Cristiano Ronaldo named global ambassador for Esports World Cup
LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo has been appointed global ambassador for the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, the tournament’s organizers announced on Friday.
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Saudi Arabia and Qatar to host football World Cup playoffs
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Qatar will host the Asian qualifying playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, the Asian Football Confederation said on Friday. The third and fourth-placed teams from the qualifiers that ended last week — Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar and the UAE — will form two groups of three teams and play from Oct. 8 to 14. The draw will take place on July 17. Group winners will take the two remaining automatic places at the World Cup finals in the US, Canada and Mexico. The runners-up from each group will play two matches on Nov. 13 and 18, with the winners qualifying for the inter-confederation playoffs Meanwhile this year’s Saudi Super Cup featuring Al-Ittihad, Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr will be held in Hong Kong, football chiefs said on Friday. Matches will take place from Aug. 19-23 at the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium.
‘Greatest 24-hour race on the planet’: Oman’s Al-Harthy’s journey at Le Mans
LE MANS: As the racing world turns its eyes to the Circuit de la Sarthe for the weekend of June 14-15, Oman’s Ahmad Al-Harthy returns to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans for a third time — this year behind the wheel of the BMW M4 GT3 with Team WRT.
Saudi Arabia a ‘pivotal force’ in reshaping world football and sport, says US expert
LONDON: Saudi Arabia is playing a central role in transforming global football and wider sport, according to Middle East expert Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.
Norway’s Warholm shatters own world best time in 300m hurdles
OSLO: Norwegian hurdling great Karsten Warholm destroyed his own world best time in the rarely run 300 meters hurdles at the Oslo Diamond League meeting on Thursday, chasing down American Rai Benjamin in a stunning finish.
Club World Cup marks ‘new era’ for football: Infantino
MIAMI: FIFA President Gianni Infantino says the Club World Cup, which kicks off on Saturday, marks a historic “new era” for the game, comparing it to the first World Cup held in 1930.
J.J. Spaun leads US Open at Oakmont on a wild day of great shots and shockers
OAKMONT, Pennsylvania: J.J. Spaun is still new enough to the US Open, and a newcomer to the brute that is Oakmont, that he was prepared for anything Thursday. He wound up with a clean card and a one-shot lead on an opening day that delivered just about everything.
Tottenham hire Brentford’s Thomas Frank as new manager
LONDON: Tottenham hired Brentford’s Thomas Frank as their new manager on Thursday as the Dane replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou. Frank agreed a three-year contract with Tottenham and becomes the north London club’s fourth permanent boss since June 2021. “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Thomas Frank as our new head coach on a contract that runs until 2028,” a Tottenham statement said. “In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game. “He has a proven track record in player and squad development and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead.” Tottenham set their sights on Frank after chairman Daniel Levy axed Postecoglou last week, just 16 days after he won the Europa League final against Manchester United to end the club’s 17-year trophy drought. Frank is the 14th permanent manager of Levy’s 24-year tenure. Levy made an official approach to Brentford earlier this week, with the deal concluded after Tottenham agreed to allow the Dane to hire his Bees assistant coach Justin Cochrane. Frank’s Brentford contract was set to run until 2027, with a reported release clause of about £10 million ($13.6 million). The 51-year-old led Brentford back to the top flight in 2021 after an absence of 74 years and has established the west London club in the Premier League. Now he will be tasked with lifting Tottenham back among the Premier League’s elite. Tottenham will play in the Champions League next season thanks to their Europa League success in Bilbao, where they beat Manchester United 1-0. Tottenham’s first European trophy for 41 years delivered on Postecoglou’s boast that he always wins silverware in his second season. However,