Bento looking to extend winning start as UAE kick off 2026 World Cup qualifiers
DUBAI: Another ticket to the World Cup after more than three decades away, or another false dawn?
Luis Suarez Sport News
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez face off in World Cup qualifying; Brazil could field teenager Endrick
SAO PAULO: Lionel Messi and Luiz Suarez, close friends and former teammates at Barcelona, will renew their on-the-field rivalry on Thursday in World Cup qualifying.
Luis Suarez Returns To Uruguay Squad For Argentina Clash
Uruguay's record goalscorer Luis Suarez on Monday received his first call-up under new coach Marcelo Bielsa who named the 36-year-old in his squad to face Argentina this week in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Suarez, with 68 international goals to his name, has been in superb form for Brazilian club Gremio with 16 goals in 29 games but has not featured for Uruguay since Bielsa took over in May. Thursday's match against Argentina will be his first for the national team since they were eliminated from the World Cup in Qatar in the group stages last year.
Injury blow as Green Falcons prepare for Asian qualifiers
AL-AHSA: An injury to winger Salem Al-Dawsari has hit the Saudi national team’s preparation in Al-Ahsa for the second stage of Asian qualifiers to the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup. The Green Falcons’ head coach Roberto Mancini has given Al-Dawsari permission to leave the side’s training camp to receive treatment on an ankle injury that the player received while playing for Al-Hilal against Al-Taawoun. The player was ruled unfit to participate in upcoming qualification matches following checks by the team’s medical staff, and will now receive treatment at his club. However, Al-Hilal’s Hassan Al-Tambakti is back in training after suffering health issues on Monday, although teammate Yasser Al-Shahrani was missing from the session due to muscle pain. The Green Falcons were expected to continue their program with an evening training session at Al-Fateh Sports Club at 5:30 p.m.
Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves to face trial on sexual assault charge in Spain
BARCELONA, Spain: Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves will face trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a night club last year, a Spanish court said Tuesday. The Barcelona-based court said “there was enough evidence to open the trial” considering the statements given to court and the evidence presented in the investigation phase. A date for the hearings was yet to be set. The 40-year-old Alves has been in pre-trial jail since January when he was arrested for allegedly assaulting the woman at a nightclub in Barcelona on Dec. 30.
Bellingham ruled out of England Euro 2024 qualifiers
LONDON: Jude Bellingham has been ruled out of England’s final Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, the Football Association announced on Tuesday. Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has also been withdrawn from Gareth Southgate’s squad, meaning five players are missing from the initial group announced for the match at Wembley on November 17 and the away fixture three days later. Midfielder Bellingham, 20, who has scored 13 goals so far in a stunning debut season for Real Madrid, and Colwill both have shoulder issues. “Jude Bellingham and Levi Colwill will play no part in England’s forthcoming UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia,” the FA said in a statement. “The pair arrived at St.
Ahmed Al-Ghamdi ‘does the math’ for late-career 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Ahmed Al-Ghamdi has always dreamed big, but after news that Saudi Arabia was the sole bidder for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, all but guaranteeing the 48-team extravaganza will be played in the Kingdom for the first time, he is now aiming for the stars.
Egypt captain Salah leads African stars into World Cup qualifying
JOHANNESBURG: Prolific Liverpool scorer and Egypt captain Mohamed Salah will be among the stars in action this week when 2026 World Cup qualifying in Africa kicks off with two match days. His two Premier League goals against Brentford at the weekend raised his total to 200 in English football, and he is now set to shine against Group A rivals Djibouti and Sierra Leone. Salah was the second highest ranked African in the Ballon d’Or last month behind Napoli and Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen, who misses the first matchdays due to an injury. Omar Marmoush of Eintracht Frankfurt and Mostafa Mohamed of Nantes are other Egyptians who have been scoring regularly in major European leagues this season. Djibouti, who face Egypt in Cairo on Thursday, are among the weakest African national teams and have twice suffered eight-goal hidings in World Cup qualifiers. Sierra Leone will be handicapped at having to stage a home fixture against Egypt on Sunday in Liberia because they lack an international-standard stadium. Egypt have won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times, but struggle in World Cup qualifying, reaching the finals only three times, compared with eight appearances by Cameroon. The strongest challenge to Salah and his teammates could come from Burkina Faso, ranked 10th in Africa, five places below Egypt.