Browsing: Sports
Ceremonial lighting of the cauldron ahead of ticket registration launch at the LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, US, in this January 13, 2026 file photo.…
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will represent a key milestone forArab football, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia all set to compete, marking the largest Arab presence in the tournament’s history. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July, this edition will feature an expanded 48-team format for the first time.For former Qatar national team goalkeeper Ahmed Khalil, the qualification of eight Arab teams to the FIFA World Cup 2026 stands as a testament to the remarkable progress of football across the region.In an interview with the Local Organising Committee for Football Events, Khalil said: “Having eight Arab teams at theWorld Cup is a true honour for regional football. But I hope it doesn’t stay a matter of participation alone. I want to see every one of these teams go into their groups and succeed.”Khalil, who played for many years with the Qatar national team, believes the achievement reflects more than a single qualifying campaign: “The standard of play has risen, the administrative structures have matured and financial support has grown considerably. Eight teams reaching this stage is evidence of a system working as a whole: officials, federations and technical staff alike.” Khalil pointed to Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as the decisive turning point for regional football, a tournament that proved the region could deliver the sport’s biggest event and saw Morocco become the first Arab and African side to reach the semi-finals. He added: “Qatar showcased this region’s ability to host the world at the very highest of standards, its rich football culture and flourishing talent. The progress these teams have made since 2022 is no coincidence. It is a direct result of that experience.” On Qatar’s prospects at the tournament, Khalil expressed confidence that Al Annabi will perform in a way that reflects their status as Asian champions, noting that teamwork, determination and national pride carry as much weight as technical ability at this level of the game. Looking further ahead, he urged the region to build on this momentum, expressing hope that participation in 2026 would help establish Arab teams as serious contenders on the world stage and create wider opportunities for generations to come. Alongside Al Annabi’s participation, Qatar’s contribution to the FIFA World Cup 2026 extends through a deployment programme established under a knowledge and expertise transfer Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and FIFA. Under the agreement, a dedicated team of SC experts has been seconded to several host cities across the United States and Canada to share the human capital, expertise and institutional knowledge gained from hosting Qatar 2022 and subsequent mega-events.Later this year, Qatar will welcome the world once more as host of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, from 19 November to 13 December, the second of five consecutive editions to be staged in Doha. Source link
England’s Ben Stokes is seen after leading his team to victory on the fourth day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s Cricket Ground,…
US player Serena Williams hits a shot during her doubles match at the HSBC WTA tennis Championships at Queen’s Club in west London on June 9,…
Mosaddek Hossain hit a career-best 86 not out and Nahid Rana took four wickets as Bangladesh trounced Australia by 86 runs in the rain-hit opening one-day international on Tuesday to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.It was only Bangladesh's second ever ODI victory against Australia, following their famous 2005 upset in Cardiff.Mosaddek capped a fine all-round performance, bagging two wickets to walk away with the man-of-the-match award.Chasing 285, Australia were reeling at 191-9 in 42.2 overs, still needing 93 runs off 46 balls with one wicket in hand, when a fierce thunderstorm forced the players off the field at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.Bangladesh were declared winners via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.Cameron Green top-scored for the visitors with an unbeaten 52 off 66 balls but found little support as Bangladesh's pace attack ran riot.Taskin Ahmed struck on the first ball, bowling opener Matt Short for a duck.Mustafizur Rahman then removed Marnus Labuschagne for just one off the second ball of the second over to leave Australia reeling at 2-2. OPENER STEADIED THE INNINGSCooper Connolly (35) survived a reprieve when Tanzid Hasan put down a chance at second slip off Mustafizur, and the opener steadied the innings briefly before being castled by an arm ball from Mosaddek.Captain Josh Inglis fell for 19, edging a short ball from Rana to the keeper, while Alex Carey was bounced out by Rana for 47 as he attempted to rebuild alongside Green.Australia's lower order, including Matthew Renshaw, debutant Liam Scott and Xavier Bartlett, offered little resistance, leaving Green stranded at the crease.Earlier, Mosaddek laid the platform with his 70-ball knock on his return to international cricket after four years, hitting seven fours and three sixes.Bangladesh also benefited from six dropped catches by a sloppy Australia, four of them off Mosaddek.Opener Tanzid Hasan and number three Najmul Hossain Shanto made vital contributions, with the left-handed pair hitting half-centuries.Tanzid struck 54 off 44 balls before Nathan Ellis removed him in his second spell.Shanto, continuing his rich vein of form, made 67 off 86 before a soft dismissal ended his innings.The pair put on 96 runs for the second wicket off 91 balls after Australia struck early, with Ellis accounting for Saif Hassan (5) who edged to second slip where Labuschagne took a simple catch.Australia threatened to seize control when Renshaw's part-time off-spin proved surprisingly effective, removing Litton Das (7) with a return catch before also accounting for Shanto.But Mosaddek steadied the innings, first adding 75 with Towhid Hridoy, before late partnerships of 20 with Tanvir Islam and 45 with Taskin to ensure a competitive total.Ellis was the pick of the Australia bowlers with 3-38, while Scott and Renshaw claimed two wickets each.BRIEF SCORES Bangladesh 284 for 8 (Mosaddek 86*, Shanto 67, Ellis 3-38) beat Australia 191 for 9 (Green 52*, Carey 47, Rana 4-41) by 86 runs (DLS method) Source link
England’s Gus Atkinson (left) celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Scott Boland with Ben Stokes during the second day of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne…
Roger Federer will return to the U.S. Open this year for an exhibition match, seven years after his last appearance at the Grand Slam in 2019, the event organizers said on Monday.Federer, who is the only player to win five consecutive U.S. Open titles, will headline an event titled ‘Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York” on August 25. The 44-year-old won 20 Grand Slam titles – the first man to reach that milestone – and claimed 103 career titles before retiring in 2022. The Swiss brought the curtain down after 24 years on the tour at the Laver Cup in London.He will be joined by 2003 U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick, as well as Andre Agassi and John McEnroe.’The US Open has always been one of the most special tournaments for me,” Federer said in a statement.’So many unforgettable moments of my career happened in New York, and Arthur Ashe Stadium is a place that means a great deal to me. I’ve missed being part of that atmosphere and feeling the incredible energy that the fans bring every year.’Federer is also set to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, with the ceremony scheduled for August in Newport, Rhode Island. Source link
Brazil’s midfielder Bruno Guimaraes smiles during a press conference at the Verizon Basking Ridge Hotel in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, on June 8, 2026. (AFP) Brazil star Bruno Guimaraes insisted Monday his team should get “the respect they deserve” as they get ready to kick off their bid to win a record-extending sixth World Cup.The Selecao won the last of their five titles in 2002 and have gone out in the quarter-finals four times in five World Cups since then.Brazil come into this year’s tournament in North America ranked sixth in the world and arguably lacking the kind of superstar names who have stood out in the past.”Nobody else has five stars on their chest. We have great players who play for top teams, like Vini and Raphinha. We need to give our players the respect they deserve,” Newcastle United midfielder Guimaraes told reporters at the Brazil team’s base in New Jersey.Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who finished fifth in the 10-team South American qualifying group, 10 points behind first-placed Argentina, begin their World Cup bid against Morocco on Saturday at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City.They completed preparations for the tournament with back-to-back friendly wins, hammering Panama 6-2 in Rio de Janeiro and then defeating Egypt 2-1 in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday.”We couldn’t be feeling better. We won and played well in the two friendly matches. We have another few days to work on things but we feel ready,” said Guimaraes, who scored his team’s opener against Egypt.”Once the World Cup begins, everyone will forget what has happened before. Hopefully we can start with a victory, and that will give us something to build on.”Brazil will also play Haiti and Scotland in Group C and are currently waiting to see if Neymar will be able to play any part in their group games.The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward, now 34, is currently playing for Santos in his homeland and has not been capped by his country since 2023.Despite that, Ancelotti took a gamble by including Neymar in his squad, and he has since been hit by a calf problem.Brazil have already been forced to make a change to their squad, with Roma full-back Wesley being ruled out of the tournament at the weekend due to a thigh injury.He has been replaced by Ederson, the 26-year-old midfielder with Atalanta in Italy who is expected to join Manchester United after the World Cup.”Playing at a World Cup is the apex of our careers as footballers. We hope Wesley recovers quickly,” said Guimaraes. …
Neymar is “recovering well” from the calf injury that has made him a doubt for the start of Brazil’s World Cup campaign, the team said in a statement on Monday. Brazil’s all-time record scorer underwent an MRI scan on Monday which showed he is “making good progress in his treatment” amid hopes that he will be able to play a part for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the United States. “He will continue to follow the recovery schedule and fitness programme as planned by the Brazil team medical staff,” the Brazilian Football Confederation said. Neymar was diagnosed with a calf injury late last month and has since been in a race to recover fitness for the tournament, with Brazil kicking off their campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on Saturday. Now 34, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar has been an integral part of Brazil’s last three World Cup campaigns but there was some surprise at his inclusion this time as injuries have prevented him from playing for his country at all since 2023. Coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted last week that the player, now with Santos, would be ready for either Brazil’s first or second game and added that he was “in no rush” to bring him back. Related Story Source link
The 94th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be a significant milestone for Team Qatar as they prepare to enter the prestigious endurance race for the first time. Partnering with Iron Lynx, the team will field a Mercedes-AMG in the LMGT3 class at the Circuit de la Sarthe.It marks a historic next step for Team Qatar as they ambitiously compete on the global stage in one of the most challenging and demanding races in motorsport. The vision for expansion into elite competition forms part of the wider strategic ambitions of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), alongside its continued commitment to supporting and developing motorsport within Qatar.The No. 62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx entry combines international experience with Qatari representation in the driver line-up. Taking to the wheel for the 24-hour race will be Giuliano Alesi, son of former Ferrari Formula 1 race winner Jean Alesi, alongside Germany Julian Hanses and Qatar’s own Abdulla al-Khelaifi.One of the enduring features of Le Mans is the three separate classes that compete simultaneously on the same track across the 24 hours. The split of the grid into three distinct categories – Hypercar, LMP2 and LMGT3 – creates the multi-class challenge that defines endurance racing. Each class has its own technical regulations, from cutting-edge manufacturer-designed prototypes to production-based GT machinery.This year’s 24-hour race features 62 cars on the entry list, with 14 major automotive manufacturers set to battle for honors. The Hypercar class features the fastest, cutting-edge prototypes from brands such as Ferrari, Toyota, Cadillac and Aston Martin. The entries below Hypercar compete in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class, which is reserved for privateer teams independent from manufacturers and engine suppliers. Team Qatar will compete in LMGT3, the largest of the three classes, with 25 entries and 75 drivers. LMGT3 features race-going versions of some of the world’s most recognizable high-performance sports cars with the GT machines modified for competition, featuring aerodynamic upgrades, racing suspension and bespoke electronics. The key to success is managing traffic, driver rotations, as well as pit stop strategy. Consistency, and avoiding penalties, can often prove more critical than outright speed.Manufacturers in the class showcase GT machinery from the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, Corvette, Aston Martin, McLaren, BMW, Ford, Lexus and Mercedes-AMG, with cars weighing around 1,250kg and capable of speeds approaching 300km/h. A defining feature of LMGT3 is the Pro-Am structure, meaning every line-up must include at least one Bronze-rated driver, alongside a Silver-rated competitor, blending experience with rising talent.While competing at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13-14 is a milestone moment for Qatari motorsport, it also represents the next chapter in an endurance racing journey which began back in 2023. In its debut season, Team Qatar secured the Porsche 992 (Am) Teams’ Championship in the Middle East Trophy, achieving consistent podium finishes across rounds held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.The team also expanded into European competition and, in subsequent seasons, became regular front-runners across six, 12, and 24-hour endurance races. In 2025, Team Qatar continued its success with victory in the Amateur (Am) class for the Porsche 992 Generation at the 24 Hours of Dubai, widely regarded as one of the region’s most competitive endurance events and also celebrated success in the 2025 Middle East Trophy, securing the Porsche 992 Teams’ Championship, underlining its consistency across an intensely competitive international season.That momentum continued into the following year with class victories in the 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi and the 12 Hours of Mugello, the latter marking a significant international triumph against established European teams and further highlighting Team Qatar’s progress in elite motorsport. The team further strengthened its endurance racing credentials at the 12 Hours of Spa‑Francorchamps, capturing second place in the Porsche 992 category and victory in the Porsche 992 AM category.Team Qatar’s growing reputation on the international stage was further demonstrated in the opening rounds of the 2026 European Le Mans Series (ELMS). At the Barcelona season-opener, the team claimed LMGT3 pole position, while al‑Khelaifi was named Most Valuable Driver after leading for nearly three-quarters of the race, before securing fourth overall in class.Team Qatar maintained that momentum into Round 2 at Paul Ricard, securing a second consecutive LMGT3 pole position and reinforcing its competitiveness against some of Europe’s most established endurance racing teams.The 24 Hours of Le Mans is a point-scoring round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), and since 2024 the Qatar 1812 KM has been part of the calendar, bringing top-level international endurance racing to the Lusail International Circuit (LIC). The venue is Qatar’s premier motorsport and entertainment destination, featuring a 5.38km FIA Grade 1 and FIM Grade A circuit alongside state-of-the-art facilities. As a reflection of Qatar’s wider motorsport ambitions, Lusail International Circuit is one of only two circuits in the world to host all three major championships, with WEC joining the Formula 1 (since 2021) and MotoGP (since 2004). Related Story Source link