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 Workers are seen on a crane at Los Angeles Stadium (temporarily renamed from SoFi Stadium) ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles on June 7, 2026. (AFP)

World Cup by the Numbers: 104 Matches, 48 Teams and 3 Countries Make This the Largest Ever

This year's edition of the World Cup will be the biggest ever with an expanded field of 48 teams, three host countries and 16 stadiums staging the record 104…

Sports Noussair Mazraoui of Morocco exits the pitch injured during the international friendly match between Morocco and Norway at Red Bull Arena on June 07, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)

Injury Concerns for Morocco Ahead of Their World Cup Opener

Morocco are concerned about injuries to starters Abdessamad Ezzalzouli and Noussair Mazraoui, who could be forced out of their opening game at the World Cup…

Sports France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe reacts ahead of a training session at the French Football Federation's (FFF) training ground in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, southwest of Paris on June 6, 2026, as part of the team's preparation for upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

France to Edge Out Spain for World Cup Glory, Economists Say

France will ‌beat Spain to lift the World Cup trophy on July 19 and five-time winners Brazil are expected to be the biggest flops, according to a Reuters…

Sports Denmark's Christian Eriksen between Ukraine's Tsygankov (L) and Ruslan Malinovskyi during the international soccer friendly match Denmark against Ukraine at Odense Stadium, in Odense, Denmark, 07 June 2026. (EPA)

Denmark’s Eriksen ‘Doing Well’ After Collapsing During Friendly

Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine but was later able to walk off the field, five years after suffering a cardiac arrest…

Sports 07 June 2026, France, Paris: German tennis player Alexander Zverev celebrates his victory with the trophy after defeating Italy's Flavio Cobolli during their Men's Singles Final match of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros complex. Photo: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Roland Garros Winner Zverev: Cramps Helped me Shed Mental Weight

Cramping in the fourth set of the French Open final was the best thing that could have happened to Alexander Zverev on Sunday, freeing him from his mental…

Asharq Al Awsat (Paris)
Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Training - Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, US - June 6, 2026 Spain's Lamine Yamal during training. (Reuters)

Yamal Available for Spain’s World Cup Opener After Injury

Teenage Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and fellow winger Nico Williams will be available for Spain's World Cup opener against debutants Cape Verde on June 15,…

Sports Morocco's forward #09 Soufiane Rahimi and Norway's defender #03 Kristoffer Ajer vie for the ball during the international friendly football match between Morocco and Norway at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on June 7, 2026. (AFP)

Norway Come from Behind to Draw with Morocco in World Cup Warm-up

Norway captain Martin ‌Odegaard equalized 15 minutes from time to force a 1-1 draw with Morocco in their World Cup warm-up international on Sunday. …

Sports The Minister of Sport meets a number of athletes during the inauguration of the center (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Sport Minister Inaugurates Elite Combat Sports Center in Jeddah

Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal has inaugurated the elite combat sports…

Asharq Al Awsat (Jeddah)
Sports  Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Antonelli Stays Cool to Win Chaotic Monaco Grand Prix

Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli stayed ice-cool to win a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix and extend his run of victories this season to five on Sunday…

Sports Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)

Algeria Extend Coach Petkovic’s Contract

Algeria have extended Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic's contract until 2028, just days before the start of the World Cup. Petkovic, 62, had been in charge of…

Sports Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)

Makenzie Replaces Injured Yahya in Iraq’s World Cup Squad

Iraq ‌have called up Ahmed Hassan Makenzie to their 2026 World Cup squad to replace Ahmed Yahya, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring…

Sports A drone view of people participating in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest “Mexican wave” along Reforma Avenue as part of activities ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, in Mexico City, Mexico, June 6, 2026. (Reuters)

Mexico City Chases World Record for Largest Mexican Wave Ahead of World Cup

Thousands of ‌people flooded one of the world's great urban boulevards on Saturday, attempting to set a world record for the Mexican wave — naturally, in…

Sports Argentina's forward #22 Lautaro Martinez (R) and Argentina's defender #25 Facundo Medina celebrate with Argentina's forward #17 Giuliano Simeone after he scored a goal during the international friendly football match between Argentina and Honduras at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on June 6, 2026. (AFP)

Argentina Stroll to Pre-World Cup Win over Honduras

Argentina eased to a 2-0 victory against a lackluster Honduras in the reigning champions' penultimate World Cup warm-up game in Texas on Saturday. Lautaro…

Sports Football - International Friendly - Brazil v Egypt - Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio, US - June 6, 2026 Egypt coach Hossam Hassan before the match. (Reuters)

Belgium Game Will Be Difficult in a Highly Competitive Group, Says Egypt’s Coach

Egypt's ‌coach Hossam Hassan sees the opening match in the World Cup against Belgium as the most difficult game in the "highly competitive" group G. …

Sports Football - International Friendly - Brazil v Egypt - Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, Ohio, US - June 6, 2026 Brazil's Endrick celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. (Reuters)

Brazil Down Egypt 2-1 in World Cup Warm-up

Endrick and Bruno Guimaraes scored the goals as Brazil wrapped up their pre-World Cup preparations with a 2-1 victory over fellow qualifiers Egypt in Cleveland…

Sports SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: A detailed view of the Adidas TRIONDA FIFA World Cup match ball prior to the international friendly match between Australia and Switzerland at Snapdragon Stadium on June 06, 2026 in San Diego, California.   Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images/AFP

Meet Egypt's World Cup Stars Named after Football Icons

France's David Trezeguet and Brazil's Zico and Dunga all left their mark on World Cup history decades ago. In 2026, their names will return to football's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports US gymnast Simone Biles poses on the Red Carpet ahead of the 27th Laureus World Sports Awards gala in Madrid in April 2026. Oscar DEL POZO / AFP/File

'Almost Dying' - Simone Biles Shares Health Scare on Social Media

Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles revealed a recent health scare via an Instagram post on Saturday, revealing no details about the medical emergency she called…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Italian Vincenzo Italiano named Besiktas coach. (Reuters)

Italiano Appointed Besiktas Coach

Vincenzo Italiano has been appointed coach of Turkish side Besiktas, the Istanbul-based club announced on Saturday. The 48-year-old Italian will coach the…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Fans can watch all Saudi national team matches alongside prominent international, Arab, and Gulf fixtures - SPA

AlUla Designates Scenic Open-Air Venues for 2026 FIFA World Cup Screenings

AlUla Governorate has prepared several open-air fan zones for residents and tourists to watch 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, blending international football…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Iran's Mehdi Torabi, right, poses for a photo with fans after a friendly soccer match between Iran and Mali, in Antalya, southern Türkiye, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Iran World Cup Squad Heads to Mexico as US Visa Row Erupts

Iran lashed out at the United States on Saturday for refusing visas to some of its World Cup squad support staff as the players were to leave Türkiye for…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Soccer Football - International Friendly - Puerto Rico v Saudi Arabia - Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas, US - June 5, 2026 Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari in action IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Dustin Safranek

Saudi Arabia Beat Puerto Rico 3-0 after Weather Delay

Saudi Arabia secured a 3-0 friendly win over Puerto Rico on Saturday in a match disrupted for nearly two hours by severe weather, earning their first victory…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 05: Lennart Karl of Germany looks on during a Team Germany Training session at Soldier Field on June 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images/AFP

Germany Starlet Karl Ruled Out of World Cup

Teenage Germany forward Lennart Karl has been ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining an injury in training, the German Football Federation (DFB) said on…

Sports Canada's head coach Jesse Marsch runs his drills during the selection camp for Canada’s national soccer team, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C., ahead of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Co-hosts Canada Held by Ireland Ahead of World Cup

World Cup co-hosts Canada were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw with Ireland on Friday despite dominating their final warm-up friendly before the tournament…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Real Madrid's President Florentino Pérez presents his campaign for the club's elections, under the slogan "A lot of history yet to be made", in Madrid, Spain, 27 May 2026. (EPA)

Florentino Pérez Faces First Election for Real Madrid Leadership in 20 Years

For the first time in 20 years, Florentino Pérez's Real Madrid reign will be challenged at the ballot box. The world’s most valuable and most successful…