Lionel Messi will face England for the first time in his career when Argentina meet the Three Lions in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, ending a 20-year wait for one of football's most anticipated match-ups.
Nearly 150 Indian Super League players, including national team members, face an uncertain future as their contracts expire amid ongoing disputes between the AIFF and clubs over the league's structure.
Indian rally driver Naveen Puligilla and co-driver Musa Sherif are set to compete in the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, the third round of the FIA African Rally Championship. The duo, known for their previous podium finishes in WRC3 and ARC3 categories, will drive a Ford Fiesta and aim for another strong performance on the demanding mountain stages.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is set to be football's largest tournament but will unfold against a backdrop of significant geopolitical tensions, including conflicts, strained alliances, and complex immigration policies, challenging its traditional role as a symbol of global unity.
Iran hosted a large send-off rally for its World Cup team in Tehran, despite ongoing concerns about visa issues for entry into the United States, where the team is scheduled to play its group matches.
Morocco's coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed immense pride after his team defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to advance to the World Cup last 16.
Major League Baseball has announced a partnership with Indian cricket star Suryakumar Yadav, appointing him as an MLB Ambassador to promote baseball among Indian sports fans. Yadav will participate in various events in India and the U.S., including the MLB All-Star week, and will curate content to connect with fans. This initiative is part of MLB's broader strategy to engage with India's vibrant sports culture, alongside renewing its broadcast agreement with JioStar.
Ludhiana Police have busted a large cyber fraud racket, arresting 132 people involved in running fake call centres that targeted foreign nationals through various online scams.
Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele shared a warm embrace in France training ahead of the FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Morocco, easing rumours of tension as Les Bleus chase another semi-final appearance.
Sadhguru's Isha Gramotsavam, a rural sports festival, is expanding its 18th edition into North India, covering 10 states and one Union Territory. This year's event will engage over 80,000 players from 40,000 villages in men's volleyball and women's throwball, offering a prize pool exceeding Rs 1 crore, with the aim of social transformation through sport.
Police forces from several adjoining districts were requisitioned to man key junctions, sensitive locations and government buildings in the Lutyens' area ahead of the march.
Argentina has advanced to the World Cup final after defeating long-time rivals England with two late goals, sparking widespread celebrations across the country, particularly in Cutral Co, Patagonia, home to a new 85-foot statue of Lionel Messi.
Three publishers have been remanded to 10-day police custody in Jammu for allegedly publishing and circulating books that glorify separatist leaders. The Counter Intelligence Unit is investigating the matter, which led to the blacklisting of two publishers and the suspension of several education department officials.
Former England coach Paul Revington has been appointed as the head coach of Hyderabad Toofans for the upcoming Hockey India League season. Revington aims to build a championship-winning culture and develop Indian talent, leveraging the team's past success as bronze and silver medallists.
FIFA is expected to keep the scheduled kickoff for Mexico's World Cup Round of 16 clash against England at the Estadio Azteca despite weather concerns, as the hosts prepare to defend their formidable home record.
Brazil take on bogey team Norway in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, aiming for their first-ever victory over the Scandinavians as Erling Haaland leads Norway's bid for another historic upset.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot and Pedro Porro added another goal as Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday.
Having observed Rohit Sharma up close during his stint with Mumbai Indians, Afghanistan's rising spin star AM Ghazanfar is eager to put those learnings to the test when he takes on the Indian batting great in the upcoming ODI series.
Viswanathan Anand will not seek re-election for a third term as Deputy President of FIDE.
The EPF should remain a retirement nest egg, not be turned into an emergency fund.
Six-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom believes Indian pugilists will secure a 'reasonably good medal haul' at the Commonwealth Games, though gold might be elusive, while expressing less certainty for the Asian Games. She also criticised the Boxing Federation of India's functioning and selection policies.
'They become heroes because of their actions.'
Fireworks, rallies, drone shows and patriotic gatherings marked the historic milestone from coast to coast.
From losing his father to terrorism and watching conflict tear apart his family, to nearly abandoning football before leading Iraq back to the World Cup, Aymen Hussein has overcome obstacles that would have broken many others.
Videos circulated online showed Senegal players being screened by airport security before travelling from Raleigh, North Carolina to San Antonio, Texas for a warm-up friendly against Saudi Arabia ahead of the tournament.
India is sending a strong contingent of U-19 and U-23 boxers, including Asian Champion Vishvanath Suresh and World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari, to the Asian Boxing Championships in Jakarta. The championships will provide a crucial platform for young Indian talent to compete against the best in Asia.
India has been designated as a country with an 'extremely high' risk of doping by World Athletics, leading to more stringent anti-doping measures for Indian athletes.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney playfully attempted to recruit Norwegian football star Erling Haaland for Canada's World Cup squad during a NATO summit meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who humorously declined the offer.
The Sports Ministry has directed Hockey India to investigate allegations of intimidation and sexual harassment made by former India captain Asunta Lakra. Lakra accused HI general secretary Bhola Nath Singh and highlighted institutional protection for alleged misconduct, urging an independent inquiry and stronger safeguards for women athletes.
A compelling all-round performance helped India A thrash Afghanistan A by 101 runs and qualify for the One-day tri-series final in Dambulla on Wednesday.
Iran's football coach, Amir Ghalenoei, has strongly criticised the United States for imposing travel restrictions on his team during the World Cup, claiming it unfairly hampered their preparation and performance.
Dublin-born defender Roberto Lopes, who represented Cape Verde in a recent tournament, received a hero's welcome upon his return to Dublin. Cape Verde, making their debut, impressed by reaching the knockout stage and narrowly losing to reigning champions Argentina, captivating fans globally. Lopes expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from Ireland.
After yet another failure for Sanju Samson -- his third in a row -- 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could make his India debut in the second T20I against England on Saturday.
Cheteshwar Pujara has reflected on his special connection with England after being awarded an honorary life membership of the MCC, calling it a "home away from home" due to his long experience playing county cricket and memorable moments at Lord's.
German investigators have launched nationwide searches, including at the DFB soccer association offices, as part of a probe into suspected ticket and hospitality violations related to the 2024 European Championship. The investigation targets illegal allocation of thousands of tickets and hotel invitations to preferred guests, with one municipal employee suspected of receiving benefits worth 2,400.
Free, customizable "fan bands" have become the unexpected must-have souvenir at the 2026 World Cup, with over 700,000 distributed. Sponsored by Bank of America, these charm wristlets feature subtle branding and have gone viral, even appearing on resale platforms. This marketing strategy offers a counterpoint to the tournament's high ticket and merchandise prices, proving that unique, free items can create significant fan engagement and brand visibility.
The fourth edition of the Oriental Cup, an inter-school football tournament, is scheduled from July 7 to 16 in New Delhi. It will feature over 45 school teams, 1,500 student-athletes, and offer scholarships worth Rs 2.5 lakh to encourage young talent. Organisers aim to make it India's leading school football competition, with growing participation, especially among girls' teams.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajiv Shukla on Sunday congratulated Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on becoming India's youngest international cricketer, saying the teenager earned his opportunity on merit.
Legendary Dutch dragflicker Taeke Taekema has joined the senior Indian women's hockey team for a specialised training camp focused on dragflicking and penalty-corner execution during the ongoing tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Lionel Messi broke the FIFA World Cup scoring record, but his achievement was overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions.
