FIFA has transformed its referee preparation for the World Cup, treating officials like elite athletes. This rigorous training includes physical assessments, game-like simulations, and advanced data tracking to ensure referees can perform optimally under challenging conditions like extreme humidity and high altitude, minimising errors due to fatigue.
French Open champion Alexander Zverev has an allergy to grass and admits to struggling on Wimbledon's "beautiful" Centre Court but showed enough in a first-round win over hard-hitting Belgian Alexander Blockx on Tuesday to suggest he could embark on his best run yet in southwest London.
Indian badminton players, including Kidambi Srikanth, faced a challenging start at the Canada Open Super 300 event, with most shuttlers failing to advance past the opening round. Only Tanya Hemnath and Aakarshi Kashyap secured spots in the women's singles second round.
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is set to make a highly anticipated return to the tournament on Tuesday, facing Maya Joint in the first round. The 44-year-old tennis icon, who had announced her retirement in 2022, is back in competitive play this month. The day's schedule also features defending champion Iga Swiatek and other top seeds like Alexander Zverev and Elena Rybakina.
Naomi Osaka walked onto Court 3 in an all-white kimono, the traditional national dress of Japan, paired with a traditional kanzashi hair ornament, before unveiling a white Nike dress.
England pace spearhead Jofra Archer attributed India's struggles in the T20I series to the return to 'normal' English conditions, contrasting them with the 'easy wickets and smaller boundaries' experienced during the IPL. Archer's 3/29 and Josh Tongue's 4/38 led to India's biggest T20I defeat by runs.
Glenn Phillips completed his maiden Test century as New Zealand punished a wayward England attack to pile on the runs on the second day of the second Test at the Oval in London on Thursday.
Authorities in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, have initiated demolition proceedings against the Mughal Banquet Hall in Kairana after it was found to be an unauthorised structure and allegedly served beef at a wedding reception. Four individuals, including the groom and hall owner, have been arrested in connection with the case, with a car also seized.
Former England cricketer Liam Plunkett swapped his cricket colours for a baseball glove on Friday, playing his first game for independent American club Oakland Ballers and even claiming a strikeout.
With the temperatures set to rise again in London, Wimbledon chiefs and accommodation organisers are making sure that the fans and players have what they need to keep cool.
It remains to be seen if India will fall back on Sanju Samson to revive their sagging fortunes with a revamped batting order in the must-win fourth T20 International in Bristol on Thursday.
Indian golfer Yuvraj Sandhu missed the cut at the Austrian Alpine Open after carding a 5-over 75 in the second round. Andrew Johnston leads the tournament.
Antonelli won the 17-lap sprint ahead of Hamilton, a record nine-times winner at Silverstone in a career that started in 2007, to go 43 points clear of Briton Russell in the standings.
New Zealand opener Tom Latham has equalled legendary Martin Crowe's record of 17 Test centuries, becoming the joint third-highest century-scorer for his country. This milestone was achieved during his impressive 151-run knock against England in Nottingham, further solidifying his place in New Zealand's cricketing history.
New Zealand need 254 runs to defeat England in the opening Test of the three-match series after bowling the hosts out for 226 in their second innings at Lord's on Friday.
World Cup music isn't random; FIFA's 'Stadium Entertainment Team' curates over 750 songs, mixing global classics with country-specific favourites, with each team having signature, warm-up, and goal-scoring tracks.
Jannik Sinner's Wimbledon title defence gathered pace on Friday as the world number one swept aside American Jenson Brooksby 6-4 6-3 6-4 to enter the fourth round and reinforce his status as the man to beat at the All England Club.
England exploited to the full a Lord's pitch once again offering erratic bounce and lateral movement on Sunday to win the rain-interrupted first Test against New Zealand by 115 runs with a day and two sessions to spare.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, confirmed that the US will continue to assess Iran's travel arrangements for the tournament despite their complaints about restrictions.
England's aspirations for a maiden World Test Championship final appearance have been significantly impacted after they were docked 12 points due to a slow over-rate during their recent defeat to New Zealand at The Oval. The penalty, alongside a 50% match fee fine, has caused their points percentage to drop, making their path to the final more challenging.
England coach Brendon McCullum revealed he tried to convince Ben Stokes not to retire, calling the Test captain a "leader of men" whose leadership and presence will be impossible to replace as England prepare for a new era.
England cricket captain Ben Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson have been fully cleared by the Cricket Regulator following an investigation into a London nightclub incident.
Watching the World Cup and hearing the music in the stadium may have left you wondering - how is that chosen? Is it just coincidence that "Wonderwall" plays after England matches? Are "Freed from Desire" or "Livin' on a Prayer" always played? And why?
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.
Serena Williams returns to Wimbledon for the first time since 2022, with fans eagerly awaiting the seven-time champion's comeback as she faces Australian teenager Maya Joint in a blockbuster first-round clash.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career defined by match-winning brilliance, iconic Ashes moments, World Cup glory, and a transformative impact on English cricket across all formats.
England coach Brendon McCullum has strongly denied any rift with Test captain Ben Stokes, calling speculation 'amusing' after Stokes' suspension for a curfew breach.
Serena Williams' unexpected return to Wimbledon after a four-year absence is set to be the dominant storyline of the women's singles draw. Despite her age and time away from competitive singles, her presence adds significant intrigue to a tournament already featuring top contenders like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and rising star Mirra Andreeva. Her comeback has generated immense buzz, with experts debating her potential impact on the wide-open field.
Seamer Ollie Robinson, whose player-of-the-match performance guided England to victory in the first Test against New Zealand, will miss the second match due to a sore right knee.
Singer Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce are reportedly already married after a private ceremony, with their grand Madison Square Garden celebration now underway.
Josh Little, Mark Adair, Paul Stirling, Curtis Campher, Barry McCarthy and Jordan Neill have been ruled out of the two-match T20 series against India with injuries.
Last year's Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova secured a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over qualifier Lina Gjorcheska in her first-round match, showing no signs of her previous final defeat. The American advanced to the second round in just 61 minutes, despite recent wrist injury concerns.
Croatia's Donna Vekic resisted a gutsy fightback by Emma Raducanu in front of a partisan crowd to claim the Queen's Club title with a 6-0, 7-6(6) win in a high-quality final on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic confirmed that Serena Williams is hitting the gym harder than ever ahead of her eagerly awaited Wimbledon return as he led the praise for the 44-year-old American icon on Saturday.
Ben Stokes is back as England captain and insists his focus is firmly on the series-deciding Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, after a turbulent fortnight off the field.
Ollie Robinson marked his return to England's Test side with a four-wicket haul as New Zealand slid to 61-6 at stumps, trailing by 79 runs after a see-saw opening day of the three-match series at Lord's on Thursday.
Captain Ben Stokes and speedster Gus Atkinson will return to the side for the third Test against New Zealand in Nottingham following conclusion of a disciplinary hearing.
England expect Ben Stokes to return to captain the side in the third Test against New Zealand, head coach Brendon McCullum said on Sunday.
The England football team's training equipment, including players' boots and manager Thomas Tuchel's tactical gear, was reportedly stolen in Kansas City ahead of their World Cup opener against Croatia. The Football Association and local police are investigating, with two arrests already made.
One of the world's gentleman cricketers has quietly walked away from the game, just as he played it: With grace, dignity, and zero fuss.
