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Haaland scores again as Norway crushes Italy in World Cup qualifier and Croatia cruises

Erling Haaland scored and Norway humbled Italy 3-0 for the first time in 25 years in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Friday. Haaland collected a through ball from playmaker Martin Odegaard and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the box for the third goal three minutes before halftime. It was his 41st goal in his 42nd match for Norway to the delight of the spectators at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, including King Harald V of Norway. Haaland also scored when Moldova was beaten 5-0 and Israel 4-2. Norway remained perfect in qualifying after three games in Europe Group I. Striker Alexander Sorloth received a precise pass from Antonio Nusa then beat Donnarumma with a left foot shot.

Sinner sets up Alcaraz French Open final with victory over Djokovic

PARIS: Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final after ending Novak Djokovic’s latest tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title in the last four on Friday. The world number one held off a battling Djokovic with an impressive 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) win on Court Philippe Chatrier to reach his first Roland Garros final. “It was such a special occasion for me playing against Novak in the semifinal,” said the three-time Grand Slam champion, who is now on a 20-match winning streak in majors. “I had to step up and play the best tennis I could.

Saudis resume preparation for their Australia clash of the World Cup Asian qualifiers

JEDDAH: The Saudi Arabian national football team resumed training on Friday at their Jeddah camp as they gear up for their AFC World Cup qualifier against Australia.

Postecoglou sacked by Spurs despite ending trophy drought

LONDON: Ange Postecoglou was sacked as Tottenham manager on Friday, just 16 days after the Australian ended the club’s 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League.

What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games

GENEVA: US President Donald Trump often says the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are among the events he is most excited about in his second term.

Haliburton’s last-second shot lifts Pacers over Thunder in NBA Finals

OKLAHOMA CITY: Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton sank the game-winning basket in the final second to give the Pacers a stunning 111-110 fightback victory over Oklahoma City in Thursday’s opening game of the NBA Finals.

Aaron Rodgers ends months-long dance with Steelers by agreeing to a 1-year deal

PITTSBURGH: Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin are taking their long-simmering bromance to the next level. The four-time NFL MVP ended months of “Will he? Or won’t he?” speculation by agreeing to a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, pending the 41-year-old passing a physical. The Steelers and Rodgers had been circling each other for months. Rodgers even visited the team’s facility in late March, driving in undercover in a nondescript sedan wearing a hat and sunglasses. While there were plenty of nice words from both sides in the aftermath, Rodgers didn’t rush to put pen to paper, telling “The Pat McAfee Show” in April that his attention was focused on helping people in his inner circle who were “battling some difficult stuff” and that he didn’t want to decide until he knew he could fully commit. With mandatory minicamp coming next week, Rodgers apparently finds himself in a place where he can give the Steelers his full attention. Rodgers joins a team that has been stuck in a transitional period at quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season.

Sabalenka downs Swiatek as Gauff ends Boisson’s French Open run

PARIS: Aryna Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek’s French Open reign with a devastating third-set performance on Thursday to tee up a Roland Garros final against Coco Gauff after the American knocked out French hero Lois Boisson. The Belarusian snapped Swiatek’s French Open winning streak at 26 matches with a 7-6 (7/1), 4-6, 6-0 success to reach her first final in the clay-court Grand Slam. “Iga is the toughest opponent, especially on the clay and at Roland Garros,” said Sabalenka after becoming the first player to defeat Swiatek in a deciding set at the French Open. “I’m proud that I was able to get this win.” World number two Gauff ended the dream run of 361st-ranked wildcard Boisson with a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the second semifinal on Court Philippe Chatrier. Gauff and Sabalenka are level at 5-5 in their head-to-head record and have won one each of their two meetings at major tournaments. Sabalenka edged a topsy-turvy first set that featured eight breaks of serve in a tie-break, before Swiatek hit back to level the match. The finale turned out to be a complete anti-climax, as Swiatek made 12 unforced errors in the third set and won only six points. “I’m glad that I found my serve. It was a bit easier with the serve,” added the 27-year-old Sabalenka.

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FIFA World Cup Sport News

Haaland scores again as Norway crushes Italy in World Cup qualifier and Croatia cruises

Sinner sets up Alcaraz French Open final with victory over Djokovic

Saudis resume preparation for their Australia clash of the World Cup Asian qualifiers

Postecoglou sacked by Spurs despite ending trophy drought

What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games

Haliburton’s last-second shot lifts Pacers over Thunder in NBA Finals

Aaron Rodgers ends months-long dance with Steelers by agreeing to a 1-year deal

Sabalenka downs Swiatek as Gauff ends Boisson’s French Open run