Congo’s football federation (Fecofoot) has been accused of embezzling $1.3m of Fifa funds (More)
> Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli has released a new club crest that draws on the team’s history (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Do you agree with Ruben Amorim's decision to block Amazon’s behind-the-scenes documentary at Man United?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👏 Yes... (80%)
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅♂️ Nope... (16%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other... (4%)
Your punditry takes:
👏 J.J: “This is not the time to dig the dirt when everything at United is in the balance. It is a make-or-break season ahead, and Amorim should be left in peace to get on with it.”
👏 J.D: “I think it is a great move. It's clear that the issues at Man United currently run far deeper than the first team, so having a bunch of cameras showing the inner workings of the club would do little but provide banter for rival fans. It shows Amorim is staying focused on the main goal, which is bringing long-term success back to one of the world's greatest clubs.”
🙅♂️ L.J: “The supposedly most popular club in the world whines about how much money they lose, nickels and dimes their own supporters as well as their employees, then rejects a high-profile source of revenue which costs them nothing? Seems more of a case of ‘what are they afraid the cameras will see?’ than anything else!”
EXTRA TIME
Analysing Premier League players returning from injury.
How Mbappe’s exit paved the way for Dembele.
The Club World Cup’s standout players and trends.
Genoa’s new Kappa home kit receives praise.
Why a player had his shirt number written in pen.
How early has a defending champion exited an international tournament?
GAME FACE ON
Question: Only one team managed to score at least seven goals in a single game in the inaugural Premier League season in 1992-93. Who was it, who did they play, and what was the score?
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
UEFA Women’s Euro 2025
Finland vs. Switzerland (20:00)
Norway vs. Iceland (20:00)
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
Blackburn Rovers 7-1 Norwich City (3 October 1992). Credit: Opta.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
I wanted to say there is no one to blame for this. Situations like this happen.
