Soccer

Nicki Minaj has no time for any 2022 World Cup controversies ... the Barbz rapper has been enlisted for "Tukoh Taka" the official FIFA Fan Festival anthem!!!

The song is a collaboration between Nicki, Colombian singer Maluma and Lebanese singer Myriam Fares and delivers lyrics in 3 different languages -- English, Spanish and Arabic to cater to the global soccer audience.

"Tukoh Taka" translates to "click clack" in Yankee talk and the 3 megastars all display their presence in the video.

Edgar Esteves and Juan Felipe Zuleta direct the high-octane visual ... which splices between cut scenes of fútbol highlights, Nicki gyrating on a school bus and Maluma and Myriam Fares performing in a green-screened desert.

World Cup action kicks off starting Sunday from Qatar ... but this year's event has many pundits raising eyebrows as festivities are underway.

Unlike Nicki, artists such as Dua Lipa and Shakira have refused to participate in Cup performances ... citing various alleged human rights infractions in the country.

FIFA also announced it's banning all alcohol sales in World Cup stadiums ahead of the opening games ... leaving many fans pissed.

In a surprising last-minute twist ... booze sales at World Cup stadiums in Qatar have now been banned.

FIFA announced the news early Friday morning -- saying despite initial agreements between the soccer org. and the host country to sell beer and liquor where the championship football will go down, they've now reversed course.

Qatar -- a country where the sale of alcohol is highly restricted -- had been willing to allow Budweiser to sell its boozy products at games ... albeit in less visible and less accessible locations.

But, amid late pressure to ban it entirely, FIFA explained there's now been a change of plans.

"Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA," a spokesperson for the org. said Friday, "a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing the sales points of beer from Qatar's FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters."

Budweiser -- which reportedly paid $75 million to be the beer sponsor of the W.C. -- didn't exactly react well to the news.

"Well, this is awkward," the company said in a now-deleted tweet.

FIFA did say, however, that the sale of Bud's non-alcoholic Bud Zero product will still be allowed -- so, small victory there?

No matter if it's a futbol or a football -- David Beckham apparently knows his way around it ... impressing the hell out of Peyton Manning with his pigskin skills this week!!!

The two legendary athletes shared a field to shoot a Frito-Lays World Cup advert ... and at one point during a break from filming, the guys got in a little catch.

Manning asked if he'd have to teach DB how to hurl the rock -- but after a throw or two, it became clear to the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback that wouldn't be necessary at all.

From around 30ish yards, Beckham had little to no problem getting the ball to Peyton ... and each time, The Sheriff grew more and more amazed by what he was seeing from the ex-soccer player.

"That's good!" Manning said. "Good grip! I like the high release!"

Beckham's spiral wasn't exactly the tightest ever -- but Manning noted neither was his during his playing days ... and it still got the job done.

Peyton also said he was impressed by Beckham's receiving skills -- complimenting the 47-year-old's soft hands!

As for if Peyton dabbled into soccer while the two were outside, it doesn't seem so ... with Manning saying simply, "I can't do his sport."

A Danish journalist was threatened to have his camera destroyed on live TV ahead of the World Cup in Qatar ... and now, officials are apologizing for what they're calling a mistake.

TV2 reporter Rasmus Tantholdt was doing a live hit in Doha ... when three men pulled up on a golf cart and tried to put an end to the segment while on air.

During the tense interaction, Tantholdt -- who displayed his media credentials -- accused the men of threatening to break his camera ... saying, "You invited the whole world to come here, why can’t we film? It’s a public place."

"You can break the camera, you want to break it? You are threatening us by smashing the camera?"

The clip quickly went viral on social media ... leading the event's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy to release a statement on the matter -- saying the Danish outlet was "mistakenly interrupted."

"Upon inspection of the crew’s valid tournament accreditation and filming permit, an apology was made to the broadcaster by on-site security before the crew resumed their activity," the committee said.

The organizers also say they discussed the matter with Tantholdt ... adding they "issued an advisory to all entities to respect the filming permits in place for the tournament."

The decision to host the massive sporting event has been met with harsh criticism ... including allegations of strict rules for media coverage in Qatar.

Folks have also been critical of Qatar's handling of human rights leading up to the World Cup ... with reports of several worker fatalities in preparation for the event.

On top of that, many take issue with the emirate's views on the LGBTQ+ community ... as well as strict limitations on sexual interactions and alcohol consumption and lackluster living conditions for fans.

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is opening up on the gut-wrenching heartbreak he suffered after his baby son died during childbirth earlier this year ... calling it the worst experience he's had since his father passed in 2005.

CR7 got candid during a sit-down with Piers Morgan this week ... where he explained what it was like to be overcome with both joy and devastation after welcoming his baby girl and mourning the loss of his son at the same time.

"It is probably the worst moment that has passed through my life since my father died," Ronaldo said.

Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, shared the tragic news back in April ... announcing the birth of their baby girl, but also relaying the news her twin brother didn't make it.

"When you have a kid, you expect that everything will be normal," Cristiano added. "And when you have that problem, it's hard. As human beings, me and Georgina had quite difficult moments, because we don't understand why it happened to us. It was difficult, to be honest, it was very, very difficult to understand what's going on in that period of our life."

Ronaldo said despite all the pain he was going through, soccer continued to demand his time ... which was another challenge he faced during his healing.

FYI -- Ronaldo missed one game for Manchester United following his son's death ... and returned to the pitch less than one week later.

CR7 says that time was difficult to explain ... as he was beyond happy to welcome Bella Esmeralda to the world, but was still grieving the loss.

"I try to explain sometimes to my family and close friends," Ronaldo added. "They say, 'I never felt to be happy and sad in the same moment.'"

Dua Lipa won't be performing at the World Cup after all ... according to Dua Lipa.

The singer shot down rumors Sunday that she'd hit the stage in a couple weeks for the opening ceremony in Qatar, which is usually a pretty big gig that tends to draw international stars. Shakira's done it before, so has J Lo, Pitbull, Black Eyed Peas and others.

A lot of people thought DL was up next -- among other artists who've been speculated on -- but she's saying it ain't happening ... all because of human rights, apparently.

Dua says, "There is a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar. I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform." She adds ... "I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup."

If you're unfamiliar, Qatar is notorious for mistreating its women and LGBT people ... often via punishment under the law. The country has made promises in the past to investigate certain matters and to improve its record, but many feel its fallen short time and again.

As for how this notion of Dua performing even got started ... we tracked down the source. A Twitter account called World Music Awards announced it recently, adding a bunch of other names that they claimed would be performing at the opening ceremony as well. While they seemed pretty sure of themselves, no reputable mainstream outlet picked up the news.

They asserted Shakira and BEP would be returning, not to mention J Balvin, BTS and Bollywood star Nora Fatehi. Nora is a performer, but not kicking things off. BTS's Jung Kook confirmed Friday he'd do the opening ceremony ... and thus far, he's the only official act.

Shakira and her sons are packing up and heading to Miami -- after she and her longtime BF turned ex Gerard Piqué have reached a new custody agreement.

In a joint statement to TMZ, the former couple says, "We have signed a custody agreement. Our sole objective is to provide our children with the utmost security and protection and hope that they can continue with their lives in a safe and calm environment."

The Colombian pop star's legal team reportedly came to an agreement with Gerard's reps during a 12-hour-long meeting. Shakira will be uprooting from Barcelona to MIA with their sons next year.

A source close to the former couple tells us the two "signed an agreement that is best for the kids -- which is their main focus and after 8 years of living in Barcelona -- her and the kids will now move back to her longtime home of Miami, where all the maternal family is."

ICYMI, Shakira and Gerard announced they would be calling it quits after 11 years together, back in June.

The last time we saw the two together publicly, they were supporting their son Milan at his baseball game ... and it appeared there was a lot of tension between the two, barely interacting.

Justin Bieber was a crazed fanatic during LAFC's championship game on Saturday ... completely losing it as his team came away with the thrilling win!!

LAFC ended up beating the Philadelphia Union in penalty kicks to secure the title ... and JB was clearly on pins and needles as the drama unfolded.

Bieber and his wife, Hailey, sat among the normies throughout the game ... and after the home team came away with the 'ship, Justin lifted her up in celebration.

Biebs even had his own custom LAFC jersey for the game ... draping it over his head as he cheered on his squad.

Justin and Hailey weren't the only A-listers in attendance -- Magic Johnson and Will Ferrell, who are co-owners of the team -- were also at Banc of California Stadium for the matchup.

It was a busy weekend for the duo -- as we previously reported, they were living it up at Odell Beckham Jr.'s birthday bash later that night.

A dazed Hope Solo was yanked from her car by cops after being uncooperative during her DWI arrest earlier this year ... new police video shows.

The footage -- obtained by Queen City News -- was captured on a Winston-Salem Police Officer's body-worn camera on March 31 ... just after he was called to a North Carolina Walmart parking lot over reports that a woman had been asleep behind the wheel of a running car with her kids inside.

Video shows when the officer walked up to the GMC Yukon at around 10:20 PM, Solo -- a U.S. women's soccer legend -- appeared to be passed out with her head resting on her driver's seat while her engine was on.

Solo immediately became alert following the officer's knock on her window -- and during ensuing questioning, she appeared to be completely out of it.

She mumbled, scrolled through her phone and even took a call. She insisted she hadn't been drinking -- and had only stopped to take a nap because she was tired.

The officer, though, suspected she was drunk -- and told her he smelled alcohol coming from her vehicle. She then began arguing with the man and another officer who had arrived on the scene to assist.

The cops asked her to step out of her car repeatedly, but she refused. Her kids, meanwhile, could be heard screaming and crying in the background.

Ultimately, one of the cops grabbed her by the arm and pulled her from the ride.

Footage shows Solo continued to be combative, refusing field sobriety tests. Cops then put her in handcuffs. She could be heard later in the video yelling while walking with an officer, "Oh my God, you don't need to f***ing touch me!"

Solo was eventually hit with three charges over the case -- driving while impaired, resisting a public officer and misdemeanor child abuse.

In July, she reached a deal with prosecutors to close out the case -- pleading guilty to DWI. In exchange for the plea, her other two charges were dismissed.

Solo was given a 24-month suspended sentence ... and was also ordered to pay fines and fees, among other stipulations.

Following the case's disposition, she said in a statement, "I underestimated what a destructive part of my life alcohol had become."

"I continue to be a student of the greatest school called life and I will continue to learn and grow from these experiences," she added. "I will continue to gain empathy, knowledge, and stories to share."

All hell broke loose during Ole Miss and LSU's women's soccer match on Sunday ... with players throwing punches before getting ejected.

The madness unfolded during the second overtime of the close match ... when LSU's Maya Gordon and Ole Miss' Ramsey Davis were trying to gain possession of the ball ... and Gordon took issue with Davis grabbing her by the waist in defense.

That's when fists started to fly -- Gordon and Davis threw a series of punches at one another, with some shots appearing to connect with their intended target.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the end -- LSU player Rammie Noel sprinted across the pitch to insert herself into the fracas ... seemingly dragging Davis down to the ground by her hair.

Coaches were able to restore some semblance of order ... but Gordon, Davis, and Noel all received red cards and were ejected from the match for their actions.

Cameras showed a visibly upset Gordon crying as she exited the field ... while being consoled by what appears to be an LSU staffer.

Arsenal defender Pablo Marí underwent surgery on his back on Friday to fix injuries suffered in a horrifying knife attack ... but, thankfully, his team says he's now doing well.

A.C. Monza -- the club for which Pablo is playing while on loan for Arsenal -- said the procedure entailed repairing two torn muscles. They added, "the operation went well."

The club also said the 29-year-old will need to remain in the hospital this weekend ... and is expected to be out of action for two months as he recovers.

As we previously reported, Marí was one of six people who were stabbed in a terrifying attack at an Italian supermarket on Thursday.

According to the Associated Press, Pablo told Monza CEO Adriano Galliani that he was fortunate to survive, given the wounds he sustained during the incident.

"He told me he had ‘suerte’ [luck], because, 'Today I saw someone else die,'" Galliani said while he visited Pablo in the hospital.

"He had his child in a cart and his wife next to him. He was probably saved by his height. He was hit in the back, and then he saw this delinquent stab someone in the throat."

Authorities say they arrested a 46-year-old man over the attack. He's still currently in police custody.

Arsenal defender Pablo Marí was reportedly stabbed during a terrifying knife attack on Thursday afternoon ... and he's now recovering in an Italian hospital.

Multiple reports say the 29-year-old -- who's currently playing for A.C. Monza while on loan from Arsenal -- was one of six people who were slashed by a man at around 5:30 p.m. at a shopping center in Milan.

The reports say authorities ID'ed the knifeman as a 46-year-old who is believed to have grabbed the blade from the shelves of a store before lunging at passersby. He's since been arrested, according to the reports, and is still in police custody.

Mari, meanwhile, was rushed to a nearby medical facility following the incident ... but The Athletic reported he's not thought to be seriously injured.

Marí signed a permanent deal with Arsenal in 2020 -- and played sparingly with the club before joining Udinese and Monza this year while out on loan.

"Power" will no longer be played before AFC Bournemouth games this season ... the Premier League team is pulling the plug on the pregame song -- after Kanye West's recent antisemitic remarks.

The Athletic reported Tuesday that the team made this decision this week ... following in the footsteps of multiple huge organizations that have cut ties with the artist over his recent, highly offensive comments.

The Cherries had played the hit before games for YEARS -- running onto English soccer fields to the tune as fans in stadiums roared.

So far, no word yet on what song will replace the Ye beat.

The futbol team's decision comes after Adidas, T.J. Maxx and Balenciaga severed their relationships with West -- and just two days after superstar athletes Jaylen Brown and Aaron Donald dropped from his Donda Sports agency.

J.J. Watt and Kealia Ohai are parents!!

The Arizona Cardinals star and pro soccer player made the announcement Tuesday evening ... saying their baby boy arrived on Oct. 23.

The couple -- who got married in February 2020 -- shared a photo with their bundle of joy in the hospital bed on Instagram.

"Love and happiness have reached heights we never even knew existed," Watt said in the caption.

The couple also revealed their son's name -- Koa James Watt.

The great news had their post swarmed with comments from fans and NFL players ... including Watt's little brother and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, T.J.

"Welcome to the family Koa!!!" T.J. said on the post.

The Arizona Cardinals and the NFL also congratulated the 3-time Defensive Player of the Year ... with the league account saying, "KJ Watt! Congrats JJ and Kealia!"

This kid definitely has sports in his blood ... besides his dad being a 5-time Pro Bowler, his mom is a Chicago Red Stars midfielder. Plus his uncles are pros as well.

Safe to say the kid will have a future as an athlete if he wants.

Team USA legend Alexi Lalas says Christian Pulisic shouldn't fight the "Captain America" nickname ... telling TMZ Sports it's only going to make people call him it even more!!

CP has publicly stated in the past he's not a fan of the superhero-esque moniker ... saying he's "not too fond" of it -- especially when his own teammates use it.

We spoke with Lalas about the whole ordeal ... and he says Christian is only making matters worse by making the gripe.

"Christian Pulisic not liking Captain America is gonna make a lot of people call him Captain America more," Lalas joked.

"He needs to read the room. You don't get to pick your nickname. People get to pick your nickname. It's a really good nickname."

Lalas says the nickname is a good thing ... and thinks there are MUCH worse things Pulisic could be called -- so he should feel lucky.

Lalas also thinks it is a money-making opportunity for Pulisic ... saying he could cash in by marketing and branding the nickname.

We also spoke with Lalas about Team USA heading into the World Cup ... and he gives us some guys who could become household names throughout the tournament.

A pro soccer player used every inch of his body to try to gain an advantage over his opponent during a game this weekend ... pulling down his shorts and flashing his junk right in the middle of the pitch.

The NSFW moment went down in a Colombian first division match on Sunday -- when Santa Fe defender Geisson Perera went to the extreme in an effort to get a Jaguares de Córdoba player to miss a free kick.

Broadcast cameras showed that shortly after an attacker lined up to take the shot ... Perera stood nearby, grabbed his pants, and exposed his manhood for all to see.

Unclear if the act affected the play -- the kick didn't end up resulting in a goal -- but fans were furious over it all nonetheless.

Some Santa Fe supporters called for Perera to be sanctioned following the game. Others asked for permanent removal from the team.

The 31-year-old, however, was not penalized during the game over it all.