Hot football news afternoon 26/6: The special journey of a Vietnamese center-back who once played at the World Cup

From the rollercoaster journey of Huỳnh Tấn Sinh, the prospect of Dawda Ceesay making a comeback in the V-League, to the debates at the 2026 World Cup and Man City's megadeal, the global football scene remains vibrant with countless noteworthy events.

The extraordinary path of a Vietnamese defender who once played at the World Cup

Having featured in the 2017 U20 World Cup, Huỳnh Tấn Sinh has had one of the most remarkable journeys in Vietnamese football. Born in 1998, this center-back won the V-League early with Quảng Nam, but also endured the pain of relegation before triumphing again with Hà Nội FC and CAHN. His decision to drop down to the First Division wearing the colors of Trường Tươi Đồng Nai surprised many, yet ultimately helped him achieve his goal of returning to the V-League.

After nearly a decade filled with glory and challenges, Tấn Sinh still harbors the dream of wearing the Vietnam national team jersey, continuing the story of resilience and determination in his career.

Is a familiar foreign player about to reappear in the V-League?

After a stint in Bangladesh, Gambian midfielder Dawda Ceesay is on the verge of returning to the V-League as he draws interest from several clubs ahead of the 2026/27 season. The former Becamex TP.HCM import is highly regarded for his experience across multiple countries, solid physical foundation, and versatility in both central and wide positions.

Having represented Gambia's U17 at the 2009 World Cup, Ceesay also left his mark with one goal in six V-League 2022 appearances. If he reaches an agreement with a new club, the 33-year-old midfielder promises to become one of the most notable foreign signings of the summer transfer window.

World Cup highlights

Although both suffered defeats in their final group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup, the USA and Germany are still considered strong contenders to advance deep. The USA lost 2-3 to Turkey after coach Mauricio Pochettino rotated nine positions but still held the top spot, while Germany fell 1-2 to Ecuador.

World Cup history shows that many champions have stumbled in the group stage, such as Spain (2010), Germany (2014), and Argentina (2022). Moreover, the 48-team format makes the race for third-place berths even more unpredictable. On the flip side, Tunisia caused major disappointment by losing all three matches, becoming one of the tournament's worst-performing teams.

Controversial draw at the 2026 World Cup

The 0-0 draw between Australia and Paraguay in the final match of Group D at the 2026 World Cup sparked a fierce wave of controversy as both teams secured their spots in the round of 32. With this result, Australia finished second in the group while Paraguay advanced via the best third-place slot. However, the lack of attacking intent led many fans to suspect the two sides of a deliberate "handshake" to achieve their respective goals.

A flood of social media comments called it one of the most boring matches in World Cup history, while also questioning FIFA's new 48-team format. Although there is no evidence of match-fixing, the debate over the tournament's fairness and appeal continues.

Manchester City on the verge of a record-breaking blockbuster

Manchester City are very close to signing midfielder Elliot Andersonn from Nottingham Forest for a fee of up to £116 million, according to Fabrizio Romano. After nearly three months of negotiations, Forest have agreed to let Anderson undergo medical tests in the USA, where he is currently with the England squad for the 2026 World Cup. If completed, this would be one of the most expensive deals in Man City's history, surpassing the club's transfer record for Jack Grealish.

The Etihad side sees Anderson as a key piece for their midfield in the new era, especially following Bernardo Silva's departure. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest accept parting with their star to reap a massive profit from this historic transaction.

Football news roundup

The Vietnam national team will make its first international appearance on Thái Nguyên soil when facing Myanmar on July 18, an important friendly ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Championship. Meanwhile, CAHN are preparing for a major challenge in the AFC Champions League Elite, aiming to assert their position on the Asian stage.

At the 2026 World Cup, South Korea coach Hong Myeong-bo attributed his team's loss to South Africa to weather conditions, forcing the side to wait for a "lucky loser" spot. Also in this tournament, the German national team faced heavy media criticism after losing to Ecuador despite already securing a knockout-stage berth.

In the transfer market, the Premier League remains lively with Man City closing in on Elliot Anderson, Manchester United pursuing Julián Alvarez, and Newcastle facing the risk of losing two key players: Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães.