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Egypt Sacks Coach Hossam Hassan Over ‘Negative Impact’ on Team Image

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan looks on before a World Cup Group G football match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan looks on before a World Cup Group G football match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, June 26, 2026. (AP)
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Egypt Sacks Coach Hossam Hassan Over ‘Negative Impact’ on Team Image

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan looks on before a World Cup Group G football match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan looks on before a World Cup Group G football match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, June 26, 2026. (AP)

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan was sacked on Saturday for what the football federation cited as “a negative impact on the positive image of the team.”

The Egyptian Football Association did not elaborate in a statement, adding only that “maintaining the team's stability is a paramount priority” that cannot be compromised.

Egyptian media believed the decision had more to do with Hassan's personal life than rumors of disagreements with Egypt players including star forward Mohamed Salah.

Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation banned Hassan last week from appearing in all media outlets, an unprecedented decision against a national coach. That followed disputes in Hassan's personal life becoming public.

Hassan was appointed Egypt coach in 2024 and became the first former Egypt player to coach the national team at a World Cup this year. Egypt was knocked out by Argentina in the last 16.

The EFA immediately replaced Hassan with Ali Maher, a long-time head coach in the Egyptian Premier League currently leading fourth-placed Ceramica Cleopatra.

Maher must get quickly up to speed. Egypt plays Malawi on Nov. 13 and 17 in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt leads Group B.

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Sports

Egypt Sacks Coach Hossam Hassan Over ‘Negative Impact’ on Team Image

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan looks on before a World Cup Group G football match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan looks on before a World Cup Group G football match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, June 26, 2026. (AP)
TT
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Egypt Sacks Coach Hossam Hassan Over ‘Negative Impact’ on Team Image

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan looks on before a World Cup Group G football match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, June 26, 2026. (AP)
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan looks on before a World Cup Group G football match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, June 26, 2026. (AP)

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan was sacked on Saturday for what the football federation cited as “a negative impact on the positive image of the team.”

The Egyptian Football Association did not elaborate in a statement, adding only that “maintaining the team's stability is a paramount priority” that cannot be compromised.

Egyptian media believed the decision had more to do with Hassan's personal life than rumors of disagreements with Egypt players including star forward Mohamed Salah.

Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation banned Hassan last week from appearing in all media outlets, an unprecedented decision against a national coach. That followed disputes in Hassan's personal life becoming public.

Hassan was appointed Egypt coach in 2024 and became the first former Egypt player to coach the national team at a World Cup this year. Egypt was knocked out by Argentina in the last 16.

The EFA immediately replaced Hassan with Ali Maher, a long-time head coach in the Egyptian Premier League currently leading fourth-placed Ceramica Cleopatra.

Maher must get quickly up to speed. Egypt plays Malawi on Nov. 13 and 17 in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt leads Group B.

Sports

Alcaraz Reaches First Paris Masters Final, Will Face Shelton

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after winning his match against Casper Ruud of Norway in the semi final of the ATP Paris Masters tennis tournament in Nanterre, near Paris, France, 07 November 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after winning his match against Casper Ruud of Norway in the semi final of the ATP Paris Masters tennis tournament in Nanterre, near Paris, France, 07 November 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
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Alcaraz Reaches First Paris Masters Final, Will Face Shelton

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after winning his match against Casper Ruud of Norway in the semi final of the ATP Paris Masters tennis tournament in Nanterre, near Paris, France, 07 November 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after winning his match against Casper Ruud of Norway in the semi final of the ATP Paris Masters tennis tournament in Nanterre, near Paris, France, 07 November 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

World number three Carlos Alcaraz edged past Casper Ruud 6-4 6-4 on Saturday to reach his first Paris Masters final, where he will face Ben Shelton, who shook off a slow start to beat local favourite Luca Van Assche 5-7 6-3 6-4.

The Spaniard, who saved two match points in the quarter-final, has now reached the final at seven of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events on the calendar.

According to Reuters, Alcaraz started his first Paris semi-final with few unforced errors before getting sharper and more aggressive.

He broke on ⁠his third opportunity ⁠to lead 4-3, and closed out the first set with an ace and a hold to love.

In the second set, Ruud netted a forehand, giving Alcaraz the chance to serve for the match. The 23-year-old did not waste the opportunity, sealing victory with another ace.

The seven-times Grand Slam champion is the first Spaniard to reach the Paris Masters final since David Ferrer in ⁠2013, and he aims to lift his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy of the season after losing his only final to Jannik Sinner in Monte Carlo.

He will face world number four Shelton, who reached the third ATP 1000 final of his career after beating Van Assche.

US Open finalist Shelton netted twice from the baseline and hit a forehand wide as Van Assche, ranked 47th in the world, took the only break in the first set to go 6-5 up amid raucous support from his hometown crowd.

But the third seed, who was undone by his 17 unforced ⁠errors in the ⁠first set, found his rhythm in the second. He dragged the 22-year-old Frenchman into long rallies to force mistakes and broke to go 4-2 up, a lead that secured the set.

Shelton looked shaky early in the third set, landing wide twice as Van Assche took a 3-1 lead with a break. But the American turned the tide back in his favour, winning the next four games as Van Assche struggled with double faults and netted forehands.

The 24-year-old is the first American to reach the Paris Masters final since Jack Sock won the title in 2017. Shelton will hope to clinch his third ATP 1000 title on Sunday, having won the Canadian Open twice.

Sports

Japan Great 'King Kazu' Miura Sets Oldest Appearance Record at 59

Japan's soccer player Kazuyoshi Miura, known as 'King Kazu', poses for a photograph during his first news conference after joining Fukushima United in the J-League third division in Tokyo, Japan January 9, 2026, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS/File Photo
Japan's soccer player Kazuyoshi Miura, known as 'King Kazu', poses for a photograph during his first news conference after joining Fukushima United in the J-League third division in Tokyo, Japan January 9, 2026, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS/File Photo
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Japan Great 'King Kazu' Miura Sets Oldest Appearance Record at 59

Japan's soccer player Kazuyoshi Miura, known as 'King Kazu', poses for a photograph during his first news conference after joining Fukushima United in the J-League third division in Tokyo, Japan January 9, 2026, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS/File Photo
Japan's soccer player Kazuyoshi Miura, known as 'King Kazu', poses for a photograph during his first news conference after joining Fukushima United in the J-League third division in Tokyo, Japan January 9, 2026, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS/File Photo

Former Japan international Kazuyoshi Miura became the oldest player to appear in Japan's third-tier league on Saturday when the 59-year-old came off the bench in Fukushima United's 4-1 home win over FC Ryukyu.

Miura, affectionately known as "King Kazu", was introduced in second-half stoppage time at ⁠the age of ⁠59 years, 8 months and 12 days, increasing his own J.League record in a career that has entered its 42nd season, Reuters reported.

The striker's ⁠appearance was his first in a league match since 2021, when he played once in Japan's top flight for parent club Yokohama FC.

Miura also made six appearances in a shortened special tournament held under the split-season format last season, ⁠although ⁠those matches were not classified as official league games.

The former Japan forward, who has continued playing professionally across five decades, also ended a near four-year wait for a competitive goal when he scored in the Emperor's Cup in July.