Gulf Times Sport
Mbappe embraces Ballon d’Or talk after World Cup exploits
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe said it was natural for people to consider him a potential Ballon d’Or winner this year after his World Cup exploits. The France captain scored 10 goals at the tournament this summer to win the Golden Boot, with his...
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Friendly Soul and Erdenali triumph at Qatar Arc Trials
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Qatar Arc Trials delivered a day of highclass action at ParisLongchamp yesterday. A stacked nine-race card, comprising seven Group contests run under the Qatar banner, served up an afternoon of...
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Haaland keeps new-look City perfect, Spurs held by Forest
New-look Manchester City overcame a spirited challenge from Coventry yesterday courtesy of an Erling Haaland goal to stay perfect in the Premier League, as blunt Tottenham were held to a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest. Enzo Maresca is now the man...
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Lusail rout Wakrah to make history with first QSL win
Lusail secured their first Qatar Stars League victory in emphatic fashion, thrashing Al Wakrah 4-0 at Lusail Stadium, while Al Shamal produced a late comeback to beat 10-man Al Shahania 4-2 in an eventful third-round clash at Al Bayt Stadium. The...
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Arabi beat Sailiya for first win, Ahli edge 10-man Qatar SC
Al Arabi inflicted more pain on winless Al Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League with a 2-0 victory at Khalifa International Stadium, while Al Ahli edged 10-man Qatar SC 1-0 at Al Thumama Stadium. Youssef Snana put Al Arabi ahead just before half-time...
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First win in sight as Ahli face Qatar SC, Sailiya to meet Arabi
Al Ahli and Qatar SC will go head-to-head in the third round of the Qatar Stars League (QSL) at Al Thumama Stadium today, with both sides targeting their first victory of the season. The two teams have collected just one point each from their opening...
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Al Rayyan edge Al Shamal on penalties to enter final
Al Rayyan held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout to defeat a resurgent Al Shamal 5-4 and book their place in the Qatar Cup final, where they will face Al Sadd. The thrilling semi-final at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday, finished 3-3 after...
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It ‘hurts’ says Messi as he ends international career
Lionel Messi said he was retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July. The 39-year-old forward who won the World Cup in 2022 and dragged his nation to the final in the United States only to...
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Qatar to send 243 athletes to Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
Qatar will participate in the AichiNagoya Asian Games 2026 with a delegation of 243 athletes, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) announced yesterday. The delegation comprises 184 men and 59 women, along with 142 members of the technical and...
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Munoz’s late strike earns Liverpool draw with Forest
Victor Munoz saved Andoni Iraola from his first defeat as Liverpool manager with the late strike that rescued a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest yesterday, while Newcastle condemned bigspending Tottenham to a second successive defeat. Forest were...
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Dominant Sadd rout Qatar SC to maintain perfect start
Al Sadd produced another emphatic attacking display as the defending champions thrashed Qatar SC 6-2 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium yesterday to make it two wins from two in the Qatar Stars League. Paulo Otavio led the rout with two early goals, while Yusuf...
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Al Janoub stages World Cup qualifier as China beat Qatar
The Local Organising Committee of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qatar 2027 officially opened Al Janoub Arena in its new configuration yesterday in front of a capacity crowd of 8,200 fans, following its transformation from a football stadium into a...
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Gharafa look to maintain winning run against Shamal
Al Gharafa and Al Shamal will renew their rivalry when they meet at Khalifa International Stadium today, with both sides looking to make an early statement in the Qatar Stars League. The second round comes after an exciting opening week, with Al...
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New Dutch manager Xavi vows to restore pride
New Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez vowed to bring back the attacking footballing philosophy that the Oranje are famous for, believing that this will bring the team out of the doldrums in terms of results. “If we play good football... taking the...
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Ceferin rules out bid to replace Infantino
FIFA President Gianni Infantino laid out his manifesto for reelection as the champion of poorer football nations as UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin ruled out running against him but said he thought there would be an opposition candidate. Almost a month...
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Starc bags 10 as Australia thrash Bangladesh
An irrepressible Mitchell Starc bagged four wickets and 10 for the match as he ripped through the Bangladesh batting to ensure a commanding innings and 51-run second Test victory for Australia inside two days yesterday. The visitors headed into the...
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Big guns Sadd, Duhail open campaigns with easy wins
Defending champions Al Sadd and Al Duhail began their Qatar Stars League campaigns in winning fashion yesterday. Sadd beat Al Ahli 3-1 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, while Duhail defeated Al Sailiya 2-0 at Al Bayt Stadium. Al Sadd produced a dominant...
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Magri stars with a brace as Al Gharafa edge Shahania
New signing Frank Magri struck twice, including a stoppage-time winner, as Al Gharafa overcame a spirited Al Shahania 2-1 to make a winning start to their Qatar Stars League campaign at Khalifa International Stadium yesterday. The Cameroonian forward...
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Rayyan start with win as Wakrah, Qatar SC draw
Al Wakrah and Qatar SC played out a 2-2 draw while Al Rayyan edged past debutants Lusail 1-0 as the new season of Qatar Stars League kicked off on Thursday. At the Lusail stadium, Qatar SC’s Aron Gunnarsson scored the first goal of the new season,...
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Al Sadd start favourites as Qatar Stars League begins
Al Wakrah and Qatar SC will kick off the 2026-27 Qatar Stars League season today at Lusail Stadium, while Al Rayyan face newly promoted Lusail at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The opening round will be played over three days, with all matches taking place at...
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Asian Games preparations enter ‘final stages’ in Japan
The Asian Games begin in Japan next month featuring teenage prodigies, more athletes than the Olympics and a cruise ship that will house competitors in the middle of typhoon season. About 15,000 competitors and officials are expected at the event,...
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Rights group urges FIFA to block Infantino re-election bid
Human rights organisation FairSquare has urged FIFA to rule that Gianni Infantino is ineligible to seek another term as president, arguing he has already served the maximum three terms permitted under the body’s statutes. FIFA presidents are limited...
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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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