High costs, visa hurdles, and logistics for the World Cup are deterring fans, leading to a disappointing boost for US hotels, airlines, and the travel industry.
Iran launched their World Cup campaign in Los Angeles amid protests by Iranian-Americans, highlighting deep divisions over Tehran's government even as Team Melli drew passionate support from fans in the stands.
Curacao and Cape Verde, two of the smallest nations globally, have achieved an unprecedented feat by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday her government agreed to allow the Iranian national football team to stay in Mexico during the World Cup, adding that the United States did not want to host the team.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) has announced an eight-year partnership with FIFA to broadcast all its matches, including the World Cup 2026, in the Indian market. The deal includes 39 FIFA global football events, with live coverage available on ZEEL's sports network and streaming platform ZEE5.
India's top track and field athletes will compete in Ranchi for a chance to represent the country at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The event marks the first time the Athletics Federation of India will conduct SRY Gene Tests at the national level to ensure fair competition in the women's category. The meet will also serve as trials for the inaugural Asian U23 Championships.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced a 48-member Indian team for the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, featuring talented athletes like Shahnavaz Khan, Mohammed Ashfaq, and Pooja.
The Trump administration said on Tuesday the United States had denied Somali soccer referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan entry for the World Cup because of his links to "suspected members of terror organizations".
Didier Deschamps is flying back to France to attend his mother's funeral and will not coach the team's last Group I game at the World Cup against Norway, the French federation said on Tuesday.
The Indian women's U18 hockey team secured the bronze medal at the Asia Cup, defeating Korea 3-0.
Mexico have failed to progress beyond the Round of 16 for the last 32 years. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, they hope to finally end the 'quinto partido' curse.
The Sports Ministry has issued a showcause notice to the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) over concerns about its selection policy and failure to make key appointments.
When Atlanta hosted the 1996 Olympics, police were accused of arresting homeless people by the thousands. The crackdown resulted in a welter of lawsuits and news stories that caused long-term damage to the city's reputation. Now the Georgia state capital is looking to show the world that it has moved on, as it hosts World Cup games this summer.
Iran's national soccer team attended visa appointments in Ankara, Turkey, applying for Canadian visas and some players also submitting applications for US entry ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant has withdrawn its players from the Indian national team camp for the Unity Cup in London, citing concerns over injuries and lack of compensation from the AIFF outside the FIFA international window.
G Sindhushree lacked the funds to buy proper equipment after her father's death in 2022, forcing her to compete with shorter poles until she borrowed a longer one just two weeks before the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant has withdrawn its players from the Indian football team's Unity Cup squad, citing concerns over injury compensation outside the FIFA international window, impacting India's preparations for the tournament.
The 5th Bonus Asia Cup Bridge Championships are set to begin in Goa, featuring nearly 300 players from 16 countries. Defending champions India will compete across various categories, facing strong contenders like Hong Kong and Indonesia. The event, described as the "Asian Games of bridge," highlights India's growing role in the sport.
'Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality'
India's men's Under-18 hockey team defeated hosts Japan 4-1 in the final to win the Asia Cup title, with Ashish Purti scoring a hat-trick. Captain Ketan Kushwaha also scored, while Hockey India announced cash awards for the gold-winning men's team and the bronze-winning women's U-18 team.
Lionel Messi broke the FIFA World Cup scoring record, but his achievement was overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions.
Iran's national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the US on the days of its three FIFA World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament.
Indian athletes had a successful opening day at the New Taipei City Athletics Open, securing two gold medals and one silver. Long jumper Shaili Singh and the women's 4x100m relay team won gold, while Tejas Shirse earned a silver in the 110m hurdles.
The Supreme Court allowed Olympian Vinesh Phogat to compete in the 2026 Asian Games selection trials while cautioning against excessive judicial interference in sporting matters during the hearing of WFI's plea challenging the Delhi High Court order.
India's Pranati Nayak won a silver medal in the women's vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup 2026 in Tashkent. The 31-year-old gymnast secured an average score of 13.025. Vietnam's Thi Quynh Nhu Nguyen won gold, and Uzbekistan's Shakhinabonu Yusufova took bronze.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has rebranded as World Tennis, announcing an ambitious vision to increase global participation by 30% to 140 million players by 2035. The organisation, which governs the sport and runs major competitions, plans to reinvest 85% of its income annually for the next decade to achieve its strategic goals, including powering future stars and elevating national competitions. The name change aims to enhance recognition and foster greater collaboration within the sport.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has appealed to the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order that permitted wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games.
At the Iran-Belgium FIFA World Cup match, least one attendee wearing a pre-revolutionary flag shirt was detained for trying to run onto the pitch and Iranian player Alireza Jahanbakhsh said after the match that he doesn't want to keep focusing on the challenging situations faced by his team.
Croatia and AC Milan's Luka Modric sustained the injury following a clash of heads with Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli during their Serie A match on Sunday.
FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom will meet Iranian FA officials in Istanbul to offer reassurance over Iran's participation in the World Cup, amidst concerns raised by recent geopolitical tensions and visa issues.
Karnataka's G Sindhushree, an unheralded pole vaulter, achieved a new national record of 4.25m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. This performance not only secured her a gold medal but also a spot in the Asian Games. Overcoming personal hardships, Sindhushree dedicated her achievement to her late father. The event also saw other athletes like Animesh Kujur, Harshita Bhadra, Manpreet Kaur, Gowthami Jayaraman, Mohammed Afsal, and N Thowfeeq qualify for the Asian Games in various disciplines.
Indian wushu player Aparna won a gold medal in the women's 52kg category at the 11th Sanda World Cup in Macau, defeating Vietnam's Thi Phuong Nga Ngo in the final.
India's men's volleyball team achieved an unbeaten run to the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup semi-finals, propelling them to World No. 42. Head coach Dragan Mihailovic attributes this success to discipline and a structured system but stresses the need for consistent international exposure, longer national camps, and a robust development pathway to sustain and build upon this momentum, especially amidst administrative uncertainty in Indian volleyball.
Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi will not participate in the upcoming World Cup match against Germany in Canada.
The Delhi High Court has reaffirmed the All India Tennis Association's (AITA) General Body's authority in amending its constitution, directing that proposed changes be put to a clause-by-clause vote by members. This interim order modifies a single judge's ruling, ensuring the federation's democratic processes are maintained while complying with new sports governance laws, with fresh elections mandated by September 30.
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.
The world volleyball body FIVB has revoked the Volleyball Federation of India's recognition with immediate effect for breach of legal and administrative requirements.
Two companies are competing for the Indian Super League and Federation Cup commercial rights, with Genius Sports offering over Rs 2100 crore. Capri Sports bids for the Indian Women's League rights.
A Toronto cannabis store destroyed its World Cup trophy-inspired "FIFA Bong" after receiving a copyright infringement notice from FIFA, but the owners say the dispute generated more publicity than they ever expected.
The AIFF has approved a September 4 start for the 2026-27 Indian Super League but deferred a final decision on the league's governance structure, with further discussions set to continue between the federation and ISL clubs.
