Football

Soccer-Potter's career night delivers World Cup promised land for resurgent Sweden

STOCKHOLM, April 1 (Reuters) - With his sons seated in ⁠the front row of the press conference after his Sweden side beat Poland 3-2 with a dramatic late goal to reach the World Cup finals, ⁠coach Graham Potter basked in the glow of success in what had looked like an impossible task when he took it on last October. 

Football

Soccer-'The World Cup curse' - Italy sheds tears after missing out again

ROME, ⁠April 1 (Reuters) - Italy woke up angry and disillusioned on Wednesday after the national team ⁠missed out on the World Cup for the third time in a row by ‌losing a playoff to Bosnia, prolonging a sporting nightmare for the soccer-mad country.

Football

Factbox-Soccer-World Cup group lineups

April 1 (Reuters) - ⁠Following are the groups ⁠for the 2026 World ‌Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and ​Mexico from June 11 ⁠to July ⁠19.

Football

Soccer-Australia savour goal glut before World Cup but squad depth questions remain

MELBOURNE, March 31 (Reuters) - Australia's friendly wins over ⁠Cameroon and Curacao were a boost before they head overseas to continue their World Cup buildup but the matches also left nagging questions ⁠about the Socceroos' squad depth.

Football

Soccer-Iraq qualify for World Cup with win over Bolivia

MONTERREY, Mexico, March 31 (Reuters) - Iraq grabbed the last ⁠available place at the World Cup by beating Bolivia 2-1 in their inter-confederation playoff on Tuesday, sealing their return ⁠to the finals after a 40-year absence.

Cricket

Cricket-Connolly hits reset button and fires Punjab to victory on IPL debut

April 1 (Reuters) - Cooper Connolly marked ⁠his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut by smashing an unbeaten 72 to ⁠guide Punjab Kings to a three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans on ‌Tuesday, and the Australian all-rounder credited his turnaround in form to a mental reset.

Badminton

Injured Zii Jia postpones training stint with national squad

PETALING JAYA: The national badminton squad may have to wait a little longer after there was no sign of professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara on Wednesday (April 1).

Football

Soccer-Mexico draw 1-1 with Belgium in Chicago ahead of World Cup

March 31 (Reuters) - Mexico ⁠and Belgium played out a 1-1 ⁠draw in a friendly at Soldier Field ‌on Tuesday, capping off their final warm-up matches before finalising their 26-man World Cup squads.

Football

Soccer-Tuanzebe shines for DR Congo as they qualify for World Cup

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, April 1 (Reuters) - Former ⁠England under-21 international Axel Tuanzebe basked in the adulation of one of ⁠Africa's largest nations on Tuesday after his goal in extra time against ‌Jamaica put the Democratic Republic of Congo into the World Cup.

Rugby

Rugby-League recruit Lomax set for Super Rugby debut off the bench

SYDNEY, April 1 (Reuters) - Former ⁠Australia rugby league international Zac Lomax is set to ⁠make his Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench ‌this weekend after being named in the Western Force squad for their match against the Queensland Reds.

Football

Soccer-Japan high on confidence ahead of World Cup after beating England

April 1 (Reuters) - Japan claimed ⁠their first victory over England with a 1-0 win in a ⁠friendly at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, giving coach Hajime Moriyasu ‌confidence his side can beat anyone at the World Cup.

Cricket

Cricket-Maxwell, Konstas dropped from Australia's contracted players list

MELBOURNE, April 1 (Reuters) - Veteran all-rounder ⁠Glenn Maxwell and top-order batter Sam Konstas have been dropped from Australia's list ⁠of contracted players, while fast bowler Brendan Doggett has earned his first ‌after making his test debut in the Ashes.

Football

Soccer-Brazil score twice late on to beat Croatia 3-1 in World Cup tune-up

March 31 (Reuters) - Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in ⁠a World Cup warm-up in Orlando on Tuesday, with Igor Thiago converting a late penalty and ⁠Gabriel Martinelli adding a stoppage-time goal to seal the win.

Football

Harimau Malaya fall to Vietnam, but Cklamovski hails players’ resolve

PETALING JAYA: In a match billed as the "Game of Dignity" by pundits, Malaysia were unable to match a fired-up Vietnam side.

Football

Soccer-DR Congo score extra-time winner to qualify for World Cup

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, March 31 (Reuters) - The Democratic Republic of ⁠Congo qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 after Axel Tuanzebe netted an extra-time winner ⁠to see off Jamaica 1-0 in their inter-confederation playoff on Tuesday.

Football

Soccer-Sweden’s 'great escape' complete as Potter clinches World Cup berth

March 31 (Reuters) - Sweden finished rock ⁠bottom of their qualifying group with no wins yet booked their World Cup spot on Tuesday with a frantic ⁠playoff victory over Poland as manager Graham Potter orchestrated a stunning 'great escape' five months after taking charge.    

Badminton

Wooi Yik hoping for close buddy Zii Jia to rediscover form

PETALING JAYA: Amid the excitement over Lee Zii Jia's return to the national squad, Soh Wooi Yik is hoping his close friend can rediscover his form.

Golf

Natasha takes a breather after wrapping up LPGA Ford C’ship

PETALING JAYA: LPGA Tour rookie golfer Natasha Andrea Oon will be looking to a well deserved two-week break after wrapping up her campaign at the Ford Championship in Arizona with a tied 60th finish.

Other Sports

Silver lining for Lee Ronn as Malaysia finish strong at wushu event

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia wrapped up their World Junior Wushu Championships campaign on a high in Tianjin, China, with teenager Lee Ronn adding a silver medal to the tally.

Cycling

Izzah settles for silver as Yusof wins gold at Asian meet

PETALING JAYA: Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri still had reason to smile despite losing her 1km time trial crown, while para cyclist Mohd Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin stole the spotlight with a dominant clean sweep on the final day of the Asian Championships in Tagaytay, Philippines.