Flag football, a faster, non-contact version of American football, will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Great Britain is working to find athletes from other sports who can switch to flag football to help the national team qualify and compete for medals at the Games.
Key Facts
Flag football will be a new Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Great Britain’s women’s flag football team has won the European Championships in 2023 and 2025.
GB narrowly missed qualifying for the LA28 Olympics by losing to Mexico in the 2023 World Championship bronze game.
The NFL and famous athletes like Tiger Woods and Serena Williams support a new professional flag football league.
Athletes from sports like netball, football, athletics, equestrian, and snowboarding are switching to flag football in GB.
The NFL aims for flag football to be included again at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, with a decision expected by 2026.
Flag football is played by 20 million people in over 100 countries and is growing fast, especially among women.
British officials seek athletes with skills like hand-eye coordination, speed, and quick decision-making to join the flag football team.
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Tom Pidcock was upset after two of his team members were hit by a police car driving the wrong way during a bike race in Italy. Despite the crash, Pidcock finished second in the race, while one injured teammate needed stitches.
Key Facts
The incident happened at the Tre Valli Varesine bike race in Varese, Italy.
A police vehicle driving the wrong way on the course hit two riders from the Pinarello-Q36.5 team.
Marcel Camprubi, one of the riders hit, continued racing after the crash.
Thomas Gloag, another rider, stopped and required knee stitches.
Tom Pidcock was angry and thought about stopping the race.
Pidcock finished second; the race was won by Belgium’s Jarno Widar.
Pidcock recently won his second cross-country mountain bike world title.
The crash echoed concerns about rider safety following the death of British cyclist Finlay Tarling in a similar road incident.
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Derek Chisora, a 42-year-old British boxer, announced he will continue fighting and has a match planned for December against Murat Gassiev. Despite earlier suggestions that his fight in April would be his last, Chisora confirmed he is not retiring and aims to compete for two belts in the upcoming bout.
Key Facts
Derek Chisora is 42 years old and turned professional in 2007.
He lost to Deontay Wilder in April in what was called his 50th and final fight.
Chisora has now decided not to retire and plans to fight again in December.
His December opponent is Murat Gassiev, who is linked to the WBA 'super' heavyweight title.
The match location will be either London or Manchester and could involve the IBA and Gassiev's belts.
The IBA (International Boxing Association) is no longer recognized as amateur boxing’s governing body by the International Olympic Committee but continues to promote professional fights.
There is some confusion about Gassiev’s status as WBA champion because of other title fights scheduled for December involving Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Chisora has won 36 out of 50 professional fights and has been encouraged by some in boxing to retire due to his age.
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Manchester City Women have started strong this season by winning all their games in the Women's Super League (WSL) and remaining undefeated in the Champions League. Their manager, Andree Jeglertz, has successfully rotated players and used substitutions to keep the team performing well while managing fitness and challenges on multiple fronts.
Key Facts
Manchester City Women won every WSL game so far this season.
They are undefeated in their Champions League group stage matches.
Manager Andree Jeglertz has rotated the squad, never using the same starting 11 twice.
Substitutions have made a positive impact, with players like Beth Mead and Kerstin Casparij contributing key moments.
The team came back to draw against strong Champions League opponents Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
City has recovered well from losing positions in the WSL, gaining more points than any other team.
Some key players are currently injured but the squad depth remains strong.
The club aims to improve in Europe after previously struggling to advance past early stages.
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Lionel Messi played his final game for Argentina in a friendly match against Benin, scoring one goal and assisting two others in a 3-0 win. The match was a celebration of his 21-year international career, attended by over 85,000 fans in Buenos Aires.
Key Facts
Messi ended his international career at age 39 after 21 years playing for Argentina.
The farewell match took place at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires with more than 85,000 spectators.
Messi scored one goal, assisted two others, and helped Argentina defeat Benin 3-0.
Thousands of fans lined the route as Messi’s team bus traveled from the training center named after him.
A giant number 10 shirt saying “Gracias” ("Thank You") was displayed in Rosario, Messi’s hometown.
Messi is Argentina’s most-capped player with 208 appearances and the country’s top scorer with 126 goals.
He cited pride in wearing the national jersey and emotional sadness about retiring, especially after his father’s recent death.
The event included a tribute performance and a drone light show to honor Messi’s contributions to Argentine football.
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Lionel Messi played his final game for the Argentina national football team in a friendly match against Benin, which Argentina won 3-0. Messi scored one goal from a penalty kick during this match, and he received a full tribute before and after the game.
Key Facts
The match took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 6, 2026.
Argentina defeated Benin with a score of 3-0.
Lionel Messi scored his third goal from a penalty spot in this game.
This was Messi’s last international match for Argentina.
A full tribute was held to honor Messi before and after the game.
Other sports news mentioned includes Spain qualifying for the Nations League quarter-finals and England beating the Czech Republic.
Tennis players Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner’s recent results were also noted.
The match was a friendly, meaning it was not part of an official tournament.
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Ten major controversies in Test cricket were ranked by a panel from Test Match Special and BBC Sport readers, with results shared on the TMS podcast. The list includes well-known incidents like the “sandpapergate” scandal, ball-tampering allegations, and disputes over umpiring.
Key Facts
Australia is playing its first Test match in South Africa since the sandpapergate scandal happened eight years ago.
Test Match Special selected and ranked ten big scandals in Test cricket history with input from a BBC Sport audience.
One scandal involved Pakistan being found guilty of ball-tampering in a 2006 match against England, which led to the match being forfeited.
In 1987, a Test match between England and Pakistan was stopped over a conflict between England’s captain Mike Gatting and umpire Shakoor Rana.
The 1975 Ashes series saw a Test game cancelled after the pitch was vandalized by supporters of George Davis.
Kerry Packer created World Series Cricket to improve TV ratings by recruiting top players, causing disruption in the cricket world.
Before neutral umpires were introduced, concerns about fairness and bias in umpiring were common in international cricket.
The scandal rankings were revealed and discussed by cricket commentators Jonathan Agnew, Steven Finn, and Andy Zaltzman on the TMS podcast.
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Lionel Messi played his last game for Argentina in a friendly match against Benin, ending a 21-year career with the national team. About 85,000 fans attended the stadium in Buenos Aires to say goodbye to the football star.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi’s final game for Argentina was a friendly match against Benin.
His international career lasted 21 years.
Messi was the captain of Argentina’s World Cup-winning team.
He is widely considered one of the greatest football players ever.
Around 85,000 people came to the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires for his farewell.
The match marked the end of Messi’s long and successful time playing for his country.
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The United States men’s soccer team beat Canada 1-0 in Minnesota, with Justin Ellis scoring the only goal. The match was physical and had many fouls, but the US team kept a clean sheet with goalkeeper Brian Schwake making his first international start.
Key Facts
The game took place in Minnesota on a cool autumn evening.
Justin Ellis scored for the US with a quick finish, marking his second goal in three games.
Brian Schwake was the US goalkeeper and kept a clean sheet (no goals allowed) in his first match for the national team.
There were 43 fouls during the game, with the US committing one fewer than Canada.
The match was physical and stop-start, with many interruptions from fouls.
Canada has a history of playing aggressively, having many fouls and yellow cards in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
US players tried to maintain possession and break down Canada’s defense, but the flow of the game was often disrupted.
The referee was Steven Madrigal from Costa Rica, who had to carefully manage 50/50 challenges and fouls.
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Lionel Messi played his last game for Argentina in Buenos Aires, scoring a goal and helping his team win 3-0 against Benin. The match was a special event where 85,000 fans gathered to celebrate Messi’s 21-year international career, highlighting his achievements including the 2022 World Cup win.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi ended his international career with Argentina on October 6, 2026.
He scored his 126th international goal and assisted the first goal in a 3-0 win over Benin.
The match took place at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium with 85,000 supporters attending.
Messi played 208 international games, the most by any Argentine player.
A minute-long tribute happened in the 10th minute, honoring Messi’s jersey number 10.
Messi was visibly emotional, wiping tears as he arrived and at the end of the game.
The University of Buenos Aires gave Messi an honorary doctorate before the match.
A drone show displayed Messi’s image and thanked him after the final whistle.
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Two yellow Labrador dogs named Stella and Mabel jumped into a big pile of leaves during the first leaf pile jump of the fall season at Jody Hartman’s home. This lighthearted event was captured in a video shared by CBS News.
Key Facts
Jody Hartman raked leaves into a large pile for his dogs.
The dogs’ names are Stella and Mabel.
Stella and Mabel are yellow Labrador retrievers.
The dogs jumped into the leaf pile for the first time this fall.
Tony Dokoupil reported the story for CBS News.
The video is part of CBS Evening News coverage.
The event highlights a simple outdoor activity for dogs in autumn.
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The United States men's national soccer team (USMNT) played a friendly match against Canada. The game featured many young players and was seen as a chance for the US team to continue its recent strong performance following a 3-0 win over Mexico.
Key Facts
The USMNT and Canada played an international friendly soccer match.
Both teams included many young, up-and-coming players.
The US recently beat Mexico 3-0 with notable performances by young players.
Canada’s coach, Jesse Marsch, is originally from the USA.
Alphonso Davies from Canada did not play because he is on his honeymoon.
Several US players made their first appearances or started in the match.
The match is seen as a low-pressure game to test new players and strategies.
The US and Canada share the world’s longest border (5,525 miles / 8,891 km).
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England’s football team is recovering after losing to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. Coach Thomas Tuchel is using recent Nations League games to test players and build a strong team led by captain Harry Kane, who recently matched the record for most appearances and continues to score frequently.
Key Facts
England lost to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.
Thomas Tuchel is the head coach of England’s football team.
Harry Kane has made 125 appearances for England, tying a national record.
Kane has scored 91 goals for England, the most in the country’s history.
England’s key attacking players include Kane, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, and Jude Bellingham.
New players like Morgan Gibbs-White have joined the squad after initially being left out.
Midfielder Alex Scott had a strong debut but is currently injured.
Declan Rice, an important midfielder, is being rested to manage his fitness.
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Scotland’s national football team lost 2-1 to Slovenia at Hampden, showing defensive problems and lack of control in the game. The Scottish coach, Sebastien Pocognoli, changed tactics late in the match, but the team struggled to respond effectively, leading to their defeat.
Key Facts
Scotland played against Slovenia at Hampden Stadium and lost 2-1.
Scotland’s defense, especially the back three players, was repeatedly exposed by Slovenia’s attacks.
Slovenia scored twice in the second half, including a goal by Aljosa Matko.
Scotland’s coach Sebastien Pocognoli changed the team’s formation and players late, trying to even the score.
Scotland had a quiet and unenergetic game with few clear chances.
Scotland lost 2-1 to Slovenia in a Nations League football match, after leading at halftime. Scotland’s team captain, Andy Robertson, said the team was outplayed and did not perform well, while Slovenia scored two goals in the second half to win the game.
Key Facts
Scotland led 1-0 at halftime with a goal by Ryan Christie.
Slovenia scored two second-half goals by Danijel Sturm and Aljosa Matko to win 2-1.
Scotland captain Andy Robertson said the team was "outfought" and "not good enough."
Slovenia appeared fresher and more determined despite playing the same number of games.
Scotland’s new manager, Sebastien Pocognoli, aims for a more attacking style but the team struggled in this match.
Some former players and analysts expressed doubts about Scotland’s defensive tactics and team performance.
This loss followed a positive win over North Macedonia in Scotland’s previous game.
Scotland’s head coach Pocognoli is being tested after a mixed run of recent matches.
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Thousands of fans gathered at Buenos Aires' Monumental stadium to watch Lionel Messi play his last match for Argentina's national soccer team. Messi, who has been the team's captain and top scorer for 21 years and helped Argentina win the World Cup, said it is time for younger players to take over.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi is playing his final international match for Argentina.
Messi has been part of Argentina's national team for 21 years.
He is the team's all-time top scorer.
Messi captained Argentina to a World Cup victory.
The match took place at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
Thousands of fans came to support Messi in his last game.
Messi said he is stepping down so a new generation can lead the team.
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Lionel Messi is playing his farewell match for Argentina in a friendly game against Benin at Estadio Monumental. The article highlights Messi’s impressive career, his importance to Argentina’s national team, and the significance of this final appearance.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi is part of Argentina’s starting lineup for his farewell match.
Argentina is playing against Benin, a team ranked 93rd in the FIFA world rankings.
The match is a friendly game, meaning it is not part of a tournament or competition.
Messi has had a long and successful international career with Argentina, including World Cup appearances.
There was a period when Messi briefly retired from international football in 2016 but returned after public support.
Argentina often plays friendlies against lower-ranked teams for easier logistics and financial reasons.
The match is being broadcast in the U.S. on Vix, a Miami-based streaming service.
This game is seen as a chance for Argentina and its fans to celebrate Messi’s contribution to football.
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Harry Kane played his 125th game for England, matching the record for most appearances. He scored twice in England’s 3-0 win against Czechia in the Nations League, helping his team continue their winning streak.
Key Facts
Harry Kane equaled the England men’s appearance record with 125 caps, matching Peter Shilton.
Kane scored his 90th and 91st goals for England in the match at Wembley Stadium.
England won 3-0 against Czechia in their third straight Nations League victory.
The first goal came from an own goal by Czech defender Vladimir Coufal after a cross from Kane.
Kane scored again five minutes before half-time and once more with a header in the second half.
England’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, made several changes but kept Kane on until late in the game.
England now has nine points from four Nations League games, aiming for a top-two finish in Group A3.
Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to the team for the first time in two years and played right-back.
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Mikel Merino scored two goals to help Spain win 2-1 against Croatia in the Nations League quarter-finals, securing Spain’s place in the next round. Croatia took the lead first, but Spain equalized early in the second half, and a red card for Croatia helped Spain score the winning goal.
Key Facts
Mikel Merino scored both goals for Spain in their 2-1 win over Croatia.
Ivan Perisic scored first for Croatia but was sent off with a second yellow card near the end.
Spain remains undefeated for 42 consecutive games.
Spain leads Group A3 by three points over England.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon made several key saves during the match.
Croatia had lost 7-0 to England in their previous game.
Merino entered as a substitute and scored both goals after the break.
Spain’s win ensured they qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals with two games left.
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England won 3-0 against the Czech Republic in a Nations League match at Wembley with Harry Kane scoring two goals. The article reviews player performances, highlighting different players’ contributions and ratings after the game.
Key Facts
Harry Kane scored two goals and reached his 125th game for England, tying a national record.
England beat the Czech Republic 3-0 in the Nations League match.
Jordan Pickford had some shaky moments and may face competition for his goalkeeper position.
Trent Alexander-Arnold performed well, especially in handling opponents who play deep.
Several young players, such as Jarell Quansah and Lewis Hall, showed promising performances.
Jude Bellingham played well but was not as strong as in a recent game against Croatia.
Substitutes like James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite gained valuable international experience.
The article included player ratings from both BBC Sport staff and fans through an online rater.
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