Iran's bid for a first World Cup knockout stage appearance ended dramatically after Austria's late equaliser against Algeria denied them a spot. Despite remaining unbeaten, the team faced significant logistical challenges and travel restrictions due to their conflict with the U.S., which captain Mehdi Taremi described as a "disaster."
Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout victory as Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scored in a 2-0 win over Ecuador, sending the co-hosts into the last 16 amid emotional scenes at the Azteca Stadium.
Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes India's recent Test struggles stem from the departure of senior players, emphasising the need for a core of seven to eight experienced cricketers in the longer format.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has rebranded as World Tennis, announcing an ambitious vision to increase global participation by 30% to 140 million players by 2035. The organisation, which governs the sport and runs major competitions, plans to reinvest 85% of its income annually for the next decade to achieve its strategic goals, including powering future stars and elevating national competitions. The name change aims to enhance recognition and foster greater collaboration within the sport.
The Indian women's junior squash team secured a commendable fifth-place finish at the World Squash Junior Team Championships in Ontario, defeating England 2-0 in the play-off match.
Indian hockey vice-captain Hardik Singh stated that the new orange-coloured jersey for the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup is a 'team strategy' and a 'tactic' to avoid clashes with the blue Astroturf, a decision that has sparked controversy.
The Delhi government has signed a tripartite MoU with the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) to host international school badminton and wrestling events in 2027. This initiative aims to strengthen Delhi's sports ecosystem, provide young athletes with international exposure, and bolster India's global sporting identity.
Indian golfers Diksha Dagar, Aditi Ashok, Avani Prashanth, and Pranavi Urs are set to compete in the USD 2 million PIF London Championship on the Ladies European Tour. Diksha seeks her third LET title, while Aditi aims for improved results. The tournament, hosted at Centurion Club, features a strong international field including world No. 6 Charley Hull.
Nirmal Purja, the Nepali-British climber famous for scaling all 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in record time, has been confirmed dead after an avalanche on Broad Peak, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan.
A joint study by IIT Roorkee and IIT Kanpur has found that a black crust formed by air pollution is accelerating the deterioration of Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Delhi. The crust, primarily gypsum, traps pollutants, weakening the sandstone and making the monument vulnerable to long-term damage. The study recommends conservation measures, pollution monitoring, and source reduction to protect the historical site.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, credited with stabilising Tata Sons after a boardroom coup and overseeing significant expansion, has announced his resignation as chairman, capping a nearly decade-long tenure marked by both successes and escalating tensions with the group's controlling charitable trusts.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines made history by becoming the first player from her country to win a WTA Tour-level singles title at the Washington Open, defeating top seed Jessica Pegula.
Before Awarapan 2 tests his comeback, we revisit the 10 films that made Emraan Hashmi the ultimate frontbencher favourite.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has called for the state to become a hub for Indian futsal, producing players capable of leading the national team to the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Speaking at a felicitation for Tlangnuam Futsal Club, he emphasised nurturing talent for international success and highlighted government investment in sports infrastructure.
Bhiwani boxer Sakshi Chaudhary expressed gratitude to Virat Kohli for sponsoring her through her Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning campaign.
Eight bodies have been recovered from the deadly avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including that of veteran British-Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja, with rescuers still searching for the remaining two members of the 10-member expedition team.
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a national holiday after the country's football team secured a spot in the World Cup knockout phase with a surprising 2-1 victory over Germany. This marks only the second time Ecuador has reached this stage, sparking widespread celebrations.
Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma and Ravi Shastri watched Australia beat India by six wickets at Lord's.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Prayagraj, emphasising that India's youth are its greatest strength. He raised concerns about the lack of employment opportunities, the declining value of educational credentials, and issues like exam paper leaks, urging youth to bring change through love and affection.
GDN has a fascinating genius at its centre, but Madhavan's terrific performance is let down by a repetitive, overly familiar biopic treatment.
The Kerala Sports Department has submitted its confidential inquiry report regarding the controversy surrounding the proposed visit of football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to the state during the previous government's tenure.
Jamie Chadwick, a triple W Series champion, believes that increasing female participation at grassroots levels is crucial for women to reach the top echelons of motorsport. She highlights the importance of creating welcoming environments for young girls in karting and addresses the historical disparity, noting that it has been 50 years since a woman last raced in Formula One. Chadwick is confident that new initiatives will lead to a higher quality of female drivers in the coming years, despite the overall growth in talent across the sport.
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage has emerged as the favourite for gold in the Commonwealth Games javelin final, potentially overshadowing the much-anticipated rivalry between India's Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem. Pathirage, the world leader with a stunning 92.62m throw, has been in exceptional form this season, while Chopra and Nadeem are returning from injuries. The final also features other strong contenders, including former world and Olympic champions, promising a high-quality contest.
Australia beat England by seven wickets to win the Women's T20 World Cup for a record-extending seventh time at Lord's on Sunday.
Ivory Coast is set to face Norway in a World Cup Round of 32 match, with much attention on Norway's star striker Erling Haaland. While Ivory Coast's defence, featuring Ousmane Diomande, will focus on containing Haaland, their coach Emerse Fae also plans to unleash their own array of attacking talent, including Yan Diomande and Nicolas Pepe, to challenge Norway.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has made a historic return to the World Cup knockout stages, 52 years after a disastrous debut.
Alireza Beiranvand produced seven saves, including a stunning contender for save of the tournament, as Iran held Belgium to a 0-0 draw at the FIFA World Cup.
The performance capped an extraordinary journey from poverty and homelessness to national hero.
Tewolde Gebremariam, a seasoned aviation professional with extensive experience at Ethiopian Airlines, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India. He is tasked with leading the airline's ambitious five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, aimed at achieving significant growth and profitability, marking him as the second foreign national to helm Air India under Tata Group ownership.
Iran's football federation announced its World Cup ticket allocation has been revoked just days before the tournament, leaving many fans unable to attend.
Former football player Zlatan Ibrahimovic has lauded Lionel Messi for breaking the all-time FIFA World Cup goal record, stating that the Argentinian ace is in a 'category of his own', surpassing even legends like Pele, Diego Maradona, and Johan Cruyff due to his numbers, longevity, and trophies.
India's Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, has clarified that the recent amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) are primarily aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring accountability in foreign financial flows.
'We're going to play in a lot of different conditions over the next 12 months. It's going to require different efforts. It may not look like the traditional thing all the time.'
FIFA's proposal to create a $20 billion subsidiary for the World Cup highlights the intricate balance of power in global football, where the governing body's authority is often challenged by the significant commercial strength of UEFA, particularly in Europe.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Soman Rana has highlighted the critical need for increased corporate support and permanent jobs for Indian para-athletes. He stressed that financial security is vital for athletes to focus on training and achieve consistent international success, including at events like the Paralympics and Para Asian Games. His views were echoed by PCI president Devendra Jhajharia and M3M Foundation chairperson Payal Kanodia, who noted the growing recognition and support for the Paralympic movement in India.
While Mbappe and Messi currently lead the charts, Haaland, Kane, Dembele, and Vinicius Junior are all within striking distance, setting up an intense battle for the tournament's top scorer award in the matches ahead.
World Cup 2026 is on track to become the biggest betting event in history, with global wagers expected to exceed $50 billion as sportsbooks report record-breaking activity driven by the expanded tournament format and growing legal gambling markets.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Vinicius Jr speaks on emotional bond with grandmother, racism and WC journey
'I'm truly sorry for not meeting your expectations'
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa believes teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has the potential to make a bigger impact on white-ball cricket than Sachin Tendulkar, but stresses that his future hinges on proper management and a strong support system, citing examples like Vinod Kambli and Prithvi Shaw.
India's U-19 boys' table tennis team defeated Hong Kong 3-1 in the Asian Youth Championships quarterfinals, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal and a direct qualification for the 2027 World Youth Table Tennis Championships. The team will now face top seeds China in the semifinals. In contrast, the Indian U-19 girls' team lost to Hong Kong and will need to qualify through a separate process, while the U-15 teams also faced defeats in their respective quarterfinal matches.
