Michael Morrow, a 49-year-old swimmer from New York, has achieved an extraordinary feat by swimming 28.5 miles in open water while wearing handcuffs. Completing the route through the East River, Harlem River, and Hudson River in under ten hours, Morrow secured two Guinness World Records — for the longest open-water swim in handcuffs and for being the first and fastest to circle New York’s waterways under such conditions.

Morrow’s teammate Capri Zatyasmoro described the experience as thrilling, comparing the post-swim feeling to flying a kite. Morrow said he was inspired by stories of people who never gave up on pushing their limits, which motivated him to take on the challenge. A former national champion swimmer, Morrow returned to the sport in his mid-forties after a two-decade break.

His achievement highlights both physical endurance and mental resilience, adding a unique chapter to open-water swimming history. Morrow’s record may inspire others to redefine personal boundaries in endurance sports.

Football fans around the world are anticipating a potential clash between Brazil and Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking what could be their first World Cup encounter in 36 years. The two South American giants last met in the tournament in 1990, when Argentina edged out Brazil in the Round of 16. The possibility of a new showdown depends heavily on how both teams perform in the group stage of the expanded 2026 edition.

If both Brazil and Argentina top their respective groups, they would only meet in the semifinals or later. Even if both finish as runners-up, a semifinal meeting would remain the earliest possible stage. However, if one team qualifies as a third-placed side, the knockout bracket could create an earlier encounter, though the exact stage would depend on final group standings and FIFA’s knockout schedule.

The official knockout pathway is expected to be clarified once FIFA finalizes the 2026 World Cup bracket, fueling excitement among fans and analysts awaiting a possible renewal of one of football’s fiercest rivalries.

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has expressed uncertainty about participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite his strong wish to be part of the tournament. In an interview with ESPN ahead of the World Cup draw in Washington D.C., the 38-year-old star said he hopes to be there but admitted that circumstances could prevent his participation. Messi, who fulfilled his lifelong dream by winning the 2022 Qatar World Cup, stated that even if he cannot play, watching the event as a spectator would still be a special experience. His comments have sparked mixed emotions among fans, many of whom are eager to see him lead Argentina once again on the global stage. The uncertainty stems from his age and the physical demands of top-level football, raising questions about whether the iconic forward will extend his international career to one more World Cup.

West Indies are chasing a record 531 runs to win against New Zealand after the hosts declared their second innings at 466 for 8 on the fourth day of the Test. New Zealand resumed the day at 417 for 4 and added 49 more runs before declaring, with Rachin Ravindra scoring 176 and Kemar Roach taking five wickets for 78 runs. In reply, West Indies stumbled early, losing four wickets for just 72 runs. However, Shai Hope and Justin Greaves steadied the innings with an unbroken 140-run partnership for the fifth wicket. At stumps on day four, West Indies reached 212 for 4, with Hope unbeaten on 116. They need 319 more runs on the final day to achieve what would be a world-record chase in Test cricket, a task considered extremely difficult but not impossible.

As anticipation builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup group draw in Washington, Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul expressed his excitement and determination to defend the team’s title. Speaking to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, De Paul revealed he recently discussed preparations with Lionel Messi, emphasizing that the World Cup draw marks the tournament’s true beginning. Reflecting on Argentina’s 2022 triumph under Messi’s leadership, De Paul said the team is ready to face the challenge of retaining the trophy, acknowledging the difficulty of the task. He highlighted Argentina’s strong qualifying performance and stressed unity as the key to success. De Paul, who recently joined Messi at Inter Miami, will also compete in the MLS final against Vancouver Whitecaps before turning full focus to the World Cup. Meanwhile, Messi’s participation in the 2026 tournament remains uncertain, though he expressed hope to play if conditions allow. Regardless, Messi remains central to Argentina’s World Cup plans.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to receive the inaugural FIFA Peace Award ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony in Washington’s Kennedy Center. According to multiple sources, Trump will deliver a brief speech during the two-hour event, which will also be attended by Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the award aims to honor those who promote unity and peace through football, especially in a time of global unrest. Although FIFA has not officially confirmed Trump’s name, insiders told The New York Times that he will be the recipient. The award will be presented annually, starting this year. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have questioned FIFA’s selection process and transparency. The event will feature a performance by the Village People, known for their song popular at Trump rallies, reflecting the former president’s preferences.

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held on Friday, December 5, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, marking the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams instead of 32. Hosts United States, Mexico, and Canada automatically qualify, while six playoff winners will complete the lineup. The tournament is set to begin on June 11 and conclude with the final on July 19. FIFA President Gianni Infantino will oversee the draw, which starts at 11 PM Bangladesh time, with the full match schedule to be released the following day. Teams are divided into four pots based on FIFA rankings, with 12 teams in each pot. Spain and Argentina, along with France and England, are placed in separate halves to avoid early clashes. Fans can watch the draw live on FIFA’s official website and YouTube channel, while updates will also be available on Transfermarkt and social media platforms.

Indian batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad’s centuries appear to coincide with India’s defeats. After scoring his maiden T20 century (123) against Australia in Guwahati in November 2023, India lost that match despite posting a record 222 runs. On Wednesday in Raipur, Gaikwad struck his maiden ODI century (105) as India set a formidable 358-run target against South Africa. However, the Proteas chased it down with four balls to spare, winning by four wickets and leveling the series 1–1. Both of Gaikwad’s career centuries have come in high-scoring matches that ended in Indian defeats, raising questions about India’s bowling depth and match finishing under pressure. The loss was particularly disappointing for the home crowd, who witnessed another record total go in vain.

FIFA is preparing to introduce enhanced technology measures for the 2026 World Cup, including expanded use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Currently, VAR is permitted only for direct red card decisions, but FIFA has applied to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) for approval to use it in reviewing second yellow card incidents and disputed corner kick decisions. The final decision on these rule changes is expected after IFAB’s meeting in March. Meanwhile, host nations the United States and Mexico are intensifying their preparations by scheduling high-profile friendly matches against top European teams. The U.S. will face Belgium, Germany, and Portugal in world-class venues like Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Bank of America Stadium, while Mexico will play Portugal and Belgium at the iconic Azteca Stadium, which is undergoing renovations to host World Cup matches for a record third time.

The schedule for the upcoming Youth Asia Cup 2024 has been announced, with the eight participating teams divided into two groups. Bangladesh has been placed in Group B alongside Afghanistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, while Group A features India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia. The tournament will begin on December 12 with the opening match between India and the UAE. Bangladesh will start its campaign on December 13 against host Afghanistan at the ICC Academy Ground. The team will then face Nepal on December 15 at The Sevens Stadium and conclude the group stage against Sri Lanka on December 17. The highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash is scheduled for December 14. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on December 19, with the final set for December 21 at the ICC Academy Ground. All matches will start at 9 p.m. Gulf Standard Time.

India has created an unusual world record by losing 20 consecutive tosses in men’s international cricket, a statistical rarity estimated to occur only once in 1,048,576 instances. The streak began during the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad and has continued through bilateral and multi-nation tournaments. The latest loss came in Raipur, where South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bowl. This surpasses the previous record held by the Netherlands, who lost 11 consecutive tosses between March 2011 and August 2013. Indian captain KL Rahul humorously remarked that the toss has become the most stressful part of his job, admitting that even practice hasn’t helped. Despite the light-hearted tone, the record underscores a remarkable streak of bad luck for the Indian team, statistically almost impossible to replicate.

Argentine World Cup winner Cristian Romero delivered a remarkable performance for Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League clash against Newcastle United, scoring twice to secure a 2–2 draw. Tottenham fell behind twice, but Romero equalized on both occasions, with his second goal — a spectacular bicycle kick in stoppage time — drawing comparisons to Hamza Choudhury’s stunning goal for Bangladesh against Nepal in Dhaka just 20 days earlier. The goal came after Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes had put his side ahead in the 71st minute, followed by Romero’s first equalizer from a Mohamed Kudus cross in the 78th. When Newcastle regained the lead in the 86th minute, Romero responded again in injury time, sealing the draw with his acrobatic strike. The rare feat of a defender scoring twice, including a bicycle kick, evoked memories of iconic goals by Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Zlatan Ibrahimović, marking Romero’s first such goal in European football.

A supercomputer operated by football analytics firm Opta has predicted that Spain has the highest probability of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a 17% chance based on team performance, history, and statistical data. France follows with a 14.1% chance, while England ranks third at 11.8%. Defending champions Argentina are fourth with an 8.7% chance, facing the challenge of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive World Cups. Germany, Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands, Norway, and Colombia complete the top ten. The tournament, featuring a record 48 teams, will hold its draw in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Italy remains the most notable absentee, having failed to qualify. At the other end, Jordan, Curaçao, and Haiti are given virtually no chance of lifting the trophy according to the simulation.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has set a new Premier League record by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals, achieving the milestone in just 111 matches. The 25-year-old Norwegian scored during City’s 5-4 victory over Fulham, surpassing Alan Shearer’s previous record of 124 matches to reach the same mark. Haaland, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, continues his prolific form with 15 league goals and 20 in all competitions this season. Despite a brief goal drought in the previous three matches, he returned to scoring form with a precise finish from a Jeremy Doku cross. Haaland also provided two assists in the match, underlining his all-round contribution. While he still has a long way to go to match Shearer’s all-time record of 260 goals, his current scoring rate suggests he could challenge it in the coming seasons.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has released the final schedule for the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), set to begin on December 26 and conclude with the final on January 23. The T20 franchise tournament will feature 34 matches across three venues—Sylhet, Chattogram, and Dhaka. The opening match will see Sylhet Titans face Rajshahi Warriors in Sylhet. After the Sylhet leg, the tournament will move to Chattogram before concluding in Dhaka. The eliminator and first qualifier are scheduled for January 19, the second qualifier for January 21, and the final for January 23, all at Mirpur Stadium, with a reserve day allocated for the final stage. Six teams will compete this season: Dhaka Capitals, Sylhet Titans, Chattogram Royals, Rangpur Riders, Rajshahi Warriors, and Noakhali Express.