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FIFA Selects Saudi Refereeing Crew for 2026 World Cup

The newly completed 7,000 seats (grey area) in the south end of BMO Field are shown as part of the stadium's upgrades ahead of hosting six FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer matches in Toronto, March 24, 2026. (Eduardo Lima/The Canadian Press via AP)
The newly completed 7,000 seats (grey area) in the south end of BMO Field are shown as part of the stadium's upgrades ahead of hosting six FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer matches in Toronto, March 24, 2026. (Eduardo Lima/The Canadian Press via AP)
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FIFA Selects Saudi Refereeing Crew for 2026 World Cup

The newly completed 7,000 seats (grey area) in the south end of BMO Field are shown as part of the stadium's upgrades ahead of hosting six FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer matches in Toronto, March 24, 2026. (Eduardo Lima/The Canadian Press via AP)
The newly completed 7,000 seats (grey area) in the south end of BMO Field are shown as part of the stadium's upgrades ahead of hosting six FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer matches in Toronto, March 24, 2026. (Eduardo Lima/The Canadian Press via AP)

FIFA has selected the Saudi refereeing crew, comprising referee Khalid Al-Turais, assistant referee Mohammed Al-Abakry, and VAR official Abdullah Al-Shehri, to officiate matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 18.

The selection follows the crew's distinguished performances in various regional, continental, and international refereeing assignments, most notably their successful participation in the FIFA U-20 World Cup held last year in Chile.

Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Almisehal congratulated the selected officials, wishing them success at the World Cup and expressing hope that they would represent Saudi refereeing with distinction at the global football event.

Almisehal affirmed that FIFA's selection of a Saudi refereeing crew reflects the continued confidence the international federation places in Saudi officials, in recognition of their performances that have been widely praised in recent times.

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Russian Teen Andreeva Breezes Into China Open Final

Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, returns a ball to Nikola Bartunkova, of the Czech Republic during the semifinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, returns a ball to Nikola Bartunkova, of the Czech Republic during the semifinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
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Russian Teen Andreeva Breezes Into China Open Final

Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, returns a ball to Nikola Bartunkova, of the Czech Republic during the semifinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, returns a ball to Nikola Bartunkova, of the Czech Republic during the semifinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Mirra Andreeva breezed into the China Open final on Saturday, brushing aside Nikola Bartunkova 6-2, 6-2, and will play either home hope Zheng Qinwen or Belgium's Elise Mertens for the title.

"I wanted to play aggressive today," said the 19-year-old Russian, ranked five in the world.

Andreeva raced into a 4-0 lead in the first set in Beijing as 34th-ranked Bartunkova double-faulted twice before giving away the fourth game, AFP reported.

The 20-year-old Czech made 20 unforced errors across the 74-minute match and was outplayed by the French Open champion, who sent down 27 winners.

Bartunkova saved the first match point but Andreeva triumphed on the second without much more fuss.

"She's a very tricky opponent to play against... she sometimes manages to hit rockets out of nowhere," Andreeva said.

"I tried to be brave no matter what," she said, adding that she calmed some nerves by playing the card game Uno with her coach before the semi-final.

At four Andreeva is the highest-seeded player left in the tournament after a run of upsets saw the departures of Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.

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Medvedev Advances at Shanghai in his 1st Match Since his China Open Disqualification

Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Shanghai Masters - Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Shanghai, China - October 10, 2026 Russia's Daniil Medvedev reacts during his round of 64 match against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff REUTERS/Go Nakamura
Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Shanghai Masters - Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Shanghai, China - October 10, 2026 Russia's Daniil Medvedev reacts during his round of 64 match against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff REUTERS/Go Nakamura
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Medvedev Advances at Shanghai in his 1st Match Since his China Open Disqualification

Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Shanghai Masters - Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Shanghai, China - October 10, 2026 Russia's Daniil Medvedev reacts during his round of 64 match against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff REUTERS/Go Nakamura
Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Shanghai Masters - Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Shanghai, China - October 10, 2026 Russia's Daniil Medvedev reacts during his round of 64 match against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff REUTERS/Go Nakamura

Daniil Medvedev has won his first match since being disqualified at the China Open for hitting a spectator in the eye with a ball he hit into the stands.

Medvedev beat Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a second-round match on Saturday at the Shanghai Masters, an ATP 1000 tennis event, The Associated Press reported.

Medvedev, who now holds a 10-2 career edge over Struff, was disqualified during his semifinal loss Monday to Novak Djokovic for hitting the spectator with a ball the Russian player had hit into the stands.

Medvedev, who apologized after the incident in Beijing, saying it was an accident, lost the $285,000 prize money he would have received for making the semifinals in Beijing.

It was the fifth-seeded Medvedev's first match since the disqualification. In the 96-player Shanghai field, the top 32 seeds receive first-round byes.

In other early second-round matches Saturday, Camilo Ugo Carabelli was playing fourth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, who won last week's Japan Open, was scheduled to play Juan Manuel Cerundolo in a night match in Shanghai.

No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from Shanghai this week when he announced he was taking the rest of 2026 off due to a right knee injury.

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Trackhouse's Fernandez Takes First Pole at Indonesian GP

Trackhouse MotoGP Team MotoGP rider Raul Fernandez of Spain in action during the MotoGP qualifying at the Motorcycling Grand Prix of Indonesia at Mandalika Circuit in Mandalika, Indonesia, 10 October 2026. EPA/MAST IRHAM
Trackhouse MotoGP Team MotoGP rider Raul Fernandez of Spain in action during the MotoGP qualifying at the Motorcycling Grand Prix of Indonesia at Mandalika Circuit in Mandalika, Indonesia, 10 October 2026. EPA/MAST IRHAM
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Trackhouse's Fernandez Takes First Pole at Indonesian GP

Trackhouse MotoGP Team MotoGP rider Raul Fernandez of Spain in action during the MotoGP qualifying at the Motorcycling Grand Prix of Indonesia at Mandalika Circuit in Mandalika, Indonesia, 10 October 2026. EPA/MAST IRHAM
Trackhouse MotoGP Team MotoGP rider Raul Fernandez of Spain in action during the MotoGP qualifying at the Motorcycling Grand Prix of Indonesia at Mandalika Circuit in Mandalika, Indonesia, 10 October 2026. EPA/MAST IRHAM

Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez grabbed a career-first pole at the Indonesian Grand Prix on Saturday, with title contenders Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez set to start on the second row.

Fernandez, who won the British MotoGP in August, finished quickest with a lap of one minute 28.852 seconds -- 0.109 quicker than Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi.

"Too many times, I was very close to taking pole (in the past)," said Fernandez, who also set a lap record during practice on Friday.

"Yesterday, I started to feel super comfortable with the bike. This morning, to be honest, I didn't really ⁠feel like that.

"I ⁠just tried to be calm, tried to not be nervous. Now we have a very good opportunity, let's try to enjoy and let's try to fight for the victory,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

VR46 Racing's Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the front row with a strong display on his birthday.

Bezzecchi was content with second place despite ⁠having to abandon what looked set to be a pole-winning lap when yellow flags were waved following a Fermin Aldeguer crash.

"I'm very happy. It was a good job this morning in practice, but also in the qualifying, I was confident on the bike," the Italian said.

"Unfortunately, I met a yellow flag in the second stint, but I'm very, very happy, satisfied. It's a very good first row for this afternoon, but also for tomorrow."

Defending champion Marquez of Ducati was fourth-quickest, just ⁠ahead of ⁠title rival and championship leader Martin of Aprilia.

With six rounds remaining in the season, including the Indonesian MotoGP, the outcome of the championship is hanging on a knife-edge as Martin sits on 333 points - just two above Marquez.

Marquez will fancy his chances of closing that gap this weekend, but the weight of history is against him, with the Spaniard having a disastrous record at the Mandalika circuit, where he has never completed a full MotoGP race.

Last year, he suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in the race after a crunching collision with Bezzecchi on the opening lap.