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African television developed under different pressures than Western commercial networks. Public mandate, religious influence, regional identity, and post-colonial nation-building all left fingerprints on scheduling and tone. The result is programming that often prioritizes participation over
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The 100-day countdown to the biggest World Cup in history gets under way on Tuesday against a chaotic backdrop of global unrest, from US-Israeli strikes on Iran to surging violence in Mexico and anxiety over Donald Trump's domestic agenda.A record 48 teams - up from 32 in 2022 - and millions of fans are set to descend on the United States, Canada and Mexico for the first ever World Cup shared by three nations.The greatest footballing show on earth kicks off on June 11 at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca and will conclude nearly six weeks later on July 19 at the 82,500-seater MetLife Stadium just outside New York.A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 venues and four time zones, with the bulk of the action taking place in the United States, which will host 78 games.FIFA President Gianni Infantino is confidently predicting a commercial bonanza from the tournament, which is expected to generate record revenues of $11 billion, comfortably eclipsing the $7 billion earned through the 2022 tournament in Qatar.Infantino has repeatedly described the 2026 tournament's scale as equivalent to "104 Super Bowls", citing a global television audience in the billions and more than 508 million requests for some seven million tickets."The demand is there. Every match is sold out," Infantino said earlier this month.Yet FIFA's revenues will also be boosted by a ticketing policy that is likely to price out many fans. Fan groups around the world, such as Football Supporters Europe, have accused FIFA of a "monumental betrayal" over pricing.FIFA responded to those criticisms by introducing a tiny sliver of tickets priced at $60 for official supporters groups.Beyond the eye-popping numbers, the biggest challenges faced by the tournament may turn out to be political.The Trump administration's domestic and international policies have triggered concerns about the smooth running of the tournament.Trade wars which have included co-hosts Canada and Mexico, tensions with European allies over threats to annex Greenland and an immigration crackdown which may complicate travel to the United States for fans of some participating nations have all cast a shadow over the preparations.Although calls for a boycott have failed to gather serious momentum, the build-up to the tournament continues to be dogged by swirling geopolitical uncertainty.The US-Israeli strikes on Iran have provided the latest flashpoint, with Iran's team due to play its three group games in Los Angeles and Seattle."We had a meeting... and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world," FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said Saturday.The Trump administration's immigration crackdown meanwhile has seen enhanced visa restrictions on dozens of countries including four World Cup qualified nations - Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast.The White House insists this will not affect tourist visas and therefore fans who have tickets, who can benefit from expedited visa appointments.Another logistical headache has unfolded in Mexico, where the recent killing of one of the country's most notorious drug lords in a military operation sparked a wave of unrest.The surging violence gripped Guadalajara, Mexico's second biggest city, which is hosting four World Cup matches.Both Infantino and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have both given assurances that the recent unrest will not disrupt World Cup games taking place in the country."Very reassured, everything's good," Infantino told AFP at a meeting in Colombia last week when asked how the violence might impact Mexico's World Cup planning.Messi swansongOn the field, meanwhile, the tournament itself faces its own challenges.The expanded 48-team format means that the initial group phase is likely to be stripped of jeopardy.The top two teams from each of the 12 first round groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams will qualify for the first round of the knockout phase, making it highly unlikely than any of the tournament's traditional big guns will be eliminated at the first hurdle.When the action does get under way, all eyes will be on defending champions Argentina, who will be spearheaded once more by Lionel Messi, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on June 24, during what is the sixth - and almost certainly last - World Cup of his career.Argentina's hopes of winning back-to-back World Cup titles will face a stern challenge from 2018 champions France and reigning European champions Spain.England, coached by Germany's Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile will once again attempt to end the country's 60-year wait for a major tournament victory.At the other end of the spectrum of contenders will be a handful of teams playing in the World Cup for the first time, including Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan. Related Story
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New Zealand reached the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals after Pakistan crashed out despite a five-run victory against already-eliminated Sri Lanka in a Group Two Super Eights match in Pallekele Saturday. An inferior net run rate meant Pakistan had to win big against Sri Lanka in order to pip New Zealand and join group leaders England in the last four. They racked up 212-8 after Sahibzada Farhan (100) and Fakhar Zaman (84) combined in a T20 World Cup record 176-run opening stand. Pakistan had to restrict their opponents to 147 or less to make the last four, but hosts Sri Lanka finished on 207-6 nearly snatching a victory. Pavan Rathnayake made 58 and Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka smoked an unbeaten 76 off 31 balls. Defending champions India will play West Indies in a virtual quarter-final in Kolkata today with the winners claiming the last semi-final spot. “It could have been a different story had we won the toss,” Pakistan captain Salman Agha said. “Dew was a factor, and we couldn’t execute our plans,” the Pakistan captain added. Put in to bat in a do-or-die match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan could not have asked for a better start. Farhan led their charge with scintillating power-hitting as he and Zaman denied Sri Lanka a breakthrough until the 16th over. Sri Lanka’s sloppy fielding did not help their cause either. Dunith Wellalage dropped Farhan on 75, while Janith Liyanage caught the batter on 76 but stepped onto the boundary cushion in the process. FARHAN BREAKS KOHLI’S RECORD Farhan, who also bettered Indian Virat Kohli’s record of most runs in a T20 World Cup with his tally of 383, needed 59 balls to become the first batter to score two hundreds in the same edition of the tournament. The partnership came to an end when Zaman dragged a Dushmantha Chameera delivery onto his stumps, which triggered a late collapse. Farhan was caught in the covers off the bowling of Dilshan Madushanka after a stellar knock studded with five sixes and nine fours. Having already been eliminated, Sri Lanka faltered early in their chase and were 33-2 having lost both openers inside five overs. Charith Asalanka fell after a brisk 25 and spinner Abrar Ahmed (3-23) dismissed Kamindu Mendis in his next over. Rathnayake’s belligerent 58 could not force a win for Sri Lanka but knocked Pakistan out of the tournament. Shanaka, whose job is reportedly at risk after leading Sri Lanka’s poor campaign, injected fresh excitement into the dead rubber by hitting eight sixes. Needing 28 from the last over from Shaheen Afridi, Shanaka began with a four before clobbering three sixes in a row. Afridi recovered from the assault to finish with two fairly wide deliveries which Shanaka could not connect with. “It was a close game,” Shanaka said. “I could have finished it but well bowled to Shaheen.” BRIEF SCORESPakistan 212 for 8 (Farhan 100, Fakhar 84, Madushanka 3-33) beat Sri Lanka 207 for 6 (Shanaka 76*, Rathnayake 58, Abrar 3-23) by five runs Related Story
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England's Will Jacks (L) is congratulated by New Zealand's captain Mitchell Santner for his team's win at the end of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between England and New
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A group of Zimbabwe superfans told AFP “it felt surreal” to be watching their team in the Super Eights in India - days after the colourful group had returned home thinking their T20 World Cup odyssey was over. They will be in Delhi today to see their Zimbabwe heroes, who cannot qualify for the semi-finals, sign off in their final match against South Africa. The six - Malvin Kwaramba, Brian Hwenjer, Godwin Mamhiyo, Leonah Tanikwa, Abel Mataranyika and Ben Gotora - had witnessed their side top their group with famous wins over Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka. But the next day, February 20, the fans headed to Colombo airport in Sri Lanka for the long journey home via Dubai, their budget exhausted. Then a sponsor stepped in and a few days later the colourful band were back in the cricketing cauldron of Chennai to witness their idols face India in a Super Eights showdown. India won easily, but it mattered not to the the fans who are called “Castle Corner” after the part of the Harare Sports Club ground at which they congregate. They were just grateful to be there after their cricketing adventure had been unexpectedly extended. An online video of the fans saying goodbye to Zimbabwe’s players went viral and caught the attention of Delta Corporation who stepped in to pay for the fans to go back and finish the tournament in India. “We returned to Harare on Saturday (February 21) and on February 24 were on a flight to India,” Kwaramba told AFP. “Thanks to Delta and Stella Nkomo, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to India, that our visas and bookings everything were taken care of and here we are. “It’s surreal. “I still can’t believe that I am here in India. You know, the experience is out of this world.” Zimbabwe’s fairytale run in the tournament ended with two big defeats to the West Indies and India in Mumbai and Chennai. The results were secondary to the experience of a lifetime. “People here breathe cricket, sleep cricket. Everything about India is cricket. And when we got to the stadium, my word, it was humungous,” said Kwaramba. “The fans, the music, the performance, it was out of this world. “I got goosebumps. I pinched myself. I was actually in shock and awe. It’s an experience that I’m going to cherish and that is going to be in my heart forever.” Mamhiyo, an accountant, said India was unique in its love for the game. “Everyone here is thinking cricket and has got knowledge,” Mamhiyo told AFP. “You could discuss cricket with the tuk-tuk driver or with the person selling at a store. Mahiyo said the greatest part of the trip has been “the connections that I’ve made with people from Colombo, Chennai, Kandy, some from even London, Australia, Ireland”. “It’s been amazing how cricket brings people together and creates so much friendship.”
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Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka’s fighting knock of 76 runs was not enough as Pakistan edged past the hosts for a five-run victory in their final match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
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Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 4-1 win over Villarreal on Saturday that took the Catalan giants four points clear at the top of La Liga.The Spain
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Internationally active entrepreneur Frank Heister continues to expand his global business presence from the United Arab Emirates, positioning Dubai as the strategic center of his entrepreneurial operations. Known throughout the German-speaking business community as an
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Sahibzada Farhan became the first player to score two centuries in the same T20 World Cup as Pakistan kept their semi-final hopes alive by scoring 212-8 against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Saturday.Pakistan need to
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The UAE Fuel Price Committee approved the fuel prices for March 2026 as follows:- Diesel: Dhs2.72 per litre.- Super "98”: Dhs2.59 per litre.- Special "95”: Dhs2.48 per litre.- E-Plus "91”: Dhs2.40 per litre.
