Inter Miami endured a stunning 4-3 defeat to Orlando City despite a strong start led by Lionel Messi at the new ‘Nu Stadium’. Miami raced to a 3-0 lead in the first half, with Messi scoring once and providing two assists. The team appeared to have full control of the match, dominating possession and attack. However, their defense collapsed in the second half, allowing Orlando to overturn the deficit.

Martin Ojeda sparked Orlando’s comeback with a goal in the 39th minute and completed his hat-trick with two more strikes in the second half. Tyrese Spicer sealed the victory for Orlando in stoppage time. Despite holding 64 percent possession and taking 26 shots, Miami failed to secure the win.

The loss has raised questions about Miami’s defensive weaknesses and their continued struggles at the new stadium. Messi’s outstanding performance was overshadowed by the team’s inability to maintain their lead.

Arsenal displayed strong determination in their Premier League title pursuit by defeating Fulham 3–0 at the Emirates Stadium. Victor Gyökeres scored twice and Bukayo Saka added another goal, helping the Gunners extend their lead at the top of the table to six points ahead of Manchester City. The match took place on May 3, 2026, and showcased Arsenal’s attacking dominance from the opening minutes.

Manchester City still have a chance to narrow the gap as they face Everton later today. A win would reduce Arsenal’s lead to three points, though City have played two fewer matches. Arsenal’s victory came after their Carabao Cup final loss, with Saka returning to the starting lineup and making an immediate impact.

The title race remains intense as Arsenal aim to maintain consistency ahead of their next fixture against West Ham, where another win could further strengthen their championship position.

European football’s 2025–26 season is entering its final stretch, with title races nearing resolution across major leagues. Bayern Munich have already secured the Bundesliga crown, while Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A are approaching decisive moments. In La Liga, Barcelona lead with 85 points after 33 rounds, followed by Real Madrid on 74. Barcelona faced Osasuna last night, and Real Madrid meet Espanyol tonight. If Barcelona win and Real Madrid lose or draw, the Catalan club will clinch their 29th league title.

In Italy, the Serie A title race is also reaching its climax. Inter Milan top the table with 79 points after 34 matches, ahead of Napoli on 69 and AC Milan on 67. With only four matches remaining, Inter can secure their 21st league title tonight by defeating Parma, regardless of other results.

As May progresses, the European football season is at its most intense stage, with league outcomes potentially changing within hours.

An emotional scene unfolded at the FIFA Congress held at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Canada, where Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub rejected a symbolic peace gesture proposed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Infantino had planned to bring Israeli and Palestinian representatives together on stage for a handshake and photo session to promote peace, but Rajoub refused the idea.

Rajoub stated that Israeli representatives must first prove their adherence to FIFA’s principles and humanitarian values before any such gesture could take place. He remarked that while Infantino might wish to build a bridge of peace, he does not understand the suffering and wounds of the Palestinian people. When Infantino made another attempt to bring the two sides closer, Rajoub responded emotionally, saying, “We are in pain,” a statement that reportedly silenced the entire convention hall.

The incident highlighted the deep emotional and political divisions that persist even within global sporting platforms like FIFA’s congress.

Iran Football Association President Mehdi Taj and his delegation faced questioning at Toronto airport while traveling to attend FIFA’s 76th Congress in Canada. Canadian authorities reportedly detained them for nearly three hours, raising questions about Taj’s past and present links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Although Taj was eventually allowed to attend the Congress, the situation became complicated, prompting the Iranian delegation to decide to return home.

After reaching Turkey, FIFA President Gianni Infantino offered to fly them back to Canada on a special aircraft, but the Iranian officials declined the offer. Taj later stated that despite holding valid visas, they withdrew from the event due to what he described as unnecessary harassment.

The incident highlights diplomatic sensitivities surrounding international sports participation and the scrutiny faced by officials with alleged political or military affiliations.

The Pakistan cricket team is arriving in Bangladesh in two phases to play a two-match Test series. The first group is scheduled to land in Dhaka early Sunday morning, followed by the second group on Monday morning. The split arrival is due to the Pakistan Super League final. After reaching Dhaka, the team will begin practice at Mirpur from Monday.

The first Test of the series will start on May 8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, while the second Test will be held at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium starting May 16. The Bangladesh team has already begun preparations for the series.

Following the conclusion of their T20 series against New Zealand, the remaining Bangladesh players will join red-ball practice sessions from the day after tomorrow.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milan inaugurated the Notun Kuri Sports 2026 at Chandpur Stadium on Saturday afternoon, organized by the district administration. He said that the late President Ziaur Rahman had initiated the Notun Kuri program nationwide to discover young talents, and now Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is continuing that legacy through Notun Kuri Sports to identify meritorious youth across the country.

The minister emphasized that students should remain engaged in both sports and studies throughout the year to foster intellectual and moral development. He expressed confidence that the next generation would represent Bangladesh as a new, capable nation on the global stage. He also noted that the Ministry of Education has already introduced sports activities at primary, secondary, college, and university levels, and this initiative will continue.

The event was chaired by Additional District Magistrate Nazmun Nahar and attended by several local Members of Parliament and officials. The minister formally inaugurated the games by releasing balloons in the presence of participating students.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman inaugurated the country’s largest national-level sports talent hunt program, ‘Notun Kuri Sports,’ at Sylhet District Stadium on Saturday. Despite rain interruptions, the event began at 5 p.m. with a grand ceremony, connecting all 64 districts virtually. The Prime Minister urged children and adolescents to prepare themselves to take responsibility for the future of Bangladesh and to bring pride to the nation through both education and sports.

The program opened with the national anthem, flag hoisting, and recitations from holy scriptures, followed by a documentary highlighting the contributions of late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to youth and sports. A theme song was performed, and students from BKSP presented exhibitions of eight sports included in the initiative.

Youth and Sports Secretary Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam stated that the program aims to build a database of athletes aged 12 to 14 and identify grassroots talent through a four-tier administrative structure. He added that the goal is to prepare athletes for strong participation in the 2030 and 2034 Olympics and international championships.

A new nationwide program titled 'Notun Kuri Sports' will begin on Saturday under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and implementation by the Directorate of Sports. The initiative aims to identify and nurture sports talent among children aged 12 to 14 from grassroots levels. The opening ceremony will take place at Sylhet District Stadium, where Prime Minister Tareq Rahman will inaugurate the event and connect virtually with participants across the country.

According to organizers, the program follows the legacy of the 1980s talent search 'Notun Kuri' and includes eight sports: cricket, football, kabaddi, athletics, chess, badminton, swimming, and martial arts. A total of 160,779 participants registered online between April 12 and 17, with the highest numbers from Sylhet, followed by Chattogram and Dhaka. Regional and divisional competitions will be held from May 13 to 22 across ten designated regions.

Selected players will receive allowances, jerseys, and certificates, while national-level athletes will get residential training and opportunities at BKSP. The ministry has assured strict monitoring for transparency and safety, viewing the program as a milestone for Bangladesh’s sports development.

At the 76th FIFA Congress held in Vancouver, political tensions surfaced as Palestinian and Israeli football officials faced each other. Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub publicly expressed anger toward Israel, refusing to shake hands with Israel Football Association Vice President Basim Sheikh Sulaiman despite FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s call for unity. Rajoub accused Israel of violating FIFA’s anti-discrimination policies by operating clubs in occupied West Bank areas and confirmed that his association had appealed FIFA’s earlier decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on April 20.

FIFA had previously declined to take punitive action against Israeli clubs in West Bank settlements, citing the unresolved international status of the territory. However, it fined the Israel Football Association about 150,000 Swiss francs for separate violations involving racism, discriminatory behavior, and breaches of fair play rules. Infantino urged both sides to remain calm and work together for the future of football and children.

Rajoub maintained his stance, questioning Israel’s FIFA membership and demanding sanctions for alleged human rights violations. Israel’s acting general secretary, Yariv Teper, avoided direct rebuttal but expressed willingness to cooperate with Palestine for football development.

Cristiano Ronaldo has acknowledged that his football career is approaching its end. The 41-year-old Portuguese forward, currently playing for Al Nassr, made the admission after a recent victory over Al Ahli in which he scored his 970th career goal. Despite maintaining strong form, Ronaldo said he realizes the end of his playing days is not far away, though he continues to enjoy every match.

Since joining the Saudi Pro League in 2023, Ronaldo has yet to win a league title. This season, however, Al Nassr lead the table by eight points over Al Hilal, giving him a strong chance to secure that long-awaited trophy. He emphasized that team success now matters more to him than personal achievements, stating that winning titles is his top priority.

Fans are speculating whether the 2026 World Cup will mark Ronaldo’s final appearance on the global stage. While he has not confirmed his retirement timeline, he remains determined to finish his career on a winning note.

Ten Bangladeshi hockey players have departed for Europe to participate in professional leagues, with several joining Germany’s Bundesliga. Among them, young striker Amirul Islam, who scored 15 goals in the last Junior Hockey World Cup, has earned a call-up to play in Germany as recognition for his standout performance. This marks his first experience in a foreign league.

Alongside Amirul, national team players Din Islam Imon, Roman Sarkar, Rakibul Hasan, Mahbub Hossain Joy, Imran Pintu, and Ashraful Islam are also set to compete in the German league. Amirul expressed hope that the upcoming season will help him learn new techniques, while forward Din Islam described the opportunity to play in Europe as a major step for Bangladeshi players. The athletes believe that competing in Germany, known for its high standard of hockey, will sharpen their skills and enhance their international experience.

The move is seen as a milestone for Bangladesh hockey, reflecting growing recognition of the country’s emerging talent on the European stage.

Bangladeshi International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman narrowly missed earning a norm at the Fubi Academy Grandmasters Chess Tournament held in Istanbul, Turkey. The event concluded with Fahad losing to Hungarian Grandmaster Aszel Gargely in the final round, which cost him the required points for the norm. He finished as runner-up with six points from nine games, adding eleven rating points to his record.

Fahad had previously achieved his first norm in 2024 and was aiming for his second in this tournament. He started strongly with three consecutive wins but drew against Iranian Grandmaster Arian Gholami in the fourth round and lost to Turkish FIDE Master Denis Dirikolur in the fifth. Despite recovering with 2.5 points in the next three rounds, he needed a win in the ninth round to secure the norm, which he could not achieve.

The result leaves Fahad disappointed but with improved performance metrics and a higher international rating, strengthening his prospects for future tournaments.

Al Nassr strengthened their position in the Saudi Pro League title race with a 2-0 home victory over Al Ahli on April 30, 2026. The Riyadh-based club maintained their winning streak, marking their 20th consecutive win in all competitions. Captain Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 75th minute with a header from a corner, breaking a long deadlock. Kingsley Coman sealed the result in the 90th minute after capitalizing on a defensive error.

Ronaldo’s goal was his 25th of the current league season, making him the first player to score 25 or more goals in three consecutive league campaigns for the second time in his career. The Portuguese forward now has 970 career goals across all competitions, including 126 for Al Nassr. Despite his milestone, he remains two goals behind Ivan Toney in the league’s top scorer chart.

With 79 points from 30 matches, Al Nassr lead the table ahead of Al Hilal on 71 points and Al Ahli on 66. The win further solidifies Al Nassr’s title ambitions as Ronaldo’s consistent form continues to drive their campaign.

The 39th National Snooker Championship began today in Dhaka, organized by the Bangladesh Billiard and Snooker Federation with support from Dhaka Boat Club. The tournament was inaugurated at the Dhaka Boat Club, where organizers shared details at a press conference attended by club and federation officials. A total of 183 players from 32 clubs across the country are competing, with attractive prizes for winners. The champion will receive 100,000 taka, the runner-up 50,000 taka, and semifinalists 20,000 taka each. Players achieving a break of 50 or more will also receive a special prize of 20,000 taka.

The event is sponsored by Amber Group, with co-sponsorship from Eminence Sourcing and Rashid Group. RC Cola and MUM are beverage partners, and Impact PR is the media partner. Dhaka Boat Club President Rubel Aziz said regular tournaments like this can help popularize cue sports in Bangladesh, though high import VAT on snooker tables remains a challenge. Federation President Brigadier General (Retd.) Sarker Md. Shamsuddin emphasized preparing talented players for international competition. The tournament will conclude with the final on May 14.

Organizers noted that the large participation reflects the growing popularity of snooker in Bangladesh and provides a platform for emerging talent.