Sports

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants to expand the World Cup finals to 48 teams featuring 16 groups of three starting with the 2026 tournament, a source within world football's governing body told AFP on Wednesday.

Seventy-one people died in the crash, including 19 players from Brazilian top-flight club Chapecoense and all of its coaching staff.

Barcelona are the more desperate side as Real Madrid visit Catalonia on Saturday for the first El Clasico of the season boasting a six-point lead at the top of La Liga.

The South American football federation suspended all games and other activities early on Tuesday after a plane crashed in Colombia carrying members of Brazil's Chapecoense team.

And Barca were fortunate to escape without a fifth consecutive league defeat in San Sebastian as Carlos Vela hit the woodwork twice and Juanmi's header was wrongly ruled out for offside.

After Diafra Sakho's second-minute opener was cancelled out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mourinho was sent to the stands for kicking a water bottle in protest at Paul Pogba's booking for diving.

Defending champions Chennaiyin FC will need to play out of their skins and grab full points if they are to stay alive in the Indian Super League.

Kerala Blasters coach Steve Coppell believes playing to their potential against FC Pune City here on Friday will ensure them a win that will be valuable in gaining them qualification to the semi-finals

Gladbach are winless in their last six games, but punched above their weight to hold City at home, especially having been routed by Guardiola's side 4-0 in the away fixture last September.

Kompany will be out for several weeks after picking up a knee injury in their 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday, coach Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday.

A goal scored with a scorpion kick in the Swedish league was included on the shortlist for FIFA's goal of the year award on Monday along with efforts from Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Cristiano Ronaldo ensured Atletico Madrid fans will have bitter memories of the last local derby at the Vicente Calderon stadium by scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win for La Liga leaders Real Madrid on Saturday.

Forlan struck a brilliant hat-trick, the first of the season, to power Mumbai City FC to the top of the Indian Super League table with a 5-0 demolition of Kerala Blasters here on Saturday.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is still unsure of his best team and of the right formula to get the most out of players like world record signing Paul Pogba, according to the club's former defender Phil Neville.

Both sides have been troubled by severe injury problems with Atletico's top scorer Antoine Griezmann and Real captain Sergio Ramos facing a race against time to be fit.

The Chinese consortium seeking to buy Italian football club AC Milan expects to conclude the deal by Dec. 13, it said in a statement on Thursday.