Sports world

Alpine will exit the World Endurance Championship at the conclusion of 2026 to concentrate on Formula 1. Renault-owned Alpine will exit the World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the conclusion of the season to concentrate on Formula One, as announced by the sportscar manufacturer on Thursday. Alpine's Formula One team has transitioned to Mercedes engines this season after finishing last overall with Renault power in 2025. Renault's Dacia brand triumphed in the Dakar Rally last month but has also ruled out a return next year. "We have had to make difficult decisions to safeguard the long-term goals of Alpine," stated Alpine CEO Philippe Krief. "On one hand, the automotive sector, particularly the EV market, is expanding at a slower pace than anticipated. On the other hand, to achieve long-term success, we must persist in our ongoing investment in the Alpine product range and brand. "While we regret our inability to continue in the WEC after this season, conce...

2026-27 UEFA Nations League draw The draw for the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League was conducted on Thursday. League A Group A1: France, Italy, Belgium, Turkey Group A2: Germany, Netherlands, Serbia, Greece Group A3: Spain, Croatia, England, Czech Republic Group A4: Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Wales League B Group B1: Scotland, Switzerland, Slovenia, North Macedonia Group B2: Hungary, Ukraine, Georgia, Northern Ireland Group B3: Israel, Austria, Ireland, Kosovo Group B4: Poland, Bosnia, Romania, Sweden League C Group C1: Albania, Finland, Belarus, San Marino Group C2: Montenegro, Armenia, Cyprus, Latvia/Gibraltar* Group C3: Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Faroe Islands, Moldova Group C4: Iceland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg/Malta* League D Group D1: Gibraltar/Latvia*, Malta/Luxembourg*, Andorra Group D2: Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

India decisively defeat Namibia in preparation for the upcoming match against Pakistan. The defending champions, India, continued their journey towards the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup by achieving a commanding 93-run victory over Namibia in a Group A match held at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. After being put in to bat, India amassed a total of 209-9, thanks to rapid half-centuries from opener Ishan Kishan (61) and middle-order batsman Hardik Pandya (52). They subsequently bowled out Namibia for 116 in 18.2 overs, marking their second consecutive win and securing the top position in the group due to their superior net run-rate compared to Pakistan, who also have four points from two matches. The Asian rivals are set to face each other in a highly anticipated match in Colombo on Sunday. "I believe it was a commendable game for everyone involved," stated India captain Suryakumar Yadav. "Batting on that wicket was quite challenging. The way Ishan and San...

Real Madrid is optimistic that their La Liga momentum will be enhanced by a team dinner sponsored by Vinícius and Mbappé. Real Madrid is relying on a team-building dinner, reportedly funded by the club's top players, to enhance their late-season chase for the La Liga and Champions League titles. According to midfielder Dani Ceballos, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé covered the expenses at a restaurant in Madrid on Tuesday. The total bill exceeded 1,000 euros ($1,100), as reported by Spanish media outlets. Vinícius shared a photo of the entire team during the dinner, which took place in an upscale venue near the city center known as "Art Dining Club." Fans gathered outside the restaurant in hopes of speaking with the players after the dinner, which extended well past midnight. Coach Álvaro Arbeloa and his coaching staff were not present at the dinner, according to reports from Spanish media. This display of solidarity occurred just one week before Madrid is set to compet...

Italy's dreamlike narrative quakes at Wankhede Italy made a loud announcement of their arrival in their debut World Cup. The European team, which qualified for the T20 World Cup for the first time after qualifying, defeated favourites Nepal by 10 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Chains with the ball and aggression with the bat - Italy's performance was, in a word, amazing. Nepal was under pressure from the start of the match. Despite winning the toss and opting to bat, their innings never found momentum in front of Italy's controlled bowling. Nepal, who were losing wickets at regular intervals, were eventually restricted to 123 runs in 19.3 overs. Arif Sheikh scored the highest 27 runs. Captain Rohit Paudel played a stormy innings of 23 runs off 14 balls, but it could not turn into a big score. Although Karan KC's 18 runs towards the end gave a hint of a fight, Italy was in control of the match by then. Leg-spinner Krishan Kalugamage was the main architect of ...

Nottingham Forest has dismissed head coach Sean Dyche from his position in the Premier League. Dyche was relieved of his duties late Wednesday after a goalless draw against bottom-placed Wolves. He had been in charge for only 114 days. Despite creating several chances, Forest failed to score, leaving the club just three points above the relegation zone. In a statement released early Thursday, the club said: “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach. We thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the club and wish them all the best for the future. We will be making no further comment at this time.” Forest had finished seventh in the Premier League last season under Nuno Espírito Santo, narrowly missing out on a Champions League place after a poor end to the campaign. Although Nuno signed a three-year contract at the City Ground in June 2025, he was dismissed in September following a breakdown in his rel...