Breaking football news afternoon 10/6: V-League set to welcome a World Cup star, Messi faces a 30-year curse

The 2026 ASEAN Championship is predicted to be a thrilling contest between three top contenders: Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, as the V-League could see a World Cup player joining, Argentina grapples with a "FIFA curse," Chelsea targets Dani Olmo, and the 2026 World Cup remains intense due to many surprising off-pitch events.

Three-horse race for the ASEAN Championship crown

The 2026 ASEAN Championship is forecast to be an exciting battle among three leading candidates: Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Indonesia is emerging as the most prominent name thanks to a quality naturalized player squad and a generation of talent considered the strongest in the country's football history.

Meanwhile, Vietnam enters the tournament as the defending champion. Under the guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik, the "Golden Star Warriors" boast a deep squad with a mix of experience and youth. As for Thailand, the "War Elephants" are determined to reclaim the throne after their defeat in the 2024 ASEAN Championship and are planning to bolster their ranks with more overseas-born players.

With the high ambitions of all three teams, the 2026 ASEAN Championship is set to witness the fiercest competition in Southeast Asia in many years.

World Cup blockbuster heading to the V-League?

The V-League transfer market is buzzing with news that CLB Cong An TP.HCM has come very close to signing Odiljon Hamrobekov, an Uzbekistan international set to play in the 2026 World Cup. According to a Singapore-based agent, the deal is 95% complete, with only a few final contract and compensation details remaining.

If successful, this would be one of the most high-profile signings in V-League history. Hamrobekov was the Best Player of the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, the tournament where the Vietnam U-23 team finished as runners-up in Changzhou. The 30-year-old midfielder now has over 70 caps for Uzbekistan and has played in every match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Although still at the rumor stage, the prospect of a World Cup player arriving in the V-League has fans very excited.

Argentina reaches the top, Messi faces the "World Cup curse"

Argentina has just overtaken France and Spain to claim the number one spot on the FIFA rankings right before the 2026 World Cup. Two victories over Honduras and Iceland, along with slip-ups from rival contenders, helped the world champions take the lead convincingly.

However, the top ranking brings significant concern for Lionel Messi and his teammates. Since FIFA introduced the rankings in 1992, no team has entered the World Cup as the world number one and gone on to win the title. Giants like Brazil, Germany, France, and Spain have all fallen victim to this "curse." Now, Argentina has a historic opportunity: to become the first team to break the spell that has lasted over 30 years in world football.

US speaks out on World Cup referee denied entry

Just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, a shocking incident emerged when FIFA referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was unexpectedly denied entry to the US. Amid the wave of controversy, the US government officially responded, stating that the decision was related to national security concerns.

According to the US side, additional screening revealed information allegedly linking the Somali referee to individuals suspected of belonging to extremist organizations, making him ineligible for entry under current law. Notably, Artan was named "Best African Referee 2025" and was set to become the first Somali referee in history to officiate at the World Cup.

Despite efforts by FIFA and the Somali government to intervene, his historic opportunity has closed, while the US maintains a firm stance: national security comes before everything, even at the world's biggest sporting event.

Chelsea goes big, targets Euro winner from Barca

Chelsea is causing a stir in the transfer market as they are reportedly ready to spend up to €70 million to sign Dani Olmo from Barcelona, following the recommendation of coach Xabi Alonso. The Spanish tactician sees the Spain international as the ideal piece for his rebuilding plan and to enhance the creativity in attack.

Notably, Barcelona is said to have softened their "untouchable" stance on Olmo despite the player having a contract until 2030. The Euro 2024 winner left a strong mark by helping Spain lift the trophy in Germany. If the deal goes through, Olmo would join Cole Palmer, Estevão, and Joao Pedro to form a promising attack at Stamford Bridge. This could become one of the most notable blockbusters in Europe in the summer of 2026.

Football news roundup midday 10/6

Vietnam U19 experienced a disappointing end at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship. It seemed a semifinal spot was within reach when Australia U19 led Cambodia 2-0, but two unbelievable own goals in the second half saw the Aussies held to a 2-2 draw, indirectly knocking coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's team out in the group stage.

In other news, Thailand U23 disappointed with a heavy 2-5 home loss to UAE U23. Notably, UAE is the same team that Vietnam U23 eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal received a special mission from the president ahead of the World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup also faces a major crisis as over 15,000 VIP seats at the Azteca Stadium risk being empty due to a dispute with FIFA. In Spain, Real Madrid surprisingly sacked coach Alvaro Arbeloa and is reportedly preparing for a shocking reunion with Jose Mourinho.