Sports

Van Dijk: Salah's Benching Shows Every Player Has to Earn their Place at Liverpool

Sports Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (L) greets their supporters after the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland in Liverpool, Great Britain, 03 December 2025.  EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN

Van Dijk: Salah's Benching Shows Every Player Has to Earn their Place at Liverpool

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said the decision to leave Mohamed Salah on the bench in back-to-back Premier League games shows that no player is guaranteed…

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Sports WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 04: MLS Commissioner Don Garber speaks during the MLS Commissioner State of the League Address at Audi Field on December 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.   Hannah Foslien/Getty Images/AFP

On Eve of World Cup Draw, MLS Commissioner Says US Soccer is Thriving

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said the arrival of elite players such as Lionel Messi has helped the sport cement its place in a crowded US market…

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Sports Olympics - 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics - Olympic torch due to arrive at Rome airport and Italian Presidential Palace - Rome, Italy - December 4, 2025 President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee, Giovanni Malago and tennis player Italy's Jasmine Paolini arrive with the Olympic torch REUTERS/Remo Casilli

Flame Arrives in Italy for Milano Cortina Winter Games

The Olympic flame arrived in Rome on Thursday in preparation for a two-month torch relay designed to stir excitement across Italy before the Winter Games in…

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Sports FILE PHOTO: Toyota Motor Corp's logo is pictured at its dealership in Tokyo, Japan April 3, 2025. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo/File Photo

Toyota to Become Title Sponsor of Haas F1 Team

Toyota Gazoo Racing, the Japanese car maker's motorsport division, will become title sponsor of the Haas Formula One team next season in a deal that…

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Sports Soccer Football - LaLiga - Sevilla v FC Barcelona - Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain - October 5, 2025 General view of sprinklers watering the pitch inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo

Sevilla Stadium Partially Closed after Fans Throw Objects in Derby

Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium will be partially closed for the next three games after fans threw objects onto the pitch during their 2-0 loss to Real…

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Sports Estevao of Brazil celebrates a goal during the International friendly soccer match between Tunisia and Brazil in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France, 18 November 2025. (EPA)

Brazil Held to Friendly Draw by Tunisia Despite Estevao Goal 

Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil were held to a disappointing 1-1 friendly draw by Tunisia in Lille on Tuesday as their stuttering build-up to the 2026 World Cup…

Sports Scotland's midfielder #04 Scott McTominay grabs the corner flag as Scotland's midfielder #23 Kenny McLean celebrates with teammates after scoring his long-range last-kick of the game goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Scotland and Denmark at Hampden Park in Glasgow on November 18, 2025. (AFP)

Scott McTominay's Bicycle Kick Helps Scotland Secure World Cup Spot 

Scott McTominay scored the dramatic -- and ultimately decisive -- goal on a bicycle kick on Tuesday to secure Scotland's spot in the 2026 World Cup. Less…

Sports Curaçao players celebrate qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a soccer match against Jamaica in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. (AP)

Curaçao Makes History as Smallest Nation by Population to Qualify for a World Cup 

Curaçao salvaged a 0-0 draw with Jamaica on Tuesday to become the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup and will be joined by CONCACAF sides…

Sports Cristiano Ronaldo attends a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump for Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 18, 2025. (Reuters)

Football Superstar Ronaldo Joins Saudi Crown Prince During White House Visit 

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was at the White House on Tuesday as President Donald Trump hosted a glitzy dinner to honor Prince Mohammed bin Salman,…

Sports  Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - AFC Qualifiers - Play Off - Second Leg - Iraq v United Arab Emirates - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - November 18, 2025 Iraq's Manaf Younis celebrates with teammates after the match. (Reuters)

Iraq Scores Late Winner Against UAE to Keep Its World Cup Hopes Alive

Iraq kept its 2026 World Cup hopes alive by beating the United Arab Emirates 3-2 on aggregate after a dramatic stoppage-time penalty Tuesday in Asian…

Sports Tennis - ATP Finals - Turin - Palasport Olimpico, Turin, Italy - November 16, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz with the runners up trophy after losing the final against Italy's Jannik Sinner. (Reuters)

‘Heartbroken’ Alcaraz Drops Out of Davis Cup with Swollen Hamstring 

World number one Carlos Alcaraz said on Tuesday he has pulled out of the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna due to a swollen hamstring, adding he was "heartbroken" to…

Sports US President Donald Trump speaks while US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Senior advisor to FIFA president Carlos Cordeiro stand near him, as he meets with the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 17, 2025. (Reuters)

Trump Unveils Fast-Track Visas for World Cup Ticket Holders 

President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled special fast-track visas for people with tickets to the 2026 World Cup, but his administration warned it was no…

Sports 16 November 2025, Albania, Tiranë: England head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) acknowledges England's Jude Bellingham after being substituted off during the FIFA World Cup European Qualifying soccer match between Albania and England at the Air Albania Stadium. (dpa)

Tuchel Plans Talks with Sidelined Players Over England Recall 

England manager Thomas Tuchel says he will be contacting players who have been left out of the squad in recent matches to help them plot a path back into…

Sports Ireland's Troy Parrott, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup 2026 group F qualifying soccer match between Hungary and Ireland in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)

Parrott’s Ireland Heroics Born from Struggles in English Football 

Troy Parrott's tearful celebration after his dramatic 96th-minute winner in a 3-2 win over Hungary that sent Ireland to the playoffs for next year's World Cup…

Sports France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe blows a kiss as he celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers Europe zone group D football match between France and Ukraine at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on November 13, 2025. (AFP)

Mbappe, PSG in Counterclaims Worth Hundreds of Millions

France captain Kylian Mbappe on Monday claimed 263 million euros ($305 million) from Paris Saint-Germain in an escalating dispute over the status of his…

Sports A silhouette of a woman walks past behind a FC Barcelona's logo at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, March 24, 2016. REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo

Barcelona to Return to Camp Nou on Saturday after Two Years

Barcelona will return to competitive action at their famous Camp Nou stadium on Saturday for the first time in two-and-a-half years when they host Athletic…

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Sports Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)

Spain Coach Cautious after Record Run Makes them World Cup Favorites

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente is keeping his feet on the ground despite the scintillating form that has made his team favourites for the 2026 World Cup and…

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Sports Chelsea’s Oscar eyes the ball during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between PSG and Chelsea, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, Wednesday, April 2, 2014. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, file)

Former Chelsea Player Oscar Discharged from Hospital after Heart Scare

Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar has been released from hospital, five days after being admitted with a heart issue. Oscar’s current club, Sao Paulo said in a…

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Sports Norway's captain #09 Erling Braut Haaland celebrates the victory with teammates at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Italy and Norway, at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, on November 16, 2025. (AFP)

Haaland: The Relentless Force Behind Norway’s World Cup Dream 

When Erling Haaland walked off the pitch at the San Siro stadium after helping seal Norway's first World Cup berth since 1998, it was the culmination of a…

Sports France's forward #19 Jean-Philippe Mateta eyes the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Azerbaijan and France at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku on November 16, 2025. (AFP)

France Boss Deschamps Pleased with Squad for Stepping up in Absence of Big Names 

Jean-Philippe Mateta and Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike can provide France with more attacking options as they prepare for next year's World Cup, manager Didier…

Sports 09 November 2025, Brazil, Sao Paulo: British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren, drives during the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos Circuit. (dpa)

McLaren Add 14-Year-Old Ella Hakkinen to Driver Program 

Formula One champions McLaren have added Ella Hakkinen, 14-year-old daughter of Finland's double world champion Mika, to their Driver Development Program along…

Sports Saudi taekwondo player Donia Abu Taleb wins gold medal at Islamic Solidarity Games ‘Riyadh 2025’. (SPA)

Saudi Taekwondo Player Donia Abu Taleb Wins Gold Medal at Islamic Solidarity Games ‘Riyadh 2025’

Saudi taekwondo player Donia Abu Taleb raised the Kingdom’s standing in the medal table of the 6th Islamic Solidarity Sports Games “Riyadh 2025,” placing Saudi…

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Sports Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates with the trophy after winning the men's singles final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, 16 November 2025.  EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO

Sinner Beats Alcaraz to Retain ATP Finals Title Before his Home Fans

The final installment of the “Sincaraz” rivalry for 2025 went to Jannik Sinner. The second-ranked Sinner beat top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (4), 7-5 for…

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Sports Al-Nassr's Portuguese forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the AFC Champions League group E football match between Saudi Al-Nassr SC and Tajikistan's FC Istiklol at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on October 2, 2023. (AFP)

Cristiano Ronaldo Set for Record 6th World Cup as Portugal Routs Armenia to Qualify

Cristiano Ronaldo is heading to another World Cup. Portugal sealed its place at next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a 9-1 rout…

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Sports Soccer Football - Women's Super League - Liverpool v Chelsea - Brewdog Stadium, St. Helens, Britain - November 16, 2025 Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert shoots at goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Liverpool Deal Chelsea a Blow in WSL Title Chase With Draw, West Ham Get First Win of Season

Winless Liverpool dented Chelsea's title hopes with a gritty 1-1 draw in the Women's Super League on Sunday, as Beata Olsson's strike cancelled out Alyssa…

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Sports FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 15: FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends the International Friendly match between Colombia and New Zealand at Chase Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images/AFP

FIFA Says it Has Stepped Up Efforts Against Online Abuse

FIFA said on Sunday it had stepped up efforts to tackle online abuse directed at players and officials, reporting a surge in harmful content and referring more…

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Sports England's forward #09 Harry Kane speaks during a press press conference on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K European qualification football match between Albania and England, at the Air Albania stadium in Tirana, on November 15, 2025. (Photo by Adnan Beci / AFP)

Kane: Trophies, Not Goals, the Key to Fulfilling Ballon d'Or Ambition

Harry Kane is banging in goals at a breathtaking pace this season but the England and Bayern Munich striker is keenly aware that his hopes of winning the next…

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Sports The moon rises between buildings in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Car Ploughs into Crowd at Australia Race, 9 Injured

Nine people have been injured, with one in critical condition, after a car ploughed into a crowd at a racing event in southeastern Australia, police said. …

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Sports Khaled Al-Mobty claimed the gold medal in the individual show jumping competition held at the Al-Janadriyah Arena as part of the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games “Riyadh 2025.” SPA

Saudi Rider Al-Mobty Wins Show Jumping Gold at Islamic Solidarity Games ‘Riyadh 2025’

Saudi show jumper Khaled Al-Mobty claimed the gold medal in the individual show jumping competition held on Saturday at the Al-Janadriyah Arena as part of the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Riyadh)