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Barcelona to face Athletic Club at renovated Camp Nou Stadium

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FC Barcelona will officially return to the newly renovated Spotify Camp Nou this week, with their first match at the revamped stadium set against Athletic Club.

The Blaugrana have spent more than a year away from their iconic home ground due to major reconstruction works under the Espai Barça project. During the renovation period, the team played their home fixtures at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

According to Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Monday, he said, “Barcelona will make their long-awaited return this week, with Athletic Club as the first visitors at the upgraded stadium.”

The return marks a historic moment for the club, as fans prepare to experience the significantly modernised Camp Nou for the first time.

The matchup against Athletic Club will serve as the official debut of the new-look Spotify Camp Nou and is expected to draw a sell-out crowd.

More details, including final stadium preparations and planned pre-match events, are expected from the club in the coming hours.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Barcelona were forced to abandon their initial plan to return to Camp Nou in August, pushing the stadium’s reopening further due to licensing challenges.

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PHOTOS: President Trump awarded inaugural Fifa peace prize at World Cup draw in Washington

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U.S. President Donald Trump has been named the first winner of the newly created FIFA Peace Prize at the ongoing draw for the 2026 World Cup in Washington DC.

Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President presented the honour onstage at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, saying Trump had been selected “in recognition of his exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world”.

President Trump awarded inaugural Fifa peace prize at World Cup draw in Washington (Photos)
“This is your prize, this is your peace prize,” Infantino said, after Trump took the stage to accept the trophy, a medal and certificate. “There is also a beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go.”

FIFA says the prize is for “individuals who help unite people in peace through unwavering commitment and special actions”.

President Trump awarded inaugural Fifa peace prize at World Cup draw in Washington (Photos)
The governing body has not disclosed details of the selection process, although a new “social responsibility” committee reportedly chaired by the controversial Myanmar tycoon Zaw Zaw will propose the process for future awards.

Accepting the award, Trump called it “one of the great honours of my life”, before claiming to have “saved millions and millions of lives – the Congo is an example, over 10 million people killed and it was heading for another 10 million very quickly. India and Pakistan, so many different wars we were able to end, in some cases just before they started.”

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President Trump awarded inaugural Fifa peace prize at World Cup draw in Washington (Photos)
He went on to praise Infantino for “setting new records on ticket sales” and said the 2026 tournament would be “an event the likes of which maybe the world has never seen”.

Trump concluded: “The world is a safer place now … we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world.”

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𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗨𝗣 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗪 𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 2026

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𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗔:
🇲🇽 Mexico
🇰🇷 South Korea
🇿🇦 South Africa
🇪🇺 European Play-Off D

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗕:
🇨🇦 Canada
🇨🇭 Switzerland
🇶🇦 Qatar
🇪🇺 European Play-Off A

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗖:
🇧🇷 Brazil
🇲🇦 Morocco
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
🇭🇹 Haiti

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗗:
🇺🇸 United States
🇦🇺 Australia
🇵🇾 Paraguay
🇪🇺 European Play-Off C

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗘:
🇩🇪 Germany
🇪🇨 Ecuador
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
🇨🇼 Curaçao

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗙:
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇯🇵 Japan
🇹🇳 Tunisia
🇪🇺 European Play-Off B

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗚:
🇧🇪 Belgium
🇮🇷 Iran
🇪🇬 Egypt
🇳🇿 New Zealand

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗛:
🇪🇸 Spain
🇺🇾 Uruguay
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🇨🇻 Cabo Verde

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗜:
🇫🇷 France
🇸🇳 Senegal
🇳🇴 Norway
🌍 FIFA Play-Off Tournament 2

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗝:
🇦🇷 Argentina
🇦🇹 Austria
🇩🇿 Algeria
🇯🇴 Jordan

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗞:
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇨🇴 Colombia
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
🌍 FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗟:
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England
🇭🇷 Croatia
🇵🇦 Panama
🇬🇭 Ghana

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Troost-Ekong’s retirement: NFF pays tribute to Super Eagles captain

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has paid tribute to Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, following his announcement of immediate retirement from international football.

In a statement released on Friday, the NFF described Troost-Ekong as a “dedicated, selfless and humble leader” who served the national team with distinction throughout his decade-long international career.

“After a dispassionate evaluation of his 10-year stewardship with the Senior National Team, the Nigeria Football Federation wishes to eulogise William Troost-Ekong following his announcement of immediate retirement from international football on Thursday, 4 December 2025,” the statement read.

The federation praised the defender for his unwavering passion, pride, and professionalism since making his debut in 2015.

“Captain Troost-Ekong was a dedicated, selfless, and humble leader of the Super Eagles for so many years.

“He served with gusto, zeal and patriotic fervour, and he bestrode the pitch with passion, pride, purpose and a commendable sense of duty,” the NFF stated.

It noted that even before becoming captain, Troost-Ekong stood out for his discipline, ambition, and commitment each time he wore the green-and-white jersey.

Highlighting his contributions across major tournaments, the NFF said his performances at the 2019, 2021, and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were benchmarks for younger players.

He won silver and bronze medals at the championship and also featured at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, scoring crucial goals for Nigeria at the international level.

“With 83 caps for his motherland across five competitions, he leaves the stage a fulfilled man who can reflect on his decade-long stewardship with pride and accomplishment,” the federation added.

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Troost-Ekong was also celebrated for his standout performance at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, where he scored three vital goals and was named the Man of the Competition (Most Valuable Player).

“As he retires from the international game, the Nigeria Football Federation wishes William Troost-Ekong the very best in his future endeavours and will do whatever we can to help him accomplish his future goals within the round-leather game,” the statement concluded.

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