Latest news with #WorldCup-bound
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Cristiano Ronaldo is not part of the action at the FIFA Club World Cup; here's why
FIFA would have hoped to have both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in action at the 32-team Club World Cup in the US. However, while Messi's Inter Miami is playing through the host nation's slot, Ronaldo's is absent from the tournament. Here's why. read more Cristiano Ronaldon has expressed frustration with Al-Nassr's lack of trophies since he signed with the Saudi club in December 2022, and has demanded wholesale changes to the club for him to extend his contract that expires on 30 June. Reuters FIFA president Gianni Infantino was hopeful of having a Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi showdown in the that currently is underway in the United States. The tournament, after all, has expanded from a seven-team face-off between continental champions to a 32-team football carnival, and having two of the biggest superstars in the modern era of the sport would have only boosted its popularity and ticket sales. However, while Messi's team Inter Miami qualified for the tournament through the host nation's slot, Ronaldo's Al Nassr failed to make the cut, with Al Hilal being the only Saudi Pro League team to make the cut. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Read | CR7 could still have faced off against his old rival had he joined one of the clubs playing in the tournament in the short transfer window that had specially been created between the end of the 2024-25 season and the tournament. More from Football FIFA chief Infantino even made a public appeal for the clubs taking part in the tournament to sign Ronaldo for the tournament. 'If any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup…,' the Swiss administrator said in an interview with popular YouTuber iShowSpeed. Why Ronaldo is not playing at the Club World Cup The fact that was also set to expire in the ongoing season further fuelled speculations of a transfer to one of the World Cup-bound clubs. Despite Ronaldo's participation in the Club World Cup also being in the interest of Saudi Arabia, with the Real Madrid star having been the face of the Gulf Kingdom's football ambitions, a possible move to Al Hilal ultimately fell through despite the fact that it is financed by Saudi's sovereign wealth fund, the same as Al Nassr. Al Hilal's chief executive claimed Ronaldo's last-minute signing from their cross-town rivals would have been 'counter-intuitive' regardless of the 40-year-old's stature as a player. 'As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player, as we all recognize he is, it's certainly completely counter-intuitive that you bring the biggest player of your biggest opponent to play with you. Even more when it's only for three to four weeks,' Al Hilal chief executive Esteve Calzada told the BBC. The statement certainly comes as a surprise given Saudi's push for signing some of the biggest names in the sport from top European clubs, including Neymar, Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Joao Cancelo etc. besides Ronaldo. And while Saudi Arabia has won the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, it has also made major investments in the Club World Cup, including in broadcaster DAZN as well as the prize money of $1 billion that will be distributed to the participating teams. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Al-Hilal, however, chose to focus their attention on signing high-profile coach Simone Inzaghi, who had recently parted ways with Champions League runners-up Inter Milan, ahead of the Club World Cup instead of going ahead with the Ronaldo signing. The move thus highlights the fact that they intended to stick to their tried-and-tested squad while trying out new tactics through their new manager.
Kyodo News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 22:07 | Sports, All FIFA World Cup-bound Japan need someone to step up as an out-and-out striker, their manager Hajime Moriyasu said Wednesday. Wednesday marked one year until the start of the World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Japan scored 30 goals in 10 matches in the final round of Asian qualifying, but no one player dominated the scoring. "I want a real striker to emerge, and then we want to make the most of that player," Moriyasu said in Kyoto. The manager also hinted at trying a back-four formation again and said, "We also need a quality side back who can be a driving force on the team." The world No. 15 Samurai Blue, who will make their eighth successive World Cup appearance, topped Group C of the Asian qualifiers with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. Related coverage: Football: Kamada, Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia Football: Makeshift Japan fall late to Australia for 1st q'fiers loss Football: Nadeshiko Japan suffer back-to-back defeats against Brazil
Kyodo News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 22:07 | Sports, All FIFA World Cup-bound Japan need someone to step up as an out-and-out striker, their manager Hajime Moriyasu said Wednesday. Wednesday marked one year until the start of the World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Japan scored 30 goals in 10 matches in the final round of Asian qualifying, but no one player dominated the scoring. "I want a real striker to emerge, and then we want to make the most of that player," Moriyasu said in Kyoto. The manager also hinted at trying a back-four formation again and said, "We also need a quality side back who can be a driving force on the team." The world No. 15 Samurai Blue, who will make their eighth successive World Cup appearance, topped Group C of the Asian qualifiers with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. Related coverage: Football: Kamada, Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia Football: Makeshift Japan fall late to Australia for 1st q'fiers loss Football: Nadeshiko Japan suffer back-to-back defeats against Brazil
Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
IPL Qualifier 2
IPL QUALIFIER 2 NEWS Punjab Kings' hopes rest on Shreyas Iyer as Mumbai Indians hold advantage in qualifier 2 May 31, 2025 8:35 pm Ever since resumption of IPL, the openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh haven't combined well and batting has been brittle after Iyer. IPL 2025 Playoffs: Check out fixtures and schedule after group stage concludes May 27, 2025 11:44 pm The winner of Qualifier 1 will go straight into the final on June 3 while the loser of Qualify 1 will face off with the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on June 1 to make their way to the summit clash. T20 World Cup-bound England players set to miss IPL 2024 playoffs and final due to Pakistan series April 30, 2024 3:18 pm The England Cricket Board in a statement that the players who are selected to represent England in the T20 World Cup will have return in time for the series against Pakistan, which gets underway at Headingley on on May 22. IPL 2023: Shubman Gill single-handedly demolishes Mumbai Indians May 27, 2023 7:07 am The season of plenty continued for Shubman Gill, whose 60-ball-129 was the most significant as well as the most splendid of his three hundreds this season. IPL 2023 Qualifier 2: Shubman Gill brings up his 3rd ton of season against Mumbai Indians May 26, 2023 10:09 pm Gill, who had scored his other two tons against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore, scored his latest 100 with 8 sixes and 4 fours in 49 balls. IPL 2023: MI are peaking at right time, says Cameron Green May 25, 2023 9:54 pm Green in fact said even skipper Rohit Sharma told newcomers in dressing room that the five-time champions are slow starters. MS Dhoni has been remarkable in his captaincy: Sourav Ganguly May 25, 2023 8:27 pm On Tuesday, Chennai Super Kings toppled defending champions and table-topping Gujarat Titans by 15 runs at the Chepauk Stadium in the first qualifier. 'Once Jofra was gone, I knew Akash Madhwal had character to do job for us': Rohit Sharma on Mumbai's gamechanger May 25, 2023 3:39 pm Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma heaped praise on Akash Madhwal, who is Uttarakhand's first homegrown cricketer to play in the IPL. I was playing U-16 final when Warne and Tanvir won IPL final in 2008: Sanju Samson May 28, 2022 7:50 pm After a tough loss against Gujarat Titans, the Royals produced a flawless performance as they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets to have a shot at a second IPL title. IPL 2022, RR vs RCB Qualifier 2 playing XI, pitch report: All eyes on Rajat Patidar as Rajasthan take on Bangalore in Ahmedabad May 27, 2022 7:12 pm IPL 2022 Qualifier RR vs RCB LIVE, Playing 11, Match Prediction: On a roll, Royal Challengers Bangalore will fancy their chances against Rajasthan Royals Load More
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Eye-watering earnings of darts duo Luke Humphries and Luke Littler revealed
The English pair have raked in an incredible amount of cash over the past two trophy-laden years Big-earners Luke Humphries and Luke Littler has raked in more than £3million in ranking prize money over two incredible years. And the remarkable English duo have pocketed even more in terms of winning non-ranking cash as they storm through the game. Humphries and Littler are headed to London's O2 looking to capture the BetMGM Premier League crown for 2025 and the chance to add more to their pots with £275,000 on offer to the winner of the showpiece which also includes Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall. The World Cup-bound pair have scooped the game's major prizes through a stunning run with Humphries taking the crown as the highest-earning player over the past two years, securing over £1.6 million in ranking prize money. Cool Hand also has monies to be added from non-ranking events such as Premier League nights, World Cups and World Series events. Littler can smash through the £1 million mark for 2025 alone in total earnings if he wins at the O2 with £60,000 secured for six nightly wins already added to his pot. Humphries has three nightly wins for £30,000 and both also have sets of £30,000 gold darts for hitting nine-darters. WDF Professional and OLBG Darts Editor Matt Edgar commented: 'Thousands of darts fans will descend on London's O2 Arena on Thursday as the Premier League Finals take place. Fans are in for an enthralling night, as Luke Littler takes on Gerywn Price, while Luke Humphries faces a showdown against Nathan Aspinall, with all four players setting their sights on the lucrative prize money.' 'As a reward for making it to Thursday's final, all four semi-finalists are guaranteed to walk away with £85,000. However, the prize on offer for the winner is much more attractive. Thursday's prize purse will see the runner up take home £125,000, while the winner will scoop £275,000, which for Humphries and Littler, would add to their already impressive earnings over the past two years.' 'Both Humphries and Littler have been the standout players over recent years and both of their impeccable performances have made them the highest-earning players. Between the two, over £3 million in earnings have been secured combined, which goes to show how lucrative darts is becoming as its popularity continues to surge.'
