Hot football news lunchtime 7/8: MU tightens salary cap, Vini secures future

India's national team may withdraw from the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, Vietnam's futsal team finished second in Thailand, UEFA hints at life after Infantino, Manchester United revises wage policy, and the European transfer market buzzes with Vinicius, Manchester City, and Chelsea.

India team considers skipping FIFA ASEAN Cup

According to The Times of India, The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is considering withdrawing the national team from the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup or sending only a reserve squad due to a scheduling conflict with a friendly match against Brazil on October 3 in Kolkata. Previously, AIFF had proposed using a second-string team but was not approved by FIFA.

Although former star Bhaichung Bhutia calls for prioritizing the FIFA ASEAN Cup due to its professional value and prize money, most AIFF leaders are said to want to focus on the match against Brazil. If India withdraws, FIFA will face the challenge of finding a replacement team or adjusting the tournament format, which will kick off for the first time in late September 2026.

Vietnam futsal finishes second in Thailand tournament

Vietnam futsal team concluded the Continental Championship Friendly Tournament - Thailand 2026 as runner-up and with the Fair Play award after a four-match unbeaten run. Coach Diego Raul Giustozzi's team earned 8 points with draws against Russia (2-2), wins over New Zealand (4-1) and Afghanistan (2-1), and a comeback draw against hosts Thailand (3-3) after trailing 0-3. However, Russia's 7-1 victory over Thailand in the final round secured the European team the title thanks to a superior goal difference (+11 compared to Vietnam's +4). Despite missing the championship, the impressive performance and resilient spirit are positive signals for Vietnam futsal as they aim for important goals ahead.

UEFA speaks out about post-Infantino era

UEFA Vice President Laura McAllister believes that The future FIFA President should be a guardian of the sport, capable of uniting global football instead of concentrating too much power in one individual. According to her, the candidate to replace Gianni Infantino must receive broad support from multiple continents, not just Europe. This statement comes amid FIFA facing governance controversies, especially after having to cancel plans to sell World Cup revenue stakes to outside investors.

Although Infantino has confirmed he will run for re-election as FIFA President in 2027 and still receives support from the board, the power race within the organization is expected to have many noteworthy developments.

MU tightens salary budget

MU has implemented a new contract mechanism to control the salary budget and avoid players receiving excessively high compensation, which makes transfers difficult. Accordingly, only players who play at least 60% of total minutes in the new season will receive a 25% salary increase if the team qualifies for the Champions League, instead of applying to the whole squad as before. Joshua Zirkzee is the first case not to receive a raise due to failing to meet this condition.

Meanwhile, Rashford, Onana, and Mason Mount still benefit from the old mechanism because they signed contracts before INEOS changed the policy. This move is seen as an important step to help MU balance finances and become more flexible in the transfer market.

Transfer news

Real Madrid has officially extended Vinicius Junior's contract until June 2032, ending all speculation about the Brazilian star's future amid interest from Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Manchester City is rushing to find a replacement for Rodri as the Spanish midfielder is reportedly set to join Barcelona. In addition to young talents Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, the Etihad club also has Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) in their sights.

On the flip side, Chelsea is reportedly looking to sign Martin Zubimendi from Arsenal, but the deal is difficult to realize. Meanwhile, MU is still pursuing Bologna center-back Jhon Lucumi, but the price of £21.7 million is making the Old Trafford club reconsider.