Sports
Saudi FA President Resigns After World Cup Group Stage Exit
The president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Yasser Al-Misehal, has resigned following the Green Falcons’ disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the group stage.
Saudi Arabia finished at the bottom of Group H with just two points after recording 1-1 and 0-0 draws against Uruguay and Cape Verde respectively, before suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Spain, ending their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
Announcing his decision in a statement posted on X on Sunday, Al-Misehal accepted full responsibility for the team’s poor performance and apologised to Saudi football supporters.
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“The failure of the national team to qualify for the next round of the World Cup is a result that falls short of all our ambitions, and I bear full responsibility for it. I offer my apologies to everyone who hoped to see our team in a better position,” he said.
He added that stepping aside was necessary to allow the federation begin a fresh chapter.
“A sense of responsibility requires giving the opportunity to open a new chapter, and I have decided not to continue until the end of my current term.”
Al-Misehal served as president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for seven years and was instrumental in securing Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, a key part of the kingdom’s broader economic diversification agenda.
The resignation comes after a difficult period for Saudi football. Earlier this year, a string of poor performances in international friendly matches led to the dismissal of French coach Hervé Renard during his second spell in charge of the national team after replacing Italian manager Roberto Mancini.
Despite Saudi Arabia’s massive investment of nearly $2 billion in football over the past three years—including attracting global stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema to the Saudi Pro League—the national team failed to make an impact at the tournament.
The 2026 tournament marked Saudi Arabia’s third consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance, but their campaign ended with an early elimination.
Sports
Tragedy Strikes as Argentine Footballer Loses Entire Family in Venezuela Disaster
Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo has been left devastated after his wife and two children were killed in the powerful earthquakes that rocked Venezuela, turning what was once a family home into a pile of rubble.
Trejo, who plays for Venezuelan second-division side Club Sport Maritimo La Guaira, was away at a training camp in Caracas when twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck the country on Wednesday evening.
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Upon learning of the disaster, the 38-year-old rushed back to his home in La Guaira, one of the regions hardest hit by the catastrophe.
Instead of reuniting with his family, he was met with scenes of complete destruction.
According to reports, Trejo spent three heartbreaking days searching through the debris for his wife, Yanina, and their two children, Aaron and Ainhoa. Rescue workers eventually recovered their bodies from the collapsed building.
In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram, Club Sport Maritimo La Guaira expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing the deaths of Trejo’s wife and children as an irreparable loss.
The club also extended its condolences to the footballer, pledging its support as he mourns one of the most painful moments of his life.
Trejo’s brother-in-law, Ricardo Ardiles, recalled the emotional scene in an interview with CNN, saying the footballer returned home only to find that nothing remained of the building where his family had lived.
The devastating earthquakes have left a trail of destruction across Venezuela.
Authorities say the death toll has climbed to nearly 1,500, while tens of thousands of people remain missing as emergency responders continue rescue and recovery operations.
The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of sympathy from football fans, fellow players and clubs around the world, many of whom have offered prayers and messages of support to Trejo during his time of immense grief.
Sports
Blockbuster Mayweather-Pacquiao Rematch Thrown Into Limbo Amid Legal Crisis
The much-anticipated rematch between boxing legends Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has been postponed indefinitely following a series of legal and financial disputes involving Mayweather’s camp.
Pacquiao’s team confirmed the development on Friday, attributing the delay to what it described as “a volatile mix of federal lawsuits, scheduling overbooks, and financial gridlock” surrounding the American boxing icon.
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The announcement came after ESPN reported that Mayweather’s planned exhibition bout against Greek kickboxing star Mike Zambidis, scheduled to take place in Athens, Greece, had also been called off after an events company linked to the Pacquiao fight sought a court injunction.
The rematch had generated global excitement, with fans eager to see the two Hall of Famers square off again more than a decade after their record-breaking 2015 showdown, which attracted 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and became one of the biggest money-spinning fights in boxing history.
However, preparations for the September bout hit a stumbling block after Mayweather insisted the contest would only be an exhibition fight, a position Pacquiao’s camp strongly disputed.
The situation worsened after events company CSI filed a lawsuit against Mayweather, seeking to recover at least $4.65 million it claims to have paid the undefeated boxer for exclusive promotional rights to both the Pacquiao rematch and a proposed exhibition fight against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson—events that never materialised.
According to Pacquiao’s camp, the earliest the rematch could now take place is early 2027, provided the legal disputes are resolved.
The team added that if Mayweather and CSI reach an out-of-court settlement, promoters will immediately move to reschedule Mayweather’s postponed exhibition bout with Mike Tyson, tentatively targeting September 12.
Mayweather, 49, retired from professional boxing in 2017 with an unbeaten 50-0 record but has remained active through exhibition bouts.
His latest exhibition against Zambidis was expected to hold on Saturday at the Telekon Center inside the OAKA Olympic Complex in Athens before it was cancelled.
With the legal battle still unresolved, boxing fans may have to wait until 2027 to witness one of the sport’s most anticipated rematches.
Sports
JUST IN: Chelle Signs New Super Eagles Deal, Takes Over Olympic Eagles Ahead of 2028 Olympics
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will continue in charge of Nigeria’s senior national team after agreeing new contract terms with the authorities.
Dikko disclosed this on Tuesday after a crucial meeting between officials of the NSC and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja, where major decisions on the future structure of Nigeria’s national teams were concluded.
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According to him, the agreement not only secures Chelle’s stay with the Super Eagles but also expands his responsibilities to include the Olympic Eagles (U-23 team) as Nigeria begins long-term preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Chelle’s previous two-year contract was set to expire at the end of 2026, but negotiations had been ongoing for months following improved performances by the senior team, including a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Reports earlier suggested that the Franco-Malian tactician had requested a revised salary package of about $130,000 monthly, a figure that was expected to also cover his assistants and technical crew.
Dikko, however, confirmed that a fresh agreement has now been reached, with improved remuneration and better support for the coaching staff.
“We have reached new terms with the coach about his new remuneration. We are also going to take care of his assistants, and there are other benchmarks that we have put on the table,” Dikko said after the meeting.
Beyond the senior national team, Chelle has now been handed responsibility for the Olympic Eagles, a move authorities say is aimed at creating continuity between youth development and the Super Eagles setup.
“With the NFF, we also agreed that the coach will take care of the U-23 national team because we have young players coming into the Super Eagles within that age bracket,” Dikko explained.
He added that the decision is not meant to overload the coach but to ensure a structured pathway for young talents transitioning into the senior team.
The expanded role comes with increased expectations, especially as Nigeria aims to rebuild its dominance in international football.
The Olympic Eagles have failed to qualify for the last two Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), while the Super Eagles also endured a difficult spell before qualifying for the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With the new arrangement, the NSC and NFF are banking on stability, continuity, and long-term planning as Nigeria looks ahead to both World Cup and Olympic success.





