Sports

Head of Palestinian Football Not Granted US Visa to Attend World Cup

Sports  Demonstrators place missing person flyers on the trailer of a mounted police truck during a protest outside Azteca Stadium ahead of the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, Mexico, June 11, 2026. (Reuters)

Head of Palestinian Football Not Granted US Visa to Attend World Cup

The head of the Palestinian Football Association is waiting in Mexico City for permission to enter the United States with other federation heads attending the…

Sports Tunisia's French head coach Sabri Lamouchi takes part in a training session at Rayados Training Center in Santiago, Nuevo Leon state, Mexico on June 9, 2026, ahead of the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

Sweden Strike Force Faces Tough Tunisia Test in World Cup Opener

Sweden boast a formidable strike partnership in Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, but the two will have their work cut out in their opening World Cup Group F…

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…

Asharq Al Awsat
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 A partial covering is seen over Lumen branding at Lumen Field, which will be named Seattle Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Egypt Omit Nantes Forward Mostafa Mohamed from World Cup Squad

Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed has been left out of Egypt's preliminary squad for next month's World Cup but uncapped teenager Hamza Abdelkarim, who plays for…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Aston Villa players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Europa League final soccer match between Freiburg and Aston Villa in Istanbul, Türkiye, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (AP Photo)

Aston Villa and Prince William Celebrate Europa League Triumph Ending Team's 30-year Trophy Drought

In front of the future king of England, Unai Emery reaffirmed his status as the king of the Europa League. Aston Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul on…

Asharq Al Awsat (Istanbul)
Sports Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates victory over Spain’s Pedro Martinez during their men's singles match on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 19, 2026. (AFP)

Djokovic Trying to Hold Back Time at French Open

Novak Djokovic arrives at Roland Garros this year facing a familiar opponent, but one that cannot be outmaneuvered even by the record 24-time Grand Slam…

Sports  Philippines' Alexandra Eala serves a ball to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Sunday, May 10, 2026. (AP)

Eala and Tjen Bring a Southeast Asian ‘Sense of Pride’ to Roland Garros

Alexandra Eala and Janice Tjen have taken different routes to the women's top 40, but both began their journeys from a region that is rarely on the tennis map…

Sports Bayern Munich's English forward #09 Harry Kane raises celebrates and raises the Bundesliga trophy after winning the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Cologne in Munich, southern Germany, on May 16, 2026. (AFP)

How Are the World Cup Favorites Shaping Up?

With the start of the 2026 World Cup in North America now barely three weeks away, AFP Sport runs the rule over the leading contenders at the first-ever 48…

Sports Arsenal fans celebrate their team winning the English Premier League, outside the Emirates Stadium in London on May 20, 2026. (AFP)

Celebrations Erupt in North London After Arsenal Seal Premier League Title

Thousands of Arsenal supporters ‌flocked to the streets of North London on Tuesday as the club clinched their first Premier League title in 22 years,…

Sports UEFA Hands Lifetime Ban to Czech Coach who Secretly Filmed Female Players

UEFA Hands Lifetime Ban to Czech Coach who Secretly Filmed Female Players

UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women's soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced on Tuesday. …

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 14, 2024 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz poses for a picture with the trophy after winning his men's singles final against Serbia's Novak Djokovic. (Reuters)

Alcaraz Withdraws from Wimbledon with Wrist Injury

Carlos Alcaraz's hopes of regaining his Wimbledon title have been dashed with the two-time champion announcing Tuesday he is withdrawing as he recovers from a…

Sports Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the trophy on the pitch after the English FA Cup final football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley stadium in London, on May 16, 2026. (AFP)

Guardiola Set for Emotional Man City Farewell After Era-Defining Decade

Pep Guardiola is expected to take charge of Manchester City for the final time on Sunday, drawing the curtain down on a decade that has reshaped not only his…

Sports  Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka returns the ball to Romania's Sorana Cirstea during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP)

Stuttering Sabalenka Seeks to Set Down Marker at Roland Garros

Aryna Sabalenka looked unbeatable when the clay-court season got underway last month, but now as the world number one arrives in Paris for her latest tilt at…

Sports Coach Carlo Ancelotti arrives to announce Brazil's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP)

World Cup Glory Attracts Superstar Coaches into International Battle

The 2026 World Cup has bucked the trend of international football's struggles to compete with the riches of the club game when it comes to securing some of the…

Sports 15 July 2018, Russia, Moscow: France's Kylian Mbappe in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 final match between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium. (dpa)

How Might This World Cup Be Won on the Pitch?

The World Cup represents football's pinnacle, the ultimate prize every young player dreams of winning. But whether the tournament is where the very best…

Sports Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - May 11, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto de Zerbi after the match. (Reuters)

Spurs Must Use Rivals’ Taunts to Fuel Survival Bid, de Zerbi Says

Tottenham Hotspur manager ‌Roberto de Zerbi has called on his players to use taunts from their rivals as motivation in the fight against relegation from…

Sports North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC head coach Ri Yu Il (L) and captain Kim Kyong Yong (R) attend a press conference at Suwon Sports Complex ahead of the Women's Asian Champions League semi-final. JUNG YEON-JE / POOL/AFP

'We're Here Solely to Play Football,' Insists North Korean Coach

The coach of the first North Korean sports team to visit the South in eight years batted away questions Tuesday about the prospect of South Koreans cheering…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports PSG's Ousmane Dembele runs with the ball during the French League One soccer match between Lens and Paris Saint Germain, in Lens, northern France, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP)

PSG's Dembele Has Treatment for Leg Issue Before Champions League Final

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele needs treatment for a right calf issue, the French club said Monday, ahead of the Champions League final against…

Sports Iran's players and staff pose ahead of a training session in Antalya in March © Adem ALTAN / AFP/File

Iran Squad Arrives in Türkiye for Training amid World Cup Uncertainty 

Iran’s national soccer squad landed in Türkiye for a training camp on Monday ahead of their planned trip to the US for the World Cup, with uncertainty still…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports  Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates their victory at the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in Manchester, England, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP)

Fernandes ‘Proud’ to Match Premier League Assists Record

Bruno Fernandes said he was proud to match the Premier League assists record jointly held by "main names" Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne and is now…

Sports Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #14 Desire Doue celebrates his team victory at the end of the French L1 football match between RC Lens and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens on May 13, 2026. (AFP)

Who Could Be the 2026 World Cup’s Breakout Star?

World Cups are where rising stars of football quickly transform into global icons. AFP Sport looks at five of the contenders to become the game's next…

Sports  PSG players and Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish head coach Luis Enrique (R) celebrate with the French Ligue 1 trophy after winning the championship ahead of the French L1 football match between Paris FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris on May 17, 2026. (AFP)

Luis Enrique Blasts PSG’s Flat Display in Last Match Before Champions League Final

Paris St Germain ‌manager Luis Enrique said he was disappointed with his side's lack of intensity after they lost their last Ligue 1 game of the season on…

Sports Football - FA Cup - Final - Chelsea v Manchester City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 16, 2026 Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo celebrates with the FA Cup trophy. (Action Images via Reuters)

African Players in Europe: Daring Semenyo Wins Final for City

Antoine Semenyo produced one of the great FA Cup final goals with an audacious back-flick that sealed a 1-0 win for Manchester City over Chelsea in the FA Cup…

Sports Italy's Jannik Sinner (L) shakes hands with Norway's Casper Ruud after winning the men's final of the ATP Rome Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

Sinner Wins Italian Open, Extends Masters Tournament Streak

Jannik Sinner won the Italian Open on Sunday after beating Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to claim a record-extending sixth consecutive Masters 1000 tournament victory. …

Sports Napoli's players celebrate after the 0-2 goal scored by Amir Rrahmani during the Italian Serie A soccer match Pisa SC vs SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa, Italy, 17 May 2026.  EPA/ENRICO MATTIA DEL PUNTA

Napoli Secure Champions League Spot as Juventus Stumble against Fiorentina

A 3-0 win over Pisa secured second-placed Napoli a place in the Champions League on Sunday, while Juventus suffered a shock 2-0 home loss to 10-man Fiorentina…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports FILE - Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso looks on before the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Pablo Garcia, File)

Xabi Alonso Appointed Chelsea Manager on Four-year Deal

Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as the club's manager on Sunday on a four-year deal with the Spaniard the latest coach tasked with turning around the club's…

Asharq Al Awsat
Sports North Korea's Naegohyang Women's FC players arrive at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on May 17, 2026, ahead of the Women's Asian Champions League semi-final football match against South Korea's Suwon FC Women. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

North Korean Women Footballers Land in South Ahead of Rare Match

A North Korean women's football team landed in South Korea on Sunday, marking the first visit by a sports team from the isolated country to its southern…

Asharq Al Awsat