As the World Cup kicks off, sports enthusiasts are witnessing a fascinating transition from the familiar rhythms of cricket to the exhilarating dynamics of football, bringing with it new terminology, fan reactions, and game rules to master.
Cabo Verde, making their FIFA World Cup debut, delivered a memorable performance, reaching the Round of 32 and pushing defending champions Argentina to extra time. Despite a 3-2 defeat, their campaign was marked by resilience, drawing against European champions Spain and two-time world champions Uruguay, and highlighted by the exceptional goalkeeping of 40-year-old Vozinha.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick likened his side's dramatic 3-3 World Cup draw with Algeria to an Alfred Hitchcock film, dismissing conspiracy theories and calling it the most incredible match of his coaching career.
Sweden and Japan played out a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group F match, with Anthony Elanga scoring for Sweden and Daizen Maeda for Japan. The result ensures both teams progress to the knockout rounds, with Japan finishing second and Sweden securing a spot as one of the best third-placed teams.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar analyses Delhi Capitals' narrow defeat to Gujarat Titans in the IPL, highlighting a crucial moment of indecision that may have cost them the match.
Japan's Yuto Nagatomo made history by becoming the first Asian player to feature in five FIFA World Cups during Japan's 1-1 draw against Sweden. This achievement places him among an elite group of players globally. The draw secured both Japan and Sweden's advancement to the Round of 32 in the 2026 tournament.
The Indian men's hockey team was defeated by England 1-4 in a penalty shootout after their FIH Pro League match ended in a 2-2 draw during regulation time. Dilpreet Singh scored both goals for India, while David Goodfield and Nicholas Bandurak netted for England. England secured the bonus point with a dominant shootout performance at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals are set, featuring a diverse lineup of one South American, one African, and six European teams, including defending champions Argentina and France, alongside surprise packages like Morocco and Norway, all vying for football's ultimate prize.
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia has voiced his support for Vinesh Phogat after her unsuccessful return to competitive wrestling at the Asian Games selection trials, urging her to persevere despite the setback.
Five members of the Iranian women's football team, who initially sought asylum in Australia, have withdrawn their claims and are returning to Iran.
Austria and Algeria played out a dramatic 3-3 draw in their final World Cup Group J match, with two stoppage-time goals ensuring both teams progressed to the Round of 32, while eliminating Iran. Argentina topped the group, with Austria finishing second and Algeria advancing as a best third-placed side.
Summer blockbusters spill on to June, as theatres line-up delayed releases at the box office. The month has a good mix of movies, and Joginder Tuteja lists your options.
Ten-man Paraguay secured a vital 1-0 victory over Turkey in a dramatic World Cup Group D match, breathing new life into their campaign while condemning Turkey to an early exit.
From Dr A P J Abdul Kalam to Sourav Ganguly, these coming biopics are bringing some of India's most fascinating lives to the big screen.
Anurag Kashyap, despite his claims of being done with Bollywood, continues to deliver compelling cinema, with his latest film 'Bandar' set to release on June 5.
Indian-origin golfer Manav Shah, born in California to Gujarati parents, is set to make his US Open debut after years of dedication on public courses and global qualifying circuits. His journey includes reconnecting with his Indian roots through the Asian Tour and the Indian Golf Premier League, which he credits for strengthening his self-belief.
India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 4-3 in a thrilling FIH Pro League match in London, extending their decade-long unbeaten streak against them in international hockey. Despite Pakistan taking an early lead, India rallied with goals from Abhishek, Nilakanta Sharma, Sukhjeet Singh, and Rajinder Singh. Pakistan mounted a late comeback in the final quarter, but India held on for a crucial victory, moving up to seventh in the standings.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has approved the adoption of the 3x15 scoring system at its Annual General Meeting in Horsen, Denmark. The new system is set to take effect on January 4, 2027.
Nora Fatehi has successfully transitioned to the global stage, with her FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem Siir Siir becoming a viral hit, especially following Morocco's impressive draw against Brazil.
Austria made a winning return to the World Cup after 28 years, defeating debutants Jordan 3-1 in a Group J opener. The victory was secured with a second-half own goal and a late penalty, following a tense match where Austria initially led, was equalised, and had a goal disallowed by VAR.
Kylian Mbappe scored two goals, equalling Miroslav Klose's World Cup record, as France defeated Iraq 3-0 to advance to the last 32. The match was significantly delayed by thunderstorms, but France maintained control with Ousmane Dembele also scoring. Iraq's chances of progressing now depend on their final group match and other results.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said travel restrictions and visa-related disruptions hampered his team's World Cup preparations after a 2-2 draw with New Zealand, claiming Iran had become the tournament's "most oppressed" side.
World champion D Gukesh was himself to blame as he fell into a blindspot and made an unimaginable blunder to go down to Nodirbek Abdusatorov of Uzbekistan in a sixth round match of the Tata Steel chess
Norway Chess has consistently innovated to enhance the experience for players and fans, introducing features like the 'confession box' and the Armageddon tie-break to make elite chess more engaging and decisive.
Welcome To The Jungle's moment of truth arrives when Akshay pleads 'Hum sab bhand hain' in the face of fear and power. If only the rest of this slog was as self-aware as this single scene, notes Sukanya Verma.
Vinesh Phogat's return to competitive wrestling ended in disappointment at the Asian Games selection trials, losing to Meenakshi Goyat in the 53kg semifinals after a controversial and emotionally charged day.
A heated on-field moment between Travis Head and Virat Kohli during the IPL 2026 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru has spilled off the field with Head's wife Jessica speaking out about a fresh wave of online abuse targeting her family.
For Iran's team, the FIFA World Cup has been marred by fraught politics at home, the war with the US, and tensions over whether they would actually be able to set foot on US soil to play their games.
Iran launched their World Cup campaign in Los Angeles amid protests by Iranian-Americans, highlighting deep divisions over Tehran's government even as Team Melli drew passionate support from fans in the stands.
The National Senior Athletics Federation Competition witnessed a national record being broken twice in the men's 100m race, along with other impressive performances in long jump and 10,000m races.
East Bengal secured the Indian Super League title after a dramatic season, defeating Inter Kashi in the final. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has assured a full-fledged format next season despite ongoing uncertainties surrounding the league's structure.
Actor Aadinath Kothare, set to appear as Bharat in Nitesh Tiwari's highly anticipated Ramayana, believes the film is a game-changer for Indian cinema on the global stage.
Harry Kane struck twice while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford delivered the knockout blows as England survived a back-and-forth battle to beat Croatia 4-2 on Wednesday and launch their World Cup campaign in a heavyweight clash that lived up to its billing.
A lesson to be learned from this incident is participation in an event is the real exhibition of power, and winning matches elevates its credibility, observes K R Nayar.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has approved the adoption of the 3x15 scoring system, set to take effect on January 4, 2027, following a vote at its Annual General Meeting in Horsen, Denmark. The decision aims to enhance the sport's appeal, improve match scheduling, and benefit player welfare, despite reservations from some leading Indian players.
Vinesh Phogat's return to competitive wrestling ended in disappointment as she lost in the Asian Games selection trials, highlighting the challenges she faces in her comeback journey after the Paris Olympics trauma.
The Indian Under-18 women's hockey team was defeated by China in a penalty shootout during the semi-finals of the Under-18 Asian Championships, ending their bid for a gold medal. After a 2-2 draw in regulation time, India lost 1-3 in the shootout and will now compete for the bronze medal.
The national record in the men's 100m race was broken twice within minutes at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition. Ancy Sojan won the women's long jump with a meet record, and Seema achieved the Commonwealth Games qualification mark in the women's discus throw.
Vinesh Phogat's return to competitive wrestling ended in a semi-final loss at the Asian Games selection trials, dashing her hopes of re-entering the national team after the 2024 Paris Olympics trauma.
From Baahubali to Peddi, these blockbuster South Indian films drew criticism for romanticising toxic masculinity and reducing their female leads to objects of desire.
