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 FILE - Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain's racket lies on the court during his second round match against Reilly Opelka of the US at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Archer Steps Down as WTA CEO After Less Than 2 Years in the Role

Portia Archer has stepped down from her role as chief executive officer of the WTA less than two years after being appointed, the governing body of elite women…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports FILED - 13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the facade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Photo: Christian Charisius/dpa

Trump Envoy Reportedly Seeks to Replace Iran with Italy in World Cup

A top envoy to US President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. …

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Al-Nassr scored five goals against Qatari Al-Ahli. (Al-Nassr Club)

Al-Nassr Reaches Asian Champions League Two Final

Cristiano Ronaldo helped Al-Nassr crush Qatar’s Al-Ahli 5-1 on Wednesday to reach the Asian Champions League Two final and move within touching distance of a…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Ukraine national soccer team head coach Serhiy Rebrov attends a press conference in Herzogenaurach, Germany, 02 June 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK

Rebrov Leaves Role as Ukraine Coach

Serhiy Rebrov has stepped down as coach of the Ukraine national football team, the Ukrainian Association of Football announced on Wednesday. The former Dynamo…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Laureus World Sports Awards - Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain - April 20, 2026 Italy's Jannik Sinner poses on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony. (Reuters)

Sinner’s Mastery Mindset Makes Him Man to Beat as Clay Swing Intensifies

Jannik Sinner was once viewed as an explosive talent custom-built for hardcourt tennis but the four-times Grand Slam champion's assiduous work on his patience…

Sports National Guard troops patrol the Teotihuacan pyramids, which remained closed a day after a gunman opened fire on tourists at the archaeological site outside Mexico City, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Mexico to Beef Up Security at Tourist Sites after Shooting at Pyramids in Lead Up to World Cup

Mexico’s government said it was beefing up security at tourist sites after a man opened fire on tourists at pyramids outside of Mexico City less than two…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Soccer Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Deportivo Alaves - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - April 21, 2026 Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham reacts. (Reuters)

Bellingham Buys Minority Stakes in the Hundred Franchise Birmingham Phoenix

England ‌international Jude Bellingham has acquired a minority stake in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix, co-owners Warwickshire County Cricket…

Sports Paulo Sousa, the head coach of Shabab Al-Ahli. Asharq Al-Awsat

Machida Zelvia Beats Shabab Al-Ahli 1-0 to Reach Asian Champions League Final

Japan’s Machida Zelvia advanced to the final of the Asian Champions League Elite by beating Shabab Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates 1-0 on Tuesday. Yuki…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Venus Williams of USA waves as she leaves court after losing her first round match against Kaitlin Quevedo of Spain at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, 21 April 2026.  EPA/SERGIO PEREZ

Venus Williams, 45, Eyes the French Open after a 10th Straight Loss

Venus Williams has her sights on the French Open. The 45-year-old former world No. 1 said Tuesday after losing her 10th straight singles match that she is…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Gheorghe Hagi attends a press conference after being appointed as the new manager of the Romanian national team, in Bucharest, Romania, April 20, 2026. (EPA)

Romania Great Gheorghe Hagi Returns for Second Stint as National Team Coach After Lucescu’s Death

Romania great Gheorghe Hagi has been hired as national team coach for the second time. He was appointed to replace Mircea Lucescu, who died two weeks ago. …

Sports Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Manchester United - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - April 18, 2026 Chelsea's Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo react. (Reuters)

Di Matteo Says ‘Vital’ for Faltering Chelsea to Add Experience

Chelsea great Roberto Di Matteo told AFP on Tuesday it was "vital" that the faltering Premier League side add experienced players and backed Liam Rosenior to…

Sports  Laureus World Sports Awards - Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain - April 20, 2026 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony (Reuters)

Alcaraz Awaiting Test Results with French Open Defense at Risk

Carlos Alcaraz ‌is awaiting the results of tests on his injured wrist before making a decision about defending his French Open title next month, the world…

Sports Union’s new head coach Marie-Louise Eta reacts during the Bundesliga soccer match 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg in Berlin, Germany, 18 April 2026. (EPA)

Eta Appointment ‘No Surprise’ for Union Berlin’s Ascendant Women

The appointment of Marie-Louise Eta as head coach of Union Berlin's men's Bundesliga side may have captured global headlines, but few inside the ambitious club…

Sports Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - April 18, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro looks dejected after the match. (Reuters)

Ex-Spurs Star Davids Condemns ‘Lack of Quality, Lack of Management’

Former Tottenham star Edgar Davids on Tuesday told AFP that the fallen London giants will find it hard to avoid relegation and condemned "a lack of quality and…

Sports توزيع مرتقب للمقاعد الآسيوية يوم الجمعة المقبل (الاتحاد الآسيوي)

Sources: New Allocation Gives Saudi Arabia, Japan Six slots in AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League 2

Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Professional Football Committee at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is moving to adopt a new slot…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring the 2-3 goal with his teammates during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in Munich, southern Germany, on April 15, 2026. (AFP)

France Boasts a Rich Scoring Depth Other World Cup Teams Only Dream of

France will have rich depth in attack at the World Cup. About a billion dollars' worth. That's the estimated total value of the attacking players France is…

Sports  Liverpool's Mohamed Salah greets fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP)

African Players in Europe: Goals for Salah, Beto in Merseyside Derby

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah scored for Liverpool and Guinea-Bissau striker Beto for Everton in the Merseyside derby which the Reds won 2-1 at the weekend. …

Sports  Tennis - ATP 500 - Munich Open - MTTC Iphitos, Munich, Germany - April 19, 2026 Ben Shelton of the US celebrates with the Munich Open trophy after winning the men's singles final against Italy's Flavio Cobolli. (Reuters)

Munich Win Fuels Hopes of US Men’s Clay Revival, Shelton Says

Ben Shelton said he ‌had laid down a claycourt marker for US men with his Munich Open win on Sunday after the world number six became the first American…

Sports Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Arsenal - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - April 19, 2026 Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)

Burnley Game Is Like a Final, Says Man City’s Haaland

Manchester ‌City striker Erling Haaland said their next Premier League game against Burnley is like a final after Sunday's 2-1 victory over leaders…

Sports  Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina steers the winner's car next to Porsche CEO Michael Leiters after she won against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova (not in picture) in the final match at the Women's Tennis Grand Prix WTA tournament in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany, on April 19, 2026. (AFP)

Rybakina Beats Muchova to Win Stuttgart Crown for Second Time

Top seed Elena Rybakina had her eyes on the prize, literally, as she overpowered Karolina Muchova 7-5 6-1 to win the Stuttgart Open on Sunday and drive away…

Sports Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - April 18, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur's Kevin Danso look dejected with Antonin Kinsky after Brighton & Hove Albion's Georginio Rutter scores their second goal. (Reuters)

Tottenham Reports Racist Abuse of Defender Kevin Danso to Police

Tottenham condemned Sunday what the club described as “vile, dehumanizing racism” aimed at defender Kevin Danso following the 2-2 draw with Brighton in the…

Sports Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Pablo Simeone (C) and his players react at the end of the Spanish Cope del Rey final match between Real Sociedad and Atletico de Madrid, in Seville, Spain, 18 April 2026. (EPA)

Champions League or Bust for Atletico After Copa del Rey Agony

Diego Simeone tried to convey hope but his body language spoke for itself. The Argentine coach left Seville crumpled, wounded, by his team's Copa del Rey…

Sports Football - Carabao Cup - Final - Arsenal v Manchester City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - March 22, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola embraces Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after winning the Carabao Cup. (Action Images via Reuters)

Arsenal Face Acid Test of Premier League Title Mettle at Man City

The destiny of the Premier League title is at stake on Sunday as Arsenal aim to halt an alarming slump and hold off the charge of Pep Guardiola's Manchester…

Sports  Real Sociedad's head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo celebrates after winning the Copa del Rey final soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad in Seville, Spain, Saturday, April. 18, 2026. (AP)

‘Pure Joy’ for Matarazzo After Copa del Rey Triumph

Real Sociedad coach Pellegrino Matarazzo was elated after his side defeated Atletico Madrid to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday, making him the first American…