Sports

The Asian Football Confederation said on Sunday it will launch a Nations League contest in a bid to improve competition standards and commercial opportunities for national teams across the continent.

Australia swept to an 82-run win in the third Ashes test at Adelaide Oval on Sunday to retain the urn with two matches to spare and leave England facing recriminations over another failed campaign.

Desert Vipers continued their strong run in the DP World ILT20 season 4 with a comprehensive victory over Sharjah Warriorz, beating them by four wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.

Test and one-day captain Shubman Gill could not find a place in India's 15-member squad for next year's home Twenty20 World Cup, but stumper-batter Ishan Kishan returned to the side on Saturday.

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua delivered a dose of reality to Jake Paul on Friday with a savage sixth-round knockout in Miami that left the social-media-star-turned prizefighter nursing a suspected broken jaw.

The Dubai Capitals defeated the Sharjah Warriorz for the first time in DP World ILT20 history, with a resounding 63-run victory at the Dubai International Stadium.

Travis Head and Alex Carey forged a defiant late stand at their home Adelaide Oval on Friday to all but erase England's Ashes hopes, the pair leaning on each other through another draining afternoon in the heat.

The DP World International League T20 match between Sharjah Warriorz and Dubai Capitals, scheduled for Friday, December 19, has been moved from Sharjah Cricket Stadium to Dubai International Stadium due to prevailing weather conditions and a forecast of rain in Sharjah.

Morocco has defeated Jordan 3-2 after extra time to claim the Arab Cup on Thursday thanks to two goals from Abderrazzaq Hamed Allah following a stunning long-range strike from Oussama Tannane.

The Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have held their nerve to secure a well-earned four-wicket win over the Gulf Giants at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Adverse weather conditions forced the cancellation of the FIFA Arab Cup third place playoff between the UAE and Saudi Arabia in Doha on Thursday, with both teams sharing the title.

Manchester City has eased into the semi-finals of the League Cup with a 2-0 home win over Brentford on Wednesday, and will meet holders Newcastle United who needed an added-time Lewis Miley goal to beat Fulham 2-1 at St James' Park.

Kylian Mbappe has moved tantalisingly close to Cristiano Ronaldo's calendar-year scoring record for Real Madrid with a brace as they earned a 3-2 victory at third-tier Talavera de la Reina on Wednesday to reach the Copa del Rey's last 16 after a pulsating encounter.

MI Emirates has stunned the Dubai Capitals with a seven-run victory at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday, defending a modest total of 137/8.

The UAE has officially opened the Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025.

Prize money for next year's World Cup will be 50 per cent higher than the previous edition with world governing body FIFA agreeing a record $727 million financial contribution to the tournament on Wednesday.

The fourth T20 international between India and South Africa in Lucknow on Wednesday was called off without a ball being bowled due to excessive fog at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Dubai Basketball suffered their first home defeat at Coca-Cola Arena since February, falling 95:97 to Maccabi Tel Aviv in a tightly contested EuroLeague Round 16 matchup.

Usman Khawaja proved reports of his demise as an international cricketer were greatly exaggerated as he scored a defiant half-century on Wednesday to steady Australia on day one of the third Ashes Test against England.

FIFA has introduced a small number of $60 (around AED 200) "Supporter Entry Tier" tickets, aiming to make next year's World Cup more affordable for fans of qualified teams

The Desert Vipers have met their match on Tuesday night as the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders handed the table-toppers their first loss of the season, at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Paris St Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele was named FIFA men's player of the year in Doha on Tuesday with Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati winning the women's award for the third year in a row.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in the Indian Premier League (IPL), after Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for 252 million Indian rupees ($2.77 million) at the player auction for the 2026 season in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The Jordanian national team has qualified for the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 final, set to go against Morocco for the title on Thursday at the Lusail Stadium at 8:00 pm.

The Sharjah Warriorz have produced a composed all-round performance to outclass the Gulf Giants by 11 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi has struck late to salvage a point for his side in a 4-4 draw with Manchester United on Monday, capping a Premier League thriller that swung wildly from start to finish.

Morocco booked their place in the FIFA Arab Cup final with a 3–0 win over the UAE in the first semi-final at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.

Shotaro Kasahara allowed only two hits in six scoreless innings with six strikeouts to lead the Mid East Falcons to the first United Series championship in League history.

The UAE is set to face Morocco for the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 semi-finals at Khalifa International Stadium on Monday in Doha, Qatar.

Manchester City have maintained their squeeze on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday, a result that keeps Pep Guardiola's side lurking two points behind the leaders and ready to pounce.

Rodrygo have secured Real Madrid a crucial 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday in LaLiga, ending a dismal run of form and keeping them within four points of leaders Barcelona.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta let rip at his players following their 2-1 Premier League home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, saying their "horrible defensive habits" made the margin of victory narrower than it should have been.

The Dubai Capitals fended off the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to secure a nine-run victory at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Kazuki Yabuta struck out eight and allowed only four hits and one run in 6.1 innings, and Haru Yoshioka had a perfect 2.2 relief with seven strikeouts, including a Fire Ball strikeout to end the game, to give Mid East Falcons the win 5-1 over Mumbai Cobras and tie the United Series (1-1). 

Lionel Messi's tour of India kicked off chaotically on Saturday as fans threw objects, ripped up seats and invaded the pitch at Kolkata's Salt Lake stadium after the Argentine soccer great made only a brief appearance at a ticketed event.

Karan Patel’s dominant pitching display and a solo home run from Miguel Ojeda Jr. powered the Mumbai Cobras to a 3–1 victory over the Mid East Falcons in Game 1 of the United Series.

The UAE and Algeria played out a thrilling quarter-final match in the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 on Friday at Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar.

Dubai Basketball Club continued their strong home run in the EuroLeague, securing a dramatic 89–88 victory over Germany’s Bayern Munich in a Round 15 matchup held on Friday at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been included in their squad for Saturday's Premier League match at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

A brilliant performance by the Desert Vipers earned them a fifth straight win in the DP World ILT20 Season 4 as they beat the Gulf Giants by eight wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem secured a second four-year term at the helm of motorsport's world governing body unopposed on Friday.

Arne Slot planned to have a face-to-face meeting with Mohamed Salah on Friday ahead of Saturday's Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion, the Liverpool manager said.

Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix's 2025 race week broke attendance records with a combined total of 339,000 fans across all events at Yas Island, according to event organisers Ethara.

Jacob Duffy took five for 38 as New Zealand's makeshift bowling attack skittled West Indies for 128 on the third day of the second test at Basin Reserve on Friday to set up a nine-wicket victory for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has called on FIFA to immediately halt sales of national team allocations for next year's World Cup, accusing football's governing body of imposing "extortionate" ticket prices that risk shutting ordinary fans out of the tournament.

Mohamed Salah will escape the tension at Liverpool for a spell when he heads to Morocco with Egypt next week for the Africa Cup of Nations, following his clash with the Premier League champions’ manager Arne Slot.

MI Emirates has returned to winning ways after securing a seven-wicket win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The stage is set for the Mid East Falcons and Mumbai Cobras to face off on Friday, December 12 at Baseball United Ballpark (8:00 PM) for the first baseball championship series in the region's history - the United Series.

Noni Madueke has scored two goals and Gabriel Martinelli netted another as Arsenal kept up their 100% run in the Champions League to stay top of the standings with a comfortable 3-0 triumph at Belgium’s Club Brugge on Wednesday.

An incisive spell from Aayan Khan have set up the Gulf Giants for a six-wicket victory against the Sharjah Warriorz during DP World's ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Stadium.

European Ryder Cup heroes Viktor Hovland and Shane Lowry, along with two-time Major champion and former World Number One Dustin Johnson, have committed to the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic, taking place from January 22-25 at Emirates Golf Club.

The UAE national football team have qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup after defeating Kuwait 3-1 at Stadium 974 in Qatar on Tuesday.

The Desert Vipers were the victors in yet another thrilling clash, beating MI Emirates by one run during the DP World ILT20 Season 4 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Red Bull announced the departure on Tuesday of veteran motorsport consultant Helmut Marko, a major ally and supporter of four-times Formula One world champion Max Verstappen.

Dubai Basketball closed a demanding week on two fronts with a statement win in the ABA League and a narrow, hard-fought EuroLeague battle in Bologna, underscoring the team’s rising profile across Europe’s top competitions.

Football journalist Fabrizio Romano, whose rapid-fire exclusives helped build one of the world’s most influential news platforms, highlighted the importance of independent journalism on redefining global influence at the BRIDGE Summit on Monday.

The Desert Vipers have held their nerves to prevail in the first-ever Super Over of the DP World ILT20, beating the Gulf Giants at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday.

Manchester United has climbed to sixth in the Premier League on Monday as captain Bruno Fernandes scored twice to help them claim acomfortable 4-1 victory at bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers whose calamitous season gets bleaker by the week.

Real Madrid suffered a shock 2-0 loss and finished with nine men against Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Sunday after Williot Swedberg scored an audacious goal with his heel and a second in stoppage time to leave the hosts four points off leaders Barcelona.

Rovman Powell’s stunning unbeaten half-century has set up the Dubai Capitals’s first win of the DP World ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. 

Five pitchers combined to complete a five-hit, two-run game, while Jake Hjelle and Federico Celli each drove in a run, to give the Mid East Falcons a 3-2 victory over the Arabia Wolves.

McLaren's Lando Norris sobbed tears of joy and relief as he won the Formula One championship for the first time and ended Max Verstappen's four-year reign with a nervy third place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

Australia stormed to an eight-wicket victory in the second Ashes test on Sunday to take a 2-0 series lead as England succumbed on day four to a pace blitz from unlikely hero Michael Neser.

Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen pipped former British Open champion Cam Smith to the Australian Open title on Sunday with a par at the final hole to lift the winners trophy with a 15-under par total at Royal Melbourne.

Another fiery half-century from Pathum Nissanka scripted the Gulf Giants four-wicket victory over the Dubai Capitals at the DP World ILT20 Season 4 on Saturday.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah said he had been "thrown under the bus" as he tore into the club over his treatment after watching from the bench as his side twice threw away the lead in a 3-3 Premier League draw with Leeds United on Saturday.

Max Verstappen has taken pole position for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday, with McLaren's Formula One leader Lando Norris alongside on the front row and Oscar Piastri qualifying third.

Lewis Hamilton crashed his Ferrari in the final practice session of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, with Mercedes' George Russell denying McLaren's championship leader Lando Norris a sweep of fastest times.

Justin Greaves struck an epic unbeaten 202 against a depleted New Zealand attack to help West Indies snatch a memorable draw in the opening Test at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Saturday.

The Desert Vipers made it two wins in two matches after securing a hard-fought two-wicket win over the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.

US President Donald Trump was awarded the FIFA Peace Prize on Friday at the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C.

McLaren driver Lando Norris set the pace during Friday’s second practice session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leading the way from Red Bull rival Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell, with team mate Oscar Piastri back in 11th.

Australia dominated day two of the second Ashes test on Friday with a punishing batting assault on a lifeless Gabba pitch as England fumbled their chances in the field.

McLaren's Formula One leader Lando Norris lapped fastest in first practice for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Friday with closest rival Max Verstappen 0.008 of a second slower.

The Gulf Giants have began their campaign with a clinical six-wicket victory against the MI Emirates at DP World ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.

The Olympic flame has arrived in Rome on Thursday in preparation for a two-month torch relay designed to stir excitement across Italy before the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in February.

Mumbai Cobras have defeated the Mid East Falcons with a 6-3 to secure first place in the Baseball United Season One standings on Thursday,

The opening day of the 2025 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix welcomed fans with the traditional F1 Pit Lane Walk, giving them a first look at teams preparing for the final race of the season.

England's Joe Root conquered his final frontier with a first Ashes century in Australia as the tourists pushed past 300 on day one of the second test in Brisbane on Thursday despite a six-wicket haul from pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.

Jordan has defeated the UAE with a score of 2-1 during the first round of Group C matches in the Arab Cup on Wednesday at Al Bayt Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

Liam Livingstone achieved a rampant 82 run blitz off 38 deliveries as the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders claimed a 39-run win over the Sharjah Warriorz in their opening fixture of the DP World ILT20 Season 4 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Angelo Cabral had a solid 4.2 scoreless relief with only two hits and six strikeouts, including a Fire Ball scored, to give Arabia Wolves a 5-4 victory against Karachi Monarchs at the Baseball United Season One Standings on Wednesday.

Virat Kohli's second successive hundred was not enough as South Africa, aided by Aiden Markram's century, chased down a target of 359 to clinch a four-wicket win and level their one-day international (ODI) series 1-1 on Wednesday.

The Mid East Falcons bounced back with a 7-3 win over the Mumbai Cobras, ending a two-game losing streak and taking sole possession of second place in the Baseball United standings.

The Desert Vipers have defeated champions Dubai Capitals by four wickets in the opening fixture of DP World's ILT20 Season 4 at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.

Serena Williams has re-entered the tennis anti-doping testing pool but the 23-times Grand Slam champion denied on Tuesday that the move had anything to do with her making a return to the sport she dominated for nearly two decades.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals with his blistering left-footed strike in the 17th minute of a wild 5-4 victory at Fulham on Tuesday.

Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda as Max Verstappen's Red Bull teammate next season with Arvid Lindblad joining Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls, the Formula One teams announced on Tuesday.

Tiger Woods said on Tuesday his recovery from the disc replacement surgery he had in October was not going as fast as he would like and that he was still "a ways away" from figuring out a playing schedule.

Former batter Robin Smith, a World Cup finalist with England in 1992, has died at the age of 62, his former club Hampshire said on Tuesday.

Australia opener Usman Khawaja has been ruled out of the second Ashes Test against England in Brisbane later this week due to a back problem, the team said on Tuesday.

Andy Murray said his six-month stint as Novak Djokovic's coach was a valuable learning experience despite a disappointing end after the high-profile partnership failed to yield a title.

Palestine has defeated Qatar with a score of 1-0 as part of the opening matches of the Arab Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Doha.

Dubai will host the 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships from December 2 to 13 at the Tennis Stadium.

Barcelona defender and captain Ronald Araujo has been granted an indefinite leave of absence by the Spanish club upon his request, according to reports.

Defending champion Max Verstappen has boosted his chances of a fifth consecutive Formula One crown by capturing the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.

Virat Kohli's record-extending 52nd one-day international century laid the groundwork for India's 17-run win over South Africa on Sunday, getting the hosts off to a winning start in their three-match series after the visitors swept the tests last week.

Arsenal missed a chance to tighten their grip on the Premier League title race with a 1-1 draw at 10-man Chelsea on Sunday, while Liverpool's Alexander Isak scored his first league goal in a 2-0 win over West Ham United that halted their worst run in more than 70 years.

Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount struck in the second half as Ruben Amorim's men battled back for a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, ending the hosts' nine-month unbeaten Premier League run at Selhurst Park.

Billy Bonds, West Ham United's all-time record appearance-maker and a key figure in the club's history as a player and manager, has died at the age of 79, his family said on Sunday.

Britain won the 2025 SailGP Championship on Sunday, beating New Zealand and Australia in a thrilling three-way final in Abu Dhabi to lift the trophy and a $2 million prize.

South Africa completed their five-test programme in Europe hailed as a destructive rugby force, installing them as early favourites for the 2027 World Cup, where they will bid for a hat-trick of titles.

Abu Dhabi has created sporting history by attracting the sailing regatta Cowes Week to its shores in January 2023, consolidating its position as the Middle East's sports capital.

Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit has outlined exactly why football is failing to properly address racism within the game in an exclusive interview with Off Script on Dubai Eye 103.8.