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UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Tadej Pogacar (left) sprints to win ahead of INEOS Grenadiers’ Dorion Godon (R), in Vucherens, Switzerland, (AFP) Tadej Pogacar continued to dominate the Tour de Romandie, winning a sprint finish to take the second full stage the day after winning the mountainous opener. Pogacar cracked a smile and held two fingers in the air to signal a second victory as he finished almost a bike length ahead of Frenchman Dorian Godon. After the last survivor of a four-man breakaway was caught, Florian Lipowitz launched the sprint but was chased down by Godon, but the Ineos rider had UAE team leader Pogacar on his wheel. The Slovenian world champion surged up the inside in the final 100 metres of a rolling 173.1 kilometre stage through Switzerland from Rue to Vucherens. New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black was third. “Some guys went too early and it was an advantage for me,” said Pogacar at the finish. “For me it was all under control and a super sprint for me.” Pogacar, who is competing in the Romandie for the first time, picked up 10 bonus seconds to increase his overall lead to 17 seconds over Lipowitz, a German who rides for Red Bull, with Frenchman Lenny Martinez of Bahrain Victorious third at 26 seconds. Today’s third stage, a 176.6km circuit starting and ending in Orbe, includes one second-category climb. Related Story Source link
Alqaqaa bin Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani claimed top honours in the Amateur class as the 12th round of the Longines Hathab Qatar Equestrian Tour began at the main arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation Thursday. Riding Bon Suela, Alqaqaa delivered a flawless performance to win the Table A, special two-phase 100cm class in a time of 29.78 seconds. Poland’s Milena Werla aboard Nevada de Beauty finished second in 30.11, while Nasser Hamad al-Thani secured third with Equinoxe de l’Aulne in 30.17. Mohammed Saleh al-Marri, Head of the Facilities and Logistics Committee, presented the awards to the top three riders. In the Silver Tour accumulator with joker (130cm), Kuwait’s Madhy Alkhamees took victory in 52.18 seconds riding Caheelah de Beaufour. Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Alasaker on Cassiano II finished second in 53.56 secs, while Qatar’s Abdulaziz Khalid al-Bukhari placed third aboard Ganges Loca with 65/58.34. The winners were crowned by Saeed Hamad al-Rashdi, Deputy Director of the tournament. The Hathab series, organised by the Qatar Equestrian Federation in partnership with Al Shaqab, comprises 14 rounds. Source link
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver Thursday. (Reuters) FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled Thursday as he kicked off the global football body’s summit in Vancouver. Iran’s participation at this year’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States has been shrouded in uncertainty since the eruption of war in the Middle East in February following strikes by the United States and Israel. Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be at the World Cup, underscored that stance at the start of his address to delegates in Vancouver. “Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “And of course, Iran will play (in) the United States of America.” Iranian officials had floated the idea of shifting their group games from the United States to Mexico, but that proposal had already been nixed by Infantino. In a further twist last week, Italy-born US special envoy Paolo Zampolli was reported to have floated the idea of Italy taking Iran’s World Cup place. The US government later distanced themselves from that proposal, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Iran’s footballers would be welcome. But the tension surrounding Iran’s World Cup participation rumbled into the build-up to Thursday’s FIFA Congress. Iran was the only absentee from the 211-member congress as Thursday’s meeting got under way after a clash with Canadian border officials earlier this week. Related Story Source link
Defending champions Al Gharafa will begin their Amir Cup title defence Friday with a quarter-final clash against the recently-relegated Qatar Stars League (QSL) side Umm Salal at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium at 8pm.Despite a promising start to the season, Al Gharafa endured a dip in form in the recently concluded QSL campaign, eventually finishing fourth under coach Pedro Martinez. Speaking at pre-match press conference Thursday, Martins admitted the challenge ahead would not be easy, but voiced confidence in his squad’s ability to rise to the occasion despite recent struggles.“Match against Umm Salal will be difficult and a great challenge for us based on our previous meetings in different tournaments, and we must be in a very high technical condition to compete for the title again,” said Martins. Al Gharafa booked their place in the quarter-finals with a solid 2–0 victory over Al Kharaitiyat, while Umm Salal advanced after an mpressive 4–2 win against Al Ahli. Umm Salal coach Ruben Albis, meanwhile, struck an optimistic tone ahead of the encounter after being relegated from the top flight. “We did not perform well in the league and now face the defending champions, so it will be a tough task,” he said. “However, I believe in my players and their ability to step up in crucial moments. Amir Cup matches have a different nature compared to league competitions, and that motivates the team to fight harder and give everything to achieve our goal.”In the other quarter-final ties Friday, QSL champions Al Sadd will take on Al Shamal yet again after the QSL final round tie on Monday at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan will meet Al Wakrah at Al Thumama Stadium while Al Duhail will lock horns with Al Arabi at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.Al Sadd coach Roberto Mancini, said: “Facing Al Shamal will be very important as they are an organised team, and we faced them a few days ago in the decisive match for the league title.”“We must focus on the match. Cup tournaments are different, and the Amir Cup itself is different. Everyone knows its importance for the club, the fans, and the players.”“From my point of view, all the teams in the Amir Cup have a chance to win, and it is not just Al Sadd that are favourites.”“Almost all the teams are of a similar level, and we must always remember that the Amir Cup is a different competition with its own special challenges.”Al Shamal coach David Prats said his team was ready for another Al Sadd challenge.“Yes, we will also participate for the first time in the AFC Champions League, but all of that should make us focus more on what is more important, which is the Amir Cup and facing Al Sadd again in the quarter-finals,” said Prats.He added: “When you play against Al Sadd, it is a very difficult match and we expect it to be similar to the last one. We know their capabilities and players, and we are ready for the match, the competition, and the enjoyment.”“We will try to attack strongly and defend strongly. What is important is that the players deal with the pressure and face it because we want to enjoy the game while competing strongly.”“It is a cup tournament, and there is only one chance. We are ready to perform strongly.”Al Rayyan coach Vicente Moreno confirmed his team’s readiness to face Al Wakrah. “Our team’s goal is bigger than just getting past the current stage, as we aim to win the most prestigious title in Qatari football.”He added that he knows Al Wakrah well, as he had been in charge of the team’s technical management since the beginning of the current season, before moving a short time ago to coach Al Rayyan, stressing that the task will not be easy in light of the outstanding levels possessed by the players.Moreno pointed out that his team enters the Amir Cup competition with a lot of motivation after winning the Qatar Stars Cup and the Gulf Champions League titles. Al Wakrah’s Chilean coach Jose Luis Sierra said that his players will do their best to win. The coach explained that he took over the technical management of his team a short time ago, but the team is ready to defend their chances of going ahead in the tournament.Al Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi said his team faces a tough challenge against Al Arabi. “We have a tough opponent and all teams in Amir Cup are now aiming to reach the final, so there are no easy matches. Every game is evenly balanced and requires a high level of concentration,” he said.Cosmin Contra, coach of Al Arabi said, “The defeat we suffered in the last league match has been painful and the recovery time has been short. On paper, Al Duhail are stronger but we will look to deliver a strong performance and aim to qualify for the semi-finals.” Qatar’s most prestigious tournament features 20 team – 12 sides from the QSL combined with eight from the second division. Related Story Source link
The quarterfinals of the 54th edition of the Amir Cup will witness four promising matches taking place tomorrow, Friday, May 1st. The first match to kick off the series will be Al Rayyan vs Al Wakrah at Al Thumama Stadium, followed by Al Duhail vs Al Arabi at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, then defending champions Al Gharafa vs Umm Salal at Al Bayt Stadium, and finally, Al Shamal vs Al Sadd at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium. Six-time Amir Cup winner Al Rayyan will aim to progress further into the tournament, which they last won in 2013, after defeating Al Khor 2-0 in the round of 16. Al Rayyan enters this match after securing third place in the Doha Bank Stars League by defeating Al Arabi 4-0. Coach Vicente Moreno explained that the match against Al Wakrah, whom he previously coached, won’t be easy. Meanwhile, Al Wakrah aims to win the Amir Cup for the first time in its history, after finishing eighth in the league with a 3-1 win against Al Sailiya. Coach Jose Sierra explained that several players have performed brilliantly this season and is counting on them to secure a path into the next stage of the competition.In the match between Al Duhail and Al Arabi, the former won the Amir Cup four times, most recently in 2022, while Al Arabi is the second most decorated team in the tournament with nine wins, which they last won in 2023. Al-Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi explained the goal is to secure AFC Champions League participation, which requires winning the Amir Cup, as the team failed to secure a spot in the top four in the league, finishing fifth. In turn, Al Arabi coach Cosmin Contra expressed hope to get the team back on track following the 4-0 league loss against Al Rayyan in the league, which saw Al Arabi place seventh. In the match between Al Gharafa and Umm Salal, the former seeks to defend its title after winning the Amir Cup last year, bringing its tally to seven. The team beat Al Kharaitiyat with a clean 2-0 win in the round of 16. The current season was not ideal for Al Gharafa under coach Pedro Martinez after the team failed to maintain its lead in the Qatari league, subsequently falling to fourth place.Umm Salal, meanwhile, seeks to overcome the negative results of its last league matches that consequently relegated the club to the second division. Umm Salal won the title once in 2008 and secured their place in the Amir Cup quarterfinals by defeating Al Ahli 4-2 in the round of 16. In the last of the Amir Cup quarterfinal matches, Al Sadd will face a tough test against Al Shamal in a match expected to be full of competitiveness between the two to reach the semifinals. Al Sadd, the current league champion and the most decorated team in the Amir Cup with 19 titles, will aim to continue its goal of achieving a double this season. Coach Roberto Mancini will enter the match with high morale after winning the Doha Bank Stars League title on Monday after defeating Al Shamal 3-2.Meanwhile, Al Shamal aims to secure its first Amir Cup title in the club’s history, following an exceptional season in the league by finishing second with 40 points. Al Shamal was victorious in the round of 16 against Qatar SC, winning 2-1, securing them a spot in the quarterfinals against Al Sadd. Related Story Source link
The quarterfinals of the 54th edition of the Amir Cup will witness four promising matches taking place tomorrow, Friday, May 1st.The first match to kick off the series will be Al Rayyan vs Al Wakrah at Al Thumama Stadium, followed by Al Duhail vs Al Arabi at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, then defending champions Al Gharafa vs Umm Salal at Al Bayt Stadium, and finally, Al Shamal vs Al Sadd at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium.Six-time Amir Cup winner Al Rayyan will aim to progress further into the tournament, which they last won in 2013, after defeating Al Khor 2-0 in the round of 16.Al Rayyan enters this match after securing third place in the Doha Bank Stars League by defeating Al Arabi 4-0. Coach Vicente Moreno explained that the match against Al Wakrah, whom he previously coached, won’t be easy.Meanwhile, Al Wakrah aims to win the Amir Cup for the first time in its history, after finishing eighth in the league with a 3-1 win against Al Sailiya. Coach Jose Sierra explained that several players have performed brilliantly this season and is counting on them to secure a path into the next stage of the competition.In the match between Al Duhail and Al Arabi, the former won the Amir Cup four times, most recently in 2022, while Al Arabi is the second most decorated team in the tournament with nine wins, which they last won in 2023.Al-Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi explained the goal is to secure AFC Champions League participation, which requires winning the Amir Cup, as the team failed to secure a spot in the top four in the league, finishing fifth.In turn, Al Arabi coach Cosmin Contra expressed hope to get the team back on track following the 4-0 league loss against Al Rayyan in the league, which saw Al Arabi place seventh.In the match between Al Gharafa and Umm Salal, the former seeks to defend its title after winning the Amir Cup last year, bringing its tally to seven. The team beat Al Kharaitiyat with a clean 2-0 win in the round of 16.The current season was not ideal for Al Gharafa under coach Pedro Martinez after the team failed to maintain its lead in the Qatari league, subsequently falling to fourth place.Umm Salal, meanwhile, seeks to overcome the negative results of its last league matches that consequently relegated the club to the second division. Umm Salal won the title once in 2008 and secured their place in the Amir Cup quarterfinals by defeating Al Ahli 4-2 in the round of 16.In the last of the Amir Cup quarterfinal matches, Al Sadd will face a tough test against Al Shamal in a match expected to be full of competitiveness between the two to reach the semifinals.Al Sadd, the current league champion and the most decorated team in the Amir Cup with 19 titles, will aim to continue its goal of achieving a double this season. Coach Roberto Mancini will enter the match with high morale after winning the Doha Bank Stars League title on Monday after defeating Al Shamal 3-2.Meanwhile, Al Shamal aims to secure its first Amir Cup title in the club’s history, following an exceptional season in the league by finishing second with 40 points. Al Shamal was victorious in the round of 16 against Qatar SC, winning 2-1, securing them a spot in the quarterfinals against Al Sadd. Related Story Source link
Qatar will host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in November and December, the sport’s global governing body and local organisers have announced. The tournament will take place from 19 November to 13 December in the FIFA World Cup 2022 host nation and will be contested by 48 teams, a statement by the local organising committee in Qatar said Wednesday. The prestigious youth tournament returns to Qatar, marking the second of five consecutive editions that the country will host annually through 2029. Following a landmark 2025 tournament that saw Qatar hosting the first-ever FIFA competition to feature 48 teams, this year’s edition will continue the expanded format, welcoming tomorrow’s stars to compete for the coveted trophy. The final draw scheduled for 21 May in Zurich, Switzerland. Matches will be held at the state-of-the-art Competition Complex in Aspire Zone, which will once again transform into a vibrant football hub for fans and players. The tournament’s centralised hosting concept formed the cornerstone of the fan experience in 2025, with more than 197,460 spectators in attendance across 104 matches over 15 match days. A total of 130 football scouts from leading football clubs around the world also benefitted from the venue’s compact nature, allowing them to observe talents from a single venue. With the 2025 edition serving as a launch pad for rising stars, such as Egypt’s Hamza Abdelkarim, Mali’s Seydou Dembelé,Belgium’s Jesse Bisiwu and Nathan De Cat, and Italy’s Samuele Inacio among many others, all eyes will now be on the next generation of talents at the 2026 edition. The final will be held at the renowned Khalifa International Stadium, where Portugal was crowned champions last year in front of 38,901 spectators. This year, Khalifa International Stadium marks 50 years since its inauguration in 1976. As part of its illustrious legacy, the venue has hosted several premier sporting events, including matches of the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The stadium is set to host the Amir Cup Final 2026 on May 9. Related Story Source link
Atletico Madrid’s Marc Pubill (right) and Arsenal’s Piero Hincapie battle for the ball during the Champions League first leg semi-final in Madrid. (Reuters) Julian Alvarez’s penalty secured Atletico Madrid a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in a nervy Champions League semi-final first leg clash. Viktor Gyokeres sent the Premier League leaders ahead from the spot just before the interval after he was fouled, but Alvarez followed suit 10 minutes into the second half after Ben White’s handball. Arsenal were upset at a late penalty decision being overturned following a VAR review when David Hancko made contact with Eberechi Eze in the area. Atletico had the better for long periods but Arsenal’s solid defending helped them leave the Spanish capital in a good position to return to the Champions League final 20 years after their last appearance. “We were the team we have to be, if we play at this level we can win,” said Atletico captain Koke of his team’s second-half display. “From my point of view they didn’t create much danger against us… the team defended well and they just had that penalty.” What the game lacked in the dizzying goal rush of Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the other semi-final the night before, it replaced with tension and a desperation not to fall behind. Toilet paper rained down from the stands of the Metropolitano stadium minutes before kick-off, in a striking – if wasteful – display, which invited cynical jokes from some quarters about the calibre of the spectacle ahead. In a tussle between arguably the continent’s two biggest teams never to lay a finger on the trophy neither wanted to blink first. Atletico still have an outdated defensive reputation but pinned Mikel Arteta’s miserly Arsenal back in the early stages, with David Raya tipping Alvarez’s shot around the post. The Gunners, a long way from Arteta’s eve-of-the-game demand they dominate proceedings, looked to smash and grab, with Marc Pubill blocking from Martin Odegaard on a quick breakaway. Noni Madueke, starting on Arsenal’s right flank with Bukayo Saka only fit for the bench, hammered just wide from distance as last year’s beaten semi-finalists sporadically emerged from their half. The next time they did, Gyokeres won a penalty. The Swedish striker, who might not have started if Kai Havertz was fit, exchanged passes with Martin Zubimendi and Hancko clumsily shoved him in the back from behind. Diego Simeone and Atletico veteran Antoine Griezmann begged for the decision to be reviewed but VAR saw no reason to intervene. Gyokeres took the spot-kick himself, walloping it past Jan Oblak, who dived the right way but stood no chance of keeping it out. Three-time runners-up Atletico, back in the semi-finals for the first time in nine years, came out guns blazing in the second half. Raya saved Ademola Lookman’s drive with Gabriel blocking Griezmann’s follow-up. The hosts pulled level from the penalty spot after White handled Marcos Llorente’s shot, the ball bouncing up and hitting his arm, which was away from his body. Alvarez took it, and having missed in Atletico’s Copa del Rey final shoot-out defeat earlier in April, this time made no mistake with an unforgiving blast rivalling Gyokeres’s first-half effort. MLS-bound Griezmann looped a shot off the crossbar and then sent the rebound off target as Atletico turned the screw in pursuit of an advantage to take into next Tuesday’s second leg. Nigeria international Lookman twice came close and could end up ruing his missed chances. Related Story…
UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the first stage of the Tour of Romandie UCI cycling…
Qatari teams wrapped up their campaign at the Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026 in style, finishing with an impressive haul of two gold medals in 3×3 basketball and beach volleyball, along with a silver in beach handball, further cementing their status as a dominant force on the continental stage. Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan delivered a standout performance, clinching beach volleyball gold with a commanding straight-sets victory over Iran in the final 2-0 (21–15, 21–12). The duo showcased remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, topping Group B unbeaten before powering past the Maldives, Uzbekistan, and China in the knockout rounds, and defeating Thailand in the semi-finals on their way to the title. Thailand went on to secure bronze after a 2–0 win against Oman. This triumph adds another chapter to Qatar’s strong legacy in regional beach volleyball, building on their success at the Asian Beach Games 2014 and the Asian Beach Games 2016, where they claimed gold and silver respectively. Qatar Volleyball Federation President Ali Ghanem al-Kuwari dedicated the achievement to the nation’s leadership, stating: “We dedicate this gold medal to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, in recognition of their unwavering support and patronage of sport. We also dedicate this success to the Qatari people, who consistently stand behind their national teams. This accomplishment is the result of a long-term vision built on sustained effort and careful planning.” He added: “The leadership of Sheikh Joaan has played a pivotal role in elevating Qatar’s sporting presence across Asia, positively influencing volleyball and other disciplines. It has strengthened the country’s reputation as a key contributor to the development of sport on the continent, while instilling greater confidence in our national teams as they compete on the international stage.” Qatar’s men’s 3×3 basketball team were also crowned champions after a commanding 21-10 victory over Thailand in the final, capping an outstanding run at the tournament. Qatar opened the knockout stage with a hard-fought 18-16 win against China in a fast-paced, high-intensity semi-final, before carrying that momentum into a one-sided final where they controlled proceedings from start to finish. Thailand had booked their place in the final with a narrow 20–18 victory over the Philippines, while China secured the bronze medal after defeating the Philippines 21-13 in the third-place play-off. Despite the physical and mental demands of playing multiple matches in a single day, the Qatari side displayed remarkable composure. Their trademark fast tempo, sharp execution, and ability to capitalise on scoring opportunities proved decisive as they sealed a well-deserved gold medal. Qatar’s path to the title was built on a flawless group-stage performance, where they topped Group C with victories over Bahrain, Kazakhstan, and India. They then maintained their strong form with a convincing win over Iran in the quarter-finals, setting the stage for their golden finish.In the women’s competition, Qatar exited in the second round after a loss to Singapore, having advanced from the group stage with a third-place finish. Following the victory, Mohammed Saad al-Meghaiseeb, President of the Federation, dedicated the achievement to Qatar’s leadership, noting that the team fully deserved the title based on their performances throughout the tournament. He highlighted that this marks Qatar’s third consecutive gold medal in 3×3 basketball at the Asian Beach Games, following earlier triumphs in 2014 and 2016. He said the victory reflects the players’ high level of preparation and professionalism, particularly in handling the demanding format of multiple decisive matches in a single day. Their discipline, focus, and consistency, he said, were key factors behind the team’s success. Meanwhile, Qatar’s handball team won the silver medal after losing 2-1 to Iran in the final Wednesday. The achievement capped a strong tournament campaign. Qatar opened their run with victories over Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Jordan, before topping their group with a win over Thailand. They then defeated Bahrain in the semi-finals to reach the final. Thailand secured bronze after defeating Bahrain 2-0 in the third-place match. The Qatari beach handball team remains one of the strongest sides on the continental and international stage, with a decorated record that includes Asian Beach Games titles in 2012 (China), 2014 (Thailand), and 2016 (Vietnam). They also won silver at the 2022 World Games and bronze medals at the World Championship in 2014 and 2016, underlining their sustained competitiveness across major tournaments. Related Story Source link