Sports
Saudi sports minister promises to host ‘most exciting World Cup ever’
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, has said that the Kingdom is determined to deliver “the most exciting World Cup ever hosted” when it stages football’s biggest tournament in 2034.
Speaking on a panel at the inaugural TOURISE tourism conference in Riyadh, Prince Abdulaziz said the Kingdom’s transformation through sport, tourism, and wider economic diversification was no overnight project. Instead, he described it as part of a coordinated national effort designed to elevate Saudi Arabia’s global profile while improving opportunities for its people.
“We work as one entity – whether to grow sport, to grow tourism, to grow different fields of the economy and job creation,” he said.
“The message we got from His Royal Highness [Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman] is to have the most exciting and memorable World Cup ever hosted, and that’s the challenge we have to achieve,” he said.
But hosting the tournament is not simply about spectacle – with Prince Abdulaziz insisting that the priority is to deliver tangible benefits for Saudi citizens and the Kingdom’s economy.
“If you look at the number of tourists who come to such events, the economy gets ignited by hosting such events. It’s tremendous… We are not hosting these events just to host them – but to leave a legacy that will impact society and create a better future for the Kingdom.”
When Vision 2030 was first launched a decade ago, only 13 percent of Saudis were physically active for half an hour or more each week. The target was 40 percent by 2030 – a figure already surpassed. Prince Abdulaziz stressed that Saudi Arabia’s growing profile in world sport over the past few years has been grounded in a desire to improve participation at community level.
“This year, the numbers have shown that we’ve reached 59 percent,” he said. “Not just of half an hour or more but of 150 minutes per week of activity. That’s the reason for hosting such events – putting programs on the ground.”
Saudi Arabia now has 97 sports federations, up from 30 less than a decade ago – something Prince Abdulaziz credits to consistent policy and investment rather than short bursts of attention from global events.
“It has been an encouraging and inspiring transformation but we still have a lot to achieve to get to where we want to be,” he added.
Learning ahead for 2034
Eight years out from the FIFA World Cup being hosted in the Kingdom, Prince Abdulaziz confirmed there will be a major Saudi delegation heading to the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada on an important fact-finding mission.
“We’ll definitely be looking at what they’re doing and making sure we learn from them, because it’s going to be the first 48-team World Cup,” Prince Abdulaziz said.
“It will be a big challenge for us also, hosting in one nation, but I think with what we have showcased in the past – we can host such an event and make sure that we deliver on the expectation.
“We set our own standards and we work day and night to make sure we achieve these goals.”
The 2034 FIFA World Cup will be staged across five cities, with some estimates suggesting that attendances could total five million over the course of the tournament.
Sport has become a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s tourism strategy and Prince Abdulaziz recognizes the crucial role it has as many visitors’ first entry point into Saudi Arabia. He added that coordination between the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Tourism ensures that visitors experience the full breadth of the Kingdom.
“When you’re coming to an event, you also want to see what’s going on around it,” he said. “We have seen that many guests and fans who come to events later visit AlUla, the Red Sea or Asir in the south,” he said.
“The beauty of Saudi Arabia is that you can go from sea to desert to mountains to valleys, and enjoy everything the country offers.
“I think our biggest asset is the people… and this is something we should be very proud of as Saudis. A lot of people come from around the world attracted by the event but they leave feeling touched by the warmth of the Saudi people.”
Al Arabiya
Football
Turkish football club distributes Iftar meals in Gaza
Turkish football club MKE Ankaragücü organized iftar distributions in Gaza, delivering meals to 1,500 children as part of its Ramadan campaign to support those in need.
MKE Ankaragucu, a Turkish football club which is currently playing in the TFF 2. Lig, has organized iftar distributions in Gaza as part of its ongoing campaign to help people in need in the Palestinian enclave.
In an official statement on its social media channels, MKE Ankaragucu reiterated its commitment to reminding children facing hardship in Palestine and elsewhere that they are not forgotten during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, while calling for greater support and participation.
The announcement included video footage documenting the distribution of iftar packages to 1,500 children in Gaza.
Turkish football clubs have shown widespread tribune solidarity during matches, with fans displaying banners, Palestinian flags, and messages of support.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that the Gaza ceasefire has more than doubled monthly food aid compared to before the truce, with coordinated efforts continuing under improved access as of late February 2026.
Amid harsh winter and displacement, one million people are receiving full assistance packages that include food parcels, hot Ramadan iftar meals, fresh bread, and cash transfers.
A News
Football
Will Cristiano Ronaldo reach 1,000 goals at 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo netted a brace as Al Nassr swept Al Hazem 4-0, a result that sent the Saudi club to the top of the Pro League table. The performance also pushed the 41-year-old’s personal tally to 964 career goals — just 36 away from the iconic 1,000-goal mark.
That night also brought another historic moment as Ronaldo became the first player in history to score 500 goals after the age of 30. To appreciate just how extraordinary that is, fewer than 30 players across the entire history of professional football have scored 500 goals in their careers.
Naturally, the question on everyone’s lips is when will the Portuguese superstar reach the four figures. And the most romantic possibility would be at this summer’s World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For Ronaldo, the tournament carries extra weight. By stepping onto the pitch, he will become the first player ever to appear in six World Cups, a milestone he’ll share with Argentine star Lionel Messi, though Ronaldo was already a centrepiece of Portugal’s 2006 campaign while Messi was still finding his feet at the senior level.
The prospect of goal No 1,000 arriving on the World Cup stage is the stuff of footballing fairy tales — and Ronaldo himself has acknowledged it during a recent interview. “You’ve been watching too many movies — that would be way too perfect,” he said, before adding: “Goals are always good to score. I want to play in this next World Cup; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here. But one step at a time. If those numbers did come true, I’d end my career on a high.”
From a practical standpoint, the math makes the World Cup milestone difficult. Between now and the tournament, Al Nassr are expected to play roughly 20 official matches, excluding friendlies and potential squad rotation. If Portugal make a deep run, Ronaldo could feature in up to seven or eight World Cup matches — giving him approximately 25 to 30 games before and during the tournament, assuming no injuries.
Impressive form
To reach 1,000 goals before or during the World Cup, Ronaldo would need to average at least one goal per game — possibly more. That requirement exceeds his current scoring rate of roughly 0.74 goals per match, according to ESPN stats.
His recent form is impressive but it also tempers expectations. Across his last 20 matches, he has scored 15 goals, but that doesn’t match the kind of explosive run required to close a 36-goal gap in such a short span.
Historically, Ronaldo has scored just eight goals across five World Cup tournaments, which further highlights the challenge. For the milestone to happen on football’s biggest stage, he would need an extraordinary run of form.
A more realistic projection lies in his typical yearly output. Ronaldo has averaged around 40 goals per calendar year throughout his career. Based on that trend, the most logical window for goal No. 1,000 appears to be late 2026 or early 2027 — rather than at the World Cup itself.
GN
Sports
Winter Olympics 2026: Unforgettable, Heartwarming Moments
The Winter Olympic Games are often described as Summer games’ weird, chaotic sibling. As the world’s greatest sporting showcase, they serve as a hub for stories as wonderful as they are bizarre. The Games always throw up the unexpected, and Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics has been no different. Take a glimpse to learn more:
Olympic Biathlon medal winner confesses cheating on girlfriend in candid statement
After winning bronze in the 20km individual biathlon, Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid confessed on TV to cheating on his girlfriend. Admitting to an affair, he called it his “my biggest mistake” and added it had been the worst week of his life since confessing to her. That same day, his ex-girlfriend wrote in Norwegian newspaper VG stating that she did not choose to be put in this public position.
Broken models
Broken models happened at Paris 24, and it happened again at Milan-Cortina 2026. Two of the USA’s gold medallists, Breezy Johnson and Alysa Liu, revealed the ribbon had come away from their medals soon after they received their prizes.
In this connection, Andea Francisci, Mila-Cortina 2026 chief Games operations officer said: “We are going to pay maximum attention to the medals. Obviously this is something we want to be perfect when the medal is handed over because this is one of the most important moments for the athletes.”
Controversy erupts after curlers accused of rule violations
The drama ignited when Canada’s Marc Kennedy became involved in a heated verbal exchange with Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson towards the end of his side’s 8-6 win. The Swedes contended that Kennedy was repeatedly double-touching some of his stones-an illegal move. That same day, Switzerland reported Kennedy for the same offense. World Curling then announced they would deploy extra officials for the remainder of the Games to monitor for such violations. Both incidents were deemed unintentional-the result of a veteran player accidentally making contact with the granite.
Is it a wolf or a dog?
During the Women’s cross-country team sprint qualifiers in Tesero, a large, silver-grey animal sprang onto the track. A Czechoslovakian Wolfdog had broken free of its owner and made its way onto the course, where it then chased a camera over the finish line.
In this regard: “ Konstantina Charalampiou said: “I became famous with a dog that came across the finish line and everyone wants to interview me now.”
The Minion in Milan
Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate skated to a dynamic combination of music from the Minions animated film series, clad in a yellow T-shirt and blue dungarees to match the characters. Following negotiations with representatives for Pharell Willians-whose song Happy appears in Despicable Me 2 and was one of Sabate’s musical selections-an agreement was reached and he was granted permission to use the track.
Unsung heroes step into spotlight as video goes viral
Mark Callan, a resident of Montreal has become an internet sensation with his effortless, high-speed moonwalking on ice. The 61-year-old is the guy with the backpack and house, shuffling backwards toward the house inside the near-empty Cortina curling stadium, spraying plumes of water to prep the ice.
He has been the centre of attention at the Winter Olympics in northern Italy- a long way from the Forest Hills rink in Aberfoyle where he first experienced curling. He has impressed audiences with his performance and vibrant personality, though some of his most vital moments consist mainly of him falling over.
These individuals took the spotlight by performing at the Games. There is a workforce of approximately 25,000 people at these Games,18,000 of whom are volunteers. Ultimately, this season’s games are all about providing enchanting stories for the audience.
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