Sports

Empty Seats at World Cup Match Renews Concerns over Ticket Prices

Sports 11 June 2026, Mexico, Mexico city: A general view bfore the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium (Mexico City Stadium). Photo: Tom Weller/dpa

Empty Seats at World Cup Match Renews Concerns over Ticket Prices

FIFA reported an attendance of 44,985 for Thursday's World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, but swathes of empty seats…

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Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Belgium Training - Seattle Sounders FC Performance Center and Clubhouse, Renton, Washington, US - June 11, 2026 Belgium's Thibaut Courtois with Seattle Sounders' Max Anchor during training. (Reuters)

Belgium Keeper Courtois Thinking about Retiring from National Team after World Cup

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois ‌is thinking about ending his international career after the World Cup, he said on Thursday as his team prepared for…

Sports Sergej Barbarez, head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, attends the press conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium on June 11, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Getty Images/AFP)

Bosnia Will Play with Hearts in World Cup Opener, Says Coach Barbarez

Bosnia and Herzegovina know they are underdogs heading into their World Cup Group B opener against co-hosts Canada, coach Sergej Barbarez said on Thursday, but…

Sports FILED - 08 June 2006, Berlin: FILE PHOTO - Brazilian soccer legend Brito attends at a press conference in Berlin. Photo: Jens Kalaene/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa

Brito, Who Helped Brazil Win the 1970 World Cup, Dies at 86

Brito, a center back on Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning team, has died at age 86. The Brazilian Football Confederation announced that Brito died Thursday. It…

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Sports Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - South Korea v Czech Republic - Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico - June 11, 2026 South Korea's Oh Hyeon-gyu scores their second goal REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

World Cup 2026: South Korea Coach Hails Team Unity after Comeback Win over Czechs

South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo said his team had followed his pre-match instructions to the letter after they staged a 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech…

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Sports Football - Euro 2024 - Quarter-final - Spain v Germany - Stuttgart Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - July 5, 2024 Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates after Dani Olmo scores their first goal. (Reuters)

From Rocafonda to the World Cup: Lamine Yamal’s Meteoric Rise

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will play at a record sixth World Cup in 2026, but years from now the tournament may instead be remembered as Lamine Yamal's…

Sports Brazilian football player Leonardo Veiga is seen on the screen of the Foot Bao app, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on April 22, 2026. (AFP)

AI Unearths Football Talent Beyond Scouts’ Radar

Brazilian teenager Leo Veiga had almost given up on his dream of becoming a professional footballer when artificial intelligence helped him secure a spot in…

Sports Rafael Jodar of Spain during his Men's 4th round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 31 May 2026. (EPA)

For Roland Garros Youth, Quarter-Final Moment of Truth

The young kings of tennis have been deposed and as the French Open reaches its quarter-finals on Tuesday, the sport's even younger princes will be strutting on…

Sports Monaco's Belgian head coach Sebastien Pocognoli looks on prior to the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on March 6, 2026. (AFP)

Monaco Sack Manager Pocognoli After Missing Champions League Spot

AS ‌Monaco have sacked manager Sebastien Pocognoli after they finished seventh in Ligue 1 and failed to qualify for the Champions League. The former…

Sports Spanish National soccer team player Rodri attends the media day at the Soccer City of Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain, 01 June 2026. (EPA)

Man City’s Rodri Says He Will Discuss His Future After World Cup

Spain midfielder Rodri said ‌he is focused on the World Cup and will only address his future at Manchester City after the tournament. The 2024 Ballon d…

Sports Tim Payne has gone from 4,000 to 4,000,000 followers in a week. DAVID ROWLAND / AFP/File

'Messi, Maradona, Tim': NZ Footballer's Viral Fan Club Hits 4 Million

New Zealand footballer Tim Payne's online fan club soared past four million on Tuesday, more than the All Blacks, after an influencer picked him out as the …

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Sports Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP)

Serena Williams to Return to Tennis at Queen’s Club

Serena Williams confirmed her return to tennis after an absence of nearly four years on Monday, with the American great set to play women's doubles at Queen's…

Sports Tunisia players pose for a team photo before the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)

Tunisia Seek Fresh Spark as Lamouchi Reshapes Ageing Squad

Tunisia carry quiet momentum ‌into the 2026 World Cup after cruising through qualifying without conceding a single goal, but familiar doubts remain over…

Sports  Iraq's coach Graham Arnold waits for the start of the international friendly soccer match between Iraq and Andorra in Girona, Spain, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)

Iraq Name Experienced World Cup Squad with Hussein Spearheading Attack

Iraq head coach Graham ‌Arnold named his final 26-man World Cup squad on Monday, relying heavily on the core group of players who secured qualification…

Sports Qatar’s national team poses for a team photo before the international friendly football match between the Republic of Ireland and Qatar, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on May 28, 2026. (AFP)

Qatar Seek to Move Beyond Shadow of 2022 World Cup Disappointment

Qatar will arrive ‌at the World Cup seeking to redefine themselves after a disappointing tournament in 2022 when they became the first host nation to lose…

Sports Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - May 23, 2026 Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz celebrates scoring their fourth goal. (Reuters)

Heavy Burden of Expectation Could Hamper Morocco’s World Cup Hopes

Morocco’s heroics at the ‌last World Cup mean they carry a heavy burden of expectation into this month’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US, which…

Sports Harry Kane of Munich celebrates after winning the German DFB Cup final soccer match between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Berlin, Germany, 23 May 2026. (EPA)

England Bank on Kane’s Bayern Goal Fest for World Cup Success

When England take to the field in Dallas on June 17 to face Croatia in their World Cup opener, all eyes will be on captain Harry Kane, with fans hoping he can…

Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Germany Training - DFB Campus, Frankfurt, Germany - June 1, 2026 Germany's Manuel Neuer during training. (Reuters)

Germany Looking for World Cup Redemption After Successive Early Exits

The memories of two successive World Cup group-stage exits weigh heavily on the Germany team before another attempt at restoring lost pride. Surely it couldn…

Sports A general view of Levi's Stadium, which for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be called San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, on May 29, 2026, in Santa Clara, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Lens Defender Abdulhamid Spearheads Saudi World Cup Squad

Lens defender Saud Abdulhamid will ‌spearhead Saudi Arabia's World Cup team, with forward Salem Al Dawsari set for a third appearance in the tournament,…

Sports Liverpool's manager Arne Slot watches from the side line during the FA Cup soccer match between Liverpool and Accrington Stanley at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP)

Slot Pens Liverpool Farewell, Proud to Have Helped Write Important Chapter in Club History

Arne Slot bid farewell ‌to Liverpool on Monday, saying he was proud to have led them to a 20th league title and was leaving the club where they belong:…

Sports Football - UEFA Champions League - Paris St Germain fans celebrate winning the UEFA Champions League - Paris, France - May 31, 2026 Police officers protect themselves from a flare after Paris St Germain won the UEFA Champions League. (Reuters)

France Says Nearly 900 Arrested in Champions League Final Riots

France said on Monday that nearly 900 people had been arrested in riots that broke out after Paris Saint-Germain club won the coveted Champions League for a…

Sports  Brazil's Joao Fonseca celebrates his victory over Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles match on day 8 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 31, 2026. (AFP)

Mentality Shift Behind Rapid Rise, Fonseca Says After Reaching French Open Quarters

Joao Fonseca said a ‌change in mentality and months of hard work have helped fuel his rise to a first Grand Slam quarter-final after the Brazilian…

Sports Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates winning her Women's 3rd round match against Daria Kasatkina of Australia at the French Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2026. (EPA)

Sabalenka, Osaka Clash in Blockbuster French Open Tie

Four-time Grand Slam champions Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka will go head-to-head in the first French Open women's night match in three years on Monday, as a…

Sports Inter Milan's Argentinian forward #10 Lautaro Martinez fights for the ball with Liverpool's French defender #05 Ibrahima Konate during the UEFA Champions League phase day 6 football match between Inter Milan and Liverpool at San Siro stadium in Milan, on December 9, 2025. (AFP)

Konate to Leave Liverpool After Contract Not Renewed

France defender Ibrahima ‌Konate will end a five-year spell at Liverpool when his contract expires next month, the Premier League club said on Sunday. …

Sports  Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre gestures during an international friendly soccer match against Ghana in Puebla, Mexico, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP)

Aguirre Puts Faith in a New Generation as Mexico Seeks World Cup Redemption

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre opted Sunday for a new generation of players to use home ground advantage at the World Cup in a bid to seek redemption after one of…

Sports Brazil's players celebrate Vinicius Jr's opening goal in a 6-2 thrashing of Panama at the Maracana Stadium. Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP

Brazil Thrash Panama 6-2 in World Cup Send-off

Brazil turned on the style with a 6-2 drubbing of Panama on Sunday in a lopsided World Cup send-off at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Real Madrid…

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Sports (FILES) Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian forward #07 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions League second-leg, semi-final football match between FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Munich, southern Germany on May 6, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Kvaratskhelia Named Champions League Player of the Season

Paris Saint-Germain's Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was named Champions League player of the season on Sunday by a UEFA panel of judges. Kvaratskhelia…

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Sports 31 May 2026, France, Paris: Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk celebrates a point against Poland's Iga Swiatek during their Women's Singles Match on Day 8 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Kostyuk Stuns 4-time Champion Swiatek on Big Day for Ukraine at French Open

There will be a first-time women’s champion at the French Open this year, and two Ukrainian players are among the strongest contenders. Undefeated this…

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Sports Jordan's defender #2 Mohammad Abu Hashish (L) fights for the ball with Switzerland's midfielder #16 Christian Fassnacht next to Jordan's forward Mohammad Abu Zraiq (R) during a friendly match between Switzerland and Jordan ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup football tournament at the Kybunpark stadium, in St. Gallen on May 31, 2026. (Photo by Ennio LEANZA / AFP)

Jordan to Let Fans Start Work Late for World Cup Debut

Jordan said on Sunday it will allow a late start to work for public sector employees on World Cup matchdays to let fans enjoy the national team's debut…

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