FIFA has announced that Argentina, France, Spain, and England will receive special treatment in the 2026 World Cup draw, ensuring they do not face each other before the semifinals. These four teams, currently the top-ranked sides in world football, will be placed in separate halves of the draw under the new 48-team format. Spain and Argentina will be positioned on opposite sides, while France and England will also be kept apart. The draw, scheduled for December 5 in Washington, D.C., will start with the 12 teams in Pot 1, which includes the three host nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—along with Germany, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Meanwhile, 18 teams are still competing in playoffs for the remaining six World Cup slots. Italy, a four-time champion, could end up in Pot 4 if they qualify, potentially creating a ‘group of death’. Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde, and Curaçao are among the debutants in the expanded tournament.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially released the full schedule and group details for the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka during February and March. Bangladesh has been placed in Group C alongside two-time champions England and West Indies, as well as associate members Nepal and Italy. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The tournament will open on February 7 with a match between Pakistan and the Netherlands, while Bangladesh will face the West Indies on the same day in Kolkata. Bangladesh’s subsequent matches are scheduled against Italy on February 9, England on February 14, and Nepal on February 17. Other groups include India, Pakistan, and the United States in Group A; Australia and Sri Lanka in Group B; and South Africa and New Zealand in Group D.

A22 Sports Management, the company behind the European Super League project, has formally filed a lawsuit against UEFA seeking €4–5 billion in damages, alleging that UEFA continues to maintain monopolistic control over European club football. The move follows a 2023 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which found UEFA’s exclusive authority over competitions to be anti-competitive. A22 claims UEFA’s new 2024 regulations contradict that ruling and have caused financial harm to Super League clubs. Despite months of discussions between A22 and UEFA from March to September 2025, no resolution was reached. A22 had proposed a new competition called the ‘Unified League’ with a modern format and its own digital platform, ‘Unify’. If successful, the lawsuit could trigger one of the biggest structural and financial shifts in European football history, potentially redefining club competitions, revenue distribution, and governance.

The highly anticipated India-Pakistan match in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup is scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, according to ESPNcricinfo. Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament alongside India, will host the high-voltage encounter at a neutral venue agreed upon by both cricket boards. The World Cup is expected to take place between February and March 2026. India may open their campaign against the United States, though it is not confirmed as the opening match. The tournament’s opening and final matches are likely to be held at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, but if Pakistan reaches the final, it will be shifted to Colombo. One semifinal is planned for Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, while the other venue remains undecided. Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka. The 2026 T20 World Cup will feature 20 teams, including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the USA, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, and others.

A rare incident unfolded in the English Premier League as Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye received a red card for slapping his own teammate, defender Michael Keane, during a match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The altercation occurred in the 13th minute following a defensive misunderstanding that nearly led to a goal for United. Referee Tony Harrington, witnessing the confrontation, immediately sent Gueye off. Despite being reduced to ten men early in the game, Everton managed to secure a 1-0 victory thanks to a powerful strike from Dewsbury-Hall in the 29th minute. Manchester United, despite having a numerical advantage, failed to capitalize on their chances. United coach Ruben Amorim expressed disappointment after the match, admitting that his team lacked intensity and that Everton deserved the win.

The National Sports Council (NSC) of Bangladesh has issued a directive prohibiting the use of national team players in any political or election campaigns. In a letter dated November 24, the NSC warned that players are national assets and symbols of unity, and their involvement in political activities could harm the neutrality and integrity of the sports sector. The council noted that some groups or individuals were attempting to use athletes for political purposes ahead of the upcoming elections, which violates sports ethics and could damage the sporting environment. The directive strictly forbids players from participating in campaign events, appearing on political platforms, or endorsing any candidate. The NSC emphasized that all athletes must maintain the country’s reputation through their sporting excellence and adhere to the council’s instructions to preserve a healthy, nonpartisan sports environment.

India faces the prospect of a humiliating home series defeat after South Africa’s commanding performance in the second Test in Guwahati. Following a crushing loss in the first Test at Eden Gardens, India again struggled against the Proteas’ pace and spin attack. South Africa posted a formidable 489 in their first innings, led by Senuran Muthusamy’s 109 and Marco Jansen’s 93. In reply, India collapsed for 201, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 58 and Washington Sundar adding 48. Jansen starred with the ball, taking 6 wickets for 48, while Simon Harmer claimed 3 for 64. South Africa opted to bat again instead of enforcing the follow-on, reaching 26 without loss at stumps on Day 3, extending their lead to 314 runs. With India trailing heavily, captain Rishabh Pant’s side now faces an uphill battle to avoid a series whitewash at home.

Bangladesh’s under-17 football team delivered a commanding 8–0 victory over Brunei Darussalam in their second Group A match of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers held in Chongqing, China. Following a 5–0 win against Timor-Leste in their opening match, the young Bangladesh side continued their impressive form. Rifat Kazi and Apu Rahman each scored twice, while Manik, Bayezid, Faisal, and Alif added one goal apiece. Coach Golam Rabbani Choton praised his players for maintaining an aggressive and positive approach throughout the match, which helped them create and convert multiple scoring chances. With two consecutive wins, Bangladesh now stands in a strong position in the group that includes hosts China, Brunei, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka, and Bahrain. The group winners will qualify for the final tournament in Saudi Arabia next year. Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka in their next match on Wednesday, while Brunei will play against China.

Cristiano Ronaldo, at the age of 40, delivered a spectacular bicycle kick goal during Al Nassr’s 4-1 victory over Al Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League. The goal came in the sixth minute of added time when Nawaaf sent a precise cross into the box, and Ronaldo executed a flawless acrobatic finish that left the goalkeeper helpless. The strike evoked memories of his famous overhead goal for Juventus seven years ago. Earlier in the match, João Félix, Wesley Ribeiro, and Sadio Mané each scored for Al Nassr. With this goal, Ronaldo’s career tally has reached 954, bringing him closer to the 1,000-goal milestone. He has now scored 10 goals in nine league matches this season, ranking second in the top scorer list, just one goal behind teammate Félix. Al Nassr remain unbeaten after nine matches, leading the league table with 27 points, followed by Al Hilal with 23 points.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim marked his 100th Test appearance in style as Bangladesh defeated Ireland by 217 runs in the Dhaka Test. The veteran cricketer, who also earned the Player of the Match award for his unbeaten half-century, received multiple honors from the Bangladesh Cricket Board, the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association, and other organizations. His achievement has inspired several Bangladeshi pacers to aim for the rare milestone of playing 100 Tests, a significant challenge in the country’s cricketing context. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto praised Mushfiqur’s dedication and leadership, noting his influence on younger players. At 38, Mushfiqur expressed his desire to continue contributing to the national team and guiding the next generation. Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie also lauded Mushfiqur’s longevity, remarking on the contrast between Bangladesh’s progress and Ireland’s limited Test schedule.

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in a thrilling final of the Emerging Asia Cup, winning their third title after a dramatic Super Over. Chasing 126, Bangladesh collapsed to 96 for 9 before tailenders Abdul Gaffar Saklain and Ripon Mondol staged a stunning fightback, hitting crucial sixes to tie the match. Bangladesh needed two runs off the last ball but managed only one, forcing the game into a Super Over. Pakistan easily chased down the seven-run target in the Super Over to secure victory. Earlier, Pakistan posted 126 all out, with Saad Masood scoring 38 and Arafat Minhas 25. Ripon took three wickets for Bangladesh, while Rakibul Hasan claimed two. Despite Bangladesh’s bowlers performing well, their batting faltered again in a final, marking their third consecutive defeat in the tournament’s title match. Pakistan, meanwhile, became the first team to win the Emerging Asia Cup three times, having previously triumphed in 2019 and 2023.

Pakistan continued their impressive form in the ongoing tri-nation T20 series by defeating Zimbabwe convincingly in Rawalpindi to book their place in the final. Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan posted 195 for 5, thanks to half-centuries from captain Babar Azam (74 off 52) and Sahibzada Farhan (63 off 41). In reply, Zimbabwe struggled against Pakistan’s spin attack, collapsing for just 126 in 19 overs. Usman Tariq starred with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 18 runs in his four overs. Ryan Burl top-scored for Zimbabwe with 67 off 49 balls, but lacked support from the other end. With this victory, Pakistan have won all three of their matches, securing 6 points and a spot in the final. Zimbabwe remain second with 2 points, while Sri Lanka, yet to win a game, must win their next two matches to stay in contention for the final.

Bangladesh A took firm control of the Emerging Asia Cup final in Doha after bowling out Pakistan for just 125 runs. Winning the toss at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh opted to field first and immediately put Pakistan under pressure. Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed early, losing wickets in quick succession, with opener Yasir Khan dismissed on the very first ball. Saad Masood was the top scorer for Pakistan with 38 runs off 26 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. None of the other batters managed to build a significant partnership. For Bangladesh, Ripon Mondol led the bowling attack with 3 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs, while Rakibul Hasan took 2 for 16. Mehrab, Zisan Alam, and Abdul Gaffar Saklain claimed one wicket each. The strong bowling performance has put Bangladesh A in a commanding position to chase the target and aim for the Emerging Asia Cup title.

India faced heavy criticism after losing the Eden Gardens Test against South Africa, marking a rare home defeat. South Africa posted 489 runs in their first innings, with Senuran Muthusamy scoring 102 off 206 balls and Marco Jansen narrowly missing a century by seven runs. During South Africa’s innings, Indian captain Rishabh Pant grew visibly frustrated with spinner Kuldeep Yadav for delaying the start of overs. The umpires had already warned Pant twice for slow over rates. In a heated moment, Pant scolded Kuldeep, reminding him of the 30-second timer and urging him to bowl faster. His remark, accusing the team of turning Test cricket into a joke, reflected growing frustration within the Indian camp. The defeat has sparked debate over India’s discipline, focus, and approach to the longest format of the game.

Cricket Australia (CA) has reported a financial setback of approximately 3 million Australian dollars (around 24 crore Bangladeshi taka) following the early conclusion of the first Ashes Test between Australia and England in Perth. The match, which ended in just two days due to a dominant performance by Travis Head, deprived organizers of ticket revenue from the third and fourth days. Despite record attendance of over 101,000 spectators across the two days, the shortened match resulted in significant losses for CA and its broadcasting partners. CA CEO Todd Green acknowledged the financial impact, noting that both the board and broadcasters would be affected. The organization had already reported an 11.3 million Australian dollar loss in the previous fiscal year, partly due to expenses from the India series. However, CA Chairman Mike Baird expressed optimism, stating that revenues have improved by over 20 million dollars this year, with expectations of higher attendance, sponsorship, and viewership in the coming season.