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Saudi Arabia Gears up for 1st Esports World Cup with Over 2,500 Contestants in July 

Riyadh is set to host the first-ever edition of the Esports World Cup from July 4 to August 25. (Esports World Cup)
Riyadh is set to host the first-ever edition of the Esports World Cup from July 4 to August 25. (Esports World Cup)
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Saudi Arabia Gears up for 1st Esports World Cup with Over 2,500 Contestants in July 

Riyadh is set to host the first-ever edition of the Esports World Cup from July 4 to August 25. (Esports World Cup)
Riyadh is set to host the first-ever edition of the Esports World Cup from July 4 to August 25. (Esports World Cup)

Riyadh is set to host the first-ever edition of the Esports World Cup from July 4 to August 25.

The thrilling competition will bring together more than 2,500 male and female players representing elite teams and clubs at Boulevard Riyadh City. The event features a staggering $60 million prize pool, the largest in esports history.

Powered by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the tournament aims to propel the esports industry forward while creating promising opportunities for players and multi-team clubs.

With such an unprecedented prize pool, the cup is poised to become a milestone for the EWCF, which seeks to attract top talent and celebrate the popularity of this exhilarating field.

The Esports World Cup, the largest event in esports history, will unite the global e-gaming community, including players, fans, game producers, and publishers, with a focus on fostering connections and collaborations. Partners, producers, and publishers will have a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse fan base on a global scale.

The event aims to support the efforts of Saudi Arabia and the global community in elevating esports and highlighting its positive impact on societies and lifestyles.

It will also play a vital role in promoting cultural exchange and encouraging brands and companies to invest in the esports world.

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Sports

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

Paulo Sousa, the head coach of Shabab Al-Ahli. Asharq Al-Awsat
Paulo Sousa, the head coach of Shabab Al-Ahli. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Machida Zelvia Beats Shabab Al-Ahli 1-0 to Reach Asian Champions League Final

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

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 Soma's first-half goal secured a meeting with defending champion Al-Ahli Saudi on Saturday in Jeddah, The Associated Press reported.

Soma struck in the 12th minute, pouncing on a weak back pass from defender Bogdan Planic to shoot past goalkeeper Hamad Al-Meqbaali.

Kauan Santos nearly equalized 10 minutes before halftime when he hit the crossbar with a powerful effort from outside the area.

In the 92nd minute, Guilherme Bala appeared to have forced extra time with a long-range strike, but the goal was disallowed after a lengthy VAR review because play restarted before Machida completed a substitution.

Machida is aiming to emulate the Western Sydney Wanderers' performance in 2014 of winning the continental club title on debut.

On Monday, Al-Ahli Saudi beat Vissel Kobe 2-1 to reach its second straight final. The Jeddah-based club beat Kawasaki Frontale of Japan 2-0 in the 2025 final in May of last year in front of 60,000 home fans at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

All knockout-stage matches this month have been played in Jeddah after Western Zone 2026 playoffs were postponed in March because of the war in the Middle East.

Sports

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

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

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 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 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 considering playing at Roland Garros next month, The Associated Press reported.

“Yeah, I mean, to get my feet dirty, this was a great start,” she said in her post-match news conference at the Madrid Open. “I’m not able to play Rome, I have other commitments, unfortunately, so I’m really super sad about that, actually. My husband is Italian, so we feel sad that we can’t be there. So we would love to keep it going on the clay.”

Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, lost 6-2, 6-4 to 20-year-old Spaniard Kaitlin Quevedo.

Williams hadn't played in Madrid in five years. Her last tournament on clay had been at the 2021 French Open, when she lost her first match to Ekaterina Alexandrova.

“All these things take adjustments,” Williams said. “I started my practice on clay a couple weeks after Miami. I haven’t really played on clay in years. But I enjoy the clay, it’s fun. I played against a very inspired opponent today.”

Williams' last win on tour was against Peyton Stearns in the round of 16 of an WTA 500 event in Washington in July 2025. This year, she had already lost in Auckland, Hobart, the Australian Open, Austin, Indian Wells and Miami.

Quevedo earned her first WTA 1000 main-draw win, and just the second tour-level victory of her career. She became the youngest Spanish player to win a main-draw match at the Madrid Open.

“I was so surprised,” Quevedo said. “I didn’t know that was going to happen. I’m just really happy that I was able to play against such a legend on this amazing court for the first time. It was a privilege, and I’m just really happy to be here.”

Sports

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

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

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

The 61-year-old Hagi is widely regarded as Romania’s greatest ever football player, having led the country to the World Cup quarterfinals in 1994. He also played for Barcelona and Real Madrid as a creative attacking midfielder.

His first stint as Romania coach was in 2001 and lasted three months, ending after failing to get the team through the playoffs for the 2002 World Cup.

Hagi has since coached clubs in Romania and Türkiye, including Galatasaray and Steaua Bucharest, but is back in charge of the No. 56-ranked national team, which will not be at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Romanians lost to Türkiye in the playoffs, after which Lucescu fell ill and stepped down as coach. He died April 7, at the age of 80.

“It is an honor and a great responsibility to represent Romania once again, as I did as a player,” Hagi said in a statement released by Romania’s football federation.

“I am convinced,” he added, “that we can achieve beautiful things. I hope that the performances I had as a player, I will also have as a coach. I am convinced that we can become the best.”

Romania last played at the World Cup in 1998. It reached the round of 16 at the European Championship in 2024, losing to the Netherlands.

Hagi’s first games in charge will be friendlies against Georgia and Wales in June. Romania is in a Nations League group with Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Poland starting in September.

He has signed a contract through to the 2030 World Cup, with the task of “bringing the national team back into the elite of world football,” the federation said.

Federation president Răzvan Burleanu said his organization has made “several attempts over time” to get Hagi to become coach again.