South Africa is in the midst of crisis. So why did its government want to spend a reported $58 million on sponsoring a UK soccer club? | CNN

CNN  —  When plans for the South African government’s tourism board to sponsor English Premier League…

Al Hilal shock Flamengo with 3-2 win in Club World Cup semifinal | CNN

Reuters  —  Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal stunned South American champions Flamengo to reach the Club World…

South Africa tourism in talks to sponsor Tottenham Hotspur amid energy crisis | CNN

CNN  —  The South African government’s tourism board has conditionally approved plans to sponsor English Premier…

‘Ambassadors of peace’: Amputee football association brings together Sierra Leone’s civil war survivors | CNN

CNN  —  On a busy weekend in Freetown, Sierra Leone, dozens of people gather to watch…

Crown Prosecution Service drops attempted rape charges against Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood | CNN

CNN  —  Charges of attempted rape and assault against Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood were dropped…

Backlash follows finding that soccer manager who used ‘offensive, racist and Islamophobic’ language is ‘not a conscious racist’ | CNN

CNN  —  Anti-racism groups and England’s Football Association (FA) are denouncing an independent panel’s finding that…

Gulf Cup soccer final in Iraq to take place despite stampede | CNN

Abu Dhabi and Baghdad CNN  —  A Gulf Cup final match between Iraq and Oman will…

Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS enters bidding process to buy Manchester United — The Times reports | CNN

CNN  —  British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s company INEOS has formally entered the bidding process to buy…

Iraqis celebrate their comeback with soccer tournament after decades of isolation | CNN

Editor’s Note: A version of this story appears in today’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter,…

Israel’s rightward shift leaves its new Arab allies in an awkward spot | CNN

Editor’s Note: A version of this story appears in today’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter,…

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