Arsenal commenced their Premier League title defence with a commanding 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Coventry City. Goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard secured the win, showcasing Arsenal's intent for the season.
Nongkseh SS&CC concluded their Durand Cup campaign with a resounding 7-0 victory over Mumbay FC in a Group E fixture.
TRAU FC defeated Indian Navy FT 2-1 in their final Durand Cup Group D fixture, thanks to a brace from Afridi Buyamayum and a strong performance by goalkeeper Tajuddin. Despite the victory, both teams were eliminated from the tournament, with FC Raengdai advancing as group winners.
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh have secured their spots in the Division A semifinals of the Junior Women National Hockey Championship in Pune. Jharkhand won a thrilling shootout against Odisha, while Haryana and Chhattisgarh recorded decisive victories. Madhya Pradesh also advanced after defeating Manipur, setting up exciting semifinal clashes.
India's Women's Hockey team will compete against higher-ranked Germany in the fifth-place playoff at the Women's Hockey World Cup, aiming to conclude their impressive campaign with a victory and build momentum for the upcoming Asian Games.
Giuliano Simeone, son of manager Diego Simeone, scored a dramatic late equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw for 10-man Atletico Madrid against Villarreal. The match was marked by fan anger towards striker Julian Alvarez and a contentious red card for Robin Le Normand.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured a dominant 6-0 victory over CISF Protectors in the 135th Durand Cup, with Sahal Abdul Samad scoring a first-half hat-trick.
FC Goa's AFC Champions League Two campaign concluded with a 0-3 loss to Turkmenistan's FC Arkadag, relegating the Indian club to the AFC Challenge League, the third tier of Asian club football.
East Bengal's women's team secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Rajshahi Stars FC of Bangladesh in their AFC Women's Champions League Preliminary Round opener, with Olivia Anokye scoring a brace and India internationals Astam Oraon and Soumya Guguloth adding to the tally.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and Norway striker Erling Haaland have been named in the fan-voted FIFA World Cup dream team, with both rewarded for standout performances during unexpected runs by their teams.
Carlo Espi, a close-season signing, scored in the 90th minute to give Real Madrid a dramatic 2-1 victory over Espanyol in their LaLiga opener, securing three points for Jose Mourinho's returning side.
India women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne attributed his side's goalless draw against Australia, which led to their World Cup semi-final exit, to nerves and an inability to convert opportunities, despite calling the fifth-sixth place playoff a 'significant achievement'.
East Bengal FC's women's team achieved a historic 12-0 victory over Rovers FC (Guam) in the AFC Women's Champions League preliminary stage, marking the biggest win by an Indian club in any Asian competition. This dominant performance puts them one step closer to the group stage.
TRAU FC and NEROCA FC played out a goalless draw in a high-intensity Imphal Derby during the Durand Cup. Both teams created numerous scoring opportunities, with goalkeepers making crucial saves. TRAU FC finished the match with ten men after Adriko Rogers received a red card, but NEROCA FC failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage.
India's Hockey World Cup campaign ended in disappointment after a 5-3 defeat to Argentina, highlighting persistent defensive issues and a struggle to perform against top-ranked teams. The team's problems, including conceding early goals and a lack of intensity, had been building throughout the year.
Cape Verde's World Cup star goalkeeper Vozinha has agreed to join Chilean club Colo Colo, pending a medical. The 40-year-old free agent's move follows his impressive performances at the recent World Cup, where he was part of FIFA's fan-selected dream team.
Argentina's men's hockey captain, Matias Rey, draws inspiration from football legend Lionel Messi as he leads his team in his sixth World Cup. Rey, like Messi, emphasizes the "never give up" philosophy learned from the national football team's success. The team, including goalkeeper Tomas Santiago, is preparing for a tough match against India, focusing on neutralizing key players like Harmanpreet Singh, while fans show their support by wearing Messi's jersey.
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.
India's women's hockey team faces a challenging opening match against Olympic silver medallists China in the FIH Hockey World Cup. The crucial Pool D encounter in Amstelveen will set the tone for India's campaign, with both teams also set to meet at the upcoming Asian Games. India, buoyed by recent strong performances and an experienced squad, aims to improve on past World Cup finishes and secure a positive start against a formidable Chinese side.
The Indian Navy football team secured their first victory in the Durand Cup, defeating NEROCA FC 2-0 in a Group D fixture. Goals from Roshan Panna and E Muhammed Inayath sealed the win, moving the Navy to second place in their group.
Hull City marked their Premier League return after nine years with a deserved 2-0 victory over Manchester United, exposing flaws in Michael Carrick's promising side.
Inter Milan and Napoli secured victories in their Serie A openers, while Racing Lens and Olympique Lyonnais also began their Ligue 1 campaigns with wins, setting an early pace in their respective leagues.
FC Raengdai, making their Durand Cup debut, secured a 1-0 victory against last year's quarter-finalists Indian Navy Football Team. Khaidem Amarjit Singh scored the winning goal in the 58th minute, marking the club's first-ever Durand Cup goal. The Manipuri side displayed a strong performance, with a disciplined defence holding off Indian Navy's late pressure.
Indian women's hockey captain Salima Tete believes the team's recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to compete for the top prize at the FIH Women's World Cup 2026, despite facing a challenging pool.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his squad's hunger and motivation to win the Community Shield against Manchester City, aiming to start the new season with a trophy after a busy recruitment period.
Samaleswari Sporting bounced back from an opening defeat to secure a commanding 4-1 victory over Durand Cup debutants Baghpat FC. Basit Ahmed Bhat scored twice, supported by goals from Marat Tareck and Gnohere Krizo, while Crispin Cleetus netted Baghpat's lone goal. The Odisha-based team controlled the second half, extending their lead and comfortably seeing out the match.
East Bengal FC secured a comprehensive 5-0 victory over South United FC in their final Durand Cup Group A match, significantly boosting their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Legendary Indian hockey player P R Sreejesh has urged the men's team to ignore the ongoing jersey colour controversy and focus on ending the 50-year World Cup medal drought. He dismissed concerns about the saffron jersey, noting past colour changes, but questioned the visibility argument. Sreejesh emphasised that if players approved the change, the debate should cease, and politics should be kept out of sports. He also expressed confidence in the team's ability to perform despite the off-field distractions.
Arsenal beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield on Sunday, giving Mikel Arteta an early-season triumph while condemning new City boss Enzo Maresca to defeat in his first game in charge in the traditional curtain-raiser to the campaign.
India played an impressive opening match at the Women's Hockey World Cup, securing a 2-2 draw against Olympic silver medallists China, with goals from Navneet Kaur and Deepika.
Paris St Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 to retain the UEFA Super Cup, with goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue. Despite Brian Madjo's equaliser for Villa, PSG secured their victory, marking another trophy for manager Luis Enrique and highlighting their continued dominance in European football.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated arch-rivals East Bengal 1-0 in the Durand Cup opener, thanks to a decisive goal from Sahal Abdul Samad and a strong defensive performance led by goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. The pre-season derby saw Mohun Bagan combine clinical finishing with resolute defending to secure the win.
Legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn offers his expert analysis on the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, highlighting tactical discipline, mental strength, and fine margins as key determinants. He previews the Spain vs France clash, discusses the evolving role of goalkeepers, and gives France a slight edge as the strongest contender.
Pakistan hockey captain Abu Bakar Mahmood expressed confidence in his team's ability to defeat arch-rivals India at the upcoming FIH World Cup, stating that "rankings don't matter" in such high-stakes encounters and performance on the day is key.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has accelerated India's preparations for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup by appointing Bibiano Fernandes as head coach and Ranjit Bajaj as team manager. The tournament, scheduled for October in Azerbaijan, will feature an 8vs8 format with direct entry for all FIFA member associations. The AIFF also addressed other matters, including the Santosh Trophy format and budget approvals.
Defender Anmol Ekka will captain the 18-member Indian men's hockey team for the AHF Junior Asia Cup in China from August 30 to September 13. The squad, training in Bengaluru under coach Frederic Soyez, recently completed an exposure tour of Belgium and is playing friendly matches against Malaysia U-21 as part of their preparations.
Brazilian forward Rodriguinho made a sensational debut for SC Delhi, scoring five goals to lead his team to a dominant 7-0 victory over Defenders FC in the Durand Cup. This win propelled SC Delhi to the top of Group C, bringing them closer to a quarter-final spot, while Defenders FC exited the tournament without a point.
Former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh has lauded current captain Harmanpreet Singh as a 'trump card' for the upcoming FIH World Cup, citing his aggressive playing style and consistent performance in crucial moments. Jugraj, who sees his own reflection in Harmanpreet's game, rates him among the world's top three drag-flickers and believes the team is well-prepared to end India's long wait for a World Cup medal.
India's men's hockey team has announced its 20-member squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, featuring one change with midfielder Raj Kumar Pal replacing Aditya Arjun Lalage. Led by Harmanpreet Singh, the team aims for gold and direct qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics.
Legendary German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has voiced his opinions on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, advocating for quicker decisions by relying more on Video Operation Room officials rather than on-field referees reviewing screens. He also expressed mixed feelings about the proposed 48-team World Cup format, acknowledging opportunities for smaller nations but warning against potential dilution of quality.
