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FIFA president Gianni Infantino rejected scrutiny of his leadership and the organization, accusing critics of "spreading hate and false rumors" while they were "delivering the best show in the world," minimizing or altogether ignoring issues
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Formula One champion Lando Norris feels he is driving better than last year even though Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix was McLaren's first win of the season.The Briton is fifth overall, a massive 91 points behind
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World number 10 Taylor Fritz captured his 250th hardcourt victory on Monday by defeating Belgium's Zizou Bergs in the first round of the ATP and WTA Washington Open.The American third seed, seeking his 11th ATP
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Power Slap, the world's premier slap fighting promotion, announced its return to Abu Dhabi for its third consecutive year with Power Slap 25 presented by Monster Energy on Friday, October 23, at the Space42 Arena
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Joe Star was crowned champion of the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses at its seventh leg in the Netherlands, held on Sunday at the Duindigt Turf Racecourse in The Hague, Netherlands, within the
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Al Wasl Investment Company announced the signing and renewal of sponsorship agreements and strategic partnerships for the 2026-2027 sports season, comprising 14 sponsors and strategic partners, marking the largest sponsorship portfolio the club has witnessed
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Zinedine Zidane looks on during a press conference to present him as the new head coach of France at the French Football Federation headquarters in Paris on July 28, 2026. (AFP) France great Zinedine Zidane's long-held ambition to coach the national team became reality on Tuesday when the French Football Federation appointed the former captain and World Cup winner as Didier Deschamps' successor on a four-year contract. The appointment of former Real Madrid manager Zidane comes two weeks after Deschamps' tenure as coach ended following France's fourth-place finish at the World Cup. His final match in charge was a 6-4 defeat by England. "The French team was the only thing I wanted to do," Zidane told reporters. "I've always looked at this team through the eyes of a future manager. I didn't take a club job for that reason. The only thing I wanted to do after Madrid was manage the French national team. "I could have taken on a three-year role because Deschamps was there. He made that decision in January 2025, and the very next day I knew I wanted to be the next one. We met with the president and the deal was sealed." The 54-year-old Zidane is expected to begin his reign with an away Nations League game against Turkey before France host Italy at the Stade de France on October 2. Deschamps, who left the role after 14 years at the helm, oversaw 185 matches and 120 victories, guiding France to the 2018 World Cup title, the 2020-21 Nations League trophy, and the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals. The two share a long association, having been teammates in France's 1998 World Cup-winning side on home soil. Zidane played a pivotal role in that triumph and won the Ballon d'Or that year. He made 108 appearances for the national side, scoring 31 goals and contributing 29 assists. "You'll see my style soon," Zidane said. "I'm driven by the game. I was a number 10, and what drives me is scoring goals. "I lived in Spain for 25 years, you know what that means. On the pitch, I was a leader. Now I'm becoming a leader through my experience."Winning in '98 is the best thing that's ever happened to me, winning with my teammates. I spent those four or five years waiting for that day. I'm emotional; you can't see it, but I'm so excited. I'm happy." PLAYMAKER TO MANAGERAt club level, Zidane made 212 appearances for Italian side Juventus before joining Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2001. He went on to play 227 matches for Real across five seasons, scoring 49 goals and providing 67 assists, while winning the Champions League in his first season with the club. Following his retirement, Zidane returned to Real Madrid as assistant coach in 2013 before taking over as head coach in 2016. He enjoyed unprecedented success during his first spell in charge, leading the club to three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, a feat that remains unmatched. Zidane returned for a second stint as Real Madrid manager in 2019 and added another La Liga title to the club's trophy cabinet before leaving again in 2021. He follows Laurent Blanc and Deschamps as the third member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad to become national team coach, with the task of leading Les Bleus into the 2030 World Cup. "Les Bleus' campaign was magnificent, the football was magnificent. I had a great time, and so did everyone else," Zidane added. "The fans have no cause for complaint. We're going to do things differently. Deschamps is Deschamps, Blanc was Blanc, Zizou is Zizou. I'm going to do what I know how to do. I'm going to ensure continuity so that the French team keeps winning." Related Story
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Roberto Mancini has been named the head coach of Italy's national team for a second time, tasked with revitalising the Azzurri who have missed out on the last three World Cups, FIGC president Giovanni Malago said Tuesday. Technical director Roberto Maldini, who reportedly threatened to resign if Mancini was appointed, has been replaced by Claudio Ranieri. 'Today we have a new coach and a new technical director,' Malago told reporters, announcing another press conference with Mancini and Ranieri on Wednesday. 'I felt that the person who should be and become the Italian national football team's head coach was Roberto Mancini, for a whole series of considerations for which, as always, I honestly take responsibility.' Gennaro Gattuso resigned as Italy coach after their World Cup qualification play-off final defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in March. The 61-year-old Mancini was previously Italy boss from 2018 until 2023, leading them to the Euro 2020 title. He has been preferred to another ex-national team coach in Antonio Conte. Maldini had also apparently said he would resign if Conte was chosen, reportedly wanting Brazil-born former Italy midfielder Thiago Motta to be given the job. Andrea Pirlo, who had been tipped to take charge, announced on Monday that he was no longer a candidate. The former midfielder had come under heavy criticism over his controversial ties with a Russian sports-betting company and what detractors viewed as a limited coaching resume. Divisive choice Mancini's appointment, however, remains divisive despite leading Italy to the Euro 2020 title and a 37-match unbeaten streak. His abrupt resignation as Italy coach in the summer of 2023 to take charge of Saudi Arabia reportedly damaged his standing with many senior FIGC officials, particularly as the Azzurri were struggling in their qualifying campaign for Euro 2024. Mancini left his job with the Saudi side just 14 months later. He was most recently coach of Qatari club Al Sadd, with whom he signed a two-year deal last November. Now he will turn his attentions to the job of taking Italy back to the top of the international game. The four-time world champions have not reached a World Cup since 2014, and have not even played a knock-out stage match at the tournament since winning the 2006 final against France on penalties. The one success in that time was the European Championship victory, also secured in a shoot-out against England five years ago. Their title defence, with Luciano Spalletti at the helm, ended with a last-16 loss to Switzerland in 2024. Mancini also won three consecutive Serie A titles as Inter Milan boss between 2005 and 2008. He then led Manchester City to their first English league title since 1968 with a famous last-day victory over QPR in the 2011-12 Premier League season.
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Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Lusail International Circuit (LIC) confirm that the Qatar 1812 KM, rescheduled for October 22 to 24, has been withdrawn from 2026 calendar following a decision by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) & FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif al-Mannai, President of the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation and Lusail International Circuit said, " We fully respect the decision taken by the FIA and WEC to call off this year's Qatar 1812 KM. Our commitment to this partnership remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to working closely with both organizations to deliver an exceptional event when the championship returns to Lusail International Circuit. We are grateful to our fans, partners, teams and the wider motorsport community for their continued support, understanding and confidence. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Lusail in the near future."Frederic Lequien, CEO of FIA WEC stated, “I would like to warmly thank Lusail International Circuit and their team in Qatar for their understanding in these times. We have been in constant dialogue with LIC and QMMF, and are proud of the close, long-standing relationships we have built. Qatar 1812 KM is a hugely important and well-established event on FIA’s WEC calendar and will return in the future. The process of issuing full refunds for all purchased tickets for the Qatar 1812 KM – FIA World Endurance Championship will begin immediately. Ticket holders will receive a full refund, which will be processed automatically to the original payment method.QMMF and LIC remain committed to supporting the FIA World Endurance Championship and its long-term presence in Qatar, reinforcing the nation's position as a key destination on the global motorsport calendar. Related Story
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Aryna Sabalenka is the WTA World No1, while Novak Djokovic is a 24-time major champion. Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic and women's number one Aryna Sabalenka top the list of pairings entered for the US Open mixed doubles.However, both men's world number one Jannik Sinner and second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz have not entered the competition which was heavily revamped last year.Reforms featured a shorter scoring format in the earlier rounds and a new scheduling slot - played over two days - before the singles draws in an attempt to encourage the top players to enter.Italian doubles specialists Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, who criticised the changes, will defend the title they won last year, which came with a $1mn winners' cheque.Djokovic, 39, and 28-year-old Sabalenka are certain to feature among the initial six pairings selected according to world rankings when the deadline for entries closes on August 17."Anytime you can bring women and men together on the same team, you showcase tennis at its best," said US Tennis Association CEO Craig Tiley."This is exactly what the mixed doubles championship does."We are proud to again bring the world's top players together in a format that will provide exciting entertainment for our fans.:Wimbledon champion Sinner - who did not enter last year's mixed doubles - is "prioritising" his health ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year and is also bypassing the Canadian Open, which runs from August 2-13.Alcaraz, who did play last year with Emma Raducanu, is recovering from a wrist injury that ruled him out of both the French Open and Wimbledon.Eight teams will be determined via wild card and announced on a date to follow. Two teams will earn a main draw spot by advancing through the eight-team qualifying draw played on August 24.The two-day tournament gets underway on August 25, five days before the men's and women's singles competitions begin. Related Story
