Neymar defends his fitness and determination to secure a place in Brazil's World Cup squad after overcoming serious injuries and facing criticism.
Despite Pakistan not qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, Karachi is buzzing with excitement as the global event begins. "WC Football" villages have been set up in areas like Malir and Lyari, known for their love of the sport, featuring large screens, decorations, and enthusiastic fans. The city's passion for football is evident, with local clubs and administration organising events for youngsters, highlighting the sport's growing influence beyond cricket.
India's crude oil imports from Russia reached a record high of approximately 2.73 million barrels per day (mbpd) in June, driven by discounts of $2-5 a barrel. This surge comes as the West Asia crisis disrupted supplies from traditional sources and China reduced its own purchases, leading Russia to offer more favourable terms to India.
Brazil beat Senegal 2-0 in feisty friendly at the Emirates
Cristiano Ronaldo, playing his 6th FIFA World Cup, headlines the Portugal squad that has a glittering supporting cast that includes Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes.
The Centre on Thursday informed the Delhi high court that the Telegram messaging app was being exploited for illegal activities ranging from cybercrime and financial frauds to terrorism and circulation of leaked examination papers.
Sabri Lamouchi's dismissal as Tunisia coach after a single game at the World Cup places him on an ignominious list that includes one of the most successful coaches in tournament history.
Adani Group and Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer have selected Dholera, Gujarat, as the location for a final assembly line for Embraer's regional jets. This strategic collaboration, formalised by an MoU in January, aims to boost India's Regional Transport Aircraft programme and align with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and UDAN scheme. Embraer sees immense potential in the Indian market across various aviation segments.
Argentina start their bid for back-to-back World Cups on Tuesday with a side full of familiar faces from Qatar 2022, facing an Algerian team buoyed by warm-up wins and featuring a 20-year-old rising star nicknamed after Diego Maradona.
Pochettino expects a "very tough game" against Paraguay, praising their aggression and discipline.
Indian tennis player N Sriram Balaji and his Brazilian partner Marcelo Demoliner saw their impressive French Open men's doubles campaign end in the quarterfinals after a straight-sets defeat to the second-seeded pair of Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.
Indian wushu player Aparna won a gold medal in the women's 52kg category at the 11th Sanda World Cup in Macau, defeating Vietnam's Thi Phuong Nga Ngo in the final.
Pope Leo may have traded his life in Chicago for the ornate apartments at the Vatican's apostolic palace, but he still plans to root for his old national team at the World Cup this month.
Indian tennis players N Sriram Balaji and Yuki Bhambri made winning starts in the French Open men's doubles, advancing to the second round with impressive victories in Paris.
For the expanded 2026 tournament, FIFA has gone a step further and introduced an extra amnesty for yellow cards, effectively wiping the slate clean twice.
Lionel Messi earned a spot in the World Cup history books with a hat-trick that saw Argentina begin the defence of their title with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opener at Kansas City Stadium, Missouri, on Tuesday.
India significantly increased its crude oil imports from Russia and the United Arab Emirates in June, securing supplies as the Strait of Hormuz began to reopen, with Russian barrels remaining attractive due to discounts and UAE supplies offsetting earlier uncertainties.
Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar has retired at the age of 34 due to ongoing cardiac problems, his current club Sao Paulo said on Saturday.
The Gujarat ATS and Indian Coast Guard seized 115 kg of cocaine worth nearly Rs 1,150 crore from a vessel off Mundra port, arresting three foreign nationals and disrupting an international drug trafficking network.
Japan v Tunisia marks 1,000th FIFA World Cup match
The amazing story of how a little known cheese from Ladakh stunned the world!
Thousands of New York Knicks fans celebrated their NBA Finals victory in Midtown Manhattan, leading to chaotic scenes including a World Cup bus being set alight and a teenager suffering a gunshot wound in Times Square. Police eventually intervened to disperse the unruly crowds.
Indian tennis players N Sriram Balaji and Yuki Bhambri secured victories in the first round of the French Open men's doubles, advancing to the next stage with their respective partners.
Germany gave debutants Curacao a reality check, as the former champions won 7-1 to kick-start their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a big win.
Alexander Zverev overcame a slow start to defeat Rafael Jodar and secure a spot in the French Open semi-finals, continuing his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title.
Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia says FIFA's expanded 48-team World Cup format significantly improves India's chances of qualification while creating new opportunities for emerging football nations across Asia and beyond.
Despite the World Cup returning to their country for the first time in four decades, many in Mexico said they feel excluded, priced out of stadiums, forced to pay for expensive TV subscriptions and constrained by strict licensing rules.
Jakub Mensik became the youngest Czech man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final after beating Joao Fonseca at the French Open, while Mirra Andreeva stormed into the last four and Alexander Zverev kept his title hopes alive.
Several high-profile football players are facing injuries ahead of the World Cup, raising concerns about their participation in the tournament. Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and other stars are among those sidelined, while the packed playing schedule is drawing criticism.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to feature a significant generational divide, with players spanning over 25 years in age. Mexico's Gilberto Mora, 17, will be the youngest, while Scotland's Craig Gordon, 43, will be the oldest. The tournament will showcase a mix of emerging talents and seasoned veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, with nations like Panama and Ivory Coast representing the oldest and youngest average squads, respectively.
The global artificial intelligence (AI) boom has significantly reshaped equity markets, with Taiwan surpassing India to become the world's fifth-largest stock market. India has seen its market capitalisation decline by 7% year-to-date, while AI-linked economies like Taiwan and South Korea have surged.
Estevao and Rodrygo at the double as Brazil thrash South Korea 5-0
Iran's World Cup campaign has left many Iranian-Americans torn between supporting Team Melli and opposing the country's leadership, highlighting deep divisions within Los Angeles' influential Iranian diaspora.
A grassroots football academy in Punjab is using football to combat drug abuse and develop young talent, addressing key issues in Indian football's grassroots development.
Luka Modric scored to put Croatia ahead before they edged Slovenia 2-1 in the international friendly before the World Cup.
Guillermo Ochoa said he has entered his final Mexico training camp as the veteran goalkeeper closes in on a historic sixth FIFA World Cup appearance in 2026.
Japan staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat five-times world champions Brazil 3-2 in a friendly at a sold-out Tokyo Stadium on Tuesday.
FIFA's Technical Study Group believes set-pieces are unlikely to dominate the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Gilberto Silva predicting tighter, transition-based football due to limited preparation time for national teams.
The US Trade Representative has proposed an additional 12.5 per cent duty on goods from 54 countries, including India, citing their failure to prohibit the import of goods produced with forced labour. India has denied the allegations and called for the matter to be resolved through bilateral trade negotiations.
Morocco, Norway, Turkey, Colombia, Mexico and Japan are among the leading dark horses for FIFA World Cup 2026, with each side possessing the talent and momentum to challenge football's traditional powers.
