Gulf Times Sport
Arsenal rout Man City to clinch Community Shield
Arsenal powered to a 3-0 win against Manchester City in the Community Shield yesterday, delivering a swaggering statement of intent ahead of their Premier League title defence. Mikel Arteta’s side used the annual curtain raiser to the English...
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PSG face Lens, Enrique targets another trophy
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique expects a tough test against Lens in today’s French Super Cup (Trophee des Champions) at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, but said his side are determined to claim another trophy. On Wednesday, the Champions...
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Carrick urges Man United to push for more signings
Michael Carrick has urged Manchester United to splash the cash to keep pace with their Premier League title rivals. United have spent around £85mn ($114mn) on Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Darlow since the end of last season. But that outlay...
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Grieving Messi unsure about playing on ‘much longer’
Argentina superstar and inspiration behind his country’s 2022 World Cup victory Lionel Messi said he has “serious doubts” about continuing to play football for “much longer” after the death of his father Jorge Messi. “I don’t know what I’ll do without...
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Mourinho return spices up La Liga title race
Spain’s World Cup confetti has barely been swept away, but La Liga is looming large with Barcelona defending their domestic title and Real Madrid, bruised by two trophyless seasons, throwing money, muscle and Jose Mourinho at the problem. A little...
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UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF hit out at embattled Infantino
FIFA president Gianni Infantino came under renewed fire as a joint letter from three confederations – UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC – declared football “belongs to no individual”. Infantino has been the butt of scathing criticism ever since launching, and...
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Fernandez’s ‘perfect’ race earns him British GP victory
Aprilia-Trackhouse’s Spanish rider Raul Fernandez won the British MotoGP Grand Prix, claiming just the second race victory of his career. Championship leader Jorge Martin started on pole but was outpaced from the flag by his 25-year-old compatriot....
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Martin extends lead with British GP sprint victory
Jorge Martin led from start to finish to win the British Grand Prix sprint at Silverstone, extending his MotoGP championship lead as the Italian manufacturer locked out the podium in dominant fashion. The Spaniard converted pole position into a...
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UEFA turn up pressure on FIFA chief Infantino
Pressure built further on FIFA president Gianni Infantino over his handling of the now shelved private investment plan with European football’s governing body UEFA reiterating their threat of boycotting the World Cups. Infantino may have thought he...
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Infantino in emergency talks, Figo says FIFA chief ‘must go’
FIFA president Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with directors of world football’s governing body in Morocco, a source told AFP, amid a wave of criticism over his now shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment. Infantino has come...
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Infantino’s problems mount as Wenger and key ally turn on him
Pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino intensified , with opposition emerging from within world football’s governing body as well as from external critics over his since-abandoned proposal to open the World Cup to private investment. Former...
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Serbia, Sweden join Wales in dropping support to Infantino
The national football federations of Serbia, Sweden and Wales withdrew their support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s reelection bid yesterday and England’s is expected to do the same. The backlash against the head of world football’s ruling body...
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‘FIFA must rebuild trust after scrapping World Cup investor proposal’
Former FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce said world football governing body should focus on the interests of fans after President Gianni Infantino abandoned plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, calling the proposal...
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Infantino faces crisis as UEFA, CONCACAF lose confidence
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is under unprecedented fire after regional confederations UEFA and CONCACAF said yesterday they had lost confidence in his leadership following his abandoned plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights. The...
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Scaloni says suffering is in Argentina’s DNA after win over Swiss
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said their 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday was further proof that his team have grown comfortable operating in challenging situations. Forced to come from two goals...
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Messi makes history to send Argentina into last 32
Lionel Messi became the leading scorer in World Cup history as the captain struck twice to give Argentina a 2-0 win over Austria on Monday and send the champions into the last 32. The player widely regarded as the greatest of all time pounced late in...
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Belgium held 0-0 by Iran as Ngoy sent off
Belgium were held to a scoreless draw by Iran in a frustrating encounter yesterday that saw the Red Devils reduced to 10 men and facing the possibility of group-stage elimination for a second straight World Cup. A star-studded though ageing lineup...
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Netherlands thump Sweden 5-1 to get World Cup liftoff
Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey both scored twice as the rampant Netherlands thrashed Sweden 5-1 in a World Cup warning yesterday in Houston. The big win in front of nearly 69,000 put the delighted Dutch on the cusp of the knockout rounds and gave them...
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Substitutes help Switzerland rout Bosnia-Herzegovina
Super subs Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas fired Switzerland to a 4-1 win over 10-man BosniaHerzegovina in a late rush of goals in Los Angeles on Thursday. The result gave the Swiss a strong chance of reaching the knockout round as one of the top two...
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Qatar eye win over Canada to boost knockout hopes
Qatar face a stern test against co-hosts Canada in their Group B World Cup clash in Vancouver on Thursday (Friday 1am Qatar time), but the twotime Asian champions are well prepared and determined to build on their opening result. Both teams opened...
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Draw against Switzerland has fuelled Qatar’s belief: Almoez
Qatar’s all-time leading scorer Almoez Ali believes the dramatic draw against Switzerland has given the Asian champions renewed belief that they can compete with the world’s best as they prepare for a crucial World Cup clash against co-hosts Canada in...
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We never stopped believing: Khoukhi after historic point
For 93 minutes, Qatar’s World Cup campaign seemed destined for another painful ending. Then Boualem Khoukhi rose above the Switzerland defence and changed history. The veteran defender may not have been credited with the goal, but his towering leap...
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We have the right to dream: Lopetegui after crucial draw
From the brink of defeat to a moment that could redefine their World Cup journey, Qatar refused to let their dream die. A dramatic stoppage-time equaliser on Saturday in Santa Clara secured a historic 1-1 draw against Switzerland, earning the Asian...
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Khoukhi’s header helps Qatar grab first World Cup point
Qatar celebrated their first World Cup point in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland as captain Boualem Khoukhi headed in a stoppage-time equaliser to send the Gulf nation into jubilation yesterday. Khoukhi rose highest to thump in Homam Ahmed’s cross on 94...
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Mexico get World Cup party started with emphatic win
Mexico got the World Cup party started as the co-hosts swept away South Africa 2-0 yesterday in an encounter with three red cards as the quadrennial football extravaganza got underway at the Azteca stadium. Julian Quinones’s early strike set the tone...
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Give Brazil the respect we deserve: Guimaraes
Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes insisted his team should get “the respect they deserve” as they get ready to kick off their bid to win a record-extending sixth World Cup. The Selecao won the last of their five titles in 2002 and have gone out in the...
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Pressure builds on Lopetegui as Qatar face daunting task
Coach Julen Lopetegui was left with plenty to reflect on after Qatar were held to a goalless draw by El Salvador in their final friendly before facing Switzerland in their World Cup opener on Saturday, June 13 in San Francisco. Qatar, ranked 57th in...
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Qatar face challenging but balanced test at World Cup
Four years ago, Qatar entered the FIFA World Cup carrying the weight of a nation and the expectations that accompanied more than a decade of investment in football. Instead of a fairy-tale home tournament, they endured a harsh reality check, becoming...
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Veteran al-Haydos embraces leadership role with Qatar
It is far from certain that Hassan al-Haydos will start for Qatar at the FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 11. At 35, the veteran forward is more likely to be called upon from the bench, introduced in the closing stages to provide experience and...
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Lopetegui urges Qatar to turn dream into something special
When Julen Lopetegui speaks of “a dream that has become a reality”, the Qatar coach is referring not only to his players but also to himself. The 59-year-old arrived in Qatar with an impressive managerial pedigree, having coached Spain, Real Madrid,...
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Qatar unveil final World Cup squad, begin training in US
Qatar yesterday unveiled their final 26-player squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as coach Julen Lopetegui confirmed the players entrusted with carrying the nation’s ambitions onto football’s grandest stage in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The...
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PSG celebrate Champions League triumph in Paris
The French capital laid on a hero’s welcome yesterday for Paris Saint-Germain players to mark their second straight Champions League title, amid bitter recriminations after hundreds of people were arrested and dozens of police hurt in a night of unrest...
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PSG forge modern dynasty with shootout triumph
Paris St Germain held their nerve in a cagey Champions League final to retain the title by beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties as yesterday’s nail-biting showdown ended 1-1 after extra time, cementing the French side’s status among Europe’s modern...
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