ITV to show England’s 2026 World Cup opener, BBC bets on knockout rounds December 10, 2025 ITV will show England’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Croatia after it and the BBC confirmed their allocations for the tournament. All 104 matches will be broadcast on free-to-air television in the UK, with the BBC and ITV sharing the fixtures and both showing the final on 19 July. While ITV has [...]
English football clubs facing financial distress drops by 50 per cent December 10, 2025 The financial health of English football appears to be improving, with the number of clubs in the EFL deemed to be facing distress halving since last year. Only three of the 72 teams in the English Football League, which comprises the three professional divisions below the Premier League, meet that bar, according to an annual [...]
Paul Pogba announces move into camel racing with Saudi team Al Haboob December 10, 2025 World Cup-winning former Manchester United footballer Paul Pogba has become an investor in the world’s first pro camel racing team, Saudi Arabia-based Al Haboob. Pogba, who now plays for Monaco after returning from a ban for anti-doping breaches, has also been named an ambassador for the team, which competes across the Middle East. “I’ve watched [...]
Paramount takeover of UK sport cools despite Champions League grab December 10, 2025 Paramount Skydance has no plans to launch a UK sports channel after acquiring Champions League rights from 2027 onwards in an indication that a major expansion into sport from the global streaming platform is unlikely. As it stands the Champions League is likely to be broadcast in this country on Paramount+, while the entertainment network [...]
The politics behind the 2026 Fifa World Cup draw and schedule December 9, 2025 By the time the Village People walked out on stage to close the 2026 Fifa World Cup draw, to the delight of US President Donald Trump and Fifa chief Gianni Infantino, many fans’ thoughts had already turned to who their team would be playing and when. And when the full schedule was confirmed 24 hours [...]
Reynolds and Mac sell stake in Wrexham AFC to major sport investors December 8, 2025 Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds have sold part of Championship football club Wrexham AFC to Apollo Sports Capital. The sports investment company recently acquired a majority stake in LaLiga giants Atletico Madrid and will now add a minority holding in the Welsh team – Reynolds and Mac will continue as controlling owners. Reynolds and Mac [...]
Salah’s Egypt and Iran will contest a ‘pride match’ at 2026 Fifa World Cup December 8, 2025 The 2026 Fifa World Cup match between Egypt and Iran has been designated as host city Seattle’s “pride match”. Homosexuality is illegal in both Egypt and Iran but the local organising committee in host city Seattle – the Seattle Pride Match Advisory Committee, which is not affiliated with Fifa – has said the match on [...]
Cardiff City’s £100m Sala damages claim set for court in France December 8, 2025 Cardiff City’s £100m damages claim surrounding the 2019 transfer of Nantes striker Emiliano Sala will be heard today in France. The Welsh club argues that they’re owed damages after the death of Sala, who was killed when his plane crashed on the way to Cardiff for a £15m transfer in January 2019. He and the [...]
Icons, purpose and gastronomy: How brands can win at the 2026 World Cup December 7, 2025 The Fifa men’s World Cup is more than a tournament, it’s becoming the most glamorous, immersive and culturally defining sporting event of the decade. With 48 teams, three host nations, and a projected $17bn economic impact, the scale of the World Cup is staggering. And in true American style, Fifa has even announced the 2026 [...]
World Cup draw: Why Scotland have bookmakers running scared December 5, 2025 Scottish success is the result that bookmakers fear the most ahead of today’s 2026 World Cup draw, William Hill has said. Scotland booked their return to football’s biggest event, ending a 28-year absence, with a dramatic win over Denmark last month. Steve Clarke’s team are 125-1 outsiders to lift the World Cup but that hasn’t [...]