Sports
21 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
Lionel Messi drew criticism for demanding referee Slavko Vinčić red-card Spain's Marc Cucurella during Argentina's 1-0 extra-time World Cup final defeat. Cucurella covered his mouth while speaking to Messi, breaching FIFA's IFAB-approved rule meant to stop players hiding abusive language from lip-readers. VAR reviewed but declined, deeming the exchange non-confrontational. Pundits Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart called Messi's appeal 'sad' and desperate.
21 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
The 23rd Commonwealth Games open in Glasgow in two days with just 10 sports — the fewest since 1994. Australia's Victoria had planned 21 sports but withdrew in July 2023 after costs ballooned to an estimated AUD 6-7 billion. Glasgow stepped in as a last resort, staging a scaled-down event across seven venues with no athletes' village. Badminton, hockey, cricket and wrestling were dropped.
21 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Lionel Messi thanked Argentine fans after his side lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19. In a tearful Instagram post, he congratulated the champions and said the wound would take time to heal, noting Argentina had reached two straight finals. Messi gave no word on whether his international career is over.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Rudi Garcia will leave as Belgium's coach after failing to agree a contract extension with the Royal Belgian Football Association. The federation said on Monday it would not renew his deal beyond the end of this month and is seeking a successor. The French coach took Belgium to the World Cup quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual champions Spain.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Kevin Keegan, twice a Ballon d'Or winner and a European Cup winner with Liverpool, has died at 75, his former club Newcastle announced on Monday. Keegan, who both played for and managed Newcastle and went on to captain and coach England, disclosed last month that he had stage four cancer. Fans laid tributes outside Newcastle's St James' Park.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Kushagra Ojha made a composed unbeaten hundred to rescue India U-19 from a poor start against Sri Lanka on the rain-shortened opening day of the second Youth Test in Colombo on Monday. His innings carried the visitors to 253 for three from 65 overs before umpires ended play early because of bad light, leaving India well placed.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Ryan Fox holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the last at Royal Birkdale to win the British Open by a stroke, sealing it just after 5:30am back home before sunrise. New Zealanders woke on Monday to a fourth major champion from their country. The victory lifted Fox from 56th to 22nd in the Official World Golf Ranking.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
Writing on X, PV Sindhu said she contacted Virat Kohli at the lowest point of her career, when injuries were mounting and results had dried up, and that he replied within minutes and met her the next day. The 31-year-old kept the conversation private but said it reframed her purpose. A toe ligament injury had kept her out for three months.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Former India captain Diana Edulji has argued for a split-captaincy arrangement in the women's team, saying it is time to move on from Harmanpreet Kaur in white-ball cricket after India went out at the group stage of the recent ICC Women's T20 World Cup. She suggests handing the white-ball role to Smriti Mandhana. Edulji spoke at the Maharani Trophy launch in Bengaluru.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
Dabang Delhi TTC beat Ahmedabad APL Pipers 9-6 in Ultimate Table Tennis Season 7 on Monday, captain Sathiyan Gnanasekaran delivering wins in mixed doubles with Maria Xiao and a straight-games singles victory over Payas Jain. It was Delhi's third win of the season, lifting their playoff hopes, though Ahmedabad's Manika Batra signed off with a singles win over Sutirtha Mukherjee.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
The Reliance Foundation Development League's Japan tour for under-21 sides closed with Bengaluru FC unbeaten, holding Avispa Fukuoka goalless before winning 4-3 on penalties for a third straight victory. FC Goa beat Giravanz Kitakyushu 3-1 through Malsawmtluanga, Sitroy Carvalho and Shawn Fernandes. Punjab FC led Baleine Shimonoseki until a stoppage-time equaliser, then lost 7-6 on penalties.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
Thousands who gathered at the Obelisk to watch Argentina defend their title clashed with police late on Sunday after the 1-0 loss to Spain. Local reports say supporters tried to breach fencing and threw rocks and bottles; riot officers used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon. At least 15 were arrested and dozens reportedly injured.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Rohit Sharma said speculation about his international future will not stop while he keeps playing, and that he would rather concentrate on scoring than argue with it. His 138 at Lord's on Sunday could not prevent a 27-run defeat that handed England the ODI series, a reverse he called disappointing after India had won the opener at Birmingham.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
Prime Minister Peter Magyar has put forward grandmaster Judit Polgar for Hungary's presidency and plans to meet her to ask whether she will serve. The office fell vacant after lawmakers amended the constitution to remove Tamas Sulyok, a Viktor Orban ally who stepped down on Sunday. Parliament must choose a successor within 30 days. Human Rights Watch criticised the amendment.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Cheers gave way to tears across Buenos Aires as Argentina's hopes of another Messi-led comeback died in the 1-0 defeat to Spain. At Cafe Relax in the historic centre, supporters said the sharpest grief was not the scoreline but the near-certainty that this was 39-year-old Lionel Messi's final World Cup, ending a run of narrow wins that had bred confidence.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Luis de la Fuente turned the praise on his players after Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium, saying he had never imagined anything like it and would have achieved nothing without them. The Spain coach framed the second world title as the work of a generation built on collective sacrifice.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · The Hindu
Thousands of fans filled Madrid's Plaza de Cibeles after Spain beat Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final, roaring out Queen's 'We Are the Champions'. The celebrations broke out close to midnight and looked set to run until dawn, leaving little prospect of sleep in the capital. Passengers aboard an Iberia flight were treated to the same anthem.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni wept and left his press conference after the 1-0 loss to Spain, conceding the opponents were better while defending his players' effort and their conduct in defeat. The 48-year-old, whose contract expires in December, said he would honour it and then decide, casting doubt on reports of a verbal deal to stay through 2030.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
After handing the trophy to captain Rodri, Donald Trump stayed on the podium while Spain celebrated their 1-0 win over Argentina, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino visibly trying to steer him away before he stepped off. Clips spread widely online. A similar scene played out at last year's Club World Cup final at the same New Jersey venue with Chelsea.
20 Jul 2026 · Sports · News18
Manchester City's Rodri, 30, became only the eleventh men's player to hold the World Cup, Champions League and Ballon d'Or after leading Spain past Argentina. He took the Golden Ball ahead of Messi and Mbappe, having covered more ground and completed more passes than anyone at the tournament, less than two years after an ACL injury.
Archive: 2026-07