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The Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in European football. The champions (and, for some nations, runners-up) of the largest domestic leagues qualify to play in the tournament’s group stage, where they are matched up with teams from other national leagues using a randomized draw. Teams earn three points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss.

From the start of the 2024-25 season, UEFA has adopted a new format for Champions League. The top eight clubs in the group stage advance to the knockout phase, while the bottom twelve are eliminated from the competition. The ninth through twenty-fourth ranked clubs compete in a playoff round to fill the final eight slots in the knockout phase.

Since the first incarnation of the competition in 1949-50, clubs from seven different countries have won the title. Spain leads all nations with twenty-five titles, followed by England, Germany, and Italy with thirteen each. Clubs from Belgium, the Netherlands, and France have won five championships each, while Sweden, Russia, and Greece have won four.

In the current betting markets, PSG is favored to win the Champions League this year. Their odds are high because they were the best team in the world last year, and their squad is aging well. Their main question mark is Ousmane Dembele’s health, but if he returns for the knockout phase, they are poised to dominate this competition. They are an elite attacking team, and their defense is surprisingly good.

International sports are competitions between teams representing different countries, most famously the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. This type of sport can be held in a home country (like the England cricket team playing at Wembley Stadium, London), on neutral territory, such as a rugby match between New Zealand and South Africa, or even outside of the country, like the Argentine Open tennis tournament.

These competitions can be a great way to promote tourism in the host country, or they can provide a platform for political debate and change. However, there is a dark side to international sports. As a recent report by the University of Trondheim, Norway, showed, athletes who compete in international competitions often have to deal with issues such as sexual abuse and corruption by local officials.

In some cases, athletes are forced to choose between the love of their country and their talent. This can be especially challenging for young athletes, who are surrounded by fans who expect them to perform at the highest level and whose support is essential to their success.

International sports are governed by a variety of international federations, or IFs. These are the organisations that regulate the world’s various sports disciplines, oversee their promotion and development, and guarantee the regular organisation of competitions. They may also formulate proposals addressed to the International Olympic Committee and collaborate in the preparation of the Olympic Congresses. They may even give their opinions concerning the candidatures for organising the Olympic Games, although they must respect the Olympic Charter.

The Dodgers and Yankees are playing for baseball’s ultimate prize — the World Series. The two historic franchises have met 11 times with the title on the line, but this one may be the most significant in a long while.

In Game 5, the Dodgers pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the eighth against a pair of Yankee relievers. Kike Hernandez’s leadoff single off Tommy Kahnle sparked the two-run rally, which wiped out a five-run deficit. Then came the most famous play in World Series history. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter grabbed the ball off the bat of Davey Lopes and then threw it to first baseman Gavin Lux for a double play that preserved the 6-4 win and the series’ 4-4 tie.

New York led the series 2-1 and was six outs from its fifth championship. But in Game 7, Brooklyn’s Duke Snider and Mickey Mantle homered off Black and the Dodgers won 3-2.

It was the end of a dynasty that lasted just 12 years, but it also marked the last time the Dodgers and Yankees shared a pennant. And it was the first time the two teams played a Game 7 on the road.

It’s a must-see matchup with a ton of hype and intrigue. This article takes a look back at some of the best moments between these two rivals in their World Series history.

The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year. The event is a singles championship held on acrylic hardcourts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, New York City, United States. The US Open was first played in August 1881, and it is one of the oldest tennis events in the world. It was also the first Grand Slam tournament to use a challenge system in place of the winner-takes-all format.

The 2025 US Open gets underway on Sunday Aug 24 with the men’s and women’s singles competitions taking to the courts of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium and Court 17. With all matches broadcast live on ESPN and featuring a number of exciting young players, this is a tournament to be sure not to miss.

Novak Djokovic begins his quest for a fifth straight US Open title with a match against Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie on centre court in the morning session. He will have his work cut out for him against Norrie, who has backed up his impressive Paris run with solid showings in some of the WTA 1000 tournaments.

In the afternoon, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on qualifier Shibahara in her opener. The Belarusian is in fine form with a number of wins at the highest level this year, but she has struggled in some of her more high-profile appearances. She will be looking to get back to her best against the player who took her to a tiebreak in last year’s Cincinnati Open final.

The 2025 World Athletics Championship was the twentieth edition of the biennial track and field competition organized by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations). Held every four years since its inception, it is the highest level of senior international outdoor track and field competition not held as part of an Olympic Games. It is the only event at which a single athlete can win a medal in each of the 10 track and field events.

US sprinter Melissa Jefferson-Wooden has already claimed a unique triple crown at the World Athletics Championship – a feat only achieved by two other women in history. The South Carolina native clinched the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles in Tokyo on Sunday (21) and now sits among the sport’s greats such as legendary Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

On the final day of competition at the Tokyo National Stadium, Leo Neugebauer won a dramatic decathlon world title after a competition filled with twists and turns, while Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers secured an outdoor high jump world gold. The two-time Olympic silver medallist cleared 2.00m on her third attempt to claim the top prize ahead of Poland’s Maria Zodzik, who could only clear 1.97m for a PB on her first attempt and had to settle for bronze.

The men’s 3000m steeplechase also delivered a thrilling finish as Geordie Beamish (New Zealand) used his signature devastating kick to steal victory and dethrone the recently unbeatable Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco. Cordell Tinch rounded out the podium for the USA.

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.