Zinedine Zidane's France were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy in their Nations League match at the Stade de France. Michael Olise opened the scoring for France, but Alessandro Bastoni equalised for Italy. The match also saw France reduced to 10 men late in the game. In another Group A1 fixture, Belgium secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Turkey.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that significant progress has been made in negotiations with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. However, President Donald Trump remains cautious, vowing not to accept a 'bad deal' regarding Iran's nuclear programme and regional stability.
Temba Bavuma will lead South Africa against Australia, with Gerald Coetzee recalled, Kagiso Rabada injured, and Dewald Brevis omitted as the Proteas strengthen World Cup preparations.
Kylian Mbappe describes Zinedine Zidane becoming his France coach as "like something out of a movie," completing a remarkable journey that began with Zidane guiding him toward Real Madrid.
World champions Spain defeated England 3-2 in a thrilling Nations League opener at Wembley, capitalising on two significant defensive errors. Mikel Oyarzabal scored the winner after England had briefly mounted a comeback. The article also covers Croatia's 2-1 win over the Czech Republic and Scotland's 0-0 draw with Slovenia.
Liverpool's early season woes persisted with a goalless draw against Fulham, while Chelsea needed a late equaliser from Joao Pedro to salvage a 2-2 draw against surprise package Hull City. Nottingham Forest secured a late win against Aston Villa, and 10-man Crystal Palace fell to Ipswich Town in a thrilling encounter.
The Indian football team, ranked 138th, achieved a commendable 1-1 draw against world No. 44 Panama in a FIFA International friendly. Ryan Williams scored for India, while Omar Valencia equalised for Panama. This result is considered a significant achievement under coach Khalid Jamil and provides a morale boost ahead of upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay.
US President Donald Trump has expressed interest to his advisers in setting up a meeting with Iranian officials present in New York for the UN General Assembly's 81st session, "if the conditions are right."
Peruvian tennis player Ignacio Buse secured his maiden US Open victory, defeating Marcos Giron in a five-setter.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma carded an even-par 72 in the third round of the Husqvarna British Masters, causing him to drop from T-13 to T-33. Marco Penge and Daniel Hillier are currently sharing the lead heading into the final round, with weather disruptions having affected the tournament earlier in the week.
Atletico Madrid defeated 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a heated LaLiga derby at the Metropolitano. Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David secured the win, moving Atletico above Real in the standings. Real's Dean Huijsen was sent off, and Antonio Ruediger scored a late consolation goal.
The Indian football team is set to play a series of international friendlies against Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay, offering valuable experience against world-class opponents. These matches are crucial for the team to assess its current standard and gain confidence, despite facing significantly more accomplished sides.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit the United States from September 23 to 25 for summit talks with US President Donald Trump, with discussions expected to cover critical economic and trade issues, including AI, and the recently signed US sanctions law targeting countries buying Russian oil and gas.
Top US and Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, held "candid, in-depth and constructive" talks in New York on economic and trade issues, with a specific focus on artificial intelligence. These discussions precede Chinese President Xi Jinping's anticipated visit to Washington and occur amidst new US sanctions targeting countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, and the US unveiling an "AI Force."
South Africa, featuring a squad with rested regulars, defeated Zimbabwe by 48 runs in the Tri-Series final in Windhoek. Opener Jordan Hermann's 53 runs and strong bowling performances from Bjorn Fortuin and Duan Jansen secured the trophy for the Proteas.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that discussions aimed at halting the conflict with Iran have shown "some slight progress," while simultaneously echoing Washington's dissatisfaction with its NATO allies.
Manchester United and Tottenham face crucial Premier League tests this weekend, while Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea seek momentum.
Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting supports Marco Jansen's late arrival for the IPL, acknowledging logistical challenges faced by South African players after the T20 World Cup.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma successfully made the cut at the weather-affected Husqvarna British Masters, carding rounds of 69 and 71 to finish tied 13th at 4-under. Despite challenging conditions and multiple rain disruptions, Sharma displayed strong composure. While fellow Indian Yuvraj Sandhu missed the cut, local favourite Marco Penge leads the tournament, with Sharma well-positioned for the final rounds.
Tottenham Hotspur have significantly boosted their squad by signing Brazil winger Savinho from Manchester City, pushing their close-season spending beyond 300 million under manager Roberto De Zerbi, following a narrow escape from relegation last season.
Dewald Brevis smashed an unbeaten 75 off 32 balls as South Africa bounced back from their Namibia defeat, chasing Zimbabwe's 144 for eight with 38 balls remaining.
Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse Racing secured a dominant victory at the British MotoGP, leading from the start after championship leader Jorge Martin faced an early technical issue. Despite Martin's setback, he recovered to finish second, extending his overall championship lead. Marco Bezzecchi finished third, while defending champion Marc Marquez had a challenging race, finishing seventh.
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.
Champions Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over Sunderland, maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League season and moving clear at the top. Meanwhile, title contenders Liverpool and Chelsea were held to draws against Fulham and Hull City respectively. Other notable results include Aston Villa's loss to Nottingham Forest, Ipswich's win against Crystal Palace, and Tottenham's continued struggle to score goals.
Tiger Woods agreed to a five-year driving licence suspension in an impaired-driving plea deal, with the judge warning that any violation could result in immediate imprisonment.
The US has informed allies it will avoid new military strikes on Iran, instead focusing on economic sanctions and maritime enforcement, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic shift aims to intensify pressure on Tehran's economy and oil exports while keeping the military option open if Iran initiates aggression. Diplomatic efforts continue amidst persistent regional tensions and maritime incidents.
Chelsea is undergoing a significant close-season transformation under new manager Xabi Alonso, with major signings like Morgan Rogers.
South African bowler Marco Jansen reveals he studied and attempted to replicate Jasprit Bumrah's bowling technique after watching replays from a Test match in Kolkata, which led to improved performance in the T20 World Cup.
The BRICS summit in New Delhi brings together leaders from major emerging economies to address global challenges like trade disputes, geopolitical upheavals, and the economic impact of conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. India, as chair, aims to position BRICS as an economic growth engine, focusing on the Global South's food, energy, and supply chain security. The summit also highlights the grouping's expansion and its growing influence in global governance.
Manchester City secured a narrow 1-0 victory over promoted Coventry City in the Premier League, maintaining their perfect start to the season despite a significant spending spree. Other matches saw Crystal Palace claim their first win against Fulham, while Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton, Leeds, Brentford, and Sunderland all played out draws. Several teams, including Coventry and Fulham, remain without points after three games.
Donald Trump announced a landmark agreement with Venezuela, claiming it to be the 'biggest oil deal in world history'. The deal reportedly grants the US majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven crude oil reserves, aiming to double American oil reserves and lower domestic gasoline prices.
Chelsea secured a breathless 3-2 victory over West London rivals Fulham in Xabi Alonso's first Premier League match as coach, with goals from Joao Pedro, Morgan Rogers, and Cole Palmer.
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.
The US State Department has paused visa appointments worldwide to conduct a 'global training initiative' for consular officers, aiming to ensure applicants are not likely to become a 'public charge' and are comprehensively evaluated, intensifying President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reportedly sought support from the Trump administration following the collapse of his plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights, facing mounting criticism and feeling 'isolated' by negative media coverage.
Former Spain defender Joan Capdevila has appealed to President Donald Trump for help after being denied permission to enter the United States for Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and defending champions Argentina.
South Africa has appointed spinner Bjorn Fortuin as captain for their upcoming Twenty20 tri-series against Namibia and Zimbabwe, and a three-game One-Day International series, aiming to provide international experience to younger players ahead of a busy schedule.
Cruz Hewitt, son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, earned his first ATP Tour-level win at the Washington Open at the age of 17, defeating Marcos Giron.
England bagged third place at the World Cup after beating France 6-4 on Saturday, while Les Bleus' captain Kylian Mbappe became the tournament's all-time top scorer with 22 goals on coach Didier Deschamps' last game after 14 years in charge.
US intelligence agencies intercepted information indicating Iran had precise details of President Donald Trump's location in Ankara during a NATO summit, prompting a secretive departure due to a specific surface-to-air missile threat and the presence of a shoulder-fired missile near the summit.
