Saudi Public Investment Fund named official tournament supporter of FIFA World Cup 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has been named as an official tournament supporter in North America and Asia for this year’s FIFA World Cup.
US relaxes visa bonds for World Cup fans
WASHINGTON: The United States said Wednesday it would ease its system of demanding bond payments of visa applicants for certain fans seeking to come for the World Cup. Under one of President Donald Trump’s many initiatives to crack down on migration, the United States has begun asking people from 50 developing countries to hand over anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for a US visa, refundable once they return home. The State Department said it would waive the bonds for team members competing in World Cup matches in the United States as well as for fans from competing countries who already have tickets and signed up for a priority system set up for visas. “We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” said Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs. She said the Trump administration wanted to organize the “biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history.” “Today’s announcement from the US State Department further demonstrates our ongoing collaboration with the US Government and the White House Task Force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event,” a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement. Five countries that qualified for the World Cup are among those whose nationals are required to pay visa bonds: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia. At least two other countries that have qualified for the soccer showcase have seen nearly total bans on entry into the United States under Trump: Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and Iran, which the United States and Israel attacked on February 28. The Trump administration has also
Sinner reaches Italian Open semis, breaks Masters 1000 winning streak record
ROME: Jannik Sinner reached the semifinals of the Italian Open on Thursday after seeing off Andrey Rublev and establishing a new record of consecutive wins in Masters 1000 tournaments. Another straight-sets victory, this time 6-2, 6-4 over Rublev, moved Sinner up to 32 straight wins in the ATP’s top-ranked events, one more than the previous record established by Novak Djokovic in 2011. Rublev was Sinner’s first seeded opponent at this year’s tournament in Rome and the world number one made short work of his task in front of a delighted center court. In the last four Sinner is likely to face Daniil Medvedev, winner of the 2023 title at the Foro Italico, with the seventh seed taking on lucky loser Martin Landaluce in the first match of the evening session, which is scheduled to start at 1700GMT. But Sinner looks near unbeatable at the moment and with his great rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured he is heavy favorite to become the first Italian to win the Rome title in five decades, with a potential career Grand Slam on the cards at the French Open. Rublev offered little resistance, the Russian dropping his own serve in the first game of both sets to give Sinner a handy leg-up, and committing 28 unforced errors in 18 games. Sinner meanwhile showed flashes of his best tennis, with one beautiful cross-court drop shot helping him to break Rublev for the fourth time and take a 4-1 lead in the second set which gave his opponent too much to do. Iga Swiatek will bid to reach her first final of the year when she faces Elina Svitolina in the final match of the day on center court. A six-time Grand Slam champion, Swiatek has been out of sorts on clay since winning the last of her four French Open titles two years ago, but she has
Israel’s defense minister accuses Barca’s Lamine Yamal of inciting hate against Israeli soldiers
BEIRUT: Israel’s defense minister on Thursday accused Barcelona’s superstar Lamine Yamal of inciting hate against Israeli soldiers after he waved a Palestinian flag while his club celebrated winning the La Liga title. “Lamine Yamal chose to incite against Israel and foment hatred while our soldiers are fighting the terrorist organization Hamas … I will not remain silent in the face of incitement against Israel and against the Jewish people,” Israel Katz wrote on X. On Monday, the 18-year-old Spanish right winger was spotted waving a Palestinian flag during an open-top bus parade as the team celebrated winning the Spanish 2025/2026 title. Yamal, who is already widely regarded as one of the best soccer players in the world, held the flag as the team bus toured across Barcelona. He also posted pictures of himself holding it on his Instagram account. Lashing out at the player, Katz further wrote on his X handle: “Whoever supports this type of message should ask themselves: Does he consider this humanitarian? Is this moral? … I expect a great and respected club like Barcelona to distance itself from these statements and make it unequivocally clear that there is no place for incitement or for support of terrorism.” Barcelona’s German coach Hansi Flick told a press conference when questioned about the incident: “This I don’t normally like … I spoke with him.
Iran says no US visas issued yet for 2026 World Cup
TEHRAN: Iran’s football federation chief on Thursday said no visas had yet been issued for the national team to participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, state media reported. “Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we will have a decisive meeting with FIFA. They must give us guarantees, because the visa issue has still not been resolved,” the state news agency IRNA quoted federation chief Mehdi Taj as saying. “We have not received any account from the other side regarding who has been granted visas.
Celtic must win, Hearts need a draw in Scottish title showdown
LONDON: The destination of Scotland’s Premiership title will be decided at Parkhead on Saturday when Celtic need victory to become champions for the 56th time while Hearts will take the crown for the first time in 66 years and fifth in all if they win or draw. Those are the bald facts, but they barely hint at the weight of history hanging over the fixture or reveal any of the drama and fury generated by Wednesday’s nerve-shredding penultimate round of fixtures. Nobody other than Celtic or Rangers have won the league since Aberdeen in 1985 but, as every generation of Hearts fans knows, that domination could, and should, have started a year later. In 1986 Hearts went into the final day needing only a draw against Dundee to take the honors and were on course for that with seven minutes remaining — only to concede late goals in a 2-0 defeat. At the same time Celtic hammered St.
Chelsea seek FA Cup salvation after tumultuous season, Man City still eye treble
LONDON, May 14 : A season that began with Chelsea as FIFA Club World Cup winners has unravelled into poor form, managerial upheaval and fan protests, but redemption could still come in Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Higgo docked two shots for being late to the tee at PGA Championship
May 14 : South Africa's Garrick Higgo was penalised two strokes for being late to the tee during the opening round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on Thursday.