Sports

Portugal Changes How No. 7 Is Written to Honor Cristiano Ronaldo

Sports Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the 1-2 goal during the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Hungary, in Budapest, Hungary, 09 September 2025. (EPA)

Portugal Changes How No. 7 Is Written to Honor Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portugal football team is making a change to how the No. 7 is written to honor the recently-retired Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, who wore the number and…

Sports Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho waves during Ravenna FC’s team presentation for the 2026-27 season in Marina di Ravenna, Italy, Aug. 20, 2026. (AFP)

Ronaldinho Poised for Ravenna Start and, Perhaps, One Last Goal

Ronaldinho will roll back the years this weekend when the 46-year-old Brazilian starts his first competitive match in over a decade, and in the unlikely…

Sports Mirra Andreeva plays Diana Shnaider during day six of the FAGE WTA Finals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on November 13, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Andreeva Says She Is Learning to Move on Faster from Defeats After WTA Finals Sweep

Mirra Andreeva said she has learned to recover more quickly from setbacks after the Russian teenager completed an unbeaten run through the WTA Finals round…

Sports  Uruguay's players celebrate after Argentina's Leonardo Balerdi scored an own goal during an international friendly soccer match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. (AP)

Uruguay Beats Argentina 2-1 in the First Match Since Messi’s Retirement

The post-Messi era began with an Argentina defeat on Friday. Argentina fell 2-1 to Uruguay on Friday in an international friendly at La Bombonera in Buenos…

Sports Elina Svitolina of Ukraine serves to Aryna Sabalenka during day six of the FAGE WTA Finals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on November 13, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Svitolina Stuns Sabalenka to Reach WTA Finals Semis

Elina Svitolina overwhelmed Aryna Sabalenka in the deciding set to seal a 6-3 3-6 6-1 upset on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the season-ending WTA Finals…


Sports French fans celebrate their team on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, France, after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match against Morocco, 10 July 2026.  EPA/Fadi Yousef

Football Troubles in London after France Beat Morocco

British police battled football fans in central London early Friday after France beat Morocco in a World Cup quarter final. One police officer was injured…

Asharq Al Awsat (London)
Sports Fans' hopes were sky-high for the World Cup after Morocco stunned the footballing world by reaching the semi-finals four years ago in Qatar. Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP

Disappointment at Morocco's World Cup Exit Cannot Mask Pride

The vuvuzelas fell quiet in Morocco on Thursday as the only African team left in the World Cup came up against the insurmountable hurdle of France and Kylian…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Norway Mixed Zone - Inter Miami CF Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US - July 9, 2026 Norway's Erling Haaland speaks to the media in the mixed zone. (Reuters)

Haaland Relishing ‘Special’ World Cup Showdown with England

Erling Haaland said facing England, the land of his birth, in the World Cup quarter-finals is extra special as the aims to extend Norway's historic run into…

Sports FIFA World Cup 2026 - Quarter Final - France v Morocco - Fans gather in Boston, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 Morocco fans light flares as they gather on Boston Common ahead of their game against France REUTERS/Brian Snyder

France Urges Calm During World Cup Game against Morocco

France has urged its football fans to be responsible as their team prepares to face African champions Morocco on Thursday in a World Cup quarter-final, after…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Portugal v Spain - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US - July 6, 2026 Portugal's Diogo Costa in action with Spain's Unai Simon during a last minute set piece. (Reuters)

Belgium Bid to Crack Spain’s Ironclad Defense in World Cup Quarter-Final

Belgium meet Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday with the daunting task of breaching the European champions' watertight defense for the first time…

Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - France Training - Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts, US - July 6, 2026 France's Michael Olise with teammates during training. (Reuters)

Expanded World Cup; Same Old Story as Europe Dominates Quarter-Finals

The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams has offered more of a chance to continents that were previously underrepresented at the tournament, but a glance at…

Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Canada v Morocco - Fans gather in Vancouver - Vancouver, Canada - July 4, 2026 Morocco's Ismael Saibari comes off the pitch to receive medical attention after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)

Morocco’s Saibari Out of France World Cup Quarter-Final

Morocco star Ismael Saibari will miss his team's World Cup quarter-final showdown with France, coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed on Wednesday. "Everyone is 100…

Sports  07 July 2026, US, Atlanta: French referee Francois Letexier (L) speaks with the players after Egypt conceded their third goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium. (dpa)

Egyptian Football Association ‘Cannot Remain Silent’ about Officiating in Loss to Argentina

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said Wednesday it “cannot remain silent” after what it believes was unfair and biased officiating in Egypt's 3-2 round…

Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - France Press Conference - Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, US - July 8, 2026 France coach Didier Deschamps during the press conference. (Reuters)

France Must Be Even More Efficient in Attack Against Morocco, Says Deschamps

France have scored a ‌tournament-leading 14 goals in the World Cup so far but coach Didier Deschamps urged his players on Wednesday to achieve even…

Sports  Morocco's Ayoub Amaimouni (21), Neil El Aynaoui (24), Achraf Hakimi (2), Brahim Diaz (10) and Gessime Yassine (16) celebrate after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP)

France v Morocco Rematch as World Cup Quarter-Finals Get Under Way

France begin their final push towards a third World Cup crown on Thursday when they take on Morocco in a blockbuster showdown as a star-studded quarter-final…

Sports  Norway's head coach Stale Solbakken gives a press conference in Montclair, New Jersey, on July, 6, 2026 during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

World Cup Grind Beginning to Take Its Toll on Norway Squad, Says Coach

Norway ‌coach Stale Solbakken said some of his players have been feeling under the weather ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against England on…

Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Canada v Morocco - Fans gather in Vancouver - Vancouver, Canada - July 4, 2026 Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi gives instructions to players during a hydration break. (Reuters)

Morocco Coach Ouahbi Proving Doubters Wrong at World Cup

When Mohamed Ouahbi was a student a professor told him he lacked the necessary skills to become a physical education teacher. In coaching Morocco to the…

Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - Argentina v Egypt - Fans gather in Cairo - Cairo, Egypt - July 7, 2026 Egypt fans gather to watch the match in Cairo. (Reuters)

‘History Made’: Egyptian Pride Despite World Cup Heartbreak

As Egypt bowed out of the World Cup with a dramatic 3-2 defeat to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina in the last 16 on Tuesday, supporters in Cairo rose to…

Sports Swiss players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Switzerland and Colombia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Switzerland Beat Colombia on Penalties to Reach World Cup Quarter-finals

Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw on Tuesday to set up a World Cup quarter-final with defending champions Argentina. The two…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports  Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan speaks with French referee Francois Letexier as Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah looks on during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 7, 2026. (AFP)

Egypt Seething After Losing 3-2 to Messi’s Argentina at World Cup

For Mohamed Salah and Egypt, what could have been a glorious celebration turned ugly at the end. On the cusp of upsetting the defending World Cup champion,…

Sports Rio Olympics - Opening ceremony - Maracana - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 05/08/2016. Flagbearer Sergey Tetyukhin (RUS) of Russia arrives for the opening ceremony. (Reuters)

IOC Eases Restrictions on Russians Before 2028 as Anthem, Flag Ban Remains

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday lifted restrictions on Russian athletes allowing them to compete in team events and in qualifying…

Sports Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio (14) battles for the ball with United States' Antonee Robinson (5) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP)

Belgium’s New Approach without Big Names Pays Dividends

Belgium look to have found their best playing style at the World Cup after thrashing co-hosts the US 4-1 on Monday, but the successful tinkering of coach Rudi…

Sports  France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe attends a training session at Bentley University in Waltham, near Boston, on July 07, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

Mbappe Fires Back at Paraguayan Senator’s Racist Attack After France Victory

France striker Kylian Mbappe hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her as a "despicable woman" on Monday after she launched a racist attack on him…

Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Egypt Training - Atlanta United Training Center, Atlanta, Georgia, US - July 6, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Hossam Abdelmaguid during training. (Reuters)

Messi v Salah in World Cup Last-16 Showdown

Lionel Messi's Argentina face Egypt for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as the maestro looks to reclaim the lead in a fiercely contested…

Sports  United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino walks off the pitch after losing to Belgium in their World Cup round of 16 match in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP)

‘Disappointed’ Pochettino Says Balogun Row No Excuse for US World Cup Exit

US coach Mauricio Pochettino said he was disappointed and frustrated by the backlash over Folarin Balogun's ban, but insisted it was no excuse for his side's…

Sports  United States' Folarin Balogun (20) walks off the pitch after losing to Belgium in their World Cup round of 16 match in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP)

After His Suspension Was Lifted in Scrutinized Move, Balogun Has Little Impact in US World Cup Loss

Folarin Balogun's presence on the field for the United States against Belgium had a seismic impact on the world of football, but he ultimately played a…

Sports Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States is consoled by Rudi Garcia, head coach of Belgium, after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Getty Images/AFP)

Balogun Controversy Had Little Impact on Belgium Team, Says Coach

Belgium's commanding 4-1 victory over the United States ‌in Monday's World Cup last-16 clash was barely affected by the swirling controversy around FIFA's…

Sports  Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere (17) celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP)

Belgium End US World Cup Dreams with 4-1 Rout Amid Balogun Row

The United States' World Cup dreams came to a crashing halt in the last 16 against Belgium on Monday as Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in a 4-1 win…

Sports  Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan reacts after winning a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP)

Egypt’s Hassan Enjoying Spotlight After Journeyman Coaching Career

Hossam Hassan’s coaching career has not come close to emulating his record-breaking playing days, but the fiery Egyptian could well change that on Tuesday if…