Hot football news afternoon June 1: UEFA announces the best goal of the Champions League

Becamex TP.HCM stands at "the door of doom," Coach Popov faces severe sanctions following his controversial remarks, Konate departs Liverpool, and numerous fresh football updates on June 1.

Becamex TP.HCM is on the verge of relegation

With only one round remaining in the V-League 2025/26 season, Becamex TP.HCM is now at serious risk of being demoted, the highest danger since the start of the campaign. Their 1-2 defeat to newly crowned champions CAHN has dropped the "Eastern Cyclone" to second-last place on the standings, despite sharing 21 points with SHB Da Nang and PVF-CAND.

Due to head-to-head results, Becamex TP.HCM has lost control of their own fate and must defeat HAGL while hoping for favorable outcomes from their rivals in the final round. Even more worrying, if both "the Han River team" and PVF-CAND secure victories, Coach Hứa Hiền Vinh's side will be officially relegated regardless of their own result. From a safe mid-season position, Becamex TP.HCM now stands just 90 minutes away from the abyss.

Coach Popov facing potential heavy penalty?

Coach Popov has become the center of attention in Vietnamese football after his explosive comments in round 25 of the V-League. Not only did he criticize the referees and the management of the tournament, but the Bulgarian strategist also shocked everyone by declaring he would leave Vietnam and "never return."

His emotional and frustrated statements came after a 1-1 draw between The Cong-Viettel and CA TP.HCM, a result that left the "Red Cyclone" uncertain of securing the V-League runner-up spot. However, such inflammatory remarks could lead Popov to face severe punishment from the VFF, especially since he was previously banned from the sidelines for four matches due to his reactions toward referees.

UEFA announces the winner of the Best Goal of the 2025/26 Champions League

Neither Kane nor Yamal—the award for the Best Goal of the Champions League 2025/26 went to Federico Valverde for his incredible volley against Manchester City. The wonder strike came in Real's 3-0 victory over Pep Guardiola's side in the Round of 16, a match where the Uruguayan midfielder still managed an impressive hat-trick.

According to UEFA's assessment, this goal combined difficulty, aesthetics, and impact on the match. Notably, Valverde beat a host of famous candidates such as Yamal, Kane, Kvaratskhelia, and Vitinha to claim the top spot. A classy moment that made all of Europe bow down and turned Manchester City into the "victim" of the season's finest goal.

Jordan "crushed" by Switzerland

Jordan endured a nightmarish 90 minutes, as Switzerland completely dominated and forced them to accept a 1-4 defeat in a friendly ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The home side opened the scoring in the 22nd minute via a Breel Embolo penalty, before Dan Ndoye and Granit Xhaka added two more goals, giving Switzerland a 3-0 lead at halftime. In the second half, Jordan pulled one back through a long-range strike from Al-Fakhouri, but Embolo then assisted Fassnacht to seal the 4-1 victory for the "Swiss patriots."

The loss exposed many issues in Jordan's defense, particularly their ability to withstand pressure and handle set pieces. This serves as a major warning as they find themselves in a very tough group at the 2026 World Cup alongside Argentina, Algeria, and Austria.

Coach Tuchel loses a "weapon" ahead of the World Cup

Less than two weeks before the 2026 World Cup, England manager Tuchel faces a major challenge as FIFA decides to "tighten the rules" on set-piece situations.Accordingly, any pulling or obstruction inside the penalty area during corners or free kicks will be more closely monitored by VAR, and goals may even be disallowed if violations are detected. This directly targets the "tactical weapon" that many teams, including England, were planning to exploit.

Under Tuchel, the "Three Lions" were expected to maximize dead-ball situations, a factor that helped Arsenal score 27 goals. However, with the new rules, set-piece routines relying on physical battles in the box will be significantly limited, forcing Tuchel to quickly adjust his plans if he hopes to compete for the world title.

Konate officially leaves Liverpool

Liverpool has confirmed that Konate will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of June, ending a five-year spell at Anfield. The French center-back joined the Reds from RB Leipzig in 2021 and made 118 appearances in the Premier League, contributing to Liverpool's Premier League 2024/25 title and several domestic trophies.

Initially, there were signs of a renewal between the two parties, but the deal ultimately collapsed, forcing Konate to depart as a free agent. Shortly after the announcement, the 27-year-old posted an emotional farewell letter, thanking Liverpool, his teammates, and the fans, while affirming that Liverpool will always be a special part of his career. Notably, he is not the only one leaving, as Salah, Robertson, and Coach Slot have also caused upheaval at Anfield.

"Football hot spot" June 1

Vietnamese and international football continues to buzz with a series of notable developments. CAHN officially crowned V-League 2025/26 champions, equaling the record of 64 points, and now sets sights on the AFC Champions League Elite. Meanwhile, Vietnam U19 begins their journey in the Southeast Asian U19 Championship with an opening match against Timor Leste.

On the global stage, the 2026 Ballon d'Or race heats up as Harry Kane overtakes Dembele and Yamal on GOAL's rankings. The 2026 World Cup also draws attention with a strict new substitution rule that could cost teams dearly. Additionally, Manchester United has an opportunity to sign Rafael Leao.