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India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma scored important half-centuries, but England’s bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals to bowl India out for 285 on the first day of the one-off women’s Test at Lord’s on Friday (Jul 10). By the end of the day, England were 21/1. Maya Bouchier was unbeaten on 17, while Heather Knight remained not out on one after Kranti Goud dismissed Tammy Beaumont for two. England finished the day trailing India by 264 runs.&nbsp;Coming to the match, India recovered well after an early setback, thanks to strong knocks from Mandhana (83), Harmanpreet (58) and Deepti (57). The visitors were reduced to 37/2 after Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia were dismissed in the first seven overs.&nbsp;Mandhana then steadied the innings with Jemimah Rodrigues, who made a quick 35 off 38 balls. The pair added 64 runs for the third wicket and helped India cross the 100-run mark without losing another wicket. Both batters played attacking cricket, scoring freely against England’s bowlers.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-young-golfer-anas-khan-on-what-shapes-his-fitness-focus-future-goals-1783699112932">Exclusive | Young Golfer Anas Khan on what shapes his fitness, focus &amp; future goals</a>&nbsp;Rodrigues’ innings ended when she edged a wide delivery from Issy Wong onto her stumps.&nbsp;Mandhana and Harmanpreet then added 89 runs for the fourth wicket to keep India in control. Harmanpreet played some drives through the covers, while England’s bowlers struggled to make breakthroughs despite efforts from debutant spinner Mady Villiers.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-5th-t20i-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1783679769980">IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;Mandhana missed out on a century when she edged Wong to wicketkeeper Amy Jones for 83. Harmanpreet was dismissed just before tea after Villiers bowled her with a well-flighted off-break.&nbsp;India reached tea at 202/5 and looked to push their total beyond 250 on a pitch offering some help to the spinners.&nbsp;Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana added 45 runs for the seventh wicket to take India past the 250-run mark. However, England's bowlers regained control in the final session, triggering a collapse that saw the visitors finish on 285.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma scored timely fifties, but England's bowlers struck at regular intervals to bowl India out for 285 on Day 1 of the one-off Test.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma scored important half-centuries, but England’s bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals to bowl India out for 285 on the first day of the one-off women’s Test at Lord’s on Friday (Jul 10). By the end of the day, England were 21/1. Maya Bouchier was unbeaten on 17, while Heather Knight remained not out on one after Kranti Goud dismissed Tammy Beaumont for two. England finished the day trailing India by 264 runs. Coming to the match, India recovered well after an early setback, thanks to strong knocks from Mandhana (83), Harmanpreet (58) and Deepti (57). The visitors were reduced to 37/2 after Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia were dismissed in the first seven overs. Mandhana then steadied the innings with Jemimah Rodrigues, who made a quick 35 off 38 balls. The pair added 64 runs for the third wicket and helped India cross the 100-run mark without losing another wicket. Both batters played attacking cricket, scoring freely against England’s bowlers. Also Read - Exclusive | Young Golfer Anas Khan on what shapes his fitness, focus & future goals Rodrigues’ innings ended when she edged a wide delivery from Issy Wong onto her stumps. Mandhana and Harmanpreet then added 89 runs for the fourth wicket to keep India in control. Harmanpreet played some drives through the covers, while England’s bowlers struggled to make breakthroughs despite efforts from debutant spinner Mady Villiers. Also Read - IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India? Mandhana missed out on a century when she edged Wong to wicketkeeper Amy Jones for 83. Harmanpreet was dismissed just before tea after Villiers bowled her with a well-flighted off-break. India reached tea at 202/5 and looked to push their total beyond 250 on a pitch offering some help to the spinners. Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana added 45 runs for the seventh wicket to take India past the 250-run mark. However, England's bowlers regained control in the final session, triggering a collapse that saw the visitors finish on 285. With inputs from agencies

Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma scored timely fifties, but England's bowlers struck at regular intervals to bowl India out for 285 on Day 1 of the one-off Test.

IND-W vs ENG-W One-off Test, Day 1: Mandhana shines as India reach 285; England 21/1 at stumps

After winning the boys’ title at the 16th DGC Junior/Sub-Junior Golf Championship, presented by Usha, Anas Khan has strengthened his reputation as one of India’s most promising young golfers. In an exclusive conversation with WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Anas shared how fitness, hard work and a positive mindset have helped improve his game, while also outlining his long-term ambitions.&nbsp;Speaking about the biggest areas of improvement in his game this year, Anas said, “I have worked the most on my fitness, long game and short game. Because of this, my overall performance has improved a lot.”&nbsp;Asked how he stays calm under pressure during tournaments, the teenager explained, “I focus on every shot and always think positively. That helps me stay calm and focused.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pm-modi-presents-steve-waugh-with-a-two-decade-old-photograph-during-mcg-visit-1783698184024">PM Modi presents Steve Waugh with a two-decade-old photograph during MCG visit</a>&nbsp;For young golfers hoping to compete in similar events, Anas had a simple message, “Always work hard and be patient. Play as many tournaments as you can because every tournament teaches you something new.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-5th-t20i-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1783679769980">IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;Looking ahead, Anas revealed his biggest ambition and said that “My goal is to become India’s number one amateur golfer and then play professional international golf, including events like the DP World Tour and the Masters. For that, I train every day with fitness and golf practice.”&nbsp;Highlighting the importance of junior tournaments, he added, “Support from tournaments like the DGC Junior Championship is very important for young golfers. These events give us valuable experience, help us compete at a high level and improve our game.”

In an exclusive conversation with WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Anas shared how fitness, hard work and a positive mindset have helped improve his game, while also outlining his long-term ambitions.

After winning the boys’ title at the 16th DGC Junior/Sub-Junior Golf Championship, presented by Usha, Anas Khan has strengthened his reputation as one of India’s most promising young golfers. In an exclusive conversation with WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Anas shared how fitness, hard work and a positive mindset have helped improve his game, while also outlining his long-term ambitions. Speaking about the biggest areas of improvement in his game this year, Anas said, “I have worked the most on my fitness, long game and short game. Because of this, my overall performance has improved a lot.” Asked how he stays calm under pressure during tournaments, the teenager explained, “I focus on every shot and always think positively. That helps me stay calm and focused.” Also Read - PM Modi presents Steve Waugh with a two-decade-old photograph during MCG visit For young golfers hoping to compete in similar events, Anas had a simple message, “Always work hard and be patient. Play as many tournaments as you can because every tournament teaches you something new.” Also Read - IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India? Looking ahead, Anas revealed his biggest ambition and said that “My goal is to become India’s number one amateur golfer and then play professional international golf, including events like the DP World Tour and the Masters. For that, I train every day with fitness and golf practice.” Highlighting the importance of junior tournaments, he added, “Support from tournaments like the DGC Junior Championship is very important for young golfers. These events give us valuable experience, help us compete at a high level and improve our game.”

In an exclusive conversation with WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Anas shared how fitness, hard work and a positive mindset have helped improve his game, while also outlining his long-term ambitions.

Exclusive | Young Golfer Anas Khan on what shapes his fitness, focus & future goals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, where he presented former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh with a photograph from their first meeting nearly 20 years ago, when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Modi toured the iconic stadium with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. During the visit, a major cricket announcement was made.&nbsp;The Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers will play the opening match of the 2026-27 Big Bash League (BBL) season at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Dec 12. It will be the first official BBL match ever held outside Australia, with the Renegades serving as the home team.&nbsp;The match is scheduled after the fourth day of the opening Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth.&nbsp;The initiative has the support of both the Indian and Australian governments. It is partly funded by the Centre of Australia-India Relations as part of efforts to strengthen sporting and diplomatic ties between the two countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chennai was chosen as the venue because of its rich cricket history, support from the BCCI and Australian Consul-General Silai Zaki and the huge fan base of the Chennai Super Kings.&nbsp;This will make the BBL the first overseas domestic cricket league to stage an official match in India. While Australian teams such as the Perth Scorchers, Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes have played in India during the now-defunct Champions League T20, no official BBL game has been held in the country before. Cricket Australia had earlier taken a Sheffield Shield match to New Zealand in 2016.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-5th-t20i-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1783679769980">IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, said the decision reflects the league’s growing global reach and the strong cricketing relationship between India and Australia. The opening game is expected to become the most-watched match in the history of Australian domestic sport.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eng-vs-ind-harry-brook-eyes-no-1-t20i-ranking-after-england-clinch-series-against-india-1783686419028">Harry Brook eyes No. 1 T20I ranking after England clinch series against India</a>&nbsp;Australian broadcasters will travel to Chennai with commentary teams, while JioStar will telecast the match in India. Cricket Australia is aiming for a full house at the 38,000-seat stadium and plans to offer travel packages for Australian fans.&nbsp;During his visit to the MCG, Modi also interacted with children taking part in exhibition matches of cricket, kabaddi and Australian rules football. The event featured sports personalities including Steve Waugh and former Australia women’s cricketer Lisa Sthalekar, showcasing the growing sports partnership between the two nations.&nbsp;Modi and Albanese also launched the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap, which aims to expand cooperation in sports development, youth programmes, infrastructure and athlete development.&nbsp;Modi congratulated Australia on winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and said the coming decade offers exciting opportunities for both countries to work together in sport.&nbsp;He highlighted India’s hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia’s hosting of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as key milestones for future collaboration.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a heartfelt gesture during his visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday by presenting former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh with a nearly 20-year-old photograph from their first meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, where he presented former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh with a photograph from their first meeting nearly 20 years ago, when Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Modi toured the iconic stadium with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. During the visit, a major cricket announcement was made. The Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers will play the opening match of the 2026-27 Big Bash League (BBL) season at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Dec 12. It will be the first official BBL match ever held outside Australia, with the Renegades serving as the home team. The match is scheduled after the fourth day of the opening Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth. The initiative has the support of both the Indian and Australian governments. It is partly funded by the Centre of Australia-India Relations as part of efforts to strengthen sporting and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Chennai was chosen as the venue because of its rich cricket history, support from the BCCI and Australian Consul-General Silai Zaki and the huge fan base of the Chennai Super Kings. This will make the BBL the first overseas domestic cricket league to stage an official match in India. While Australian teams such as the Perth Scorchers, Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes have played in India during the now-defunct Champions League T20, no official BBL game has been held in the country before. Cricket Australia had earlier taken a Sheffield Shield match to New Zealand in 2016. Also Read - IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India? Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, said the decision reflects the league’s growing global reach and the strong cricketing relationship between India and Australia. The opening game is expected to become the most-watched match in the history of Australian domestic sport. Also Read - Harry Brook eyes No. 1 T20I ranking after England clinch series against India Australian broadcasters will travel to Chennai with commentary teams, while JioStar will telecast the match in India. Cricket Australia is aiming for a full house at the 38,000-seat stadium and plans to offer travel packages for Australian fans. During his visit to the MCG, Modi also interacted with children taking part in exhibition matches of cricket, kabaddi and Australian rules football. The event featured sports personalities including Steve Waugh and former Australia women’s cricketer Lisa Sthalekar, showcasing the growing sports partnership between the two nations. Modi and Albanese also launched the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap, which aims to expand cooperation in sports development, youth programmes, infrastructure and athlete development. Modi congratulated Australia on winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and said the coming decade offers exciting opportunities for both countries to work together in sport. He highlighted India’s hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia’s hosting of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as key milestones for future collaboration. With inputs from agencies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a heartfelt gesture during his visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday by presenting former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh with a nearly 20-year-old photograph from their first meeting.

PM Modi presents Steve Waugh with a two-decade-old photograph during MCG visit

India will aim to end their winless run when they face England in the fifth and final T20I of the series at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. After a heavy nine-wicket loss in Bristol, Shreyas Iyer’s team is trailing 3-0 in the five-match series, with the first game ending without a result due to rain. India will now hope to avoid a series whitewash in England and finish the tour with a victory.&nbsp;India’s batting has struggled throughout the series. In the fourth T20I, the team lost early wickets again before Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 80 guided them to 158/7. However, the total was not enough as Harry Brook and Phil Salt dominated the chase with an unbeaten 151-run partnership, helping England reach the target with 37 balls remaining.&nbsp;England, meanwhile, has been outstanding with its aggressive approach and fast-paced cricket. Led by Harry Brook, the team has performed strongly in both batting and bowling, making it difficult for India to compete.&nbsp;India and England have played 34 T20Is against each other. India has won 18 matches, England has won 15 and one match ended without a result.&nbsp;&nbsp;Now, as the crucial T20I clash between India and England approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.<h2>IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: Match Details</h2><h2>When will the IND vs ENG, 5th T20I be played?</h2>The fifth T20I between India and England will be played on Saturday (11 Jul, 2026). The toss will take place at 6:30 pm IST.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-belgium-s-onana-suffers-ligament-injury-during-r16-win-over-the-united-states-1783506390130">FIFA World Cup 2026: Belgium's Onana suffers ligament injury during R16 win over the United States</a><h2>Where is the match being played?</h2>The match will be held at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.<h2>Where can fans watch the match on television?</h2>The live telecast of the fifth T20I between India and England will be available on Sony Sports Network in India.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-quarterfinals-complete-match-schedule-teams-venues-and-live-streaming-details-1783504287199">FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals: Full schedule, fixtures and match timings</a><h2>Where to livestream IND vs ENG, 5th T20I?</h2>The livestream of the fifth T20I between India and England will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.<h2>IND vs ENG T20I Squad</h2>India: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prince Yadav, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna and Varun Chakaravarthy&nbsp;England: Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Philip Salt, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Jordan Cox, James Coles, Rehan Ahmed and Sonny Baker

As the crucial T20I clash between India and England approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.

India will aim to end their winless run when they face England in the fifth and final T20I of the series at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. After a heavy nine-wicket loss in Bristol, Shreyas Iyer’s team is trailing 3-0 in the five-match series, with the first game ending without a result due to rain. India will now hope to avoid a series whitewash in England and finish the tour with a victory. India’s batting has struggled throughout the series. In the fourth T20I, the team lost early wickets again before Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 80 guided them to 158/7. However, the total was not enough as Harry Brook and Phil Salt dominated the chase with an unbeaten 151-run partnership, helping England reach the target with 37 balls remaining. England, meanwhile, has been outstanding with its aggressive approach and fast-paced cricket. Led by Harry Brook, the team has performed strongly in both batting and bowling, making it difficult for India to compete. India and England have played 34 T20Is against each other. India has won 18 matches, England has won 15 and one match ended without a result. Now, as the crucial T20I clash between India and England approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India. IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: Match Details When will the IND vs ENG, 5th T20I be played? The fifth T20I between India and England will be played on Saturday (11 Jul, 2026). The toss will take place at 6:30 pm IST. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Belgium's Onana suffers ligament injury during R16 win over the United States Where is the match being played? The match will be held at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Where can fans watch the match on television? The live telecast of the fifth T20I between India and England will be available on Sony Sports Network in India. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals: Full schedule, fixtures and match timings Where to livestream IND vs ENG, 5th T20I? The livestream of the fifth T20I between India and England will be available on the JioHotstar app and website. IND vs ENG T20I Squad India: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Prince Yadav, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna and Varun Chakaravarthy England: Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Philip Salt, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Jordan Cox, James Coles, Rehan Ahmed and Sonny Baker

As the crucial T20I clash between India and England approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.

IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?

England captain Harry Brook has made it clear that climbing to the top of the ICC men’s T20I rankings is his team’s next big target after wrapping up the series against India. Following England’s dominant performances, Brook said securing the No. 1 ranking has become the side’s biggest motivation. A convincing nine-wicket win in the fourth T20I at Bristol handed England an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Victory in the final game at Southampton would see England overtake India and become the world’s top-ranked men’s T20I side.&nbsp;"We've been told if we win the next game, we go to world No.1 and that's definitely a prize that we're eyeing up," Brook said after the Bristol win.&nbsp;“India are a strong side. They probably haven’t been as good as they have been over the last couple of years, but we’re really happy with the way that we’ve executed our plans.”&nbsp;“To beat India 4-0 would be a pretty special series win. To go No.1 in the world would be even better. That's our main aim. We want to go out there and try and beat them convincingly again.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-shree-charani-earns-maiden-test-cap-at-lord-s-after-t20-world-cup-heroics-1783685232380">IND-W vs ENG-W: Shree Charani earns maiden Test cap at Lord's after T20 World Cup heroics</a>&nbsp;Brook attributed England’s success in the series to their ability to read conditions and adjust their game accordingly, something he feels has been a key advantage against the reigning T20 world champions.&nbsp;"We've got to go to Southampton, try and assess the conditions as well as we can, and that's something that we've done really well in this series so far," he said.&nbsp;The Southampton encounter will also take place on the same day as England’s FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway and Brook admitted the squad would be following the football action closely.&nbsp;“To go world No.1 and England going to the semis, that would be pretty cool,” he said. “We’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on it and watching the game for sure.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-why-was-mbappe-substituted-vs-morocco-france-captain-shares-injury-details-1783662963630">FIFA | Why was Mbappe substituted vs Morocco? France captain gives injury update</a>&nbsp;England’s rise under Brook has been impressive. Since assuming the captaincy, the team has won 19 of its last 22 completed T20Is and also reached the semi-finals of this year’s T20 World Cup, where their campaign ended with a defeat to India.&nbsp;However, Brook believes the team’s progress has been building over time rather than happening overnight.&nbsp;“The white-ball side’s been on a really good path, if I’m being brutally honest,” he said. “We’ve been playing extremely good cricket. We’ve been adapting to the surfaces and conditions really well.&nbsp;“We had a good World Cup. We just fell just short of 250 in a chase at the Wankhede, which is incredible.”&nbsp;Despite already sealing the series, Brook stressed that England’s focus remains firmly on ending it with another victory.&nbsp;"I think it might have changed the mood a little bit, but we've still got one more game to play. Hopefully, we can go to world No. 1 and beat a very strong Indian side."

A win for England in the final T20I in Southampton on Saturday would see them replace India at the top of the ICC rankings.

England captain Harry Brook has made it clear that climbing to the top of the ICC men’s T20I rankings is his team’s next big target after wrapping up the series against India. Following England’s dominant performances, Brook said securing the No. 1 ranking has become the side’s biggest motivation. A convincing nine-wicket win in the fourth T20I at Bristol handed England an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Victory in the final game at Southampton would see England overtake India and become the world’s top-ranked men’s T20I side. "We've been told if we win the next game, we go to world No.1 and that's definitely a prize that we're eyeing up," Brook said after the Bristol win. “India are a strong side. They probably haven’t been as good as they have been over the last couple of years, but we’re really happy with the way that we’ve executed our plans.” “To beat India 4-0 would be a pretty special series win. To go No.1 in the world would be even better. That's our main aim. We want to go out there and try and beat them convincingly again.” Also Read - IND-W vs ENG-W: Shree Charani earns maiden Test cap at Lord's after T20 World Cup heroics Brook attributed England’s success in the series to their ability to read conditions and adjust their game accordingly, something he feels has been a key advantage against the reigning T20 world champions. "We've got to go to Southampton, try and assess the conditions as well as we can, and that's something that we've done really well in this series so far," he said. The Southampton encounter will also take place on the same day as England’s FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway and Brook admitted the squad would be following the football action closely. “To go world No.1 and England going to the semis, that would be pretty cool,” he said. “We’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on it and watching the game for sure.” Also Read - FIFA | Why was Mbappe substituted vs Morocco? France captain gives injury update England’s rise under Brook has been impressive. Since assuming the captaincy, the team has won 19 of its last 22 completed T20Is and also reached the semi-finals of this year’s T20 World Cup, where their campaign ended with a defeat to India. However, Brook believes the team’s progress has been building over time rather than happening overnight. “The white-ball side’s been on a really good path, if I’m being brutally honest,” he said. “We’ve been playing extremely good cricket. We’ve been adapting to the surfaces and conditions really well. “We had a good World Cup. We just fell just short of 250 in a chase at the Wankhede, which is incredible.” Despite already sealing the series, Brook stressed that England’s focus remains firmly on ending it with another victory. "I think it might have changed the mood a little bit, but we've still got one more game to play. Hopefully, we can go to world No. 1 and beat a very strong Indian side."

A win for England in the final T20I in Southampton on Saturday would see them replace India at the top of the ICC rankings.

ENG vs IND: Harry Brook eyes No. 1 T20I ranking after England clinch series against India

Shree Charani's rapid rise in international cricket reached another milestone as she received her maiden Test cap against England Women at Lord's. It was a memorable occasion, with Lord’s hosting a women’s Test match for the first time, 50 years after staging its first women’s international game. Charani earned her place in the Indian Test team after an outstanding Women’s T20 World Cup campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;The left-arm spinner was India’s leading wicket-taker, claiming 14 wickets in just five matches. It was the highest number of wickets by an Indian player in a single edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup and helped her become the world’s No. 1-ranked T20I bowler.&nbsp;The 21-year-old broke Poonam Yadav’s previous Indian record of 10 wickets, set during India’s run to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 final.&nbsp;&nbsp;Charani also finished second on the all-time list for most wickets in a single Women’s T20 World Cup, behind New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr, who took 15 wickets in the 2024 tournament.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-backs-india-s-2036-olympics-bid-as-delhi-canberra-announce-sports-cooperation-roadmap-1783659821508">Australia backs India's 2036 Olympics bid under new Sports Cooperation Roadmap</a>&nbsp;India also welcomed back wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia, who returned to the Test side after more than two and a half years. She had missed India’s previous Tests against South Africa in Chennai in 2024 and Australia in Perth earlier this year.&nbsp;Coming to the match, England won the toss and chose to bowl first. The hosts handed Test debuts to Mady Villiers and Alice Capsey.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-morocco-s-ayyoub-bouaddi-becomes-second-youngest-player-after-pele-to-feature-in-wc-quarter-final-1783681628661">FIFA 2026: Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi becomes second-youngest player after Pele to feature in WC quarter-final</a><h3>Playing XIs</h3>India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sayali Satghare, Shree Charani and Kranti Gaud&nbsp;England Women: Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (wicketkeeper), Mady Villiers, Sophie Ecclestone, Issy Wong, Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer

Shree Charani made her Test debut at Lord's after an impressive Women's T20 World Cup campaign, where she claimed 14 wickets in five matches.

Shree Charani's rapid rise in international cricket reached another milestone as she received her maiden Test cap against England Women at Lord's. It was a memorable occasion, with Lord’s hosting a women’s Test match for the first time, 50 years after staging its first women’s international game. Charani earned her place in the Indian Test team after an outstanding Women’s T20 World Cup campaign. The left-arm spinner was India’s leading wicket-taker, claiming 14 wickets in just five matches. It was the highest number of wickets by an Indian player in a single edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup and helped her become the world’s No. 1-ranked T20I bowler. The 21-year-old broke Poonam Yadav’s previous Indian record of 10 wickets, set during India’s run to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 final. Charani also finished second on the all-time list for most wickets in a single Women’s T20 World Cup, behind New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr, who took 15 wickets in the 2024 tournament. Also Read - Australia backs India's 2036 Olympics bid under new Sports Cooperation Roadmap India also welcomed back wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia, who returned to the Test side after more than two and a half years. She had missed India’s previous Tests against South Africa in Chennai in 2024 and Australia in Perth earlier this year. Coming to the match, England won the toss and chose to bowl first. The hosts handed Test debuts to Mady Villiers and Alice Capsey. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi becomes second-youngest player after Pele to feature in WC quarter-final Playing XIs India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sayali Satghare, Shree Charani and Kranti Gaud England Women: Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Alice Capsey, Amy Jones (wicketkeeper), Mady Villiers, Sophie Ecclestone, Issy Wong, Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer

Shree Charani made her Test debut at Lord's after an impressive Women's T20 World Cup campaign, where she claimed 14 wickets in five matches.

IND-W vs ENG-W: Shree Charani earns maiden Test cap at Lord's after T20 World Cup heroics

Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi made history after starting in his team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against France on Friday (Jul 10). The 18 years and 280 days old played 62 minutes before Morocco lost 2-0 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. By appearing in the quarterfinal, Bouaddi became the second-youngest player ever to play in a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. Only Brazil legend Pele was younger when he featured in the last-eight stage of the 1958 World Cup at the age of 17 years and 239 days.&nbsp;In that 1958 quarterfinal against Wales, Pele scored the only goal of the match in the 66th minute to give Brazil a 1-0 victory. He also became the youngest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, a record that still stands.&nbsp;The Moroccan midfielder also set another milestone by becoming the first African player to make five FIFA World Cup appearances before turning 20.&nbsp;Bouaddi made his World Cup debut against Brazil on Jun 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. He also featured in Morocco’s second Group C match against Scotland on Jun 19 at Gillette Stadium.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-wc-2026-spain-vs-belgium-qf-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1783678679122">FIFA WC 2026, Spain vs Belgium QF: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;Although he did not play in the group-stage match against Haiti, Bouaddi returned for Morocco’s Round of 32 clash against the Netherlands and the Round of 16 win over Canada.&nbsp;&nbsp;He then earned a place in the starting lineup for the quarterfinal against France, adding another achievement to his impressive tournament.

Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 live on Zee5

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-france-coach-deschamps-furious-over-penalty-delay-for-mbappe-1783674600497">FIFA 2026 | France coach Deschamps furious over penalty delay for Mbappe</a><h2>Ayyoub Bouaddi in FIFA WC 2026</h2>

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Against</td><td>Match</td><td>Minutes Played</td><td>Venue</td><td>Date</td></tr><tr><td>Brazil</td><td>Group C</td><td>Full match</td><td>MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford</td><td>Jun 13</td></tr><tr><td>Scotland</td><td>Group C</td><td>Full match</td><td>Gillette Stadium in Foxborough</td><td>Jun 19</td></tr><tr><td>Netherlands</td><td>Round of 32</td><td>79 minutes</td><td>Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe</td><td>Jun 29</td></tr><tr><td>Canada</td><td>Round of 16</td><td>63 minutes</td><td>NRG Stadium in Houston</td><td>Jul 4</td></tr><tr><td>France</td><td>Quarterfinal</td><td>62 minutes</td><td>Gillette Stadium in Foxborough</td><td>Jul 9</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

The Moroccan midfielder also set another milestone by becoming the first African player to make five FIFA World Cup appearances before turning 20.

Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi made history after starting in his team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against France on Friday (Jul 10). The 18 years and 280 days old played 62 minutes before Morocco lost 2-0 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. By appearing in the quarterfinal, Bouaddi became the second-youngest player ever to play in a FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. Only Brazil legend Pele was younger when he featured in the last-eight stage of the 1958 World Cup at the age of 17 years and 239 days. In that 1958 quarterfinal against Wales, Pele scored the only goal of the match in the 66th minute to give Brazil a 1-0 victory. He also became the youngest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, a record that still stands. The Moroccan midfielder also set another milestone by becoming the first African player to make five FIFA World Cup appearances before turning 20. Bouaddi made his World Cup debut against Brazil on Jun 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. He also featured in Morocco’s second Group C match against Scotland on Jun 19 at Gillette Stadium. Also Read - FIFA WC 2026, Spain vs Belgium QF: When and where to watch live streaming in India? Although he did not play in the group-stage match against Haiti, Bouaddi returned for Morocco’s Round of 32 clash against the Netherlands and the Round of 16 win over Canada. He then earned a place in the starting lineup for the quarterfinal against France, adding another achievement to his impressive tournament.

The Moroccan midfielder also set another milestone by becoming the first African player to make five FIFA World Cup appearances before turning 20.

FIFA 2026: Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi becomes second-youngest player after Pele to feature in WC quarter-final

Spain will go into Saturday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Belgium as the favourites after an impressive unbeaten run, but Belgium are confident that they can stop Spain’s strong campaign. Spain have not lost a match or conceded a goal in the tournament so far and are also unbeaten in 36 competitive matches, a streak that began in Mar 2023.&nbsp;Belgium head into the game after a convincing 4-1 win over co-hosts the United States, extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to 18 matches.&nbsp;“Everyone is already talking about us going home, but we believe we can do it,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said on Thursday. “We believe we can pull off an upset, and we will do everything we can to get to the semifinals.”&nbsp;Spain have been solid at the back, with Rodri leading the midfield and goalkeeper Unai Simon making six saves in five World Cup games.&nbsp;&nbsp;Belgium, meanwhile, have several dangerous attackers, including Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere.&nbsp;Spain have scored nine goals in the tournament, with seven of them coming in wins over Saudi Arabia and Austria. Belgium will miss midfielder Amadou Onana because of a knee injury, while De Bruyne is expected to return after being rested for the match against the United States.&nbsp;As the crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 clash between Spain and Belgium approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.<h2>Spain vs Belgium, FIFA 2026: Key details</h2><ul><li>Date and kick-off time: Saturday (Jul 11), 12:30 AM (IST)</li><li>Venue: Los Angeles Stadium</li><li>Referee: TBC</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-france-coach-deschamps-furious-over-penalty-delay-for-mbappe-1783674600497">FIFA 2026 | France coach Deschamps furious over penalty delay for Mbappe</a>

<h2>Which TV channel will broadcast Spain vs Belgium FIFA World Cup 2026 match live in India?</h2>The FIFA World Cup 2026 QF match between Spain and Belgium will be shown live on Zee’s new Unite8 Sports network (Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD) in India.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-why-was-mbappe-substituted-vs-morocco-france-captain-shares-injury-details-1783662963630">FIFA | Why was Mbappe substituted vs Morocco? France captain gives injury update</a><h2>How to watch Spain vs Belgium FIFA World Cup 2026 live streaming in India?</h2>The FIFA World Cup 2026 QF match between Spain and Belgium will be available for live streaming on the Zee5 website and app (<a href="https://www.zee5.com/">https://www.zee5.com/</a>).

As the crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 clash between Spain and Belgium approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.

Spain will go into Saturday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Belgium as the favourites after an impressive unbeaten run, but Belgium are confident that they can stop Spain’s strong campaign. Spain have not lost a match or conceded a goal in the tournament so far and are also unbeaten in 36 competitive matches, a streak that began in Mar 2023. Belgium head into the game after a convincing 4-1 win over co-hosts the United States, extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to 18 matches. “Everyone is already talking about us going home, but we believe we can do it,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said on Thursday. “We believe we can pull off an upset, and we will do everything we can to get to the semifinals.” Spain have been solid at the back, with Rodri leading the midfield and goalkeeper Unai Simon making six saves in five World Cup games. Belgium, meanwhile, have several dangerous attackers, including Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere. Spain have scored nine goals in the tournament, with seven of them coming in wins over Saudi Arabia and Austria. Belgium will miss midfielder Amadou Onana because of a knee injury, while De Bruyne is expected to return after being rested for the match against the United States. As the crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 clash between Spain and Belgium approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India. Spain vs Belgium, FIFA 2026: Key details Date and kick-off time: Saturday (Jul 11), 12:30 AM (IST) Venue: Los Angeles Stadium Referee: TBC Also Read - FIFA 2026 | France coach Deschamps furious over penalty delay for Mbappe

As the crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 clash between Spain and Belgium approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.

FIFA WC 2026, Spain vs Belgium QF: When and where to watch live streaming in India?

Kylian Mbappe was made to wait over three minutes before taking his first-half penalty against Morocco in FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final on Thursday (Jul 9), and it proved costly as Yassine Bounou saved his effort. France coach Didier Deschamps wasn't pleased with how it played out, admitting the delay played a part in the miss. Mbappe, though, didn't let it get to him as he struck from the edge of the box in the second half and turned provider for Ousmane Dembele soon after, as France cruised to a 2-0 win over Morocco to book a third straight World Cup semifinal.

<h2>Why there was a delay in penalty kick for Mbappe?</h2>The hold-up came after VAR got involved, with officials taking their time before finally allowing Mbappe to strike. The France captain looked visibly frustrated, seen arguing with the Argentinian match officials in the middle before eventually stepping up, but only to see his effort saved by Bounou.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-mbappe-dembele-fire-france-past-morocco-into-semifinals-1783653116542/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-mbappe-dembele-fire-france-past-morocco-into-semifinals-1783653116542/embed</a>&nbsp;Deschamps didn't hold back afterwards, saying he wasn't sure what caused the delay. "I believe there was a VAR review and then a second review which took two minutes," he said, adding, "It took a while and Kylian was ready to shoot."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-mbappe-leads-golden-boot-race-what-other-records-he-broke-with-his-performance-vs-morocco-1783669021813">FIFA 2026 | Mbappe leads Golden boot race. What other records he broke with his performance vs Morocco?</a>Norway striker Erling Haaland, watching on, wasted no time weighing in on social media, calling the wait "too long." Deschamps, when asked about it, sided with Haaland's take, saying he agreed with him fully on the matter, though he stopped short of calling it an excuse for the miss.<h2>What's waiting for France in semis?</h2>France will now turn their attention to the semifinal in Dallas on July 14, where they'll meet the winner of Spain and Belgium. Deschamps sounded proud of leading the side to a third successive final four but was quick to stress the job isn't done, calling the semifinal clash a tough test against one of the four best teams left in the tournament.<h2>Where to watch and live stream France's FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?</h2>France's FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final will be aired LIVE across WION's sister company Zee5 app and website. (link: https://www.zee5.com/)&nbsp;

The hold-up came after VAR got involved, with officials taking their time before finally allowing Mbappe to strike which he eventually missed.

Kylian Mbappe was made to wait over three minutes before taking his first-half penalty against Morocco in FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final on Thursday (Jul 9), and it proved costly as Yassine Bounou saved his effort. France coach Didier Deschamps wasn't pleased with how it played out, admitting the delay played a part in the miss. Mbappe, though, didn't let it get to him as he struck from the edge of the box in the second half and turned provider for Ousmane Dembele soon after, as France cruised to a 2-0 win over Morocco to book a third straight World Cup semifinal.

The hold-up came after VAR got involved, with officials taking their time before finally allowing Mbappe to strike which he eventually missed.

FIFA 2026 | France coach Deschamps furious over penalty delay for Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe, the French superstar, rewrote record books as he guided France into their third consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final. Mbappe scored one goal and assisted in another as France beat Morocco 2-0 in first quarter-final of FIFA 2026 on Thursday (Jul 9) at Boston Stadium. Mbappe produced the magical performance after missing out converting a penalty in the first half but now leads the Golden Boot race ahead of Argentina's Lionel Messi. Both, Messi and Mbappe have eight goals each in the ongoing tournament but the French captain leads the race by virtue of more assists than Messi. Mbappe has three assists so far while Messi has only 1.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-mbappe-dembele-fire-france-past-morocco-into-semifinals-1783653116542/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-mbappe-dembele-fire-france-past-morocco-into-semifinals-1783653116542/embed</a><h2>What records Mbappe broke in QF vs Morocco?</h2>Mbappe, with his goal and assist against Morocco, not only leads the Golden Boot race but also broke multiple records in World Cup history and for France. Have a look a the records Mbappe broke:

&nbsp;<ul><li>Mbappe now has 14 goal contributions (goals + assists) in FIFA World Cup knockout matches after his performance against Morocco - the most by any player alongside Lionel Messi in last 60 years of the tournament history.</li><li>Mbappe also has 20 goals FIFA World Cup - only one behind Messi's 21.</li><li>Mbappe's 11 goal contributions (8 goals + 3 assists) in FIFA 2026 are most by any player since Gerd Muller's in 1970 edition.</li><li>The French superstar is the first player since 1966 to have 10 goal contributions in two editions of FIFA World Cup. Apart from 11 in the current edition, he also had 10 goal contributions in France's run to the final in 2022 FIFA World Cup.</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-why-was-mbappe-substituted-vs-morocco-france-captain-shares-injury-details-1783662963630">FIFA 2026 | Why was Mbappe substituted vs Morocco? France captain shares injury details</a><h2>What next for France?</h2>The three-time consecutive semi-finals will face winner of Spain vs Belgium quarter-final for a place in the title showdown. France's semi-final will take place on Tuesday (Jul 11) at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.<h2>Where to watch and live stream France's FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?</h2>France's FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final will be aired LIVE across WION's sister company Zee5 app and website. (link: https://www.zee5.com/)&nbsp;

Both, Messi and Mbappe have eight goals each in the ongoing tournament but the French captain leads the race by virtue of more assists than Messi. Mbappe has three assists so far while Messi has only 1.

Kylian Mbappe, the French superstar, rewrote record books as he guided France into their third consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final. Mbappe scored one goal and assisted in another as France beat Morocco 2-0 in first quarter-final of FIFA 2026 on Thursday (Jul 9) at Boston Stadium. Mbappe produced the magical performance after missing out converting a penalty in the first half but now leads the Golden Boot race ahead of Argentina's Lionel Messi. Both, Messi and Mbappe have eight goals each in the ongoing tournament but the French captain leads the race by virtue of more assists than Messi. Mbappe has three assists so far while Messi has only 1. https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-mbappe-dembele-fire-france-past-morocco-into-semifinals-1783653116542/embed What records Mbappe broke in QF vs Morocco? Mbappe, with his goal and assist against Morocco, not only leads the Golden Boot race but also broke multiple records in World Cup history and for France. Have a look a the records Mbappe broke:

Both, Messi and Mbappe have eight goals each in the ongoing tournament but the French captain leads the race by virtue of more assists than Messi. Mbappe has three assists so far while Messi has only 1.

FIFA 2026 | Mbappe leads Golden boot race. What other records he broke with his performance vs Morocco?

Kylian Mbappe played the hero for France once again, scoring one and setting up another as Les Bleus beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals in Foxborough, Boston on Thursday (Jul 9). But the night wasn't without its scare for French fans as the captain was withdrawn in the final 15 minutes after picking up what looked like a knock, sparking concern over his fitness. Mbappe, however, was quick to calm the nerves after the game, insisting there is nothing to worry about as France gear up for a third semifinal appearance in as many World Cup editions since 2018.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-coach-rudi-garcia-says-everyone-expects-belgium-to-lose-against-spain-1783654362745">FIFA 2026 | Coach Rudi Garcia says everyone 'expects' Belgium to lose against Spain</a><h2>What happened to Mbappe?</h2>Mbappe received on-field treatment from the France medical staff before he was replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 77th minute at Gillette Stadium. The 27-year-old didn't look to be in serious discomfort as he walked off, applauding the crowd on his way to the bench, where cameras later caught him with ice strapped to his right foot.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-mbappe-dembele-fire-france-past-morocco-into-semifinals-1783653116542/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-mbappe-dembele-fire-france-past-morocco-into-semifinals-1783653116542/embed</a>&nbsp;Speaking after the match, Mbappe brushed aside any alarm over the injury and said: "I'm all good. I got a knock on the ankle, but it's all good," adding that Mateta "was more able than me to play the last 15 minutes."

Despite the early exit, Mbappe was in good spirits, leading the celebrations with fans pitchside and later inside the dressing room. Earlier in the game, he had missed a first-half penalty but made up for it soon after, scoring from the edge of the box to draw level with Lionel Messi at the top of the World Cup scoring charts, before teeing up Ousmane Dembele for France's second.<h2>What next for France?</h2>The 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up France have a semifinal date in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday (Jul 14), where they'll face the winner of Spain and Belgium. Mbappe knows the tougher tests are still to come but sounded confident about his side's chances. "We are very happy... but we still have a long way. We know that what is coming next will be even harder but we are ready to face anything," he said.<h2>Where to watch and live stream France's FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final?</h2>France's semi-final in FIFA World Cup 2026 will be aired LIVE across WION's sister company Zee5 app and website. (link: https://www.zee5.com/)

Mbappe scores, assists in France's 2-0 win over Morocco; withdrawn late with ankle knock but says "all good." France reach third straight WC semis, face Spain/Belgium winner Tuesday.

Kylian Mbappe played the hero for France once again, scoring one and setting up another as Les Bleus beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals in Foxborough, Boston on Thursday (Jul 9). But the night wasn't without its scare for French fans as the captain was withdrawn in the final 15 minutes after picking up what looked like a knock, sparking concern over his fitness. Mbappe, however, was quick to calm the nerves after the game, insisting there is nothing to worry about as France gear up for a third semifinal appearance in as many World Cup editions since 2018. Also Read - FIFA 2026 | Coach Rudi Garcia says everyone 'expects' Belgium to lose against Spain What happened to Mbappe? Mbappe received on-field treatment from the France medical staff before he was replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 77th minute at Gillette Stadium. The 27-year-old didn't look to be in serious discomfort as he walked off, applauding the crowd on his way to the bench, where cameras later caught him with ice strapped to his right foot. https://www.wionews.com/videos/fifa-world-cup-2026-mbappe-dembele-fire-france-past-morocco-into-semifinals-1783653116542/embed Speaking after the match, Mbappe brushed aside any alarm over the injury and said: "I'm all good. I got a knock on the ankle, but it's all good," adding that Mateta "was more able than me to play the last 15 minutes."

Mbappe scores, assists in France's 2-0 win over Morocco; withdrawn late with ankle knock but says "all good." France reach third straight WC semis, face Spain/Belgium winner Tuesday.

FIFA 2026 | Why was Mbappe substituted vs Morocco? France captain shares injury details

India and Australia have unveiled their first-ever Roadmap for Sports Collaboration, marking a significant deepening of bilateral ties built on a shared passion for sport. The announcement, made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Australia PM Albanese extended support to India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bbl-2026-27-opener-between-melbourne-renegades-vs-perth-scorchers-set-to-be-played-in-chennai-on-december-12-1783657104904">BBL 2026-27 opener between Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers set to be played in Chennai on December 12</a> The roadmap builds on a 2023 memorandum of understanding and sets out practical cooperation in capacity building, sports science and technology, major event hosting, industry investment, and women’s participation in sport. It aligns with a busy decade of mega-events: India hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and Australia staging the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.&nbsp; At the MCG event, attended by Australian sporting legends including Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar, the two leaders interacted with young athletes in kabaddi, Australian football, and cricket exhibitions. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the unifying power of sport. “Sports have a unique role in bringing people together,” he said, while congratulating Australia on its recent women’s cricket World Cup victory. He noted that the two nations are entering “a significant decade in international sports” and that the roadmap would help diversify and strengthen their partnership. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who joined Modi at the MCG, emphasised the economic as well as cultural benefits. “Australia and India are united by our love and passion for sport,” Mr Albanese said. “This sports roadmap will focus on practical priority areas such as capability building, technology and research to strengthen this cornerstone of our bilateral relationship. I am excited to expand cooperation with India on sport, which not only brings joy to Australians but boosts trade, tourism and investment.”&nbsp; Australia has announced its decision to play the Big Bash League (BBL)'s opening match in Chennai in December 2026, the first time an Australian men’s domestic T20 league fixture will be staged abroad. The game, part of a week-long “G’Day Namaste” festival featuring cultural, business, and sporting events, is expected to draw significant Indian audiences and promote tourism and trade links. The roadmap explicitly welcomes this initiative and encourages further annual BBL matches in India. It also identifies opportunities for exhibition matches in other sports, such as Australian football in India and kabaddi in Australia, alongside collaboration on high-performance coaching, para-sport development, anti-doping efforts, and sports industry investment. The agreement reflects the maturing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Cricket remains the emotional heart, but the deal extends far beyond the boundary, from sports science research between universities to women’s leadership programmes and commercial opportunities in event management and equipment manufacturing.

The announcement, made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

India and Australia have unveiled their first-ever Roadmap for Sports Collaboration, marking a significant deepening of bilateral ties built on a shared passion for sport. The announcement, made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Australia PM Albanese extended support to India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic. Also Read - BBL 2026-27 opener between Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers set to be played in Chennai on December 12 The roadmap builds on a 2023 memorandum of understanding and sets out practical cooperation in capacity building, sports science and technology, major event hosting, industry investment, and women’s participation in sport. It aligns with a busy decade of mega-events: India hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and Australia staging the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics. At the MCG event, attended by Australian sporting legends including Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar, the two leaders interacted with young athletes in kabaddi, Australian football, and cricket exhibitions. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the unifying power of sport. “Sports have a unique role in bringing people together,” he said, while congratulating Australia on its recent women’s cricket World Cup victory. He noted that the two nations are entering “a significant decade in international sports” and that the roadmap would help diversify and strengthen their partnership. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who joined Modi at the MCG, emphasised the economic as well as cultural benefits. “Australia and India are united by our love and passion for sport,” Mr Albanese said. “This sports roadmap will focus on practical priority areas such as capability building, technology and research to strengthen this cornerstone of our bilateral relationship. I am excited to expand cooperation with India on sport, which not only brings joy to Australians but boosts trade, tourism and investment.” Australia has announced its decision to play the Big Bash League (BBL)'s opening match in Chennai in December 2026, the first time an Australian men’s domestic T20 league fixture will be staged abroad. The game, part of a week-long “G’Day Namaste” festival featuring cultural, business, and sporting events, is expected to draw significant Indian audiences and promote tourism and trade links. The roadmap explicitly welcomes this initiative and encourages further annual BBL matches in India. It also identifies opportunities for exhibition matches in other sports, such as Australian football in India and kabaddi in Australia, alongside collaboration on high-performance coaching, para-sport development, anti-doping efforts, and sports industry investment. The agreement reflects the maturing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Cricket remains the emotional heart, but the deal extends far beyond the boundary, from sports science research between universities to women’s leadership programmes and commercial opportunities in event management and equipment manufacturing.

The announcement, made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Australia backs India's 2036 Olympics bid as Delhi, Canberra announce Sports Cooperation Roadmap

The Big Bash League (BBL) is all set for for its India debut the opening match of 2026-27 season set to take place on December 12 in Chennai. The confirmation came during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's event at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday (Jul 10). The development comes after months of speculation of the move and finally has been confirmed. Cricket Australia is also hopeful of hosting IPL in Australia in future if BCCI decides to take the tournament overseas. As of now, the deal is only for one game - the opener of BBL, which will be played 2:40 PM India Time (8:10 PM Australia Time).<h2>BBL hopes to host IPL in future</h2>"There's certainly been interest from time to time at state government level and at venue level, and with some of our clubs to imagine what that could look like bringing an IPL game out here," Alistair Dobson, executive general manager of Big Bash Leagues, said. "The IPL's next level, isn't it, - and it would bring an amazing connection. We've seen already the hype around an NFL game in Melbourne.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-one-off-test-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1783598958951">IND-W vs ENG-W One-off Test: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>"It's not necessarily connected to this event or this initiative, but the opportunity to have those discussions when the time's right, I'm sure we'd be open to that, as would everyone across Australian cricket, because the IPL's got a huge following already in Australia."<h2>Which BBL teams will play in India?</h2>The opening match of BBL 2026-27 will be played between Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers, who are the defending champions. Both the sides will fly to India after finishing their Sheffield Shield games on December 6, giving them about four days to prepare."There's a lot of work to be done," Dobson said. "As you can imagine, taking any sporting event overseas is a challenge. Taking a cricket game is complex, but we're going into a market that we know loves the game and puts on big cricket events every day of the week."

As of now, the deal is only for one game - the opener of BBL, which will be played 2:40 PM India Time (8:10 PM Australia Time).

The Big Bash League (BBL) is all set for for its India debut the opening match of 2026-27 season set to take place on December 12 in Chennai. The confirmation came during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's event at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday (Jul 10). The development comes after months of speculation of the move and finally has been confirmed. Cricket Australia is also hopeful of hosting IPL in Australia in future if BCCI decides to take the tournament overseas. As of now, the deal is only for one game - the opener of BBL, which will be played 2:40 PM India Time (8:10 PM Australia Time). BBL hopes to host IPL in future "There's certainly been interest from time to time at state government level and at venue level, and with some of our clubs to imagine what that could look like bringing an IPL game out here," Alistair Dobson, executive general manager of Big Bash Leagues, said. "The IPL's next level, isn't it, - and it would bring an amazing connection. We've seen already the hype around an NFL game in Melbourne. Also Read - IND-W vs ENG-W One-off Test: When and where to watch live streaming in India? "It's not necessarily connected to this event or this initiative, but the opportunity to have those discussions when the time's right, I'm sure we'd be open to that, as would everyone across Australian cricket, because the IPL's got a huge following already in Australia." Which BBL teams will play in India? The opening match of BBL 2026-27 will be played between Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers, who are the defending champions. Both the sides will fly to India after finishing their Sheffield Shield games on December 6, giving them about four days to prepare. "There's a lot of work to be done," Dobson said. "As you can imagine, taking any sporting event overseas is a challenge. Taking a cricket game is complex, but we're going into a market that we know loves the game and puts on big cricket events every day of the week."

As of now, the deal is only for one game - the opener of BBL, which will be played 2:40 PM India Time (8:10 PM Australia Time).

BBL 2026-27 opener between Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers set to be played in Chennai on December 12

Coach Rudi Garcia said "everyone" expects his Belgium team to be eliminated by Spain in Friday's World Cup quarter-final, but backed his side to pull off a famous victory. European champions Spain enter the match in Los Angeles as strong favorites, having not conceded a goal all tournament.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mbappe-dembele-fire-france-into-fifa-world-cup-2026-semifinals-beat-morocco-2-0-1783634367156">Mbappe, Dembele fire France into FIFA World Cup 2026 semis, beat Morocco 2-0</a>Belgium have had a more testing time of it, only narrowly topping their group after two draws with Egypt and Iran, and requiring a late comeback to dispatch Senegal.But at a press conference Thursday, Garcia appeared to relish being dubbed the "underdog."

"Everyone is already talking about us going home. But we think that we can do it," said the coach."We think we can pull it off, and we're going to do everything we can to get to the semis."Belgium did find their feet in Monday's round-of-16 clash, thrashing the United States 4-1 to end the hopes of the World Cup co-hosts.Garcia pointed out that Belgium are among the tournament's top scorers, behind only France and Argentina with 13 goals. The Belgians' 107 shots are second only to France, who have played a game more.Asked if he was concerned a predominantly American crowd in Los Angeles could be hostile as a result of Belgium's victory over the US, Garcia said it was the least of his concerns."We just beat the US, obviously, and again at a stadium where everyone was against us. So I don't think the conditions will be any more difficult tomorrow," said the coach.He added: "It's not the fans that score the goals. We're going to focus on what we can do. We've got enough on our plate with the Spanish squad that is a wonderful footballing team."And even if we're the underdog for tomorrow, we're going to do everything we can to give them a run for their money."Belgium's veteran striker Romelu Lukaku echoed his manager's words, telling journalists that "if you manage to get this far, then you're not going to play a game just to go home.""I think we also have the necessary talent. Tomorrow we need to play the perfect game," said Lukaku.

Belgium have had a more testing time of it, only narrowly topping their group after two draws with Egypt and Iran, and requiring a late comeback to dispatch Senegal.

Coach Rudi Garcia said "everyone" expects his Belgium team to be eliminated by Spain in Friday's World Cup quarter-final, but backed his side to pull off a famous victory. European champions Spain enter the match in Los Angeles as strong favorites, having not conceded a goal all tournament. Also Read - Mbappe, Dembele fire France into FIFA World Cup 2026 semis, beat Morocco 2-0 Belgium have had a more testing time of it, only narrowly topping their group after two draws with Egypt and Iran, and requiring a late comeback to dispatch Senegal. But at a press conference Thursday, Garcia appeared to relish being dubbed the "underdog."

Belgium have had a more testing time of it, only narrowly topping their group after two draws with Egypt and Iran, and requiring a late comeback to dispatch Senegal.

FIFA 2026 | Coach Rudi Garcia says everyone 'expects' Belgium to lose against Spain

Pedro Neto's modified football boot became one of the most talked-about images during Portugal's World Cup last-16 defeat to Spain, leaving fans wondering why the winger had a large section cut out from the back of his expensive footwear. The unusual sight of Neto's sock protruding through the heel of his boot was no dressing-room prank. Instead, it highlighted a little-known issue that affects several professional footballers. Players including Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Mats Hummels and Daniele De Rossi have all worn similarly altered boots over the years. One possible explanation is Haglund's deformity, a painful heel condition that can make standard football boots uncomfortable.<h2>What is Haglund's deformity?</h2>Haglund's deformity is a bony enlargement at the back of the heel near where the Achilles tendon attaches. According to musculoskeletal physiotherapist Michael Robson, not everyone with the condition experiences pain. "It really only becomes a painful syndrome when that enlarged bone repeatedly irritates the soft tissue around it," Robson told The Athletic.&nbsp;The irritation can affect the Achilles tendon as well as the retrocalcaneal bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions the heel. Bartholomew Hudson-Gill, a physiotherapist who has worked with elite footballers at a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, explains that the condition develops through a combination of heel bone shape, thickening of the Achilles tendon and inflammation of the surrounding bursa. "That bursa, essentially, is like a shock absorber," Hudson-Gill said. "The tendon becomes thicker, the bursa gets irritated, then the bone starts to get irritated. “They load it more, it gets more sore. That soreness means there are changes in the bone, which means it then gets more sore.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mbappe-dembele-fire-france-into-fifa-world-cup-2026-semifinals-beat-morocco-2-0-1783634367156">Mbappe, Dembele fire France into FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals, beat Morocco 2-0</a><h2>Why do players cut holes in their boots?</h2>Although Pedro Neto has never publicly confirmed why his boot was modified, specialists say cutting away the rigid heel section can significantly reduce pressure if a player is dealing with Haglund's deformity. The stiff heel counter found in most football boots can press directly against the swollen area, causing ongoing pain. Removing part of the boot allows the heel more room and reduces friction during matches.&nbsp;"That stops the boot physically compressing that tendon and that bone so that it stops irritating," Hudson-Gill says. In professional football, these changes are often carried out by club podiatrists rather than players themselves to ensure the boot remains structurally stable while relieving pressure.<h2>Can Haglund's deformity be treated?</h2>The condition cannot simply be reversed once the bony enlargement has developed. Instead, treatment focuses on controlling pain and reducing irritation. Rehabilitation usually includes lowering stress on the heel, strengthening the calf and Achilles tendon, physiotherapy, and gradually returning players to full training. However, during a busy season or major tournament, players often continue competing while managing symptoms.&nbsp;"They're not going to stop playing because of a little bit of pain in the back of their heel," Hudson-Gill said. “They might be needed for a cup final or World Cup qualifiers.” Many footballers successfully manage the condition through customised boots, physiotherapy, shockwave therapy, injection therapy and carefully controlled workloads. Surgery remains an option if conservative treatment fails, although many elite players avoid needing an operation.&nbsp;Named after Swedish surgeon Patrick Haglund, who first described the condition in 1927, Haglund's deformity remains a common issue in elite football. For many professionals, a simple cut in the back of a boot can make the difference between playing and sitting on the sidelines.

Why did Pedro Neto cut a hole in his football boot? Discover how Haglund's deformity affects footballers, why players modify boots, and treatment options

Pedro Neto's modified football boot became one of the most talked-about images during Portugal's World Cup last-16 defeat to Spain, leaving fans wondering why the winger had a large section cut out from the back of his expensive footwear. The unusual sight of Neto's sock protruding through the heel of his boot was no dressing-room prank. Instead, it highlighted a little-known issue that affects several professional footballers. Players including Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Mats Hummels and Daniele De Rossi have all worn similarly altered boots over the years. One possible explanation is Haglund's deformity, a painful heel condition that can make standard football boots uncomfortable. What is Haglund's deformity? Haglund's deformity is a bony enlargement at the back of the heel near where the Achilles tendon attaches. According to musculoskeletal physiotherapist Michael Robson, not everyone with the condition experiences pain. "It really only becomes a painful syndrome when that enlarged bone repeatedly irritates the soft tissue around it," Robson told The Athletic. The irritation can affect the Achilles tendon as well as the retrocalcaneal bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions the heel. Bartholomew Hudson-Gill, a physiotherapist who has worked with elite footballers at a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, explains that the condition develops through a combination of heel bone shape, thickening of the Achilles tendon and inflammation of the surrounding bursa. "That bursa, essentially, is like a shock absorber," Hudson-Gill said. "The tendon becomes thicker, the bursa gets irritated, then the bone starts to get irritated. “They load it more, it gets more sore. That soreness means there are changes in the bone, which means it then gets more sore.” Also Read: Mbappe, Dembele fire France into FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals, beat Morocco 2-0 Why do players cut holes in their boots? Although Pedro Neto has never publicly confirmed why his boot was modified, specialists say cutting away the rigid heel section can significantly reduce pressure if a player is dealing with Haglund's deformity. The stiff heel counter found in most football boots can press directly against the swollen area, causing ongoing pain. Removing part of the boot allows the heel more room and reduces friction during matches. "That stops the boot physically compressing that tendon and that bone so that it stops irritating," Hudson-Gill says. In professional football, these changes are often carried out by club podiatrists rather than players themselves to ensure the boot remains structurally stable while relieving pressure. Can Haglund's deformity be treated? The condition cannot simply be reversed once the bony enlargement has developed. Instead, treatment focuses on controlling pain and reducing irritation. Rehabilitation usually includes lowering stress on the heel, strengthening the calf and Achilles tendon, physiotherapy, and gradually returning players to full training. However, during a busy season or major tournament, players often continue competing while managing symptoms. "They're not going to stop playing because of a little bit of pain in the back of their heel," Hudson-Gill said. “They might be needed for a cup final or World Cup qualifiers.” Many footballers successfully manage the condition through customised boots, physiotherapy, shockwave therapy, injection therapy and carefully controlled workloads. Surgery remains an option if conservative treatment fails, although many elite players avoid needing an operation. Named after Swedish surgeon Patrick Haglund, who first described the condition in 1927, Haglund's deformity remains a common issue in elite football. For many professionals, a simple cut in the back of a boot can make the difference between playing and sitting on the sidelines.

Pedro Neto's cut-up football boot sparked curiosity, but experts say Haglund's deformity may explain why some players modify their footwear

Why did Pedro Neto cut a hole in his football boot? The Haglund's deformity explained

Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele delivered the decisive moments as France defeated Morocco 2-0 to secure their place in the FIFA World Cup semifinals on Thursday. Mbappe opened the scoring with his eighth goal of the tournament in the 60th minute before Dembele added a second six minutes later, sealing a comfortable victory for the 2018 champions at Gillette Stadium outside Boston.&nbsp;The result sends Didier Deschamps' side into a last-four clash against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday. Morocco entered the match with confidence after becoming one of the tournament's biggest surprises, with many expecting the African champions to challenge France's hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final. However, France controlled proceedings throughout, limiting Morocco's attacking threat. The North African side failed to record a shot on target until the 83rd minute when Azzedine Ounahi's free-kick forced France goalkeeper Mike Maignan into a save.&nbsp;Despite dominating possession and territory, France had to wait for their breakthrough. Their best early opportunity came in the 28th minute when Mbappe's penalty was saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Mbappe had earned the spot-kick after being brought down by Noussair Mazraoui, but the forward had to wait several minutes before taking the penalty due to an extended VAR review. Morocco managed to stay level until half-time, but France's continued pressure eventually proved too much. The opening goal arrived in the 60th minute when Mbappe produced a brilliant finish from the edge of the box, curling a right-footed effort beyond Bounou.&nbsp;Dembele then put the game beyond doubt in the 66th minute. The Paris Saint-Germain forward collected the ball in midfield, drove forward and calmly guided a low shot into the bottom corner. France will now wait for the winner of the Spain vs Belgium quarter-final in Los Angeles to determine their semifinal opponent.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-is-morocco-called-mar-at-the-fifa-world-cup-despite-no-a-in-its-name-1783632585537">Why is Morocco called 'MAR' at the FIFA World Cup despite no 'A' in its name?</a><h2>Referee chief defends FIFA officials</h2>Spain, who are yet to concede a goal in the tournament, advanced after eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the last 16 and will face Belgium, who reached the quarterfinals after a dominant 4-1 victory over the United States. Meanwhile, Argentina will meet Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday after a dramatic comeback against Egypt in the previous round.&nbsp;The reigning champions found themselves 2-0 down before recovering to win 3-2 and advance. Several refereeing decisions during the match sparked criticism, with Egypt coach Hossam Hassan suggesting World Cup officials were favouring Argentina due to external' pressure. FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina rejected those claims and defended the integrity of match officials."Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials," Collina said. "Nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone ..."&nbsp;The winner of Argentina's clash with Switzerland will face either Norway or England in the semifinals. England face a difficult quarter-final challenge against Norway, with their defence preparing to deal with Erling Haaland, who has been one of the tournament's standout performers. Haaland, however, believes the pressure will be on England when the teams meet at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. "I think there's some clear favourites out there, England's one of them," Haaland told reporters. "I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads."

France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the World Cup quarterfinal as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scored. Get match highlights, goals, reactions, and semifinal updates

Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele delivered the decisive moments as France defeated Morocco 2-0 to secure their place in the FIFA World Cup semifinals on Thursday. Mbappe opened the scoring with his eighth goal of the tournament in the 60th minute before Dembele added a second six minutes later, sealing a comfortable victory for the 2018 champions at Gillette Stadium outside Boston. The result sends Didier Deschamps' side into a last-four clash against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday. Morocco entered the match with confidence after becoming one of the tournament's biggest surprises, with many expecting the African champions to challenge France's hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final. However, France controlled proceedings throughout, limiting Morocco's attacking threat. The North African side failed to record a shot on target until the 83rd minute when Azzedine Ounahi's free-kick forced France goalkeeper Mike Maignan into a save. Despite dominating possession and territory, France had to wait for their breakthrough. Their best early opportunity came in the 28th minute when Mbappe's penalty was saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Mbappe had earned the spot-kick after being brought down by Noussair Mazraoui, but the forward had to wait several minutes before taking the penalty due to an extended VAR review. Morocco managed to stay level until half-time, but France's continued pressure eventually proved too much. The opening goal arrived in the 60th minute when Mbappe produced a brilliant finish from the edge of the box, curling a right-footed effort beyond Bounou. Dembele then put the game beyond doubt in the 66th minute. The Paris Saint-Germain forward collected the ball in midfield, drove forward and calmly guided a low shot into the bottom corner. France will now wait for the winner of the Spain vs Belgium quarter-final in Los Angeles to determine their semifinal opponent. Also Read: Why is Morocco called 'MAR' at the FIFA World Cup despite no 'A' in its name? Referee chief defends FIFA officials Spain, who are yet to concede a goal in the tournament, advanced after eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the last 16 and will face Belgium, who reached the quarterfinals after a dominant 4-1 victory over the United States. Meanwhile, Argentina will meet Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday after a dramatic comeback against Egypt in the previous round. The reigning champions found themselves 2-0 down before recovering to win 3-2 and advance. Several refereeing decisions during the match sparked criticism, with Egypt coach Hossam Hassan suggesting World Cup officials were favouring Argentina due to external' pressure. FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina rejected those claims and defended the integrity of match officials. "Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials," Collina said. "Nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone ..." The winner of Argentina's clash with Switzerland will face either Norway or England in the semifinals. England face a difficult quarter-final challenge against Norway, with their defence preparing to deal with Erling Haaland, who has been one of the tournament's standout performers. Haaland, however, believes the pressure will be on England when the teams meet at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. "I think there's some clear favourites out there, England's one of them," Haaland told reporters. "I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads."

France beat Morocco 2-0 as Mbappe and Dembele scored to send the defending champions into the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals

Mbappe, Dembele fire France into FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals, beat Morocco 2-0

Morocco's FIFA World Cup opener ended in disappointment after the team suffered a late defeat through an own goal on Friday. However, for many viewers, the action on the pitch was not the only thing grabbing attention. A small detail on the broadcast graphics sparked confusion among football fans: Morocco was displayed as ‘MAR’ instead of an abbreviation that appeared closer to its English name, such as 'MOR'.&nbsp;So why does Morocco have an ‘A’ in its FIFA code when the country's English name does not? The answer lies in FIFA's official naming system and Morocco's historical connection with the French language. FIFA assigns every member nation a unique three-letter code used during international competitions. For many countries, these abbreviations closely match their English names. Brazil appears as BRA, Argentina as ARG, and England as ENG. However, some country codes are based on local-language names, historical names, or official titles rather than English spellings.&nbsp;For example, Saudi Arabia is listed as KSA, referring to the country's official name, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Spain uses ESP, which reflects its name in Spanish and French, Espana and Espagne. Other nations also have codes that may seem unusual. Iceland is represented as ISL, a reference to its French name, Islande. The explanation behind Morocco's ‘MAR’ code is similar. While the country is called Morocco in English, its French name is Maroc.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/passion-comes-before-the-camera-what-it-really-takes-to-become-a-sports-presenter-1783628312962">'Passion comes before the camera': What it really takes to become a sports presenter</a>&nbsp;France established a protectorate in Morocco during the early 19th century as part of its expansion into North Africa. Although Morocco gained independence in 1956, French influence remains visible in many areas of the country, including language and official terminology. Today, Morocco's official languages are Arabic and Tamazight, an indigenous language of the region. However, French continues to have a significant presence because of the country's colonial history.&nbsp;International sporting organisations use standardized country codes to avoid confusion caused by different languages and naming systems. These codes help ensure countries are easily identified during events such as the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games. FIFA creates its own three-letter codes, although they often match those used by other international organisations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC).&nbsp;In Morocco's case, both FIFA and the IOC use ‘MAR’. The International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) also maintains global country codes, including three-letter alpha codes, two-letter codes used for international shipping, and numeric identifiers. While some ISO codes differ from FIFA and IOC versions, such as Portugal, which is POR in FIFA and IOC systems but PRT under ISO, Morocco remains MAR across all major systems. So, the next time Morocco appears as ‘MAR’ on a World Cup scoreboard, the abbreviation reflects more than just a name, it represents language, history, and decades of international sporting tradition.

Why is Morocco called MAR at the FIFA World Cup despite having no A in its English name? Discover the history behind FIFA's country code and its French connection

Morocco's FIFA World Cup opener ended in disappointment after the team suffered a late defeat through an own goal on Friday. However, for many viewers, the action on the pitch was not the only thing grabbing attention. A small detail on the broadcast graphics sparked confusion among football fans: Morocco was displayed as ‘MAR’ instead of an abbreviation that appeared closer to its English name, such as 'MOR'. So why does Morocco have an ‘A’ in its FIFA code when the country's English name does not? The answer lies in FIFA's official naming system and Morocco's historical connection with the French language. FIFA assigns every member nation a unique three-letter code used during international competitions. For many countries, these abbreviations closely match their English names. Brazil appears as BRA, Argentina as ARG, and England as ENG. However, some country codes are based on local-language names, historical names, or official titles rather than English spellings. For example, Saudi Arabia is listed as KSA, referring to the country's official name, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Spain uses ESP, which reflects its name in Spanish and French, Espana and Espagne. Other nations also have codes that may seem unusual. Iceland is represented as ISL, a reference to its French name, Islande. The explanation behind Morocco's ‘MAR’ code is similar. While the country is called Morocco in English, its French name is Maroc. Also Read: 'Passion comes before the camera': What it really takes to become a sports presenter France established a protectorate in Morocco during the early 19th century as part of its expansion into North Africa. Although Morocco gained independence in 1956, French influence remains visible in many areas of the country, including language and official terminology. Today, Morocco's official languages are Arabic and Tamazight, an indigenous language of the region. However, French continues to have a significant presence because of the country's colonial history. International sporting organisations use standardized country codes to avoid confusion caused by different languages and naming systems. These codes help ensure countries are easily identified during events such as the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games. FIFA creates its own three-letter codes, although they often match those used by other international organisations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In Morocco's case, both FIFA and the IOC use ‘MAR’. The International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) also maintains global country codes, including three-letter alpha codes, two-letter codes used for international shipping, and numeric identifiers. While some ISO codes differ from FIFA and IOC versions, such as Portugal, which is POR in FIFA and IOC systems but PRT under ISO, Morocco remains MAR across all major systems. So, the next time Morocco appears as ‘MAR’ on a World Cup scoreboard, the abbreviation reflects more than just a name, it represents language, history, and decades of international sporting tradition.

Morocco's FIFA code ‘MAR’ confuses fans, but the abbreviation comes from the country's French name ‘Maroc’ and its colonial history

Why is Morocco called 'MAR' at the FIFA World Cup despite no 'A' in its name?

When millions tune in to watch a cricket match or a marquee sporting event, their attention is naturally drawn towards the action on the field. But before every toss, innings break, expert discussion or post-match interview reaches television screens, there is another performance unfolding, one that viewers rarely notice. Sports presenters have just a few seconds to gather their thoughts, react to breaking developments, ask the right questions, manage live television and ensure the audience never senses the controlled chaos happening behind the scenes.&nbsp;For sports presenter Shefali Bagga, who has hosted everything from the Indian Premier League and Legends League Cricket to state T20 leagues and championship events alongside cricketing icons such as Kapil Dev, AB de Villiers, Harbhajan Singh, Jacques Kallis and Muttiah Muralitharan, the profession demands far more than confidence in front of the camera. "It is much more than just being in front of the camera," she says. "Of course, you have to be confident and be able to handle live situations, but it all starts with passion. You have to genuinely love sports."&nbsp;Bagga believes passion alone, however, isn't enough. The best presenters are students of the game long before they become its storytellers. "Curiosity is equally important," she explains. “You have to constantly learn, stay updated and understand the stories behind every athlete, every team and every tournament.” That, she says, is what separates someone reading a script from someone capable of adding value to a broadcast. “A great presenter isn't just someone who speaks well. They're someone who can make millions of viewers feel like they're part of the action.” Confidence, according to her, is built the old-fashioned way. "The more you research, practice and put yourself in challenging situations, the stronger you become. Authenticity and consistency are what truly get you there, and what keep you there."<h2>The break that changed everything</h2>Bagga's own journey into sports broadcasting didn't begin with television studios or celebrity interviews. It started in journalism.Having studied Mass Communication, she started her career with a news channel where sports reporting formed part of her beat. But the moment that altered her career arrived shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;"My first proper break in sports broadcasting was during the IPL with a news channel," she recalls. “For two months, my guest was Kapil Dev. Imagine standing there and hosting a show alongside a World Cup-winning captain.” For a newcomer, the experience could easily have been intimidating. Instead, it became a classroom. “I learnt so much from him during those two months. That experience gave me confidence, and after that there was no looking back.” Today, Bagga has gone on to host broadcasts featuring some of cricket's biggest names, while also building a massive digital audience through her sports content.<h2>What viewers never get to see</h2>If audiences think presenters simply arrive at the venue and begin speaking, Bagga laughs at the misconception. Preparation, she says, often begins hours before the cameras switch on. "You have to know every statistic related to the game you're hosting. But beyond the numbers, you should know the backstory of every player or tournament so that you can offer viewers something more than what they're already seeing on television."&nbsp;Alongside research comes meticulous production planning. “There is an entire show flow shared with presenters. You need to follow that, coordinate with the production team and know exactly when to ask the experts the right questions.” That preparation becomes crucial because live television rarely unfolds according to plan.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/paraguay-senator-calls-kylian-mbappe-son-of-a-b-in-explosive-senate-speech-as-world-cup-row-escalates-1783626462240">Paraguay Senator calls Kylian Mbappe 'son of a b****' in explosive Senate speech as World Cup row escalates. What's happening</a><h2>'There are no second takes'</h2>Unlike recorded programmes, live sports offers presenters no opportunity to pause or begin again. "The most challenging part of presenting live sports is that there are no second takes," Bagga says. “Everything happens in real time.” While viewers see a composed presenter, she is simultaneously listening to instructions through her earpiece, tracking the match, managing broadcast timings and preparing for unexpected developments. "You have to think, react and communicate instantly while staying calm under pressure. At the same time, you have to remain unbiased. Whether it's an unforgettable victory, a heartbreaking defeat or breaking news, your job is to capture the emotion while remaining accurate, composed and respectful."<h2>More than just proving knowledge</h2>As a woman in sports broadcasting, Bagga believes the journey often comes with additional expectations. "I think one of the unique challenges women in sports media face is that sometimes we have to prove our credibility before we're even given the opportunity to showcase our work."&nbsp;She points out that women are frequently judged on factors extending well beyond their professional ability. “There can be scrutiny not just of your knowledge, but also of how you look, speak or carry yourself.” Instead of allowing that scrutiny to discourage her, she chose consistency. “When you're well prepared, passionate and let your work speak for itself, perceptions begin to change.” She also believes the industry is moving in the right direction. "Today, more women are leading conversations, covering major sporting events and inspiring the next generation. Talent, professionalism and hard work are increasingly becoming the qualities that matter most."<h2>When the spotlight turns uncomfortable</h2>The challenges haven't always remained limited to television or social media. Bagga recalls an incident from her reporting days when a member of the crowd touched her inappropriately during an assignment. "I slapped him immediately," she says matter-of-factly. “People around me then handed him over to the nearby security personnel.” While unpleasant, experiences like those strengthened her resolve rather than weakening it.<h2>From trolling to admira tion</h2>Being a public face inevitably comes with criticism, something Bagga experienced early in her career. "There was a time when online comments affected me," she admits. That equation, however, has changed dramatically."Now I don't pay attention to them. In fact, after one of my reels crossed nearly 500 million views, people started recognising me at stadiums. Instead of negativity, I now hear fans shouting, 'Shefali ma'am, I love you.' That love and respect mean far more." She credits social media with expanding her reach beyond traditional television audiences. "It has definitely given me an edge. The viewership I bring through my digital platforms has helped, and today brands and broadcasters also recognise that value."<h2>'Skills will always outlast appearances'</h2>Despite working in one of television's most visible professions, Bagga believes the industry's biggest myth continues to revolve around appearances. “The biggest misconception is that if you look good on camera, you'll make it.” In reality, she says, appearance may get someone noticed, but it cannot sustain a career. “The skills I mentioned, knowledge, preparation, communication, consistency—those are what help you survive.” Even networking, she adds, has its limitations. "Networking is important, but let your skills and presentation do the job. A contact may get you one opportunity, but if you're genuinely good, people will keep calling you back."<h2>The conversation around pay</h2>On the debate surrounding pay parity, Bagga offers a perspective that goes beyond gender. "I don't think the issue is only between men and women," she says. “The bigger issue is that anchors themselves are undervalued.” She believes presenters invest enormous time and effort preparing for broadcasts, yet often earn significantly less than celebrities making promotional appearances. "Anchors put in so much hard work before every show. They prepare, they research and they drive the broadcast. Yet someone who comes for a short promotional appearance may earn much more. The industry needs to recognise the value presenters bring because they're equally important in making a show successful."&nbsp;For Bagga, sports presenting isn't about glamour, popularity or simply standing in front of a camera. It's about becoming a trusted storyteller of the games people love. And if aspiring presenters take away one lesson from her journey, it's this: passion may open the first chapter, but preparation is what writes the rest of the story.

Sports presenter Shefali Bagga speaks about becoming a sports anchor, working with Kapil Dev, live TV pressure, online trolling, women in sports media, preparation and pay parity

When millions tune in to watch a cricket match or a marquee sporting event, their attention is naturally drawn towards the action on the field. But before every toss, innings break, expert discussion or post-match interview reaches television screens, there is another performance unfolding, one that viewers rarely notice. Sports presenters have just a few seconds to gather their thoughts, react to breaking developments, ask the right questions, manage live television and ensure the audience never senses the controlled chaos happening behind the scenes. For sports presenter Shefali Bagga, who has hosted everything from the Indian Premier League and Legends League Cricket to state T20 leagues and championship events alongside cricketing icons such as Kapil Dev, AB de Villiers, Harbhajan Singh, Jacques Kallis and Muttiah Muralitharan, the profession demands far more than confidence in front of the camera. "It is much more than just being in front of the camera," she says. "Of course, you have to be confident and be able to handle live situations, but it all starts with passion. You have to genuinely love sports." Bagga believes passion alone, however, isn't enough. The best presenters are students of the game long before they become its storytellers. "Curiosity is equally important," she explains. “You have to constantly learn, stay updated and understand the stories behind every athlete, every team and every tournament.” That, she says, is what separates someone reading a script from someone capable of adding value to a broadcast. “A great presenter isn't just someone who speaks well. They're someone who can make millions of viewers feel like they're part of the action.” Confidence, according to her, is built the old-fashioned way. "The more you research, practice and put yourself in challenging situations, the stronger you become. Authenticity and consistency are what truly get you there, and what keep you there." The break that changed everything Bagga's own journey into sports broadcasting didn't begin with television studios or celebrity interviews. It started in journalism. Having studied Mass Communication, she started her career with a news channel where sports reporting formed part of her beat. But the moment that altered her career arrived shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic. "My first proper break in sports broadcasting was during the IPL with a news channel," she recalls. “For two months, my guest was Kapil Dev. Imagine standing there and hosting a show alongside a World Cup-winning captain.” For a newcomer, the experience could easily have been intimidating. Instead, it became a classroom. “I learnt so much from him during those two months. That experience gave me confidence, and after that there was no looking back.” Today, Bagga has gone on to host broadcasts featuring some of cricket's biggest names, while also building a massive digital audience through her sports content. What viewers never get to see If audiences think presenters simply arrive at the venue and begin speaking, Bagga laughs at the misconception. Preparation, she says, often begins hours before the cameras switch on. "You have to know every statistic related to the game you're hosting. But beyond the numbers, you should know the backstory of every player or tournament so that you can offer viewers something more than what they're already seeing on television." Alongside research comes meticulous production planning. “There is an entire show flow shared with presenters. You need to follow that, coordinate with the production team and know exactly when to ask the experts the right questions.” That preparation becomes crucial because live television rarely unfolds according to plan. Also Read: Paraguay Senator calls Kylian Mbappe 'son of a b****' in explosive Senate speech as World Cup row escalates. What's happening 'There are no second takes' Unlike recorded programmes, live sports offers presenters no opportunity to pause or begin again. "The most challenging part of presenting live sports is that there are no second takes," Bagga says. “Everything happens in real time.” While viewers see a composed presenter, she is simultaneously listening to instructions through her earpiece, tracking the match, managing broadcast timings and preparing for unexpected developments. "You have to think, react and communicate instantly while staying calm under pressure. At the same time, you have to remain unbiased. Whether it's an unforgettable victory, a heartbreaking defeat or breaking news, your job is to capture the emotion while remaining accurate, composed and respectful." More than just proving knowledge As a woman in sports broadcasting, Bagga believes the journey often comes with additional expectations. "I think one of the unique challenges women in sports media face is that sometimes we have to prove our credibility before we're even given the opportunity to showcase our work." She points out that women are frequently judged on factors extending well beyond their professional ability. “There can be scrutiny not just of your knowledge, but also of how you look, speak or carry yourself.” Instead of allowing that scrutiny to discourage her, she chose consistency. “When you're well prepared, passionate and let your work speak for itself, perceptions begin to change.” She also believes the industry is moving in the right direction. "Today, more women are leading conversations, covering major sporting events and inspiring the next generation. Talent, professionalism and hard work are increasingly becoming the qualities that matter most." When the spotlight turns uncomfortable The challenges haven't always remained limited to television or social media. Bagga recalls an incident from her reporting days when a member of the crowd touched her inappropriately during an assignment. "I slapped him immediately," she says matter-of-factly. “People around me then handed him over to the nearby security personnel.” While unpleasant, experiences like those strengthened her resolve rather than weakening it. From trolling to admira tion Being a public face inevitably comes with criticism, something Bagga experienced early in her career. "There was a time when online comments affected me," she admits. That equation, however, has changed dramatically."Now I don't pay attention to them. In fact, after one of my reels crossed nearly 500 million views, people started recognising me at stadiums. Instead of negativity, I now hear fans shouting, 'Shefali ma'am, I love you.' That love and respect mean far more." She credits social media with expanding her reach beyond traditional television audiences. "It has definitely given me an edge. The viewership I bring through my digital platforms has helped, and today brands and broadcasters also recognise that value." 'Skills will always outlast appearances' Despite working in one of television's most visible professions, Bagga believes the industry's biggest myth continues to revolve around appearances. “The biggest misconception is that if you look good on camera, you'll make it.” In reality, she says, appearance may get someone noticed, but it cannot sustain a career. “The skills I mentioned, knowledge, preparation, communication, consistency—those are what help you survive.” Even networking, she adds, has its limitations. "Networking is important, but let your skills and presentation do the job. A contact may get you one opportunity, but if you're genuinely good, people will keep calling you back." The conversation around pay On the debate surrounding pay parity, Bagga offers a perspective that goes beyond gender. "I don't think the issue is only between men and women," she says. “The bigger issue is that anchors themselves are undervalued.” She believes presenters invest enormous time and effort preparing for broadcasts, yet often earn significantly less than celebrities making promotional appearances. "Anchors put in so much hard work before every show. They prepare, they research and they drive the broadcast. Yet someone who comes for a short promotional appearance may earn much more. The industry needs to recognise the value presenters bring because they're equally important in making a show successful." For Bagga, sports presenting isn't about glamour, popularity or simply standing in front of a camera. It's about becoming a trusted storyteller of the games people love. And if aspiring presenters take away one lesson from her journey, it's this: passion may open the first chapter, but preparation is what writes the rest of the story.

Sports presenter Shefali Bagga opens up about breaking into sports broadcasting, live TV pressure, trolls, harassment, preparation and pay parity

'Passion comes before the camera': What it really takes to become a sports presenter

The war of words between Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla and France striker Kylian Mbappe has intensified following France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Amarilla launched another scathing attack on the French forward during a Senate session on Wednesday, escalating a dispute that started after Mbappe allegedly refused to shake hands with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill following the match.&nbsp;The controversy reportedly intensified after Mbappe allegedly described Amarilla as a ‘despicable woman and unworthy of her office’. Responding during her speech in the Senate, Amarilla strongly criticised the France star while revisiting the post-match incident involving Gill. "When Orlando Gill, a boy who was surely setting foot in a World Cup for the first time, in Europe for the first time, was playing before the world and extends his hand with all the humility of a Paraguayan, and this son of a b**** refuses to shake his hand and yells in his face-that is not French. A Frenchman would never have done that," Amarilla said.<h2>Watch the video here</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨 Breaking: Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla has once again taken aim at Kylian Mbappe with a vulgar insult 🤢🤢🤢 🗣️ “This son of a b*tch refuses to shake hands and screams with joy right in front of Orlando Gill!’ 😡” <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Mbappe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mbappe</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/Paraguay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paraguay</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZocWVdDPqQ">pic.twitter.com/ZocWVdDPqQ</a>&mdash; The Final Whistle (@Rufus_45) <a href="https://x.com/Rufus_45/status/2074924793451643144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The senator, a member of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, also alleged that ‘serious racist insults’ followed Paraguay's defeat and contrasted Mbappe's actions with what she described as France's broader cultural and democratic legacy. “France is Rousseau, Descartes, Montesquieu, Victor Hugo, Simone de Beauvoir, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. I refuse to reduce all of that great France and that enormous cultural, artistic, and democratic legacy to Mbappe.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-4th-t20i-brook-salt-lead-from-the-front-as-england-win-by-9-wickets-seal-series-1783624560087">IND vs ENG, 4th T20I: Brook, Salt lead from the front as England win by 9 wickets, seal series</a>&nbsp;Earlier, Amarilla had posted an open letter on her X (formerly Twitter) account, warning the France international that she would consider legal action if he failed to apologize. “Don't mess with Paraguayans, Mbappe.” She also referred to the detention of Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho in Paraguay in 2020 while outlining her position.&nbsp;“We already had Ronaldinho jailed here... And don't underestimate me, Mbappe. I can sue you... Gender violence. Political violence against women. That is serious... Let him apologize to me because I still have legal grounds for that.” France head coach Didier Deschamps was questioned about the controversy during his press conference ahead of the World Cup quarterfinal against Morocco.&nbsp;Deschamps dismissed concerns that the off-field dispute had affected his star striker, insisting Mbappe remained fully focused on football. "Kylian is in a good place mentally. He's ready for tomorrow," said Deschamps in the press conference on the eve of the quarterfinal match.

Paraguay Senator Celeste Amarilla intensified her feud with Kylian Mbappe after France's World Cup win over Paraguay. Read the latest remarks, Mbappe controversy, and Didier Deschamps' response before France's quarterfinal against Morocco

The war of words between Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla and France striker Kylian Mbappe has intensified following France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Amarilla launched another scathing attack on the French forward during a Senate session on Wednesday, escalating a dispute that started after Mbappe allegedly refused to shake hands with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill following the match. The controversy reportedly intensified after Mbappe allegedly described Amarilla as a ‘despicable woman and unworthy of her office’. Responding during her speech in the Senate, Amarilla strongly criticised the France star while revisiting the post-match incident involving Gill. "When Orlando Gill, a boy who was surely setting foot in a World Cup for the first time, in Europe for the first time, was playing before the world and extends his hand with all the humility of a Paraguayan, and this son of a b**** refuses to shake his hand and yells in his face-that is not French. A Frenchman would never have done that," Amarilla said. Watch the video here

Paraguay Senator Celeste Amarilla renewed her criticism of Kylian Mbappe as Didier Deschamps insisted the France star remains focused

Paraguay Senator calls Kylian Mbappe 'son of a b****' in explosive Senate speech as World Cup row escalates. What's happening

India's struggles in the T20I series continued as they suffered a nine-wicket defeat to England in the fourth match on Thursday, marking their fifth loss in the last six games. The defeat also confirmed India's second successive series loss after last month's 2-0 whitewash against Ireland. England now hold an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series with just one game remaining.Phil Salt and England captain Harry Brook led the chase with commanding half-centuries, guiding the hosts to India's target of 159 in just 13.5 overs.&nbsp;India had already endured a humiliating 125-run defeat in the third T20I, their biggest-ever loss by runs in the format. They were beaten by four wickets in the second match, while the series opener was abandoned due to persistent rain. After six matches in charge, Shreyas Iyer is still searching for his first victory as India's T20I captain. Earlier in the evening, Iyer produced a lone battle with a composed unbeaten 80 from 49 deliveries as India recovered from early setbacks to post 158 for seven.&nbsp;The skipper struck five sixes and four boundaries while anchoring the innings on a lively surface where the rest of the batting lineup struggled against England's disciplined attack. Iyer shared a 53-run partnership with Shivam Dube, who contributed 22, but regular wickets at the other end forced the captain to shift gears and play the role of the anchor. He briefly counterattacked in the 18th over, smashing leg-spinner Adil Rashid for two sixes and a four in a 20-run over that lifted India's total.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-s-jarell-quansah-handed-two-match-ban-after-red-card-against-mexico-1783623453913">England's Jarell Quansah handed two-match ban after red card against Mexico</a>&nbsp;However, England quickly regained control. Sam Curran conceded only four runs in the penultimate over, while England restricted India to just eight runs without a boundary in the final two overs. Jofra Archer finished with impressive figures of 2/20, striking twice in the last over and also effecting the run-out of Axar Patel. India's top order once again failed to provide a solid start.&nbsp;Young opener Sooryavanshi continued his difficult run after his memorable debut in Manchester. His aggressive approach, effective on Indian pitches, once again proved costly on England's bouncy surfaces. The 15-year-old, visibly disappointed after his dismissal, has now managed scores of 14, 13 and 15 in the series. After surviving an earlier mishit, Sooryavanshi eventually fell to Archer, holing out to Sam Curran at mid-on following a back-of-a-length delivery outside off stump.&nbsp;Ishan Kishan departed soon after when Josh Tongue extracted extra bounce from a short delivery, forcing the left-hander to glove the ball behind to the wicketkeeper. India then suffered another major setback immediately after the powerplay when Adil Rashid produced an outstanding running catch off his own bowling to dismiss the fluent Abhishek, leaving the visitors on the back foot once again. England's clinical bowling display and explosive batting performance ensured a comprehensive victory, while India will look to avoid a series whitewash in the final T20I.

England defeated India by nine wickets in the fourth T20I to clinch the series 3-0. Phil Salt, Harry Brook and Jofra Archer starred despite Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 80 for India

India's struggles in the T20I series continued as they suffered a nine-wicket defeat to England in the fourth match on Thursday, marking their fifth loss in the last six games. The defeat also confirmed India's second successive series loss after last month's 2-0 whitewash against Ireland. England now hold an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series with just one game remaining. Phil Salt and England captain Harry Brook led the chase with commanding half-centuries, guiding the hosts to India's target of 159 in just 13.5 overs. India had already endured a humiliating 125-run defeat in the third T20I, their biggest-ever loss by runs in the format. They were beaten by four wickets in the second match, while the series opener was abandoned due to persistent rain. After six matches in charge, Shreyas Iyer is still searching for his first victory as India's T20I captain. Earlier in the evening, Iyer produced a lone battle with a composed unbeaten 80 from 49 deliveries as India recovered from early setbacks to post 158 for seven. The skipper struck five sixes and four boundaries while anchoring the innings on a lively surface where the rest of the batting lineup struggled against England's disciplined attack. Iyer shared a 53-run partnership with Shivam Dube, who contributed 22, but regular wickets at the other end forced the captain to shift gears and play the role of the anchor. He briefly counterattacked in the 18th over, smashing leg-spinner Adil Rashid for two sixes and a four in a 20-run over that lifted India's total. Also Read: England's Jarell Quansah handed two-match ban after red card against Mexico However, England quickly regained control. Sam Curran conceded only four runs in the penultimate over, while England restricted India to just eight runs without a boundary in the final two overs. Jofra Archer finished with impressive figures of 2/20, striking twice in the last over and also effecting the run-out of Axar Patel. India's top order once again failed to provide a solid start. Young opener Sooryavanshi continued his difficult run after his memorable debut in Manchester. His aggressive approach, effective on Indian pitches, once again proved costly on England's bouncy surfaces. The 15-year-old, visibly disappointed after his dismissal, has now managed scores of 14, 13 and 15 in the series. After surviving an earlier mishit, Sooryavanshi eventually fell to Archer, holing out to Sam Curran at mid-on following a back-of-a-length delivery outside off stump. Ishan Kishan departed soon after when Josh Tongue extracted extra bounce from a short delivery, forcing the left-hander to glove the ball behind to the wicketkeeper. India then suffered another major setback immediately after the powerplay when Adil Rashid produced an outstanding running catch off his own bowling to dismiss the fluent Abhishek, leaving the visitors on the back foot once again. England's clinical bowling display and explosive batting performance ensured a comprehensive victory, while India will look to avoid a series whitewash in the final T20I.

England beat India by nine wickets to seal the T20I series 3-0 as Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 80 proved insufficient in the fourth match on Thursday (July 9)

IND vs ENG, 4th T20I: Brook, Salt lead from the front as England win by 9 wickets, seal series

England defender Jarell Quansah has been handed a two-match suspension following the red card he received during England's 3-2 victory over Mexico in the FIFA World Cup round of 16. The 23-year-old was sent off early in the second half after a video assistant referee (VAR) review during only his second appearance and start of the tournament. Under FIFA tournament regulations, any player sent off automatically misses the team's next World Cup match. However, FIFA confirmed on Thursday, two days before England's quarterfinal against Norway, that Quansah's suspension has been extended to two matches, meaning he would also miss a potential semifinal should England progress.&nbsp;“The suspension will be served in the upcoming match(es) of the representative team of England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and in accordance with art. 69 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” a FIFA statement said. FIFA's disciplinary rules for the 2026 World Cup do not provide teams with an appeal process for red cards. Although the Football Association explored possible options regarding the sanction, it cannot challenge either the dismissal or the independent disciplinary committee's decision to impose a two-match suspension.&nbsp;According to sources familiar with the proceedings, the FA remained actively involved throughout the disciplinary process. Officials argued that the VAR review protocol had not been properly followed, pointing to the fact that the referee was initially shown a still image of Quansah's challenge before being presented with video footage. Football's officiating guidelines state that incidents should first be reviewed at normal speed. The FA hoped this procedural issue would be considered as mitigation, although it accepted that a two-match suspension remained the likely outcome under FIFA's disciplinary regulations.&nbsp;Quansah, who recently joined Bayer Leverkusen, had been filling in at right-back for the injured Reece James during England's World Cup campaign. His suspension leaves Djed Spence as England's only fully fit natural right-back, with James still sidelined by a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last three matches. Meanwhile, the French Football Federation also approached FIFA in an effort to overturn Michael Olise's yellow card from France's round-of-16 victory over Paraguay. FIFA upheld the booking, meaning another yellow card in the quarterfinal against Morocco would rule Olise out of a potential semifinal.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/z-scores-big-with-advertisers-as-fifa-world-cup-2026-knockout-inventory-nears-sellout-1783604951652">Z scores big with advertisers as FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout inventory nears sellout</a>

France vs Morocco

The Quansah decision has drawn additional attention because of FIFA's recent handling of United States striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun was sent off during the United States' victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina but was later cleared to play in the round-of-16 match against Belgium after FIFA suspended his one-match ban for a probation period of one year. The striker featured in the match as the United States suffered a 4-1 defeat.&nbsp;The controversy intensified after it emerged that US President Donald Trump had contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun's suspension. Belgium's football federation subsequently challenged Balogun's eligibility. “Defend football in general, its integrity and its ethics”, head coach Rudi Garcia said in a news conference. At first glance, Quansah's punishment appears consistent with FIFA's disciplinary guidelines. His challenge on Mexico's Jesus Gallardo was judged to be violent conduct, making the red card and additional suspension appear proportionate.&nbsp;However, comparisons with the Balogun case have raised broader questions about consistency within FIFA's disciplinary system. Rather than overturning Balogun's dismissal, FIFA chose to suspend the resulting ban, allowing him to remain eligible, a decision that drew criticism from several football organizations. The scrutiny increased further after Donald Trump confirmed that he had personally asked Infantino to review Balogun's suspension.&nbsp;Infantino has defended FIFA's disciplinary process, insisting the decision was made independently. He also stressed that the committee's independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected. England will face Norway in their World Cup quarterfinal in Miami on Saturday, with Tuchel now forced to reshape his defense in Quansah's absence.

England's Jarell Quansah has received a two-match FIFA World Cup suspension after his red card against Mexico. Read why the FA could not appeal, the Balogun controversy, and what it means for England's quarter-final against Norway

England defender Jarell Quansah has been handed a two-match suspension following the red card he received during England's 3-2 victory over Mexico in the FIFA World Cup round of 16. The 23-year-old was sent off early in the second half after a video assistant referee (VAR) review during only his second appearance and start of the tournament. Under FIFA tournament regulations, any player sent off automatically misses the team's next World Cup match. However, FIFA confirmed on Thursday, two days before England's quarterfinal against Norway, that Quansah's suspension has been extended to two matches, meaning he would also miss a potential semifinal should England progress. “The suspension will be served in the upcoming match(es) of the representative team of England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and in accordance with art. 69 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” a FIFA statement said. FIFA's disciplinary rules for the 2026 World Cup do not provide teams with an appeal process for red cards. Although the Football Association explored possible options regarding the sanction, it cannot challenge either the dismissal or the independent disciplinary committee's decision to impose a two-match suspension. According to sources familiar with the proceedings, the FA remained actively involved throughout the disciplinary process. Officials argued that the VAR review protocol had not been properly followed, pointing to the fact that the referee was initially shown a still image of Quansah's challenge before being presented with video footage. Football's officiating guidelines state that incidents should first be reviewed at normal speed. The FA hoped this procedural issue would be considered as mitigation, although it accepted that a two-match suspension remained the likely outcome under FIFA's disciplinary regulations. Quansah, who recently joined Bayer Leverkusen, had been filling in at right-back for the injured Reece James during England's World Cup campaign. His suspension leaves Djed Spence as England's only fully fit natural right-back, with James still sidelined by a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last three matches. Meanwhile, the French Football Federation also approached FIFA in an effort to overturn Michael Olise's yellow card from France's round-of-16 victory over Paraguay. FIFA upheld the booking, meaning another yellow card in the quarterfinal against Morocco would rule Olise out of a potential semifinal. Also Read: Z scores big with advertisers as FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout inventory nears sellout

England defender Jarell Quansah will miss two World Cup matches after FIFA extended his suspension following his red card against Mexico in the Round of 16

England's Jarell Quansah handed two-match ban after red card against Mexico

Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova will put their friendship aside when they battle for the Wimbledon title on Saturday after taking contrasting routes to their first All England Club final. Muchova survived a dramatic semifinal against two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff, saving a match point before sealing a thrilling 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) victory in over two hours under sweltering 33°C conditions on Thursday. Later the same day, Noskova booked her place in the championship match with an impressive 6-4, 6-4 win over Ukraine's 12th seed Marta Kostyuk in just 79 minutes.&nbsp;The final marks a special occasion for two players who have shared a close friendship over the years. The Czech pair strengthened their bond off the court and even partnered in doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics. "Karolina is such a great fighter, such an incredible player, but mainly she is such a great person. I'm glad I can play my first final against her," Noskova said. Muchova has spent years knocking on the door of Grand Slam success. The 29-year-old reached her first WTA main draw nine years ago and has repeatedly come close to capturing a major title.&nbsp;She was runner-up to Iga Swiatek in the 2023 French Open final and also reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2021, along with US Open semi-finals in both 2023 and 2024. Her Wimbledon breakthrough comes after years of setbacks. Muchova had exited in the opening round in each of her previous four appearances at the tournament while battling a series of injuries. In 2022, doctors even suggested she consider retiring from professional tennis. A right wrist injury later required surgery, forcing her out of action for ten months across 2023 and 2024.&nbsp;Despite managing a grass allergy with medication, Muchova has finally found success on the lawns of the All England Club. "It's a very special moment. It's a great achievement," Muchova said. “This is one of the biggest tournaments that we have with all the history, so many legends were playing here, as well to just get to play on the Centre Court, it was so nice.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2026-muchova-stuns-gauff-to-reach-maiden-grand-slam-final-1783617074566">Wimbledon 2026: Muchova stuns Gauff to reach maiden Grand Slam final</a><h2>'Gave me the belief'</h2>While Muchova's journey has been defined by perseverance, Noskova's rise has been rapid. The 21-year-old made her Wimbledon debut in 2022 and now stands one victory away from claiming her first Grand Slam title. The youngest Wimbledon semi-finalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018, Noskova has become one of the most successful grass-court players on the WTA Tour over the past two seasons.&nbsp;Her preparations for Wimbledon were boosted by winning the Berlin Open, where she captured her maiden grass-court title. "When I play my best I know I can play with the best players in the world and a have a great result, which is a final in a Grand Slam I guess!" she said. The all-Czech final continues the country's remarkable legacy at Wimbledon despite a population of just 11 million. For the third time in four years, a Czech woman will lift the Venus Rosewater Dish following Barbora Krejcikova's triumph in 2024 and Marketa Vondrousova's victory in 2023.&nbsp;Noskova has often credited two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova as her childhood inspiration. Czech tennis has also celebrated Wimbledon success through Jana Novotna's memorable title in 1998 after two runner-up finishes, Karolina Pliskova's appearance in the 2021 final, and Hana Mandlikova's runner-up finishes during the 1980s.&nbsp;"We have great history of Czech tennis. Definitely the fact that there is so many of us," Muchova said. "Myself, when I was younger, looking up to the girls who were like maybe five years older than I was, you can just see them doing so well. So it gave me the belief that I can as well do it."

Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova will contest an all-Czech Wimbledon final after defeating Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk. Read match highlights, player quotes, injury comeback stories, and Czech tennis history

Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova will put their friendship aside when they battle for the Wimbledon title on Saturday after taking contrasting routes to their first All England Club final. Muchova survived a dramatic semifinal against two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff, saving a match point before sealing a thrilling 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) victory in over two hours under sweltering 33°C conditions on Thursday. Later the same day, Noskova booked her place in the championship match with an impressive 6-4, 6-4 win over Ukraine's 12th seed Marta Kostyuk in just 79 minutes. The final marks a special occasion for two players who have shared a close friendship over the years. The Czech pair strengthened their bond off the court and even partnered in doubles at the 2024 Paris Olympics. "Karolina is such a great fighter, such an incredible player, but mainly she is such a great person. I'm glad I can play my first final against her," Noskova said. Muchova has spent years knocking on the door of Grand Slam success. The 29-year-old reached her first WTA main draw nine years ago and has repeatedly come close to capturing a major title. She was runner-up to Iga Swiatek in the 2023 French Open final and also reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2021, along with US Open semi-finals in both 2023 and 2024. Her Wimbledon breakthrough comes after years of setbacks. Muchova had exited in the opening round in each of her previous four appearances at the tournament while battling a series of injuries. In 2022, doctors even suggested she consider retiring from professional tennis. A right wrist injury later required surgery, forcing her out of action for ten months across 2023 and 2024. Despite managing a grass allergy with medication, Muchova has finally found success on the lawns of the All England Club. "It's a very special moment. It's a great achievement," Muchova said. “This is one of the biggest tournaments that we have with all the history, so many legends were playing here, as well to just get to play on the Centre Court, it was so nice.” Also Read: Wimbledon 2026: Muchova stuns Gauff to reach maiden Grand Slam final 'Gave me the belief' While Muchova's journey has been defined by perseverance, Noskova's rise has been rapid. The 21-year-old made her Wimbledon debut in 2022 and now stands one victory away from claiming her first Grand Slam title. The youngest Wimbledon semi-finalist since Jelena Ostapenko in 2018, Noskova has become one of the most successful grass-court players on the WTA Tour over the past two seasons. Her preparations for Wimbledon were boosted by winning the Berlin Open, where she captured her maiden grass-court title. "When I play my best I know I can play with the best players in the world and a have a great result, which is a final in a Grand Slam I guess!" she said. The all-Czech final continues the country's remarkable legacy at Wimbledon despite a population of just 11 million. For the third time in four years, a Czech woman will lift the Venus Rosewater Dish following Barbora Krejcikova's triumph in 2024 and Marketa Vondrousova's victory in 2023. Noskova has often credited two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova as her childhood inspiration. Czech tennis has also celebrated Wimbledon success through Jana Novotna's memorable title in 1998 after two runner-up finishes, Karolina Pliskova's appearance in the 2021 final, and Hana Mandlikova's runner-up finishes during the 1980s. "We have great history of Czech tennis. Definitely the fact that there is so many of us," Muchova said. "Myself, when I was younger, looking up to the girls who were like maybe five years older than I was, you can just see them doing so well. So it gave me the belief that I can as well do it."

Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova will meet in an all-Czech Wimbledon final after impressive semi-final wins and inspiring journeys

All-Czech Wimbledon final as Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova chase maiden SW19 title

Karolina Muchova defeated Coco Gauff in a thrilling Wimbledon semifinal on Thursday (Jul 9), winning 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10) to reach the final after a dramatic deciding-set tiebreak.With this victory, Muchova became the fourth Czech woman in the past six years to advance to the Wimbledon women’s singles final. Gauff had a chance to win the match in the tiebreak but missed a match point by hitting a forehand into the net after a strong first serve.&nbsp;&nbsp;Muchova then earned her own match point with a brilliant lob, but slipped on the grass and could not finish the point as Gauff hit a passing shot. On her next opportunity, Muchova played a shot deep into the corner, Gauff reached it, but her return landed in the net, leaving Muchova stunned as she celebrated the biggest win of her Wimbledon campaign.&nbsp;The ninth-seeded Czech will now play in her second Grand Slam final. Her first came at the French Open 2023, where she lost to Iga Swiatek.&nbsp;Muchova could face fellow Czech player Linda Noskova in Saturday’s final if Noskova defeats Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the second semifinal.&nbsp;&nbsp;In recent years, Czech players have enjoyed strong success at Wimbledon, with Karolina Pliskova finishing runner-up in 2021, Marketa Vondrousova winning the title in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova lifting the trophy in 2024.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/success-is-about-the-work-not-result-yogya-bhalla-opens-up-on-handling-expectations-at-15-1783615292745">'Success is about the work, not result': Yogya Bhalla opens up on handling expectations at 16</a>&nbsp;Despite the defeat, Gauff achieved her best-ever Wimbledon result. Before this year, the American had never gone beyond the fourth round, a stage she reached three times, including her memorable breakthrough as a 15-year-old in 2019.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2026-arnav-paparkar-s-dream-run-ends-with-quarter-final-defeat-to-jordan-lee-1783606434043">Wimbledon 2026: Arnav Paparkar’s dream run ends with quarter-final defeat to Jordan Lee</a>&nbsp;The men’s semifinals on Friday will see defending champion Jannik Sinner take on seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic, while Alexander Zverev faces British wild card Arthur Fery.&nbsp;London continued to experience hot weather, with temperatures reaching 33°C (91°F), leading many fans in the stands to use handheld fans to stay cool.&nbsp;Muchova also appeared to struggle physically late in the match. She looked exhausted after several long rallies and was seen holding her abdomen during the final game, but she fought through the discomfort to secure her place in the Wimbledon final.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic defeated Coco Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10) to reach her first Grand Slam final.

Karolina Muchova defeated Coco Gauff in a thrilling Wimbledon semifinal on Thursday (Jul 9), winning 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10) to reach the final after a dramatic deciding-set tiebreak. With this victory, Muchova became the fourth Czech woman in the past six years to advance to the Wimbledon women’s singles final. Gauff had a chance to win the match in the tiebreak but missed a match point by hitting a forehand into the net after a strong first serve. Muchova then earned her own match point with a brilliant lob, but slipped on the grass and could not finish the point as Gauff hit a passing shot. On her next opportunity, Muchova played a shot deep into the corner, Gauff reached it, but her return landed in the net, leaving Muchova stunned as she celebrated the biggest win of her Wimbledon campaign. The ninth-seeded Czech will now play in her second Grand Slam final. Her first came at the French Open 2023, where she lost to Iga Swiatek. Muchova could face fellow Czech player Linda Noskova in Saturday’s final if Noskova defeats Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the second semifinal. In recent years, Czech players have enjoyed strong success at Wimbledon, with Karolina Pliskova finishing runner-up in 2021, Marketa Vondrousova winning the title in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova lifting the trophy in 2024. Also Read - 'Success is about the work, not result': Yogya Bhalla opens up on handling expectations at 16 Despite the defeat, Gauff achieved her best-ever Wimbledon result. Before this year, the American had never gone beyond the fourth round, a stage she reached three times, including her memorable breakthrough as a 15-year-old in 2019. Also Read - Wimbledon 2026: Arnav Paparkar’s dream run ends with quarter-final defeat to Jordan Lee The men’s semifinals on Friday will see defending champion Jannik Sinner take on seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic, while Alexander Zverev faces British wild card Arthur Fery. London continued to experience hot weather, with temperatures reaching 33°C (91°F), leading many fans in the stands to use handheld fans to stay cool. Muchova also appeared to struggle physically late in the match. She looked exhausted after several long rallies and was seen holding her abdomen during the final game, but she fought through the discomfort to secure her place in the Wimbledon final. With inputs from agencies

Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic defeated Coco Gauff 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (10) to reach her first Grand Slam final.

Wimbledon 2026: Muchova stuns Gauff to reach maiden Grand Slam final

After winning the girls' championship title at the 16th DGC Junior/Sub-Junior Golf Championship, presented by Usha, 16-year-old Yogya Bhalla has emerged as one of India's brightest young golf talents. In an exclusive conversation with WION's Aditya Bhatia, Bhalla spoke about her recent success, the mindset that drives her and the lessons she has learned on her journey. Bhalla said her victory at the 14th TGC Ladies Amateur Open gave her extra confidence heading into the DGC event.&nbsp;"Whenever I was in a tough situation, I reminded myself that I had won here before. There was nothing stopping me from doing it again," she said.&nbsp;Despite achieving success at a young age, Bhalla believes the real measure of success is the effort she puts into her game rather than the final result.&nbsp;"Success is about the work, not the result," she said, adding that she sees defeats as opportunities to learn. "Losing is not failing, it's just learning. Success comes from how much work I put in, not the end product."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wimbledon-2026-arnav-paparkar-s-dream-run-ends-with-quarter-final-defeat-to-jordan-lee-1783606434043">Wimbledon 2026: Arnav Paparkar’s dream run ends with quarter-final defeat to Jordan Lee</a>&nbsp;Bhalla also credited her coaches, from Jalandhar and Chandigarh to her current coach in Delhi, for helping her develop a technically sound game. She said their guidance has given her confidence in her swing, while her naturally calm personality helps her stay composed under pressure.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-did-india-last-face-consecutive-t20i-series-defeats-1783603255987">When did India last face consecutive T20I series defeats?</a>&nbsp;The teenager said the biggest lesson golf has taught her is to never give up. Recalling the DGC tournament, she spoke about recovering from a difficult start with two bogeys before bouncing back with four consecutive birdies.&nbsp;"You should never give up until the last putt is holed," she said.&nbsp;This season, Bhalla has focused heavily on improving her mental game by maintaining a more positive and controlled mindset on the course and winning the DGC title on her home course made the achievement even more special.&nbsp;"Delhi Golf Club means a lot to me. Winning on my home course, in front of the home crowd, feels different. I'm very happy that I've been able to do this," she concluded.

In an exclusive conversation with WION's Aditya Bhatia, young golfer Yogya Bhalla spoke about her recent success, the mindset that drives her and the lessons she has learned throughout her journey.

After winning the girls' championship title at the 16th DGC Junior/Sub-Junior Golf Championship, presented by Usha, 16-year-old Yogya Bhalla has emerged as one of India's brightest young golf talents. In an exclusive conversation with WION's Aditya Bhatia, Bhalla spoke about her recent success, the mindset that drives her and the lessons she has learned on her journey. Bhalla said her victory at the 14th TGC Ladies Amateur Open gave her extra confidence heading into the DGC event. "Whenever I was in a tough situation, I reminded myself that I had won here before. There was nothing stopping me from doing it again," she said. Despite achieving success at a young age, Bhalla believes the real measure of success is the effort she puts into her game rather than the final result. "Success is about the work, not the result," she said, adding that she sees defeats as opportunities to learn. "Losing is not failing, it's just learning. Success comes from how much work I put in, not the end product." Also Read - Wimbledon 2026: Arnav Paparkar’s dream run ends with quarter-final defeat to Jordan Lee Bhalla also credited her coaches, from Jalandhar and Chandigarh to her current coach in Delhi, for helping her develop a technically sound game. She said their guidance has given her confidence in her swing, while her naturally calm personality helps her stay composed under pressure. Also Read - When did India last face consecutive T20I series defeats? The teenager said the biggest lesson golf has taught her is to never give up. Recalling the DGC tournament, she spoke about recovering from a difficult start with two bogeys before bouncing back with four consecutive birdies. "You should never give up until the last putt is holed," she said. This season, Bhalla has focused heavily on improving her mental game by maintaining a more positive and controlled mindset on the course and winning the DGC title on her home course made the achievement even more special. "Delhi Golf Club means a lot to me. Winning on my home course, in front of the home crowd, feels different. I'm very happy that I've been able to do this," she concluded.

In an exclusive conversation with WION's Aditya Bhatia, young golfer Yogya Bhalla spoke about her recent success, the mindset that drives her and the lessons she has learned throughout her journey.

'Success is about the work, not result': Yogya Bhalla opens up on handling expectations at 16

Arnav Paparkar’s impressive run at Wimbledon 2026 ended in the boys’ singles quarterfinals on Thursday after he lost 6-2, 7-5 to American Jordan Lee. It was Paparkar’s third straight defeat to Lee in a little over a month. The American had earlier beaten him 6-3, 6-1 at the J300 Roehampton grass-court event and 6-3, 6-4 at the J300 Charleroi-Marcinelle clay tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the match, Paparkar had chances to challenge Lee’s serve but could convert only one of his four break points. Lee, on the other hand, made the most of his opportunities, breaking serve four times from 13 chances.&nbsp;The Indian served eight aces, compared to Lee’s three, but struggled behind his second serve. Paparkar won only 31 per cent of his second-serve points, while Lee claimed 53 per cent.&nbsp;Paparkar finished with 23 winners, two more than Lee, but also made 22 unforced errors. Lee played a steadier match, committing only 20 unforced errors and using long rallies effectively to wear down the Indian.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-who-is-francois-letexier-referee-behind-the-argentina-egypt-controversy-1783595607598">FIFA 2026: Who is Francois Letexier, referee behind Argentina-Egypt controversy?</a>&nbsp;Despite the loss, Wimbledon 2026 was a landmark tournament for Paparkar. The 18-year-old became the first Indian in 36 years to reach the boys’ singles quarterfinals at Wimbledon since Leander Paes achieved the feat in 1990.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-england-and-argentina-referees-can-t-officiate-in-each-other-s-matches-and-the-answer-lies-in-1982-1783578955046">FIFA | Why England, Argentina referees can't officiate in each other's matches?</a>&nbsp;Paparkar started the tournament with a convincing first-round win before producing one of the biggest surprises of the event by defeating third seed and junior World No. 3 Keaton Hance 6-2, 6-3 in the second round.&nbsp;He followed that up with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Japan’s Ryo Tabata in just 52 minutes to book his place in the quarterfinals, displaying a strong serve and confident shot-making.&nbsp;Although Lee once again proved to be a tough opponent, Paparkar’s performance highlighted his steady rise on the junior circuit.&nbsp;&nbsp;After reaching the third round at Roland Garros and becoming the first Indian boy in more than three decades to reach the Wimbledon boys’ singles quarterfinals, he leaves London with growing confidence as he prepares to make the move to professional tennis.

Arnav Paparkar’s impressive Wimbledon run ended with a 6-2, 7-5 quarter-final defeat to American Jordan Lee.

Arnav Paparkar’s impressive run at Wimbledon 2026 ended in the boys’ singles quarterfinals on Thursday after he lost 6-2, 7-5 to American Jordan Lee. It was Paparkar’s third straight defeat to Lee in a little over a month. The American had earlier beaten him 6-3, 6-1 at the J300 Roehampton grass-court event and 6-3, 6-4 at the J300 Charleroi-Marcinelle clay tournament. During the match, Paparkar had chances to challenge Lee’s serve but could convert only one of his four break points. Lee, on the other hand, made the most of his opportunities, breaking serve four times from 13 chances. The Indian served eight aces, compared to Lee’s three, but struggled behind his second serve. Paparkar won only 31 per cent of his second-serve points, while Lee claimed 53 per cent. Paparkar finished with 23 winners, two more than Lee, but also made 22 unforced errors. Lee played a steadier match, committing only 20 unforced errors and using long rallies effectively to wear down the Indian. Also Read - FIFA 2026: Who is Francois Letexier, referee behind Argentina-Egypt controversy? Despite the loss, Wimbledon 2026 was a landmark tournament for Paparkar. The 18-year-old became the first Indian in 36 years to reach the boys’ singles quarterfinals at Wimbledon since Leander Paes achieved the feat in 1990. Also Read - FIFA | Why England, Argentina referees can't officiate in each other's matches? Paparkar started the tournament with a convincing first-round win before producing one of the biggest surprises of the event by defeating third seed and junior World No. 3 Keaton Hance 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. He followed that up with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Japan’s Ryo Tabata in just 52 minutes to book his place in the quarterfinals, displaying a strong serve and confident shot-making. Although Lee once again proved to be a tough opponent, Paparkar’s performance highlighted his steady rise on the junior circuit. After reaching the third round at Roland Garros and becoming the first Indian boy in more than three decades to reach the Wimbledon boys’ singles quarterfinals, he leaves London with growing confidence as he prepares to make the move to professional tennis.

Arnav Paparkar’s impressive Wimbledon run ended with a 6-2, 7-5 quarter-final defeat to American Jordan Lee.

Wimbledon 2026: Arnav Paparkar’s dream run ends with quarter-final defeat to Jordan Lee

Leading Content &amp; Technology Powerhouse Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. ('Z') has recorded strong advertiser momentum for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with over 95 per cent of its premium advertising inventory already committed across its digital platform, Zee 5 and linear sports portfolio, as the tournament enters the highly anticipated quarter finals stage. The robust response from advertisers reinforces the growing appeal of football in India and reflects the confidence of leading brands in Z's expanding sports ecosystem. &nbsp;&nbsp;Building on the exceptional advertiser response witnessed since the tournament commenced, 22+ leading brands across categories including Automotive, Technology, Beverages, FMCG, Healthcare, Sportswear &amp; Lifestyle, Fashion, E-commerce, Financial Services, Travel &amp; Hospitality, Real Estate, Paints, Oil &amp; Energy and Education have partnered with the Company to leverage football's biggest global spectacle.&nbsp;&nbsp;The milestone further validates the Company's strategic investment in premium global sporting properties and reinforces its vision of building a diversified sports portfolio that delivers value for audiences, advertisers and partners alike. &nbsp;&nbsp;The strong demand from advertisers has also led to premium 10-second advertising rates reaching ₹20-25 lakh during the knockout stage, underlining the scale, engagement and premium audience environment created by the FIFA World Cup 2026. &nbsp;&nbsp;Commenting on the strong advertising demand, Sandeep Mehrotra, Chief Operating Officer – Advertisement Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said: " The response from advertisers has exceeded our expectations. With more than 95% of our inventory already committed and over 22 leading brands partnering with us, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has established itself as one of the most compelling platforms for brands to engage audiences at scale. Beyond delivering exceptional reach, the tournament has enabled us to create integrated marketing solutions that combine the power of live sports with the precision of digital engagement. The strong advertiser confidence we are witnessing reaffirms our broader vision of building a differentiated and sustainable sports ecosystem." &nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-who-is-francois-letexier-referee-behind-the-argentina-egypt-controversy-1783595607598">FIFA World Cup 2026: Who is Francois Letexier, referee behind the Argentina-Egypt controversy?</a>&nbsp;The advertiser momentum extends strongly to Zee 5, where brands are leveraging the platform's growing scale, advanced targeting capabilities and immersive ad formats to engage consumers through personalised and measurable experiences.&nbsp;&nbsp;Recognising the evolving needs of today's marketers, the Company has moved beyond conventional media buying to deliver integrated marketing ecosystems through bespoke, cross-platform solutions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Combining the unparalleled reach of live sports with the precision of Zee 5, Connected TV, digital platforms, social media and immersive on-ground experiences, the end-to-end partnerships are enabling brands to maximise visibility, deepen consumer engagement and drive measurable business impact throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-2026-mbappe-messi-or-haaland-who-s-leading-the-golden-boot-race-1783434971475">FIFA WC 2026 Golden Boot: Messi leads Mbappe, Haaland before quarter-finals</a>&nbsp;In addition to strong advertiser participation, the tournament has witnessed robust fan engagement across television, digital and social platforms.&nbsp;&nbsp;Interactive contests, viewer activations and engagement-led experiences have further enhanced audience participation, creating deeper connections between fans, brands and the tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;With the knock out stages promising some of the tournament's most intense and highstakes football action, advertiser interest continues to surge as brands seek to capitalise on the unprecedented viewership and fan passion surrounding the competition.&nbsp;The strong advertiser response to the FIFA World Cup 2026 further strengthens Z's position as an emerging destination for premium sports content. Building on this momentum, the Company continues to expand its sports portfolio through marquee properties such as the Bundesliga and international cricket, creating year-round opportunities for audiences and advertisers to engage with world-class sporting action.&nbsp;

With the knock out stages promising some of the tournament's most intense and highstakes football action, advertiser interest continues to surge as brands seek to capitalise on the unprecedented viewership and fan passion surrounding the competition.

Leading Content & Technology Powerhouse Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. ('Z') has recorded strong advertiser momentum for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with over 95 per cent of its premium advertising inventory already committed across its digital platform, Zee 5 and linear sports portfolio, as the tournament enters the highly anticipated quarter finals stage. The robust response from advertisers reinforces the growing appeal of football in India and reflects the confidence of leading brands in Z's expanding sports ecosystem. Building on the exceptional advertiser response witnessed since the tournament commenced, 22+ leading brands across categories including Automotive, Technology, Beverages, FMCG, Healthcare, Sportswear & Lifestyle, Fashion, E-commerce, Financial Services, Travel & Hospitality, Real Estate, Paints, Oil & Energy and Education have partnered with the Company to leverage football's biggest global spectacle. The milestone further validates the Company's strategic investment in premium global sporting properties and reinforces its vision of building a diversified sports portfolio that delivers value for audiences, advertisers and partners alike. The strong demand from advertisers has also led to premium 10-second advertising rates reaching ₹20-25 lakh during the knockout stage, underlining the scale, engagement and premium audience environment created by the FIFA World Cup 2026. Commenting on the strong advertising demand, Sandeep Mehrotra, Chief Operating Officer – Advertisement Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said: " The response from advertisers has exceeded our expectations. With more than 95% of our inventory already committed and over 22 leading brands partnering with us, the FIFA World Cup 2026 has established itself as one of the most compelling platforms for brands to engage audiences at scale. Beyond delivering exceptional reach, the tournament has enabled us to create integrated marketing solutions that combine the power of live sports with the precision of digital engagement. The strong advertiser confidence we are witnessing reaffirms our broader vision of building a differentiated and sustainable sports ecosystem." Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Who is Francois Letexier, referee behind the Argentina-Egypt controversy? The advertiser momentum extends strongly to Zee 5, where brands are leveraging the platform's growing scale, advanced targeting capabilities and immersive ad formats to engage consumers through personalised and measurable experiences. Recognising the evolving needs of today's marketers, the Company has moved beyond conventional media buying to deliver integrated marketing ecosystems through bespoke, cross-platform solutions. Combining the unparalleled reach of live sports with the precision of Zee 5, Connected TV, digital platforms, social media and immersive on-ground experiences, the end-to-end partnerships are enabling brands to maximise visibility, deepen consumer engagement and drive measurable business impact throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026. Also Read - FIFA WC 2026 Golden Boot: Messi leads Mbappe, Haaland before quarter-finals In addition to strong advertiser participation, the tournament has witnessed robust fan engagement across television, digital and social platforms. Interactive contests, viewer activations and engagement-led experiences have further enhanced audience participation, creating deeper connections between fans, brands and the tournament. With the knock out stages promising some of the tournament's most intense and highstakes football action, advertiser interest continues to surge as brands seek to capitalise on the unprecedented viewership and fan passion surrounding the competition. The strong advertiser response to the FIFA World Cup 2026 further strengthens Z's position as an emerging destination for premium sports content. Building on this momentum, the Company continues to expand its sports portfolio through marquee properties such as the Bundesliga and international cricket, creating year-round opportunities for audiences and advertisers to engage with world-class sporting action.

With the knock out stages promising some of the tournament's most intense and highstakes football action, advertiser interest continues to surge as brands seek to capitalise on the unprecedented viewership and fan passion surrounding the competition.

Z scores big with advertisers as FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout inventory nears sellout

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