Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia says FIFA's expanded 48-team World Cup format significantly improves India's chances of qualification while creating new opportunities for emerging football nations across Asia and beyond.
Brazil secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti, with Matheus Cunha scoring twice and Vinicius Junior adding another goal. The win keeps Brazil in contention for the top spot in Group C, though their decision to ease off in the second half could impact goal difference in a tight race with Morocco.
Australia's coach Tony Popovic expresses confidence in his team's ability to challenge favourites Turkey in their World Cup opener in Vancouver, despite being considered underdogs. He also confirmed the squad is fully fit, including Mohamed Toure.
Kimi Antonelli will either be Formula One's youngest world champion, well before the end of the season on current form, or the first driver to win five races in a row in a single campaign and not take the title.
Luis Enrique arrived in Paris in 2023 promising a cultural shift rather than instant glamour, with the Spaniard wanting a team in which collective sacrifice outweighed individual status, where the biggest names defended, pressed and suffered together. Two Champions League titles later, his players speak about him less as a coach than as an architect and people leader.
The Indian Blind Women's T20 World Cup-winning team met President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title.
Inspired by Lamine Yamal, Spain strolled to a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Group H on Sunday, where Mikel Oyarzabal restored his reputation with two goals and Luis de la Fuente's side found their groove after an underwhelming World Cup opener.
Portugal's World Cup squad will wear commemorative wristbands in tribute to their late former teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash last year. Midfielder Vitinha discussed the team's approach to the upcoming tournament, acknowledging logistical challenges and expressing his personal ambition to win the World Cup.
R Praggnanandhaa dealt another stunning blow to hometown hero and World No 1 Magnus Carlsen, defeating the Norwegian in a classical game for the second time at Norway Chess 2026.
Brazilian defender Wesley has been ruled out of the World Cup squad due to a left thigh muscle injury sustained during a friendly match.
Germany, aiming to repair its international reputation after two consecutive first-round exits, begins its World Cup campaign against minnows Curacao.
The DP World PGTI has launched the inaugural NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial golf tournament to honour the late Indian golfing legend, Vijay Kumar. The event, held at his home course in Lucknow from June 9-11, celebrates his legacy and aims to inspire new talent.
George Russell seized pole position for a race that could snap teammate Kimi Antonelli's winning streak while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton split the Mercedes pair in Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.
Lionel Messi earned a spot in the World Cup history books with a hat-trick that saw Argentina begin the defence of their title with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Algeria in their Group J opener at Kansas City Stadium, Missouri, on Tuesday.
Former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has apologised to Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann for a comment regarding the team's lineup ahead of their 7-1 World Cup Group E opening victory over Curacao on Sunday after it triggered a furore back home.
Former cricketer Reema Malhotra believes the Indian women's cricket team is a strong contender to win the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, largely because of its strong spin bowling resources.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty defeated the world number one pair from Korea to reach the final of the Singapore Open Super 750 badminton tournament.
The Indian contingent at the Norway Chess tournament faced a difficult day as all four players, including world champion D Gukesh, suffered defeats in Round 6. Magnus Carlsen gained momentum, while Wesley So took the lead.
Indian javelin throw superstar Neeraj Chopra would hope that his lengthy injury-forced absence from competition does not affect his rhythm when he returns to action against an in-form line-up of heavyweight rivals in the familiar environs of the Doha Diamond League on Friday.
The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 is set to bring together the world's top teams for a month of fast-paced, high-stakes cricket, as they compete for the biggest prize in the shortest format of the game.
Asian Championships silver medallist Meenakshi Goyat aims to become the world champion this year after defeating Vinesh Phogat at the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) women's trials for the Asian Games squad.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick praised Lionel Messi's exceptional scoring ability after his team's 2-0 loss to Argentina, where Messi netted twice. However, Rangnick expressed frustration over Argentina's first goal, believing a foul on Xaver Schlager was overlooked. Despite the defeat, Rangnick was largely satisfied with his team's performance and their World Cup campaign.
D Gukesh aims to rebound at Norway Chess after a challenging start, while R Praggnanandhaa enjoys a strong position. Gukesh's performance against Praggnanandhaa in round five will be crucial in determining his title contention.
D Gukesh aims to recover at Norway Chess after a difficult start, while R Praggnanandhaa enjoys a strong position. Gukesh's performance against Praggnanandhaa in round five will be crucial for his title aspirations.
Cristiano Ronaldo, playing his 6th FIFA World Cup, headlines the Portugal squad that has a glittering supporting cast that includes Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes.
Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Samrat Rana won a silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, narrowly missing gold to China.
England manager Thomas Tuchel believes they are in good shape heading into the FIFA World Cup and can "dare to dream" about lifting the trophy.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has paid its players daily allowances and bonuses in advance for the upcoming FIH Pro League matches and the Hockey World Cup, aiming to boost morale and focus. This move includes clearing PKR 4.5 million in dues and increasing daily allowances to USD 110, following their qualification for the World Cup after an eight-year absence.
Germany gave debutants Curacao a reality check, as the former champions won 7-1 to kick-start their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a big win.
India's skeet shooters are set to compete against a strong international field at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier, Morocco. The event features Olympic and world champions, marking a competitive start to the season as athletes begin their journey towards Olympic qualification.
Qatar celebrated their first World Cup point after a late own goal forced a 1-1 draw against Switzerland and sent the Gulf nation into jubilation on Saturday.
The Indian men's hockey team, currently in the Dutch leg of the FIH Pro League, aims to conclude their campaign on a high note against hosts Netherlands. This tournament serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup and Asian Games, with coach Craig Fulton focusing on testing resources and addressing issues like conceding late goals. The team also looks forward to significant matches against England and arch-rivals Pakistan in London.
Indian archery faces poor planning and the absence of a full-time foreign coach as they prepare for the World Cup Stage 2 in Shanghai, raising concerns ahead of the Asian Games.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess tournament, a feat that included defeating world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on this significant achievement.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was defeated by world No. 1 An Se Young at the Indonesia Open, marking her tenth consecutive loss to the Korean. Meanwhile, the Indian men's doubles pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and MR Arjun caused a significant upset, advancing to their first-ever BWF World Tour Super 1000 quarterfinals.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was defeated by world No. 1 An Se Young in the round of 16 at the Indonesia Open, marking her second consecutive loss to the South Korean and extending her winless streak against her to 10 matches.
Cape Verde pulled off a stunning 2-2 draw against two-time World Cup winners Uruguay in Miami on Sunday.
Argentina start their bid for back-to-back World Cups on Tuesday with a side full of familiar faces from Qatar 2022, facing an Algerian team buoyed by warm-up wins and featuring a 20-year-old rising star nicknamed after Diego Maradona.
The entire nation erupted in joy when captain Harmanpreet Kaur completed the decisive catch to dismiss Nadine de Klerk off Deepti's bowling in the 46th over.
