More than seven million people watched the group stages of the 2025 Women's World Cup on BBC television. The event, hosted in England, has gained significant attention both on TV and social media, with highlights featuring players like Ilona Maher. The tournament continues to draw large audiences digitally and through live broadcasts.
Key Facts
Over 7 million viewers watched the Women's World Cup group stages on BBC TV.
The tournament is hosted in England.
A clip of Ilona Maher discussing body positivity had over 2.2 million views across social media.
Another popular clip showed Ellie Kildunne's assist, gathering 1.41 million views.
The England vs USA live page on BBC's website received 757,000 views.
BBC's iPlayer and Sport apps have streamed the games 5.8 million times.
200,000 people watched France vs South Africa in Group D.
The quarter-finals, including England vs Scotland, will air on BBC Two and iPlayer.
Several musicians, including Pulp, CMAT, and Wolf Alice, have been nominated for the 2025 Mercury Prize. Wolf Alice made history with nominations for their first four albums. The prize recognizes the best British or Irish album and will be awarded in Newcastle for the first time on October 16.
Key Facts
Wolf Alice is the first band to receive Mercury Prize nominations for their first four albums.
Pulp received a nomination for "More," their first album in 24 years.
Martin Carthy, at 84, is the oldest nominee in the prize's history.
PinkPantheress’s mixtape is the shortest album ever nominated at 20 minutes and 33 seconds.
This year's Mercury Prize ceremony will take place in Newcastle for the first time.
Last year, English Teacher was the first non-London winner in 10 years.
The 2025 shortlist includes only one London band, Wolf Alice.
CMAT received her second consecutive nomination for the album "Euro-Country."
Liverpool is predicted to have the highest chance, at 28.9%, of winning the Premier League this season, according to research by the CIES Football Observatory. The prediction is part of a model that forecasts champions in 29 football leagues worldwide using various factors like game statistics and financial data.
Key Facts
Liverpool won the 2024-25 Premier League title.
CIES Football Observatory gives Liverpool a 28.9% chance to win again this season.
Arsenal is given an 18.8% chance, while Chelsea has a 16.2% chance.
Manchester City has a 14.4% chance of winning the title.
Manchester United is given a 2.6% chance of winning.
CIES' model uses sporting, economic, and demographic data for predictions.
The model makes predictions for 29 different football leagues.
Red Star Belgrade in Serbia is predicted to have a 76.2% chance to win their league.
Scotland will play England in the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. Scotland, not the favorites, last won against England in 1999. Concerns exist about Scotland's player conditions and future planning for the team.
Key Facts
Scotland will face England in the Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
Scotland has not beaten England since 1999.
The team is seen as underdogs with little expectation of winning.
There has been a recent controversy about player contracts not being renewed.
Some players feel undervalued by the Scottish Rugby Union.
Francesca McGhie is tied for the most tries scored in the tournament.
Evie Gallagher is the leading tackler in the tournament.
Afghanistan beat Hong Kong by 94 runs in their first match of the Asia Cup cricket tournament in Abu Dhabi. Azmatullah Omarzai scored a quick fifty, helping Afghanistan reach 188-6. Afghanistan's bowlers performed well, keeping Hong Kong to 94-9.
Key Facts
Afghanistan batted first and scored 188-6 in the Asia Cup match.
Azmatullah Omarzai scored 53 runs off 21 balls, hitting two fours and five sixes.
Sediqullah Atal remained not out with a score of 73.
Afghanistan's bowlers restricted Hong Kong to 94-9.
The game took place in Abu Dhabi and conditions were hot and humid.
Afghanistan will next play against Bangladesh on September 16.
India plays their first match against the United Arab Emirates.
The match is part of the preparation for the T20 World Cup next year.
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford are planning a highly anticipated boxing match. Both fighters have successful careers, and this match could significantly affect their reputations. The fight also involves challenges like weight differences, with Crawford moving up to compete.
Key Facts
Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford are preparing for a major boxing match.
Both fighters have a lot at stake in terms of their career legacies.
Alvarez has never been dominated in a fight and started his professional career at age 15.
Crawford is attempting to move up two weight classes to achieve another championship.
Alvarez has been fighting at a higher weight, 168 pounds, while Crawford weighed 154 pounds in his last fight.
Crawford has a four-inch reach advantage over Alvarez.
Alvarez's experience is a factor, as he has dealt with larger opponents before.
The fight will test Alvarez's experience against Crawford’s boxing intelligence.
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.
