Forty years after their debut at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Iraq returned to the tournament through an unprecedented marathon: 21 matches spanning 28 months, taking them through Basra, Hanoi, Manila, Jakarta, Kuwait City, Seoul, Muscat, Amman, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, and culminating in a nail-biting victory over Bolivia in Monterrey. Yet that grueling odyssey unraveled in less than two weeks: losses to Norway 1-4, France 0-3, and Senegal 0-5 meant Iraq left the competition with zero points, a goal difference of -11, almost identical to the team of 1986.

On July 9, Beijing time, the Houston Rockets made it official today that they have added two players: guards Bogdan Bogdanovic and Qudire Copeland. According to earlier reports, Bogdanovic signed a one-year veteran minimum deal, while Copeland received a two-way contract. Copeland will suit up for the Rockets in this year's summer league.

On July 9, Beijing time, according to local Dallas media, Mark Cuban accused Mavericks' new owner Patrick Dumont of deliberately excluding him from the project to relocate the team out of downtown and build a new arena, stripping him of related business investment opportunities.

MU has secured a deal to bring in Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos as the "Red Devils" look to strengthen their midfield line.

Vietnam national football team head coach Kim Sang Sik took part in a charitable activity aimed at preventing youth crime and promoting a culture of safety within the community.

Breaking Vietnamese football news for July 9: Vietnam national team is being perfected; Hong Linh Ha Tinh tests 3 overseas Vietnamese footballers.

Although he does not enjoy the same renown as many of his attacking teammates and has just endured a disappointing season with Becamex HCMC's relegation, Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong continues to receive chances from coach Kim Sang Sik on the Vietnam national team.

On July 9, Beijing time, there have been numerous rumors over the past week suggesting that a total of ten teams could potentially sign LeBron James, with six leading contenders holding a clear competitive edge over the rest. Those six top teams are: Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets. According to renowned reporter Siegel, two of these teams have already exited the race.

According to multiple authoritative sources including The Athletic's David Ornstein, BBC Sport's Simon Stone, and Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United has finalized a deal with Chelsea to acquire Andrey Santos. The club moved swiftly—after expressing interest over the weekend, negotiations accelerated rapidly within the last few hours.

According to the New York Post on July 9, the Lakers are interested in acquiring Jonathan Kuminga, and Kuminga himself is keen on joining Los Angeles. The latest development is that the Hawks are willing to push forward this sign-and-trade deal. The basic framework is: Kuminga goes to the Lakers, while the Hawks receive Jared Vanderbilt plus the Lakers' 2032 first-round pick swap—which is the only first-round related asset the Lakers can trade this summer.