Cristiano Ronaldo wastes easy opportunities (Screengrab) Portugal wrapped up their FIFA World Cup preparations with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in a friendly match, but it was not a perfect evening for Cristiano Ronaldo.The veteran forward had several good chances to score but failed to find the net. Ronaldo, who holds the men’s record for…
NEW DELHI: Argentina’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 were overshadowed by a reported security lapse that exposed the passport details of every player in the squad, including captain Lionel Messi.According to Reuters, the passport numbers appeared on an official team sheet that was distributed ahead of Argentina’s friendly against Iceland in Alabama. The…
The 2026 FIFA World Cup (Getty Images) The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the largest tournament in football history, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches and three host nations. It will also be the most lucrative. FIFA has approved a record financial package worth $871 million for the tournament in the United States, Canada and…
Referee Omar Artan, center, of Somalia, is confronted by players after calling a penalty kick during the CAF Champions League final soccer match between AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo) Somalian referee Omar Artan, who was set to become the first official from his country to…
India’s women shone at the Australian Open Super 500 badminton tournament on Wednesday, with PV Sindhu leading the charge and teenager Tanvi Sharma registering a notable win to reach the second round.Sindhu, Tanvi Sharma, Malvika Bansod, Isharani Baruah and Tanya Hemanth all advanced to the women’s singles round of 16. However, it was a disappointing…
NEW DELHI: For years, football fans have tried all sorts of ways to predict World Cup winners. Some trusted expert opinions, others believed in superstitions, and many still remember Paul the Octopus, who became famous for correctly predicting match results during the 2010 World Cup.Now, a group of statisticians has used artificial intelligence to make…
TimesofIndia.com in Mohali: Day after getting a green signal from the Centre of Excellence (CoE), Rohit Sharma looked in fine touch during India’s optional training session at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium in Mohali on Wednesday.Rohit Sharma was the first to step out of the team bus, and security officials and Punjab Police personnel took…
England captain Ben Stokes will miss the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval following the nightclub incident, with Joe Root set to lead the side as interim captain.Stokes has been left out of the squad along with fast bowler Gus Atkinson after the pair breached the team’s midnight curfew in the early hours…
Shubhi Gupta (Special Arrangements) NEW DELHI: Imagine it is your first international chess tournament on your own. Your parents have burned a hole in their pockets to take you to the scenic country of Uzbekistan. There, you are supposed to play the toughest of opponents from across the globe. You reach the venue, and you…
Arjuna Award trophy, being held by a recipient, during the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2023 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. (left), and Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya (Photo/Agencies) More than six months after the selection committee submitted its recommendations, the National Sports Awards for 2025-26 are yet to be announced, leading to…