Category: Sports

FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strategy for the World Cup 2030 following anger over skyrocketing prices for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America (USA).

Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom said high ticket prices for this year’s tournament reflected “the reality of the market in North America.”

“I will always have understanding for fans and their opinions, but I think there are quite a wide array of ticket prices — some are cheap, some are more expensive,” he said.

“But of course, you know, we listen, we take into account the comments, and of course, as for every World Cup, we will review and see how we do it for the next one,” Grafstrom added.

FIFA has faced searing criticism over soaring ticket prices for this year’s World Cup, with fan organisation Football Supporters Europe (FSE) branding the pricing structure “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal” of fans.

FSE last month filed a lawsuit with the European Commission targeting FIFA over “excessive ticket prices” for the tournament.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists ticket prices are simply a consequence of the huge demand.

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“In the US in particular there is this thing called dynamic pricing, meaning the prices will go up or down”, depending on the match in question, Infantino has said.

FIFA’s own ticket resale exchange this week showed four tickets on offer for the July 19 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium for an eye-watering $2 million apiece, according to reports.

Other resale platforms commonly show tickets for the World Cup final costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Asked on Thursday if he was concerned that anger over ticket prices would harm the legacy of the 2026 World Cup, Grafstrom pointed out that revenues from the World Cup — estimated to generate up to $13 billion — would be pumped back into football.

“I think, you know, the legacy is also what we’ll be able to do with the money that it generates,” Grafstrom said.

“This is a true legacy through the (FIFA) Forward program and in order to really develop the game of football in our member associations, and this will have a true impact.”

READ: Palestine football chief rejects photo with Israel official at FIFA meeting

Palestinian Football Federation President Jibril Rajoub refused to participate in a photo opportunity with Israel Soccer Association official Basim Sheikh Suliman in a tense incident at the end of FIFA’s Congress on Thursday.

After both Rajoub and Suliman had addressed delegates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited both men to stand alongside him.

However, Rajoub declined the gesture, refusing repeated attempts by Infantino to encourage him to participate in the moment.

At one point, Rajoub could be heard to say: “We are suffering.”

The Palestinian Football Association recently appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over FIFA’s refusal to sanction Israel over football clubs based in the West Bank.

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The PFA maintains that clubs based in West Bank settlements should not be allowed to compete in leagues controlled by Israeli football authorities.

In 2024, United Nations experts said at least eight football clubs had been identified as playing in “Israeli colonial settlements” and called on FIFA to “fulfil its responsibility to respect human rights”.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Jibril Rajoub called on FIFA to “apply the statutes with fairness, with logic.”

“What’s going on in Palestine is terrible, destroying all the Palestinian sport facilities in Gaza, the killings of hundreds of Palestinian athletes, employees… I think it’s now the time to make justice,” Rajoub said.

“The guy who spoke on behalf of Israel did not even pay attention to the suffering, to what’s going on. I refused to shake hands. How can I shake hands or have a photo with such a man?”

READ: FIFA president Infantino reiterates Iran will play World Cup in USA

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup 2026 games in the United States of America (USA) as scheduled, as football’s power-brokers met in Vancouver on Thursday.

Iran’s participation at this year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States has been shrouded in uncertainty since the eruption of war in the Middle East in February following strikes by the United States and Israel.

Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be at the World Cup, underscored that stance at the start of his address to delegates as FIFA’s 76th Congress got underway in western Canada.

“Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “And of course, Iran will play (in) the United States of America.”

Infantino’s remarks drew swift support from close ally US President Donald Trump, who told reporters in the Oval Office he was “OK” with Iran’s participation.

“Well, if Gianni said it, I’m OK,” Trump said. “I think let ’em play.”

Iranian officials had floated the idea of shifting their group games from the United States to Mexico, but that proposal had already been nixed by Infantino.

In a further twist last week, Italy-born US special envoy Paolo Zampolli was reported to have floated the idea of Italy taking Iran’s World Cup place.

The US government later distanced themselves from that proposal, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Iran’s footballers would be welcome. But the tension surrounding Iran’s World Cup participation rumbled into the build-up to Thursday’s summit.

Iran’s delegation was the only absentee from the 211-member congress as Thursday’s meeting got underway after a clash with Canadian border officials earlier this week.

Officials from the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) abruptly left Canada after landing in Toronto, abandoning their onward trip to Vancouver.

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Iranian media said FFIRI president Mehdi Taj, a former member of Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and two colleagues flew home after being “insulted” by Canadian immigration officers.

Canada, which designated the IRGC a terrorist organization in 2024, said Wednesday that individuals linked to the force were “inadmissible.”

Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G.

The Iranians open their World Cup 2026 campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.

FIFA supremo Infantino went into Thursday’s summit with his organization under fire over skyrocketing ticket costs for the World Cup, which one supporters group has branded a “monumental betrayal” of fans.

Infantino brushed off those criticisms in his address, insisting that all revenues from the World Cup, estimated between $11 and $13 billion, would be pumped back into football development.

“There are expensive tickets, yes, (but) there are also affordable tickets,” Infantino said. “And what is important is that all the revenues that we generate from the world go back to the entire world and finance football in all of your countries.”

Infantino’s close ties to US President Trump have also come under scrutiny. Advocacy group Fairsquare filed a formal complaint in December, arguing that Infantino had breached FIFA rules concerning political neutrality by awarding Trump the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize” during last year’s World Cup draw.

However, Infantino received a huge boost to his hopes of securing re-election as the head of world football on Thursday after receiving pledges of support from the African and Asian regional confederations.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have both said they will back Infantino if, as expected, he stands for a fourth term in 2027.

The African and Asian confederations account for 101 votes in FIFA’s presidential election out of a total of 211.

Infantino has already secured support for re-election from South American football’s ruling body CONMEBOL, which is worth a further 10 votes.

READ: Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi invites Daren Sammy to PSL 11 final

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi has extended an official invitation to former captain Daren Sammy to attend the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final, following strong fan demand after the former champions booked their place in the title decider.

Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, secured their spot in the final with a commanding win over Islamabad United in the Qualifier at the Gaddafi Stadium. The final is scheduled to take place at the same venue on Sunday.

Following the victory, fans flooded social media, urging Afridi to bring back Sammy, who famously led Zalmi to their maiden PSL title in 2017.

Responding to the calls, Afridi shared an Instagram story tagging the former West Indies skipper and inviting him to be part of the occasion.

“Brother, we are officially inviting you to witness the final match of Zalmi (fans request) @darensammy88,” Afridi wrote.

Daren Sammy remains one of the most iconic figures in Zalmi’s history, having been part of the franchise during its early years.

He captained the side for four seasons and played a key role in their 2017 title triumph, when they defeated Quetta Gladiators in the final.

Since that title-winning campaign, Zalmi have reached the final on three more occasions, in 2018, 2019 and 2021, but have fallen short each time in their quest for a second trophy.

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However, the ongoing PSL 11 season has seen Zalmi return as one of the most dominant sides. They topped the league stage with eight wins, just one defeat and one no-result from 10 matches, finishing with 17 points and an impressive net run rate of 2.324.

Their win over Islamabad United marked their fifth appearance in a PSL final, and they will now face the winner of the second Eliminator, to be contested between Islamabad United and Hyderabad Kingsmen, in the grand finale.

READ: JP Duminy concludes PSL 11 commentary stint

Sparkling cameos by skipper Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler complemented a stellar display, carrying Gujarat Titans to a four-wicket victory over defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Thursday.

All seven previous matches in the IPL between the sides had been won by the chasing team, and Gill therefore had little hesitation in asking Bengaluru to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Virat Kohli smashed Kagiso Rabada for five fours in the second over of the match before succumbing to the same bowler not long thereafter as Bengaluru went from 79 for two to 155 all out.

Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with a fluent 40, while left-arm pacer Arshad Khan (3/22), Gujarat’s most successful bowler, received excellent support from Afghan Rashid Khan.

West Indian Jason Holder had headlined a flawless first half for Gujarat with three catches to go with the wickets of Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd, triggering a middle-order collapse which compelled Bengaluru to summon Venkatesh Iyer as the impact substitute.

“It was one of those nights (when the ball kept following me),” player-of-the-match Holder said.

“The energy was quite high. I am just happy to hold on to the chances and happy to help the team win.”

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Having deployed Venkatesh, Bengaluru found themselves a specialist seamer short and Gujarat made them pay despite a wobble during the middle stages of the modest chase.

Bengaluru were heavily reliant on the seasoned new-ball duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood to strike early, but Gill had other ideas.

The opener tore into Hazlewood, hammering the Australian for three fours and two sixes in the second over to give his team a strong start.

Bengaluru fought back through Bhuvneshwar, who accounted for Sudharsan and Gill after a sparkling 43, but Buttler kept up the momentum with a hat-trick of sixes in his knock of 39.

Bhuvneshwar returned for a one-over final spell during which he yorked Buttler for his 17th wicket of the season.

With their prolific top three back in the hut, Gujarat made heavy weather of the chase.

Shepherd, getting an extended bowl largely because Bengaluru didn’t have a specialist third seamer, dismissed Shahrukh Khan and Washington Sundar in the space of three deliveries to spark some excitement, but Gill and Buttler had scored so rapidly that Gujarat didn’t have to contend with run-rate pressure.

Rahul Tewatia held the second half of the chase together and Rashid struck the winning boundary with 25 deliveries to spare.

READ: JP Duminy concludes PSL 11 commentary stint

LAHORE: Former South Africa batter JP Duminy has wrapped up his commentary stint ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Eliminator 2 and final. 

Duminy shared a reflective video montage on Instagram, thanking Pakistan for its hospitality, praising the quality of cricket, and appreciating the chance to work with experienced professionals during the tournament.

He also commended the return of fans to stadiums, noting the lively atmosphere they created.

“Appreciation Pakistan, thank you for the love and hospitality. PSL 11 has seen great cricket and continues to do so. Great to see the crowds back. I truly get to work with some amazing people. Thanks for the love. Till next time,” Duminy wrote.

 

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This marks Duminy’s second period as part of the PSL broadcast team, having previously appeared in the 10th edition, where he offered analysis throughout the season.

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Besides his role as a commentator, the 42-year-old also has a playing background in the league. He played in PSL 3 for Islamabad United, participating in 10 matches and scoring 251 runs at a strike rate of 100.80, with two half-centuries.

Additionally, he captained the team in the final against Peshawar Zalmi, leading them to their second PSL title.

The Eliminator 2 of the league will be played between Hyderabad Kingsmen and Islamabad United tommorow at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Kingsmen advanced by defeating Multan Sultans in Eliminator 1, whereas Islamabad United suffered a 70-run defeat against Peshawar Zalmi in the Qualifier.

The winner of Eliminator 2 will play Peshawar Zalmi in the final on May 3 at the Gaddafi Stadium.

READ: Richard Gleeson confident ahead of Hyderabad Kingsmen knockout clash

LAHORE: Islamabad United fast bowler Richard Gleeson expressed confidence in his team’s prospects ahead of Eliminator 2 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

The Three-time champions United will face Hyderabad Kingsmen in the Eliminator 2 at the Gaddafi Stadium tommorow.

Shadab Khan-led United endured a difficult outing against Peshawar Zalmi, suffering a 70-run defeat.

Gleeson, playing in the PSL for the first time, has been effective throughout the tournament, picking up 11 wickets in eight matches at an impressive economy rate of 6.72.

Speaking to the media, Gleeson remained confident about United’s chances and expected his side to perform strongly in the knockout clash.

“We hope we will play good cricket in Eliminator 2,” he told reporters. “I am English, and Hyderabad have two Australian players as well, so it will be a good contest,” he added.

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Reflecting on the previous match, he said the mistakes made against Peshawar Zalmi would not be repeated.

“The mistakes we made against Peshawar Zalmi, we will not repeat them,” he stated.

He also appreciated the crowd support, saying fans make the game more enjoyable.

“The fans coming to the ground is very good. It is always fun to play in front of them.Cricket matches are not good without a crowd,” he added.

Looking ahead to the next match, he noted that Hyderabad’s top order is strong and will require careful planning.

“Hyderabad’s top order is good, we will try to control it,” he said.

The winner of Eliminator 2 will play Peshawar Zalmi in the final on May 3 at the Gaddafi Stadium.

READ: Faf du Plessis calls Dutch talent ‘secret sauce’ of Euro T20 franchise

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis believes local Dutch players will be the “secret sauce” for his Rotterdam franchise in a new European Twenty20 competition (EUT20).

Organisers of the Euro T20, co-founded by Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan, have created a tournament featuring six city-based teams in Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast and Rotterdam.

Amsterdam are owned by a group led by Australia great Steve Waugh, while Edinburgh are run by former New Zealand internationals Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills.

The ETPL, whose inaugural edition will feature 33 matches from August 26 to September 20, aims to boost cricket on the continent.

The Netherlands, a non-Test nation, have enjoyed several notable international successes in white-ball cricket, defeating England, South Africa and the West Indies, but Du Plessis is keen to help broaden their base of talent.

The 41-year-old batsman, a veteran of the global T20 circuit, is not just the captain of the Rotterdam side but a co-owner alongside fellow former South Africa internationals Jonty Rhodes and Heinrich Klaasen.

“We, as players, have never been a part of the conversation when it comes to co-owning,” Faf du Plessis told AFP. “We have always just looked at leagues and you almost become a gun for hire around the world in terms of playing.

“Now there is the opportunity of it being something more.”

The hard-hitting Klaasen, who retired from international duty last year, is also set to play for Rotterdam.

But Du Plessis said his worldwide experience of T20 cricket had convinced him of the importance of local talent to follow in the footsteps of current Netherlands stars such as Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek.

“It’s not your overseas players that win you competitions, it’s the local players,” he said.

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“You can look around the world and you see the teams that get that right, so I see it as exactly that. It’s not the South Africans coming in from overseas and creating the strength of the team. The real secret sauce for any team is how well do you tap into the local players?”

For the 56-year-old Rhodes, one of the outstanding fielders of his generation and later a coach, the chance to become a co-owner was too tempting to pass up.

“It is an exciting place to be, (but) it’s a bit scary. I mean, we don’t just copy and paste what other people have done before. That uniqueness of starting something is pretty special.”

Klaasen, a current star in the Indian Premier League, is confident the Euro T20 will be a success.

“It’s a no-brainer. The names that are involved in this league — I know for sure that it will be a quality league when it starts.

“I’ve still got a lot of cricket in me. It might be at the back end of my career, but that’s a few years away.

“So hopefully in five years we will have a great set-up and a great infrastructure and that we develop the game in Europe quite a bit.”

And Klaasen, 34, is well aware of the quality within Dutch cricket, having twice been on the losing side in World Cup matches.

“I’ve lost against the Netherlands twice in very crucial moments in my career,” he said.

READ: CPL unveils 2026 draft and player acquisition rules

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has officially unveiled Player Acquisition and Draft Rules for the 2026 season, marking the start of a new three-year contract cycle running from 2026 to 2028.

The revised framework includes several important updates designed to enhance competitive balance, promote emerging talent, and incorporate a seventh franchise into the league. The draft picks will be revealed on the league’s official social media platforms on Friday, 15 May.

According to the new regulations, each franchise will field a 17-player squad comprising nine senior West Indies players, five overseas players, and three Breakout Players.

As the league’s newest team, the Jamaica Kingsmen are entitled to special draft rights. They have the option to select the first three players, specifically Jamaican players, but they are not required to use all three picks.

Fawad Sarwar is the owner of the Jamaica Kingsmen and Pakistan Super League (PSL) outfit Hyderabad Kingsmen.

These choices cannot be contested using the Right to Match Option (RMO). In this phase, the Kingsmen can pick up to one player from any current team, and any franchise that loses a player to the Kingsmen will gain an extra RMO.

After this initial phase, the draft will follow a structured sequence according to the 2025 league standings to promote competitive balance among all teams.

Franchises will be able to use RMOs to keep players from their 2025 squads if those players are chosen by another team during the draft.

Each current team starts with four RMOs: three can be used on players from any salary slot on their 2025 roster, and one is reserved for players who occupied salary slots seven to 17 and are nationals of the franchise’s home territory.

Teams that lose a player to the Jamaica Kingsmen at the beginning of the draft will get an extra RMO, usable in any round.

The Kingsmen will have one RMO available for any Jamaican player, as long as, if the player participates in the 2025 CPL, they must have held a salary slot between seven and 17.

In terms of player retention, each existing franchise was allowed to keep one Breakout Player from its 2025 squad before the draft, which remains the only pre-draft retention method for the 2026 season.

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Breakout Players continue to be vital to the league’s growth strategy, with every team required to include at least one player selected in rounds 15 to 17 in each matchday XI during the tournament.

Teams can also sign up to five overseas players through direct negotiations, with these players not part of the draft. However, no more than four overseas players can be named in any matchday XI.

CPL Tournament Operations Director Michael Hall stated that the framework was developed in close collaboration with all seven franchises, Cricket West Indies, and other stakeholders to ensure a balanced and competitive structure.

“We have worked closely with the seven CPL franchises, Cricket West Indies, and other key stakeholders to develop a framework that allows us to successfully introduce a seventh team while maintaining competitiveness and fairness across the league,,” Hall said.

“We are excited to see how the squads take shape and are confident that the expanded tournament will raise the standard of the CPL even further,” he concluded.

READ: Tim Paine shares emotional note after Multan Sultans PSL 11 exit

LAHORE: Multan Sultans head coach Tim Paine posted an emotional message after their exit from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Pain took to the social media platform ‘X’ after their loss against Hyderabad Kingsmen in Eliminator 1 on Wednesday, expressing gratitude over the journey.

“A memorable journey with the Multan Sultans has unfortunately come to an end this PSL,” Paine wrote.

“Had a great time with a fantastic group of people and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Gohar Shah,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Sultans’ campaign ended disappointingly as the Kingsmen delivered a strong all-round performance in their debut season, earning a spot in Eliminator 2 against Islamabad United, scheduled for Friday in Lahore.

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Opting to bat first, Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne made a key decision that proved successful, as his team limited the 2021 champions to 159/9 despite a resilient half-century from Shan Masood.

In response, the Kingsmen easily chased the 160-run target, losing only two wickets and ending the match with 28 balls remaining.

Maaz Sadaqat and Usman Khan both scored 64 runs off 33 and 35 balls respectively, helping their team reach the target.

Despite their early exit, the Ashton Turner-led Multan Sultans had a commendable run overall, finishing third in the league stage with six wins and four losses from 10 matches, earning 12 points with a net run rate of 0.326.

READ: Pakistan Test squad train ahead of Bangladesh series