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The Austrian and Costa Rican U-17 teams arrived at Hamad International Airport yesterday ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, making Austria the first nation to touch down in Doha for the highly anticipated youth tournament. Austria has been drawn into Group L alongside Mali, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia. The team will begin their campaign on 5 November against AFC U-17 Asian Cup runners-up, Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Costa Rica drawn into Group C with Senegal, Croatia and the United Arab Emirates, will play their first match on 3 November against the AFC U-17 Asian Cup quarterfinalists, the United Arab Emirates. The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will run from 3-27 November at Aspire Zone's state-of-the-art Competition Complex, featuring multiple pitches designed to create a festival-like atmosphere. The tournament represents a historic milestone as the first-ever 48-team World Cup , featuring young talent from across the globe competing for the coveted trophy. The Final will take place at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue Khalifa International Stadium on 27 November at 7:00 PM.

Qatar will host the 20th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 for the first time, from Nov. 3–27, with the participation of 48 teams, also for the first time in the tournament's history. The FIFA Council has decided to grant the State of Qatar the right to host the next five editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will be held annually from 2025 to 2029.With this, Qatar becomes the 20th country in history to host the U-17 World Cup, a tournament that began in 1985, four decades ago, when China organized the first edition featuring 16 teams.The tournament was first held by FIFA under the name FIFA U-16 World Championship, before being renamed the U-17 World Championship in 1991, and later, in 2007, taking its current name, the FIFA U-17 World Cup.Throughout its history, the tournament has witnessed significant development in both the number of participating teams and the scale of competition. It began in 1985 with 16 teams divided into four groups, before expanding to 24 teams starting with the 2007 edition held in South Korea.Nigeria won the first edition, defeating West Germany 2-0 in the final. Canada hosted the second edition in 1987, where the Soviet Union claimed the title by beating Nigeria on penalties (4-2) after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time.The third edition was hosted by Scotland, and it saw the Saudi Arabian national team become the first Arab team to win the title, defeating the hosts on penalties (5-4) after a 2-2 draw in regular and extra time.The tournament continued with the fourth edition held in Italy in 1991, where Ghana won the title by defeating Spain 1-0 in the final. Japan hosted the fifth edition in 1993, with Nigeria winning the title for the second time, this time overcoming Ghana 2-1 in the final.The tournament moved to Ecuador in 1995, where Ghana won the title for the second time in its history, defeating Brazil 3-2 in the final. Then, in 1997, Egypt became the first Arab country to host the finals, with Brazil claiming the title by defeating Ghana 2-1 in the final match.The competition then headed to New Zealand in 1999, where Brazil successfully defended its title, overcoming Australia in the final via penalty shootout (8-7) after a goalless draw in regular and extra time.In 2001, Trinidad and Tobago hosted the ninth edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, with France winning its first title by defeating Nigeria 3-0 in the final.Finland hosted the tenth edition in 2003, where Brazil claimed its third title, defeating Spain 1-0 in the final.The eleventh edition was held in Peru in 2005, and Mexico claimed its first-ever title after a commanding 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final.In 2007, the 12th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup was held in South Korea, where Nigeria claimed its third title, defeating Spain in the final via penalty shootout (3-0) after a goalless draw in regular and extra time.The 13th edition took place in Nigeria in 2009, where Switzerland won the title for the first time in its debut appearance by defeating the host nation 1-0 in the final.Mexico hosted the 14th edition, and the home team won the title for the second time, defeating Uruguay 2-0 in the final.In 2013, the United Arab Emirates became the second Arab country to host the tournament, staging the 15th edition, in which Nigeria won its fourth title, defeating Mexico 3-0 in the final.Nigeria further strengthened its record, raising its total titles to five, after winning the 16th edition in Chile in 2015, defeating Mali 2-0 in the final.India hosted the 17th edition in 2017, which saw England crowned champions for the first time after a 5-2 victory over Spain in the final.In 2019, Brazil won the 18th edition on home soil, defeating Mexico 2-0 in the final to claim its fourth title.The 19th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup was held in Indonesia in 2023, where Germany captured its first-ever title, defeating France in the final via penalty shootout (4-2) after a 2-2 draw in regular and extra time.

Lionel Messi, still chasing international glory nearly two decades into his career, says he hopes to play at the 2026 World Cup in North America, acknowledging his age and fitness will dictate his role in defending Argentina’s 2022 title.The Argentine great recently extended his contract with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami through 2028, signalling he is not yet considering retirement despite turning 39 next June. Speaking to NBC News, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said he will take time next year to assess his physical condition before deciding whether to play in the tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.“It’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup, and I would love to,” the Argentine captain said in the interview.“I would like to be there, to be well and be an important part of helping my team, if I am there. I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start preseason next year with Inter (and see if I can really be 100%, if I can be useful and then make a decision.“I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup. We’re coming off winning the last one, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team.”Messi has enjoyed a professional career spanning more than 20 years, debuting for Barcelona at just 17 in 2004 before playing for Paris St Germain and joining Inter Miami in 2023. He sparked fresh interest in the American league in a critical moment for the sport in North America ahead of hosting next year’s World Cup.While Messi has amassed countless club and individual accolades, international success had eluded him until claiming the 2021 Copa America before beating France 4-2 on penalties to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.“It was the dream of my life,” Messi said of the victory. “It was also true that it was the only thing missing at a professional level because I had been lucky enough to have achieved everything at an individual level, at a team level with Barcelona, and I think that’s every player’s dream. When you ask a player what their dream is, it’s to be world champion.”Messi said he is enjoying his time in MLS. “The truth is that I like everything about living here,” Messi said of Miami. “I spent a lot of time in Barcelona, which for me is an extraordinary city, where I grew up and had many spectacular moments, and which we miss a lot. But Miami is a city that allows us to live very well, that makes us enjoy life, that allows us to be calm, that allows the kids to be themselves and live day to day.”Messi has played in 195 matches and scored a record 114 goals for his country. A return for the 2026 World Cup would mark his sixth appearance in the tournament.

Al Rayyan defeated Al Duhail 3-1 in the fourth round of the QSL Cup at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. Ali al-Qahtani opened the scoring for Al Rayyan in the 54th minute, with Mohammed Siraj and Faisal Mohammed adding goals in the 66th and 76th minutes respectively. Mubarak Shanan had earlier put Al Duhail ahead in the 35th minute. The win lifted Al Rayyan to 13 points, while Al Duhail remained on four. At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Shahaniya pulled off a surprise 2-1 victory over Al Sadd in an exciting contest. Mohammed Balah gave Al Shahaniya the lead in the 32nd minute, before Abdulrahman al-Sultan equalised early in the second half. However, Ali Saeed al-Mohannadi struck deep into stoppage time to hand Al Shahaniya their third win of the competition. Al Sadd, meanwhile, suffered their fourth defeat, having drawn once so far. In another fixture, Al Arabi crushed Lusail 6-1 at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium. Yazan al-Naimat scored a hat-trick (22nd, 34th, 87th minutes), while Joao Pedro netted twice (19th, 40th), and Michel Olunga added a sixth in the 75th minute. Mohammed Shaaban scored Lusail’s lone goal in the 57th minute. The result took Al Arabi to 13 points, while Lusail stayed on four. At Saud bin Abdulrahman Stadium, Al Gharafa and Mesaimeer played out a 2-2 draw. Moaz Adam and Abu Al-Qasim Mohammed put Al Gharafa 2-0 ahead, but Hamad Balgheeth struck twice to earn Mesaimeer a share of the spoils. Qatar SC, who were languishing in 16th place with three points, improved slightly to four following this round, while Mesaimeer moved to six points.

South African skipper Donovan Ferreira said his team will speed up preparation for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup, with the series against Pakistan starting in Rawalpindi from Tuesday.South Africa finished runners-up to India in the 2024 Twenty20 World Cup, and will be among the favourites for the coming edition which India and Sri Lanka co-host in February-March.Ferreira said Monday that this week’s three-match series provides an ideal opportunity.“It is important to build up towards the World Cup,” he said. “I think this is the big stepping stone for us towards the World Cup.”South Africa will miss David Miller - announced captain for this series but ruled out with injury - as well as Gerald Coetzee and Kwena Maphaka, who are both injured.They have rested regular T20I skipper Aiden Markram, batters Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton, and spearhead Kagiso Rabada.Despite less experience in the side and losing to Namibia earlier this month, Ferreira hopes his team will play an aggressive brand of cricket.“The Namibia game is past now and I think we need to play an explosive brand of cricket with the bat or with the ball, as we have got exciting players in the side.”Pakistan skipper Salman Agha also sees the series as an opportunity to build towards the World Cup.“We need to further our preparations and overcome the mistakes we committed in the Asia Cup,” said Agha of the regional event last month where they finished runners-up to India.Agha said he was excited to see star batter Babar Azam back in the T20I side for the first time since December 2024.“Babar is a world class player and he will benefit our team with his batting,” said Agha.“We have good batters and bowlers in the side so we need to build up towards the World Cup.”The remaining two matches are on Friday and Saturday, both in Lahore.

The Qatar Football Association has announced the national squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, which will take place from November 3 to 27 at Aspire Academy venues and Khalifa International Stadium.This year's tournament marks a historic expansion, with 48 teams competing for the first time in a FIFA youth event, playing 104 matches over 25 days.Qatar will also host five consecutive editions of the competition through 2029, as the event becomes an annual fixture instead of being held every two years.Qatar has been drawn into Group A alongside Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia.Head coach Alvaro Mejia has selected a 21-player squad, including goalkeepers Ahmed Saber, Khaled Shukri, and Abdulrahman Khalid. Other key players include Tamim Al Qadi, Adam Riyadh, Zaid Faisal, Sultan Al Abdulrahman, Saud Al Hamad, Issa Waleed, Saifuddin Ahmed, Sheikh Mohammed, Abdulaziz Younes, Omar Al Marzouqi, Faisal Saeed, Karam Hadi, Malik Majed, Mohammed Akram, Mostafa Khalid, Muhannad Jamil, Mohammed Abdulrahman, and Yazan Hani.Qatar's campaign begins against Italy on November 3, followed by South Africa on November 6, and Bolivia on November 9 in their final group-stage match.

Wendeson Wanderley Santos de Melo – better known as Dell – wears the mantle of comparison with a maturity that belies his age. Dubbed the Hinterland Haaland, or the Haaland of the Sertão, in reference to his backcountry roots in north-eastern Brazil, the teenage sensation is unfazed by being measured against one of the most formidable goalscorers the game has ever seen.In the lead-up to Brazil’s campaign at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, Dell spoke exclusively to FIFA and revealed his admiration for his Norwegian counterpart.“Haaland is the player I look up to the most,” he said. “Whenever I can, I make time to watch his matches and videos, observing his behaviour both on and off the pitch. I study his positioning and movement in and around the box.”Though some may have dismissed the comparison, Dell prefers to embrace it, fuelling his inspiration to narrow the gap between himself and his idol.“I like the nickname because he’s someone I admire – I’m used to it now.”It is more than Dell’s physical traits that have drawn comparisons to Haaland – he plays like him too. The Bahia sharpshooter is a natural goalscorer, combining explosive speed with a cool head in front of goal, especially when it matters most. In 2023, he bagged 40 goals in 34 outings for Bahia’s U-17s, paving the way for him to step up to the U-20s and then the senior side.The South American U-17 Championship also bore witness to his brilliance earlier this year. He delivered when the Seleção needed him most, netting the only goal of the game against Chile in the semi-finals. He was then handed the responsibility of taking the decisive spot-kick in the final shootout against Colombia, which he dispatched with trademark composure.“There’s actually no big secret,” he laughed “It’s the result of a lot of hard work, both here at Bahia and with the national team. It’s important to always have faith, ambition and joy. The goals I scored were crucial in helping us reach the final and clinch the title. I’m so grateful, because even when times got tough I never lost faith and always trusted that we’d pull through.”Dell will now have the opportunity to strut his stuff at the on the global stage, having been called up by coach Dudu Patetuci. Brazil kick off their campaign against Honduras on 4 November.“Playing for Brazil is another dream come true," he continued."We won the South American title – now it’s time to go for the World Cup. I’m truly honoured and delighted to be playing for my country.”It is the first time that three Bahia players have been called up to represent the Canarinho at a global showpiece. Dell will be joined in Qatar by fellow forward Ruan Pablo and goalkeeper Arthur Jampa.“It’s also special to be representing the national team alongside two of my club team-mates, Jampa and Ruan Pablo," he stated. "We’ll be going for the title with Brazil after working together every day at Bahia. We trust in the coaching staff and want to make our fans proud by being good ambassadors for Brazilian football and Bahia.”This will be the biggest U-17 World Cup ever, with 48 teams set to compete for the coveted crown, and the final set for Khalifa International Stadium, one of the venues used at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. While keeping his feet on the ground, Dell is dreaming big and hoping to make it all the way to the decider.“(Playing at Khalifa International Stadium) is an added incentive for us – FIFA nailed it with that one," he said. "It’s special to be able to play in a stadium where some of the world’s greatest stars have featured at the World Cup.“We all dream of one day playing for the senior national team. Doing well at this World Cup would bring that dream ever closer. Pulling on the shirt of the world’s greatest national team would undoubtedly be a huge privilege.”

Morocco emerged champions of the Mena Karting Nations Cup 2025, with Lebanon securing second place and Qatar finishing third overall as the championship concluded at the Lusail Karting Track Saturday.The Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) hosted championship for the third time, which saw over 170 drivers from 18 Middle Eastern and North African countries compete. An exhilarating competition culminated in a lively closing ceremony at Lusail Karting Circuit, where the champions were celebrated.Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif al-Mannai, President of the QMMF and Lusail International Circuit, said: “Hosting the Mena Karting Championship Nations Cup for the third consecutive year reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing motorsport talent across the region. This event provided young drivers with a platform to showcase their abilities, develop their skills, and pursue their dreams within a professional environment. We are proud to see such strong participation and sportsmanship from all nations, and we extend our appreciation to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his continued support in empowering youth through this championship.”The results of each category are as follows: Micro Max: In the final, Alex Moghabghab (Lebanon) led the grid, clocking 17 minutes 51.688 seconds, followed by Abdulaziz al-Sarraf (Kuwait) with 17 minutes 56.310 seconds, and Linda Hanini (Tunisia) with 17 minutes 57.174 seconds.Mini Max: In the final, Nahyl El Gahoudi (Morocco) led the grid, clocking 13 minutes 39.266 seconds, followed by Atiqa Mir (UAE) with 13 minutes 40.537 seconds, and Tony Abou Jawdeh (Lebanon) with 13 minutes 45.727 seconds.Junior Max: In the final, Nathan Kappen (UAE) led the grid, clocking 20 minutes 56.169 seconds, followed by Roslan Sryer (Algeria) with 20 minutes 58.569 seconds, and Abdulrazzaq al-Quraishi (Saudi) with 21 minutes 05.947 seconds.Senior Max: In the final, Anis Tazi (Morocco) led the grid, clocking 20 minutes 56.775 seconds, followed by Laith Mouminah (Saudi) with 20 minutes 58.119 seconds, and Sanad al-Hamawi (Jordan) with 20 minutes 59.699 seconds.DD2 and DD2 Masters: In the final of DD2, Hamza Hashisho (Qatar) led the grid, clocking 20 minutes 49.967 seconds, followed by Edwin Khneisser (Lebanon) with 20 minutes 50.229 seconds, and Ghali El Fechtali (Morocco) with 20 minutes 53.035 seconds. In the final of DD2 Masters, Nadir Kabbage (Morocco) led the grid, clocking 20 minutes 51.857 seconds, followed by Faisal Yafei (Qatar) with 20 minutes 55.760 seconds, and Salhi Sofiane (Algeria) with 21 minutes 02.850 seconds.R390 Elite Sprint: In the final, Christopher Njeim (Lebanon) led the grid, clocking 21 minutes 32.054 seconds, followed by Matthias Njeim (Lebanon) with 21 minutes 37.207 seconds, and Ahmad al-Hammadi (UAE) with 21 minutes 37.425 seconds.R390 Elite Endurance: In the final, the UAE dominated the grid, securing first place, followed by Morocco in second and Oman in third.

Only 10 days remain for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, which will see 48 teams from across the globe convene in Qatar from November 3-27 to compete for the coveted trophy.All eyes will be on Qatar, as the country gets set to host the youth tournament for the first time. The hosts will be looking to improve on their best finish, when they claimed fourth place in the 1991 edition of the tournament that took place in Italy – becoming the first Qatari team to reach the Third-Place Playoff.Jassim al-Tamimi, who captained the 1991 U-17 team at the time, recounts the country’s historic achievement 34 years ago and the significance that the tournament continues to hold for young players.“My beginnings were like any Qatari youth, playing football in the neighbourhood. When I was selected to be part of the team for the 1991 U-17 World Cup, it was a dream come true,” said al-Tamimi, who eventually played for the Qatar senior national team from 1996–2004.During the 1991 tournament, al-Tamimi’s squad was drawn into Group B, alongside Australia, Congo and Mexico. After a slow start with a 0-0 draw against Congo, and a 1-0 defeat to Mexico, al-Tamimi’s winning goal in the 76th minute against Australia, launched the Young Maroons out of the group stage.The team would go on to beat the USA in the quarter-finals, before losing to eventual champions Ghana in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals. Despite narrowly losing to Argentina in the third-place Playoff, the Young Maroons made history by finishing fourth in the tournament.“We became the first Qatari team in the youth category to make it to this stage. This was a tremendous achievement. The joy was indescribable and the whole country was celebrating with us. This experience became the gateway to my football career,” said al-Tamimi, who went on to achieve 100 caps for his country.With Qatar now set to make its eighth appearance at the tournament, a new generation of players will be looking to make the country proud. Hosts Qatar have been drawn into Group A, alongside Italy, South Africa and Bolivia, and will play their first match against Italy on November 3, 6:45pm.“Playing in the U-17 World Cup will be an unforgettable experience for our young players. I hope it becomes a wonderful memory for them, just like it was for me. It is an honour for any player to represent their national team at the highest level,” said al-Tamimi.“Hosting tournaments such as the World Cup in Qatar will serve as a launch point for emerging talents and future stars. Qatar has already surpassed many developed football nations in terms of its sporting infrastructure and organisational abilities. It is now time for our young players to put Qatar amongst the top-ranked teams in the world,” he added.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, taking place at the state-of-the-art Competition Complex at Aspire Zone, will see as many as eight matches a day, for a total of 104 matches. The final will take place on November 27, 7pm, at Khalifa International Stadium.Fans can purchase tickets at: www.roadtoqatar.qa Tickets are available as a Day Pass, which will enable fans to attend multiple matches a day as well as cultural and entertainment activities taking place around matches, in what will be an electrifying football festival-like atmosphere.Fans can also purchase a Prime Pass, which will enable them to reserve seats for high demand matches. Supporters of the Qatar national team can avail the Follow My Team ticket, which will enable them to attend all matches of the Qatari U-17 team during the group stage.All tickets will be digital and will include wheelchair accessible seating options for disabled fans.The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar is the first of five consecutive editions that Qatar will be hosting. As the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams, this will be the biggest-ever edition of the youth tournament that saw the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Luis Figo, Xavi Hernandez, Eden Hazard, Andres Iniesta, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Son Heung-min and Francesco Totti appear on the world stage for the first time.Qatar’s spectacular line-up of mega-sporting events will kick off with the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar from November 3-27, followed by the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar from December 1-18. In addition, the country is also set to host the second edition of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025, which will take place on December 10, 13 and 17.

The MENA Karting Championship Nations Cup 2025 organised by Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) concluded an exciting day two at the Lusail Karting Circuit. The championship welcomed 173 drivers from 18 nations and featured races in different age groups, bringing together a diverse set of talent from the Middle East and North Africa. Spectators enjoyed free access to six karting categories and the vibrant Fan Zone, which offered numerous engaging activities between races. Day two of the championship featured a qualifying session followed by three Heats. These qualifying sessions began with the Micro Max category (8 - 11 years) followed by Mini Max (10 - 13 years), Junior Max (12 - 15 years), Senior Max (14+ years) and finally DD2 (15+ years), DD2 Masters (31+ years), R390 Sprint (ages 15+) and R390 Endurance (ages 15+). Following the qualifying sessions, drivers competed in three Heat sessions. These sessions allowed them to familiarize themselves with the track and formulate their strategies for the upcoming final races. The final classification for the races for each category are as follows: Micro Max: Isaac El Haouti from Morocco secured P1 with a time of 53.627 seconds, followed by Alex Moghabghab (Lebanon) with a time of 53.872 seconds, and Ayden Ouaich (Morocco) in P3 with a time of 54.028 seconds during the qualifying session. In Heat 1, Isaac El Haouti (Morocco) led the grid again, clocking 8 minutes 01.385 seconds, followed by Alex Moghabghab (Lebanon) with 8 minutes 02.987 seconds, and Abdulaziz Al Sarraf (Kuwait) with 8 minutes 03.039 seconds. In Heat 2, Isaac El Haouti (Morocco) led the grid, clocking 8 minutes 01.386 seconds, followed by Abdulaziz Al Sarraf (Kuwait) with 8 minutes 05.180 seconds, and Ayden Ouaich (Morocco) with 8 minutes 05.300 seconds. In Heat 3, Alex Moghabghab (Lebanon) led the grid, clocking 8 minutes 0.971 seconds, followed by Isaac El Haouti (Morocco) with 8 minutes 4.417 seconds, and Abdulaziz Al Sarraf (Kuwait) with 8 minutes 4.823 seconds. Mini Max: Atiqa Mir from UAE secured P1 with a time of 50.868 seconds, followed by Nahyl El Gahoudi (Morocco) with a time of 51.222 seconds, and Tammem Mustafa (KSA) in P3 with a time of 51.510 seconds during the qualifying session. In Heat 1, Atiqa Mir (UAE) led the grid again, clocking 8 minutes 30.232 seconds, followed by Nahyl El Gahoudi (Morocco) with 8 minutes 34.329 seconds, and Tammem Mustafa (KSA) with 8 minutes 37.698 seconds. In Heat 2, Atiqa Mir (UAE) once again led the grid, clocking 8 minutes 28.798 seconds, followed by Nahyl El Gahoudi (Morocco) with 8 minutes 31.196 seconds, and Tony Abou Jawdeh (Lebanon) with 8 minutes 31.536 seconds. In Heat 3, Atiqa Mir (UAE) continued her dominance by leading the grid, clocking 8 minutes 29.752 seconds, followed by Nahyl El Gahoudi (Morocco) with 8 minutes 32.100 seconds, and Tony Abou Jawdeh (Lebanon) with 8 minutes 32.705 seconds. Junior Max: Roslan Sryer from Algeria secured P1 with a time of 48.255 seconds, followed by Faris Haroun (UAE) with a time of 48.344 seconds, and Nathan Kappen (UAE) in P3 with a time of 48.363 seconds during the qualifying session. In Heat 1, Nathan Kappen (UAE) led the grid, clocking 8 minutes 58.183 seconds, followed by Roslan Sryer (Algeria) with 8 minutes 59.418 seconds, and Faris Haroun (UAE) with 8 minutes 59.906 seconds. In Heat 2, Roslan Sryer (Algeria) led the grid, clocking 8 minutes 56.037 seconds, followed by Faris Haroun (UAE) with 8 minutes 57.269 seconds, and Riyad Yousfi (Morocco) with 8 minutes 58.084 seconds. In Heat 3, Nathan Kappen (India) led the grid, clocking 8 minutes 55.909 seconds, followed by Roslan Sryer (Algeria) with 8 minutes 57.308 seconds, and Faris Haroun (UAE) with 8 minutes 59.192 seconds. Senior Max: Anis Tazi from Morocco secured P1 with a time of 48.039 seconds, followed by Sanad Al Hamawi (Jordan) with a time of 48.185 seconds, and Laith Mouminah (KSA) in P3 with a time of 48.190 seconds during the qualifying session. In Heat 1, Anis Tazi (Morocco) led the grid again, clocking 8 minutes 58.550 seconds, followed by Laith Mouminah (KSA) with 8 minutes 58.673 seconds, and Sanad Al Hamawi (Jordan) with 8 minutes 59.114 seconds. In Heat 2, Anis Tazi (Morocco) led the grid yet again, clocking 8 minutes 57.727 seconds, followed by Oscar Lambert (UAE) with 8 minutes 59.222 seconds, and Sanad Al Hamawi (Jordan) with 9 minutes 01.679 seconds. In Heat 3, Laith Mouminah (KSA) led the grid, clocking 8 minutes 59.160 seconds, followed by Anis Tazi (Morocco) with 8 minutes 59.327 seconds, and Tameem Hassiba (Qatar) with 8 minutes 59.689 seconds. DD2 and DD2 Masters: Edwin Khneisser from Lebanon secured P1 with a time of 47.703 seconds, followed by Taha Hassiba (Qatar) with a time of 47.706 seconds, and Faesal Yafei (Qatar) in P3 with a time of 47.738 seconds during the qualifying session. In Heat 1, Edwin Khneisser (Lebanon) led the grid, clocking 8 minutes 54.245 seconds, followed by Ghali El Fechtali (Morocco) with 8 minutes 54.870 seconds, and Faesal Yafei (Qatar) with 8 minutes 55.657 seconds. In Heat 2, Edwin Khneisser (Lebanon) led the grid a third time, clocking 8 minutes 54.568 seconds, followed by Taha Hassiba (Qatar) with 8 minutes 56.513 seconds, and Ghali El Fechtali (Morocco) with 8 minutes 56.663 seconds. In Heat 3, Taha Hassiba (Qatar) led the grid, clocking 8 minutes 54.108 seconds, followed by Faesal Yafei (Qatar) with 8 minutes 54.568 seconds, and Souhil Khatal (Algeria) with 8 minutes 56.307 seconds. R390 Elite (Endurance Race): UAE Team 1 secured first place with a time of 2 hours 31.779 seconds, followed by Morocco Team 2 with a time of 2 hours 25.321 seconds, and Oman Team 2 in third place with a time of 2 hours 45.422 seconds.

A torrential downpour once again called the tune in Colombo as the Women's Cricket World Cup fixture between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was abandoned after just 4.2 overs on Friday.Heavy rain refused to relent, leaving players and fans drenched in disappointment. It was the last game in the Colombo leg of the tournament.Of the 11 matches staged in the Sri Lankan capital, five ended in no-results, forcing teams to split points.Several other games too were rain-disrupted, prompting questions as to whether Colombo's monsoon-prone month was the right window to stage a global event.Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have borne the brunt of inclement weather, with three of their seven outings each washed down the drain.On Friday, the toss was delayed by more than three hours and the game was trimmed to 34 overs per side.Pakistan had reached 18 without loss when the heavens opened again. Despite the tireless efforts of the ground staff, match officials finally threw in the towel at 8:00 pm local time with parts of the outfield still under water.Sri Lanka climbed to fifth in the points table with five points, courtesy of one win and a point each from their three washed out games.They will stay there if England defeat New Zealand on Sunday, ensuring the islanders finish above the White Ferns. It's a commendable outcome for a side that had failed to qualify for the previous World Cup in New Zealand in 2022."We cannot control the weather. It has been very disappointing. We came into this tournament with lots of hope as we had beaten teams like India, New Zealand and South Africa in the recent past. But not much went our way in this campaign," Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu said.Pakistan ended their campaign without a single win, finishing in seventh place, one ahead of Bangladesh in the eight nation competition with all their points coming through rain affected games."The weather didn't go in our favour. ICC must look into the best venues for World Cups. We are waiting for four years for a World Cup and it's disappointing to finish like this," Pakistan captain Fatima Sana said.

Grace Secret claimed the Asherij Cup for three-year-old+ Local Purebred Arabian fillies and mares at the Al Rayyan racecourse Wednesday.The three-year-old bay filly recorded an impressive 3½-length victory on her seasonal debut to notch her second career win in just her third start, showing plenty more to give for owner Umm Al Shukhut Farm and trainer Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed.She was partnered by jockey Alberto Sanna, who completed a double on the day, winning both the first and final races of the day. Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners. Sanna won the card opener – Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60) – with Injaaz Stud-owned and Jihad El Ahmad-trained Estithmar.Jockey Soufiane Saadi also completed a double on the day as he guided Naseeb Zakhir, in the colours of Osama Omer al-Dafea, to victory in the Local Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate for three-year-old+. Saadi was in the winners’ enclosure in the fifth race of the day when he rode Faleh Suwayed al-Ajami’s Studio City to the Thoroughbred Handicap (60-80) for the three-year-old+.RESULTS3rd Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Asherij CupWINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1 - Asherij Cup - Local Purebred Arabian HandicapGrace Secret, Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, Alberto Sanna2 - Local Purebred Arabian Graduation PlateNaseeb Zakhir, Eng Osama Omer al-Dafea, Soufiane Saadi3 - Thoroughbred Handicap (60-80)Studio City, Mohammed al Ghazali, Soufiane Saadi4: Local Thoroughbred Handicap (35-60)Horse: Saida, Hamad al-Jehani, Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi5 - Purebred Arabian Maiden PlateAzzam FBR, Fahad Rashid al-Khayarin al-Hajri, Abdulla Rashid al-Hajri6: Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, 3-7YOsMorello Man, Hamad al-Jehani, Szczepan Mazur7 -Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60)Estithmar, Jihad El Ahmad, Alberto Sanna