Hot sports news on the morning of July 31: Important information about the upcoming tournament of the Vietnamese women's volleyball team

Hot sports news on the morning of July 31: SEA V.Cup 2026 in Vietnam will not count for world ranking points; FIFA President Gianni Infantino loses support due to plans to sell World Cup shares...

SEA V.Cup 2026 in Vietnam will not count for world ranking points

The first leg of the women's SEA V.Cup 2026 will take place in Dong Anh (Hanoi) from July 31 to August 2 with the participation of four teams: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. According to Lao Dong newspaper, the results of this leg will not count for world ranking points. Instead, FIVB rankings will only be counted in the second leg held in Thailand from August 7-9, because regional tournaments with multiple legs only count results from one leg.

According to the regulations of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), regional tournaments with multiple legs only count world ranking points in one leg. This is important information for the Vietnamese women's volleyball team ahead of the SEA V.Cup 2026.

This regulation has also been applied to the men's SEA V.Cup 2026. In 2025, the Vietnamese women's team won the second leg of the SEA V.League at home. For the SEA V.Cup 2026, the Vietnamese team has registered 14 players, with Tran Thi Thanh Thuy retaining the captain's armband.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino loses support due to plans to sell World Cup shares

Sky News reports that at least 90 of the 211 FIFA member football associations now oppose Mr. Infantino's plan, after the CONCACAF region (North, Central America, and the Caribbean) joined UEFA in publicly rejecting the idea of selling World Cup ownership rights.

Daily Mail Sport published an article calling for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign after his plan to sell 20% of World Cup commercial rights to private investors faced strong opposition.

Mail Sports reported that all 55 UEFA member associations have declared they will boycott FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, if the plan is implemented, while 41 CONCACAF associations also expressed opposition. Infantino is criticized for not consulting the associations, accused of running FIFA in a "threatening" manner and pushing the organization into a confrontation with UEFA. Mail Sport also recalled controversies at the 2026 World Cup such as water breaks, the halftime show, and Folarin Balogun's red card being rescinded. Mail Sport believes Infantino should resign rather than continue to run for re-election as FIFA President in 2027.

Rashford says goodbye to Barcelona

Marcus Rashford has officially said goodbye to Barcelona on social media after finishing his loan spell at the club. The English striker scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists, helping Barcelona win La Liga and reach the Champions League quarterfinals.

However, the Catalan club decided not to activate the £26 million buy option before the mid-June deadline, instead spending £70 million to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle. Rashford still has a contract with Manchester United until June 2028 and is likely to return to Old Trafford after the post-World Cup break. Unlike last summer, he is reportedly not going to be separated from the first team. Given the difficulty in finding a club willing to meet his transfer fee and high wages, the possibility of him continuing to play for Manchester United in the new season is becoming increasingly clear.

Saudi Arabian club wants to sign Salah

Al-Diriyah club has unexpectedly become a new contender in the race to sign Mohamed Salah after the club earned promotion to the Saudi Pro League. According to Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Al-Diriyah and another Saudi Arabian club are closely monitoring the Egyptian striker's situation and are ready to step in if the deal between him and Besiktas falls through.

Although negotiations with the Turkish side had made significant progress, the two parties have now hit a snag due to disagreements over some contract terms related to agent Ramy Abbas. However, Besiktas is still considered the brightest destination because they have made the most attractive financial offer. In addition to the Saudi clubs and Besiktas, two MLS teams from the US are also negotiating with the former Liverpool star.

Bayern Munich wins friendly 15-0

Bayern Munich easily defeated FC Rottach-Egern, a team playing in the eighth tier of German football, with a 15-0 scoreline in a pre-season friendly. Aleksandar Pavlovic, Arijon Ibrahimovic, Felipe Chavez, Maicon Cardozo, Armindo Sieb, and Bastian Assumu each scored a brace, while Joao Palhinha, Joshua Kimmich, and Iskander Nouraye each scored one goal.

However, the highlight of the match came from the home team. According to The Sun, in the 79th minute, FC Rottach-Egern brought the club's treasurer onto the field from the substitutes' bench. This person is also a police officer and has been with the club since 2002. The image of him playing with his distinctive mustache quickly caught the attention of the audience. On social media, many fans expressed delight, saying it was a memorable moment and a beautiful aspect of grassroots football when a long-time club member got the chance to face Bayern Munich.

Real Madrid has a new signing

Real Madrid has officially signed young striker Carlos Espi from Levante on a five-year contract, running until June 30, 2031. The deal was made at the request of coach Jose Mourinho to add a true center-forward, serving as a "Plan B" in difficult matches, similar to the role Joselu played in the 2023-2024 season.

Carlos Espi, 21, has played three seasons for Levante, making 66 appearances and scoring 20 goals, and was voted the Best U23 Player of the league last season. He has also represented Spain's U19 and U20 teams. Signing Espi does not affect Endrick's position in Mourinho's plans. Previously, Real Madrid prioritized strengthening the defense and midfield before adding more options to the attack.