Who will emerge from the tightest group in AFC World Cup qualifiers?
Australia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China are locked in an intense battle to secure the final automatic qualification spot behind Japan.
Netherlands Sport News
Japan First To Seal 2026 FIFA World Cup Spot As South Korea, Australia Get Closer
Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday as South Korea were held but still inched closer along with a rampant Australia. Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo scored in the second half to give Japan a 2-0 home win over Bahrain and take their place alongside hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico at next year's finals. The runaway Asian Group C leaders failed to sparkle on a chilly night in Saitama until substitute Kamada pounced for the opener in the 66th minute. In front of nearly 60,000 fans, Kubo added another in the 87th minute as Japan sealed their berth in style.
Stanford named US captain for 2026 Solheim Cup
Seven-times LPGA Tour winner Angela Stanford has been named U.S. captain for the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands, the LPGA said on Thursday.
Japan first to seal World Cup spot as South Korea, Australia get closer
HONG KONG: Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday as South Korea were held but still inched closer along with a rampant Australia. Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo scored in the second half to give Japan a 2-0 home win over Bahrain and take their place alongside hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico at next year’s finals. The runaway Asian Group C leaders failed to sparkle on a chilly night in Saitama until substitute Kamada pounced for the opener in the 66th minute. In front of nearly 60,000 fans, Kubo added another in the 87th minute as Japan sealed their berth in style. It will be their eighth straight World Cup appearance. “I’m relieved that we could qualify at home in front of our supporters,” said Kubo, before he and his team-mates doused coach Hajjime Moriyasu with water. “This here is not our goal — we want to compete against strong teams at the World Cup.” Australia are in pole position to qualify out of Group C with Japan. Two goals in two minutes helped the Socceroos secure a 5-1 thrashing of Indonesia as Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert was well beaten in his first game in charge. Japan lead on 19 points.
Verstappen says a return to V10 engines could keep him in F1 longer
SHANGHAI : Reigning champion Max Verstappen said he could be tempted to race in Formula One for longer if the sport returned to V10 engines powered by sustainable fuels in 2030, with seven-times world title holder Lewis Hamilton joining him in reminiscing.
Spain's players demand attacking style, says coach De la Fuente
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands : Spain will embrace their attacking instincts when they face the Netherlands in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final on Thursday in a match that would be a fitting European Championship final, said coach Luis de la Fuente.
Netherlands' Gravenberch to miss Nations League clash with Spain
Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch will miss his country's Nations League quarter-final tie with Spain after picking up an injury playing for Liverpool, the Dutch Football Association said on Wednesday.
The Tour de France is returning to the UK in 2027 with a start from Edinburgh
PARIS: Britain will host the Grand Départ of both the Tour de France and the women’s version of the race in 2027, organizers said Wednesday. It will be the 28th time that the Tour de France starts from a foreign country, and the first time since 2014 — when the Tour began in the Yorkshire region — that Britain hosts the start of cycling’s biggest race. The 2007 Tour started in London. For the Tour de France Femmes, it will be the first time holding stages in Britain, with the start location to be announced later. The men’s and women’s races will take place on different dates. Full details of the route have yet to be announced but organizers revealed that the men’s Tour de France will begin in Edinburgh, Scotland.