Nations League: Belgium deepens Türkiye's wounds with a double

The Belgium national team defeated its host Türkiye, 2-1, in the fifth round of the European Nations League, today, Thursday.

Real Madrid player Arda Guler scored Turkey's lead goal in the 20th minute, but after only 7 minutes, Napoli's Italian star Kevin De Bruyne was able to equalize for Belgium.

In the 30th minute, Atalanta striker Charles De Kittilari scored a second goal, sealing Belgium's superiority, which continued until the end.

With this victory, the Belgium national team rose to 9 points in second place, behind the leading French team, before its meeting this evening against Italy. As for the Turkish national team, which recently fired its Italian coach Vincenzo Montella and hired national coach Yalcin, it is at the bottom of the first group without points.

An American judge on Thursday rejected an attempt by companies affiliated with FIFA in the United States to interfere in the efforts of the European Football Association (UEFA) to obtain evidence, in preparation for filing a criminal case in Switzerland against FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding his canceled plan to sell commercial rights to the World Cup.

US District Court Judge Janet Vargas said in her ruling: “The American parties affiliated with FIFA have no direct, substantial, and legally protected interest in the subject matter of this request.”

She added: “In light of this determination, the court exercises its discretion to refuse to grant permission to intervene.”

UEFA had requested permission to obtain certificates and documents from entities affiliated with FIFA in Florida for use in a criminal complaint it intends to file in Switzerland against Infantino and other FIFA officials regarding the $20 billion plan to sell World Cup rights, known as “FIFA Forward Enterprise,” which it has since withdrawn.

In a request for intervention submitted in September, FIFA asked the court to postpone a decision on UEFA’s request, or to allow it to object to the request.

The International Federation argued that UEFA was seeking evidence for “alleged (but non-existent) Swiss criminal proceedings,” and that it aimed to obstruct the “FIFA Forward Enterprise” proposal from the beginning.

FIFA withdrew from that proposal on July 31 after objection from UEFA and other continental federations.

Ali Maher, the new coach of the Egyptian national team, said that he hopes for a large crowd in his first match as coach of the team against Malawi, on Friday, in the third round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Ali Maher took over as coach of the Egyptian national team, succeeding Hossam Hassan, to whom the Egyptian Football Association thanked him and announced his departure from his position this week.

Maher added in a press conference that the Egyptian national team players have begun to understand his style, which is a positive sign.

Maher promised the fans that the Egyptian team would present a strong match against Malawi, noting that the team includes a diverse group of players with high potential.

Ali Maher said that the reason for summoning Nasser Maher, the Pyramids player, is because he is a different and important player for his team, noting that he is one of the elements capable of making a difference.

Ali Maher praised his opponent in Friday's match, the Malawi national team, saying that it is a high-level team, but he indicated that he studied the opponent well and the team is ready to face it.

The Egyptian national team leads the second group in the 2027 African Nations qualifiers with four points from a victory over South Sudan and a goalless draw with Angola, which is equal to them in the score and occupies second place, while the Malawi national team is in third place with three points.