Yan Diomande breaks silence on future amid Liverpool interestLiverpool Target Yan Diomande Keeps Focus on World Cup as Transfer Wait ContinuesLiverpools pursuit of Yan Diomande has already reached the familiar point where every touch, every quote and every social media rumour begins to feel like part of the transfer itself.The 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger is doing little to calm the noise. At the World Cup, he has been one of Ivory Coasts standout performers, adding another assist in their 2-0 win over Curacao. That contribution, setting up Nicolas Pepes opener, took him to two assists in three group-stage matches.There has also been substance behind the sparkle. Diomande was named Man of the Match in the opening win over Ecuador, and he has already completed 10+ dribbles and created 10+ chances across his first three games. For a player Liverpool already rate highly, that kind of tournament profile rarely makes a deal cheaper.Photo: IMAGOLiverpool face Leipzig realityLiverpool have already seen an opening offer rejected, with the first bid reportedly worth around 100 million. That is a huge number for a 19-year-old, but Leipzig are not exactly newcomers to this game.They know what they have. They know the World Cup changes perceptions. They know each performance adds another layer to the valuation.There were claims this week that a second Liverpool bid had also been knocked back, but those reports were later denied by Sky Germany. So, for now, the situation appears clear enough, Liverpool have made their move, Leipzig have said no, and the next move is expected after careful calculation rather than panic.World Cup focus comes firstFor Diomande himself, the message after Ivory Coasts win was measured and sensible. Asked about his future, he kept the focus on the tournament.I dont know. Im not thinking about my future after the World Cup, he said to Sky Sports.Im trying to put all my energy into the World Cup and see whats going to happen after, but I cant say anything about my future.That answer may frustrate those waiting for clarity, but it is also exactly what you would expect from a player in his position. Ivory Coast are through to the round of 32, his own stock is rising, and any public commitment now would only complicate a situation already heavy with money, expectation and elite interest.Diomande decision may define Liverpool ambitionFor Liverpool, this is about timing as much as talent. Andoni Iraola has just arrived, and a signing like Yan Diomande would say plenty about the direction of travel.He is explosive, direct and productive, the kind of wide player who can tilt matches with individual actions. At the World Cup, he has looked comfortable carrying responsibility. That matters.The danger, of course, is that every strong performance adds another club to the conversation and another few million to the asking price. Liverpool know this. Leipzig know this. Diomande probably knows it too, even if he is wisely refusing to say so.For now, Liverpools chase waits while Yan Diomande plays. Once his World Cup is over, the real negotiation begins.

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U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino has been offered a contract extension through the 2030 World Cup, sources confirmed to our Doug McIntyre. Any decision on whether Pochettino will remain beyond the 2026 edition of the World Cup will not be decided until after the conclusion of the tournament. Pochettino was hired by U.S. Soccer in Sept. 2024 following stints at multiple major European clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea. He led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, where they lost to fellow English Premier League rivals Liverpool. Pochettino, a native of Argentina, has led the USA to first place in Group D at this summer's 48-team World Cup, only the third time the team has won its group at the tournament. Pochettino has been linked with a return to Europe whenever he finishes with the U.S. In May, he was linked to the AC Milan job, but the Italian giants have since hired former Manchester United manager Rben Amorim. A U.S. Soccer spokesperson wouldn't confirm nor deny the extension offer, which was first reported by The Athletic.

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Former Germany player Bastian Schweinsteiger said Friday he was talking about Ivory Coasts style and not its players when he spoke last weekend about what his country's national team could expect from its African opponent during their group match.Schweinsteiger called it, A bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics" and added it was unpredictable. Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fa slammed those comments on Thursday as being racist.I was talking about football, not about people," Schweinsteiger said in a statement released by German broadcaster ARD, the same outlet on which he made the remarks. "Its a football analysis. Nothing more and nothing less. ... I certainly didnt mean to offend anyone.Some commentators criticized his comments as playing into racist stereotypes. Sports commentator Patrick Schnitzler wrote on Instagram of racist prejudices that we are all passing on unnoticed, and journalist Philipp Awounou, who is Black, wrote in Der Spiegel magazine that the characterizations played on old racist tropes rooted in colonialism. Awounou said he did not think Schweinsteiger is racist.Germany went on to defeat the Ivory Coast 2-1 on Saturday.Fa then led Ivory Coast into the World Cup knockout round for the first time in its history with a 2-0 win over Curaao on Thursday. Fa said after the game he hoped Schweinsteiger had made a clumsy statement thats not necessarily reflective of whats in his life.We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade, Fa said.Jrgen Klopp, who is working for broadcaster Magenta, seemed taken aback when asked about Schweinsteigers comments by Deutsche Welle in a conversation with journalists in New York on Wednesday.Now you want to carry on the subject, Klopp responded before breaking off the interview. No, no, I have no chance. I have no chance to answer this question. Everybody likes it so you bring me in this situation. Its not my job that everybody likes it, but this is a serious subject, and I dont even know what is appropriate to say. For African people its one thing, for other people its another thing, and Im not here.ARD executive Axel Balkausky defended Schweinsteigers stance.He summarized his experiences and observations from recent games, said Balkausky, ARDs sports coordinator. "It wasnt about individual people but rather a footballing assessment. I cant detect any form of racism in that or in his choice of words. If the coach of Ivory Coast, Emerse Fa, were to speak directly with Bastian, his suspicions would be quickly revised, I am sure of that. Perhaps an opportunity of that sort will arise in the course of the tournament.___See more of APs World Cup coverage here

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United States men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been approached about extending his contract through the 2030 FIFA World Cup cycle, as first reported by The Athletic on Friday and confirmed by our Doug McIntyre. Pochettino led the U.S. to 2W-0D-1L in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, which was good enough for the top spot in Group D, ahead of Australia, Paraguay and Trkiye. However, despite his success at the tournament so far, U.S. soccer legend and FOX Sports analyst Alexi Lalas thinks it's too early to extend the 54-year-old Argentinian through another World Cup cycle. "Im happy to wait," Lalas said. "I do not understand re-hiring a coach before the World Cup, especially in this case. Mauricio Pochettinos only job was to make sure that the U.S. has a successful home World Cup the jury is still out on that. "So far, so good in terms of getting out of the group, which weve done before, and winning the group, which weve done before. We still have games to go." Pochettino signed on as the United States' head coach in September 2024, following a disastrous Copa Amrica guest appearance from the Americans, in which they crashed out in the group stage. Since then, the U.S. has posted a record of 14 wins, 10 losses and two draws under Pochettino. Pochettino is still searching for his trophy as the United States' head coach after failing to win the Concacaf Nations League and the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2025, but he has already led the U.S. to more wins at the World Cup than his predecessor Gregg Berhalter. In fact, prior to this tournament, the U.S. had not won multiple games at a World Cup since 2002. "I dont doubt that he has enjoyed his time," Lalas said. "I have actually enjoyed Mauricio Pochettino as a head coach, but I am wary of multiple cycles.I know he has only had half of a cycle, but it loses a little bit in the cycle, and Id be wary about that. But ultimately, I want to see what he does with this team in the World Cup, and then you judge whether you continue on with him." The U.S. will continue its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on Wednesday, July 1 with a round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Los Angeles Stadium.