Cristiano Ronaldo says he is still available for Portugal after walking out on squad

Cristiano Ronaldo is not following Lionel Messi into international retirement just yet. The Portugal superstar said he will remain available to play for his national team, despite having walked out on the squad during the current international window. In a lengthy statement posted Tuesday, just hours before Messi's much-anticipated farewell game with Argentina, Ronaldo said recently hired coach Jorge Jesus hadn't been true to his word about when he would play the striker in the latest round of N

2026-10-07 13:09:31:00

Argentina bids Messi farewell in final national team match, ending an era

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Argentina is girding itself for the once-unimaginable prospect of a national team without soccer great Lionel Messi. On Tuesday, the 39-year-old Messi is set to bid farewell to international soccer after 21 years, 125 goals, two Copa América titles and a World Cup championship. What would otherwise be an unremarkable friendly match against the West African nation of Benin has become the moment that this soccer-crazed country has long dreaded. "It feels like an era

2026-10-07 11:22:14:00

Infantino's World Cup investment plan fallout reshapes the March FIFA vote

GENEVA (AP) -- FIFA President Gianni Infantino already is in globe-trotting campaign mode more than five months ahead of the vote when 211 member federations decide who will lead the world soccer body until 2031. The March election comes as Infantino faces the biggest leadership crisis since he took office in 2016, triggered by backlash against his now-withdrawn plan to sell private investors a stake in the commercial rights to the World Cup and other FIFA tournaments. The FIFA leader has a busy

2026-10-07 10:57:54:00

IOC confirms India, Qatar among 7 bidders who want to host 2036 Olympics

GENEVA (AP) -- India and Qatar finally got some clarity on Tuesday for their long-held ambitions to host the 2036 Olympics. They are now in a formal contest with five other bidders, including one that would take the Summer Games for the first time to Africa. The International Olympic Committee set an Oct. 31 deadline for late arrivals to the contest. India and Qatar have long been seen as favored candidates in a hosting contest the IOC aims to decide in 2029 by a contested vote of its 100-plus m

2026-10-07 10:48:35:00

Rising Sun flag Displayed at Asian Games judo venue

Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women‘s University has reported to the Olympic Council of Asia the display of the Rising Sun flag by spectators at a judo venue during the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Seo said on social media Monday that some spectators unfurled Rising Sun flags while cheering during the judo mixed team final between Japan and Kazakhstan at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya on Oct. 3. A South Korean judo official who noticed the flag asked the organizing committee to tak

2026-10-06 14:36:01:00

KPGA AmazingCre Open tees off Wednesday

The newly launched KPGA Tour AmazingCre Open, carrying a total purse of about $521,000, will be held from Wednesday through Saturday at Flamingo Country Club in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province. The tournament is sponsored by golf apparel brand AmazingCre and was created to provide more opportunities for domestic male golfers amid a decline in the number of KPGA Tour events and overall prize money. Although its total purse and winner's prize of about $104,000 are smaller than those of many ot

2026-10-06 14:15:15:00

S. Korea women's volleyball team qualifies for 2027 World Cup

The South Korean women's national volleyball team has qualified for the 2027 FIVB World Cup, which will offer berths for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The International Volleyball Federation announced the 32 participating countries Sunday. South Korea earned a place based on its world ranking of No. 27 as of Friday. The FIVB previously renamed the World Championship, which had been held every four years through 2025, as the World Cup and decided to stage it every two years. It will be South Kor

2026-10-06 13:52:51:00

Kim Hyo-joo eyes third straight Aramco Korea title

Kim Hyo-joo will compete in a Ladies European Tour event in South Korea this week as she seeks her third straight title at the Aramco Korea Championship. Kim will attempt to win the tournament for a third consecutive year when the $2 million event begins Thursday at New Korea Country Club in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The tournament is part of the PIF Global Series organized by the LET with support from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Kim won her first title of the season at the LPGA Tour

2026-10-06 09:57:29:00

Yoon Ina rises to No. 17 in world rankings

Yoon Ina moved up in the women's world golf rankings after finishing runner-up at the LPGA Tour's Lotte Championship. Yoon received an average of 3.52 points in the rankings released Monday, climbing six spots from No. 23 last week to No. 17. She finished second at the Lotte Championship, which ended Sunday, after a close battle for the title with Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand. Thitikul, who won the tournament for her fourth victory of the season, remained No. 2 in the world rankings. With an avera

2026-10-06 09:47:19:00

Shin Ji-ae Claims 30th Japan Tour win

Shin Ji-ae secured a permanent exemption on the JLPGA Tour after recording her 30th career victory. She also became the first player in Japanese women's golf history to complete a career Grand Slam across the tour's four major championships. Shin shot a 4-under-par final-round 66 with five birdies and one bogey at the Japan Women's Open Golf Championship at Takarazuka Golf Club in Hyogo Prefecture on Sunday. The tournament carried a total purse of about $951,000. Shin finished at 11-under 269 to

2026-10-05 17:46:05:00