Barcelona’s title defense ended despite a 3-0 home victory over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the semifinal at Camp Nou. The Catalan side needed to overturn a four-goal deficit from the first leg but fell short, as Atletico advanced 4-3 on aggregate to reach the final.

Marc Bernal opened the scoring in the 29th minute from a Lamine Yamal cross, and Raphinha doubled the lead from a penalty in first-half stoppage time. Bernal added his second in the 72nd minute from a Joao Cancelo assist, but Barcelona could not find the crucial fourth goal. Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso made several key saves to preserve his team’s aggregate advantage.

After the match, Musso said it might not have been their best performance, but they earned the final spot after 180 minutes of play. Raphinha expressed pride in Barcelona’s comeback effort despite disappointment at missing the final. Atletico Madrid will face either Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao in the final on April 18.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on Iran have stirred controversy ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In an interview with Politico, Trump said he did not care whether Iran participated, calling the country “badly defeated” and “in smoke.” Iran has qualified for the tournament, with group-stage matches scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle, but rising U.S.–Iran tensions have raised concerns about the fixtures.

FIFA reiterated that all participating nations, players, staff, and fans would be welcomed and protected. The Athletic sought clarification from the White House, and Andrew Giuliani, director of the U.S. World Cup Taskforce, said any threats to the safety of millions expected to attend would be neutralized. The Iranian Football Federation did not respond to The Athletic’s request for comment, though its president, Mehdi Taj, earlier acknowledged concerns about the situation and said the sports ministry would take necessary steps.

FIFA’s secretary general had previously emphasized safety as the top priority, and a spokesperson confirmed that Iran’s participation status remains unchanged despite recent regional tensions.

French football star Kylian Mbappé has reportedly left Spain for France to seek medical treatment after expressing dissatisfaction with Real Madrid’s medical team. The forward, who has been in outstanding form this season, suffered a knee injury in December that has yet to fully heal. Despite ongoing care from the club’s doctors, Mbappé remains unfit and missed the Champions League playoff match against Benfica. He has now consulted several specialist physicians in France with the club’s permission.

Spanish outlet Marca reported that Mbappé is unhappy with Real Madrid’s handling of his injury, believing the medical staff failed to provide an effective solution over the past three months. The exact nature of his knee problem remains uncertain, with possible issues involving both the internal lateral and posterior cruciate ligaments. His main goal is to identify the root cause of the injury and return to full fitness for the crucial stages of the season.

Mbappé’s participation in the upcoming Champions League round of 16 matches against Manchester City remains doubtful, though Real Madrid hopes he will recover before the second leg.

The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) organized an iftar gathering at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment on Monday to mark the holy month of Ramadan. The event was attended by State Minister for Sports Aminul Haque, chiefs of the army, navy, and air force, and other senior officials. BOA President and Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman extended Ramadan greetings and emphasized collective efforts for the advancement of the country’s sports sector.

In his address, General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that the BOA has undertaken an initiative to establish an international-standard sports complex with modern facilities in Trishal, Mymensingh, aiming to develop world-class athletes and host global competitions. The State Minister for Sports also spoke briefly about the government’s commitment and plans for national sports development.

Members of the BOA executive committee and general council, officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Council, senior serving and retired armed forces officers, and representatives from various national sports federations attended the event.

Inter Miami overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Orlando City 4-2 in their second match of the new MLS season. After trailing 2-0 within the first 24 minutes, Lionel Messi led a stunning turnaround with two goals and an assist. The match, played on March 2, 2026, saw Miami recover from a poor start to the season following their opening loss to Los Angeles FC.

Coach Javier Mascherano’s tactical change proved decisive when he replaced defender Noah Allen with attacker Mateo Silvetti, who scored Miami’s first goal in the 49th minute. Messi equalized with a precise left-footed strike in the 57th minute, then assisted Talisco Segovia’s goal in the 85th minute before sealing the victory with a free-kick in stoppage time. The win marked Messi’s 70th career free-kick goal and brought his total career tally to 898.

Mascherano praised his team’s mental resilience, noting that Orlando is always a tough opponent. Inter Miami will next face DC United at Audi Field in Washington on Saturday, aiming to build on this momentum early in the season.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has stated that it does not foresee any problems with the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Pakistan, despite ongoing disruptions to air travel caused by the war situation in the Middle East. Flights using Middle Eastern airspace have been suspended, leaving several teams stranded, including Pakistan in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in India. The Pakistan team is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on March 9, with the series set to begin on March 11 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

BCB’s Chairman of Cricket Operations, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, told Amader Desh that the board remains positive about the series taking place as planned. He mentioned that there are several alternative routes available and expressed confidence that the Pakistan team will arrive on schedule. However, he also noted that there has been no final discussion yet with the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding travel arrangements.

The uncertainty over flight routes remains, but BCB maintains that the series schedule currently stands unchanged.

The Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Trust Foundation has for the first time recognized athletes for their special contributions to sports. A total of nine current and former athletes received the 'Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Award' at a ceremony held at the Le Méridien Hotel in Dhaka. State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque attended as chief guest and presented each awardee with a crest and a cash prize of 100,000 taka.

The foundation, established in memory of the late Arafat Rahman Koko, introduced this award to honor achievements across different sports disciplines. Among the recipients were former national cricket captain Habibul Bashar Sumon, women’s cricketer Marufa Akter, former footballer Alfaz Ahmed, and national women’s footballer Rituparna Chakma. Organizers expressed hope that the award would become one of the country’s most prestigious sports honors.

Award recipients expressed joy at receiving the recognition, saying it would inspire them to perform even better in the future. The state minister noted plans to expand the award to an international level in coming years to further promote a sports-friendly environment in Bangladesh.

Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2-1 in a high-voltage English Premier League match, extending their lead at the top of the table. Under coach Mikel Arteta, the Gunners maintained strong form as Manchester United also claimed a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Manchester City edged Leeds United 1-0 away, with Antoine Semenyo scoring the decisive goal.

City’s win came just before halftime when Ryan Aït-Nouri’s pass found Semenyo, who finished neatly to beat the goalkeeper. The result marked City’s fourth consecutive league victory, narrowing the gap with leaders Arsenal. After 28 matches, City hold 59 points from 18 wins and five draws, trailing Arsenal by two points.

In other European action, Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in the Bundesliga thanks to two goals from Harry Kane, while Paris Saint-Germain defeated Le Havre 1-0 in Ligue 1.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a cautious approach to travel and logistics for the 2026 T20 World Cup due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The organization stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and has coordinated contingency plans to ensure the safety and travel arrangements of all tournament participants. The conflict, involving missile exchanges between Iran, the United States, and Israel, led to temporary airspace closures in several Middle Eastern countries, disrupting international flights and forcing airlines to cancel or reroute services.

According to the ICC, the crisis has not directly affected tournament operations. However, many players, team officials, match staff, broadcasters, and event personnel are expected to travel home through Middle Eastern airports, particularly Dubai, after the tournament. The ICC’s travel and logistics division is working with major international airlines to secure alternative routes through Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Security advisers are maintaining contact with relevant authorities and will issue guidance as needed. A special travel support desk has also been established.

The T20 World Cup is now in its final stages, with the Super Eight matches concluding today, followed by semifinals on March 4 and 5 and the final on March 8.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by five runs in a Super Eight match held in Pallekele on March 1, 2026. Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman built a strong 176-run opening partnership, guiding Pakistan to 212 for eight in 20 overs. Farhan scored 100 runs while Fakhar added 84. For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka took three wickets for 33 runs and Dasun Shanaka claimed two for 42. In reply, Sri Lanka reached 207 for six, with Shanaka remaining unbeaten on 76 and Pavan Rathnayake contributing 56.

Despite the victory, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals due to net run rate calculations. To advance, they needed to restrict Sri Lanka to under 147 runs, but the bowlers could not achieve that margin. Abrar Ahmed took three wickets for 23 runs for Pakistan. The result marked Pakistan’s exit from the tournament at the Super Eight stage.

Sahibzada Farhan was named player of the match for his century, his second of the tournament.

Inter Miami secured a 2–1 victory over Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle in a friendly match held in Puerto Rico on February 27, 2026. The match, originally scheduled for February 13, had been postponed due to Lionel Messi’s injury. In front of 20,000 spectators, Messi came on as a substitute and scored the winning goal from a penalty in the 70th minute, giving his team a morale-boosting win.

The game was marked by an incident in the 88th minute when several fans entered the field. One supporter attempted to hug Messi and accidentally knocked him to the ground before security intervened. Despite the interruption, the match concluded without further issues.

Inter Miami, coached by Javier Mascherano, had already completed their pre-season preparations and started the new MLS season with a 3–0 loss to Los Angeles FC. Their next fixture is scheduled for March 2 against Orlando City.

The UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw for the 2025–26 season was held in Nyon, producing several high-profile matchups. Real Madrid and Manchester City will face each other for the fifth consecutive season, continuing their intense rivalry in Europe’s top club competition. Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea will also meet again, recreating last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final in a battle for a quarterfinal spot.

Other fixtures include Barcelona against Newcastle, Liverpool facing Galatasaray, and Atlético Madrid taking on Tottenham Hotspur. Bayern Munich will meet Atalanta, Arsenal will play Bayer Leverkusen, and Sporting CP will face Bodø/Glimt. Arsenal appears to have a relatively favorable path, with a potential quarterfinal against the winner of Sporting CP and Bodø/Glimt if they overcome Leverkusen.

The first-leg matches of the quarterfinals are scheduled for March 10 and 11, with the return legs on March 17 and 18, according to the draw details.

China will begin their title defense in the Women's Asian Cup on March 3 against Bangladesh in Group B, with the tournament starting in Australia on March 1. The Chinese team, nine-time Asian Cup champions and former FIFA World Cup and Olympic runners-up, are considered the strongest opponents in Bangladesh’s group. Bangladesh, ranked 112th in FIFA rankings, will be making their debut in the competition, while China currently holds the 17th position.

Chinese coach Ante Milicic stated that his team will approach the match with respect for Bangladesh, acknowledging their first-ever appearance in the Asian Cup. Since winning the 2022 title, China’s women’s team has struggled in major tournaments, exiting the 2023 World Cup in the group stage and missing the Paris Olympics. They also suffered an 8–0 defeat to England in a friendly last November.

Milicic said the team has worked hard to prepare for the upcoming tournament and is now focused on performing well in the main competition.

Uttara Region continued their dominant run in the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) with a six-wicket victory over South Region in Rajshahi on February 26, 2026. Batting first, South Region collapsed early, losing four wickets for just 19 runs before Mohammad Mithun’s 55 off 79 balls helped them reach 144. Meherob Hasan and Nahid Rana each took three wickets for Uttara. In reply, Uttara chased down the 145-run target with six wickets in hand, led by Liton Das’s 55 off 65 balls and Towhid Hridoy’s 33 off 46. Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets for 23 runs for South Region.

In another match in Bogura, Central Region defeated East Region by five wickets. East Region posted 237 for nine, with Zakir Hasan scoring 45 and Rakibul Hasan taking three wickets for 27 runs. Central reached the target with 27 balls remaining, powered by Naim Sheikh’s 83 and Abu Hider Rony’s quickfire 66 off 42 balls.

With this win, Uttara Region moved a step closer to the BCL final and will face Central Region in their final league match.

India kept their T20 World Cup semifinal hopes alive with a commanding 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chennai. Batting first after losing the toss, India posted their highest total of the tournament, scoring 256 for 4 in 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma hit 55 off 30 balls, Ishan Kishan added 38 off 24, and captain Suryakumar Yadav contributed 33 off 13. Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma powered the finish with an unbeaten 84-run stand from 31 balls, Pandya remaining not out on 50 and Varma scoring 44 off 16. India’s innings featured 17 sixes.

In reply, Zimbabwe reached 184 for 6 despite a valiant 97 off 59 balls from Brian Bennett. Arshdeep Singh broke Bennett’s 72-run partnership with Sikandar Raza and took 3 wickets for 24 runs in 4 overs. The defeat confirmed Zimbabwe’s exit from the tournament after consecutive losses, while India stayed in contention for a semifinal spot. South Africa had already secured their place in the last four earlier.