وفاة الجنوب أفريقي «جايدن أدامس»

تُوفي لاعب الوسط الجنوب أفريقي جايدن أدامس الذي مثّل منتخب بلاده في كأس العالم 2026، عن عمر ناهز 25 عاما، بحسب ما أعلن غايتون ماكنزي وزير الرياضة في جنوب أفريقيا.
وقال ماكنزي في بيان: «تلقيت بصدمة عميقة وحزن بالغ نبأ وفاة جايدن أدامس». ولم يكشف الوزير عن سبب الوفاة، مضيفا: «خسرت كرة القدم الجنوب إفريقية أحد أبرز مواهبها الشابة». من جانبه، نعى الاتحاد الإفريقي للعبة (الكاف) اللاعب، . وقال رئيس الاتحاد الدولي (فيفا)، جاني إنفانتينو، إنه يشعر بـ»حزن عميق» إثر وفاة أدامس، مقدما «أحرّ التعازي والمواساة، باسمي وباسم جميع أفراد الفيفا وأسرة كرة القدم العالمية، إلى عائلته وأصدقائه وزملائه في الفريق». milkshake.it.com

Doha, Qatar: Belgium’s finest era ends without the World Cup glory it once promised.

For more than a decade, Belgium’s golden generation captivated world football with a squad overflowing with talent. They climbed to the top of the FIFA World Ranking, produced some of the game’s finest players and consistently entered major tournaments as one of the genuine contenders.

Yet as the curtain fell on their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, the one prize that always eluded them remained out of reach.

Belgium’s journey ended in the quarter-finals with defeat to Spain on Friday, bringing to a close another impressive World Cup campaign and, perhaps, the final World Cup appearance for Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Axel Witsel the last remaining pillars of Belgium’s golden generation.

The Red Devils leave North America knowing they once again challenged deep into the tournament.

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This edition began cautiously. Belgium were held to a 1-1 draw by Egypt before another frustrating stalemate against Iran left questions over whether they could live up to expectations.

Those doubts quickly disappeared after a commanding 5-1 victory over New Zealand secured top spot in the group. Belgium then showed their character in the Round of 32, scoring twice in the final five minutes of normal time to force extra time against Senegal before completing a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory.

They produced arguably their finest display of the tournament in the Round of 16, sweeping aside co-hosts the United States 4-1.

Only Spain were able to halt their progress, edging a fiercely contested quarter-final to deny Belgium another place among the last four.

While the results will be remembered, this tournament also served as another reminder of the remarkable careers of the players who carried Belgium through their greatest era.

Courtois once again showed why he is regarded among the world’s finest goalkeepers with a series of crucial saves. De Bruyne remained the creative heartbeat of the side, while Lukaku, Belgium’s all-time leading scorer, continued to deliver important goals, reminding everyone why he has been one of the defining forwards of his generation.

Together, the trio represented the backbone of a generation that consistently challenged the world’s elite.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia admitted the defeat carried extra emotion. “I’m disappointed for those that maybe might not come back with the national team,” Garcia said after the match. “My veteran players, who are maybe on their way out, could have one last hurrah.”

Their greatest World Cup achievement came in 2018 when Belgium defeated England to finish third, the nation’s best-ever result at the tournament. They also reached the quarter-finals in 2014 before enduring the disappointment of a group-stage exit in Qatar four years ago.

North America offered one final reminder of what this generation was capable of. They recovered from a slow start, played some entertaining football and once again reached the last eight before bowing out with dignity against one of Europe’s strongest sides.

Whether Courtois, De Bruyne, Lukaku or Witsel return for the 2030 World Cup remains uncertain and Belgium’s next generation is already preparing to take centre stage.

This team may never be remembered as world champions, but they changed the way Belgian football was viewed across the globe. Their story ends without the trophy they dreamed of lifting, yet their legacy as the greatest generation in the nation’s football history is already secure.

DOHA: The International Padel Federation and the Qatar Padel Federation yesterday announced Doha as the host city for the 2026 and 2028 editions of the FIP World Cup, the most prestigious international competition for national teams.

Both editions will be held at the iconic Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, a venue that has hosted some of the world’s most important international Padel events in recent years – including the Qatar Major Premier Padel four times, and the last World Team Championships – and has established itself as one of the sport’s leading destinations.

FIP’s flagship biennial event will see 16 men’s national teams and 16 women’s national teams compete for the world title in the two editions awarded to Qatar. As confirmed in the official FIP calendar, the 2026 edition will take place from November 2 to 7.

The decision to award the hosting rights for the 2026 and 2028 FIP World Cups to Doha was based on a series of key criteria, including the high quality of sporting infrastructure, the conditions offered to athletes and national delegations, proven experience in staging major international events, high safety standards, financial guarantees, and the strong sporting legacy developed by Qatar in recent years.

A further element reflecting the growth and ambition of the FIP World Cup is the prize money, which will reach unprecedented levels in the history of Padel and will be distributed equally between the men’s and women’s competitions.

The 2026 edition will offer a record prize fund of €1.2m, rising further to €1.35m in 2028. This represents the highest prize money ever awarded in an official Padel competition and underlines the commitment of FIP and the Qatar Padel Federation to further enhance the prestige of the event and showcase the highest level of competition among national teams.

“The awarding of the 2026 and 2028 editions of the FIP World Cup to Doha is a decision that looks to the future of our sport” said FIP President Luigi Carraro.

“Qatar has consistently demonstrated that it possesses all the necessary qualities to host world-class events, and awarding two consecutive editions of the World Cup to the country will provide continuity for the tournament’s growth, ensuring an outstanding experience for players, federations and fans”.

“Doha is one of the global homes of Padel. On more than one occasion it has demonstrated its ability to deliver exceptional standards of organisation and hospitality, and it holds a special place in the history of international Padel. We are confident it will once again help write new and historic chapters in the story of our sport, with the invaluable contribution of the Qatar Padel Federation, whom I thank for its commitment and passion in supporting the growth of Padel worldwide”.

Tareq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Padel Federation, said: “We are honoured by the International Padel Federation’s decision to award Doha the hosting rights for both the 2026 and 2028 FIP World Cup. Having previously hosted the championship on two occasions, we are proud that Qatar continues to be entrusted with one of the sport’s most watched events”.

“This confidence reflects the dedication of the Qatar Padel Federation and all our partners to delivering world-class tournaments that meet the highest international standards. Hosting two consecutive editions presents a unique opportunity to build on our experience, further enhance the event, and create an exceptional experience for players, teams and fans from around the world. We look forward to welcoming the global Padel community back to Doha and contributing to the continued growth and success of our sport”.