All articles tagged with #sport
Miguel Delaney argues the World Cup faces an unprecedented political crisis after a US attack on Iran, threatening Iran’s participation and forcing FIFA to balance diplomacy, security, and tournament integrity. The piece probes possible FIFA responses—from cautious diplomacy and clarifications to sanctions or contingency plans—to manage the fallout and protect the World Cup’s legitimacy.
Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, under UEFA review and with a provisional suspension, is set to claim Vinícius Júnior called him a 'dwarf' during the Champions League play-off with Real Madrid. Mbappé backs Vinínius’ account of the abuse, and Prestianni could face a ban of up to ten games for racial slurs and homophobic language under UEFA rules.
Paris Saint-Germain vice-captain Achraf Hakimi is set to stand trial for rape stemming from a 2023 allegation; he denies the charges and prosecutors in Nanterre ordered the proceeding, with Hakimi also serving as Morocco’s captain.
Gary Neville says Arsenal must beat Manchester City at the Etihad to win the Premier League, arguing the title could hinge on their April showdown as Arsenal’s five-point lead was extended by a north London derby win and City loom as a decisive test.
Manchester City beat Newcastle United 2-1 at the Etihad, with Nico O'Reilly scoring both City goals (14th and 27th minutes) and Lewis Hall replying for Newcastle at 22 minutes; Marmoush and Haaland provided assists, leaving City two points behind Arsenal in the title race.
Team GB aim for curling gold in the men’s final against Canada, while the women’s halfpipe final is postponed due to heavy snowfall in Livigno, delaying part of Milano-Cortina 2026’s Winter Olympics schedule.
American freestyle skier Hunter Hess flashed an L-sign after his halfpipe run at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in response to Donald Trump calling him a loser, insisting he stands by his words and does not regret it; Hess finished 10th in the final, with teammate Gus Kenworthy sixth amid heavy online criticism he says he weathered with family support.
Ski mountaineering made its Olympic debut at Milano-Cortina and delivered entertaining racing, with Marianne Fatton narrowly beating Emily Harrop as transitions proved decisive; however the article argues the new sport suffers structural and safety concerns and lacks broad spectator appeal, making it feel more gimmick than lasting Olympic mainstay.
Super Bowl 2026 emerged as a cultural barometer rather than a pure sports spectacle, with Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga delivering a diverse halftime show, Green Day opting for a non-political set, record ad spending centered on AI-themed campaigns (Anthropic and Amazon), and a national conversation on immigration, energy, and tech anxiety shaping the American zeitgeist.
Lindsey Vonn is stable after surgery on a leg fracture from a horror downhill crash at the Winter Olympics, while Team GB’s Kirsty Muir and Mia Brookes are among Britain’s medal hopes, with Brookes squeezing into the Big Air final after a nervy start and Muir set to compete in the women’s freeski slopestyle final; Day 3 of Milan-Cortina 2026 features multiple events across alpine, freestyle and more.
The United States kicked off Milano Cortina 2026 with a 5-1 win by the women’s team over Czechia in the opening hockey match, with JD Vance and other VIPs in attendance amid local anti-ICE protests. Despite the controversy and the high-profile presence of figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, fans remained upbeat as Team USA started the Winter Olympics on a strong note.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets to win the Australian Open and become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, overturning a one-set deficit to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
Mercedes driver George Russell praised Red Bull’s new Powertrain after the Barcelona pre-season test, calling it very impressive and reliable and suggesting a potential fight this season, though he cautioned it’s still early to judge the car’s championship potential.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the Australian Open final to become the youngest man ever to complete the career Grand Slam, denying Djokovic a 25th major.
Arsenal’s 4-0 win at Leeds stretched their lead to seven points in the Premier League, with the performance prompting pundit Paul Merson to claim it might have 'won' the title, though there are 14 league games remaining and City/Villa still to play; Arsenal also mark the league’s best goal difference (+29) as they push toward the title.