England coach Brian McDermott urged his team to stay patient against Papua New Guinea as they pursue a large win to keep their Rugby League World Cup semi-final hopes alive. England also need Samoa to lose to Tonga and must make up 68 points in points difference.
Key Facts
England face Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on Friday at 09:05 GMT.
England need a 68-point swing in points difference against Samoa and a Samoa loss to Tonga to reach the semi-finals.
England beat France 82-0 in their previous match, despite taking 22 minutes to score.
Papua New Guinea lost 64-6 to Samoa after trailing 14-6 at halftime.
Matty Ashton keeps his place on the left wing, and Jez Litten is selected at hooker.
Brad O’Neill is among the interchanges after McDermott chose a lineup he considers better suited to the game plan.
Morgan Knowles is set to make his first appearance of the tournament after recovering from a calf injury.
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Senegal is preparing to host the Youth Olympic Games, which begin this weekend. Kenyan female boxers are training to compete against stronger opponents and hope to showcase their talent internationally.
Key Facts
Senegal is the host of the Youth Olympic Games.
The Games are scheduled to begin this weekend.
Kenya is preparing young boxers for the competition.
The Kenyan boxers are training to face higher-calibre opponents.
The report was filed by France 24 journalist Bastien Renouil.
The article was issued on October 29, 2026.
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Elena Rybakina clinched the year-end women’s singles world number one ranking after beating Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-3 in the Pan Pacific Open round of 16 in Tokyo. She cannot be overtaken in the remaining weeks of the season and will next face Leylah Fernandez in the quarter-finals.
Key Facts
Rybakina represents Kazakhstan.
She won the Australian Open and US Open titles in 2026.
She beat Aryna Sabalenka in the finals of both those Grand Slam tournaments.
Rybakina became world number one for the first time after reaching the US Open quarter-finals.
She won the Ningbo Open the week before her Tokyo match, claiming her fourth title of 2026.
Against Putintseva, Rybakina served six aces and hit 25 winners.
Rybakina is scheduled to defend her singles title at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells from 8 to 15 November.
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Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid and La Liga apologised after a video showed Mbappe joking about an internet meme that placed his face on Mao Zedong. The remarks triggered criticism in China, prompted Chinese brands to cut ties with Mbappe and led state broadcaster CCTV to remove Spanish top-flight matches from its schedule. Experts say the apologies may not quickly repair the damage to the club and league’s standing in China.
Key Facts
The video, which reportedly was filmed in April, circulated online this week.
Mao remains officially revered in China, and public mockery of him is taboo.
Chinese state media and social media users criticised Mbappe, though state media did not explain his specific remarks.
A spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry said the government took Mbappe’s apology seriously.
China’s response follows a 2019 dispute in which a tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters led CCTV to stop showing NBA games for more than a year.
The NBA’s Adam Silver said the dispute cost the league hundreds of millions of dollars.
La Liga’s international broadcasting rights were valued at 748 million euros for the 2024–25 season, according to the article.
Marca reported that China accounts for 10 to 15 percent of Real Madrid’s jersey and other merchandise sales.
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Naomi Osaka lost 6-3, 7-5 to 18-year-old Mia Pohankova in the second round of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, ending her season. Osaka said she feels good about her tennis and will keep working toward returning to Grand Slam-winning form.
Key Facts
Pohankova, a Slovak player ranked 144th, beat Osaka in straight sets.
The match was Osaka’s first appearance at the Pan Pacific Open in four years.
Osaka has not won a title this year or reached a Grand Slam final since returning to tennis after a 15-month break following the birth of her daughter in 2023.
Osaka is ranked 18th in the world and has won four Grand Slam titles.
Pohankova hit seven aces and said she grew up watching Osaka.
Canada’s Leylah Fernandez reached the quarterfinals by beating fifth-seeded Elise Mertens 6-2, 7-6 (10/8).
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Jordan Football Association chief Prince Ali bin Hussein said he will cooperate with an Asian Football Confederation review of his remarks about FIFA President Gianni Infantino and an AFC congress. He said his comments called for transparent elections, not accusations against any person, and that Jordan will vote independently in the FIFA presidential election.
Key Facts
Prince Ali said delegates at the AFC congress were not allowed to speak, ask questions or debate matters.
The AFC said no representatives had asked to speak and said claims of coercion, threats or bribery need credible evidence.
The AFC said it would refer Prince Ali’s statements to its judicial bodies.
Prince Ali said he would cooperate with any process and would make no further comment while the matter is under consideration.
The Jordan Football Association said it would cast its vote in the FIFA presidential election independently.
AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa endorsed Infantino for re-election at the AFC’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo.
Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and is seeking re-election in March.
The AFC’s endorsement came three months after it criticized FIFA over an abandoned proposal to sell a stake in FIFA competitions.
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Inter Miami drew 2-2 with Cincinnati after Luis Suárez put Miami ahead and late goals by Riquelme Fillipi and Cincinnati players shaped the result. The draw left Miami two points behind New England in the race for second place in the Eastern Conference, with two games remaining for Cincinnati as it pursues a playoff spot.
Key Facts
Suárez gave Inter Miami the lead in the 61st minute with a curling shot.
Cincinnati’s Kenji Mboma Dem equalized in the 80th minute.
Samuel Gidi put Cincinnati ahead six minutes later.
Substitute Riquelme Fillipi scored Miami’s late equalizer.
The draw left Miami two points behind New England in the race for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Miami were scheduled to play New England on Sunday.
Cincinnati had two games remaining and was near the automatic playoff places.
Nashville SC had clinched the Supporters’ Shield for the first time in club history.
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Pat McAfee said he felt uncomfortable during ESPN’s College GameDay visit to the University of Utah after students posted a video mocking his on-air persona. The university deleted the video and apologized, while ESPN expressed support for McAfee and his safety concerns.
Key Facts
McAfee joined ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show under a five-year, $85 million deal signed in 2023.
The article says ESPN executives were reportedly negotiating a new contract for McAfee worth $60 million to $65 million a year.
Students in a video posted by the University of Utah’s social media accounts joked about McAfee’s shirt-ripping and his lines on the show.
McAfee said the Utah campus made him feel more uncomfortable than any other place and referred to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
The university deleted the video and issued an apology.
ESPN released a statement supporting McAfee and his concerns about safety and security.
McAfee appears on ESPN’s College GameDay, where the article says he receives cheers and boos from crowds.
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The article ranks active NFL wide receivers in their prime, placing Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba first, followed by the Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua and Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase. It highlights their production and playing styles, while noting Nacua’s missed games and off-field issues; the provided article text begins its section on Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson but cuts off before completing it.
Key Facts
The article limits its ranking to receivers in their prime and leaves out older players such as Mike Evans and Davante Adams.
The article ranks Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks first and says he had nearly 1,000 receiving yards after seven games this season.
The article says Smith-Njigba recorded nearly 1,800 receiving yards in 2025 and could challenge the 2,000-yard mark this season.
The article ranks Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams second and notes he was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
The article says Nacua has played all 17 games in a season only once in his career and could reach 1,500 receiving yards this year despite missing games.
The article ranks Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals third and says he has three career games with at least 200 receiving yards, the most among active players.
The article says the Bengals scored five unanswered touchdowns to beat the Baltimore Ravens after trailing 13-0 at halftime.
The provided text starts a section on Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson, citing 8,480 receiving yards since 2020, but the section is incomplete.
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Bayern Munich beat second-tier Magdeburg 6-1 to advance from the German Cup second round, while resting Harry Kane after his Ballon d’Or win. Bayern said coach Vincent Kompany had been discharged from hospital after collapsing during training and would return only after medical clearance.
Key Facts
Kane was rested and remained on the bench for the match.
Kane became the first English player since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the Ballon d’Or, according to the article.
Michael Olise scored twice for Bayern.
Alphonso Davies and Nathaniel Brown scored within three minutes in the second half.
David Santos-Daiber scored Bayern’s sixth goal in stoppage time.
Magdeburg briefly equalised and hit the post just before half-time.
Bayern board member Max Eberl said Kompany had been discharged from hospital on Wednesday.
Eberl said Kompany would resume coaching after medical clearance; assistant Aaron Danks remained in charge.
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Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in a Clasico using a compact 4-4-2 and midfield runs that exploited space behind Barcelona’s high defensive line. The match highlighted Jose Mourinho’s tactical approach, including Bernardo Silva’s marking of Pedri and quick switches of play to the far side.
Key Facts
Real Madrid used a 4-4-2 formation, with Jude Bellingham alongside Kylian Mbappe in attack.
Federico Valverde played at right-back, while Bernardo Silva partnered Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
Silva tracked Barcelona midfielder Pedri, limiting his influence, according to the article.
Real Madrid drew Barcelona’s press toward the ball and then switched play into space on the opposite flank.
Midfielders made runs behind Barcelona’s high defensive line, a tactic used in the buildup to Real Madrid’s winning goal.
Mourinho explained some of Real Madrid’s tactical choices after the match.
The article says Mourinho began his coaching career as an interpreter for Sir Bobby Robson and later won the Champions League twice.
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Santos captain Neymar received a two-match suspension after Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice found he violated a rule against covering his mouth during an on-field confrontation. Combined with a separate suspension for accumulating yellow cards, he will miss Santos’ next three matches and is not expected back until late November.
Key Facts
Neymar was sent off after an altercation with Bahia midfielder Rodrigo Nestor during a 1-1 Brazilian Serie A draw.
The STJD said the referee reported that Neymar ran toward the visitors’ bench after his dismissal and had to be restrained by teammates.
The two-match penalty is for covering his mouth during the confrontation, which the tribunal ruled violated the relevant rule.
Neymar is also suspended for Wednesday’s league match against Palmeiras after collecting three yellow cards.
Neymar and Santos can appeal the tribunal’s decision.
The rule against covering the mouth during on-field confrontations was approved by the International Football Association Board in April.
The rule followed a Champions League incident involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Junior.
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The Milwaukee Brewers won the World Series for the first time in franchise history, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to take the best-of-seven series 4-1. William Contreras was named the series’ most valuable player.
Key Facts
The Brewers entered Major League Baseball in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots and moved to Milwaukee after one season.
Milwaukee’s only previous World Series appearance was in 1982.
The Brewers won 11 of 13 postseason games.
Milwaukee swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series after losing to them last season.
The Rays, the American League’s top seed, won one game in the World Series.
Cooper Pratt, David Hamilton and William Contreras helped produce Milwaukee’s runs in Game 5.
Contreras became the eighth catcher and the third Venezuelan to win the World Series MVP award.
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Stephen Curry scored 44 points as the Golden State Warriors beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 119-114 in Minneapolis. Golden State built a 16-point halftime lead and led by 12 after three quarters, then held off Minnesota’s late comeback to earn its second straight win.
Key Facts
Curry finished with 44 points and eight rebounds for Golden State.
Yaxel Lendeborg added 26 points, and Brandon Williams scored 11 off the bench.
Jonathan Kuminga led Minnesota with 20 points against his former team.
Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 19 points each for the Timberwolves; Ayo Dosunmu added 17.
Golden State led 64-48 at halftime and 93-81 after the third quarter.
Minnesota outscored Golden State 66-55 in the second half but could not complete the comeback.
Bones Hyland cut the Warriors’ lead to three points in the final seconds, and Curry sealed the win with two free throws.
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Manchester City twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Brighton, then won 4-3 on penalties to reach the English League Cup quarterfinals. Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and fourth-tier Fleetwood Town also advanced, while City will face Bradford City in the next round.
Key Facts
Malick Yalcouye put Brighton ahead in the first half after turning in Georginio Rutter’s shot.
Mateo Kovacic equalised for City with a long-range goal, then Rutter restored Brighton’s lead shortly after half-time.
Vitor Reis scored City’s second equaliser in the 72nd minute when he deflected Rayan Cherki’s free kick.
City goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli saved penalties from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk in the shootout.
Jason Steele saved Kovacic’s penalty, but City won the shootout 4-3.
Bournemouth beat Aston Villa 3-0, and Crystal Palace defeated Fulham 1-0.
Sunderland beat Brentford 3-2, while fourth-tier Fleetwood Town reached the quarterfinals by beating Arsenal on penalties.
Manchester City will play Bradford City in the quarterfinals.
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BBC Sport published a weekly sports quiz covering events from the past seven days, including cup upsets, the Ballon d’Or ceremony and an unusual player-of-the-match prize. The article says 11% of participants earned full marks in the previous week’s quiz.
Key Facts
Joe Rindl, a BBC Sport journalist, wrote the quiz.
The quiz covers sports events from the past seven days.
Its topics include cup upsets, the Ballon d’Or ceremony and an unusual player-of-the-match prize.
About 11% of participants earned full marks in the previous week’s quiz.
The article links to other football and sports quizzes.
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Leeds United defender Tarik Muharemovic has made a strong start after joining from Sassuolo for £34.1 million in July. His defending and aerial play have helped Leeds build the Premier League’s second-best defensive record, while the article reports interest from several major European clubs.
Key Facts
Muharemovic is a 23-year-old, 6ft 4in left-footed centre-back.
Leeds paid Sassuolo £34.1 million for Muharemovic, making him the club’s most expensive defender, according to the article.
Some Leeds supporters questioned the transfer fee when the club announced the signing.
Former Leeds manager Simon Grayson described Muharemovic as a rock-like presence and praised his debut tackle at Elland Road.
Muharemovic has earned praise for his direct defending and his aerial contributions at both ends of the pitch.
The article says Leeds have the Premier League’s second-best defensive record, behind Arsenal.
The article reports interest in Muharemovic from Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
Muharemovic represented Bosnia-Herzegovina at the World Cup, where a video review led to a red card for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun in a match against the United States.
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Liverpool advanced to the English League Cup quarterfinals after beating Chelsea 6-5 in a penalty shootout at Anfield. The match ended 1-1 in normal time, with Morgan Rogers and Cody Gakpo scoring penalties before the break; Liverpool will face Bournemouth in the quarterfinals.
Key Facts
Chelsea took the lead in the 40th minute when Morgan Rogers scored a penalty after a foul on Moises Caicedo.
Cody Gakpo equalized for Liverpool with a penalty three minutes later after Wesley Fofana handled the ball.
Valentin Barco hit the post during the shootout, and Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Emmanuel Emegha’s attempt.
Liverpool advanced after Joe Gomez scored and Fofana missed Chelsea’s final penalty.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said his team would face Bournemouth in the quarterfinals.
The match was Xabi Alonso’s third managerial defeat at Anfield, following losses there with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 and Real Madrid in 2025.
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Liverpool advanced to the League Cup quarter-finals after beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Manchester City also progressed on penalties, while Crystal Palace and Sunderland won their matches in regulation time.
Key Facts
Liverpool eliminated Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out, winning 6-5 after a 1-1 draw.
Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana missed the decisive penalty by sending his shot over the bar.
Manchester City beat Brighton 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw; goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli made two saves.
Crystal Palace beat Fulham 1-0, and Sunderland defeated Brentford 3-2.
Bayern Munich beat Magdeburg 6-1, with Michael Olise scoring twice.
OL Lyonnes defeated Inter Milan 6-0 in the Women’s Champions League.
Twenty-four Copa del Rey matches in Spain were postponed after a railway accident.
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The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to win the World Series, taking the series four games to one. It was the first championship in Brewers franchise history and the team’s second World Series appearance.
Key Facts
The Brewers won Game 5 by a score of 4-1 at Tropicana Field in Tampa.
Jacob Misiorowski pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed two hits before leaving with a right calf cramp.
Rookie Cooper Pratt had two hits and two RBIs in the deciding game.
Pratt recorded six consecutive hits, a World Series rookie record, before a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
Jackson Chourio recorded 11 hits, a five-game World Series record.
The Brewers last appeared in the World Series in 1982, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
The Rays won Game 4 in the 12th inning to avoid a sweep, but lost the series four games to one.
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