This Week’s Hottest News: Koulibaly’s Al Hilal Contract Talks, Knife Drama on Cairo’s Pitch, and Iran’s Bold World Cup Boycott

Yo, Smashi Sports Fam! 🌟⚽🔥 What a week in sports! First up, big moves in the Middle East, as Al Hilal kicks off talks to keep Kalidou Koulibaly around—could we see the big man stay in Saudi Arabia for the long haul? 🛑⚽ Meanwhile, Sharjah FC is on the hunt for a new head coach, with Brazilian Antonio Carlos reportedly in the mix. Will he be the one to lead them to glory? 🇧🇷🔥 On the pitch drama, things got heated in Egypt when a knife was thrown during the Al Ahly match—players are calling it out, and we're here for the fallout! ⚔️👀 And over in Libya, the controversial decision to treat Palestinian players as foreigners after Zaid Qanbar’s post-win celebration has the football world buzzing—politics meet the game! 🌍⚡ Lastly, Iran makes a bold move by boycotting the 2026 World Cup draw over U.S. visa issues—talk about international tension! 🇮🇷🚫 Stay tuned, because this week’s action is not slowing down!

Al Hilal Starts Contract Talks to Extend Kalidou Koulibaly’s Stay

• Al Hilal has begun contract renewal talks with defender Kalidou Koulibaly following head coach Simone Inzaghi’s recommendation. The club aims to lock down the key defensive player for the long term.

• Inzaghi highlighted Koulibaly’s crucial role in the team’s defense and urged the management to act quickly. Negotiations focus on financial terms and the duration of the extension, with both parties eager to finalize soon.

• The club is working to secure the deal before Koulibaly enters free agency in January, preventing any external offers from disrupting the defense’s stability.

Sharjah FC in Talks to sign Brazilian Coach Antonio Carlos to lead the team

• Sharjah FC has entered negotiations to appoint Brazilian coach Antonio Carlos Zagallo (56) as their new head coach. He would take over from Serbian Milos, aiming to revitalize the team.

• Zagallo’s most recent role was with PB Potavogo in Brazil. With years of experience and a successful coaching career, he could be the game-changer Sharjah needs.

As Far players tried to hide Knife Thrown onto Pitch During Al Ahly match

• A sharp knife was thrown onto the pitch during the match between Al Ahly fc and AS FAR Rabat in Morocco injuring Trezeguet. The incident raised major concerns about stadium security and player safety.

• Tensions erupted when AS FAR players clashed with Al Ahly, trying to take the knife away and hide it, so that Al Ahly players couldn’t report it to the referee. The object was eventually handed to Walid Salah El-Din, Al Ahly's captain.

• This dangerous breach highlights the need for urgent action. The aggressive behavior of AS FAR players must be punished, and authorities must investigate the incident. Organizers must enforce stricter security measures to ensure football remains safe for everyone involved.

Libya to Treat Palestinian Players as Foreigners After Zaid Qanbar’s Post-Win Celebration

• Al-Arabi's Zaid Qanbar sparked controversy following his celebration of Palestine’s Arab Cup qualification, where they defeated Libya on penalties. His gesture was widely seen as provocative.

• In response, the Libyan Football Federation has decided to revoke Qanbar's status as a local player in the Libyan league, declaring him a foreign player for the current season.

• This decision is seen as a direct consequence of Qanbar's actions during the tense post-match celebrations. The move underscores the ongoing intersection of sports and political tensions in the region.

Iran Boycotts the 2026 World Cup Draw Over United States Visa Denials

• Iran has announced it will boycott the 2026 World Cup draw after the U.S. denied visas to key members of its delegation, including the head of the Iranian Football Federation. The draw, scheduled for December 5 in Washington, will proceed without Iran’s participation.

• The Iranian Football Federation condemned the U.S. decision, calling it a “political” move and emphasizing that it was unrelated to sports. Iran has informed FIFA about the boycott, urging action.

• Despite the visa issue, Iran’s national team, which qualified for the 2026 World Cup in March, remains in the tournament. The U.S. is co-hosting the event with Mexico and Canada.

🤖🎙️Tune Into the Smashi Sports AI Podcast for the Latest Insights!

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SMASHI MOMENTS

⚽🏀 Sharable Bits & Highlights !

• Matías Palacios does it again! Another week, another stunning goal, making it look way too easy for Al Ain!

• Qatar in Copa mode. Julen Lopetegui: “We’re here to compete, give our best, and go for the win every match.”

• Al Kholood's Captain William Troost-Ekong celebrated his team's thrilling 4-3 victory over Al Khaleej

• MC Alger thought they had won all 3 points against Mamelodi Sundowns, but the referee called this goal offside

• Cristiano Ronaldo beats an AI goalkeeper made by former NASA engineer Mark Rober

• This women’s football match in Iran was very chaotic

• What is Cristiano Jr. up to? It seems he’s straying away from football and more towards the life of social media.

• Cristiano’s son reacts to his father’s bicycle kick goal. The legend is still amazing everyone, including his children.

• Joao Cancelo scored this insane solo goal vs Al Shorta.

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