Author: Daily Sabah With AP
Saudi Arabia’s appointment as the host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup marks a major milestone in its bid to establish itself as a global hub for major sports events. However, several key questions remain regarding logistics, social reforms and geopolitical challenges in the lead-up to the tournament. Fans celebrate as Saudi Arabia is announced as the host of the 2034 World Cup, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 11, 2024. (Reuters Photo) Stadiums and infrastructure Saudi Arabia has proposed 15 stadiums, eight of which are still in the planning stages, spread across five cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Al Khobar and Neom.…
Real Madrid reignited their Champions League title defense with a crucial 3-2 victory over Atalanta on Tuesday, thanks to star performances from Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. However, the Spanish giants had to weather a nervous final stretch, with Mateo Retegui spurning a golden opportunity in stoppage time to equalize for Atalanta. The win marks Madrid’s third of the revamped league phase and leaves them in 18th place, still outside the top eight spots that guarantee direct qualification to the round of 16. But coach Carlo Ancelotti was quick to highlight the significance of the victory. “It’s a…
Lando Norris is already eyeing the 2025 Formula One championship. Even before he’d parked his car after finishing the 2024 season as runner-up, the McLaren driver declared to his team over the radio, “Next year is going to be my year, too.” After a thrilling 2024 season that saw four teams claim victories, the battle for the title in 2025 promises to be even fiercer. Max Verstappen may be the reigning champion, but Lewis Hamilton, aiming for his eighth title, is switching to Ferrari, and a new generation of ambitious drivers is set to join the grid. Major rule changes…
Football’s biggest-ever global club tournament is on the horizon, as FIFA’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup prepares to debut in the U.S. in 2025. Set to run from June 15 to July 13, the tournament will take place across 11 U.S. cities, replacing the previous seven-team format. The 32 teams will be divided into eight groups, with the top two advancing to a knockout stage. The tournament, akin to the World Cup for national teams, will now be held every four years. This will follow the same format used by the World Cup from 1998-2022. A major shift for FIFA,…
Pep Guardiola, known for his tactical brilliance, now faces a turning point – after a humbling 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday that extended Manchester City’s winless streak to seven matches, a stark contrast to the once-unbeatable side he built. For the first time in his tenure, Guardiola faces his longest stretch of poor results. But as he stood in the Anfield tunnel, emotional yet defiant, the City manager made it clear: it’s time to reset. “We start from here,” he said, referring to the team’s bleak run. “We are not used to this. Many things are happening, and the…
Donald Trump may find a surprising ally in the NFL if the latest celebration trend sweeping the league is anything to go by. Players across the gridiron are busting out the “Trump dance,” a move inspired by the former president’s signature sways during his campaign rallies, signaling a peculiar shift in dynamics between Trump and the league. The trend began modestly in Week 10 when San Francisco 49ers defensive star Nick Bosa celebrated a sack against Tampa Bay by mimicking Trump’s trademark dance: slow hip sways paired with rhythmic arm swings, often seen to the tune of “YMCA” at Trump…
Donald Trump may find a surprising ally in the NFL if the latest celebration trend sweeping the league is anything to go by. Players across the gridiron are busting out the “Trump dance,” a move inspired by the former president’s signature sways during his campaign rallies, signaling a peculiar shift in dynamics between Trump and the league. The trend began modestly in Week 10 when San Francisco 49ers defensive star Nick Bosa celebrated a sack against Tampa Bay by mimicking Trump’s trademark dance: slow hip sways paired with rhythmic arm swings, often seen to the tune of “YMCA” at Trump…
The crowd’s boos swelled once more as Jake Paul dropped his gloves and bowed to 58-year-old Mike Tyson before the final bell, paying tribute to one of boxing’s all-time greats. The gesture, however, did little to appease fans packed into AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, on Friday night. Paul claimed an eight-round unanimous decision over Tyson, but the bout between the 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer and the former heavyweight champion – making his first sanctioned professional fight in nearly 20 years – fell far short of its hype. The pre-fight animosity gave way to post-fight bewilderment as frustrated fans…
The coast guard officials of Türkiye and Greece have agreed to increase cooperation in curbing one of the main illegal migration routes into Europe, the authorities said Wednesday. A Greek coast guard statement said Tuesday’s meeting on Greece’s eastern Aegean Sea island of Chios was the first of its kind in five years. It’s scheduled to be followed up in Türkiye in February 2025. The talks came amid a gradual improvement in relations between the two historic regional rivals, following a low point in 2020 that saw a spike in military tensions over offshore gas exploration rights. The statement said…