Month: July 2025

The Champions League has defined football for over seven decades, immortalizing great clubs that managed to break logic and overcome giants to win the coveted trophy. Real Madrid is the most dominant club with 15 titles, but other historic clubs like AC Milan, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool have all been part of this competition that consecrates the best teams in Europe.

Starting with the 2024-25 season, the tournament underwent a substantial overhaul. It was expanded to 36 clubs from all over the world and moved from a group-based format to a knockout phase where each club plays a total of eight matches, four home games and four away. The round of 16 features two matches, or legs, where the team that scores more goals over the two legs advances. The draw is random with association protection, meaning that teams from the same country cannot be drawn against each other.

After the knockout phase, the top eight clubs advance to the final, which is now held in Paris. The remaining teams are divided into two paths: the Champions Path and the League Path. The Champions Path contains teams that qualify as champions of their domestic league, while the League Path includes runners-up, third-placed, and fourth-placed clubs from their respective leagues. The top four clubs from each path enter the knockout phase. The other slots will be filled using a system whereby the nine teams finishing ninth through sixteenth are placed into pots based on their five-year club coefficient. A computer will then draw the pairings for each match, ensuring that all teams play an equal number of games.

The 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship concluded with South Africa clinching the title at Lord’s, winning a dramatic final against defending champions Australia. Aiden Markram’s unbeaten century and a crucial partnership with Temba Bavuma helped the Proteas overcome a deficit of 69 runs, earning them their first ICC trophy in 27 years.

The World Test Championship was launched in 2019 as a means to add significance to bilateral Test series across a two-year cycle. Its format reflects the same principles as the annual World Cups for one-day and T20 international cricket, with countries ranked on their performance in each competition. The top two teams book a place in the final, and the winners receive the coveted ICC Test mace.

But the WTC has been subject to criticism – including a scathing assessment by Wisden, cricket’s ‘bible’, in which its editor described this week’s showpiece at Lord’s as a “shambles masquerading as a showpiece”. The ICC has been accused of adopting a sticking-plaster approach to the sport’s oldest and most endangered format.

In order to address some of these concerns, a number of changes have been suggested to the competition’s structure. This includes adding the three Test-playing nations that are currently omitted, and creating two six-team divisions with teams being promoted and relegated each year. There are also calls to change the points system, which currently deducts a point for each over that is bowled at an over rate below 90.

Formula 1 is a sport of intense engineering, precise strategy, and dazzling speed. Twenty drivers (two per team) battle it out over a demanding calendar of Grands Prix and shorter Sprint races for championship points that can make the difference between success and failure. Those who achieve the most championship points are crowned champions of both the Driver and Constructor Championships. To ensure that F1 fans are fully aware of who’s in the driving seat, the F1 standings – updated after each race – offer a real-time snapshot of how each driver and team are performing throughout the season.

F1 driver standings:

Those who finish in the top 10 of each race earn points for themselves and their teams. At the end of the season, the driver with the most points is crowned World Champion. If two or more drivers have equal points, the championship is decided by countback of results. If this doesn’t decide the outcome, it is then awarded to the driver who has won the most races.

It is not uncommon for the title fight to come down to a single point. In 2007, for example, Kimi Raikkonen won the title by just one point over Lewis Hamilton.

Combat Sports are a growing field of popular sports and fitness activities that offer individuals a unique way to develop physical strength, mental fortitude, and social connectivity. While many people are drawn to the thrill of fighting and the sense of accomplishment that comes with winning, research has identified significant health benefits associated with participating in combat sports such as boxing, MMA, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu.

Athletes who participate in combat sports face a unique set of challenges that require a high level of psychological resilience. To prepare themselves for competition, athletes undergo rigorous training regimens that are designed to enhance their physical performance and technical prowess. They also learn to manage the heightened emotions and adrenaline that accompany competitive environments.

In addition, combat sport practitioners are required to abide by a strict code of ethics and mutual respect that ensures that the sports are fair and that participants’ physical and moral integrity is maintained. This code of conduct includes greeting each other before and after competitions, accepting referee decisions, and recognizing the skills and efforts of one’s opponent.

For many, practicing martial arts is not only a form of self-defense, but it is also a means to connect with one’s cultural heritage and honor traditions. In addition, training across disciplines helps one become more aware of their surroundings and to better predict the actions of others. In a world that is increasingly uncertain and dangerous, these skills may prove useful in real-life situations.

Athlete endorsements are a key intersection point between sports and commerce, leveraging athletes’ personal image to build brand trust and boost sales. Endorsement partnerships can shape cultural trends, spark conversations, and inspire societal movements. To maximize the impact of athlete-branded campaigns, brands must ensure that the athlete’s values align with their own ethos and message to foster authentic connection with consumers.

Long-term relationships offer the opportunity to deepen integration into brand identity, with athletes being involved in ongoing campaigns and product development. The enduring nature of these partnerships also creates more profound engagement with the athlete’s audience and deeper loyalty to the brand.

Endorsement contracts must clearly articulate the athlete’s specific duties, including in-person appearance and digital content production requirements. These contracts must also specify the geographic scope and product category limits, to prevent ambiguity that could expose both parties to risk. In addition, attorneys should advise clients to include authenticity clauses that require product use and verification of promotional claims, reducing exposure to false advertising claims or breaches of exclusivity clauses.

Licensing agreements provide athletes with control over their image and likeness, granting brands permission to use them under defined terms for limited marketing campaigns. In these types of arrangements, the athlete typically receives compensation based on a flat fee or performance bonus. Attorneys should help clients set realistic expectations and negotiate fair remuneration structures. Additionally, they should encourage clients to use documented checklists and digital contract dashboards to monitor fulfillment of contractual deliverables. Failure to meet these obligations can result in breach of contract, forfeiture of payments or damages, and reputational damage for both the brand and the athlete.

Whether they’re yelling at a blind referee or still crying over the Brangelina break up, every sports celebrity has to deal with some sort of gossip from time to time. This week, Eagles tight end Travis Kelce switched up his look by sporting wavy bangs, golfer Scottie Scheffler’s baby boy Bennett stole the show on the green and World Championship Wrestling alum Marcus Bagwell opens up about his choice to amputate a leg in a car accident. Plus, WNBA star Suni Lee and NBA player OG Anunoby make it official and a lung transplant survivor explains how his life changed.

With the first match of the World Cup Qualifiers taking place on 11 June and the full tournament line-up not set to be confirmed until November 2022, The Independent takes a look at how the campaign is unfolding around the globe.

Qualification tournaments are broken down into zones that roughly correspond to the continents, with teams from each zone competing for a fixed number of berths in the final competition. Those spots are awarded to group winners, runners-up and, in some cases, intercontinental play-off winners.

Europe currently has 16 berths on offer, with Lionel Scaloni’s Italy leading the pack after 14 matches, while the Republic of Ireland are a further four points back in Group F. Scotland are in a similar position to the Republic, with their opponents including Greece, Belarus and the loser of the Portugal v Denmark Nations League quarter-final.

The second round of qualifiers started on Thursday, with the 54 FIFA-affiliated teams split into six groups of five. Each team plays a single round-robin with two home and two away games to determine their ranking. The top team from each group will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the best-ranked two runners-up advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

The final qualifying stage began in September 2023 and consists of 18 teams divided into three groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will qualify, while the best-ranked runners-up will join them in the play-offs.

The Masters leaderboard at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia after Round 2 on Friday.

One-time Masters winner Justin Rose maintained his lead in a second straight round with a 1-under 71. The Englishman will enter the final round at 8 under and is halfway to his first green jacket. Bryson DeChambeau is tied for second after a 4-under 68.

DeChambeau got off to a strong start, with birdies on Nos. 2, 3 and 5. But a double bogey at the 12th shook him, and he could not recover on the back nine. He bogeyed No. 17 after driving into the pine straw and missed a short putt at No. 18.

Meanwhile, McIlroy got off to a slow start and had a double-bogey at the 1st. But he recovered with a par at the 4th, when he ripped a 3-wood into the middle of the green and poured in the putt for a birdie to get to 12-under.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler shot a bogey-free 68 and is in a tie for second with Corey Conners after a round that included 10 fairways and 11 greens. Nicolai Hojgaard, who is making his Masters debut, has a four-under 65 and is five shots behind the leaders.

Jordan Spieth talked about not looking at a scoreboard during his round, and whether you believe him or not, it’s certainly a strategy that allows players to accomplish their own goal without outside interference. But if you are playing with someone else, wouldn’t it be nice to know their score through the holes you’ve already completed?

When it comes to sports, few things make people talk more than viral moments. And this year has seen a number of them. From the “pommel horse guy” winning a bronze medal and a spot on “Dancing with the Stars” to a French pole vaulter’s — uh, package getting in the way of his jump, these events turned heads, went viral and inspired countless memes.

Patrick Mahomes’ no-look, no-feel touchdown pass in the Super Bowl gave fans something to rally around. As a result, the play was watched 700 million times on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter alone. And Mahomes’ creativity and composure in the heat of the moment is inspiring young athletes all over the world to get creative on the field and in their social media content.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France was a fierce match that captivated the public. But Lionel Messi’s calm penalty shootout that secured victory for his team was what really blew up on social media. Fans flocked to TikTok and Instagram to watch, share, and comment on the video of the final shootout, and even months later it is still one of the most shared sports videos in history.

Real-time search trends highlight how quickly interest in a sporting event can rise and fall. Leverage data to monitor changes in audience interest and craft campaigns that speak to these movements. For example, take advantage of the spike in interest in female athletes and tell a more human story that resonates with your audience.

As sports teams look to build deeper relationships with their fans and expand their fanbases, it’s crucial for athletes to leverage social media. This is because social media allows them to showcase their authenticity, and create a positive public image. This in turn brings them more endorsements, and helps them grow their own brands. This is especially important for Gen Z audiences, who are highly active on social media and demand real-time content from their favorite teams.

Social media has revolutionized the way in which sports are reported, and it’s creating new revenue opportunities for both leagues and teams. However, there are challenges, such as maintaining accuracy and building personal brands in a fast-paced environment.

Athletes often feel that their careers are defined by how the public perceives them, and many worry about what people will say online about their performance and achievements. This can impact the athlete’s sense of self-worth, and lead to depression or other psychological problems.

This is why it’s so important for sports marketers to help their athletes navigate the pitfalls of social media, and provide support and guidance when necessary. Sports teams can also use their social media platforms to highlight aspects of the players’ lives that aren’t related to their sport. For example, former NFL player Isaac Rochell used TikTok to share photos of his off-field life, including family moments and business ventures. This helped humanize him, and drew in new audiences who weren’t previously NFL fans.