Those teams: Luis Enrique sends out the same PSG side that started against Inter Miami last weekend. Ousmane Dembele remains on the bench after coming on as sub in that 4-0 win for his first appearance of the tournament.
Vincent Kompany makes two changes to the side that started against Flamengo in the last 16. Jamal Musiala and Aleksandar Pavlovic come in for Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka.
The Bayern Munich match pennant which Manuel Neuer will hand over to Marquinhos just before kick-off. Photograph: Steph Chambers/FIFA/Getty ImagesA peek inside the PSG dressing-room. Photograph: Steph Chambers/FIFA/Getty Images
PSG: The European champions are enjoying themselves under Luis Enrique, a world away from their last game against Bayern Munich, whose manager Vincent Kompany could scarcely have been more complimentary about his opposite number in the build-up to today’s game. Words: Sid Lowe in Atlanta.
Match preview
These European heavyweights met 7,000 miles away in November, when Bayern Munich prevailed courtesy of a Kim Min-jae goal at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League group stage.Luis Enrique’s position appeared to be under serious threat because at the time it was a defeat that left PSG in grave danger of making an ignominious and early exit from a competition they would eventually go on to win in fine style.
While PSG may be the European champions, their recent record against Bayern is not good. The French side have lost each of their past four matches against the German champions, failing to score in any of them. However, the PSG side that will line up against Bayern today is a completely different animal to previous incarnations of a side whose backbone – or apparent lack thereof – was the subject of much discussion and mockery in European football circles. In winning a Ligue1, Coupe de France and Champions League treble last season they’ve made a statement and now have nothing to fear.
Ousmane Dembele receives his marching orders during the Champions League group game between these sides in November. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
Premier League staple Anthony Taylor leads today’s team of match officials and may find himself on the wrong end of some “banter” from Bayern fans who will not have forgotten the penalty he failed to award Germany in their thrilling Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat against Spain for what they and others felt to be a fairly blatant Marc Cucurella handball.
With the scores level at 1-1, the Spanish full-back blocked a powerful, goalbound Jamal Musiala shot with his hand, Taylor decided against awarding a spot-kick and Spain went on to win the match and tournament. It was subsequently decreed by some panel of eggheads that Talor had made the wrong decision, although to be fair, Cucurella’s arm was stretched resolutely downwards rather than upwards or to one side. As for whether or not it was in a natural position? Well, you can argue that one until the cows come home.
English referee Anthony Taylor will take charge of today’s match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photograph: Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty ImagesParis Saint-Germain linchpin Marquinhos is all smiles as he arrives at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Photograph: Amanda Perobelli/ReutersBayern Munich’s players arrive at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/FIFA/Getty Images
Early team news: Ousmane Dembele missed all three group games through injury but returned as a substitute for his side’s win over Inter Miami in the first knockout round. The winger was sent off in PSG’s defeat at the hands of Bayern in November and will be hoping to make amends if he gets a run-out today.
Bayern Munich will be without Leroy Sane, who departed the club to join Galatasaray on a free transfer when his contract expired the day after he helped the German side beat Flamengo last weekend. Alphonso Davies (ACL) and Hiroki Ito (broken foot) remain sidelined, while Kim Min-jae (achilles) is nearing full fitness but seems unlikely to feature in this tournament. Due to leave Bayern as soon as their interest in the Club World Cup ends, Thomas Muller could make his 756th and final appearance for the club in Atlanta today.
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow: Thomas Muller’s 25-year association with Bayern Munich will end at the same time the German club’s interest in the Club World Cup ends. Photograph: A Scheuber/FC Bayern/Getty Images
Quarter-final: PSG v Bayern Munich
A much maligned vanity project and Fifa cash and power grab, the Club World Cup 2.0 has now reached that point where, whatever their feelings about having to travel stateside for up to a month at the end of a gruelling season, the remaining teams will now be of a mind that seeing as they’ve made it this far, they might as well try to go a little further. Chelsea and the Brazilian side Fluminense have already made it to the last four and in a few hours one of PSG and Bayern Munich will join them.
The European heavyweights meet for a noon showdown at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, a 75,000-capacity venue that is normally home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United. Notable for its iconic retractable roof and 360-degree halo video display, it is unlikely to be full given that Fifa were struggling to sell reduced price tickets for its upper tiers during the week at a cut-price $44.
Assuming the pinwheel roof is closed for today’s match, any potential last-minute walk-ups are unlikely to be put off by the forecast 32C heat forecast for Atlanta this afternoon. The cool conditions inside this EnormoDome will also suit the aggressive pressing style so synonymous with both Bayern and PSG. Kick-off is at 5pm (BST) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
The retractable roof and 360-degree halo video display at the Mercedes-Stadium. Photograph: Michael Regan/FIFA/Getty Images
Carlo Acutis has become the first millennial saint
A London-born boy has become the first millennial saint, in a ceremony steeped in an ancient ritual presided over by Pope Leo on Sunday.
In his short life, Carlo Acutis created websites documenting “miracles” as a means of spreading Catholic teaching, leading some to nickname him God’s influencer.
His canonisation had been due in late April, but was postponed following the death of Pope Francis.
More than a million people are estimated to have made a pilgrimage to the Italian hilltop town of Assisi where Carlo’s body lies, preserved in wax.
But there is another pilgrimage site associated with Carlo Acutis that has seen an increase in visitors since it was announced that he was to be made a saint – Our Lady of Dolours Church in London.
The font at the back of the Roman Catholic church in the Chelsea area was where Carlo was baptised as a baby in 1991.
To the side of the church an old confession booth has been converted into a shrine to him. In it, a relic holder contains a single strand of Carlo’s hair.
“His family were in finance and they were working really temporarily in London,” says Father Paul Addison, a friar at the church.
“Although they didn’t use the church much, they decided to come and ask to have the child baptised. So Carlo was a flash, a very big flash, in the life of the parish community,” he says.
Father Paul Addison shows the font where Carlo was baptised in 1991
Carlo was not yet six months old when his parents moved back to their home country of Italy, and he spent the rest of his life in Milan.
There, he was known for a love of technology and is said to have enjoyed playing video games.
While some who knew Carlo Acutis say he did not appear to be especially devout, as a teenager he did create a website – pages of which are now framed at the church in Chelsea – in which miracles were documented.
Pages of Carlo’s website are now framed at Our Lady of Dolours Church in Chelsea
But he died of leukaemia aged just 15.
In the years after his death, Carlo’s mother, Antonia Salzano, visited churches around the world to advocate for him to be a saint.
As part of the process, it had to be proved her son had performed “miracles”.
“The first miracle, he did the day of the funeral,” says Carlo’s mother.
“A woman with breast cancer prayed (for) Carlo and she had to start chemotherapy and the cancer disappeared completely,” she explains.
Antonia Salzano has spent years advocating for her son to be made a saint
Pope Francis attributed two miracles to Carlo Acutis and so the test was passed and he was due to be made a saint on 27 April.
But Pope Francis died during the preceding week.
Some followers who had travelled to Rome for the canonisation instead found themselves among the tens of thousands of mourners at the late pontiff’s funeral – Diego Sarkissian, a young Catholic from London, was one of them.
He says he feels a connection to Carlo Acutis and is excited by his canonisation.
“He used to play Super Mario video games on the old Nintendo consoles and I’ve always loved video games,” Mr Sarkissian says.
“The fact that you can think of a saint doing the same things [as you], wearing jeans, it feels so much closer than what other saints have felt like in the past,” he says.
Approval for someone to become a saint can take decades or even centuries, but there is a sense that the Vatican fast-tracked Carlo Acutis’ canonisation as a means of energising and inspiring faith in young people.
The Catholic Church will be hoping Sunday’s events do just that.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to resign to avoid a split within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, public broadcaster NHK said on Sunday.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
With Ishiba at the helm, the LDP-led coalition has lost its majority in elections for both houses of parliament since coming to power last year, amid voter anger over rising living costs.
LDP lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Monday whether to hold an extraordinary leadership election. Ishiba’s government finalized details of a trade deal with the United States last week.
Aryna Sabalenka on controlling her emotions in US Open final
:What happened in Paris, definitely not going to happen here and never. I learned that lesson and I will never behave that way. It’s not me.
“I was super emotional. I let it go and let emotions take control over me, and it’s not who I am. It’s never going to happen again.”
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 19:01
Aryna Sabalenka vows no repeat of Paris behaviour in US Open final
Aryna Sabalenka has vowed to be gracious whatever happens in her US Open final clash against Amanda Anisimova.
The world number one was heavily criticised for a post-match press conference following her defeat by Coco Gauff in the French Open final, which she attributed to her own errors rather than crediting her opponent.
Sabalenka later apologised publicly and privately, branding the comments “completely unprofessional”.
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:46
Aryna Sabalenka holds off Jessica Pegula to clinch final return
Aryna Sabalenka is one victory away from retaining her US Open title after winning a pulsating rematch against Jessica Pegula.
The semi-final was a repeat of last year’s final, which Sabalenka won in two tight sets, but this time she had to come from a set down to claim a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win.
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:31
Amanda Anisimova on coming back from Wimbledon heartache
The manner in which Anisimova reacted to the horror of the Wimbledon final has allowed a mental transformation that may not have occurred without the nightmare of what unfolded eight weeks ago, allowing the resilience she has shown to shine under the pressure of being the last American standing.
“I think it just shows that I have worked really hard, especially on my mental game and not giving up,” Anisimova said. “Like today, I could have easily said, ‘oh, she’s playing better than me, and I can’t really do anything’. I really tried to find any way I could to stay in the match, even though it was extremely tough, and she was playing really great tennis.
“I think I have really worked on myself to really be able to handle those moments and to believe in myself, even when it feels like what is there to believe in, when you’re not playing that well. I think I have really done a better job of that, and especially since the Wimbledon final. I think I have really shifted with my attitude as well.”
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:15
Amanda Anisimova into ‘dream’ US Open final
Amanda Anisimova is just 24 years old but has just reached back-to-back finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
She’s the youngest player to do that since Serena Williams in 2002.
“It’s a dream come true,” Anisimova said. “I’ve been dreaming of a US Open final for, like, forever.
“The hope is to be the champion.”
Anisimova pats the court after reaching the US Open final (Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:09
Amanda Anisimova’s comeback from Wimbledon final defeat
Amanda Anisimova fell to her knees and tapped on the blue hard court. With her dream of reaching a first final at the US Open accomplished, whatever magic that is unfolding in New York had worked its spell again.
Eight weeks after her 6-0 6-0 Wimbledon final defeat to Iga Swiatek, the 24-year-old from New Jersey has given herself another chance to win a grand slam title at the first opportunity. After avenging her defeat to Swiatek in the quarter-finals, Anisimova went one step further by overturning Naomi Osaka’s lead in a back-and-forth semi-final across almost three hours, setting up a final against the World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:06
Amanda Anisimova v Aryna Sabalenka set for rematch
A little over eight weeks after they met in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka will meet again in the US Open final.
Anisimova won that match to deny Sabalenka her first Wimbledon final, and leads the World No 1 in their head-to-head 6-3.
Sabalenka is aiming to become the first player to defend a US Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2014.
(Getty)
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:05
Anisimova v Sabalenka start time and how to watch US Open final
The US Open women’s final between Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka will be played on Saturday 6 September at 4pm local time (9pm UK time).
The men’s final will be played on Sunday 7 September, at the earlier time of 2pm local time (7pm UK time).
How to watch the US Open finals
Sky Sports is showing the US Open in the UK and ESPN in the US.
Amanda Anisimova vs Aryna Sabalenka (Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood6 September 2025 18:01
Welcome
Amanda Anisimova plays defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open women’s final.
Just eight weeks ago, Anisimova lost her first grand slam final 6-0 6-0 at Wimbledon to Iga Swiatek, but the 24-year-old American has put that disappointment behind her to reach her first US Open final.
The eighth seed earned revenge against Swiatek in the quarter-finals then defeated Naomi Osaka in a semi-final thriller to set up the chance for the ultimate redemption against Sabalenka.
Sabalenka is also out for revenge after her defeat to Anisimova in the Wimbledon semi-finals, while the World No 1 aims to become the first player to defend a US Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2014.
Sabalenka is through to a third grand slam final this year, but lost the Australian Open final to Madison Keys and the French Open final to Coco Gauff.
