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Good morning football fans. It’s Friday, May. 15 - Scientists have issued concerns over World Cup conditions, the FA Cup final weekend between Chelsea and Manchester City, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURE
FA Cup Final (May 16): Chelsea vs. Manchester City, 15:00 BST / 10:00 ET. Chelsea have not won any of their last 13 matches against Man City in all competitions, with the Citizens winning 10 of those matches. These sides most recently met last month in the Premier League when Pep Guardiola’s side beat the Blues 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. If Man City lose, they will become only the second side to lose three FA Cup finals in consecutive campaigns, after Chelsea (2020–22).
Results…
League One promotion play-off semi-final: Bradford City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers (Agg 0-2)
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TOP TALKING POINTS
World Cup Weather Concerns
A new report by world-leading scientists has warned that the 2026 World Cup will have dangerous temperatures for players and fans. This comes despite Fifa having introduced a mandatory three-minute cooling break in each half of every match, regardless of the conditions. The governing body also uses the gold-standard heat measure for sport, the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WGBT), to assess how conditions impact stress on the body. Yet, the scientists in the report described Fifa’s heat safety measures as “inadequate,” suggesting that the players are still at risk of serious harm.
Matches in Miami are the most likely to be impacted, with nearly all seven matches there reaching or exceeding 26°C WBGT and recommendations to postpone matches if they reach 28°C WBGT. Overall, more than a third of matches have at least a 10% chance of exceeding 26°C WBGT. Around five matches have a meaningful chance of reaching or exceeding 28°C WBGT, and 45 matches have up to a 20% chance of reaching that level. See which matches are most at risk for heat stress here.
Chris Mullington, a consultant anaesthetist at Imperial College London NHS Trust, said that the conditions won’t necessarily increase medical emergencies, but they're likely to influence how games are played. "It will be more of a performance issue than a health issue. These players are elite athletes and acclimatised. You'll see players self-pacing,” he said. “So you may end up with more conservative football."
Championship Final Postponement Possible
The Championship play-off final, set for May 23, could be postponed as the English Football League (EFL) confirms that a hearing into allegations of spying by Southampton will take place on Tuesday. In a statement, the EFL said that supporters should be “aware that the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture”, but ensured that it has a “number of contingency plans should they be required.”
However, rearranging the fixture could prove difficult. Wembley Stadium, where the final will take place, is hosting the League One and Two play-off finals on Sunday and Monday immediately after the Championship’s planned final. The following weekend, the stadium is booked with a Rugby event and the Women’s FA Cup final on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. If the original date is postponed, it’s unclear if the EFL will reschedule to a later date or change the venue for the final.
Meanwhile, the finalists, Hull City and Southampton, shared ticket information on Thursday, and the EFL warned that “supporters should consider the situation when booking any associated travel and accommodation”. Reports suggest that Hull are frustrated with the uncertainty of their opponents and the possibility that the game could be postponed.
Hearts’ Old Firm Heist
The Scottish Premiership title will go down to the final day as leaders Hearts will travel to Celtic on Saturday (May 16). A win or draw would secure Hearts their first Scottish top-flight title since 1960, and they’d become the first non-Old Firm club to win the title since Sir Alex Ferguson led Aberdeen to the 1984-85 title. See the Scottish Premiership table here.
While Celtic are winless against Hearts in three league meetings this season, Opta’s prediction model gives them the edge with a 53.9% chance of winning the title. If Celtic win, it would be their 56th title, meaning they would overtake Rangers (55) for the most top-flight titles in Scottish history. A popular prediction market, which is based on real-time trading, has it more decisive in Celtic’s favour (62%), with Hearts given just a 19% chance of victory.
Celtic’s title dreams are only alive because of a 90+9th-minute penalty winner against Motherwell to make it 3-2 on Wednesday night. The referee awarded a controversial penalty for handball after a VAR review, with Scotland’s Daily Record running a feature piece entitled "World media reacts with seething anger to 'worst VAR decision ever.'" Hearts manager Derek McInnes said the decision was “disgusting” and that once he heard a penalty was awarded so late that he “didn’t need to ask who for.”
Dive deeper into the financial gap between the Old Firm and the rest of the Scottish Premiership here.
POLL
Do you think weather conditions will negatively affect World Cup matches?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Eight Premier League players have been shortlisted for the Player of the Season award (Vote) | Matchday 37 begins with Aston Villa vs Liverpool on Friday (May 15); see the full list of Premier League fixtures (More) and table (More)
> Didier Deschamps has announced his final France squad for the World Cup, with Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga missing out (More); watch their announcement video (Watch)
> Former tennis player Rafael Nadal has denied that he will run to be Real Madrid’s president after Florentino Perez announced upcoming elections (More)
> Half of this weekend’s Serie A matches still don’t have a confirmed location due to clashing events and concerns around public safety with travel (More); see the upcoming Serie A fixtures (More)
> Union Saint-Gilloise beat Anderlecht 3-1 to lift the Belgian Cup for the second time in three years (More)
> Chelsea Women’s Sam Kerr will leave the club at the end of the season after six-and-a-half years (More) | Arsenal Women’s Katie McCabe is to leave Arsenal this summer following the expiration of her contract (More)
Americas
> Madonna, Shakira and BTS will co-headline the first-ever Fifa World Cup Final Halftime Show (More) | President Donald Trump’s administration has confirmed that foreign visitors from certain countries won’t be required to pay as much as $15,000 in bonds as long as they hold Fifa World Cup tickets (More)
> Lionel Messi was denied a hat-trick after his third goal was given as an own goal by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano in Inter Miami’s 5-3 win over the home side (More) | New York Red Bull’s 18-year-old Julian Hall became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat-trick in a regular season (More); see the upcoming MLS fixtures (More) and Conference Standings (More)
> Carlo Ancelotti has signed a new long-term deal with Brazil to lead them to the next two World Cups (More)
> NWSL’s Washington Spirit could temporarily leapfrog the Portland Thorns on Saturday (May 16) when they travel to San Diego Wave; see a full NWSL preview (More) and Standings (More) | Gotham FC are in advanced talks to relocate to a new stadium, a move that would shift home games 20 miles east (More)
> USL Championship’s Sporting Club Jacksonville’s home game against Brooklyn FC, originally scheduled for Saturday, will now take place on Sunday (May 31) (More); see the USL Championship fixtures (More) and Conference Standings (More)
Rest of the World
> Al Nassr will face Gamba Osaka in the Asian Champions League Two final on Saturday (May 16) (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Should Southampton be kicked out of the Championship play-off final if they are found guilty of spying on Middlesbrough’s training?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👍 Yes (61%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅♂️ Nope (37%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (2%)
Your punditry takes:
👍 J.L: “Rules are rules, and if they broke the rules, they should face the stiffest possible penalty. It's not at all just to let them play for promotion when they spied on their opponent. And other clubs will be deterred from doing similarly.”
👍 S.P: “Cheaters should always be punished in terms of the competition. Fining Southampton would be meaningless given how much more promotion would be worth, if they’re found guilty.”
🙅♂️ D.J: “Saints fan here. We definitely deserve punishment, but there's no evidence that it was more than a one-off incident, and given the performance in the following match, it didn't seem to provide any material benefit. We then won fairly in the second leg. The rules and punishments are vague, so I expect our lawyers would appeal to us being kicked out, and I imagine the EFL wants to avoid a protracted legal dispute. As such, I would guess (hope) that it's a hefty fine, with maybe a suspended points deduction. But don't let this comment disguise the fact I am completely disgusted with my club's conduct!”
🙅♂️ T: “Does it really make that much of a difference, really? What are they going to learn that hasn't been seen played out over the season? As Brian Clough said, ‘Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes.’”
EXTRA TIME
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Jamie Vardy compares British and Italian foods. (video)
GAME FACE ON
Question: Arsenal have won the most FA Cup titles in the competition’s history. Can you name the club with the second-most?
Scroll below for the answer.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
I have every reason to believe that I am the Liverpool manager next season. Not just because I'm contracted, but from all the talks we are having.
Answer
Manchester United has one less FA Cup than Arsenal’s 14.
