Former Italy manager Roberto Mancini is set to return for a second spell as the national team coach, replacing Gennaro Gattuso, who departed after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.
Former France midfielder and Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has been appointed as the new head coach of the French national football team, succeeding Didier Deschamps.
Germany's Football Association (DFB) has held initial, constructive discussions with Juergen Klopp in New York regarding him taking over as the national team head coach. Both parties are confident of reaching a deal, pending agreement with Klopp's current employer, Red Bull. Klopp is the DFB's preferred choice to succeed Julian Nagelsmann after Germany's disappointing World Cup exit.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has decided not to renew the contract of women's team head coach Amelia Valverde, opting to consider Indian coaches for the role following recommendations from its technical committee.
Italy's technical director Paolo Maldini revealed that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) first approached Carlo Ancelotti for the national team coaching job before engaging with Pep Guardiola, as they seek to rebuild the Azzurri after failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has defended its decision to appoint Amelia Valverde as head coach of the women's national team and addressed the controversy surrounding team kits during the Asian Cup.
Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the new head coach of the Netherlands national football team, signing a contract through the 2030 World Cup. The former Barcelona manager replaces Ronald Koeman and marks his first role as a national team coach.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has officially confirmed the departure of national team coach Roberto Martinez and his coaching staff following the expiry of his contract. Martinez had previously announced his intention to leave after Portugal's World Cup Round of 16 defeat to Spain.
Spain defender Marc Cucurella fulfilled his promise to get a tattoo of national team coach Luis de la Fuente's face after Spain won the World Cup. He had vowed to do so if they lifted the trophy, and after their victory against Argentina, he got an image of De la Fuente holding the World Cup inked on his arm.
Former India football coach Stephen Constantine has expressed deep disappointment over the national team's current decline, criticising the All India Football Federation for its decisions, including the appointment of Khalid Jamil as coach despite his lack of international experience. Constantine, who led India to a historic FIFA ranking of 96, believes he should still be managing the team and calls for wider structural reforms in Indian football.
Former Italy international Andrea Pirlo has withdrawn from contention for the national team's head coach position after his commercial ties to Russian betting company Fonbet drew significant criticism and opposition from Italian football officials and lawmakers.
Former Manchester City and Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has turned down the opportunity to coach the Italy national team, a source familiar with the discussions said on Friday, confirming media reports.
India's VALORANT esports team has successfully qualified for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 main event in Riyadh, emerging as one of two teams from the Asia regional qualifiers. The team, led by Sagnik Roy, overcame tough competition, including a crucial victory against Hong Kong, to secure their spot in the global tournament featuring a USD 1.5 million prize pool.
Diego Forlan, the former Manchester United and Atletico Madrid forward, has been named the new head coach for Uruguay's senior and Under-20 national football teams. He replaces Marcelo Bielsa, who left after Uruguay's early exit from the World Cup. Forlan, a celebrated player and 2010 World Cup Golden Ball winner, will bring his experience and leadership to the role, starting with the Under-20 squad.
Zinedine Zidane, the 1998 World Cup hero and former Real Madrid manager, has been appointed to lead the France national team, with the primary goal of converting recent near-misses into major trophies, starting with the 2028 European Championship.
Manolo Marquez, a highly successful coach in Indian football, has been appointed as the new head coach for Mumbai City FC on a one-year contract for the 2026-2027 season. Marquez brings a wealth of experience, including leading Hyderabad FC to an ISL Cup title and coaching the Indian national team.
DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre expressed pride in his team's performance at the World Cup, despite their exit after a close match against England.
Following Stephen Fleming's departure, Chennai Super Kings are seeking a new head coach. Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has suggested Eoin Morgan as a strong candidate, citing his leadership experience. Ashwin also believes MS Dhoni should continue to provide leadership during this transition period.
South Korea's national football association has issued a deep apology following a media report alleging it provided 'sexual services' to foreign referees during international matches over a decade ago, specifically in 2011 and 2012.
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to extend his contract, leading the men's national team through the 2030 World Cup, following their last-16 finish at this year's finals.
Ryan ten Doeschate, India's assistant coach, is reportedly set to step down from his role after the ongoing ODI series against England, citing personal reasons and a desire for less travel. His departure comes as his initial two-year contract with the BCCI concludes.
Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund boss Juergen Klopp has been appointed as the head coach of the German national football team on a four-year contract, following Julian Nagelsmann's departure and a series of disappointing World Cup performances.
Didier Deschamps is flying back to France to attend his mother's funeral and will not coach the team's last Group I game at the World Cup against Norway, the French federation said on Tuesday.
Andrea Pirlo, a 2006 World Cup winner and former Juventus manager, has reportedly been appointed as the new head coach of the Italian national football team on a four-year deal.
Hockey India has defended its decision to change the national men's and women's hockey teams' jerseys to saffron for the upcoming FIH World Cup, citing technical feedback and the symbolic value of the colour.
Former India leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule has been appointed as the spin-bowling coach for the men's national team, commencing with the Test against Afghanistan. He brings extensive coaching experience from domestic cricket and the IPL.
VVS Laxman will lead India's support staff for the upcoming Zimbabwe T20I series and the Asian Games, providing a break for the senior team's regular staff. This arrangement allows for simultaneous international commitments, with Gautam Gambhir coaching the ODI squad against West Indies.
Didier Deschamps has revealed that a "stifling atmosphere" around him led to his decision to step down as France coach after 14 years.
Zlatko Dalic, former Croatia manager, has been appointed as the new head coach of the United Arab Emirates national football team. He previously led Croatia to a World Cup final and returns to the UAE where he won a league title with Al Ain.
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has resigned from his position as head coach of the England Lions, opting to focus on his coaching commitments with Australia's Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.
Joakim Alexandersson has been reappointed as the head coach of the India U-17 women's national football team, less than a year after his previous departure. He will lead the squad in preparations for the AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers in October, where India is grouped with Malaysia, Syria, and Iraq. The team aims to build on its historic quarter-final achievement in the previous Asian Cup.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has concluded a seven-day National Coaches Course in Jamshedpur, aimed at strengthening grassroots coaching and building a scientifically driven shooting ecosystem in India.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has appointed 70-year-old Dutchman Herman Kruis as their National Hockey Coaching Advisor on a two-year contract. This move is part of a comprehensive strategy to revive Pakistan hockey after a series of poor performances, including 15 consecutive losses in the FIH Pro League. Kruis will focus on developing young talent and preparing teams for international events, working alongside Director of High Performance Tahir Zaman and current head coach Manzoor-ul-Hasan.
Senegal's football federation president, Abdoulaye Fall, has claimed the national team's doctor at the recent World Cup in North America was 'trained as a gynaecologist', raising concerns among players about medical support during their disappointing campaign. The Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine has rejected these allegations as 'unfounded and defamatory'.
'Our biggest opportunity lies with the younger age-group teams.' 'If you look at the senior national team, our chances are about 50-50.' 'The gap becomes smaller as you move down the age groups.' 'At the Under-20 level, it's closer to 60-40.' 'By the Under-17 level, it's around 80-20. That's where I feel we have our best chance.'
Former Assam and Railways cricketer Subhadeep Ghosh is poised to become Team India's new fielding coach, replacing T Dilip, with the BCCI making significant changes to the team management.
India's men's hockey team head coach Craig Fulton believes the squad can defeat any country if they stick to their game plan, following confidence-boosting victories against Germany and the Netherlands in the FIH Pro League, despite finishing eighth overall. The team's improved performance and maturity are seen as crucial stepping stones for upcoming major tournaments like the World Cup and Asian Games.
Pakistan's Test team head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed has acknowledged ongoing fitness issues within the squad, despite a recent training camp. A new conditioning camp is planned to address these concerns before the team's crucial tours to the Caribbean and England. New Test captain Babar Azam is focused on improving fitness and discipline for better performance in red-ball cricket.
The Indian women's hockey team, led by coach Sjoerd Marijne, won the Nations Cup in Auckland, defeating New Zealand 2-0 in the final. This victory secures their promotion back to the FIH Pro League. Despite the win, Marijne emphasised the need to improve field-goal conversion, while captain Salima Tete highlighted the team's strong mindset and the confidence boost ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
India's men's volleyball team achieved an unbeaten run to the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup semi-finals, propelling them to World No. 42. Head coach Dragan Mihailovic attributes this success to discipline and a structured system but stresses the need for consistent international exposure, longer national camps, and a robust development pathway to sustain and build upon this momentum, especially amidst administrative uncertainty in Indian volleyball.
