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Ibra Ready to Pass Torch to Elanga’s Generation as World Cup Looms

Zlatan Ibrahimovic attends a press conference at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Monday March 22, 2021. (AP)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic attends a press conference at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Monday March 22, 2021. (AP)
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Ibra Ready to Pass Torch to Elanga’s Generation as World Cup Looms

Zlatan Ibrahimovic attends a press conference at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Monday March 22, 2021. (AP)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic attends a press conference at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Monday March 22, 2021. (AP)

Sweden's all-time record goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic is preparing to pass the torch to a new generation of young players such as Anthony Elanga as his side prepare for their World Cup playoff semi-final against the Czech Republic on Thursday.

The 40-year-old striker recalled playing with the Manchester United winger's father Joseph for Malmo FF over 20 years ago and he is now sharing a dressing room with his son.

"First time I met him, we were in the restaurant in the (United) training ground and he came up to me and he said, 'you know my father' and I was like, help me now because I don't know who I'm talking to," Ibrahimovic said.

"'You played with my father Elanga', and then everything clicked and I said 'okay', and it made me happy because I wasn't the only Swedish one in Manchester, we had another Swedish player."

Ibrahimovic, who scored 17 goals in 33 Premier League games during an injury-hit spell at United from 2016 to 2018, even allowed Elanga, 19, to take center stage on the podium between himself and Sweden's team press officer.

"We're all happy and we're enjoying the adventure he's on, he just started and he's on the way up so it's good. You will have something to watch for another 20 years," Ibra added with a smile.

For Elanga, who has caught the eye with his performances for United this season, and other young attacking Swedes like Dejan Kulusevski and Alexander Isak, Ibrahimovic has been an inspiration.

"You can see for the past 20 years what he's done for the national team, and obviously at the club football level, you can see the way he's scoring his goals. Even when I was young I used to look up to him, being from Sweden," Elanga said.

"When I found out that he signed for United, I couldn't wait to speak to him, ask him about the memories he had with my dad. It means a lot, you know, to be able to see him day-in, day-out here, train with him - it's an honor."

Sweden take on the Czech Republic in their World Cup playoff semi at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, a game Ibrahimovic will miss due to suspension.

The winners will face Poland next week for a place in the World Cup finals in Qatar which start in November.

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Sports

FIFA Launches $60 Ticket Tier amid Criticism of 2026 World Cup Pricing 

13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the façade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. (dpa)
13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the façade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. (dpa)
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FIFA Launches $60 Ticket Tier amid Criticism of 2026 World Cup Pricing 

13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the façade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. (dpa)
13 December 2024, Switzerland, Zurich: The FIFA logo is seen on the façade of FIFA headquarters before the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. (dpa)

FIFA introduced on Tuesday a small number of $60 "Supporter Entry Tier" tickets, aiming to make next year's World Cup more affordable for fans of qualified teams.

Football's governing body said that the discounted tickets would cover all 104 matches of the tournament, including the final.

The cheaper tickets will make up 10% of Participating Member Associations' (PMAs) allocations.

The PMAs, which represent competing national teams and manage dedicated fan ticket programs, will handle the ticket allocation process.

They will also define their own criteria to prioritize tickets for "loyal fans" closely connected to their national teams.

"In total, half of each PMA's ticket allocation will fall within the most affordable categories: 40% under the Supporter Value Tier and 10% under the new Supporter Entry Tier," FIFA said in a statement.

"The remaining allocation will be split evenly between the Supporter Standard Tier and the Supporter Premier Tier," it added.

Fans who apply through PMA ticketing programs and whose teams fail to progress to the knockout stage will have administrative fees waived for refund requests.

The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny of ticket pricing ahead of the 2026 tournament, set to take place from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Last week, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) accused FIFA of imposing "extortionate" ticket prices that could prevent average fans from attending the event.

'STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION'

FSE director Ronan Evain told Reuters on Tuesday that while the new pricing was a step in the right direction, it was "clearly not sufficient".

He noted that following a team to the final would cost $480 under category four, but jumps to $6,900 for category three, meaning one fan "sitting in the same section" as another could pay 15 times more.

Evain also said there was a lack of transparency around ticket distribution.

"FIFA doesn't provide any guidelines or obligations for the PMAs. They have the freedom to choose how they distribute the tickets," he said.

According to the BBC, this will mean about 400 of the cheaper tickets will be available for England and Scotland in their group games, yet Evain said that most PMAs don't disclose the number of tickets.

FIFA said in its statement on Tuesday that PMAs were requested to ensure that these cheaper tickets were "specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams".

Evain also raised concerns about accessibility for fans with disabilities. "The cheapest they can get all the way to the final is $7,000 and they also must pay full price for companion seats, meaning that following a team to the final could cost $14,000," he said.

Reuters has put Evain's points to FIFA for comment.

Despite the backlash, FIFA reported strong interest in the sale's third phase draw, which began on December 11 and will remain open until January 13, driven by the release of match schedules, venues and kick-off times.

Sports

Norris Steps up as a Fresh Champion for Formula One’s New Era 

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 7, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after becoming the 2025 Formula One World Champion (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 7, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after becoming the 2025 Formula One World Champion (Reuters)
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Norris Steps up as a Fresh Champion for Formula One’s New Era 

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 7, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after becoming the 2025 Formula One World Champion (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 7, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates after becoming the 2025 Formula One World Champion (Reuters)

Lando Norris stepped up as a first-time world champion in 2025 to end Max Verstappen's four-year reign and lead Formula One into a new era.

Whether the McLaren driver can do it again remains a big question.

The title did not come easy to the 26-year-old as he made a dream come true in a rollercoaster season of highs and lows, the wins accompanied also by mistakes and misfortune in a three-way battle.

Even as the Briton celebrated beating Red Bull's Verstappen by two points, and Australian teammate Oscar Piastri by 13, Norris recognized it could be a one-off.

Formula One, set to expand to 11 teams with the arrival of Cadillac, is facing a major reset next year with a new generation of engines and the biggest technical upheaval in decades.

The usual suspects are likely to stay competitive, but nobody really knows who will be ahead in 2026.

MCLAREN'S FIRST TITLE DOUBLE SINCE 1998

"It could be my only opportunity in my life that I get to do such a thing," Norris said of putting the champion's number one on his car next season.

"I have a lot of faith in my team and we've achieved a lot in the last few years together. And I'm confident we will achieve a lot more together. But Formula One is unpredictable. You never know how much things can change. You never know what can happen."

McLaren have won two constructors' crowns on the trot and this year sealed the team and driver's title double for the first time since 1998.

While Norris and Piastri were the only ones to lead the standings, and the Briton was a deserving champion, Verstappen provided some of the standout moments with one of the great comebacks in the sport's 75-year history.

"Championships are important, but they do not tell the whole story. Sometimes the best driver does not win the title," observed Damon Hill, who dethroned Ferrari great Michael Schumacher to take the 1996 crown.

Verstappen was at times in a league of his own against a backdrop of upheaval at Red Bull, who fired team principal Christian Horner in July and said farewell to consultant Helmut Marko in December.

The Dutch driver went from 104 points behind Piastri at the end of August to 11 ahead at the final flag and said it was probably the best he had driven in Formula One -- quite a statement from someone who won a record 19 of 22 races in 2023.

VERSTAPPEN WON MORE, PIASTRI LED LONGER

Norris did not win the most races or lead the championship longest, with Verstappen taking eight wins -- including the last three of the campaign -- to the McLaren drivers' seven apiece.

Piastri topped the leaderboard from April to the end of October.

The Australian will be even more determined in 2026, after a massive learning year that at one point looked sure to crown him Australia's first champion in 45 years.

Mercedes, who power McLaren and whose factory team finished runners-up with two wins from George Russell, could also provide far stiffer opposition.

The last time the sport had a major engine change, in 2014, Mercedes went on a dominant run of eight successive constructors' titles.

Winless Ferrari, without a title since 2008, will be under pressure to deliver with seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton absent even from the podium in a disappointing first year at Maranello.

Next year also sees the first Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin, Verstappen racing a Red Bull powered by the energy drink company's own engine in partnership with Ford while Audi replaces Sauber.

Frenchman Isack Hadjar joins Verstappen at Red Bull after an excellent rookie season at Racing Bulls, with a first podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.

How the 21-year-old matches up, as Verstappen's fourth teammate since the end of 2024, will be another fascinating storyline when the season starts in Australia on March 8.

Sports

Maresca Says he is Happy at Chelsea After 3-1 Win at Cardiff

Football - Carabao Cup - Quarter Final - Cardiff City v Chelsea - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - December 16, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca celebrates after the match. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)
Football - Carabao Cup - Quarter Final - Cardiff City v Chelsea - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - December 16, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca celebrates after the match. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)
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Maresca Says he is Happy at Chelsea After 3-1 Win at Cardiff

Football - Carabao Cup - Quarter Final - Cardiff City v Chelsea - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - December 16, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca celebrates after the match. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)
Football - Carabao Cup - Quarter Final - Cardiff City v Chelsea - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - December 16, 2025 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca celebrates after the match. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he is happy at the club after they booked a spot in the League Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 win at Cardiff City on Tuesday, just days after he had voiced his frustrations over behind-the-scenes issues at the club.

Maresca had said after Saturday's 2-0 Premier League home win over Everton, which ended a run of four games without a win, that he had been through "the worst 48 hours" of his time at the club and complained about a lack of support.

At the final whistle on Tuesday, however, Maresca was celebrating with the crowd as they chanted his name after a brace from Alejandro Garnacho and a goal from Pedro Neto put his side into the last four.

"I'm just happy, we're going to play another semi-final and I think it's what the fans deserve," he told reporters, according to Reuters.

"It was a great moment. In some moments when you don't win games, they have been not happy, but it's normal. But overall, the fans have always been there.

"These are the kind of games that I fall in love even more with the players because you cannot imagine how easy it is to slip, to slide, because they are tricky games," added Maresca, who declined to elaborate on his comments from the weekend.

"I didn't speak with anyone. I didn't speak, no it's OK," Maresca said. "I always said that I've been happy since day one. So it's not that tonight I'm not happy." Chelsea, who are fourth in Premier League and eight points behind leaders Arsenal, will next travel to Newcastle United on Saturday.