Sports

Michael Carrick Keen to Balance Short-term Success with Building for the Future

Sports Man Utd manager Michael Carrick looks on during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United in London, Britain, 18 April 2026.  EPA/ANDY RAIN

Michael Carrick Keen to Balance Short-term Success with Building for the Future

Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick said the rapid turnover of managers in the Premier League will not affect how he approaches the job and he…

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Sports FILE - The crowd watch Norway's Casper Ruud playing against Spain's Rafael Nadal on the court Philippe Chatrier, known as center court, during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium on June 5, 2022 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Madrid Open Sets Up Practice Court, Nadal Trains with Courtois and Bellingham

Rafael Nadal was back on a tennis court — one inside Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium — on Thursday. The Madrid Open set up the temporary court on…

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Sports US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 April 2026. EPA/WILL OLIVER / POOL

US Says Does Not Object to Iran Playing in World Cup but People with IRGC Ties Won't be Allowed

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup but he added the…

Asharq Al Awsat (Washington)
Sports Coach Georgios Donis (Photo by Essa Doubisi)

Saudi Arabia Appoints Donis as Coach Ahead of World Cup

Saudi Arabia made its coaching change official Thursday by replacing Hervé Renard with Georgios Donis until July 27, less than two months before the start of…

Sports The program is aimed at supporting rising talent and widening opportunities for players from the Global South. Photo: PIF

Saudi PIF and ATP Launch Program to Support Rising Talent

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the ATP launched the ATP Next Gen Accelerator on Thursday, a program aimed at supporting rising talent and…

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Sports A soccer field stands empty at Kino Sports Complex, where the Iranian men’s soccer team is scheduled to practice for the FIFA World Cup, in Tucson, Arizona, US, March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble

Asian Football Confederation Says Iran Is Still Set to Play at the World Cup

A leading football official in Asia says Iran is still set to play at the World Cup which kicks off in June in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Also on…

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Sports Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Everton - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 14, 2026 Arsenal's Max Dowman celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Rooney: Let Arsenal Youngster Dowman Enjoy the Moment

Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said Arsenal's Max Dowman should be allowed to enjoy his achievement after becoming the youngest goalscorer in…

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Sports Members of Iran's women's football team arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on March 16, 2026, after staying in a hotel in the Malaysian capital while awaiting the next leg of their journey home. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

5 Women Rejoin Iranian Soccer Squad in Malaysia after Abandoning Australia Asylum

The Iranian women’s soccer team had yet to reveal plans to leave Malaysia after most of the seven squad members who created a diplomatic furor by accepting…

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Sports The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Egypt, Saudi Move Camps from Qatar and Set March 27 Friendly in Jeddah

Egypt will play Saudi Arabia in a friendly in Jeddah on March 27 after both sides shifted their international-window training camps from Qatar due to travel…

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Sports Jannik Sinner of Italy poses with his trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the final at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Sinner Says Arriving Early to Acclimatize Helped Indian Wells Title Bid

Jannik Sinner said his first Indian Wells title was the result of meticulous preparation in the heat of the Californian desert after the Italian arrived a week…

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Sports Mechanics work on the car of McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri during the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai on March 15, 2026. (AFP)

McLaren Launches Investigation After Norris and Piastri Unable to Start F1’s Chinese Grand Prix

McLaren has launched an investigation with engine supplier Mercedes to investigate why both of its cars suffered terminal electrical faults that ruled them out…

Sports Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - March 14, 2026 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton after qualifying in third place REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

Lewis Hamilton 'Incredibly Grateful' to Ferrari as Long Wait for F1 Podium Ends

Lewis Hamilton says he is “incredibly grateful” to Ferrari for letting him guide the development of the car that put him back on a Grand Prix podium for the…

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Sports  First-placed Mercedes' Italian driver Kimi Antonelli (2L) celebrates winning alongside Mercedes' British driver George Russell (2R) and Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton (R) after the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai on March 15, 2026. (AFP)

Antonelli Takes His First Win in China to Extend Mercedes’ Dominant Start to New F1 Era

Kimi Antonelli became Formula 1’s second-youngest race winner with a composed drive to victory for Mercedes in an eventful Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday. The…

Sports Football - LaLiga - Real Madrid v Elche - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 14, 2026 Real Madrid's Arda Guler celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Cesar Palacios, Dean Huijsen, Thibaut Courtois and Diego Aguado. (Reuters)

Real Madrid Rout Elche with Guler 70-Yard Strike

Arda Guler scored from around 70 yards out and Fede Valverde capped an excellent week with another fine strike as Real Madrid thrashed Elche 4-1 on Saturday in…

Sports Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP)

Medvedev Downplays Indian Wells Win Over Alcaraz, Says Young Guns Still Ahead

Daniil Medvedev said ‌his Indian Wells semi-final win over Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday would prove nothing more than a temporary setback for the Spaniard,…

Sports 14 March 2026, Leverkusen: Munich's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich at the BayArena. Photo: Federico Gambarini/dpa

Nine-man Bayern Come from Behind to Rescue 1-1 Draw at Leverkusen

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich had two players sent off and two goals disallowed but came back from a goal down to snatch a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen on…

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Sports Will Iran play its World Cup matches in Mexico? (Reuters)

Iran Says Wants to Play World Cup Matches in Mexico

Iran has suggested to move its World Cup matches from the United States to co-hosts Mexico in connection with the Middle East war. Sports minister Ahmad…

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Sports The members of Iran's women's football team who did not claim asylum in Australia arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on March 11, 2026 © ARIF KARTONO / AFP

Iran State Media Says Two More Footballers Pull Australia Asylum Bids

Two more players of the Iranian women's football team, which competed in the Asian Cup in Australia, and one member of the backroom staff have withdrawn their…

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Sports An aerial view shows Cairo's traffic with buildings and houses, through the window of a Turkish Airlines plane, in Cairo, Egypt March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

African Champions Pyramids Hit Back to Draw in Morocco

Pyramids of Egypt preserved an unbeaten record in defense of the CAF Champions League title by coming from behind to draw 1-1 at FAR Rabat of Morocco late on…

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Sports Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands waits inside his car during the qualifying session of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, in Shanghai, China, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, Pool)

Verstappen Says Red Bull Car ‘Completely Undrivable' after Chinese GP Qualifying

Red Bull's Max Verstappen said his RB22 Formula One car is "completely undrivable," after qualifying eighth for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix and a torrid sprint…

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Sports Mar 13, 2026; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Aryna Sabalenka (BEL) shakes hands with Linda Noskova (CZE) after winning her the semi final match during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Sabalenka, Rybakina Set Up Blockbuster Indian Wells Final

Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina moved into the Indian Wells final with straight-sets victories over Linda Noskova and Elina Svitolina on Friday, setting up…

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Sports Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw - John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, US - December 5, 2025 Draw Assistant Shaquille O'Neal draws out Iran during the FIFA World Cup 2026. (Draw Pool via Reuters)

Iran Football Team Pushes Back on Trump Comments, Says ‘No One Can Exclude’ It from the World Cup

Pushing back on US President Donald Trump’s comments, Iran's national soccer team says “no one can exclude” it from playing in the men's World Cup in the…

Sports Benfica head coach José Mourinho (L) reacts during the Portuguese First League soccer match against FC Porto at Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 08 March 2026.  EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES

Bans Will Cost Mourinho 2 Games as Benfica Calls Punishment 'Unfair'

Jose Mourinho is set to miss Benfica’s next two games as punishment for his red card and subsequent confrontation with a Porto assistant coach in last Sunday’s…

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Sports  Barcelona's Lamine Yamal scores his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Newcastle United and Barcelona in Newcastle, England, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP)

Election Draws Spotlight as Barca Host Sevilla

Barcelona welcome Sevilla on Sunday aiming to maintain their La Liga lead on Real Madrid, but the stakes are even higher off the field with the club's next…

Sports  Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Round 16 - First Leg - Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - March 11, 2026 Bayer Leverkusen players applaud their fans after the match. (Reuters)

Leverkusen Wrestle with Inconsistency as Brilliant Bayern Await

Unpredictable Bayer Leverkusen host Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday, still battling the inconsistency which threatens to derail their top-four…

Sports An empty check-in counter for Qatar Airways, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, at Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York City, US, March 2, 2026.  REUTERS/Bing Guan

Roberto Mancini Unable to Return to Qatar for Coaching Duties

Al-Sadd coach Roberto Mancini has been unable to return to Qatar and will miss the team’s next game against Umm Salal because of the war in the region, the…

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Sports  Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - March 13, 2026 Mercedes' George Russell ahead of practice. (Reuters)

Mercedes the Class of the Field in Chinese GP Practice

Mercedes' George Russell led ‌the way in practice for the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli, with the at times twitchy-looking…

Sports INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: Aryna Sabalenka plays a backhand against Victoria Mboko of Canada in their quarterfinal match of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 12, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images/AFP

Sabalenka and Sinner Move to the BNP Paribas Semifinals

Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka — the world's top-ranked men's and women's tennis players — both won quarterfinal matches in straight sets during an…

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Sports Tottenham Hotspur's Dominic Solanke celebrates scoring the 1-0 goal during the English Premier League soccer match of Tottenham Hotspur against Crystal Palace, in London, Britain, 05 March 2026. EPA/DANIEL HAMBURY

Solanke Says Tottenham's Madrid Meltdown One in a Million

Tottenham Hotspur's meltdown against Atletico Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League last-16 clash was a one-in-a-million occurrence, according to forward…

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