"world-cup"

Lionel Messi swept aside injury concerns with an emotional hat trick in Argentina’s 3-0 World Cup opening victory over Algeria, tying Germany's Miroslav Klose for the most career goals scored in men's World Cup history

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France defeated Senegal 3-1 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola also played key roles as Les Bleus overcame a strong Senegal challenge to begin their campaign with a victory.

Lionel Messi scored against Algeria in his record sixth World Cup appearance, becoming only the second player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in five World Cups. The goal was Messi’s 14th World Cup strike and 200th international appearance

Player of the Match Deepti Sharma said her five-wicket haul against Pakistan was the highlight of India's World Cup opener. The all-rounder credited team positivity, self-belief and improved fielding standards for India's successful start to the tournament.

John McGinn’s first-half strike gave Scotland a 1-0 win over Haiti in Boston, ending a 36-year wait for a World Cup victory. The Group C encounter saw Scotland dominate spells while Haiti missed key chances to equalise.

India pacer Prasidh Krishna believes the ODI series against Afghanistan will help the team identify the right combinations and build momentum ahead of the 2027 World Cup. He also spoke about adapting across formats and embracing responsibility within the squad.

World Cup gold medallist Esha Singh said mental focus and the ability to block distractions were key to her success. Speaking at a felicitation event in Hyderabad, she also credited her parents for supporting her sporting journey without pressure.

Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur have shared insights into India's historic Women's World Cup triumph, revealing the inspiration, mindset and key decisions behind the title-winning campaign, including Sachin Tendulkar's advice and Shafali's match-defining contribution.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed her excitement about leading the team in another ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. She highlighted the rapid growth of women’s cricket, Sri Lanka’s preparations, squad balance and the importance of the T20 format in expanding the game.

Argentina launches its FIFA World Cup title defense in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and debutant Jordan. Lionel Messi leads Scaloni’s squad, while Mahrez, Alaba, and Al-Tamari headline their teams in a group mixing experience, history, and fresh talent

India cricket chief selector Ajit Agarkar has appointed Shreyas Iyer as the new T20I captain, citing his IPL leadership experience. Suryakumar Yadav, despite leading India to the World Cup title, has been omitted due to form concerns and long-term planning

Lionel Messi is closing in on a return from a hamstring injury and could feature in Argentina’s World Cup warm-up matches in the United States. Coach Lionel Scaloni said the captain is recovering well ahead of the defending champions’ title defence.

Four-time champion Germany targets redemption in World Cup Group E under Julian Nagelsmann. However, Die Mannschaft faces a stiff challenge from a defensively stubborn Ecuador, a tactically flexible Côte d'Ivoire, and tournament debutant and Cinderella story Curaçao

Harmanpreet was among the select sportspersons honoured this year, alongside India men’s captain Rohit Sharma, making them the only two cricketers to receive the award in the 2026 list

Hockey India has announced a nine-day national coaching camp for the Indian women’s team from April 1 to 9 as preparations begin for the FIH Nations Cup, the Women’s World Cup in Belgium and Netherlands, and the 2026 Asian Games.

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes Shubman Gill’s omission from the T20 World Cup squad could motivate him to deliver a strong IPL season. Pujara also backed Gujarat Titans as title contenders, highlighting their powerful batting line-up and strong pace attack.

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey visited Gachibowli Hockey Complex to review renovations, including two new astro-turfs, ahead of the FIH Women’s World Cup qualifiers. He highlighted coaching programmes, future Hockey India League prospects, and praised State Government support.

Returning from injury, Tilak Varma credited the BCCI and Centre of Excellence for his early comeback as India beat South Africa in a T20 World Cup warm-up. The all-rounder said the team feels confident and ready for the tournament.

India, led by Ayush Mhatre, face Bangladesh in their second ICC U-19 World Cup match at Bulawayo. After beating USA, India hope to continue their winning run, while Bangladesh rely on captain Azizul Hakim and their potent bowling attack

Jyothi Surekha Vennam has been selected for the Indian compound women’s archery team after topping the Kolkata trials with 15.25 points. This marks her 16th consecutive selection to the national team, continuing her streak from 2011 to 2026