分类： sports

In a landmark announcement, the United States has confirmed that Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica will join its bid to host the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The joint bid, formally launched in New York, marks a significant step in expanding the global reach of women’s football. The tournament, which will feature 48 teams for the first time, aims to be the largest and most impactful Women’s World Cup in history.

The Swedish Football Association announced on Monday that Graham Potter, the former Chelsea and West Ham manager, has been appointed as the new head coach of the national team. This decision comes in the wake of Jon Dahl Tomasson’s dismissal last week following a dismal performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where the team suffered three consecutive losses and secured only one point in four matches. Potter, who was let go by West Ham in September, now faces the challenge of revitalizing a squad featuring star forwards Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Swedish FA emphasized that Potter’s contract covers the ongoing qualifying campaign, including crucial matches against Switzerland and Slovenia in November, as well as a potential playoff in March. Should Sweden secure a spot in the tournament, the agreement will automatically extend to the finals. Potter, who previously managed Swedish club Ostersund FK from 2011 to 2018, expressed humility and enthusiasm about his new role, praising the quality of Swedish players competing in top global leagues. Despite the presence of high-profile talents like Isak and Gyokeres, Sweden has struggled offensively, failing to score in their last three matches and currently languishing at the bottom of Group B. Potter’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for Swedish football as they aim to reverse their fortunes and secure a place on the world stage.

In a thrilling display of spin bowling, Rishad Hossain led Bangladesh to a commanding 74-run victory over the West Indies in the first One-Day International (ODI) at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday. Hossain’s career-best figures of 6-35 dismantled the West Indies’ batting lineup, restricting them to 133 in 39 overs while chasing Bangladesh’s total of 207. The West Indies, despite a promising start from openers Brandon King (44) and Alick Athanaze (27), crumbled under Hossain’s relentless spin. Earlier, Bangladesh’s batting effort was anchored by Towhid Hridoy’s 51 and crucial contributions from Najmul Hossain Shanto (32) and Mahidul Islam Ankon (46). Jayden Seales (3-48) was the standout bowler for the West Indies, but their decision to field first after winning the toss backfired. Bangladesh now leads the three-match series 1-0, with the second ODI set for Tuesday.

The ISSA Wata Manning Cup has reached a pivotal stage as the round of 16 teams have been determined following a series of intense matches on Saturday. Defending champions Kingston College (KC) experienced their first setback of the season, settling for a 0-0 draw against Tivoli Gardens High School. Despite this, KC secured the top spot in Zone B with 28 points, while Tivoli Gardens claimed second place with 21 points. Meanwhile, Charlie Smith clinched third place in Zone B with an 18-point tally after a narrow 2-1 victory over Haile Selassie High, who finished fourth with 14 points and missed the cut for the next round. In Zone A, St George’s College edged out Hydel High in a thrilling 4-3 encounter, securing second place with 21 points. Hydel, despite their fourth defeat, advanced as the best fourth-placed team with 16 points. Excelsior High emerged as Zone A leaders with 24 points after a hard-fought 2-2 draw with St Jago High, who slipped to third but still progressed. In Zone D, St Catherine High maintained a flawless record with 10 wins from 10 games, finishing top with 30 points after a 1-0 victory over Eltham High, who secured second place with 24 points. Campion College, third in Zone D, also advanced. The round of 16 has been divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. Group 1 features Excelsior High, Tivoli Gardens, St Andrew Technical High, and Wolmer’s Boys. Group 2 includes KC, Calabar, Campion, and Hydel. Group 3 comprises St Catherine High, St George’s College, Charlie Smith, and Vauxhall High. Group 4, arguably the toughest, pits Mona High, Jamaica College, Eltham High, and St Jago against each other. The round of 16 kicks off on Tuesday, October 21, promising exciting matchups.

In a historic turn of events, Manchester United clinched a 2-1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, marking their first win at the iconic stadium in nearly a decade. This triumph also handed Liverpool their fourth consecutive defeat, a feat not seen in 11 years. Harry Maguire’s decisive 84th-minute header sealed the win, propelling United to their first back-to-back Premier League victories under manager Ruben Amorim. The match began dramatically, with Bryan Mbeumo scoring just 61 seconds into the game, only for Cody Gakpo to equalize late in the second half. However, defensive lapses allowed Maguire to capitalize on a Bruno Fernandes cross, securing the three points for United. Liverpool, now four points behind league leaders Arsenal, continues to grapple with squad integration issues despite a £450 million spending spree in the transfer market. The loss further complicates their pursuit of a record 21st English top-flight title, while United’s resurgence eases pressure on Amorim, who celebrated his most significant win in nearly a year at the helm.

NBA icon Kevin Durant has inked a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets, as confirmed by multiple sources on Sunday. The 37-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, will now hold the record for the highest career earnings in NBA history, surpassing LeBron James’s $583.9 million with a staggering $598.2 million.