Why 2026 World Cup is when AI becomes the interface between fans and football June 21, 2026 The 2026 World Cup is the first AI-shaped major sports event and will change football fandom forever. Jon Williams outlines what sponsors, broadcasters and brands need to do about it. Football, like the creative advertising business I work in, thinks the biggest gains from AI are operational – speed, efficiency, and more. They’re not. AI’s [...]
Cruz galloper set for a Winning Ovation in Premier Cup June 20, 2026 RACING in Hong Kong is back in action at Sha Tin on Sunday, with an 11-race programme featuring a couple of Group Three contests. Umbrellas’ have once again been to the fore in the city, with both 70 millimetres of rain falling in the Sha Tin area during the week and over 3000 lightning strikes [...]
Box can provide you with a Boom at Sha Tin June 20, 2026 THERE is no doubt the 10-furlong Class Three Lapis Lazuli Handicap (12.40pm) is the most difficult puzzle on the card, but nevertheless finding the winner should pay rich dividends. The likes of ultra-consistent Enthusium for Andrea Atzeni and last start winner Family Jewel who represents the Caspar Fownes and Joao Moreira combination are both likely [...]
Platitudes in women’s sport are empty, patronising and offensive June 20, 2026 Georgia Bridgwood argues that women’s sport should rid itself of platitudes; they’re empty, patronising and offensive. “You got this,” proclaimed Adidas. “Thirsty for more,” said Pepsi. “You don’t get it,” I thought to myself. In our exploration of ‘now what?’ for women’s sport at SXSW London this month, the panel dug into why we’re in [...]
Be Brave with Comanche and Sajir in QEII sprint June 19, 2026 THIS YEAR’S Royal Ascot meeting comes to a close with Saturday’s seven-race card, where the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.40pm) is the feature contest. Australia are doubly represented here with Joliestar and Overpass, the latter backing up from his valiant third in the King Charles III on Tuesday. I respect these two, [...]
Expect a Goliath performance from French raider in Hardwicke June 19, 2026 SATURDAY’s Royal Ascot card signifies the end of a brilliant five days of action, but there’s still loads of top-class action to get stuck into on the final day. The Group Two Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm) is always a competitive heat for the older middle-distance horses, and it’s no different with six Group One winners involved [...]
Time for a Berkshire Sundance in the Ascot finale June 19, 2026 ROYAL Ascot 2026 comes to a close with the longest race of the week, the Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10pm), run over two-miles-five-and-a-half furlongs. It goes without saying that you need a stamina laden contender to have a chance in this so it’s perhaps not surprising that this race has been dominated by jumps trainers in [...]
F*** f*** f***: Tennis star Moutet fined £4k per F-bomb for Queen’s Club outburst on BBC June 19, 2026 French tennis player Corentin Moutet has been fined 90 per cent of his prize money – or £4,322 per swear word – for saying “f***” seven times in a post-match interview at Queen’s Club. Moutet turned the air blue during the BBC’s live coverage of the HSBC Championships when interviewed on court by Jenny Drummond [...]
SailGP complete sale of last team in fleet to former McLaren and Everton investors June 19, 2026 SailGP chiefs have hailed “a very significant milestone” after MSP Sports Capital’s majority buyout of the New Zealand team took the final outfit into private ownership. Private equity firm MSP sold its stake in McLaren’s Formula 1 team last year and previously loaned £185m to Everton for the construction of their Hill Dickinson Stadium. The [...]
Arsenal launch £7k-a-head VIP package with seats behind dugout and player meeting June 19, 2026 Premier League champions Arsenal have launched a new ultra-premium hospitality offering, the Hero Experience, that costs almost £7,000 a head for top games. The VIP package, believed to be the most expensive single ticket in the Premier League, includes seats behind the Arsenal dugout, a private pitch-side tour with a club legend, a shirt or [...]