Germany eye winning start as Curacao gear up for historic World Cup d…

Doha, Qatar: Germany will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against debutants Curacao tonight, with the four-time champions aiming to make an immediate impact in Group E and take an important step towards the knockout stages.

The match, scheduled to kick off at 8pm at Houston Stadium, marks the opening fixture in Group E, which also features Cote d’Ivoire and Ecuador. With every point likely to prove crucial in the race for the knockout stages, both teams will be determined to make a winning start.

Germany arrive at the World Cup after finishing top of Group A in the UEFA qualification stage. Under head coach Julian Nagelsmann, the Germans recovered from an early setback and produced a dominant run to secure their place at the tournament. extract-html.com

The World Cup presents another opportunity for Germany to add to one of the most successful records in international football. The Germans have lifted the trophy four times, winning titles in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014. Expectations remain high whenever Germany compete on football’s biggest stage, despite disappointing group-stage exits at the last two World Cups.

Curacao’s players take part in a training session on the eve of their opener. PICS: AFP

Nagelsmann believes his side is ready for the challenge ahead.

“We are ready,” the Germany coach said ahead of the tournament. “My job is to create the moments that lead to that joy.”

While Germany enter the match as clear favourites, Curacao arrive carrying the momentum of one of the most remarkable qualification campaigns in their history. The Caribbean nation topped CONCACAF Group B to secure first-ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals.

With a population of approximately 150,000, Curacao becomes the smallest nation by both population and area to qualify for a World Cup, making their participation one of the tournament’s most compelling stories.

Head coach Dick Advocaat has described the achievement as one of the highlights of his distinguished managerial career.

“I consider qualifying the smallest country in the world for the World Cup one of the highlights of my career,” Advocaat said. “I’m proud of my players, staff and the board members who believed in us.”

The experienced Dutch coach is embracing the challenge of facing Germany in the opening match.

“That it’s Germany right at the beginning is fantastic,” Advocaat said. “That way we immediately know where we stand. You have to play them anyway so you might as well play them right at the beginning.”

Much of Germany’s hopes will rest on an exciting generation of players led by Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, two of Europe’s most highly rated young talents.

Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich are expected to provide leadership and experience as Germany target a strong start.

Defender Nico Schlotterbeck has warned against underestimating Curacao despite Germany’s status as favourites.

“We had a team discussion yesterday on Curacao and it is a good team with players who have been trained in the Netherlands,” Schlotterbeck said. “But we are the favourites and I am confident we will win the match.”

Washington, United States: Alexandra Eala stunned former world number one Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the women's final of the WTA and ATP Washington Open, where she will face third-ranked Jessica Pegula.

The 21-year-old Philippines left-hander delivered an impressive victory over the four-time Grand Slam winner from Japan to reach her second career WTA final, having dropped the first last year at Eastbourne.

(Photo by Emilee Chinn / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Giant killer Eala, ranked 28th, had previously ousted second seed Elina Svitolina for her sixth top-10 victory of the year after dethroning 2025 Washington champion Leylah Fernandez.

Osaka, ranked 13th, was thwarted in her bid for an eighth career WTA title and first since taking the 2021 Australian Open.

Pegula, seeking her 12th career WTA title and third of the year, eliminated Russia's Diana Shnaider 7-5, 6-4 in the other semi-final.

Pegula, who won her first WTA title in 2019 at Washington, fell behind 5-2 at the start, but the 32-year-old American top seed battled back to reach her fourth final of the year.

"I found a little rhythm on the return, served a little bit smarter and I was able to play some good tennis, kind of take control of the momentum," Pegula said.

Pegula beat Eala in a 2025 Miami semi-final in their only career meeting.

"It's going to be a battle," Pegula said. "Alex, I'm a big fan of her. She's the future of the tour and she's already here."

In the first set, Eala took a 2-1 lead by breaking when Osaka sent a backhand wide but Osaka broke back in the fourth game when Eala netted a forehand volley.

Osaka saved three break points in the ninth game but followed with two errant forehands to surrender a break and Eala held at love on a service winner to capture the set in 38 minutes.

Osaka double-faulted away a break to begin the second set and netted a backhand to surrender another break and hand Eala a 5-2 edge.

Naomi Osaka of Japan serves during a women's singles match against Alexandra Eala of the Philippines on day six of the Mubadala DC Open 2026 at William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on August 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Emilee Chinn / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Eala, who reached the fourth round last month at Wimbledon, then held serve to end matters after 76 minutes.

Pegula, a semi-finalist at this year's Australian Open, has lifted trophies at Dubai and Charleston this season.

Pegula won the last five games of her opening set to seize command after 45 minutes.

In the second set, Pegula broke in the fifth and seventh games. Shnaider broke in the eighth but Pegula served for the match again in the 10th game and smashed a forehand winner to capture her WTA-best 38th match triumph of the year.

Doha, Qatar: The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has today announced a landmark long-term commercial rights agreement for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and FIA European Rally Championship (ERC). It follows the acquisition of WRC Promoter GmbH by Cosmobilis and Park Square Capital.

The biggest deal in the history of these championships, this agreement marks a new chapter for the WRC and ERC. Supporting the FIA’s vision under President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, it will bring significant new investment into the sport, helping to strengthen and grow its world-class motor sport portfolio for years to come.

This deal has been designed for the rallying community and developed to deliver real benefits for fans, competitors, event organisers and the FIA’s Member Clubs. Through this agreement, rallying will become more accessible, more competitive, and more commercially successful. As the sport grows, the FIA will continue to focus on the strong governance and regulations that provide the foundations for rallying’s long-term success.

Alongside the FIA, the new promoter team of French automotive technology and services platform Cosmobilis and private credit investor Park Square Capital share a commitment to growing the sport’s global audience and deepening fan engagement. The FIA will also benefit from significantly increased visibility of its brand across events and broadcasts around the world.

This is a pivotal moment for the WRC, which is preparing for a major regulatory overhaul. Next-generation technical regulations, due to take effect in 2027, have been designed to make the sport safer, more competitive and affordable at the highest level, while the establishment of a new FIA Growth Fund will support projects that drive the success and development of rallying worldwide.

Cosmobilis and Park Square Capital have outlined ambitious plans to take the WRC and ERC to the next level, putting fans at the heart of the sport and making rallying more exciting, accessible, and engaging.

To deliver this vision, the new promoter has built a team of experts, led by newly-appointed CEO Éric Boullier, a highly experienced motor sport executive with a track record at the highest levels of international motor sport.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said: “This is truly the deal of the century for rallying, and I am proud to announce this transformative step forward, and never before seen levels of investment.

“Not only will it deliver real benefits to fans, competitors and our member clubs worldwide, but this investment signifies confidence in the future of our sport as its global popularity continues to grow.

“The future of our championships is at the heart of every decision we make, and we have ensured that we not only secure the right partner for today, but one who shares our long-term vision. My thanks to FIA Deputy President for Sport, Malcolm Wilson and his dedicated team for delivering this, and I am looking forward to working closely with our new promoter.

“Rallying is a huge part of my personal story, it has shaped who I am and how I work, and I am deeply committed to its future. This is an important moment for our sport and as we enter a new era I am proud that we have a new partner in place to help us drive forward the bright future of these championships.”

FIA Deputy President for Sport, Malcolm Wilson said: “I have spent my entire professional life in the FIA World Rally Championship, so I know exactly what this sport means to its competitors, its organisers, and above all its fans. In over 40 years in the sport, I have never seen investment on this scale into rallying – this deal really is that significant and I’m full of optimism for what it means for the fans, competitors and organisers."

أعرب الإسباني ديفيد براتس مدرب الشمال وصيف دوري نجوم بنك الدوحة في الموسم الماضي عن تطلع الفريق لتحقيق أفضل النتائج خلال الموسم الكروي الجديد الذي ينطلق في 20 أغسطس الجاري عبر «دوري نجوم بنك الدوحة».
وقال براتس في تصريح: إن استعدادات الفريق تسير في الطريق الصحيح، بعدما قطع شوطا بعيدا خلال معسكر الإعداد الخارجي المقام حاليا في هولندا.
وأوضح أن الفريق تنتظره تحديات كبيرة في مختلف المنافسات، أبرزها المشاركة التاريخية الأولى في بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة، مؤكدا تطلعه للظهور بصورة مشرفة في البطولة القارية.
وأشار إلى أن التركيز الحالي ينصب على الوصول إلى الجاهزية الفنية والبدنية المطلوبة قبل انطلاق الدوري، في ظل انضمام عدد من اللاعبين الجدد إلى صفوف الفريق.
وحول طموحات الشمال، بعد الموسم الماضي، قال براتس: إن الفريق قدم موسما استثنائيا وحقق نتائج مميزة، مؤكدا «أن الموسم الجديد سيكون أكثر صعوبة».
وأضاف في السياق ذاته «الموسم المقبل سيكون مليئا بالتحديات، خاصة أننا سنشارك في أكبر بطولة على مستوى قارة آسيا للمرة الأولى في تاريخنا، وهي بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة، بجانب المنافسة في الدوري القطري، ولذا سنحاول أن نقدم أفضل ما لدينا». ولفت إلى أن خوض بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة إلى جانب الدوري المحلي يتطلب تنظيما كبيرا، خاصة مع ضغط المباريات، مشددا على أهمية التعامل مع هذا التحدي باعتباره جزءا من طبيعة كرة القدم.