US host Hungary, France face Australia in BJK Cup playoffs
April 23 : Record winners United States will host Hungary, while France will welcome Australia in the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs set for November, tournament organisers said on Thursday.
Japan Sport News
Ali Azaizeh shines for Al-Shabab to set international sights
BARCELONA: A feature of Jordan’s rise to footballing prominence over the past two years has been their fearsome attacking triumvirate. Stade Rennais’ Musa Al-Taamari might win all the plaudits but his partners in crime, Ali Olwan and Yazan Al-Naimat, scored the goals that delivered World Cup qualification and appearances at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and 2025 FIFA Arab Cup finals.
Los Angeles Olympics organizers sell 4 million tickets in first release
LOS ANGELES, April 23 : Organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics said on Thursday they had sold more than 4 million tickets in the first release this month, an early sign of strong demand for the Summer Games more than two years before the opening ceremony.
White Sox's Murakami homers in 5th straight to tie rookie record - ESPN
PHOENIX — Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami tied a Major League Baseball rookie record by homering in his fifth straight game, crushing a 451-foot shot to right-center field against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his 10th homer of the season.
Jones wants host city Newcastle to rally around Japan during World Cup
MELBOURNE, April 23 : Japan coach Eddie Jones wants the Brave Blossoms to win the hearts of fans in Australia's industrial hub of Newcastle when they play a July test against Ireland in the 2027 World Cup host city.
Lando Norris believes Max Verstappen will stay in Formula One
Lando Norris has played down fears Max Verstappen is ready to quit Formula One by declaring he is “sure” the unhappy Dutchman “will stay longer than people say”.
Shabab Al Ahli cry foul over Asian Champions League semifinal defeat
RIYADH: UAE side Shabab Al Ahli on Wednesday formally requested that their Asian Champions League semifinal against Japanese club Machida Zelvia be replayed, claiming that their late equalizer should have stood. The Emirati side were beaten 1-0 in Jeddah on Tuesday but a club source told AFP that the referee made a technical error in disallowing a 93rd-minute equalizer. Machida Zelvia took the lead through Yuki Soma in the 12th minute and Shabab Al Ahli believed their Brazilian winger Guilherme Bala had levelled the scores as the seconds clock ticked toward the final whistle. But Australian referee Shaun Evans disallowed the goal after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which ruled that the Emirati side had taken the throw-in that led to the goal before the Japanese team had completed a substitution. The Shabab Al Ahli source, who asked not to be named, told AFP: “An official objection was submitted by the club before the team left the stadium. “The objection includes a request to replay the match, and therefore it was decided to keep the team in Jeddah until a decision is made on our request.” The appeal will have to be considered rapidly because Machida Zelvia will face defending champions Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in the final on Saturday. The UAE Football Association has pledged its support for Shabab Al Ahli “in any step it takes to safeguard its rights” and called on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to “select appropriate referee teams for the competitions it organizes.” Furious Shabab Al Ahli players protested to the referee at the end of the match, and goalkeeper Hamad Al Maqbali received a red card. Al Maqbali said: “The referee wanted us to be eliminated, and he succeeded in doing so.” Shabab Al
Wallabies 'Iceman' Foley hangs up boots
MELBOURNE, April 22 : Former Australia flyhalf Bernard Foley, who earned the nickname 'Iceman' for nailing crucial kicks, will retire from professional rugby at the end of the Japanese season, his team Kubota Spears said.