

FIFA makes major announcements, awarding host nations for the next two men's World Cups - Saudi Arabia for 2034 and a joint bid from Morocco, Portugal and Spain for the 2030 edition. Additionally, the 2027 Women's World Cup will be held in Brazil and the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup will take place in Qatar. These decisions were made at the virtual Extraordinary FIFA Congress meeting on Wednesday. A reminder is also given that the USA, Canada and Mexico will co-host the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA Announces Host Nations for World Cups 2026–2034
In a significant development, FIFA has awarded the hosting rights for the upcoming editions of the FIFA Men's World Cup and FIFA Women's World Cup.
FIFA Men's World Cup 2030 and 2034
FIFA Women's World Cup 2027
FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025
Co-Hosting of 2026 World Cup
Background
FIFA's decision-making process for selecting host nations involves a rigorous evaluation of technical, logistical, and financial aspects of each bid. The bidding process for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups began in 2022, with various countries expressing their interest.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Why was Morocco, Portugal, and Spain's joint bid selected for the 2030 World Cup?
2. What are the concerns regarding Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup?
3. Is it possible for a country to host multiple World Cups?
4. What is the significance of Brazil hosting the 2027 Women's World Cup?
5. When will the FIFA Women's World Cup expand to 32 teams?

The mini auction for IPL 2026 saw franchises splurge on both Indian and overseas players in a bid to strengthen their squads. RCB secured Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore, while RR added Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for ₹7.2 crore. The biggest surprise came in the form of Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who was bought for a whopping ₹18 crore by an undisclosed team, highlighting the value placed on death-over specialists in T20 cricket.

In a dramatic and chaotic Copa del Rey match, Barcelona narrowly defeated third division team Guadalajara with late goals from Andreas Christensen and Marcus Rashford. The game was delayed for 30 minutes due to issues with a temporary stand at the Pedro Escartín Stadium in Guadalajara, near Madrid. After long queues and a police intervention, fans were finally allowed into the stadium, increasing its capacity from 6000 to 8000 with the new stand.

The Delhi Capitals have made some strategic moves at the IPL 2026 auction, focusing on strengthening their opening options and adding depth to their pace bowling department. With the inclusion of experienced players like David Miller and Kyle Jamieson, and talented young prospects like Pathum Nissanka and Prithvi Shaw, the Capitals have covered all bases and are ready to compete for the title in the upcoming season. They have also made a smart pick in the uncapped Auqib Nabi, adding more depth and variety to their pace attack.

In a thrilling bidding war between RCB and KKR, India's Venkatesh Iyer becomes the highest-selling player in the IPL 2026 Auction, fetching a whopping Rs. 7 crores. RCB emerged victorious in securing the talented all-rounder's signing, beating out his previous franchise KKR. The young cricketer's impressive performances in the 2025 season caught the attention of the franchise owners, making him a sought-after player in the auction.

In a tough Copa del Rey clash, Barcelona battled against third-tier Guadalajara and secured a 2-0 win in the last 16 thanks to a late goal from Marcus Rashford. Despite making eight changes to their starting lineup, the La Liga leaders persevered and defender Andreas Christensen put them ahead in the 76th minute. However, it was Rashford's 90th-minute strike that sealed the victory and ensured Barcelona's progress in the competition. Other teams, including Real Sociedad and Valencia, also advanced to the next round.

The IPL 2026 auction saw Australian cricketer Cameron Green fetching a whopping Rs 25.2 crore bid from Kolkata Knight Riders. However, due to the league's maximum fee rule, which limits overseas players from earning more than Rs 18 crore, Green will only receive the capped amount while the excess money will be used for player welfare. This rule does not apply to Indian players, who will receive their actual bid amount.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad have finalized their lineup for the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League, with Pat Cummins taking over as captain and leading a formidable roster. The team has brought in big names like Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards, and also boasts a strong Indian core with players like Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. Exciting young talent like Smaran Ravichandran and Aniket Verma are also expected to make an impact. With a strong bowling attack and skilled overseas backups, the Orange Army is looking to make a strong showing in the upcoming season.

The International Federation of Football History and Statistics has released their annual rankings for the best youth players in the world, and for the second year in a row, Barcelona players have claimed the top spots. Vicky López, a Spanish forward, has successfully defended her title as the best Under 20 female footballer while Lamine Yamal, a Swiss midfielder, has once again dominated the men's category. The dominance of Barcelona's academy in elite women's football is reinforced by the inclusion of another club player, Sydney Schertenleib, in the global Top 10 for women.

Indian all-rounder Deepak Hooda is once again under scrutiny for his bowling action, as the BCCI has informed IPL franchises about his suspect action ahead of the upcoming auction. Hooda, who has previously represented India in limited-overs matches, has not bowled in the IPL since last season but has been seen bowling in domestic tournaments. This news comes as a potential blow to his chances of being picked in the upcoming auction, where he features in the all-rounder category with a base price of Rs 75 lakh.

In an exciting match between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings, opener Priyansh Aryan proved to be the star player as he scored his first ever half century in just 19 balls. This comes after he was dropped on the second ball of the first over by Khaleel Ahmed. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Aryan was able to reach his milestone and lead Punjab to victory. Stay tuned to see what other exciting matches this season has in store for us.