The 10 takeaways from the FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Kidambi Srikanth retired early from his opening match due to fitness issues even as Tanya Hemnath and Aakarshi Kashyap emerged as the only Indian shuttlers to progress to the women's singles second round at the Canada Open.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa secured a tied third-place finish at the Croatian leg of the Grand Chess Tour, bouncing back with a strong performance on the final day. France's Firouzja Alireza claimed the top honours after a tie-break, while Praggnanandhaa shared his position with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Compatriot D Gukesh finished sixth.
Spain captain Rodri has expressed his team's ambition and hunger ahead of the World Cup final against Argentina. He highlighted Spain's gradual growth and well-rounded team play, while acknowledging Argentina's competitive spirit and the formidable presence of Lionel Messi. Rodri anticipates a physical battle and draws inspiration from Spain's 2010 World Cup victory.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa won three matches in a row on the final day to tie for the first place with Firouzja Alireza of France on 12 points as the rapid section of the Croatian leg of the Grand Chess Tour ended in Zagreb, Croatia on Friday.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his excitement over Argentina's dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, highlighting the team's ability to snatch victory from a 0-2 deficit.
Argentina's dark blue away jersey holds significant historical and superstitious value for the team, particularly in World Cup encounters against England. The team will wear this kit in their upcoming semi-final, hoping to replicate past successes from 1986 and 1998, where the blue jersey was worn during famous victories over England. Both coaches acknowledge the role of superstition in high-level sports, though Argentina's coach downplays the specific jersey choice. The jersey also features cultural motifs.
Chinese and French duo Guo Hanyu and Kristina Mladenovic secured their first major triumph together by defeating second seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani 6-3, 7-5 in the Wimbledon women's doubles final. Mladenovic, recovering from a long-term injury, expressed her disbelief and gratitude for her partner, while Guo celebrated her maiden major final victory.
Former India captain Gouramangi Singh offers his expert analysis on the upcoming FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. He highlights Spain's aggressive pressing game and defensive transitions against Argentina's champion's mentality and composure, predicting the match will be decided by small margins. Singh also discusses the individual strengths of both teams and downplays the Messi vs. Yamal narrative.
Argentina will wear their navy-and-black away kit for the World Cup semi-final against England, a decision that has sparked fan interest due to the kit's association with past victories against England, including the 1986 'Hand of God' match and the 1998 penalty shootout win. The team hopes this alternate strip brings them continued success.
Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe showcased their exceptional talent in recent World Cup matches, each scoring multiple goals. Despite recent dips in form or career stages, these football superstars proved their enduring prowess, with Mbappe becoming France's all-time top scorer and Messi achieving his first World Cup hat-trick.
Guided by Indian table tennis legend Sharath Kamal, the duo have established themselves among the world's elite through a series of impressive performances on the WTT circuit.
Legendary Indian goalkeeper Brahmananda Sankhwalkar reflects on the emotional FIFA World Cup exits of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Junior. He discusses their unfulfilled World Cup dreams, their rivalry with Lionel Messi, and the circumstances of their respective team's eliminations, highlighting their enduring legacy despite the absence of a World Cup trophy.
Indian golfer Saptak Talwar has moved up to tied fifth position at the Blot Play9 tournament in France, following an impressive second-round score of 3-under 67. He is currently three shots behind the joint leaders, Pablo Ereno and John Gough.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has acknowledged the possibility of expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, a move that could significantly alter the sport's economics and logistics, despite opposition from major confederations like UEFA and AFC.
Indian pugilists Jyoti, Minakshi, Prachi, and Deepak have secured spots in the finals of the World Boxing Cup 2 in Guiyang, China, showcasing a strong performance. Additionally, Jugnoo and Nikhil earned bronze medals, contributing to India's impressive medal tally at the prestigious event.
England's World Cup journey ended in heartbreak after their decision to sit back defensively against Argentina in the semi-final allowed Lionel Messi to orchestrate a stunning comeback, exposing the perils of premature defensive play, according to manager Thomas Tuchel.
Indian badminton players Tanya Hemnath and Aakarshi Kashyap were eliminated from the Canada Open after losing their respective women's singles second-round matches, marking the end of India's challenge at the Super 300 tournament.
Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul highlights Lionel Messi's contentment and record-breaking performance as a significant morale booster for the team, who are 'one step away' from another World Cup final and preparing to face England.
Argentina, one of football's most successful teams, is also one of its most polarising, inspiring both devotion and irritation due to its history, iconic players like Maradona and Messi, and a national identity often perceived as arrogant by rivals.
World champion D Gukesh and Indian star R Praggnanandhaa are set to compete in the Zagreb Rapid and Blitz Tournament, part of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour. Despite Gukesh's sabbatical from classical chess, he joins a strong field including recent Norway Chess winner Praggnanandhaa, promising an exciting week of high-stakes chess.
India's Sahil Jadhav was placed third in the men's compound qualification at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid before persistent rain forced the suspension of play. Other Indian archers, including Rishabh Yadav and women compound archers like Prithika Pradeep and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, also competed, with their qualification rounds impacted by the weather.
India's Parul Chaudhary has set a new national record in the women's 5000m event, clocking 15:04.26 to finish second at the Meeting Nikaia 2026. This performance also secured her qualification for the Asian Games 2026.
The expanded World Cup is being dominated by superstar performances from Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland, who are leading the scoring charts. Young talent like Lamine Yamal is also making a significant impact, while Harry Kane continues to impress. The tournament is shaping up to be a thrilling display of individual brilliance, with a potential repeat of the last final between Messi and Mbappe.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni believes 39-year-old Lionel Messi will continue to be the world's best player for as long as he desires, dismissing age concerns as Messi dominates the World Cup with eight crucial goals.
Switzerland players have heaped praise on Lionel Messi ahead of Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Argentina, but said they have identified weaknesses in the defending champions and believe they can cause an upset.
Former UEFA president Michel Platini has initiated civil and criminal legal proceedings in France against FIFA and its current president Gianni Infantino.
Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 in the World Cup last 16, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring two goals, to advance to the quarter-finals for the second consecutive time. The victory ended Canada's tournament run.
Asian Championships gold medallist Neeru Dhanda has secured her first individual ISSF World Cup title in the women's trap event in Lonato, Italy.
England's manager Thomas Tuchel has faced heavy criticism following their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, but he attributes the loss to fundamental issues like a lack of 'ball possession DNA' rather than just tactical errors, while acknowledging the unstoppable brilliance of Lionel Messi.
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.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature four sets of brothers playing for different countries.
Germany's 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira sees no identity crisis in his brother Rani playing for Tunisia at FIFA World Cup 2026.
Lionel Messi's Argentina take on Jude Bellingham's England in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, reviving one of football's greatest rivalries with a place in the final on the line.
Indian wedding bookings to Sri Lanka are projected to grow 20-25 per cent annually over the next few years.
Indian boxers, including Commonwealth Games-bound athletes, achieved a remarkable feat at the 56th Grand Prix Usti nad Labem in Czechia, securing a total of 12 medals, with eight gold, three silver, and one bronze. Both the men's and women's teams delivered commanding performances, showcasing their prowess ahead of major international competitions.
Trump lauded the defence relations between India and US and affirmed support precisely for the PM Modi-led nation during conflict situations.
Taylor Fritz continued his smooth progress at Wimbledon by mowing down fellow American Patrick Kypson 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 to make the third round on Thursday.
India and France have elevated their relationship to a 'special global strategic partnership,' with increased cooperation in defense, trade, and technology. The leaders also inaugurated a helicopter assembly line in Karnataka.
Nicolas Pepe scored two goals to lead Ivory Coast to a 2-0 victory over Curacao, securing their first-ever qualification for the World Cup knockout phase. Curacao, the smallest nation to qualify, was eliminated. Ivory Coast will now face the second-place team from Group I (France or Norway) in Arlington, Texas.
