海角直播

Pakistan to hold first ever national futsal tryouts for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in 海角直播

Pakistan to hold first ever national futsal tryouts for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in 海角直播
Pakistani fans in the stands during the football World Cup AFC Qualifiers between Pakistan and 海角直播 at the Jinnah Football Stadium in Islamabad, Pakistan on June 6, 2024. (REUTERS/File)
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Updated 07 August 2025

Pakistan to hold first ever national futsal tryouts for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in 海角直播

Pakistan to hold first ever national futsal tryouts for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in 海角直播
  • Pakistan is in Group D with hosts 海角直播, Iraq and Chinese Taipei for qualifiers
  • Group stage matches to be held in Dammam, with Pakistan set to face Iraq on Sep. 20

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced on Wednesday it would hold the first-ever futsal national team tryouts in Lahore on Aug. 10, as it gears up for its upcoming AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers to be held in 海角直播 next month.

Futsal is a fast-paced indoor variant of football played on a smaller, hard court with five players per side. Emphasizing close control, quick passes and creativity, it is known for its speed and frequent goal-scoring opportunities.

In Pakistan, the game has rapidly gained popularity over the years, particularly among youth, thanks to its dynamic and skill-driven nature.

鈥淥pen to futsal players across the country, the tryouts will take place on August 10, 2025, at the 5th Generation Sports Complex in DHA Phase 8, Lahore, from 9am to 6pm,鈥 the PFF said in a statement.

鈥淭he players must bring valid identification, including a passport and CNIC, to be eligible for selection.鈥

The PFF will finalize the squad in due course and the training camp will begin in the first week of September, it added.

With the announcement of the national team鈥檚 first-ever tryouts, Pakistan is making its official entry into international futsal, which marks a significant milestone in the sport鈥檚 growth within the country.

Pakistan has been placed in Group D alongside 海角直播, Iraq, and Chinese Taipei for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, scheduled from Sep. 20 to 24.

Group stage matches will be held in Dammam, with Pakistan set to face Iraq on Sep. 20, 海角直播 on Sep. 22, and Chinese Taipei on Sep. 24.

AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 will be held in Indonesia next year.


Verstappen claims pole in chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying

Verstappen claims pole in chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying
Updated 52 min 24 sec ago

Verstappen claims pole in chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying

Verstappen claims pole in chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying
  • Red Bull鈥檚 reigning world champion edged Spaniard Carlos Sainz of Williams and New Zealander Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls in a chaotic session which saw seven crashes
  • There were three red flags in Q1

BAKU: Max Verstappen grabbed his sixth pole position of the season for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a crash-marred qualifying session on the Baku street circuit Saturday.
Red Bull鈥檚 reigning world champion edged Spaniard Carlos Sainz of Williams and New Zealander Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls in a chaotic session which saw seven crashes.
World championship leader Oscar Piastri crashed in Q3 and will start from ninth on the grid, two places behind McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
While the battle for pole position usually lasts an hour, this time it lasted almost two hours due to the time needed to remove the crashed cars, clean up debris scattered across the track, and repair crash barriers.
There were three red flags in Q1, the first part of qualifying, following crashes by Thailand鈥檚 Alexander Albon (Williams), Germany鈥檚 Nico H眉lkenberg (Sauber), and Argentina鈥檚 Franco Colapinto (Alpine).
Then there was an interruption in Q2 when Britain鈥檚 Oliver Bearman (Haas) went off the track, and finally two in Q3 following the violent crashes of Monaco鈥檚 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Australia鈥檚 Piastri.
Norris failed to seize the opportunity offered to him by Piastri, finishing only seventh after a mistake on his only flying lap in Q3.
The Briton will therefore start only two places ahead of his teammate, who has a 31-point lead over him at the top of the world championship.


Liverpool hold on to beat Everton 2-1 in Merseyside derby

Liverpool hold on to beat Everton 2-1 in Merseyside derby
Updated 20 September 2025

Liverpool hold on to beat Everton 2-1 in Merseyside derby

Liverpool hold on to beat Everton 2-1 in Merseyside derby
  • First-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike gave Arne Slot鈥檚 men a commanding lead
  • Idrissa Gueye鈥檚 second-half strike ensured a nervy finish for the hosts

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool held off a spirited Everton fightback to claim a 2-1 Premier League victory in a tense Merseyside derby at Anfield on Saturday, preserving their perfect start to the season and moving further ahead atop the table after five games.
First-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike gave Arne Slot鈥檚 men a commanding lead, but Idrissa Gueye鈥檚 second-half strike ensured a nervy finish for the hosts, who have now won all five league matches to open their campaign.
Everton dropped one spot to seventh in the table after their second loss of the season.
Gravenberch struck in the 10th minute when Mohamed Salah sent a ball over the top that the Dutch international met on the bounce for a superb finish, hooking his shot beyond the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Close-season signing Ekitike, who started ahead of Britain鈥檚 record signing Alexander Isak, doubled the lead in the 29th when he took one touch from Gravenberch鈥檚 pass before finishing through Pickford鈥檚 legs.
But Everton grew into the game and Gueye pulled one back in the 58th when he lashed a shot into the far left corner after Iliman Ndiaye had cleverly cut back Jack Grealish鈥檚 cross.
The nerves were palpable over the final few minutes of an entertaining afternoon in lashing rain as Everton parked in Liverpool鈥檚 end but, try as they might, the Toffees could not find the back of the net.
Liverpool had 11 shots to Everton鈥檚 nine.
Jack Grealish, who has been excellent since his loan move to Everton from Manchester City, stopped what looked to be a sure goal in the 73rd minute when he blocked Ibrahima Konate鈥檚 blistering header with his chest.
Grealish and Everton boss David Moyes made a beeline for the officials after the final whistle to have an angry word. Grealish was shown a yellow card before Pickford pushed him away.
Liverpool needed last-gasp goals in their four previous league wins along with their 3-2 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, but they stormed out of the gate on Saturday and needed no late-game heroics.


Swiatek shrugs off double duty to reach Korea Open final

Swiatek shrugs off double duty to reach Korea Open final
Updated 20 September 2025

Swiatek shrugs off double duty to reach Korea Open final

Swiatek shrugs off double duty to reach Korea Open final
  • The Polish six-time Grand Slam champion thrashed the Czech Republic鈥檚 Barbora Krejcikova 6-0, 6-3
  • In Sunday鈥檚 final, she will face Russia鈥檚 Ekaterina Alexandrova

SEOUL: Iga Swiatek blazed into the Korea Open final after bad weather forced her to play two matches on Saturday, winning both in a combined time of two and a half hours.
The Polish six-time Grand Slam champion thrashed the Czech Republic鈥檚 Barbora Krejcikova 6-0, 6-3 in a quarter-final moved from Friday because of heavy rain, then returned to the court hours later to face Australia鈥檚 Maya Joint.
World number two Swiatek was just as clinical against her semifinal opponent, winning 6-0, 6-2 to move into her fifth final of the year.
In Sunday鈥檚 final, she will face Russia鈥檚 Ekaterina Alexandrova, who beat Czech Republic鈥檚 Katerina Siniakova 6-4, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
鈥淚 just focused on myself and on the goals that I had before and continued doing what I was doing throughout the whole tournament, because it鈥檚 been working,鈥 said Swiatek.
Swiatek came into the Seoul tournament on the back of a stunning quarter-final defeat to eventual finalist Amanda Anisimova at the US Open.
Swiatek, whose father Tomasz competed in rowing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, dispatched Krejcikova in 1 hour, 25 minutes.
She had an even shorter evening鈥檚 work against Joint, winning in 1 hour, 6 minutes.
Swiatek was all business from start to finish against Joint, clinching the match with an easy winner at the net.
All four quarter-finals were pushed back a day from Friday as bad weather continued to affect the tournament, which has been hit with delays all week.


Sephora announced as new team sponsor for Al-Nassr women鈥檚 football squad

Sephora announced as new team sponsor for Al-Nassr women鈥檚 football squad
Updated 20 September 2025

Sephora announced as new team sponsor for Al-Nassr women鈥檚 football squad

Sephora announced as new team sponsor for Al-Nassr women鈥檚 football squad

DUBAI: Global retailer Sephora was announced as the official sponsor for Al-Nassr women鈥檚 football team via Instagram on Friday.

The partnership contract will be for the duration of the 2025/2026 season. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

The Sephora logo will be displayed on the team jersey and the training jersey. 

Al-Nassr are the reigning champions of the first Saudi Women鈥檚 Super Cup, defeating Al-Ahli 2-0 on Sept. 8. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Formula 1 extends Azerbaijan Grand Prix contract through 2030

Formula 1 extends Azerbaijan Grand Prix contract through 2030
Updated 20 September 2025

Formula 1 extends Azerbaijan Grand Prix contract through 2030

Formula 1 extends Azerbaijan Grand Prix contract through 2030
  • The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set to stay on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2030 after receiving a four-year contract extension
  • The contract for the street circuit on the Baku seafront had been due to expire after next year鈥檚 race

BAKU: The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set to stay on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2030 after receiving a four-year contract extension Saturday.
The contract for the street circuit on the Baku seafront had been due to expire after next year鈥檚 race.
Azerbaijan was widely considered a surprise choice of host ahead of its first race in 2016 but has become known for unpredictable racing, with Sergio Perez the only driver to win there more than once.
鈥淭he circuit is unique, with technical sections and long straights that run through the stunning shoreline and historic old town, delivering an eventful and entertaining race every year,鈥 F1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said in a statement.
鈥淭his renewal reflects the strong trust and commitment between Formula 1, the Azerbaijani government, and the promoter, and paves the way for an exciting future in the country.鈥
This year鈥檚 Azerbaijan Grand Prix takes place Sunday.