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Mbappe doubtful for Real Madrid’s Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal

Mbappe doubtful for Real Madrid’s Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Kylian Mbappe during training at their Real Madrid Training — Gardens North Country District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Jun. 15, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 18 June 2025
AFP
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Mbappe doubtful for Real Madrid’s Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal

Mbappe doubtful for Real Madrid’s Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal
Updated 18 June 2025
AFP
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Club sources told Reuters that Mbappe woke up with a high fever
Mbappe has been instrumental for Real Madrid this season

MIAMI: Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe is a doubt for their opening Club World Cup match against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal on Wednesday, after missing training on Tuesday due to illness.

Club sources told Reuters that Mbappe woke up with a high fever. While he has not been officially ruled out, the source said his availability for the clash at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was in “more than reasonable doubt”.

The potential absence of Mbappe leaves newly-appointed Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso facing a selection dilemma, as the Frenchman is currently the only recognized center forward in the squad.

Brazilian teenager Endrick, who could have provided an alternative, was left out of the traveling party following a leg muscle injury sustained during Real’s LaLiga fixture at Sevilla last month.

Mbappe has been instrumental for Real Madrid this season, scoring 31 LaLiga goals since his high-profile summer move from Paris St. Germain.

Real Madrid enter the tournament as one of the favorites, having dominated European football over the last decade, winning five of the last 10 Champions League titles.

Al-Hilal secured their place in the competition by triumphing in the AFC Champions League in 2021 and will look to capitalize on any weakness in Madrid’s lineup.

Topics: Mbappe real madrid World Cup

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Ronaldo renews Al Nassr contract until 2027

Updated 6 sec ago
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Ronaldo renews Al Nassr contract until 2027

Ronaldo renews Al Nassr contract until 2027
Updated 6 sec ago
Ronaldo has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances for the club

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a two-year contract extension with Al Nassr, the Saudi Pro League side announced on Thursday, which will keep the Portuguese forward at the club well past his 42nd birthday.

Ronaldo, who joined the club in 2022 after leaving Manchester United to become a free agent, has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Pakistan grouped with Saudi Arabia, Iraq in AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers

Pakistan grouped with Saudi Arabia, Iraq in AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers
Updated 19 min 58 sec ago
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Pakistan grouped with Saudi Arabia, Iraq in AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers

Pakistan grouped with Saudi Arabia, Iraq in AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers
  • Thirty-one international teams to partake in qualifiers from Sept. 20-24
  • AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 will be contested in Jan. 27-Feb. 7
Updated 19 min 58 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s football team has been selected in Group D along with Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Chinese Taipei for the qualifiers of the upcoming AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) confirmed on Thursday.

Thirty-one teams have confirmed their participation for the 11th qualifiers, which will take place between September 20 to 24. The draw has divided the teams into eight groups— seven groups of four and one group of three— with each to be played in a centralized league format.

“Our journey to the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 begins in Group D, sharing the pitch with hosts Saudi Arabia,” the PFF wrote on social media platform X.

“An exciting draw that sets the stage for some incredible matches. Time to prepare!“

India are in Group A with Kuwait, Australia and Mongolia while top seeds Thailand will have to contend with Korea Republic, Bahrain and Brunei Darussalam in Group B.

Four-time winners Japan are the top seeds in Group C with hosts Tajikistan, Macau and Cambodia their challengers. Group E will see Vietnam, Lebanon, hosts China and Hong Kong face each other while Group F includes Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic (hosts), Timor-Leste and Palestine.

Iran, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh are part of Group G while Afghanistan, Myanmar and Maldives are part of Group H.

The AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 will be contested from January 27-February 7.

Topics: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Pakistan football

Mbappe files harassment complaint against PSG and judicial officials are investigating

Mbappe files harassment complaint against PSG and judicial officials are investigating
Updated 17 min 2 sec ago
AP
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Mbappe files harassment complaint against PSG and judicial officials are investigating

Mbappe files harassment complaint against PSG and judicial officials are investigating
  • The Real Madrid star is at odds with his former club, arguing PSG owes him $61 million in unpaid wages
  • Mbappe stunned PSG in June 2023 by informing the club he would not take the option for an extra year
Updated 17 min 2 sec ago
AP

PARIS: Kylian Mbappe has accused Paris Saint-Germain of moral harassment in a legal filing, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday.

The Real Madrid star is at odds with his former club, arguing PSG owes him €55 million ($61 million) in unpaid wages.

Mbappe is also unhappy with the way he was treated by the Ligue 1 club when the France captain was sidelined before the 2023-24 season, following his decision not to extend his club contract.

The prosecutor’s office said Mbappe is “denouncing the ‘lofting’ he claimed to have been subjected to at Paris Saint-Germain.” The word lofting is used in France to describe a practice that involves isolating a player from the main squad for sporting, administrative, or disciplinary reasons.

Mbappe joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals in seven years at PSG, which won the Champions League without him this year.

Mbappe’s relationship with PSG ended amid deep tensions, and some fans booed him in his last home game at Parc des Princes. PSG felt let down by Mbappe after offering him the most lucrative contract in club history when he signed a new contract in 2022.

But Mbappe was frustrated because he felt promises to sign key players were not kept. When he signed that deal, he was paraded in front of fans holding up a jersey with 2025 on it. Mbappe was reportedly annoyed because the contract was until 2024 — with a player’s option for an extra season.

Mbappe stunned PSG in June 2023 by informing the club he would not take the option for an extra year. With his contract effectively into its final year, it put PSG in the position of needing to sell Mbappe to avoid losing him for nothing when the contract expired.

His PSG career could have ended that summer amid a tense transfer standoff.

After telling the club he would not extend, Mbappe was left off a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea and forced to train with fringe players. PSG said it would rather sell him than let the player leave for free in 2024, but he rejected a €300 million move to Saudi Arabia team Al-Hilal.

PSG left Mbappe out of the opening league game of that season but he soon returned to the lineup following talks.

Mbappe’s legal team said in April it would start an action against PSG for harassment because of the way he was treated at the time.

Topics: football Kylian Mbappe Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) real madrid

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Krejcikova suffers injury scare ahead of Wimbledon defense

Krejcikova suffers injury scare ahead of Wimbledon defense
Updated 26 min 38 sec ago
AFP
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Krejcikova suffers injury scare ahead of Wimbledon defense

Krejcikova suffers injury scare ahead of Wimbledon defense
  • The world number 17 suffered the problem on Wednesday during her second-round victory over Britain’s Jodie Burrage
  • The injury worsened overnight and the 29-year-old opted not to risk aggravating it
Updated 26 min 38 sec ago
AFP

EASTBOPURNE, UK: Barbora Krejcikova faces a race to prove her fitness in time to defend the Wimbledon title after the Czech pulled out of the Eastbourne Open with a thigh injury on Thursday.

Krejcikova was due to face France’s Varvara Gracheva in the quarter-finals at Devonshire Park, but announced her withdrawal just hours before the match.

The world number 17 suffered the problem on Wednesday during her second-round victory over Britain’s Jodie Burrage.

The injury worsened overnight and, with her Wimbledon first-round tie scheduled for Tuesday, the 29-year-old opted not to risk aggravating it.

Krejcikova is awaiting the outcome of a scan before deciding if she will be fit to chase a second successive title at the All England Club.

“I’m very sorry to have to withdraw from my quarter-final today in Eastbourne as I’m having some soreness in my right thigh,” Krejcikova said.

“Overnight it just didn’t get any better, it actually got worse. I think it’s better with Wimbledon in the next couple of days just to rest it and to see what’s going on and to resolve that.”

Krejcikova has endured a difficult time since defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the women’s singles final at Wimbledon last year.

She lost in the second round of the recent French Open and also missed January’s Australian Open with a back injury, which kept her sidelined until May.

Krejcikova made a poor start to the grass-court season with a shock loss against Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova in the first round at Queen’s Club earlier this month.

The two-time Grand Slam champion had to save two match points before beating Britain’s Harriet Dart in the Eastbourne first round.

The second seed saved three more match points against Burrage.

Topics: Wimbledon Barbora Krejcikova Eastbourne Open

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Jofra Archer joins England squad for 2nd test against India

Jofra Archer joins England squad for 2nd test against India
Updated 34 min 31 sec ago
AP
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Jofra Archer joins England squad for 2nd test against India

Jofra Archer joins England squad for 2nd test against India
  • If made part of playing XI, Archer will play his first Test in 4 years
  • Archer, 30, played last of his 13 Tests in February 2021 in India
Updated 34 min 31 sec ago
AP

LONDON: Fast bowler Jofra Archer could play his first test in four years after he was added to England’s squad on Thursday.

Archer joined up for the second test against India next week at Edgbaston. England leads the five-test series 1-0.

The 30-year-old played the last of his 13 tests in February 2021 in India.

Following his right thumb injury during the Indian Premier League, Archer played his first red-ball game in more than four years this week for Sussex in the English County Championship. He took 1-32 in 18 overs in his only bowling innings. He also batted once for 31 runs.

Topics: Jofra Archer England cricket

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