Portugal won a 3-2 match against Hungary in a UEFA World Cup qualifier. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty, and Joao Cancelo netted a late winner to secure Portugal's top position in Group F.
Key Facts
Portugal defeated Hungary 3-2 in a UEFA World Cup qualifier.
Joao Cancelo scored the winning goal two minutes after Hungary had equalized.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a penalty, contributing to the victory.
Ronaldo's goal tied him as the joint-top scorer in World Cup qualifiers with 39 goals.
Portugal leads Group F with six points from two away wins.
The game saw Hungary initially take the lead, but Portugal came back to win.
Seamus Derbyshire, a British 400m hurdler, gained attention for his unique starting line routines that went viral on TikTok. Despite struggles with anxiety affecting his performances in the past, he adapted his approach to competitions, leading to his selection for the World Championships. His routines emphasize being authentic and have received positive attention, with Derbyshire hoping to inspire other athletes.
Key Facts
Seamus Derbyshire is a British 400m hurdler who gained viral fame on TikTok for his starting line performances.
His routines, such as the "toss toss" inspired by the film Wicked, highlight his effort to be his true self.
Mental health challenges previously affected his competitions, impacting his European and Olympic dreams.
Derbyshire changed his mindset by engaging an additional coach and switching to solo training to improve his competitiveness.
He achieved his personal best of 48.47 seconds in the 400m hurdles, becoming the fifth-fastest British man in that discipline.
Despite not automatically qualifying from the British Championships, he was selected for the World Championships in Tokyo.
Derbyshire is openly gay and aims to be a role model for other athletes, having found inspiration in music rather than sports.
Most reactions to his viral fame have been positive, although he acknowledges some exposure to negative comments.
Wheelchair motocross (WCMX) is a sport where athletes perform tricks using wheelchairs, similar to BMX and skateboarding. Tomas Woods, a champion in this sport, along with other athletes, shares their skills online to promote WCMX's growth. Although popular on social media and global events happen, WCMX is not yet part of the Paralympics, and talks for future inclusion continue.
Key Facts
WCMX stands for wheelchair motocross, where athletes perform tricks similar to BMX.
Tomas Woods is a double world champion in WCMX.
WCMX athletes share tutorials and tricks online, especially on Instagram.
Aaron 'Wheelz' Fotheringham is a major figure in WCMX with a large online following.
The sport's world championships are happening in Bulle, Switzerland.
Discussions are ongoing to include WCMX in future Paralympic Games.
WCMX was showcased at the Rio 2016 Paralympics opening ceremony, but it is not yet an official Paralympic sport.
Bolivia beat Brazil 1-0 to earn a spot in the intercontinental playoffs for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The decisive goal was a penalty scored by Miguel Terceros during the match. Additionally, Ecuador won 1-0 against Argentina, even though both teams had already qualified for the World Cup.
Key Facts
Bolivia defeated Brazil 1-0 in La Paz, securing a place in the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.
Miguel Terceros scored the only goal of the match from a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
Despite the loss, Brazil currently sits in fifth place in the South American qualifiers.
The intercontinental playoffs, including teams from various continents, will be held in Monterrey and Guadalajara in March.
Ecuador beat Argentina 1-0, with Enner Valencia scoring a penalty.
Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi was sent off in the 31st minute of the match.
Ecuador's Moises Caicedo was also dismissed, leaving both teams with 10 players on the field.
Colombia took third place with a win over Venezuela, and Uruguay ended the qualifiers in fourth place.
Manchester United is performing better than their recent Premier League results suggest. Although their points are low, statistics show they create many chances and allow few, but they haven't been converting these chances into goals effectively.
Key Facts
Manchester United has only won two Premier League games since April.
The team has created the most shots in the last 10 games.
Manchester United has given up fewer chances than most teams, except for Manchester City.
They've scored seven goals fewer than expected based on their chances.
They have also conceded four more goals than expected.
Despite poor results, Manchester United is improving in creating better chances since March.
The statistics indicate potential for long-term success if they improve their scoring efficiency.
England's national football team, coached by Thomas Tuchel, won 5-0 against Serbia in a World Cup qualifying match in Belgrade. This victory brings England closer to qualifying for the World Cup, needing only five more points with three games remaining. Despite missing some key players, other team members excelled, giving Tuchel a positive challenge in selecting the lineup for future matches.
Key Facts
England won 5-0 against Serbia in a World Cup qualifier.
The match was held in Belgrade, Serbia.
Thomas Tuchel is the head coach of the England football team.
England is now five points away from qualifying for the World Cup with three matches left.
Key players like Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka were absent, but others stepped up.
Noni Madueke scored a goal and performed well during the match.
Elliott Anderson made a positive impact, completing many passes in his first two games.
The team showed strong unity and performed well despite the absence of some usual starters.
Craig Bellamy, the head coach of the Wales soccer team, played a friendly match against Canada to expose his less experienced players to a higher level of competition. Despite losing 1-0, Bellamy felt it was important for his team to adapt to tougher matches to improve. He used this match to give several players their debut on the international stage.
Key Facts
Craig Bellamy is the head coach of the Wales soccer team.
Wales played a friendly match against Canada and lost 1-0.
Bellamy chose Canada as an opponent to challenge Wales' players with higher-level competition.
Three players made their international debuts during this match.
The game aimed to expose new and fringe players to tougher competition to help their development.
Bellamy stated he wanted his players to experience the fast pace and physicality of international soccer.
Djed Spence, a 25-year-old player for Tottenham Hotspur, became the first Muslim to play for England's senior men's football team during a World Cup qualifier against Serbia. His debut marks a significant moment for Muslim representation in English football, and it has gained national and international attention. Spence expressed his hope that his achievement will inspire young players worldwide.
Key Facts
Djed Spence made history as the first Muslim to play for England's senior men's football team.
He played during a World Cup qualifying match against Serbia.
Spence is a full-back for the club Tottenham Hotspur.
He mentioned he was unaware of being the first Muslim to reach this milestone.
Spence hopes his achievement will inspire young players across the world.
There are about 250 Muslim players in England's four professional football leagues.
Representation of Muslims in English football is low, especially compared to other sports like cricket.
Nujum Sports, supporting Muslim athletes, views Spence's debut as a significant moment for British Muslims.
England won their fifth consecutive match in the World Cup 2026 qualifying round by defeating Serbia 5-0. The match took place in Belgrade, and several England players were evaluated based on their performance.
Key Facts
England won 5-0 against Serbia in a World Cup 2026 qualifying match.
The match was played in Belgrade.
Jordan Pickford, England's goalkeeper, had little to do as England dominated the game.
Elliot Anderson stood out with a strong performance in central midfield.
Declan Rice assisted in two of England's five goals.
Noni Madueke scored his first goal for England, earning a high player rating.
England's next scheduled match is not mentioned in the article.
South Africa moved closer to qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after drawing 1-1 with Nigeria in a crucial match. South Africa is leading their group with two more games to play, while Nigeria has two tough matches left to try and secure their spot. In a separate match, Egypt also took a step towards World Cup qualification after drawing 0-0 with Burkina Faso, needing only two more points to qualify.
Key Facts
South Africa drew 1-1 with Nigeria in a World Cup qualifying match.
South Africa leads their group by six points with two games remaining.
Nigeria is in second place in their group, needing strong results to qualify.
Nigeria's remaining matches are against Lesotho and Benin.
South Africa will play Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final matches, with first place ensuring automatic qualification.
Egypt drew 0-0 with Burkina Faso and leads Group A by five points.
Egypt needs two more points from their last two matches to qualify for the World Cup.
Egypt's upcoming matches are against Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau.
The Republic of Ireland's national soccer team lost 2-1 to Armenia in a World Cup qualifying match. The team's manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson, accepted responsibility for the loss, which leaves Ireland with only one point in their group. The team faces a challenging match against Portugal next.
Key Facts
The Republic of Ireland lost 2-1 to Armenia in a World Cup qualifier.
Ireland has only one point from their first two matches in Group F.
Armenia scored with a penalty and another goal, while Ireland scored once.
Ireland's manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson, took responsibility for the defeat.
The team will next play against Group F leaders Portugal.
Hallgrimsson noted that the team's performance raised questions about his job security.
Substitute players were brought in, but the strategy change was not effective.
Ireland's captain, Nathan Collins, said Armenia was the better team in the match.
British horse racing will pause for a one-day strike to protest a proposed tax increase on betting, which could lead to job losses and financial issues for the industry. The strike is the first such event in the sport's history in the UK, reshuffling several races to other dates. The government aims to align taxes on online betting with other online gambling forms.
Key Facts
British horse racing will not hold any races on a specific Wednesday due to a strike.
The strike protests a proposed tax increase on betting which could impact the industry financially.
Major races have been rescheduled to create a blank day for the strike.
Industry leaders believe the tax increase might reduce betting on racing, affecting revenue and jobs.
The current proposal could raise the tax rate from 15% to 21%, aligning it with other online gaming.
Thousands of jobs and significant revenue are claimed to be at risk due to the potential tax increase.
Horse racing is the second-biggest spectator sport in Britain, following football.
Racing leaders plan to lobby MPs on the day of the strike to raise awareness and seek support.
Nuno Espirito Santo's time as Nottingham Forest's head coach ended abruptly after public disagreements with the club's owner about the pace of player transfers. Ange Postecoglou was quickly appointed to replace him. Forest acted swiftly because of the existing good relationship between Postecoglou and the club's owner.
Key Facts
Nuno Espirito Santo left Nottingham Forest after making public comments about issues with the club's transfer activities.
Nuno's departure followed a 3-0 home defeat by West Ham and increasing tension with the club's owner.
Forest spent around £180 million on 11 players, but Nuno was displeased with the timing of these arrivals.
Ange Postecoglou was appointed as the new head coach just 13 hours after Nuno's departure.
Postecoglou previously managed Tottenham Hotspur, where he led them to Europa League success but was later dismissed.
Nuno helped Forest achieve a seventh-placed finish last season, leading them to European competition for the first time in 30 years.
The relationship between Nuno and the Forest owner soured after several public outbursts from Nuno.
Erling Haaland, a Norwegian soccer player, has set new records for scoring goals. He scored 36 goals in a Premier League season and has 46 goals in 45 games for Norway. His success comes from his ability to create and capitalize on high-quality goal-making opportunities.
Key Facts
Erling Haaland scored a record 36 goals in a Premier League season with Manchester City.
He has a total of 88 goals in his first 100 Premier League games.
For Norway, Haaland has scored 46 goals in 45 games.
Haaland is known for his strong, fast, and tall build, helping him create more scoring opportunities.
Compared to other top players, Haaland takes many high-quality shots.
He has a high "xG" or expected goals statistic, indicating he gets great chances to score.
Haaland's skills include excellent movement, anticipation, and reflexes, making it hard for defenders to stop him.
Rory McIlroy commented on a Team USA Ryder Cup T-shirt that features a silhouette resembling his signature golf swing pose. The T-shirt, created by Ralph Lauren, is available for purchase ahead of the Ryder Cup event in New York. McIlroy also shared plans to broaden his golf travels, inspired by advice from tennis player Roger Federer.
Key Facts
A USA Ryder Cup T-shirt has a golfer silhouette that looks similar to Rory McIlroy.
The T-shirt is sold by Ralph Lauren for $65.
McIlroy is fine with USA fans wearing the T-shirt that might bear his likeness.
He has won five major golf titles and plans to play his eighth Ryder Cup for Team Europe.
McIlroy seeks to expand his golfing experience by playing in different world locations.
Inspired by Roger Federer, McIlroy wants to try new tournaments instead of the regular circuit.
He aims to avoid playing repetitive tournaments and focus on play he enjoys.
Colombian cyclist Egan Bernal won stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana, which was shortened due to pro-Palestinian protests. The stage, originally 168 km long, was cut by eight kilometers after protesters blocked the road near the finish line. This is one of several race disruptions linked to protests against the Israel-Premier Tech team.
Key Facts
Egan Bernal won stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana.
The stage was shortened by eight kilometers due to pro-Palestinian protests.
Protests have disrupted other stages including stage 11.
The Israel-Premier Tech team faced several targeted disruptions.
The race took place from Poio to Castro de Herville.
Protestors caused a crash to Spain's Javier Romo during stage 15.
Jonas Vingegaard is the current leader in overall standings.
The protests are linked to tensions following recent events in Gaza.
Morgan Rogers will start for England in their World Cup qualifying match against Serbia. England's manager, Thomas Tuchel, plans to change the team's lineup following their recent match against Andorra.
Key Facts
Morgan Rogers is an Aston Villa midfielder with experience playing for England.
The match against Serbia is part of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Thomas Tuchel is the manager of the England football team.
The game will take place in Belgrade, Serbia.
Anthony Gordon is also expected to start in the attack alongside Rogers.
Tino Livramento and Ezri Konsa are likely to play.
Players Dan Burn, Eberechi Eze, and Marcus Rashford will not start after playing against Andorra.
Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly is not included in the final squad for this match.
Tommy Fleetwood recently won his first PGA Tour event after 164 attempts. He is preparing for the BMW PGA Championship and reflecting on his victory. Fleetwood values the support and happiness from fans and family more than the win itself.
Key Facts
Tommy Fleetwood won his first PGA Tour event at the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
He received a $10 million winner's prize for his victory.
Fleetwood is preparing for the BMW PGA Championship in Surrey.
His family, including his stepson recovering from back surgery, will support him at the tournament.
Fleetwood’s victory led to congratulatory messages from notable figures like Tiger Woods and LeBron James.
He emphasized the importance of sharing the victory with people and their support.
Fleetwood is focused on upcoming events, including the Ryder Cup in New York.
He aims to win his first tour event on English soil at the Wentworth tournament.
Premier League clubs are seeking clarity about a settlement with Manchester City concerning rules on commercial deals. Both Manchester City and the Premier League agreed to end legal proceedings over the rules that govern these deals. However, the details of the settlement have not been disclosed.
Key Facts
Premier League clubs are concerned about the unresolved details of a settlement with Manchester City regarding commercial rules.
Manchester City previously challenged the Premier League's rules on associated party transactions, claiming they were unlawful.
These rules aim to prevent clubs from making money from deals with companies linked to their owners that aren't priced fairly.
Manchester City and the Premier League agreed to end legal disputes, but the details remain confidential.
Clubs are curious if Manchester City received any special concessions in the agreement.
Concerns exist about Manchester City potentially securing a new sponsorship deal that was previously blocked.
The Chief Executive and Chair of the Premier League have offered to discuss the matter with concerned clubs.
The settlement does not affect the ongoing disciplinary case against Manchester City involving 115 alleged financial rule breaches.
On September 9, 1965, Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs. This marked him as the sixth pitcher in the modern era to achieve a perfect game. Koufax's performance was a highlight of his successful career, during which he won multiple awards and set records.
Key Facts
Sandy Koufax pitched a perfect game on September 9, 1965.
It was against the Chicago Cubs in Los Angeles.
Koufax was the sixth pitcher in modern baseball history to achieve a perfect game.
He won three Cy Young awards (given to the best pitchers) in four years during his career.
Koufax led the National League in earned run average for five years in a row.
He set a record by striking out 382 batters in one season.
Koufax's team, the Dodgers, was in a close race with the Giants for the pennant.
Three future Hall of Famers were in the Cubs' lineup that night.
