Veteran Goalkeeper Ochoa Joins Mexico Camp with Sixth World Cup in Sighthttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5272282-veteran-goalkeeper-ochoa-joins-mexico-camp-sixth-world-cup-sight
Veteran Goalkeeper Ochoa Joins Mexico Camp with Sixth World Cup in Sight
Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa celebrates their 1-0 victory at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Germany and Mexico at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 17, 2018. (AFP via Getty Images)
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Veteran Goalkeeper Ochoa Joins Mexico Camp with Sixth World Cup in Sight
Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa celebrates their 1-0 victory at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group F football match between Germany and Mexico at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 17, 2018. (AFP via Getty Images)
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa said on Monday he had joined his final training camp with the national team as the veteran closes in on a likely sixth World Cup appearance next month.
The 40-year-old is widely expected to be included in coach Javier Aguirre's squad for the World Cup, which Mexico will co-host alongside the United States and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
"Putting this shirt on again was never routine ... it was a privilege," Ochoa wrote on social media. "Today begins my last training camp. But this time I see it differently. With a fuller heart, more scars, more memories, and the same excitement as the child who once dreamed of defending this badge."
Ochoa is set to become one of the few players to appear at six World Cups, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, having previously represented Mexico at Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
The stopper has also suggested the tournament could mark the end of his career, telling Mexican broadcaster TUDN last month that it "could be the end for me after the World Cup" as he prepares for what is expected to be his final season in professional football.
"I've experienced unforgettable nights, endless matches, anthems that still give me goosebumps, and moments that changed my life forever," Ochoa wrote.
"And still, every time Mexico calls, something inside me begins again."
Ochoa, who currently plays for AEL Limassol in Cyprus, has earned more than 150 caps for Mexico and remains one of the country's most recognizable players after standout World Cup performances, including a series of saves against Brazil in 2014 and a penalty stop against Poland’s Robert Lewandowski in 2022.
Mexico will complete their World Cup preparations with friendlies against Ghana on May 22, Australia on May 30 and Serbia on June 4, before opening the tournament against South Africa in Group A on June 11.
New Coach Won’t Use AI in Bid to Make South Korea Fans Happyhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5318000-new-coach-won%E2%80%99t-use-ai-bid-make-south-korea-fans-happy
South Korea's interim coach Robert Moreno of Spain leaves a press conference at the Korea Football Association in Cheonan on September 14, 2026. (AFP)
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New Coach Won’t Use AI in Bid to Make South Korea Fans Happy
South Korea's interim coach Robert Moreno of Spain leaves a press conference at the Korea Football Association in Cheonan on September 14, 2026. (AFP)
South Korea's new interim coach Robert Moreno said Monday that he wanted to make fans in the country "happy" after a disastrous World Cup and series of damaging controversies.
Former Spain coach Moreno, who was forced to deny earlier this year that he used ChatGPT to prepare for games, will be in charge for friendly matches in the coming months.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) said he could stay on for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January-February, "subject to an evaluation".
Moreno named captain Son Heung-min in his squad for four upcoming home friendlies and said he wanted to put a smile back on South Korean fans' faces.
"We're going to try to do our work honestly and with the aim of making all Korean football fans happy," said the 48-year-old, who is the first Spaniard to coach South Korea.
"Good matches, and trying to help the players."
Moreno will lead the team against Ecuador and Uruguay in September and Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October.
South Korea had been without a coach since Hong Myung-bo quit following their shock group-stage exit from the World Cup in North America in June.
Hong's departure did little to quell public outrage over the disappointing campaign and added fuel to pre-existing questions about how he was hired.
Police raided KFA headquarters last month as part of an investigation into Hong's 2024 appointment.
The KFA also apologized for allegations that it provided sexual entertainment for foreign referees.
Moreno named striker Son, now in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles FC, in his first squad along with Atletico Madrid's Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae.
Hong's decision to leave Son on the bench in the first half for the decisive match against South Africa at the World Cup baffled and angered many supporters.
"We're all aware of Son's versatility," said Moreno.
"For me he can play in three positions."
Moreno also addressed allegations that he used artificial intelligence during his time in charge of Russian club Sochi.
Moreno left the top-flight side in September 2025 after a poor run of results and reports said he had heavily relied on ChatGPT in his role, even using it to decide between potential signings.
Moreno called it "a piece of news that is completely false and went viral".
"Obviously I use technology," he said.
"Anyone who spends 10 minutes looking into it can see that everything has been taken out of context and put together to cause harm."
Zverev Holds Off Shelton to Win US Open Titlehttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5317973-zverev-holds-shelton-win-us-open-title
Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 13, 2026 Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates with the trophy after winning the men's singles final against Ben Shelton of the US. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Robert Deutsch
Tennis - US Open - Flushing Meadows, New York, United States - September 13, 2026 Germany's Alexander Zverev celebrates with the trophy after winning the men's singles final against Ben Shelton of the US. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Robert Deutsch
Alexander Zverev held off Ben Shelton to win the US Open on Sunday, capturing the second Grand Slam of his career just months after winning the French Open.
The top-seeded German ruthlessly snuffed out a late surge by Shelton to triumph 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-2, crushing the eighth seed's hopes of becoming the first US man in 23 years to win a Grand Slam title.
Zverev expunged the bitter memory of his 2020 US Open defeat, when he was two points from victory before falling to Dominic Thiem in five sets.
It would be six years -- with two major finals disappointments -- before he would break through this season.
"I think God has seen how hard we worked, how much we suffered, how much pain we went through and I think 2026 is the outcome of all the years that happened before," AFP quoted Zverev as saying at the trophy presentation.
The 23-year-old Shelton was one month shy of his first birthday when Andy Roddick hoisted the 2003 US Open trophy in the last major triumph for a US man.
Hopes were high that Shelton could end the drought after his epic five-set quarter-final victory over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, and a come-from-behind win over compatriot Frances Tiafoe in the semi-finals.
But Zverev's all-court excellence proved too much for Shelton, despite the support of a star-studded Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd trying to will the American to victory.
With their backing, Shelton surged in the third set, eliminating the errors that Zverev had ruthlessly exploited.
Serving to extend the set, Zverev fell behind 0-40. Shelton fired long on his first set point but on the second Zverev's forehand volley went wide. Shelton had his first break of the match and they were headed to a fourth set.
Zverev, however, responded immediately and decisively, breaking Shelton in the first game of the fourth set and rolling home.
He lifted his arms in triumph after Shelton fired a serve return long on match point and finally received his own huge cheer from the crowd -- but not before some prompting.
USA's Ben Shelton (R) shakes Germany's Alexander Zverev's hand after the men's singles final tennis match on day fifteen of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 13, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
Zverev said he didn't initially realize he'd won because he had lost track of the score.
"I knew I broke him twice, but I thought it was 5-1 instead of 6-2, which helped me in a way, because I didn't really get nervous serving out the match," Zverev said.
"In that moment I was in the zone a lot. I didn't hear noise at all. Then also, of course, when the crowd is loud, it's impossible to hear the umpire, so I didn't hear that she said, 'Game, set, match.'"
Zverev had followed up his French Open victory with a runner-up finish at Wimbledon.
But his New York prospects had looked bleak as he labored through two five-setters to start the tournament.
Now the 29-year-old ranked second in the world has a chance to challenge for the number one ranking with Italian Jannik Sinner currently sidelined by a knee injury.
With this win, Zverev said he might consider himself the best player in the world "right, right now."
"If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead."
Shelton had entered to a massive ovation but from the start the sharpness that carried him past Alcaraz and Tiafoe was lacking.
Zverev, with utter calm and a superb serve, quickly asserted his authority with a break in the first game, Shelton double faulting on break point.
Eight games later the American double faulted on set point.
Shelton rallied from 0-30 down to force the second-set tiebreaker, but was helpless as Zverev roared to a 5-0 lead and took a two-sets-to-none lead with a service winner.
Shelton gave it all he had in the third, hitting the deck as he chased one blistering Zverev forehand. Although he capitalized on uncharacteristic errors from the German to extend the match there was no stopping Zverev in the final set.
"I made too many errors when I had the ball there on my strings," Shelton said. "I wasn't amazing attacking on my forehand today. I wasn't great in transition.
"It's not easy," he added. "Playing a guy like him there's very few chances."
For 3rd Consecutive Time, Turki Alalshikh Tops the List of the Most Influential Figures in Boxinghttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5317843-3rd-consecutive-time-turki-alalshikh-tops-list-most-influential-figures-boxing
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation Turki Alalshikh. (General Entertainment Authority)
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For 3rd Consecutive Time, Turki Alalshikh Tops the List of the Most Influential Figures in Boxing
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation Turki Alalshikh. (General Entertainment Authority)
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation Turki Alalshikh has topped Boxing News magazine’s list of the 50 most influential figures in boxing for 2026, securing the No. 1 spot for the third consecutive year.
The ranking reflects his influential role in the global boxing landscape over recent years, through contributing to the staging of some of the sport’s biggest fights, bringing together leading boxing stars in major international matchups, and strengthening collaboration with prominent promoters and organizations across the industry.
This growing presence has also helped establish Riyadh as one of the world’s leading boxing destinations, attracting major fights, top-tier athletes, and fans from around the world, alongside the continued expansion of Riyadh Season’s presence on the international sporting stage.
Boxing News is one of the world’s longest-established publications specializing in boxing. Founded in the United Kingdom in 1909, the magazine publishes the annual BN50 list, which ranks the most influential figures in the sport.
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