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.
The halftime interval in Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is set to last more than 15 minutes because of the installation required for the tournament's first halftime entertainment show, broadcasting sources said on Friday.
Sri Lanka's remarkable lower-order resistance helped deny India a series sweep, with the tailenders facing more deliveries than the team's openers across the series.
Indian top seed Anahat Singh and three male players, Aryaveer Dewan, Yusha Nafees, and Gurveer Singh, have advanced in their respective categories at the World Squash Junior Individual Championships in Ontario, Canada, showcasing a strong start for the Indian contingent.
Indian men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh believes his side is capable of ending the country's five-decade-long World Cup medal drought, drawing parallels with the team's success at the Tokyo Olympics.
The Indian men's hockey team lost 1-3 to Olympic champions the Netherlands in a critical second-round match of the FIH World Cup in Amstelveen. The Netherlands scored three field goals in the second half, while India's sole goal came from a Harmanpreet Singh penalty corner.
Indian shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar and Elavenil Valarivan reached the women's 10m air rifle final at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
The FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina garnered nearly 63 million viewers in the United States, setting new viewership records and highlighting football's increasing popularity in the country.
Indian table tennis player Ankur Bhattacharjee achieved a significant milestone by winning his first WTT men's singles title and a doubles gold with Akash Pal at the WTT Feeder Olomouc tournament. Bhattacharjee defeated Slovenian Deni Kozul in the singles final and, alongside Pal, secured the doubles title against Hungarian and Polish opponents.
UAE cricketer Asif Khan has been banned for 15 months by the ICC after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid, mesterolone, during an out-of-competition test. The ban is backdated, and his past results from September 2025 have been disqualified.
India have never looked so vulnerable in Test cricket in recent times. They need a complete reset of their approach to Test cricket, and perhaps a new coach with fresh ideas could revitalise Shubman Gill and his boys.
Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh, an Arjuna Award recipient, is set to make her debut in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League Season 4 with defending champions Alpine Pipers. She will join a star-studded team including Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, and Vidit Gujrathi, expressing excitement for the rapid chess format and playing in front of a home crowd.
Superstars Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, and Shakira delivered a high-energy musical medley during the first-ever halftime show at a World Cup final, a new American-style addition to the tournament.
JK Tyre has signed 11-year-old racing sensation Atiqa Mir, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing young talent in Indian motorsport. Atiqa, who has already achieved significant international success, joins an elite list of drivers supported by the company, including F1 legends Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok. Her journey also highlights the increasing presence of women in motorsport.
The all-new, globally first YZF-R2 is priced from Rs 2,30,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty caused a major upset on the opening day of the BWF World Championships by defeating world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu also comfortably advanced to the second round in women's singles, while other Indian doubles pairs, Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and Hariharan Amsakarunan-MR Arjun, secured their spots in the next round.
Aryna Sabalenka aims to secure her third consecutive US Open title, a feat not achieved since Serena Williams. However, a recent dip in form and a challenge to her world number one ranking from Elena Rybakina cast doubt on her chances, with experts noting her vulnerability.
World Cup champions Spain climbed back to the top of the FIFA men's rankings released on Monday, while runners-up Argentina slipped to second following their defeat in the final.
Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen secured a hard-fought victory against Collins Valentine Filimon in the opening round of the BWF World Championships, attributing his win to crucial tactical adjustments after losing the first game. He will now face Garret Tan of the USA.
Didier Deschamps, who led France to their second world title in 2018 and established them as international football's most consistent major-tournament force, will be remembered for his unprecedented legacy despite recent semi-final defeats.
JK Tyre has signed 11-year-old racing sensation Atiqa Mir, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing young talent in Indian motorsport. Mir, who has already achieved significant success on the international karting circuit, including podium finishes and victories in Europe, is the first Indian supported by the F1 Academy and the highest-ranked female in her category. This sponsorship highlights her potential as an emerging talent and JK Tyre's legacy in supporting top Indian drivers.
A 13-year-old boy was killed and two others injured in Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain, when a fountain collapsed during celebrations for Spain's FIFA World Cup 2026 victory. The tragic incident cast a shadow over nationwide festivities after Spain secured its second World Cup title with a 1-0 win over Argentina.
Former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the new coach of the Netherlands national football team, signing a four-year deal. He has pledged to implement an attractive, dominant style of play while instilling a strong desire to win. Xavi aims to build a cohesive team from talented players and is ready to face the pressure of his new role, starting with a Nations League match against Germany.
Shubman Gill called India's drawn second Test against Sri Lanka frustrating but praised his players' effort, cleared Mohammad Siraj of injury concerns and backed India's WTC qualification hopes.
Brand USA, the destination marketing organisation for the United States, has launched a new social-first series called 'More to Love'. This campaign aims to leverage the success of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which was hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico, to encourage international fans to return and explore more of the country's diverse attractions, including its national parks and various states. The campaign is being amplified globally, including in India.
Divya Mittal, a 2013-batch IAS officer and former Deoria district magistrate, has resigned from the Indian Administrative Service after 13 years. An alumna of IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore, Mittal cited no specific reason but reflected on her journey from working in London to serving India, highlighting her impactful tenures in Mirzapur and Deoria.
Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will face-off as defending champions Argentina meet reigning European champions Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, in New York on Saturday.
Sri Lanka spinner Prabath Jayasuriya received a reprimand and one demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct by abusing cricket equipment after his dismissal on day two of the second Test against India.
Indian badminton pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand clinched a historic medal at the World Championships, defeating China's Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian in a thrilling quarter-final match. The unseeded duo fought back from a game down to win 16-21, 21-15, 21-13, assuring India of at least a bronze. This achievement marks India's first women's doubles medal at the event since 2011 and comes after Treesa's recent recovery from an ankle injury.
FIFA's 'Debut FIFA World Cup' sleeve patch for the 2026 tournament is designed to celebrate first-time players and personalise kits.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has made three changes to his starting XI for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, bringing Reece James and Djed Spence into the defence, while Argentina's Lionel Scaloni makes one switch, with Giuliano Simeone replacing Rodrigo De Paul.
Norway's star striker Erling Haaland celebrated his team's FIFA World Cup Round of 16 qualification with viral cowboy and Viking-themed social media posts after scoring a dramatic late winner against Ivory Coast. He also marked becoming the fastest player to score 60 goals for his national team.
'...his victory in securing the champion's title is a fitting recognition of his extraordinary talent and unwavering perseverance.'
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz has spoken about the "intrusive thoughts" he experienced during his nearly five-month layoff due to a wrist injury. Ahead of his U.S. Open title defence, the Spaniard revealed the mental challenges of not knowing his return date, especially after missing major tournaments. He is now set to compete, though his rival Jannik Sinner has withdrawn.
Javed Miandad broke down while pleading for Imran Khan's release, defending his former captain as honest and urging authorities to resolve his imprisonment amid growing health concerns.
Cristiano Ronaldo's illustrious World Cup career concluded with tears after Portugal's 1-0 defeat by Spain in the round of 16, marking the end of his sixth attempt to win the coveted trophy.
Japanese ice-skating champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, known as 'Riku-Ryu', have announced their engagement, becoming partners off as well as on the ice after winning Olympic gold.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals are set, featuring a diverse lineup of one South American, one African, and six European teams, including defending champions Argentina and France, alongside surprise packages like Morocco and Norway, all vying for football's ultimate prize.
Bangladesh have moved above India to fourth position in the ICC World Test Championship standings after securing a historic nine-wicket victory against Australia in the first Test in Darwin.
Say hello to Bianca Arora, who's all set to make her debut in Alia Bhatt's Don't Be Shy.
