Brazil’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are entering the final stage, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti set to announce the 26-member final squad on May 18. Before that, a preliminary list of 55 players will be submitted to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The tournament, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, sees Brazil among the favorites, but intense competition for limited spots has made selection highly contested.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains the most reliable choice, while Ederson, Bento, and Hugo Souza are also in contention. In defense, Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães are expected to be confirmed, with Éder Militão ruled out due to injury. The full-back positions appear less settled, and midfielders Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães are nearly certain selections. In attack, Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, and Matheus Cunha lead the line, with several others vying for places.

The biggest uncertainty surrounds Neymar, who continues to struggle with injuries and fitness despite returning to Santos. His inclusion remains doubtful, and his omission would be a major surprise as Brazil finalizes its squad for the expanded 48-team World Cup.

FIFA has removed a referee from its 2026 World Cup panel following his arrest in the United Kingdom over allegations of sexually assaulting a minor. According to British media outlet The Sun, the 30-year-old match official was detained by London’s Metropolitan Police while staying at a hotel during a European competition. He was later released on bail, but the investigation remains ongoing.

FIFA responded swiftly, stating that the allegation is being treated with utmost seriousness and that the official will not be assigned to any FIFA competitions until the investigation concludes. UEFA has taken the same stance, suspending him from officiating in its matches as well. The referee’s name has not been disclosed due to the ongoing investigation.

The decision comes shortly after FIFA announced the list of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting June 11.

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Bayern Munich 5–4 in a dramatic nine-goal encounter in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal at Parc des Princes. Despite falling behind early to a Harry Kane penalty in the 17th minute, PSG fought back through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s solo effort and a Joao Neves header to take the lead. Bayern equalized through Michael Olise, but Ousmane Dembélé’s penalty restored PSG’s advantage before halftime.

In the second half, PSG extended their dominance as Kvaratskhelia scored again and Dembélé completed his brace to make it 5–2. Bayern responded with goals from Dayot Upamecano, assisted by Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick, and a solo strike from Luis Díaz to narrow the gap to 5–4. However, PSG held firm to secure the win in front of their home crowd.

The nine-goal contest set a new record for the highest-scoring single leg in a Champions League semifinal, marking a historic night for the French club.

Iranian snooker player Hossein Vafaei advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Snooker Championship after a dramatic 13–12 victory over top seed Judd Trump at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on Monday. The win marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and secured Vafaei’s first-ever appearance in the last eight of the championship.

Vafaei, ranked 32nd in the world, described the triumph as one of the best of his career. He dedicated the victory to the people of Iran, saying he wanted to bring them some happiness amid months of war and hardship. The player, known as the “Prince of Persia,” admitted he had been mentally distressed by the ongoing conflict and had even considered withdrawing from the tournament.

Having come through the qualifying rounds, Vafaei pledged to continue giving his best to bring more joy to his war-affected compatriots as the championship progresses.

Bangladesh's women's hockey team advanced to the final of the Asian Games qualifiers after defeating Singapore 3–1 in the first semifinal held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Tuesday. The victory was powered by a hat-trick from Irene Riya, marking another milestone for the team in their debut appearance at the qualifiers and their first-ever international tournament.

Despite Singapore’s experience from four previous Asian Games, Bangladesh maintained strong momentum throughout the match. Riya opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but Singapore equalized in the twelfth minute through Chia Cheryl from a penalty corner. Bangladesh regained control in the final quarter, scoring twice to secure the win and a place in the final.

The result continues Bangladesh’s remarkable run in the competition, as the team keeps setting new records in their maiden international campaign.

During the first innings break in Chattogram, chief selector Habibul Bashar Sumon discussed the upcoming Test series and confirmed that four players—Zakir Ali Anik, Hasan Murad, Hasan Mahmud, and Khaled Ahmed—were left out for tactical reasons. Zakir was dropped due to poor form, while Hasan Mahmud was not fully fit after injury. Despite strong performances, Hasan Murad and Khaled Ahmed were omitted based on team strategy.

Bashar explained that the selection panel considered Pakistan’s left-handed batting lineup and opted for off-spinner Nayeem Hasan instead of Murad. Khaled was replaced as selectors preferred wicket-taking bowlers like Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Ebadot Hossain. Bashar emphasized that players should not take the omissions negatively and that explanations would be given personally.

The new squad includes Amit Hasan as a backup wicketkeeper and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, known for his aggressive batting. Bashar said the selectors aim to give new players long-term opportunities, signaling a shift toward fresh planning in Bangladesh’s Test setup.

Bangladesh claimed a six-wicket victory against New Zealand in Dhaka on April 27, 2026, taking a lead in the series. Chasing a target of 183, the hosts stumbled early, losing three wickets for 77 runs in 10.1 overs. However, Towhid Hridoy, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Shamim Hossain turned the match around with aggressive batting, guiding Bangladesh to victory in 18 overs.

Hridoy and Parvez added 57 runs off 28 balls, with Parvez scoring 28 from 14 deliveries before departing. Shamim then joined Hridoy to add another 49 runs in just 21 balls. Hridoy remained unbeaten on 51 from 27 balls, while Shamim finished on 31 from 13. A dramatic 17th over from Fisher, in which Shamim scored 17 runs off a single delivery sequence due to extras, sealed the win.

For New Zealand, Sodhi took two wickets for 40 runs, while Kelly and Cleaver-Clark both scored 51. Hridoy was named player of the match for his match-winning fifty.

Square Food & Beverage Limited (SFBL) has signed a five-year sponsorship agreement with Gulshan Youth Club for the Dhaka Premier Division Women's Cricket League, covering the 2026–2030 period. The agreement was formalized at a signing ceremony where SFBL Managing Director Anjan Chowdhury handed over the memorandum of understanding to Gulshan Youth Club President Dr. Wahiduzzaman Tamal.

The event was attended by Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher (Sumon), MP, and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal Khan. During the ceremony, Dr. Tamal expressed gratitude to Anjan Chowdhury for his long-term support and commitment to the development of women’s cricket in Bangladesh.

The partnership aims to strengthen the club’s role in promoting women’s cricket and reflects growing corporate involvement in the sport’s advancement in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh achieved a historic milestone at the ongoing Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, as the national women's kabaddi team officially received the bronze medal. The medal ceremony created an emotional moment when the players, dressed in red and green, stood on the victory podium. India claimed the gold medal in the kabaddi discipline, while Sri Lanka secured silver.

Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation General Secretary S M Nawaz Sohag attended the ceremony and congratulated the players, calling the achievement a major milestone for the sport in the country. The team’s organized and aggressive performance throughout the tournament earned praise from sports analysts, despite losing to a strong Indian side in the semifinals.

Sohag noted that this was Bangladesh’s first kabaddi medal at the Asian Beach Games in 14 years and expressed hope that the success would boost the team’s confidence for future international competitions, including the Asian Games. He described the bronze as the result of long-term preparation and hard work.

Chelsea secured a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the FA Cup semifinal, ending a long spell of frustration for the London club. The decisive goal came from captain Enzo, who scored with a header in the 23rd minute. This win marked Chelsea’s first match under interim coach Callum MacFarlane, following the dismissal of head coach Liam Rosenior just four days earlier due to poor form.

Leeds began the match aggressively, with Anno Tanaka’s free kick narrowly missing and Brenden Aaronson’s shot being saved by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Chelsea also created chances, including a shot from Joao Pedro that hit the post before Enzo converted Pedro Neto’s cross. The Argentine midfielder’s goal was his 13th of the season across all competitions.

Despite further opportunities for both sides, no additional goals were scored. Chelsea held their lead to book a place in the FA Cup final, where they will face Manchester City in what is expected to be a challenging contest.

Bangladeshi footballers have revised their earlier demands regarding the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) quota following a meeting with Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) representatives on April 26, 2026. Initially, the players had called for the cancellation of the SAFF quota in a letter sent on April 15, but after discussions with BFF members Amirul Islam and Shakhawat Hossain Bhuiyan, they withdrew that demand and submitted two new proposals.

During the meeting at the BFF headquarters, the players proposed allowing each club to field a total of four foreign players—two under the SAFF quota and two under the general foreign quota. The delegation, led by former national team captain Mamunul Islam, argued that this arrangement would balance the interests of both clubs and players while maintaining regional cooperation. Currently, the Bangladesh Football League allows five SAFF-region players to play as locals and three additional foreign players.

BFF media committee chairman Amirul Islam said the meeting was productive and that the players’ proposal would be presented to the federation president and discussed at the next executive committee meeting for a final decision.

Sri Lanka Cricket is set to introduce a major overhaul of its player contract structure, according to a report published on April 26, 2026. Under the proposed system, players will no longer receive bonuses for defeating lower-ranked teams such as Bangladesh. Instead, they could face penalties if they lose to such teams. Bonuses will only be awarded for victories against the top four teams in the ICC rankings.

The new structure specifies that defeating the world’s number one Test team away from home will earn players up to 150,000 US dollars, while wins against the second, third, and fourth-ranked teams will bring 100,000, 75,000, and 60,000 dollars respectively. For home series, the amounts are lower. Similar arrangements will apply to One Day Internationals and Twenty20 matches. Match fees have also been revised, with different rates for wins, draws, and losses across formats.

Additionally, players will receive a 25,000-dollar bonus for reaching the top of the ICC rankings and 20,000 dollars for maintaining positions between second and fifth.

Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah left the field injured during Liverpool’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace, raising speculation that it might have been his final appearance for the club. Salah was substituted in the 59th minute after suffering a hamstring injury and waved to the crowd as he exited, a gesture many interpreted as a farewell. Liverpool coach Arne Slot said the severity of the injury was still uncertain, but with only a few weeks left in the season, Salah’s return appears doubtful.

Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan stated that Salah could need around four weeks to recover, suggesting he may have already played his last match for Liverpool. The forward is expected to end his nine-year spell with the club at the conclusion of the current season. Since joining from AS Roma in 2017, Salah has scored 257 goals in 435 appearances, ranking third among Liverpool’s all-time top scorers. However, his current season’s performance has been below par, with only seven league goals.

The uncertainty now centers on whether Salah will recover in time to play again for Liverpool or if his farewell has already taken place.

Bangladesh has achieved a new milestone in its sports history as the national women's hockey team qualified for the Asian Games for the first time. The team secured its place through the Asian Hockey Federation’s qualifying tournament held in Jakarta, where it advanced to the semifinals from Group A. Bangladesh earned seven points in three matches, finishing among the top two teams in the group to confirm its spot in the main event.

In the qualifiers, Bangladesh drew 5-5 with Chinese Taipei in their opening match, defeated Uzbekistan 2-1 in the second, and overcame Hong Kong 2-1 in the final group game after initially falling behind. The team, composed mainly of players from BKSP, demonstrated strong performance and resilience throughout the tournament.

This qualification marks the first time a Bangladeshi women’s hockey team will compete in the Asian Games, opening a new chapter for women’s sports in the country and signaling growing potential in international hockey participation.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque has congratulated the Bangladesh women's kabaddi team for winning the bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Beach Games. In a congratulatory message issued on April 26, 2026, he extended his greetings to all players, coaches, and officials, describing the achievement as a special moment for the country's sports sector. He praised the team’s determination, especially their fighting spirit in the semifinal match against India.

The minister noted that this was Bangladesh’s first kabaddi medal at the Asian Beach Games since 2012, marking a return to the podium after 14 years. He said the success would significantly boost the confidence of female athletes and inspire further progress in women’s sports. Despite the semifinal loss, he expressed optimism that the team would qualify for the finals in future tournaments.

Aminul Haque reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continue supporting women athletes and expressed hope that the team would achieve even greater success on the international stage.