Egypt defender Abdelmaguid joins Ludogorets
July 18 : Egypt defender Hossam Abdelmaguid has joined Ludogorets from Zamalek, the 14-time Bulgarian league champions announced on Saturday.
Argentina Sport News
Jamie Dobie double sparks fightback as Scotland overcome Fiji challenge
Jamie Dobie scored a double off the bench as Scotland’s replacements made their mark in a second-half comeback over Fiji.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at UN, proclaims the World Cup a success
NEW YORK: FIFA President Gianni Infantino deemed the World Cup a success on Friday, saying the tournament achieved its mission of uniting people from all corners of the globe. Infantino spoke at the United Nations as part of a daylong session there about how the game can be a catalyst for youth mental health. He brought one of the official game balls that are to be used in Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain to the stage, calling it “a magic object which has the power to unite the world.” “We hear it many times, don’t we, that we live in a divided world, that we live in an aggressive world, that there are so many things that divide us, that create us problems,” Infantino said.
From Maradona to Messi: Bangladesh’s enduring love for Argentina
DHAKA: There are rooftops draped in blue and white and murals of Lionel Messi everywhere — but this is not Argentina, it is Bangladesh where football-crazy fans are again celebrating their unique bond with the South American giants. The craze for Argentina has endured for decades in a country of 170 million people who have never qualified for the World Cup, but embrace the global showpiece with unmatched passion. The connection is once again on display ahead of Sunday’s final in New Jersey, where the defending champions will face Spain. While fans in Buenos Aires prepare for what they hope will be another night of celebration, the mood more than 10,000 miles away in Dhaka is also reaching fever pitch. “I was tense during the Argentina-Egypt match. I was sweating and almost cried,” motor mechanic Nurul Islam told AFP. “But now I can confidently say that Argentina will win.” Football fans in Bangladesh have traditionally split their loyalties between Argentina and Brazil, South America’s football powerhouses. But once Brazil were eliminated in the last 16 by Norway, many of their fans also threw their weight behind Argentina. By some accounts, Bangladesh is home to the largest number of fans of the Albiceleste outside Argentina. For many the love affair began with Diego Maradona’s performances at the 1986 World Cup.
Why Argentina are the World Cup’s favorite villains
NEW YORK: For some fans following this World Cup, the calculation has been simple: support whoever is playing against Argentina. Across the tournament, that has meant wearing the green of Algeria, the blue of Cape Verde, or the red of Switzerland. Even the often maligned England got a boost in global social media pledges of support last week ahead of their semifinal clash. And in Sunday’s final, it may mean pulling on a red Spain shirt. Argentina are one of football’s most successful and recognizable national teams, but also one of its most polarizing. From Diego Maradona’s defiance to Lionel Messi’s global celebrity, the Albiceleste have long inspired devotion at home and abroad, alongside irritation, envy and resentment from rivals.
Infantino’s enlarged World Cup gamble pays off with punters
PARIS: The World Cup has engaged punters like never before with an 80 percent increase in betting volume compared to the 2022 edition, even taking into account the higher number of matches for a 48-team tournament, a betting expert told AFP. Although many football fans were skeptical about the increase in the number of teams from 32 to 48, it appears punters have welcomed it. “We’ve seen an 80 percent increase in the ticket volume,” Darren Small, senior vice president of Managed Trading Services at Sportradar, told AFP. “So we’re seeing more bets and more active customers. “We’ve seen record numbers and we’ve surpassed our expectations in terms of what we felt we were going to see if we compare it to 2022, which is a little difficult because it was different as it was in the winter.” For Sunday’s final between Spain and defending champions Argentina, Small expects the company to be handling approximately 8.5 million betting tickets for their 250 bookmaking clients round the world. Sportradar is a global sports technology company that says it creates immersive experiences for sports fans and bettors. Small said even if the numbers have surprised the company, they anticipated an increase because of the expansion of the tournament to 104 games. “But we also expected it just because of the industry growth and general growth,” he added. England may have to wait another four years to try to add a second star to their 1966 triumph but they have topped the betting table. Indeed the four semifinalists — also the top four FIFA-ranked teams — drew the most interest. England attracted approximately 16.3 million betting tickets ahead of France (15.5m), Argentina (15m) and Spain (14.5m). The games with the highest volume of betting
How to watch England vs France: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place match
Following France's 2-0 loss to the Spain in the World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, chaos erupted in the streets of Paris. (This video contains AI-assisted content)
Lionel Messi Tells Tom Brady 'Insane' Story Behind Viral Lamine Yamal Baby Photoshoot
If your first thought when seeing the now-viral photo of Lionel Messi bathing Lamine Yamal as an infant is how unbelievable it is that the two will be playing against each other in Sunday's World Cup final, you're not alone; Messi shares the sentiment.