England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday, a heavyweight Group L opener that could set the tone for both teams' tournament ambitions.
Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. Ronaldo had a quiet game, failing to score, and was met with "Messi" chants from fans after the match, raising questions about the team's early performance.
The BCCI is considering advancing the Indian Premier League schedule to a March 10-May 15 window from next year to avoid extreme heat and pre-monsoon rains. This move aims to benefit players and fans, though the number of matches will remain at 74 due to international calendar constraints.
Belgian winger Jeremy Doku faces a personal dilemma during the World Cup as his wife is due to give birth to their first child. He hopes to be present for the birth, potentially requiring him to leave the tournament.
For the expanded 2026 tournament, FIFA has gone a step further and introduced an extra amnesty for yellow cards, effectively wiping the slate clean twice.
The Portugal squad are shutting out criticism of the team and captain Cristiano Ronaldo following an underwhelming draw in their World Cup opener against Democratic Republic of Congo, defender Ruben Dias said on Friday.
German footballers at their FIFA World Cup base camp in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, are concerned about venomous snakes, specifically copperheads, after spotting one. Captain Joshua Kimmich expressed worries about potential bites, a sentiment echoed by Swiss and Norwegian teams, highlighting an unusual distraction for players preparing for the tournament.
Despite the World Cup returning to their country for the first time in four decades, many in Mexico said they feel excluded, priced out of stadiums, forced to pay for expensive TV subscriptions and constrained by strict licensing rules.
Tunisia have sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi and replaced him with fellow Frenchman Herve Renard in the wake of the 5-1 defeat by Sweden in their World Cup opener in Monterrey on Sunday, the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) said.
Punjab will host the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in October, marking the first international hockey event in the state under FIH and AHF auspices. Matches will be held in Mohali and Jalandhar.
The 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup is provisionally scheduled to be held from October 4 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
R. Vaishali leads the Women's Candidates Tournament, while Javokhir Sindarov dominates the Open section, nearing a shot at the World Championship.
Indian chess grandmaster Koneru Humpy defends her decision to withdraw from the Candidates tournament in Cyprus due to safety concerns amid regional tensions, stating that playing peacefully is impossible when surrounded by warships.
India is set to host the 26th Asian Fencing Championships, which will also serve as a qualifier for the Asian Games. The Sports Ministry has sanctioned Rs 6 crore for the event, taking place at the Bharat Mandapam complex, featuring over 400 athletes from 30+ countries.
Germany, aiming to repair its international reputation after two consecutive first-round exits, begins its World Cup campaign against minnows Curacao.
Gaganjeet Bhullar was the top-performing Indian golfer at the International Series Morocco, finishing tied 31st. While other Indian players struggled, Bhullar showcased consistency. Hong Kong's Taichi Kho won the tournament, securing his second Asian Tour victory and boosting his rankings.
Gaganjeet Bhullar was the top-performing Indian golfer at the International Series Morocco, finishing tied 31st. While other Indian players struggled, Bhullar showcased consistency. Hong Kong's Taichi Kho won the tournament, securing his second Asian Tour victory and boosting his rankings.
A strong contingent of Commonwealth Games-bound Indian boxers, led by Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain, will participate in the invitational Grand Prix Usti nad Labem in Czechia. The tournament offers a crucial opportunity for the athletes to fine-tune their preparations and gain international exposure against strong opposition.
Indian shuttler Ashmita Chaliha has advanced to the women's singles semifinals of the Macau Open Super 300 tournament, defeating Kim Min Sun. This marks her first BWF tour event semifinal this year, following a successful return from injury. However, compatriot Anmol Kharb was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Mexico will kick off their home World Cup campaign against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, carrying the pressure of fan expectations and a strong unbeaten run.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa drew against Wei Yi in the second round of the FIDE Candidates tournament, maintaining his joint lead. In the women's section, Divya Deshmukh missed a chance to take the lead, drawing with R Vaishali.
India's Rounak Chouhan advanced to the men's singles main draw of the Macau Open Super 300 badminton tournament after his opponent, Hein Htut, retired. Other Indian players, Tushar Suveer, Alap Mishra, and the women's doubles pair of Ashwini Bhat and Shikha Gautam, were eliminated in the qualification rounds.
Pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak who played under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy at Punjab Kings in the IPL, said that the skipper is understanding of young players and knows how to handle his team with maturity.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma sizzled with the bat as India coasted to an emphatic 95-run win over the Netherlands in their Women's T20 World Cup match.
Iran threatened to halt its matches at the World Cup if unauthorised flags are displayed or slogans targeting the national team are chanted at stadiums, Iranian media reported, citing Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, following criticism of the team's presence at the tournament.
The Indian women's hockey team defeated Japan 2-1 in the FIH Nations Cup, with goals from captain Salima Tete and Lalremsiami, securing their place in the semifinals and qualifying for next year's FIH Pro League.
Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu's quest for a BWF title continues after she was defeated by top seed Akane Yamaguchi in the semifinals of the Australian Badminton Open. The Indian shuttler lost in straight games, marking her second semifinal exit this season and ending India's campaign in the tournament.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced an 84-member contingent for the ISSF Junior World Championship in Suhl, Germany, scheduled from June 18-26. Indian junior shooters have a strong track record of dominating this tournament, consistently topping medal tallies in recent editions, and are poised to continue their success.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced an 84-member contingent for the ISSF Junior World Championship in Suhl, Germany, scheduled from June 18-26. Indian junior shooters have a strong track record of dominating this tournament, consistently topping medal tallies in recent editions, and are poised to continue their success.
With a dazzling hat-trick against Algeria, Lionel Messi once again defied age, expectations and logic at the World Cup, prompting coach Lionel Scaloni to call his performances "inexplicable" and admit he is simply no longer surprised by the Argentine legend's brilliance.
The FIFA Fan Festival in Toronto was cancelled due to lightning risk, disappointing fans on the eve of Canada's first World Cup game.
A rural-level cricket competition in Shimla's Jubbal subdivision is using sports to raise awareness about drug abuse and environmental protection. The 'Shaan-e-Bushahr' Mandhol Premiere League-4, featuring over 80 teams, encourages participants to plant saplings and monitor their growth, building on previous successful tree-planting initiatives.
England midfielder Jordan Henderson has publicly defended teammate Jude Bellingham, highlighting his crucial role and 'X-factor' for the team despite media scrutiny. Henderson also discussed his own controversial selection for his fourth World Cup and the challenge of facing Luka Modric.
World Chess Champion D. Gukesh has decided to reduce his tournament schedule to focus on training and preparation for his upcoming title defence, following a series of disappointing performances.
India is set to host the Asian Senior Fencing Championships for the first time from June 19-24 in New Delhi, featuring athletes from 34 countries, including Olympic medallists. The event is a direct qualifier for the Asian Games and offers ranking points for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with Indian Olympian Bhavani Devi leading the home challenge.
Wimbledon has announced a record 64.2 million prize money pot for this year's championships, a 20% increase from last year, marking the biggest annual rise in its history. This significant boost comes amidst growing demands from players for a larger share of Grand Slam revenues, with increases across all rounds and a substantial rise for singles champions and first-round losers.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre downplayed his team's achievement of topping their World Cup group, stating that true success would be measured later in the tournament. He highlighted the importance of playing at home and the team's improved maturity, while also reflecting on his own calmer coaching style. Aguirre expressed his ambition to guide Mexico into the world's top 10.
A record eight players aged 40 or older have been selected to play at the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States - one more than at all the past 22 tournaments combined.
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.
Iran's Football Federation will lodge an official protest with FIFA after the United States reportedly denied the national team's request to travel to Los Angeles two days before their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match against Belgium, citing geopolitical tensions and previous visa issues.
