Latest news with #SuperCup
Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Super Cup 2025 set for blockbuster semifinals in Hong Kong
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The 2025 Saudi Super Cup will deliver two high-stakes semifinals as the draw placed Al Nassr against Al Ittihad, while defending champions Al Hilal face ambitious Al Qadsiah. The tournament will be held in Hong Kong from August 19 to 23, marking a continued push by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) to globalize its domestic competitions and expand the international footprint of Saudi football. The draw, conducted without seedings or restrictions, produced a pair of classic encounters expected to capture widespread attention across Asia. Al Hilal hold the record for most Super Cup titles, while Al Qadsiah aim to make a memorable debut on the big stage. Al Nassr and Al Ittihad, both rich in history, are eager to start the season with the event in Hong Kong aligns with SAFF's strategic vision of taking key tournaments abroad to forge international partnerships and bolster the Kingdom's sports initiative is led by SMC Group, which has been working to link international entities with Saudi Arabia's fast-growing sports matches will be played at the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium, a historic venue originally built in 1953 and renovated in 1994. It also serves as the home ground of the Hong Kong national team.
South Wales Argus
20 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Sam Bird: Pulse excited for the big stage
Sam Bird believes her London Pulse side are ready to embrace the big stage ahead of their major semi-final against Loughborough Lightning. Pulse finished top of the regular season table and come into Friday's clash at the Copper Box full of confidence off the back of four straight wins. Their last defeat came at the hands of Lightning, who have proved Pulse's nemesis in recent seasons. Pulse's last three campaigns have ended at the hands of Lightning, including defeat in the 2023 Grand Final at the Copper Box. But Bird believes her young squad have matured immeasurably since then and are now relishing the big matches. 'They are so desperate to show what they can do,' said Bird. 'It has gone from being nervous on that big stage to thriving on it. There's no arrogance, there's no complacency but it's an excitement to be involved in these games now opposed to being a bit scared.' Confidence is the watchword for Bird and her Pulse side, who have turned the tears of two years ago into an unwavering determination to achieve a maiden Netball Super League title. Twelve wins from their 14 matches this season, including a 77-51 demolition of Lightning away from home in March, has certainly helped. 'It does feel like we have momentum, and the squad is still developing and improving, we are still looking at growth at this point,' added Bird. 'The fact we have won the Super Cup and then league is a good confidence boost, and confidence is really important. 'We know this game is going to be tight on Friday, nobody is going to roll over, but we have confidence to know we can win and that really important going into the game.' The season has not been without its hitches either; a seven-game unbeaten start to the season came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Nottingham Forest in early May before Lightning won at the Copper Box two weeks later. The response, however, was exactly what Bird and her side needed in order to go again heading into the post-season. 'There was no finger-pointing, there was a lot of personal accountability both from the coaches and from players,' she revealed. 'We really recognised it was small things that contributed to those losses, and we were still the same strong roster.' Pulse's response on the court, four wins in a row to end the season, earned them top spot and a home major semi-final, meaning victory on Friday will send them straight through to the Grand Final at the O2 Arena. Bird is hoping home comforts can make all the difference, after reflecting that her squad may have been overwhelmed by changes to their routine ahead of last season's semi-final defeat to Lightning. 'It is really important to us to have this game at home,' said Bird. 'There is nothing better than playing at your home venue, an iconic venue like the Copper Box. It feels like we have done everything we can to put ourselves in a good position. 'Everybody is in their own bed, everyone is familiar with the venue. All our support staff are there; we have extra resource there to look after us. '[The major semi-final] is all new, so none of us as coaches have been through this process, so it is a new test for us. 'It feels less stressful to be in the major semi-final than a traditional semi-final, as that is knockout netball. It changes the mindset a little bit. We obviously want to win this game and then have a bit of recovery to peak for the final. That's the ideal route. 'It doesn't feel as edgy as when we played Loughborough last year in the semi-final, having beaten them twice in the league and then lost and it was all over. 'I genuinely feel like we couldn't have tried any harder this year, but just trying hard doesn't guarantee you anything.' To keep up with the latest news, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on X, Instagram and TikTok, Netball Super League on Facebook and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our newsletter. The NSL Grand Final will be held at The O2 on 6 July for the first time ever. Get your tickets to experience live elite netball!
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
John Abraham Wishes To See ‘A Messi Or Ronaldo' Rise From India, Says Jyotiraditya Scindia
John Abraham met Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia along with NorthEast United FC CEO Mandar Tamhane. Bollywood actor John Abraham is known for his intense love for football, with him also being the owner of NorthEast United FC (NEUFC). Extending his vision and roadmap for grassroots and youth football development across the Northeast, John recently met Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. He was accompanied by the football club's CEO, Mandar Tamhane. Throughout the meeting, the actor spoke of the sporting potential of the Northeast and the growing football talent from the region. John also wished to see a Messi or Ronaldo 'rise" from the Northeastern soil. Taking to his X handle, Scindia hailed the Bollywood actor over his support for the young talent. 'Always a delight connecting with someone who also shares a deep passion for sports and a drive to scout, shape & support young talent, especially in the Northeast, which is rapidly emerging as India's sporting powerhouse. John's indomitable zeal for football and his dream of seeing a Messi or Ronaldo rise from our soil is truly inspiring. Wishing him and the team great success in taking Indian football to new heights," the minister wrote, alongside a picture with the actor and the NEUFC CEO. A pleasure to meet @TheJohnAbraham along with @MandarTamhane1, CEO of Northeast United a delight connecting with someone who also shares a deep passion for sports and a drive to scout, shape & support young talent, especially in the Northeast, which is rapidly… — Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) June 18, 2025 John reshared the picture on his X handle and expressed gratitude. He also promised to deliver a football star from India. 'Thank you for being so charming and dynamic. Looking forward to your support for our vision for the North East. I do promise a star in football from India," the actor wrote. Thank you for being so charming and dynamic. Looking forward to your support for our vision for the North East. I do promise a star in football from India The picture was also shared by the Instagram handle of the football club, stating that John Abraham, along with their CEO and the Union Minister, shared the club's vision for expanding in the northeastern part of the country. They also presented the minister with the club's jersey as a 'token of the club's commitment to the region's footballing future." The actor's meeting comes at a time when the club's promising midfielder, Bekey Oram, has signed a contract extension, committing until the end of the 2028 season. Since joining NEUFC ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, Bekey has made 18 appearances across the Indian Super League (ISL), Super Cup, and Durand Cup. What's On The Work Front For John Abraham? Besides being a promising owner of the football club, John Abraham has been active on the film front. He was last seen in The Diplomat, putting up a decent performance. Produced by John's JA Entertainment, the film is set against the backdrop of India-Pakistan relations. The Diplomat is streaming on Netflix. First Published: June 19, 2025, 18:50 IST
Ammon
a day ago
- Sport
- Ammon
World Cup Qualification expected to elevate local football season
Ammon News - Local football analysts anticipate a more competitive and technically advanced football season in Jordan following the national team's historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a first for the country and a milestone that is set to influence the domestic football landscape positively. Experts emphasized that the global stage of the World Cup represents the pinnacle of achievement for players, and the dream of representing Jordan at such a level will drive club players to perform at their highest levels. This heightened motivation is expected to raise the standard of national competitions, including the Jordanian Pro League, the Jordan Cup, and the Shield. The Jordan Football Association has announced that the 2025–2026 football season will officially begin on July 21 with the Super Cup, followed by the start of the Professional League on July 31. National team coach Issa Al-Turk stated that World Cup qualification should be strategically invested in to benefit both national teams and local clubs. He noted that every player now has the opportunity to earn a spot on the roster through consistent performance in domestic leagues, which will inevitably raise the overall level of play. Former national team and Al-Ramtha player Badran Al-Shaqran highlighted the potential improvements in technical skills and football infrastructure. He described the qualification as a long-awaited moment that will inspire players to strive for excellence, creating a more exciting and competitive league season. Coach Mohammed Al-Ababneh echoed this sentiment, saying that the motivation to join the World Cup squad will fuel stronger performances and ultimately benefit Jordanian football. He stressed the importance of capitalizing on the national team's success and wished the squad well in its future matches on the world stage. Petra
The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
No ISL in Indian football's 2025-26 calendar — AIFF excludes Indian Super League from next season's schedule
The All Indian Football Federation's (AIFF's) competitions calendar 2025-26 had a major change this season, with no mention of the Indian Super League (ISL), the premier division of men's football in the country. The ISL, run by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), started as a franchise league in 2014 and became India's top-flight in 2019. However, the future of the league remains uncertain at the momentwith its Master Rights Agreement (MRA) — it ends in December this year — yet to be renewed. In April, the Executive Committee of the AIFF formed an eight-member task force to discuss the future of the MRA with FSDL, but there has been no final decision on the issue, keeping the clubs in the dark, too, regarding the upcoming season. It has jeopardised transfer plans for multiple clubs as they have not been able to commit to a date or window for the league. In the 2025-26 season, the men's (senior) season would begin with the Durand Cup, while the Super Cup will be played after that, instead of taking place after the ISL as the final tournament of the season. The move largely comes as a consequence of the poor turnout of fans at the tournament and the clubs sending reserve or youth teams to the Cup, treating it as a second-tier competition. AIFF COMPETITIONS CALENDAR 2025-26 Event Start Date End Date Junior Boys Tier 1 and Tier 2 10-07-2025 31-07-2025 Junior Girls Tier 1 and Tier 2 10-07-2025 31-07-2025 Durand Cup 15-07-2025 23-08-2025 Super Cup/Federation Cup 01-09-2025 20-09-2025 Sub-Junior Girls Tier 1 and Tier 2 10-08-2025 31-08-2025 Senior Women's Group Stage 01-09-2025 20-09-2025 AIFF Elite Youth League (U14/U16/U18) 01-09-2025 31-05-2026 Senior Women's Final Round 01-10-2025 15-10-2025 I-League 3 01-10-2025 30-11-2025 I-League 19-10-2025 30-04-2026 Indian Women's League 25-10-2025 30-04-2026 Santosh Trophy Group Stage 05-12-2025 20-12-2025 Santosh Trophy Final Round 01-01-2026 20-01-2026 Indian Women's League 2 25-01-2026 30-04-2026 Beach Soccer Championship 01-02-2026 15-02-2026 Futsal Club Championship 01-05-2026 20-05-2026 Swami Vivekananda U-20 Championship 01-04-2026 31-05-2026
