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US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not face arrest at a UN summit in New York, after the city’s new mayor said he was investigating the move.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitted he was unsure if he had the power to order police to detain a foreign leader but said he was discussing the matter with his legal team ahead of the UN General Assembly in September.

“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,” Trump said on social media.

“He is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The Hague-based International Criminal Court said in 2024 that it had reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu was responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s offensive in Gaza following the brutal October 7, 2023 cross-border attack by Hamas.

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani told the New York Times on Saturday, referring to the United Nations’ International Court of Justice (ICJ). “He’s a war criminal.”

“And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.”

However, Mamdani said he was unclear on whether he has the legal authority to order the New York Police Department (NYPD), which he oversees, to detain a foreign leader like Netanyahu.

Therefore, his administration was still mulling whether to arrest Netanyahu if he comes to NYC in September, as expected for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

“Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do, but we won’t be writing our own laws to that end,” Mamdani added.

During his mayoral campaign in September 2025, Democratic Mamdani had said he would order the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu if he arrives in the city.

Netanyahu’s office also dismissed Mamdani’s stance and said the ICC was a kangaroo court.

According to NYT’s Saturday report, Netanyahu also commented on Mamdani’s threat to arrest him, saying he was not concerned. He went as far as even accusing the mayor of supporting Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

“I think he should look at who he’s condemning, who he’s praising,” the Israeli premier said during an interview this week with Sid Rosenberg, whom the NYT described as a “frequent critic” of Mamdani.

Mamdani had condemned pro-Hamas chants in January, describing the Palestinian group as a “terrorist organisation” when criticised by some circles.

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There was a time when Spain’s football was defined by fury. Today, it is defined by control.

The old La Furia Roja (The Red Fury) was built on passion, aggression and flashes of individual brilliance.

The Spain of today is something more complete: technically immaculate, tactically sophisticated and capable of turning possession into sudden, devastating attacks.

As Spain prepare to face Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium tonight, they do so unbeaten in 37 matches and as reigning European champions.

Their remarkable resurgence is not the product of one golden generation or one exceptional manager — it is the result of a footballing system developed over decades, refined through success and failure, and constantly adapted to the demands of the modern game.

For much of its history, Spain failed to translate the strength of its domestic football into international success. The 1964 European Championship remained its only major title for decades. The transformation began not in the national team dressing room, but on the training pitches of Barcelona’s La Masia academy.

When Johan Cruyff returned to Barcelona as coach in 1988, he brought with him a philosophy rooted in the principles of Total Football. Possession, intelligence, spatial awareness and technical ability were placed above physical strength. The 4-3-3 system became more than a formation; it became a way of understanding the game.

At La Masia, players were taught to read the pitch as much as to play on it. Short passing, positional rotations, movement without the ball and the creation of passing angles became fundamental.

The influence eventually extended beyond Barcelona. The Spanish football federation adopted many of those principles across its youth structures, helping create a common footballing language that transcended club rivalries.

The grassroots blueprint

Spain’s success has been built from the bottom up.

Young players move through carefully structured age groups, where training focuses heavily on decision-making, technical ability and football intelligence.

Small-sided games and exercises that demand quick decisions are prioritised over simply developing physical strength.

The country’s youth football is also intensely competitive. Promotion and relegation structures expose young players to pressure from an early age, while regional federations and the Spanish Football Federation work together to identify and develop talent.

The country’s leading clubs provide another important bridge to senior football. Reserve sides such as Barcelona B and Real Madrid Castilla compete in the professional league system, allowing teenagers to experience the physical and tactical demands of adult football before making the jump to the highest level.

That structure helps explain why players such as Lamine Yamal can enter elite football at an extraordinarily young age without appearing overwhelmed.

They are products not only of exceptional talent but of an environment designed to prepare them for the demands of the game.

The golden age of tiki-taka

The fruits of that system became visible between 2008 and 2012.

Under Luis Aragonés and Vicente del Bosque, Spain produced one of the greatest international teams in football history.

Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, David Villa and their teammates perfected a style that came to be known around the world as tiki-taka.

Spain won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa — the country’s first — and Euro 2012. In the process, they became the first team to win three consecutive major international tournaments.

Their football was built around the ball. Possession was both an attacking weapon and a defensive strategy. By keeping the ball, Spain denied opponents the opportunity to attack. By moving it quickly and intelligently, they created openings that often appeared impossible to defend.

The team represented the meeting of two traditions in Spanish football: the passion and directness of the old Furia Roja and the technical, possession-based football shaped by Cruyff’s influence.

When possession became predictable

But success eventually created its own problems.

By the middle of the 2010s, Spain’s football had begun to lose its element of surprise. Possession remained abundant, but it increasingly became sterile. The ball moved sideways and backwards without enough penetration or depth.

Opponents adapted. High pressing, compact defensive blocks and a willingness to concede possession in selected areas exposed the limitations of a system that had become predictable.

Spain exited the 2014 World Cup at the group stage. They were eliminated in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup and again in 2022, when Morocco knocked them out on penalties.

The old formula was no longer enough. Spain had to evolve without abandoning the principles that had made it successful.

A modern rebirth

Luis de la Fuente, appointed national team coach in 2022, understood that balance.

Having worked extensively within Spain’s youth system, he was familiar with the foundations of the country’s football. His task was not to destroy them but to modernise them.

Spain retained their ability to dominate possession but added greater verticality and unpredictability. Wingers such as Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams gave the team the ability to attack space, beat defenders one-on-one and stretch opponents in ways the old tiki-taka teams often struggled to do.

Spain can now overload one side of the pitch, draw opponents towards the ball and then quickly switch play to create isolated situations on the opposite flank. Possession is no longer an end in itself. It is used to create openings.

Euro 2024 offered the clearest evidence of the transformation.

Spain won all seven matches on their way to a record fourth European Championship title, defeating England 2-1 in the final. They combined technical control with greater speed and directness, while the emergence of Yamal symbolised the fearlessness of a new generation.

The teenager was not merely a talented addition to an established team. He represented the evolution of Spanish football itself.

Spain have carried that momentum into the World Cup.

Their unbeaten run and progress to the final have underlined the depth of their squad and the maturity of their football.

Rodri provides control in midfield, while the attack offers a mixture of possession, movement and explosive pace.

The result is a team that can dominate a match patiently but is also capable of changing its rhythm in an instant.

A model beyond football

Spain’s rise offers a lesson that extends beyond the football pitch.

Its success was not built through a single generation, a quick tactical fix or the discovery of one extraordinary player. It was the result of a long-term commitment to a particular footballing philosophy.

The influence of Cruyff, Barcelona’s academy and the structures developed by the Spanish federation created a technical and tactical foundation.

But the system survived because it was not treated as sacred.

When possession became predictable, Spain adapted. When the old generation faded, a new one was allowed to play with greater freedom. The principles remained, but the interpretation changed.

That may be the most important part of Spain’s story.

The country’s football has evolved from the passion of La Furia Roja into something more controlled without losing its intensity.

The fury has evolved into a refined version of itself.

Today, Spain can suffocate opponents with the ball, break them with speed and defend with the same collective understanding that has defined their football for decades.

Their final against Argentina will bring together two of the most powerful footballing traditions of the modern era.

But whatever happens at MetLife Stadium, Spain’s journey from international underachievers to one of the world’s most consistent footballing powers remains one of the great examples of what long-term planning can achieve.

The Red Fury has become a symphony in red. The anger remains. The difference is that now every movement has a purpose.

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The scoreline said Spain had beaten Argentina 1-0 after extra time. The match said something far more emphatic.

For much of the World Cup final in New Jersey, Spain did not merely outplay the defending champions. They controlled the game so completely that Argentina, despite the presence of Lionel Messi in what was expected to be his final World Cup match, were reduced to chasing shadows.

The victory gave Spain their second World Cup title, but it was the manner of the triumph that made it particularly significant. Against a team that had built its tournament on resilience, late comebacks and the individual brilliance of Messi, Spain offered something altogether different: control without panic, possession without sterility and pressure without recklessness.

Luis de la Fuente’s team represented a modern evolution of the Spanish footballing ideal. This was not possession for possession’s sake. Spain circulated the ball with purpose, pressed aggressively when they lost it and constantly moved Argentina’s defensive structure from side to side.

The result was a familiar but increasingly devastating Spanish pattern. Argentina were pulled towards the ball, only for Spain to move it elsewhere. Their opponents were made to run, then run some more. It was the same passing carousel that had left France dizzy in the semi-final, and Argentina never truly found a way off it.

Spain’s control began in midfield, where Rodri provided the authority and composure while Pedri and Fabián Ruiz gave the team movement, imagination and technical superiority. Argentina’s midfield, led by Enzo Fernández, was unable to impose itself on the match. By the later stages, the frustration had become visible, with Fernández eventually sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

The imbalance was reflected in the numbers. Spain enjoyed the overwhelming share of possession, created significantly more opportunities and largely prevented Argentina from producing the kind of transitions on which their attack had thrived throughout the tournament. Messi and Lautaro Martínez were repeatedly isolated, while Spain’s defensive line dealt with the occasional threat that did emerge.

Argentina had fought their way through difficult moments throughout the competition. They had survived, recovered and found ways to win. But Spain presented a different kind of challenge. There was little to recover from because Spain rarely allowed Argentina to establish any rhythm in the first place.

Even the injuries that weakened Argentina’s defensive stability early in the match could not fully explain their struggles. Spain had simply established a level of control that made Argentina look increasingly reactive. The defending champions were not beaten by one moment of brilliance. They were gradually suffocated by a team that was better organised, technically superior and more comfortable with the demands of the occasion.

The decisive moment finally arrived in the 106th minute. Ferran Torres, introduced from the bench, finished the move that Spain had spent so long threatening to create. It was Spain’s first goal in a World Cup final since Andrés Iniesta’s winner in 2010 and, given the balance of the match, a deserved reward for their sustained dominance.

Argentina tried to respond. Even with 10 men, they pushed forward in the closing stages, but their efforts produced little beyond half-chances. The magic that had carried Messi and Argentina to the title in 2022 never arrived.

Messi, appearing in a record third World Cup final and playing in what was expected to be his farewell tournament, was unable to change the course of the match. There was no late intervention, no moment that could tilt the contest back towards Argentina. This time, the collective was simply too strong for the individual.

Spain had been building towards this moment for years. Their triumph is a continuation of the philosophy that once made them the dominant force in international football, but it is also something new. The old Spanish team was built around the extraordinary midfield of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. This one possesses a different energy, driven by a younger generation led by players such as Lamine Yamal and supported by a squad capable of combining technical excellence with physical intensity.

The victory also represents a changing of the guard. Messi’s World Cup story appears to have reached its final chapter, while Spain’s next one has only just begun.

Argentina arrived as champions and left beaten. Spain arrived as one of the tournament favourites and left as the team that had made the strongest case of all.

They did not need a classic final. They did not need chaos, drama or a succession of improbable comebacks. Spain won through control.

And by the time Ferran Torres struck in extra time, the final had already felt decided.

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• Thousands attend funeral prayers offered at Quetta’s Ayub Stadium amid strict security arrangements
• Koila Phatak, police stations, educational institutions renamed after martyrs
• Bugti reaffirms commitment to ensuring timely implementation of accord

QUETTA: The pol­icemen who were martyred in the Ziarat terrorist attack were buried in their native towns on Saturday after their funeral prayers were offered at Ayub Stadium, Quetta, attended by thousands of people following the culmination of a 10-day-long sit-in by their relatives.

The sit-in committee agreed to call off the protest after a Friday-night agreement with the provincial government, in which all of their demands, including the call for a judicial probe, were accepted.

Besides other measures, the government also agreed to constitute a judicial commission to probe the attacks in Ziarat and Hanna Urak, in which a total of 32 people — 27 policemen in Ziarat and five civilians in Hanna Urak — were martyred.

Their bodies were brought to the stadium from the Shuhada-i-Ziarat Chowk (formerly Koila Phatak Chowk) for funeral prayers in a big procession. The funeral was attended by thousands of people, including politicians, provincial ministers, tribal elders, and the family members of the deceased, amid strict security arrangements. They were later sent to their native towns for burial with state honours.

The district administration deployed a heavy contingent of security forces, including police and the paramilitary forces, in and around the stadium. It also deployed snipers on the rooftops in the area.

The families of the slain policemen had been holding the sit-in at Koila Phatak since July 9, along with the bodies of the martyrs. It may be noted that 27 policemen were martyred in a terrorist attack on a police post in Ziarat on July 6: nine police personnel were killed on the spot, while 18 were killed by the terrorists after being kidnapped. The attack came a day after armed men attacked the Hanna Urak Valley area on the outskirts of Quetta, killing five people. In response to these attacks, security forces responded with a days-long clearance operation, named Operation Shaban, during which 91 terrorists were killed.

Police stations renamed

The Balochistan government started immediate implementation of the agreement’s provisions. As a “token of acknowledgement of the invaluable sacrifices” of the martyred policemen, it was decided to rename Koila Phatak Chowk as Shuhada-i-Ziarat Chowk with immediate effect, as per a July 17 notification that was issued right after the agreement.

Similarly, it was decided to rename government buildings, police stations, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities in the Ziarat district after the martyrs, who laid down their lives while performing duties in the fight against terrorism. In this regard, the principal secretary to the Balochistan chief minister directed the home, education and health departments to complete the process of renaming the relevant government institutions and obtain approval from the competent authority.

Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated that the government was ensuring full implementation of all commitments and provisions of the agreement made with the families of the martyrs. He said that the martyrs who sacrificed their lives “in defence of the country, for the establishment of peace, and for the protection of the lives and property of the people are a source of pride for the entire nation”.

“Naming public institutions after them is a meaningful tribute that will preserve their legacy and inspire future generations with their courage, dedication, and sense of duty,” he remarked.

The chief minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to honouring the martyrs and their families, promoting their welfare, and ensuring the timely implementation of all commitments made under the agreement.

On Friday, the Balochistan government accepted all demands of the protesters, including the formation of a judicial commission to probe both attacks.

The agreement was signed by Health Minister Bukhat Muhammad Kakar, while Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Secretary General Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal signed on behalf of the protesting families.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2026

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England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

Both teams had higher aspirations at the 2026 tournament but suffered painful semi-final exits — France were outplayed by Spain while England suffered a late collapse against Argentina.

Both coaches made multiple changes for the match in the oppressive heat of Miami, with a host of stars on the bench at the start.

England boss Thomas Tuchel left out Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham from his starting line-up while Deschamps, stepping down after 14 years at the helm, omitted Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice put England ahead with a goal from distance in the third minute and Ezri Konsa headed home to make it 2-0.

Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise were a threat as France searched for a way back into the game but they found England’s second-choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson in top form.

The game threatened to become embarrassing for France when Bukayo Saka made it 3-0 after a swift break.

And it was 4-0 in first-half stoppage time when Saka scored his second goal of the game, celebrated with a fist pump by Tuchel.

France coach Didier Deschamps told French TV channel M6 that the first-half display had been “catastrophic”, urging his men to show pride.

He made four changes, bringing on Dembele, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne and Barcola and was rewarded almost instantly when Mbappe scored his ninth goal of the tournament to move clear of Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot standings.

The game had now totally changed complexion and Barcola pulled another goal back, with Deschamps clenching his fist on the bench.

Mbappe then netted his second of the game to become the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer with 22 goals — slotting home from Olise’s pass.

That put him two ahead of Messi in the race to finish as top scorer at the 2026 tournament.

France squandered several chances to equalise and England were handed a chance to extend their lead when Malo Gusto brought down Djed Spence in the penalty area.

Saka stepped up to the spot and converted to complete his hat-trick.

There was still time for Dembele to grab a fourth for France but Bellingham then strode forward to score the 10th goal of the match with an individual effort.

In doing so Bellingham became the first England player to score seven goals at a World Cup.

By finishing third, England secured their best result at a World Cup since winning the tournament in 1966, though they will carry bitter memories of their defeat by defending champions Argentina.

Deschamps led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and finished as runners-up four years ago.

Les Bleus were favourites to win the 2026 tournament after a sensational start but were well-beaten 2-0 by Spain in the semi-finals.

Three-time champions Argentina face European champions Spain in the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.

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A 17-year-old Palestinian footballer died on Saturday, a week after he was shot during an attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to officials and relatives.

Dozens of mourners dressed in black carried the body of Fadi Hamdallah al-Nassan — a player for Al-Mughayyir Club and a member of the Palestinian national youth team — from the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to his village for burial.

The Palestine Football Association accused Israeli forces of shooting Nassan while settlers were attacking the village on July 11.

The young player was reportedly shot in the thigh during the attack. His leg was amputated, and he later died from his injuries, the association said.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment Saturday.

“He loved football,” his father, Hamdallah Al-Nassan, told AFP.

“When the settlers attacked, he heard the screams of the girls and women,” he said. “He went to the scene of the attack and was killed.”

The teenager’s mother, Hanan al-Nassan, said her son was well-liked in the village.

“He was a good student, good in sports, and loved playing football.
Everyone loved him,” she said.

“May God accept him as a martyr.”

The Palestinian official news agency Wafa also reported that Nassan was wounded and his leg amputated, adding that two other residents were hit by rubber bullets fired by Israeli forces, while a 10-year-old boy was hit on the head by a stun grenade.

Since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, the United Nations has reported a sharp increase in violence attributed to Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 1,088 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry data.

Earlier this week, Israel’s security cabinet approved a budget of $434 million for establishing 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said.

UN bodies, Palestinians and most countries view the settlements as illegal under international conventions and a primary obstacle to peace.

Smotrich , who has long opposed Palestinian statehood, is head of the Reli­gious Zionism party that draws much of its support from settlements and is running in the upcoming legislative election on Oct 27.

The planned settlements would bring the total established under his four-year tenure to 103.

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Spanish elan meets Argentinian steel in a historic World Cup final on Sunday which sees the reigning champions of Europe and South America battle for football’s ultimate prize.

Holders Argentina are bidding to become the first team in 64 years to successfully defend the title, in what is almost certainly the final World Cup match of captain Lionel Messi’s career.

Spain are aiming to thwart those ambitions by clinching the country’s second World Cup crown following their maiden victory in 2010.

US President Donald Trump will be among a star-studded crowd of just over 80,000 spectators at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford as the largest World Cup in history reaches its climax.

World Cup officials have said they are “monitoring closely” air quality from Canadian wildfires affecting the region around the final, which kicks off at 12am PST.

The final will also see an unprecedented 25-30 minute half-time interval for a Super Bowl-style concert featuring the likes of Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber.

But the real action will unfold on the pitch in a cross-continental clash of footballing titans that bristles with sub-plots.

At the centre of the drama will be Argentina’s Messi, the 39-year-old genius regarded by many as the greatest football player in history.

The veteran superstar will become only the second man ever to play in three World Cup finals, matching the achievement of Brazilian great Cafu in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

Messi has enjoyed a vintage World Cup campaign and is on course for the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals in Argentina’s journey to the final.

Repeated escape acts

More significantly, the eight-time Ballon D’Or winner has repeatedly rescued Argentina at moments when they appeared headed for the exit.

Messi was the driving force of an incredible comeback victory over Egypt in the last 16, when the South Americans trailed 2-0 with 11 minutes to go before eventually winning 3-2.

He then provided two assists in a dramatic come-from-behind 2-1 defeat of England in Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta.

That victory embodied Argentina’s dogged, never-say-die approach, a rugged resilience forged under head coach Lionel Scaloni.

Scaloni, who has led Argentina to back-to-back Copa America wins either side of a 2022 World Cup triumph, attributes his team’s success to fearlessness.

“This group is difficult to explain,” he said. “It is a show of the collectiveness, the brotherhood that we are in, the willingness to fight to the very end.

“I know the guys. They fear nothing.” Argentina’s astonishing fortitude is likely to face its most searching examination of the tournament in Sunday’s blockbuster.

Spain have gradually built momentum in the early rounds before arriving in the final with a magnificent performance to defeat favourites France 2-0 in the semi-finals.

That performance underscored the strengths of Spain coach Luis de la Fuente’s squad, who neutralised France’s potent attacking arsenal with their trademark brand of skilful possession-based football.

Spain’s superb midfield led by captain Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo ran rings around France, biding their time before carving the openings which led to the decisive goals.

Ring of steel

Behind them, Spain’s defence has been the best in the tournament, conceding just one goal with six clean sheets in seven matches.

Victory and another clean sheet on Sunday would see Spain set a record for the fewest goals ever conceded by a World Cup-winning team.

In attack, Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal could well prove decisive.

The 19-year-old Barcelona winger who was the star of Spain’s European Championship-winning campaign in Germany two years ago has not been at his electrifying best in this tournament as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.

But Yamal provided flashes of his brilliance in the semi-final defeat of France, winning the penalty that gave La Roja a crucial lead and having what would have been a superb third goal ruled out after a fractional offside decision.

Spain’s charismatic manager de la Fuente meanwhile will be facing a personal duel against a former student in Argentine counterpart Scaloni.

De la Fuente, 65, who took over as Spain coach in 2022 after a successful stint as youth team manager, mentored Scaloni when the Argentina coach was studying for his professional licence in 2018.

Scaloni, 48, who has strong personal and professional ties to Spain, where he lives, says he will put his friendship with de la Fuente on pause for Sunday’s final.

“He was my mentor, and he taught me everything I know and now we are facing each other in a final,” Scaloni said of de la Fuente.

“Everyone knows I live in Spain and have Spanish family. And I’m very, very sorry, but on Sunday I’m going to try to beat him. “

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