Estadio Azteca (AP Photo) There are stadiums. There are iconic stadiums. And then there is the Estadio Azteca.When Mexico kicks off the 2026 FIFA World Cup against South Africa on Thursday, this magnificent giant in the heart of Mexico City will do what no other football stadium in the world has ever done- to host…
NEW DELHI: Afghanistan A pulled off a surprise four-run victory over a strong India A side via the DLS method in a rain-affected tri-series match on Thursday.India A put up a big total of 349/9 in a 49-over innings, but Afghanistan A stayed ahead of the DLS par score when rain forced the match to…
2026 FIFA World Cup (ANI Photo) FIFA World Cup 2026 is not merely another edition of football’s grandest spectacle. It is a tournament built on numbers never seen before.Forty-eight teams. Three host nations. Sixteen stadiums. One hundred and four matches across 39 days. From a record 1,248 players representing 449 clubs in 71 countries to…
MUMBAI: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag on Thursday underwent a successful shoulder surgery in a hospital here.The surgery was performed by famous orthopedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwalla at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, who has operated on many top cricketers and sportspersons in general. Pardiwalla is the consultant orthopaedic surgeon for the BCCI.“Well,…
Nikhil Chaudhary (Getty Images) Delhi-born spin-bowling all-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary has moved a step closer to a remarkable cricketing milestone after being named in Australia’s T20I squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.The 30-year-old has become the first Indian-born male cricketer in more than 60 years to earn a place in an Australian national squad. Australia…
India continue to hold the No. 1 position in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings following the annual rankings update, although their advantage over second-placed New Zealand has narrowed.The update sees India drop by one rating point, moving from 119 to 118, while New Zealand have gained two points to reach 113. As a…
NEW DELHI: The wait is finally over. When Mexico step out at the iconic Estadio Azteca against South Africa on June 11 to kick off the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they will do so in front of a football world that has been holding its breath for four years since Lionel Messi and Argentina’s stunning…
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…
Omar Artan and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino During a press conference on Wednesday before the opening match of the expanded 48-team World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the case of Somali referee Omar Artan. Artan was set to become the first Somali official to work at a World Cup. However, he was denied entry…
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…
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…
