2026 World Cup: Four nations to watch

Don Nelson, one of the most influential coaches in NBA history and the league’s second-winningest coach, has died at the age of 86. His family confirmed that the basketball icon passed away peacefully on Sunday surrounded by loved ones. In a statement, Nelson’s family said friends and relatives had gathered around him during his final days, sharing memories and celebrating a life that left a deep mark on basketball. Nelson’s career stretched across more than three decades. He coached the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, compiling an extraordinary regular-season record of 1,335 wins and 1,063 losses. His total ranks second all-time behind Gregg Popovich. Known for his fearless approach and willingness to challenge traditional basketball thinking, Nelson became synonymous with “Nellie Ball.” His system emphasized speed, spacing and versatile players, often sacrificing size for athleticism and offensive flexibility. The strategy became particularly influential during his time with Golden State and Dallas, where he repeatedly pushed opponents into uncomfortable matchups. Before becoming a coaching legend, Nelson enjoyed an outstanding playing career. He spent 14 NBA seasons and won five championships with the Boston Celtics, making him one of the most decorated players of his generation. His No. 19 jersey was later retired by Boston. Nelson also earned the NBA Coach of the Year award three times and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2025, he received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, another recognition of his extraordinary coaching career. Nelson never won an NBA championship as a head coach, but his ideas helped reshape how the game was played. His legacy lives on in the pace, spacing and positionless basketball that define much of today’s NBA.

FIFA has issued a detailed clarification regarding its proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise project following concerns raised by several stakeholders. The world football governing body said the proposal is still under discussion and no final decision will be made without consulting all 211 member associations. In an official statement, FIFA stressed that transparency and consultation remain central to its decision-making process. It said every member association will have the opportunity to review the proposal and express its opinion before any final approval is granted. FIFA said no single organisation or group can claim to represent the interests of all 211 member associations. For that reason, it said all major decisions must be taken collectively after a comprehensive consultation process involving its global membership. The organisation also responded to criticism suggesting that the proposed project could result in the commercial sale of football. FIFA strongly rejected those claims and stated that football is not being sold under any circumstances. The governing body said it would never compromise the integrity of the sport or transfer ownership of its commercial operations. It added that the proposed enterprise is intended solely to improve the management of commercial activities while keeping FIFA in full control. According to FIFA, the proposal involves establishing a subsidiary company under the FIFA Forward Enterprise initiative. The subsidiary would manage certain commercial operations, but it would remain entirely owned and controlled by FIFA. The organisation said the project aims to generate higher commercial revenue, allowing greater investment in football development programmes across the world. FIFA said the additional income would be distributed among all member associations through its existing development framework. Under the proposal, every FIFA member association could receive up to $20 million in FIFA Forward funding during the 2027-2030 funding cycle. The organisation said the increased financial support would help national football associations strengthen infrastructure, improve grassroots development, enhance coaching programmes and invest in long-term football projects. FIFA also clarified that while the proposal may include external investment, such investment would not affect FIFA’s governance structure, independence or decision-making authority. The organisation said it would retain complete ownership and operational control of the proposed subsidiary. The governing body further stated that the project has not yet been approved and remains subject to discussions with member associations. It emphasised that the proposal could still be amended if member associations recommend changes during the consultation process. FIFA made it clear that if a majority of its 211 member associations do not support the proposal, the FIFA Forward Enterprise project will not move forward.

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez has defended his team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, saying the players represented their country “in the best possible way” despite a series of controversial incidents that overshadowed their run to the final. The Chelsea star shared an emotional message on social media after Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final, insisting the team had given everything for the national jersey throughout the tournament. Fernandez’s own campaign ended on a disappointing note after he was sent off late in normal time for a second yellow card following a challenge on Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi. Reduced to 10 men, Argentina struggled to contain Spain before Ferran Torres scored the decisive winner in the 106th minute to hand La Roja the world title. The final was also marred by post-match controversy. Reports alleged that midfielder Leandro Paredes attempted to confront members of the Spanish squad during their celebrations, prompting FIFA to open an investigation into possible disciplinary breaches. Argentina’s players also drew criticism after turning their backs while Spain collected their medals and lifted the World Cup trophy. Earlier in the tournament, the team sparked political controversy by displaying a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” following their semi-final victory over England. The slogan refers to Argentina’s long-standing claim over the Falkland Islands, a dispute that remains highly sensitive between Argentina and the United Kingdom. Despite the criticism, Fernandez chose to focus on the team’s commitment and unity rather than the controversies. “As time goes by, you realise there is something much bigger than just a result,” he wrote. “For years, this group has represented Argentina in the best possible way. Competing is not only about winning, but about giving everything for the shirt and never giving up.” The 25-year-old also thanked Argentina’s supporters for standing by the team throughout the tournament, describing wearing the national jersey as the greatest honour of his career. Fernandez, who lifted the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in Qatar in 2022, admitted that missing out on a second consecutive title was painful but vowed to continue giving his all whenever he represents his country. Although Argentina fell short in the final, Fernandez’s message sought to shift the focus from controversy to the dedication and determination shown by the squad throughout their journey to another World Cup final.

West Indies defeated Pakistan by 90 runs in the first Test of the two-match series on Tuesday. Pakistan failed to chase down a target of 211 runs. The national team was bowled out for just 120 runs in its second innings. The match was played at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba. Pakistan’s batters struggled badly on a difficult pitch. The West Indies fast bowlers maintained constant pressure throughout the innings. Pakistan began their chase with hopes of securing a win. However, the batting line-up collapsed quickly. Eight Pakistani batters failed to score in double figures. Captain Babar Azam was the only batter who offered strong resistance. He remained unbeaten on 58 runs. However, he received little support from the other end. Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq and Shan Masood were dismissed for three runs each. Ali Usman scored two runs. Khurram Shahzad made four runs. Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal and Mohammad Ali were dismissed without scoring. The repeated fall of wickets left Pakistan in serious trouble. Earlier, West Indies resumed their second innings on the fourth day at 126 for seven. Their batters added 55 more runs before being bowled out for 181. West Indies entered the second innings with a 29-run lead from the first innings. That advantage proved crucial. It allowed the hosts to set Pakistan a target of 211 runs for victory. Pakistan’s batters found the target extremely difficult to chase. The pitch offered assistance to the bowlers. West Indies used the conditions effectively and kept taking wickets at regular intervals. The visitors had earlier scored 282 runs in their first innings. Shan Masood was Pakistan’s leading batter. He scored an impressive 109 runs. Imam-ul-Haq also made an important contribution. He scored 63 runs. However, the rest of the batting line-up failed to build enough partnerships. Justin Greaves was the standout bowler for West Indies in Pakistan’s first innings. He claimed five wickets and played a key role in restricting Pakistan to 282. West Indies had scored 311 runs in their first innings. Shai Hope was among their top performers. He scored 92 runs and narrowly missed a century. Kavem Hodge also played an important innings. He scored 84 runs and helped West Indies post a competitive total. Pakistan’s Mohammad Ali was the leading bowler in the first innings. He took four wickets. Mohammad Abbas also impressed with the ball and claimed three wickets. The match remained competitive because of the difficult batting conditions. However, West Indies handled the pressure better in the crucial moments. Pakistan’s second-innings collapse eventually handed West Indies a convincing victory. The hosts bowled the visitors out for 120 runs.