BREAKING NEWS
Indian actor Pradeep Rawat dies at 74 after cancer battle • Mrunal Thakur warns of legal action over AI-generated deepfake content • Fazlur Rehman warns against politicizing debate over new provinces • Pakistan posts 387, secures first-innings lead over West Indies • Pakistan exempt from new US visa bond program • Trump voices concern over oil company profits amid Iran conflict • West Indies all out for 344 against Pakistan in first innings • Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly set to marry Georgina Rodriguez on Aug 8 • Trump says Gulf States backed diplomatic path with Iran • Fuel theft surges across UK as rising prices drive daily losses • Why ‘Inception’ remains one of Hollywood’s most rewatchable films • ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ opens with $355m worldwide • Secret wedding allegation involving Varma and Urmila resurfaces • Bilawal Bhutto alleges rigging in AJK elections • PM orders comprehensive performance review of federal ministries
Advertise with us >

FIFA World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo earned about $570 minute last year

by
Cristiano Ronaldo

LISBON: Cristiano Ronaldo may have fallen short of winning a FIFA World Cup with Portugal, but the football superstar continues to rank among the world’s highest-paid athletes, earning an estimated $570 per minute over the past year, according to Forbes.

The business magazine estimates Ronaldo’s net worth has reached $1.2 billion, placing him among the wealthiest athletes in history. Forbes said the Portugal captain earned about $300 million over the past year, equivalent to roughly $570 every minute.

A significant portion of Ronaldo’s income comes from his contract with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, which he joined in 2023 and renewed in 2025. According to the report, the deal is worth more than $200 million annually.

Beyond his football salary, Ronaldo generates substantial revenue through endorsement deals, business investments and his extensive social media presence, making him one of the world’s most commercially successful athletes.

Although Portugal did not win the most recent FIFA World Cup  a tournament widely viewed as potentially Ronaldo’s last  the 41-year-old has not announced his retirement from international football.

World Cup champion Spain returns home to hero’s welcome

by
World Cup champion

MADRID: Spain’s national football team returned home after defeating defending champion Argentina to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing the country’s second world title.

The team’s aircraft landed in Madrid, where players and coaching staff arrived carrying the World Cup trophy after their historic triumph in New York.

Captain Rodri emerged from the plane holding the coveted trophy, smiling as he celebrated Spain’s victory. Head coach Luis de la Fuente and Spanish Football Federation President Rafael Louzán also returned with the squad.

Spain clinched the World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday’s final. The match remained scoreless until Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time, ending Spain’s 16-year wait for another World Cup crown.

The victory marks Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title and crowns the team as world champion for the next four years.

World Cup champion Spain returns home to hero’s welcome

by
World Cup champion

MADRID: Spain’s national football team returned home after defeating defending champion Argentina to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing the country’s second world title.

The team’s aircraft landed in Madrid, where players and coaching staff arrived carrying the World Cup trophy after their historic triumph in New York.

Captain Rodri emerged from the plane holding the coveted trophy, smiling as he celebrated Spain’s victory. Head coach Luis de la Fuente and Spanish Football Federation President Rafael Louzán also returned with the squad.

Spain clinched the World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday’s final. The match remained scoreless until Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time, ending Spain’s 16-year wait for another World Cup crown.

The victory marks Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title and crowns the team as world champion for the next four years.

Emergency alert issued ahead of FIFA World Cup final in New York

by
Emergency alert

NEW YORK: Authorities issued emergency flood warnings for parts of New York and New Jersey on Saturday, hours before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, as severe weather threatened to disrupt travel and pre-match preparations.

The championship match between Argentina and Spain is scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. However, deteriorating weather conditions have complicated preparations for both teams and raised concerns for fans traveling to the venue.

Officials warned of potentially life-threatening flash flooding and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Emergency alerts sent to mobile phones in parts of New York warned of a flash flood risk through the afternoon and advised people to leave flood-prone areas if instructed by authorities.

The latest weather concerns come after air quality in New York and New Jersey was affected by smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada. Earlier this week, officials classified air quality in parts of New Jersey as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

Calls to relocate the World Cup final had already surfaced because of smoky conditions, and the flash flood warnings have added to concerns surrounding the event.

Tournament organizers continue to monitor the weather closely, while both teams have adjusted their preparations ahead of Sunday’s final. No changes to the match schedule had been announced at the time of reporting.

Canadian wildfire smoke raises air quality concerns ahead of World Cup final

by
Canadian wildfire

NEW YORK: Smoke from massive wildfires in Canada has blanketed parts of New York and New Jersey, prompting health officials to issue air quality alerts ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.

According to international media reports, authorities have advised residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and limit strenuous exercise as smoke continues to affect air quality across the region.

The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where more than 80,000 spectators are expected. While organizers have not announced any changes to the match schedule, the deteriorating air quality has raised concerns ahead of the championship game.

Spain has continued training outdoors since arriving in New Jersey, while Argentina is scheduled to hold its training session on Friday despite the smoky conditions.

The poor air quality has already affected other sporting events. A National Women’s Soccer League match introduced additional hydration and recovery breaks because of the conditions, while some players voiced concerns about competing in polluted air. In Chicago, a Major League Soccer match was postponed due to unhealthy air quality.

Forecasters expect rain on Friday and Saturday to help improve air quality before Sunday’s World Cup final.

Shakira lauds Lionel Messi ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup final

by
Shakira lauds

MIAMI: Colombian singer Shakira has voiced her admiration for Lionel Messi ahead of the FIFA World Cup final, praising the Argentine captain’s determination, discipline and continued success on football’s biggest stage.

Following Argentina’s semifinal victory, Shakira shared a message on her Instagram Stories, calling Messi’s performances “beyond extraordinary” and describing him as an example of commitment and perseverance.

“What @lionelmessi is doing is beyond extraordinary. It shows the values of a man who is deeply committed and disciplined, challenging time and all odds,” Shakira wrote.

She also credited Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, for her support throughout his career, saying that having her by his side provides him with strength and inspiration.

 Roccuzzo later reposted the tribute on her own Instagram Stories, responding with a teary-eyed emoji and a white heart.

Messi led Argentina to a 2-1 comeback victory over England in the World Cup semifinals, booking a place in Sunday’s final against Spain.

The Inter Miami star has scored eight goals in the tournament, tying France’s Kylian Mbappé as the competition’s leading scorer.

Shakira will also take center stage during the World Cup final, where she is scheduled to co-headline the first FIFA World Cup halftime show alongside Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber, with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin serving as the show’s curator. The final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

France, Spain set for blockbuster FIFA World Cup semifinal

by
France

ARLINGTON: France and Spain will face off in the first semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday night, with a place in the tournament final at stake.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 12 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time and features one of the tournament’s most anticipated matchups, pitting France’s potent attack against Spain’s outstanding defense.

Spain has conceded just one goal throughout the tournament and remains unbeaten, with its only dropped points coming in a scoreless draw against Cape Verde. The Spaniards are bidding to win their second World Cup title.

France, the 2018 World Cup champion and runner-up four years later, has reached the World Cup final in four of the last seven editions, underlining its consistency on football’s biggest stage.

France will look to captain Kylian Mbappé to lead its attack, while Spain’s hopes will rest largely on teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who has been one of the standout performers of the tournament.

Spain also enters the match with recent success against France, having defeated the French side at UEFA Euro 2024 and in the UEFA Nations League semifinals last year.

Messi scores in Argentina’s 3-2 comeback win over Egypt

by
Messi scores

ATLANTA: Defending champion Argentina came from two goals down to defeat Egypt 3-2 on Tuesday, securing a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Egypt stunned Argentina with two first-half goals after Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring before Mostafa Ziko doubled the lead.

Argentina had an opportunity to equalize earlier in the match, but captain Lionel Messi failed to convert a penalty after Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shabir made a crucial save.

Ziko also had another goal ruled out for a foul before scoring Egypt’s second to give his side a commanding 2-0 advantage.

Argentina mounted a dramatic comeback in the closing stages of the second half. The South American side scored its first goal in the 80th minute before Messi leveled the match three minutes later.

Argentina completed the turnaround with a late winner to seal a 3-2 victory and advance to the quarterfinals.

The win keeps Argentina’s title defense alive, while Egypt’s World Cup campaign came to an end despite its strong first-half performance.

Cristiano Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his final tournament

by
Cristiano Ronaldo

HOUSTON:  Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed Sunday that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the final major international tournament of his career.

Speaking ahead of Portugal’s Round of 16 match against Spain, the 41-year-old said he intends to enjoy every moment of the tournament and hopes his team’s World Cup journey is not over yet.

“When the time comes to retire from international football, I will leave satisfied because I know I have given everything I could for my country and for the game,” Ronaldo said.

He added that he continues to play out of passion and no longer feels the need to prove himself.

Ronaldo has scored three goals at the 2026 World Cup, including two against Uzbekistan in the group stage to become the first player to score in six different World Cup editions. He also scored his first career World Cup knockout-stage goal with a penalty against Croatia.

The Portugal star described the 2026 tournament as the most emotional World Cup of his career.

Ronaldo also said criticism has helped shape him throughout his career, adding that every challenge has made him a better player and person.

Round of 16 begins at FIFA World Cup 2026

by
Round of 16

NEW YORK: The FIFA World Cup 2026 enters its Round of 16 on Saturday, with the tournament’s remaining 16 teams beginning the race for a place in the quarterfinals after an expanded knockout stage narrowed the field.

Following the group stage and the newly introduced Round of 32, co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico advanced alongside Brazil, Paraguay, Morocco, Norway, France, England, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Egypt, Argentina and Colombia.

The Round of 16 opens Saturday with Canada facing Morocco in Houston, while Paraguay takes on France in Philadelphia.

On Sunday, Brazil will meet Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium before Mexico hosts England at Mexico City Stadium.

Monday’s schedule features an all-European clash between Portugal and Spain in Dallas, followed by the United States against Belgium in Seattle.

The final two Round of 16 matches will be played Tuesday, with Argentina facing Egypt in Atlanta and Switzerland taking on Colombia in Vancouver.

The winners of the eight matches will advance to the quarterfinals as the tournament moves closer to the July 19 final.