Bangladesh’s cricket team has departed for Australia to play a two-Test series, marking its first Test tour of the country in 23 years. The first group of 17 members left Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a 11:55pm flight on Friday night. The opening Test is scheduled to begin in Darwin on August 13, followed by the second and final Test in Mackay on August 22.

The initial travelling group includes Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, experienced batter Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim and all-rounder Amit Hasan. Head coach Phil Simmons, spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed, batting coach Mohammad Ashraful, the bowling coach and several support staff members also travelled with the first contingent.

The remaining cricketers and team-management members are due to join the squad on a separate flight on August 2. Once the full party assembles in Australia, Bangladesh will begin preparations for the series, including several days of training and a warm-up match to adapt to local conditions. Bangladesh last played a Test series in Australia in 2003 and will seek to demonstrate its ability away from home.

Dhaka-12 lawmaker Saiful Alam Khan Milon said there is no alternative to sports in tackling teenage gangs. He made the remarks on Friday afternoon as chief guest at the prize-giving ceremony after the final of the July Memorial Inter-Ward Football Tournament at BG Press Field in Mohakhali, Dhaka.

Milon, a Jamaat-e-Islami member of parliament, said members of teenage gangs could move away from criminal tendencies and become major assets in serving the country if proper care and support were ensured. He also stressed the need to develop regular exercise and sports habits to build a healthy and strong young generation.

The lawmaker called on families, society and all relevant stakeholders to work together to protect young people from the severe grip of drugs. He said different sports activities and sporting tournaments should be organised throughout the year to keep young people engaged in positive activities.

Italian football legend Franco Baresi has died at the age of 66, his former club AC Milan confirmed in a statement reported on July 31, 2026. The club did not disclose a specific cause of death. Baresi had surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung tumour and had faced health struggles afterward.

AC Milan expressed deep sorrow on social media, saying Baresi’s principles and integrity would remain embedded in the club’s DNA, alongside the legacy of his retired number 6 shirt. Born in Lombardy in May 1960, Baresi joined Milan’s youth team in 1974 and made his first-team debut in 1978 before turning 18. He became captain at 22.

Baresi spent his entire 20-year club career with Milan, playing 719 official matches before retiring in 1997. Under his leadership, Milan won 19 trophies, including six Serie A titles and three European Cups. He made 81 appearances and scored once for Italy between 1979 and 1994, winning the 1982 World Cup and captaining the 1994 World Cup runners-up.

UEFA has strongly opposed FIFA’s plan to sell ownership stakes in its international competitions to private investors, warning it will boycott all FIFA tournaments if the proposal remains in place. The report, published on July 31, 2026, said CONCACAF, the football body for North and Central America, has also backed Europe’s position.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said football is not a product for sale. UEFA described FIFA’s move as undemocratic and as a system of rule through intimidation. The dispute could create major uncertainty over the participation of European teams in FIFA competitions if it continues.

The Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland in September and the Under-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar in November could face serious disruption. Major European teams including Spain, France, Italy and England were expected to take part in those events. If the conflict is not resolved over the longer term, the future of the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the main 2030 World Cup could also fall into deep uncertainty.

FIFA has begun examining the feasibility of expanding the World Cup from 48 to 64 teams from 2030, amid intense debate inside and outside the organisation over tournament expansion and plans to introduce private investment into the competition. The report, published on July 31, said FIFA is pursuing the assessment despite opposition to the proposed changes.

According to an internal document cited by The Times, FIFA completed an initial briefing on July 30. An independent study will assess how a 64-team World Cup could affect broadcasting, sponsorship, revenue and the wider football structure. The deadline for proposals is August 7, a final organisation is due to be selected on August 14, and FIFA plans to receive a full report by September 11.

CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez has publicly supported a 64-team tournament, while the African confederation has not made an official comment. Analysts said the proposal could significantly reshape football diplomacy and tournament formats. The report also said Spain and Portugal, the main hosts of the 2030 World Cup, could lose automatic qualification for the main tournament.

Youth and Sports State Minister Aminul Haque gave a new mobile phone and cash assistance to the mother of Kisku, a leading striker in the Rangpur division’s champion football team at the first edition of Notun Kuri Sports. The assistance was handed over at a special event at the minister’s office in Mirpur on July 31. Kisku had told media that she wanted her mother to have a phone so she could share the joy of becoming champion.

After learning of Kisku’s request through media reports, the minister and ministry officials decided to act. Officials initially could not locate Kisku’s mother, who had come to Dhaka seeking work. Following wider media coverage, the minister ordered swift action, and officials eventually found her, allowing the request to be fulfilled.

The minister said Kisku’s mother has not yet secured permanent work and that arrangements have been decided for her permanent employment. He also said all awarded young athletes from the tournament and their guardians have been invited to a dinner at the state residence Jamuna. Information on the invitees is being collected, and the event will be formally arranged according to the prime minister’s schedule.

FIFA has denied that it plans to sell ownership of football or the World Cup as controversy grows over a proposed new structure for its commercial operations and events. In a statement issued Friday, FIFA responded after 55 UEFA members and 41 member associations from the CONCACAF region opposed the proposal. The governing body said its aim is to create more development funding and commercial opportunities for member countries.

FIFA said the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise would be a wholly owned FIFA subsidiary, intended to manage the organisation's commercial and event operations more efficiently. It argued that misleading media reports had caused misunderstandings about the plan and disrupted the scheduled consultation process. FIFA said the final decision would be made democratically after hearing the views of all member associations.

The body said none of football is being sold and that such an option would never be considered. It said each of its 211 member countries has the right to review and comment on the proposal, while no single confederation can represent the entire membership. Under the plan, each association would receive $20 million in development support from 2027 to 2030, alongside a proposed optional one-time $20 million fund. Implementation requires majority support.

Gianni Infantino’s plan to remain FIFA president for a third consecutive term may face a significant challenge, with influential officials in European football administration considering Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi as a possible candidate. FIFA’s next presidential election is scheduled for March 2027. Infantino, who has been elected unopposed since 2016, could face strong competition for the first time, according to the report.

The dispute centres on Infantino’s new commercial plan. FIFA has proposed creating a new affiliate to manage commercial operations for the World Cup and other tournaments, with outside investors taking minority stakes. Infantino says the proposal would secure more funding for FIFA’s 211 member countries and accelerate football development worldwide. European football circles, however, have strongly criticised the initiative.

Critics say no meaningful consultation was held with relevant parties before bringing a global asset such as football into commercial investment. Al-Khelaifi is also chairman of the European Club Association, a UEFA Executive Committee member and a FIFA Council member. His spokesperson said he has no ambition, desire or interest in running for FIFA president. Nevertheless, growing European dissatisfaction has made the election a major talking point.

The July 31, 2026 sports broadcast schedule features the ninth day of the Commonwealth Games, women’s and men’s matches in The Hundred, and two club football friendlies. The schedule, published by the sports desk, lists live coverage across television channels and online platforms.

The ninth day of the Commonwealth Games will be shown live on Sony Sports 2 from 1 pm. In cricket, Manchester Super Giants will face Trent Rockets in The Hundred women’s match at 8 pm. The same teams will meet in the men’s competition at 11:30 pm.

In football, Juventus and Nice will play a club friendly live on Star Sports at 10 pm. Birmingham City’s friendly against Barcelona is scheduled for live coverage at 12:45 am on YouTube and Barca Play.

FIFA has opened a formal disciplinary investigation into the Argentine Football Association and several Argentina players over incidents during and after the 2026 World Cup. The report, published on July 30, 2026, said FIFA will allow all parties involved to present their accounts of the allegations before any decision is made.

The most prominent issue concerns the display of a political banner related to “Las Malvinas,” or the Falkland Islands, after Argentina’s semifinal victory over England. FIFA disciplinary rules prohibit using international football as a platform for political messages. The investigation also covers a confrontation between Spain and Argentina players after the World Cup final.

FIFA’s inquiry names midfielder Leandro Paredes, defender Nahuel Molina, Thiago Almada and coaching staff member Roberto Ayala. If the allegations are proven, the players could face match suspensions. The Argentine Football Association could also be subject to financial penalties and other sanctions, according to the report.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon said the government is prioritising sports to keep students away from drugs, terrorism and other forms of social decline. He announced that the Prime Minister’s Gold Cup National Football Competition 2026 will open in September rather than August because of adverse weather. He made the remarks at a Thursday afternoon press conference at the Chattogram Press Club.

Milon said the prime minister will inaugurate the tournament as chief guest at Chattogram District Stadium on September 9 or 10. The event had been scheduled to begin in the second week of August but was delayed by one month. Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain and two members of parliament attended the briefing.

According to the minister, more than 16 million students from 40,231 educational institutions will take part. Competition will begin at upazila and thana levels, with champion teams advancing nationally. Thirty-two teams from eight regions will compete nationally across boys’ and girls’ secondary and higher-secondary divisions, with four divisional champions. The final and closing ceremony are scheduled for Dhaka in the last week of October.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board wants to accelerate the Purbachal International Cricket Stadium project ahead of the 2031 ICC One Day International World Cup due to be held in Bangladesh. In a report published on July 30, 2026, the board said it plans to prepare the stadium as one of the tournament’s venues and provide modern facilities there. It also intends to revise the earlier design to align the project with a longer-term plan for modern infrastructure.

After a board meeting, BCB president Tamim Iqbal said government support would likely be needed to carry out such a large project. He described the 2031 ODI World Cup as cricket’s biggest tournament and a matter of pride for Bangladesh, saying he was confident the government would consider the issue. He added that Purbachal had been included in the planning when the World Cup bid was made.

The BCB also wants to begin work quickly on a modern cricket excellence centre at Purbachal. The board has already approved that project, Tamim said. Because a design prepared several years ago does not fully match the current plan, the BCB has decided to prepare a new one. The board hopes the stadium and centre will strengthen cricket infrastructure and World Cup preparations.

FIFA, led by president Gianni Infantino, is planning a new company to manage the commercial operations of the World Cup and Club World Cup. The proposed FIFA Forward Enterprises, or FFE, could sell up to a 21% ownership stake to raise $4.2 billion. FIFA would retain majority ownership and continue its role as world football’s governing body, but the proposal would open the commercial structure of its leading competitions to outside investors for the first time.

The plan is not final and requires majority backing from FIFA’s 211 member countries as well as approval from the 37-member FIFA Council. FIFA says the objective is football development rather than profit. Through a proposed FIFA Fast-Forward Programme, each member country could receive up to $20 million for special and emergency development projects. Regular Forward Programme funding is planned to rise from $8 million every four years to $20 million in 2027-30, $22 million in 2031-34 and $24 million in 2035-38.

JP Morgan is serving as financial adviser. Thrive Eternal and Apollo Sports Capital are listed as potential investors. UEFA, Concacaf and the Football Association of England raised concerns over consultation and information, while La Liga president Javier Tebas criticised the proposal. FIFA estimates World Cup and Club World Cup revenue will reach about $15 billion in 2023-26.

Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme and New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs won gold in the men’s and women’s 100-metre sprints at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. At Scotstoun Stadium, 29-year-old Eseme clocked 9.83 seconds in the men’s final, setting a new Commonwealth Games record. Hobbs won the women’s final in 10.93 seconds, with the report describing her victory as historic.

Eseme accelerated late in the race to beat Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy, who took silver in 9.85 seconds, while England’s Jeremiah Azu earned bronze in 9.90. Eseme had previously won bronze at the Birmingham 2022 Games and delivered gold for Cameroon this time. In the women’s event, Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia took silver, while England’s Daryll Neita won bronze.

No Jamaican sprinter reached the medal podium in either the men’s or women’s 100 metres, a notable outcome at the Games. Jamaica did win gold elsewhere through Demario Prince in the 110-metre hurdles and Romaine Beckford in the high jump.

Neymar has confirmed that his 16-year career with Brazil’s national team is over, saying he will not return to wear the yellow shirt. The 34-year-old made the announcement after Santos won in the Copa Sudamericana, speaking to Brazilian media and Globo. He had previously signalled his departure after Brazil lost to Norway in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.

In the interview, Neymar said his journey with the national team had ended and that he had given everything for Brazil, but no longer wanted to continue. Since making his debut against the United States in 2010, he played 130 international matches, scoring 80 goals and providing 58 assists. His goal total makes him Brazil’s all-time leading scorer.

Neymar played in four World Cups but did not win the tournament. His major achievements with Brazil included the 2013 Confederations Cup and helping the country win its first Olympic football gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. His World Cup campaigns included an injury in 2014, defeat to Belgium in 2018, a dramatic exit against Croatia in 2022, and the 2026 loss to Norway. He intends to continue his club career with boyhood club Santos.