Fifa World Cup sponsors outperform FTSE 100 and S&P 500 May 5, 2026 Major Fifa World Cup sponsors outperform FTSE 100 returns by a factor of five and the S&P 500 by three as brands look to dominate the conversation during the tournament. IG research looking at the performance of major World Cup sponsors saw an average return of 7.1 per cent during tournament cycles – from 30 [...]
London Marathon ballots entries double in two years to record 1.34m May 5, 2026 The London Marathon has broken its own world record for applications after demand more than doubled in just two years. A total of 1,338,544 people entered the ballot for next year’s London Marathon, which opened just before this year’s race nine days ago. That number represented an 18 per cent year-on-year increase and more than [...]
Quarter of Brits planning trip to watch US sport matches stateside May 5, 2026 Nearly a quarter of British sports fans have said they plan to head to the United States to watch live sport as the home of NFL and NBA continues to drive fandom around the world. Nearly 40 per cent of UK sports fans have attended a live match in one of the NFL, NBA, MLB, [...]
Anti-US sentiment and Iran to have major World Cup security impact May 5, 2026 Anti-US sentiment and the conflict in Iran is set to have a major impact on the Fifa World Cup, security experts have warned. The United States – which is currently engaged in a conflict with World Cup qualifiers Iran – will host the majority of this summer’s tournament, which kicks off in just over a [...]
Mercedes bid for Alpine could be blocked by FIA multi-team rule change May 4, 2026 FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has hinted that motorsport’s world governing body could prevent Mercedes from buying a minority stake in Formula 1 competitor Alpine. Mercedes is among the bidders for a 24 per cent stake in Alpine that has been put up for sale by Otro Capital. Former Red Bull principal Christian Horner is [...]
Ascot quits Racecourse Association as Jockey Club sets ultimatum May 4, 2026 Ascot chiefs have quit the Racecourse Association after the industry body failed to resolve “structural governance concerns” to its satisfaction. The Jockey Club, Ascot, Goodwood, Newbury and York racecourses wrote to the RCA to demand changes earlier this year. The Jockey Club has given the RCA more time to deliver reforms but Ascot has served [...]
Track Radio bets on sport, music and BBC veterans to prove winning formula May 4, 2026 Track Radio launches today, on a mission to reach a neglected audience with a blend of sport and music, and a strong presenter line-up, founder Iain Macintosh explains. Sport and music have always been happy bedfellows – Mick Jagger and cricket, Elton John and football, Snoop Dogg and, well, just about anything – so it’s [...]
Gloucester Rugby secure £300k fan investment at £36.5m valuation May 4, 2026 Gloucester Rugby have raised £300k from a fan investment cycle at a valuation of £36.5m as investment in the Prem continues. With 23 days left on their public raise, the Prem Rugby strugglers have achieved a fresh goal of having £300,000 in commitments. The 122 investors have pledged an average of over £2,500 apiece but [...]
Roland Garros targeted by WTA and ATP tennis players as pay row reignited May 4, 2026 The row between the world’s top tennis players and the four grand slams continues to rage on after WTA and ATP stars hit out at Roland Garros over prize money. This year’s French Open increased prize money across the board ahead of the 125th edition of the Parisian tournament – up nearly 10 per cent [...]
Why we can’t just dismiss Infantino’s sports diplomacy with Trump May 3, 2026 Former FCDO special adviser, Flint Global’s Alan Sendorek, discusses the sport diplomacy playing out with Fifa’s Infantino and Trump at its centre. Gianni Infantino’s efforts to cultivate a visibly warm relationship with Donald Trump have been mocked in many quarters. From the award of the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize to hailing the President as ‘my [...]