FIFA has confirmed the 2022 World Cup will start a day earlier than originally planned in order to allow hosts Qatar to face Ecuador in the opening match of the tournament.

Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 on Wednesday with a “not spectacular but solid” performance to lift the UEFA Super Cup a record-equalling fifth time.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka retired from her opening match at the Canadian Open in Toronto on Tuesday due to injury, sending veteran Kaia Kanepi through to the second round.

Serena Williams highlighted the first day of the Canadian Open, defeating Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 6-3 6-4 for her first win since the 2021 French Open.

Sevilla have announced an agreement in principle to sign Spain international Isco on a free transfer.

A late Lionel Messi double helped Paris Saint-Germain start their Ligue 1 title defence in inspired fashion despite Kylian Mbappe’s absence with a 5-0 rout of Clermont Foot on Saturday.

UEFA has hit Fenerbahce with a partial stadium closure after fans chanted the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Champions League qualifier against Ukraine’s Dynamo Kyiv.

A Russian court has sentenced US basketball player Brittney Griner to nine years at a prison camp for illegal drug possession, the TASS news agency reported from the court in Khimki near Moscow.

Premier League players will no longer take the knee ahead of every match, but remain committed to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination.

Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam have banned fans from bringing cardboard signs into their stadium asking players for their shirts after matches.

New Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane does not see himself as a global star despite his long success run with Liverpool and Africa Cup of Nations title with Senegal.

Thousands of fans are to celebrate England’s Euros win with the players in central London after royals and politicians hailed their inspiring performance.

Liverpool new boy Darwin Nunez struck first blood in the battle of the super-signings with an encouraging 30-minute cameo which was capped with the final goal in a 3-1 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Atletico Madrid will not be signing Cristiano Ronaldo and that decision is final, according to club president Enrique Cerezo.

Barcelona have announced they have reached an agreement to sign Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, with the Blaugrana seeing off competition from Chelsea.

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez in a reported €57 million ($57.8 million) deal.

Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix to extend his advantage in the Formula One world championship after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed out when leading on Sunday.

Jonas Vingegaard is set to win the Tour de France after finishing second to his Jumbo-Visma team-mate Wout van Aert in the stage 20 time trial to Rocamadour.

The planned pre-season friendly between Eintracht Frankfurt and Ajax Amsterdam on Saturday was cancelled due to coronavirus cases in the Dutch side’s squad.

Mohamed Salah is confident he can win more trophies with Liverpool after bringing an end to his long-running contract saga by signing a new three-year deal on Friday.

Serena Williams left her future open to question after her return to Wimbledon ended in a first-round defeat by little-known Frenchwoman Harmony Tan.

World number two Alexander Zverev has not given up hope of playing at the US Open in the wake of his ankle injury at the French Open which required surgery.

North Macedonia beat Gibraltar 4:0 in a Nations League match in Skopje on Sunday.

The Boston Celtics won Game 1 of the NBA Finals 120-108 on the road against the Golden State Warriors, with the teams combining for the most made three-pointers ever in a Finals game.

Chelsea have confirmed an agreement for the sale of the club to Todd Boehly and expect it to be completed on Monday.

Novak Djokovic will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Internazionali d’Italia final after beating Casper Ruud in straights sets to claim his 1,000th ATP Tour win.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann has refused to be drawn on speculation linking star striker Robert Lewandowski with a move to Barcelona and says the Polish forward is in his plans as normal ahead of the Bundesliga conclusion Saturday.

Alfred Schreuder has been appointed coach of Ajax in succession to the Manchester United bound Erik ten Hag, the Dutch champions said Thursday.