South American confederation CONMEBOL had officially proposed hosting the 2030 World Cup with 64 teams last year, allowing more countries the opportunity to join in the celebrations for the tournament's centennial edition.
India's Dhakshineswar Suresh, a TAGG athlete, secured his first-ever ATP Tour main-draw victory by defeating World No. 77 Marcos Giron 6-3, 7-5 at the Winston-Salem Open, becoming only the second Indian man to achieve this feat in the tournament's history.
Senegal's football federation president, Abdoulaye Fall, has claimed the national team's doctor at the recent World Cup in North America was 'trained as a gynaecologist', raising concerns among players about medical support during their disappointing campaign. The Senegalese Association of Sports Medicine has rejected these allegations as 'unfounded and defamatory'.
The Sports Ministry's Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) has sanctioned Rs 35.46 lakh for overseas training stints for Paralympic medallists Ajeet Singh (javelin) and Pranav Soorma (club throw) to prepare them for the upcoming Asian Para-Games in Japan. Both athletes, part of the TOPS core group, will train in Germany and Czechia respectively, with Pranav also participating in multiple championships.
Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam announced that the state has appointed 33 sportspersons to coaching positions within the last month. These new coaches are expected to play a crucial role in identifying and nurturing grassroots talent to prepare athletes for future international competitions, including the 2036 Olympics. The state also highlighted its sports policy, which includes job reservations for outstanding sportspersons.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Friday that the world soccer's governing body has abandoned its controversial plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, following widespread backlash from major confederations and internal dissent.
The UEFA Champions League group stage commenced with thrilling matches as holders Paris St Germain, Arsenal, and Liverpool all secured victories. Ferran Torres netted a hat-trick for PSG in their dominant 6-1 win, while Martin Odegaard's late strike gave Arsenal a 1-0 triumph over Napoli. Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1, and Barcelona also started strong with a 5-1 win against Feyenoord.
Indian squash veteran Joshna Chinappa, at 40, continues to defy age, securing her sixth Asian Games medal in her record seventh appearance. She attributes her remarkable longevity to rigorous training, meditation, and a dedicated support team, while also expressing her desire for an elusive Asian Games gold and her hopes for Indian squash at the 2028 Olympics.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced that the SRY gene test will be mandatory for all athletes participating in its approved competitions across all age categories, effective from 2027. This decision, subject to legal formalities, aligns with new World Athletics regulations for female category eligibility.
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is set to begin on August 15, with India featuring in both the men's and women's tournaments. Here is the complete India schedule, fixtures and squad details for the World Cup.
The Indian men's hockey team's failure to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup has highlighted significant issues, including a lack of intent in player transition and questionable selection decisions, according to former players and experts.
Brazil forward Neymar will not travel with the squad for their second World Cup group game against Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday as he continues to recover from a calf injury, the Brazilian football association said.
India faces a critical challenge against co-hosts and reigning Olympic champions the Netherlands in their Hockey World Cup second-round opener.
Indian football coach Khalid Jamil and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu view the upcoming FIFA international friendly against World Cup participant Panama as a crucial learning opportunity. They believe playing stronger teams is essential for India's development and ambition to become a world-class football nation, despite Panama's superior ranking and World Cup experience. The match is seen as a chance to understand the demands of top-tier football and integrate younger players into the squad.
England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, a heavyweight Group L opener that could set the tone for both teams' tournament ambitions.
Aaron Rai has made an impressive start at the BMW PGA Championship, leading the field with a 6-under 66. Playing alongside major champions Rory McIlroy and Ryan Fox, Rai's strong performance puts him in a prime position, while McIlroy and Fox also remain in contention after their opening rounds.
The Indian table tennis team, featuring strong contenders like the men's doubles pair of Manush Shah and Manav Thakkar, has commenced its Asian Games campaign in Nagoya with aspirations of securing at least one medal. Both men's and women's teams are in Group F, facing Indonesia and other opponents. The team, a mix of experienced players and rising stars like Syndrela Das, is confident after acclimatising to the conditions.
Pakistan's chief selector Samiullah Khan believes a draw against arch-rivals India will be crucial for the national hockey team to advance past the group stage in the upcoming World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. Pakistan, participating after an eight-year hiatus, has announced a 20-member squad, with foreign coaches assisting the team.
The complete schedule and all the results of FIFA World Cup 2026 in IST.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised that India's Olympic performance can significantly improve by increasing participation in sports where the nation currently lacks representation. Speaking at the Khelo India Dialogue, Modi highlighted that India competes in only half of the Olympic sports, leading to a missed opportunity for medals. He also reiterated his vision for sports as a nation-building process, not just about winning medals, and mentioned a nationwide talent hunt for young children.
India's men's and women's table tennis teams have both secured their spots in the quarterfinals of the Asian Games after achieving dominant 3-0 victories over their Pakistani counterparts.
South Africa international midfielder Jayden Adams, who played a key role in his country's 2026 World Cup campaign, has died at the age of 25, with no cause of death immediately provided.
The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash at the FIH Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen is a complete sell-out, with tickets having been sold online in phases since September 2025.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Arjuna Awardee Roopa Unnikrishnan gives away the rifles that shaped her brilliant shooting career, hoping they will inspire a new generation of Indian shooters.
Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi have successfully navigated the lower bracket of the Esports World Cup chess tournament in Paris, securing their spots in the quarter-finals. The duo will now compete in the knockout stage, aiming for the US$1.5 million prize pool.
Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo and Denmark's Patrick Dorgu have both been forced to withdraw from their respective Nations League squads due to injuries sustained during recent matches, impacting their national teams' upcoming fixtures.
Jamshedpur FC players have released an emotional video appealing to owners Tata Group to reverse their decision to shut down the Indian Super League club.
World Cup-winning Spanish footballer Gerard Pique has become a strategic shareholder in the Global Chess League franchise American Gambits. Pique, known for his illustrious football career, expressed his long-standing fascination with chess and his ambition to elevate the sport's global appeal. The fourth edition of the Global Chess League, featuring top grandmasters, is scheduled for September 3-13.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced 12 venues across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia for the 2027 ODI World Cup, marking the tournament's return to Africa after 24 years, with a new 57-match, three-stage format designed to enhance competitiveness and fan experience.
VVS Laxman, chief of the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), confirmed that the search for a permanent Head of Sports Science and Medicine is ongoing, nearly 18 months after Nitin Patel's departure, despite mounting injury cases among Indian cricketers.
India's Women's Hockey team, buoyed by a draw against China, is set to face South Africa in their second World Cup match. A win is crucial for their qualification hopes for the second round. Coach Sjoerd Marijne acknowledges areas for improvement, particularly in ball possession, despite strong performances from key players like Deepika and Navneet Kaur.
The Sport & Rights Alliance has urged the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) to abandon its new sex-testing policy, labelling it a 'discriminatory measure' that will cause 'stigmatisation and trauma' for women and girls.
Cricket South Africa CEO Pholetsi Moseki expressed excitement as the brand identity and 12 host venues for the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup were unveiled, marking the tournament's return to Africa after 24 years with a new three-stage format.
Advocacy groups issued a travel advisory on Thursday, warning that visitors traveling to the US for the 2026 World Cup may face arbitrary detention or deportation, among other human rights abuses.
Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan has joined the ownership group of Vancouver Anchors, a franchise in the Canada Super 60 league, reuniting with his former teammate Yuvraj Singh. Khan brings his extensive international cricket experience to the league, which features men's and women's competitions and aims to promote global cricket growth.
India's campaign in the FIH Women's World Cup concluded after a goalless draw against Australia in their final second-round match.
Hockey India has issued a show-cause notice to its Director General, Cdr R K Srivastava, immediately stripping him of all powers. The notice lists eight charges, prominently featuring the controversial change in the Indian team's World Cup jersey and Srivastava's unauthorised travel to the event despite directives to focus on the Hockey India League. He has four weeks to respond, failing which further action will be taken.
The Indian men's and women's hockey teams discover their opponents for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup, co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium.
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to extend his contract, leading the men's national team through the 2030 World Cup, following their last-16 finish at this year's finals.
Jay Meena secured India's first-ever soft tennis medal at the Asian Games, winning a bronze after a hard-fought semifinal loss to Japan's Takuya Kurosaka. Meena, playing in his third Asian Games, showed resilience but ultimately settled for bronze.
