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A football team’s quest to qualify for a major international tournament can take them across the globe, in all sorts of conditions. The process tests a national team’s ability to adapt to diverse playing environments, travel extensively and manage player fatigue. It’s a journey that can be as dramatic as the final match, with moments of glory and heartache along the way.

FIFA divides the world into six continental zones, or confederations: AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONMEBOL (North and Central America and the Caribbean), UEFA (Europe), OFC (Oceania) and South America (CONMEBOL). Each zone has its own qualification structure that ensures balanced competition. The best teams from each zone will receive berths in the World Cup, while the second-ranked teams will advance to intercontinental play-offs.

The 2026 qualification cycle started in March and will conclude with the group winners qualifying directly for the World Cup, while the 12 runners-up will compete in a two-round play-off against each other. This process highlights the uphill struggle that Oceania’s teams, in particular, face in their quest to reach the World Cup, given its geographic size and disparity in footballing standards.

The final spots in the 2026 World Cup are whittled down to just one per region, with three of the four top-ranked nations in CONCACAF securing their places automatically as hosts. Paraguay have an outside chance of crashing into the top six by winning their remaining home games against Ecuador and Bolivia, then taking a point from their trip to Colombia.

EssentiallySports connects with 30m+ American sports fans daily, delivering storytelling that goes beyond the headlines. Using deep audience insights and cultural trends, we meet fandom where it lives and where it’s going next.

Cam Schlittler got a big vote of confidence from David Ortiz this week… when the Yankees legend shoveled the “ace” label on the rookie right-hander after his do-or-die win against Boston.

Kourtney Hartenstein is hanging up the glittery two-piece ‘fits for good… telling TMZ Sports her main focus is more time with her family.

Merab Dvalishvili isn’t stopping anytime soon… the UFC bantamweight champ tells TMZ Sports he plans on fighting well past the point fighters normally lay down their glaives.

The Masters leaderboard

There’s a tense battle for the green jacket at Augusta with just 53 players left in the field after round two. Justin Rose retained his top spot with a 1-under 71 on Friday at Augusta National in Georgia, while two-time major winner Bryson DeChambeau remains right on his heels after posting a 4-under 68.

Rory McIlroy is also on the course for his first green jacket after claiming the lead with a spectacular second shot at the par-four fourth hole. The Northern Irishman blasts his drive over the corner of the green and plays a superb wedge from 87 yards which spins off the back bank down towards the cup before he holes the putt to move to 12 under.

That was an exhilarating start to the final round at The Masters and there will be plenty of drama this afternoon. 2021 champion Hideki Matsuyama and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood both got off to a fast start with birdies at the opening two holes, while Joaquin Niemann and Jon Rahm are also within touching distance.

First established in 1934 by amateur golf champion Bobby Jones and investment banker Clifford Roberts, The Masters tournament is the first of four annual major championships. The tournament is unique in that it invites only winners of the most prestigious amateur titles and gives them the opportunity to use their children as caddies. It is also the only major in which the winning player keeps their green jacket for a year before returning it to the club.

Whether it’s Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps or women’s soccer legend Alex Morgan, athlete retirement news is always front and center. These athletes are taking a big step into the next phase of life and want to make sure they’re prepared for whatever comes their way.

Athletes often have to spend thousands of dollars for elite coaching and equipment while sacrificing employment opportunities to train around the clock. They’re also subject to significant risks like major injuries and even bankruptcy that can impact their careers and personal lives. Having proper financial planning can help athletes get ahead of potential risks and protect their income in the event of a career-ending injury or bankruptcy, says Wally Chapman, divisional director at RBC Wealth Management-U.S.

While some athletes, such as swimmer Michael Phelps, have made early retirement a career goal, many retire on their own terms and at the end of an impressive career. The key is to stay connected with sport peers, parents and loved ones so they can support the transition, advises Chapman.

For those who do decide to retire, it’s important to make that decision in a procedural manner, suggests Probert and Crespo (2015), with plenty of time to adjust to their new lifestyle without the competition. Ideally, they’ll take on other activities that will bring them joy and keep their mind and body active. In addition, it’s a good idea to save and invest early on to build a pension pot that can grow and provide returns.

The Asian Games are a multi-sport event for athletes from Asia and is the second largest global sporting competition after the Olympic Games. It is a quadrennial event regulated by the Olympic Council of Asia. The first Asian Games were held in 1951 in New Delhi, India and have been hosted a total of 18 times since. The 2026 Games scheduled for Aichi-Nagoya will be the third time Japan has held this event.

The Aichi-Nagoya Organizing Committee is working hard to provide a high quality Games with support from all the regions of Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya city. To do this, they are enlisting all their partners including the local governments and various sports, economic and tourist organizations, the mass media, businesses and the network of volunteers fostered through large-scale events such as Expo 2005 Aichi and the Nagoya Women’s Marathon.

Among other things, they are aiming to ensure that the transportation infrastructure for the Games will be ready by March 2026 and that a variety of events will take place throughout the region. They are also developing a promotional plan that will involve the participation of residents and other stakeholders, such as schools, to promote the Games.

The Asian Games were first held in New Delhi, India in 1951 and are governed by the Olympic Council of Asia. The symbol for the Asian Games is a rising sun with interlocking rings. It is said that Guru Dutt Sondhi, a member of the Indian International Olympic Committee, proposed the idea for the Asian Games after the Second World War to allow more nations to participate in sports and foster closer ties between countries.

F1 stands for Formula One, the world’s most prestigious international open-wheel, single-seat auto racing competition. Drivers battle extreme g-forces and make daring decisions in the blink of an eye, all at over 370kph (230mph). The sport has been revolutionised by Bernie Ecclestone, who turned it into a billion-dollar global business, with teams battling as a coordinated unit for commercial rights and prize money.

Each Grand Prix takes place over a Sunday, with practice and qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday. There are currently 10 teams in the championship – known as ‘constructors’ – each with two drivers. Teams compete to win the team title, while their drivers fight for the Drivers’ Championship. These rivalries can create tense and chilly team dynamics.

F1 teams are ranked by their total points scored across the season, with a maximum of ten points available per race. The first driver to cross the finish line – taking the chequered flag – wins, while runners-up are presented with trophies on the podium. Points are awarded to the top ten drivers in each individual race, with sprint races counting only the top eight.

Hockey has been played in the Olympic Winter Games since 1920. Until 1972, the sport was only played in men’s competition. But in the summer of that year, a Canadian woman named Hayley Wickenheiser joined the team and changed the face of women’s Olympic hockey forever. Wickenheiser won four gold medals in total and has since been a model for many women.

The Soviet Union was the dominant force in the sport until 1992. At the Albertville Olympics, the U.S.S.R. had formally disbanded but athletes from the former Soviet Union competed for a “Unified Team.” The Unified Team won the gold medal, marking the last time the Red Army would claim Olympic hockey glory.

The most famous upset in Olympic ice hockey came at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. In the semifinal against the Soviets, the American team fell behind 1-0 in the first period. But Buzz Schneider scored a dagger of a goal, and the Americans tied the game up in the second period.

In the third period, the Americans took the lead. But with less than a minute to play, the puck made its way back into Soviet territory. The puck was on the edge of the crease, but it appeared to cross the line just before the buzzer. That’s when Dave Christian, the son of Bill Christian, who played for the 1960 team that won the first Olympic ice hockey gold medal, shot. And that’s how the Miracle on Ice was born.

News & Events

Esports tournaments take multiplayer video games to the next level, with competitive events held in world-class arenas and watched by millions of viewers and backed by global brands. These tournaments feature teams that compete in a wide range of popular video games against other professional teams for big prize pools and the opportunity to become esports legends.

The esports industry is growing exponentially year after year. Major media networks like ESPN and TBS broadcast esports events 1, traditional sports leagues are adding esports leagues 2, and over 600 colleges have added varsity esports teams 3. Owners of NBA and NFL teams are even buying stakes in esports teams 4. And the trend is only expected to continue with esports becoming a modern day gold rush – one that is already outpacing golf and tennis in terms of viewership.

Some of the most iconic players in esports include Astralis (Call of Duty, Counter-Strike), FaZe Clan (Dota 2, Halo), and Team Liquid (LoL, Dota, Call of Duty). But they are far from alone as some of the highest-paid esports athletes ever.

The most successful esports players make tens of thousands of dollars every month, putting them in the upper tiers of professional athletes worldwide. And it’s not just for the top players either, with many average gamers now competing in esports at a high level to win the coveted prize money. But as the popularity of esports continues to grow, so too does the risk of players getting caught up in the same scandals and controversies that plagued their traditional sporting counterparts for decades.

Social media in sports is transforming how teams and players connect with fans. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter enable athletes to interact directly with their audience and share unique content. This creates a sense of connection and loyalty that benefits both the team and the athlete. In addition, many sports organizations use social media to promote their events and reach new audiences.

While these advantages are tremendous, athletes must weigh the pros and cons of using social media for their personal brand. They must be careful not to say or post anything that could sabotage their reputation or hurt their career prospects. For example, if an athlete posts something offensive or controversial, they may receive negative feedback from their fans. Alternatively, they might miss out on potential future sponsorships or endorsement opportunities.

Athletes who actively engage their social media followers build a stronger fan base and establish a more authentic and relatable personality. They can also generate more fan engagement and increase their market value. In turn, this boosts their earnings as they enter the next phase of their careers.

However, the constant scrutiny of online content can be challenging for athletes who are used to a private life. They may feel compelled to present a perfect image, which can be exhausting and inauthentic. However, they can manage these challenges by setting boundaries and leaning on a supportive team to maintain a positive online presence. In addition, they can keep their fans engaged by sharing real-time sports action and user-generated content on their platforms.

Gender equality in sports has been a major challenge since the early 1900s when women began to organise clubs and establish a presence on the athletics and other professional levels. But even after Title IX and other federal laws prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex, women continued to face adversity in sport. They were not broadcast as often, paid less and were pitted against each other in a disparaging manner. This is an international problem and needs to be addressed from a holistic point of view. Policymakers must take into account a variety of factors that influence attitudes, including economic priorities, media narratives and grassroots activism. Moreover, gender policies must not be seen as partisan issues or viewed as an affront to cultural and national identities.

The results of this study show large regional and socio-political differences in attitudes towards gender equality in sport. High scores in Finland and Sweden are in line with previous research, which associates these countries with strong welfare policies and progressive gender norms. By contrast, Austria, Romania and the Czech Republic score low, mainly due to traditional norms and a lack of interest in women’s sports.

This article fills in a quantitative gap in the field and provides new insights into the determinants of European attitudes towards gender equality in sport by using data from the Special Eurobarometer 525 (2022). It applies Fuzzy-Hybrid TOPSIS to generate a synthetic indicator of Europeans’ Attitudes Towards Gender Equality in Sports, followed by Latent Profile Analysis and Multinomial Logistic Regression.