Moving matches away from 2026 World Cup host cities would be a decision for FIFA, not Donald Trump, the organisation’s vice-president Victor Montagliani has said.

The United States President spoke last week about the possibility of moving games away from cities he considered “dangerous”.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has developed a close bond with Trump, whose country is co-hosting next summer’s finals alongside Canada and Mexico. However, Montagliani insisted decisions on which cities would stage games remained a matter for FIFA.

“It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions,” he said at Leaders Week London at the Allianz Stadium.

President Trump said last week his administration would make sure cities were “safe”, adding that Seattle and San Francisco were “run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing”.

“If any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup… because they’re playing in so many cities, we won’t allow it,” Trump added.

“We’ll move it around a little bit.”

Seattle’s Lumen Field is set to host six matches at next summer’s finals, with Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara – an hour away from San Francisco – due to host a further six.

FIFA vice-president jokes about Tylenol

Montagliani said football was “bigger” than the polarised political rhetoric evident in the US at the moment, and added: “With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans.”

Asked whether the political situation in the US caused him and FIFA a headache, Montagliani said: “It depends, you know. Motrin more than Tylenol – although we’re not allowed to have Tylenol any more!

“That’s the beauty of our game, is that it is bigger than any individual and bigger than any country.”

The reference to Tylenol follows an announcement from the Trump administration regarding a link between taking paracetamol when pregnant and autism in children. The World Health Organisation says there is “no conclusive evidence” of a link and urged pregnant women to follow their doctors’ advice.

Lessons learned from Club World Cup

European viewers of next year’s World Cup could face some late nights, with Montagliani insisting the intense summer heat would be taken into consideration when scheduling games.

Montagliani said FIFA would “learn” from the experience of players and spectators at this summer’s Club World Cup.

Venues such as Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles have the option of being under cover and air-conditioned, allowing for afternoon kick-off times, but Montagliani says it is a difficult balancing act.

“We’re in conversations daily with the European broadcasters in terms of what stadiums you can play in at 3pm – the likes of Atlanta, for instance.

“Obviously what we’re trying to do, once the schedule does come out after the draw in December, is our best to ensure that all that’s taken into consideration.

“Now, will there be every game that’ll be absolutely perfect kick-off time from a TV perspective?

“I don’t know, because there’s a lot of games, but that’s all taken into consideration.”

Montagliani reiterated his opposition to expanding the World Cup to 64 teams for the centenary tournament in 2030, an idea which has been proposed by the South American confederation.

However, he seemed more enthusiastic about the possibility of expanding the Club World Cup – next due to be played in 2029 – from 32 teams to 48.

“I don’t see the argument for 64 teams. It’s not just us, but UEFA and Asia who are opposed to that,” he said.

“But the Club World Cup was a massive success. We need to work out what’s feasible, (what) changes we need to make about the number of teams and the caps on each country we had for this year.”

Barcelona have recorded a net loss of €17million (£14.7m/$19.8m) for the 2024-25 season, despite bringing in a huge €994m (£862m/$1.16billion) in revenue across the campaign. The mouth-watering figures signal a slight downturn from 2023-24, where both Barca's income and expenditure were under €900m and they recorded a marginal net profit of €5m (£4.3m/$5.8m) overall.

• Barca reveal €534m wage spend as net loss recorded

  Barcelona's Ordinary General Assembly of Members was held on Sunday morning. Club president Joan Laporta addressed attendees for the final time of his tenure and covered a wide range of topics which have concerned his latest stint a president of the club.

  Barca's debts were a key talking point from the Assembly, as it was revealed that the club recorded a net loss of €17m last season, while revenue almost hit €1 billion.

  La Blaugrana's wage bill increased from €510m (£442m/$594m) to €534m (£463m/$622m), a small increase which was ultimately a difference as a net loss was recorded by the Catalan super club.

  But Laporta made sure to emphasise that the club’s tough financial situation in recent years is seeing rapid improvement, citing performances on the pitch, La Masia and the under construction new Spotify Camp Nou as ways in which the club has taken strides in returning to its former glory since 2021.

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  Laporta speaks on 2024/25 financial accounts

  Barcelona's initial financial accounts depict a €2m surplus, before additional fees resulted in a €17m net loss overall. The club made sure to emphasise the success behind achieving the former.

  "In the economic realm, we have done everything so that you can continue being the owners of the club, the members, without having to bear the cost, without having to dig into your pockets. We are very satisfied with that. Positive results with a surplus of 2 million euros…achieving revenues of €994m, you will agree, is even more remarkable considering that we are still playing away from home," said Laporta.

  "We have achieved a historic record in sponsorship with a total of €259m, which is explained by the internationalisation of the market. We have reduced the debt set by the League by €90m, which is no small feat. So we are on the right track. We have made a titanic effort to contain spending."

• Laporta reflects on Barcelona's recent success

  Laporta added: "I can tell you with all pride that we have worked hard to return Barça to the place it deserves. Four and a half years ago they gave us the trust to recover the club's image, to carry out the new Camp Nou, and to strengthen La Masía, and that is what we will continue to do if they give us their trust. We are much better off than we were four and a half years ago. 

  "Everything can be improved, but this stage is much better than four and a half years ago. Those who don't want to see it… We have recovered the club's finances because we did not pay attention to apocalyptic proclamations. This has happened because we have worked hard and well. We have been courageous on complex issues.

  "We feel stronger than ever to complete Barça's recovery in every area. We thank all the workers for their effort. At the right time, the club was saved, and now we are on the path to improving it.

  "On a sporting level, I think last season was historic…We won the [domestic] treble and also the way we won, I think, was very much in line with our genuine style of playing football, playing well. I want to give all the credit and recognition to Deco, to [Hansi] Flick, his staff, the fitness trainers, medical team, and a tribute to the late Carles Miñarro…"

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  A glance to the present and the future

  "A team that has a present and has a future, and that is demonstrated by the Kopa Trophy [won by Lamine Yamal] and which we have won in recent years: in 2021 Pedri, then Gavi, who I hope recovers as soon as possible, and then the two years of Lamine Yamal.

  “In women's football we are a global reference, congratulations to Aitana for her new Ballon d'Or…

  "We have returned to the global frontline and we are a respected club. We have a badge that is respected and loved worldwide. Joy has been returned to all the culers."

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim bounced back with a win against Sunderland on Saturday, and a key update has now emerged over the manager’s future.

Amorim's future still in doubt after Sunderland win

Admittedly, opting to relieve managers of their duties over the years hasn’t necessarily made Manchester United a better side. Still, pressure is continuing to grow on Amorim as he attempts to arrest his side’s slump in form.

Gareth Southgate has been linked to the Old Trafford hotseat and could be a safe option in light of his steady progress with England, and Peter Crouch believes that if a change is coming in the dugout, the ex-Three Lions boss is an ideal fit to step in.

He said via The Mirror: “I love Gareth (and) he’s had some stick unfairly. He took us to the finals. It was frustrating, you know, not to get over the line. If he won one game, then would there be a statue of him.

“He’s gone from a statue to people thinking he’s not good enough for the Man United job. It’s such a fine line in football. I think he’s someone that could build something there. You keep getting managers over that are here for the short term, like I think Gareth Southgate is someone who can build something big.”

Reportedly, Manchester United would need to pay £12 million to sack Amorim, which would be a hefty price to pay if they decide he is not the right man to take them forward, and a cost which they can now avoid at least a little longer after Saturday’s rather comfortable 2-0 victory against the Black Cats at Old Trafford.

Related "First class" manager who brings "fun factor" to training speaks about links to Man Utd

Ruben Amorim is under increasing pressure…

Posts ByBen Goodwin Oct 3, 2025

Either way, there needs to be some clarity one way or another; something that Ornstein now looks to have provided in his latest update on events at Old Trafford.

David Ornstein shares how Man Utd feel about Ruben Amorim

Speaking to NBC Sports, Ornstein made it clear that Man Utd are keeping faith in Amorim and both parties want to keep moving forward in the right direction, while he still retains the backing of the squad.

He said: “Ruben Amorim is under major pressure, but I think most of that pressure is applied on him by himself, as well as the burden of being Manchester United manager. Manchester United themselves, as I understand, they’re not planning to sack him. They don’t want or intend to, and I don’t think he’s planning to walk away from this.

“Last season, I think he really felt the strain, and people I speak to say he was questioning if he could succeed there. But I do think, incrementally, there is a bit of improvement felt, however small, especially with some of the new signings, and it is still very early.”

Later, he added: “Results will need to improve; we can’t get away from that, and we know how this industry operates, but I think they would like to give him more time.”

Ultimately, giving managers more time is a game of risk versus reward. Manchester United know that the grass isn’t necessarily always greener, but the impact of a bounce under a new coach could also spark their season into life.

There will be plenty of conflicting opinions on Amorim’s future, though he appears to be safe for now as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS favour continuity over instability.

England great claims two wickets on return to cement dominance over Derbyshire

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-May-2025

Anderson struck on his first-class return•Getty Images

James Anderson took two wickets in his first four-day game for nearly a year as Lancashire took control of the Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.The former England fast bowler finished with two for 24 from his five-over spell with the new ball but did not return to the attack on an evening when Lancashire’s spinners emphasised their team’s dominance.Replying to Lancashire’s 458, Derbyshire were 112 for four at the close with Brooke Guest on 14 and nightwatchman Jack Morley unbeaten on four after a day on which the home side had put their recent poor performances behind them.The morning’s play had set the tone for the day. Resuming on 250 for five, Lancashire’s sixth-wicket pair, George Balderson and George Bell, began brightly, taking five fours off the first six overs and scoring the 50 runs needed for a second bonus point in less than 12 overs.That early aggression set the tone for the morning. Balderson’s 11th four of the session took him to his half-century off 70 balls although 50 off those runs had been scored off 43 deliveries this morning.Seven overs later Bell reached his first half-century off 101 balls with six fours and the sixth-wicket partnership had added 133 runs when Balderson inside-edged a drive onto his stumps and was bowled by Jack Morley for 73 eight minutes before lunch. Despite that setback, Lancashire lunched on 380 for six, having added 130 runs in a 32-over session.Shortly after the resumption, Bell was caught at slip by Wayne Madsen off David Lloyd for 57 but Tom Hartley and Tom Bailey piled the pain on Derbyshire’s bowlers by adding 61 for the eighth wicket before both were dismissed in the space of three balls.Hartley was caught and bowled for 42 when he miscued a hook off Martin Andersson and Bailey was brilliantly caught for 29 by Caleb Jewell, who grabbed a one-handed catch at short extra-cover off Morley.Anderson Philip was then caught behind off Andersson for nought to end the home side’s innings on 458 and the crowd spent the tea interval anticipating the sight of one of the best fast-medium bowlers in the game’s history displaying his skills for Lancashire yet again. Aitchison was the most successful Derbyshire bowler with three for 87.The visitors’ reply began with a flurry of boundary fours but Anderson was not to be denied. He straightened the last ball of his third over to bowl Jewell for 16 and then extracted plenty of life from what had seemed a slow pitch to have Lloyd caught behind for 27 when he could not evade a short delivery and the catch looped up, probably off the glove, to Matty Hurst.Having taken two for 24 in five overs, Anderson was then removed from the attack but Lancashire’s other bowlers kept the pressure on Derbyshire’s batsmen. The visiting skipper, Wayne Madsen, was caught at the wicket for 14 when attempting to cut the left-arm spin of Hartley and the day ended with another success for the home side when Harry Came was deceived by Luke Wells’s googly and bowled for 31, playing no shot

Australia batter available to play in two County Championship games from mid-May

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-2025Marnus Labuschagne will be available for Glamorgan’s two County Championship fixtures in the second half of the May, as part of the Australia batter’s preparations for the World Test Championship final in June.Labuschagne was expected to return to Glamorgan for a fifth consecutive season and has now been confirmed for the home games against Northamptonshire and Middlesex, when he will replace Colin Ingram as one of the two overseas players in the XI (Asitha Fernando being the other).”It’s great to have Marnus returning to the club again,” Mark Wallace, Glamorgan’s director of cricket, said. “He’s very much part of the furniture here and we’re looking forward to welcoming back to Wales for a couple of games.Related

Five openers in 12 Tests? Australia's revolving door could continue

Labuschagne to reset after leanest run-scoring summer

Green's return brings into focus Australia's big selection calls

Kellaway turns game Glamorgan's way but Derbyshire cling on nine down

“Although it’s only for a short period, it will allow Colin to have a break and recharge before the Blast.”Labuschagne has emerged as a candidate to open for Australia in the WTC final, with Travis Head set to move back down the order after opening in Sri Lanka and uncertainty around whether the selectors will go back to Sam Konstas, who debuted to startling effect during the Border Gavaskar Trophy but has little experience of English conditions.Labuschagne has opened previously for Queensland and did the job in one game for Glamorgan last season, scoring 23 and 111 against Middlesex at Cardiff.

With Ruben Amorim under increasing pressure at Manchester United, the amount that it would cost INEOS to sack their manager has now been revealed.

Latest on Ruben Amorim's Man Utd future

Victory over Chelsea seemed like a glimmer of hope for many, but the reality is that it just papered over the cracks for Amorim in what has been an historically disastrous tenure. A win over Brentford would have handed the former Sporting Club boss back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time in his 11-month spell and it just about sums things up that the Red Devils came away defeated in West London.

Now, it’s all eyes on Old Trafford and Sunderland’s visit. Lose and that may be that for Amorim, who is still refusing to alter the system which has picked up just nine Premier League wins in 33 games.

With pressure increasing, questions have naturally arrived about who could replace Amorim at Old Trafford, with those questions leading to the likes of Gareth Southgate and Oliver Glasner.

Southgate has been out of a job since leaving his England post and has been mentioned among reports as a candidate to replace Amorim if the manager loses his job at Man United.

That said, he’s not the only one on the list. Reports have also mentioned Crystal Palace manager Glasner, who has taken the Eagles into European football and to a stunning 19-game unbeaten run. If the Red Devils want someone who can transform a side in the Premier League, then he is their man.

Just how much it would cost to take the Austrian out of his role at Palace immediately is another question entirely, however, and it would already cost INEOS more than enough to sack Amorim.

How much it would cost Man Utd to sack Amorim

INEOS didn’t just go all in on their manager when it came to summer signings, they also backed the Portuguese coach from the off when negotiating his contract. Now, after a disastrous spell, it would reportedly cost Man Utd £12m to sack Amorim in what should be seen as a nightmare ending for Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Man Utd's most expensive sales of all time

A look at Man Utd’s record departures in their history.

1 ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

It also continues a shocking trend for Man United, who would take their termination costs to as high as £81.8m since Sir Alex Ferguson by relieving Amorim of his duties. For context of how incredibly poor that record is, Liverpool paid £75m to sign Virgil van Dijk in 2018, who has since won every trophy on offer at Anfield and been a part of several thrashings over the Red Devils.

Ferguson’s coaching team

£2.4m

David Moyes

£5.2m

Louis van Gaal

£8.4m

Jose Mourinho

£19.6m

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

£9.1m

Ralf Rangnick

£14.7m

Erik ten Hag

£10.4m

Ruben Amorim*

£12m

Total* if Amorim sacked

£81.8m

When INEOS first hired Amorim, it was their first big call and one that many backed. He was a young, impressive candidate. Now, 11 months on, their first decision is one that looks destined to end in expensive failure.

Chelsea ‘bomb squad’ duo Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi have made headlines this week following action from the PFA.

PFA concerns over Chelsea treatment of Sterling and Disasi

Enzo Maresca has frozen both players out of training with the first-team squad, and they are currently undergoing separate training regimes after failing to secure moves away from Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window.

Sterling in particular caused a stir when he posted a picture on social media which showed him training alone in a late-night 8pm session — and this has prompted the PFA to express their concern over Chelsea’s treatment of the pair.

PFA executive Maheta Molango has stepped in to ensure that the club are complying with FIFA’s regulations on isolated players are being followed by Maresca’s side, with Chelsea’s manager firing back in a press conference on Friday and making an interesting comparison to his father.

Since the PFA’s worries, it has been reported, after constructive talks with Chelsea, that they’re now satisfied with the west Londoners’ treatment of Disasi and Sterling (talkSPORT).

The latter endured a lacklustre spell on loan at Arsenal last season and failed to convince Mikel Arteta’s side to sign him permanently, while it is believed that Disasi had offers to leave Chelsea before September 1 but didn’t take them.

The Frenchman rejected moves to West Ham, Bournemouth and Sunderland — holding out for a return to Monaco which never materialised (BBC) — while reports of a potential transfer to Saudi Arabia for Disasi haven’t gone anywhere so far with their window still open.

Chelsea have also been tipped to terminate Sterling’s contract and rid themselves of his £325,000-per-week wages, but according to GiveMeSport, the club are attempting to hand him and Disasi a good chance of leaving in January.

Chelsea's gift to Sterling and Disasi to hand them "best possible chance" of move

As per GiveMeSport and journalist Ben Jacobs, Disasi and Sterling have received a Chelsea gift to hand them the “best possible chance” of leaving in January, or failing that next summer.

Jacobs reports that Chelsea are “supporting” Disasi and Sterling with a personal training regimen to maintain their sharpness as they look for 2026 suitors, with the latter’s controversial social media post not a reflection on the current situation.

While the PFA are satisfied for now, after discussions with the Blues, they will continue to monitor their situations whilst keeping an eye on any potential misdoings.

Sterling’s preference is to remain in London, which makes a transfer for the forward complicated to secure, as it seriously limits his options. A move to the Middle East for either appears off the table, so the notoriously difficult winter window is now their best bet of leaving as soon as possible.

Celtic will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership when they take on Kilmarnock in their first match since the first international break of the season.

The Hoops travel away from home to face Kilmarnock in the fifth match of the campaign, having won three and drawn one of their first four outings in the division.

Brendan Rodgers may look to hand debuts to new signings Kelechi Iheanacho and Sebastian Tounekti, who both signed for the club after the 0-0 draw with Rangers last time out.

The Celtic boss will be without Alistair Johnston once again at right-back, though, because he was ruled out for 12 weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Kairat last month.

Rodgers confirmed at the time that the club would not look to dip into the transfer market to sign a replacement right-back because of the injury, which is exactly how the rest of the window played out.

Instead of going for a new signing to fill that gap, academy graduate Anthony Ralston has stepped in once again to provide cover in that position.

Why Celtic should drop Anthony Ralston

The Scotland international should be ruthlessly dropped to the bench by Rodgers because he does not provide the attacking thrust and quality that the team need in that area of the pitch.

There were several moments in the bland 0-0 draw with Rangers when a teammate went to find Ralston with a pass but he was sat too deep and not on the front foot and ready to move forward to receive the pass.

He does not possess the attacking qualities that Johnston has or the front-footed mentality that his fellow right-back has, which is evidenced by his form in all competitions so far this season for the Scottish giants.

Appearances

5

Minutes played

332

Shots

2

Goals

0

Key passes

1

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

As you can see in the table above, Ralston has created one chance, and no ‘big chances’, in 332 minutes of action across five appearances this term, which speaks to his lack of quality on the ball.

Johnston, meanwhile, provided four key passes and created two ‘big chances’ in his two appearances in the Premiership this season before his injury, per Sofascore.

The Canada international also scored four goals, created 15 ‘big chances’, and delivered ten assists in 32 appearances in the Premiership last season, per Sofascore, which shows that he can provide a huge threat in the final third from a right-back position.

Celtic have clearly missed his quality down the right in the last two matches, as they created just two ‘big chances’ in 210 minutes as a team against Kairat and Rangers and failed to score a goal in either game.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This is why Rodgers must drop Ralston to experiment with Reo Hatate in a brand-new role for him at right-back, inspired by Arne Slot’s decision to play Dominik Szoboszlai in a similar role for Liverpool in the Premier League.

Why Celtic should unleash Reo Hatate at right-back

It is not a completely unfamiliar position for the Japan international because he did play four times at right-back during Ange Postecoglou’s time at the club in the 2022/23 campaign.

However, he has not played a single match outside of central or attacking midfield in two-and-a-bit-seasons since Rodgers returned to the club in the summer of 2023, which means that this would be a brand-new role for him in the current system.

The Northern Irish head coach has utilised inverted full-backs in build-up for a lot of his time in charge of the club, with Greg Taylor and Johnston inverting into central midfield and Callum McGregor dropping between the centre-backs to create overloads in central positions during build-up.

Hatate could suit this role perfectly in the short term until Johnston is back from injury because he is a natural central midfielder, who is also combative and can hold his own defensively.

The Japan international, who was hailed as “incredible” by Rodgers earlier this year, was only dribbled past 0.6 times per game and won 53% of his attempted tackles, per FotMob, which shows that he can stop opposition players from getting past him fairly effectively.

Goals

10

Top 1%

xA

7.95

Top 3%

Assists

4

Top 11%

Dribble success rate

88%

Top 12%

Touches

2,101

Top 5%

Duels won

95

Top 32%

As you can see in the table above, Hatate is a well-rounded midfielder who is incredibly comfortable on the ball in midfield and in the final third, whilst he also excels at winning his duels.

This suggests that he could be well-suited to playing in an inverted right-back role under Rodgers because he has the defensive qualities and the possession-based attributes to pull it off effectively.

Of course, having a player who can make an impact at the top end of the pitch with goals and assists in that position would also improve the team’s chances of creating more in matches than they have with Ralston in recent weeks.

As aforementioned, Ralston has not done enough on the ball to make up for the attacking quality that has been lost through Johnston’s injury, which is why Hatate should be unleashed in this brand-new role in the meantime.

This move would also free up Luke McCowan, who scored eight goals and provided eight assists in the Premiership last season, to play in the middle of the park with McGregor and Benjamin Nygren.

Overall, Hatate’s qualities on and off the ball and his prior experience at right-back in a different system under Postecoglou could make him the perfect candidate to fill in for Johnston in a brand-new role under Rodgers against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

He's worth way more than Dolberg: Celtic nearly signed Haaland-esque striker

A star who once had trials with Celtic is now worth £25m more than Kasper Dolberg.

ByDan Emery Sep 10, 2025

This is why the Celtic head coach should ruthlessly drop Ralston from the starting line-up to see how the Japanese star fares in a new position this weekend.

The change is to avoid a clash with other T20 leagues in the cluttered January-February window

ESPNcricinfo staff14-May-2025

The ILT20 has traditionally been played in the January-February window•ILT20

The next edition of the ILT20 has been brought forward to a December-January window with an eye on avoiding the cluttered January-February window as well as finishing up well before the men’s T20 World Cup, which will run from February to March.The ILT20, UAE’s franchise-based league, is three seasons old and has always been played at the start of the year, clashing almost entirely with South Africa’s SA20 and parts of the Australian BBL and Bangladesh’s BPL and, before this year, the PSL in Pakistan. This time, though, it will begin on December 2, 2025 and run till January 4, 2026. December 2 is also the UAE’s national day – Eid Al Etihad. There will be a slight overlap with the SA20, though, which starts on December 26, and a similar – or somewhat bigger – overlap with the BBL.”Following extensive discussions with all our stakeholders, we believe the 2 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 tournament window is ideal for the DP World International League T20 Season 4,” ILT20 chief executive David White said in a statement. “The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins in early February, hence it was important for us to start and finish Season 4 well before the tournament, as it will allow the players playing both the DP World ILT20 and the T20 World Cup to prepare for national duty.”In addition, we feel that the December-January window will provide the teams with the best opportunity to access a bigger pool of players.”It’s not clear yet if this is a one-off or will be the regular window for the tournament going forward.ILT20 chairman and Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni said, “The UAE National Day is the day where we celebrate the United Arab Emirates, which is home to people from around the world, including millions of diehard cricket fans. It is a real honour for us to join the nation in the UAE National Day 2025 celebrations with the launch of the region’s biggest T20 league – the DP World ILT20 Season 4 – on the same day.”The ILT20 has been a six-team competition so far, with Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Dubai Capitals winning the trophy in the first three seasons.

England 400 for 8 (Bethell 82, Duckett 60, Brook 58, Root 57, Seales 4-84) beat West Indies 162 (Overton 3-22, Mahmood 3-32) by 238 runsBorn in Barbados but stunning in Birmingham, Jacob Bethell’s devastatingly crisp 82 from 53 deliveries led England to 400 for 8, their second-highest score at Edgbaston, on their way to burying West Indies by 238 runs at the start of this three-match ODI series.For Harry Brook’s first assignment as full-time limited-overs captain, it was the perfect start. However one-sided this might have been, the dominance goes some way towards bolstering confidence at the start of a new era. The result alone is a godsend, ending a run of seven consecutive defeats.Bethell, 21, had only just arrived back from an IPL stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. And yet having missed the one-off Test match against Zimbabwe, he clicked through the gears, striking the majority of his eight fours and five sixes at the back end, to remind the world – and his head coach Brendon McCullum – of his unignorable claim for multi-format berths. This second half-century in the format also reinforced the scale of the talent England have pilfered from the Caribbean.Bethell’s was the lead hand in an innings littered with impressive but unfulfilled starts, including half-centuries for Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Brook. The scoreboard pressure was suffocating enough before Saqib Mahmood – Brummie-born – produced an opening burst of 3 for 32 from his opening seven overs. The last of those three to fall was Shai Hope, stunningly clutched by a back-peddling Brydon Carse about five yards in from the deep square boundary.Brydon Carse took a spectacular catch in the deep•AFP/Getty Images

It was an impressive piece of athleticism from Carse, returning to international duty after a toe injury ended his Champions Trophy campaign prematurely. He looked back to his best with the ball with the dismissal of Brandon King – a Test-match length and nip away finding the edge through to Jos Buttler behind the stumps – and his fielding effort was in keeping with a broader, altogether more energetic performance with Brook leading from the front.Stationed in the ring, Brook took five catches – having previously managed just three in 26 previous ODIs – level with the record for the most taken by a fielder in format (Jonty Rhodes against West Indies in 1993). It was Brook’s second dalliance with a record after he was one of seven batters to score 30 or more in the same innings – the first time that had been achieved in a one-dayer.A shellacking of this magnitude was far from Hope’s mind when he won the toss and chose to bowl, but the game was up at the halfway stage when his side were faced with a record target and already shorn of the explosive Evin Lewis, who damaged his groin in training on Wednesday. But for the final-wicket stand of 38 between Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales, whose 29 makes him the seventh No.11 to top-score in an ODI innings, this would have been a record defeat. In the end, they were dismissed for 162 with 23.4 overs left on the table.The travails of missing the 2023 50-over World Cup and the uncertainty that remains in the air regarding automatic qualification for 2027’s edition was reason enough to insert an experimental-looking England batting line-up on a muggy Thursday afternoon in the midlands. And West Indies, to their credit, stayed afloat for the majority of their time with the ball.Alas, they were completely blown out of the water in the death overs. Seales’ figures of 4 for 84 from nine overs showed that even the few with rewards bore scars. The fast bowler, given the nod ahead of Shamar Joseph, suffered his most grotesque punishment in his penultimate over, sent for 19 as part of a bumper 98-run stand for the sixth wicket. Bethell was the aggressor, but Will Jacks, making his first appearance for England since November 2024, played an accomplished hand, bagging 39 off 24 from his first go at No.7 in ODIs.Harry Brook marked his captaincy debut with five catches•AFP/Getty Images

The onus was immediately on a newly ordered, albeit not new-look, England batting card. The initial focus was on Jamie Smith, front and centre to face the first ball, moved to open for the first time in List A cricket.His failures at No. 3 during the ICC Champions Trophy suggested more exposure to the new ball would not go down well. But Smith made hay, strumming crisp drives with the odd shuffle down the pitch, backing up McCullum’s view that the Surrey keeper-batter has the wares to cope with the early movement. Alas, having reached 37 in quick time, his 24th delivery – the number of runs he managed in three Champions Trophy knocks – stung the palms of Brandon King at midwicket, who held the catch, putting to shame Seales who had misjudged a far easier opportunity at mid-on the ball before.Smith’s departure, at the end of the seventh over, with 64 on the board, probably should have been a hint for at least one of the others to bat through. And yet the senior trio of the top-order punched their cards without lasting the course.Duckett looked the best of them, and probably should have set the platform for others to launch after moving through to a breezy half-century from 34 deliveries. But when he was done in at the start of the 20th over – Roston Chase taking a stunning one-handed grab leaping at backward point – both Root and Brook had to tend to a half-finished foundation.The Yorkshire duo set about their task well, Root typically calm as Brook targetted Justin Greaves’ medium pace, striking him for two sixes in three deliveries – down the ground, then behind square – for his first boundaries. Then Root, after registering his 59th fifty-plus score in the format, opted for a booming drive to nick Seales through to Hope.That was Seales’ first of three, the second coming when Brook lazily carved what was ultimately a long-hop out to deep point. By then, Jos Buttler was at the crease, stepping back having stepped down, with 4 off 6 to Brook’s 27 off 19 in their brief stand of 33.The stage looked set for Buttler to return to the pack in blockbuster fashion, as he brought out the classics – charging Greaves for a straight six, then a slapped four before ramping Seales down the line. Alas, a well-disguised cutter from the latter meant a heave to leg landed neatly in the hands of midwicket.Brook also made an attacking half-century•Getty Images

It was at that point that Bethell took over, with 58 balls remaining in the innings. From 26 off 30, Bethell took it upon himself to put the game out of sight. From the 43rd over up to the 47th, Bethell hit a six in each over, before Jacks, who had played the straight man, tagged in for the 47th to blitz a six and four fours off Matthew Forde. That devastating five-over period brought 86 runs and effectively settled the match given the scale of the mountain West Indies had to climb.Granted, it could have been far greater. The dismissal of Jacks – well-bumped by Greaves – and another special catch from Chase (this time running over his shoulder from mid-off to claim a steepling catch off Overton) kept the boundaries down to ensure Bethell was off strike for the entirety of the penultimate over. Regaining strike for the final over, a thin slice on a cut through to Hope brought his time to an end.Just when it seemed West Indies were going to close out the final two overs without a boundary, and thereby deny England their 400, Seales’ well-directed yorker shot out of the footmarks, nutmegging Carse and flying away to the advertising boards to bring up the landmark from the final ball of the innings.Once the first six West Indian batters had been seen off in the opening 12 overs, Brook was able to mix up his attack. That worked particularly well for Overton, who was able to finish with career-best figures of 3 for 22 despite having to leave the field during the eighth over after damaging his right hand trying to take a return catch off his second delivery.Bethell completed Overton’s over, before Mahmood picked back up at the City End to claim two more dismissals. Overton, however, was back on the field to bowl the 16th over, bouncing out both Chase (caught Jacks at deep square leg) and Matthew Forde (caught Mahmood at fine) before fooling Gudakesh Motie with a slower delivery that was looped to point for Brook’s fifth and final catch.