6 h. ago 'Football not handball': Scotland stay on World Cup track in eerie surroundings as star man shows worth

Not many witnessed it in flesh - but Scotland post big win in quest for finals

Politics

6 h. ago Scotland stay on course for World Cup after beating Belarus behind closed doors

Che Adams scored the opener before Zakhar Volkov nodded into his own net to seal a crucial win for Steve Clarke’s side

Politics

14 h. ago Why is Belarus v Scotland being played without fans? Venue details, and why the game is in Hungary

Here’s why Scotland’s game with belarus is being played behind closed doors in Hungary on Monday evening.

Sport

33 h. ago World Cup qualifying: Depay sets scoring record as Dutch survive scare in Lithuania

Forward spares Ronald Koeman’s blushes with doubleGoals move him above Van Persie to top of all-time listMemphis Depay set a new scoring record for the Netherlands as his double ensured they survived a scare in beating Lithuania 3-2 away in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday.Two goals for the 31-year-old Depay took his national team tally to 52, going ahead of Robin van Persie’s previous record, and putting the Netherlands top of the Group G standings with 10 points from four games, three ahead of Poland, who are hosting Finland later on Sunday. Continue reading...

Events

33 h. ago Who will win Belarus vs Scotland? Our writers predict behind closed doors World Cup qualifier

A decent start in Denmark must be built on as Steve Clarke takes his team to neutral territory for second World Cup qualifier

Politics

38 h. ago ‘Shout out to the girls’: US exit Rugby World Cup but young stars stoke hope for future

The Eagles thrashed Samoa but missed the quarter-finals on points differential. Nonetheless, a joyful display was fitting for a team showing encouraging signs The US Eagles exited the World Cup on Saturday after beating Samoa 60-0 in York but seeing Australia hold England to 47-7 in Brighton, enough for the Wallaroos to reach the quarter-finals on points differential.Kate Zackary’s team will be disappointed to miss a last-eight date with Canada, knowing they might well have made it had a few things gone differently.Martin Pengelly writes on Substack at The National Maul, on rugby in the US Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago ‘We are hunting them’ – Jess Breach urges England to turn into predators not prey against Australia

Breach will win 50th cap and has never lost in England jerseyAlex Matthews captains team aiming to win to seal Pool AJess Breach said England want to be “the predator” not other teams’ prey at the Rugby World Cup after she was named to win her 50th cap against Australia in the Red Roses’ final pool game.Australia need to beat the World Cup hosts on Saturday or pick up bonus point to secure a quarter-final spot; beyond that it will come down to points difference and on how the USA v Samoa game pans out.Messaging in the England camp this week has been about flipping the script to being viewed as the hunters. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago ‘We are hunting them’ – Breach urges England to be predators not prey against Australia

Breach to win 50th cap and has never lost with EnglandAlex Matthews captains team aiming to win to seal Pool AJess Breach said England want to be “the predator” not other teams’ prey at the Rugby World Cup after she was named to win her 50th cap against Australia in the Red Roses’ final pool game.Australia need to beat the World Cup hosts on Saturday or pick up bonus point to secure a quarter-final spot; beyond that it will come down to points difference and on how the USA v Samoa game pans out.Messaging in the England camp this week has been about flipping the script to being viewed as the hunters. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago US money comes to Saudi Pro League as Ronaldo commits for two more years

American investment has recently arrived and the ‘big five’ clubs will contest the title in an increasingly strong leagueThe Saudi Pro League season kicks off on Thursday, just before the international break, when Cristiano Ronaldo will probably make headlines by saying the Saudi Pro League is one of the top five in the world. If so, the 40-year-old is bound to reference Al-Hilal reaching the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup, drawing with Real Madrid then beating Manchester City 4-3. There is now something else, though, that the league has in common with its European counterparts – US money.In July the ministry of sports announced that three clubs had passed into private hands. Al-Kholood, the only one in the top tier, have been taken over by an American investment company, the Harburg Group, run by the venture capital investor Ben Harburg. “The first three Saudi sports clubs have been privatised through a public offering – Al Ansar, Al Kholood, and Al Zulfi – with their ownersh...

Politics

1 week ago Mark Clattenburg: What REALLY happened during my infamous FA Cup Final tunnel exchange with Sir Alex Ferguson... and why it made me not want to referee anymore

The incident occurred before the 2016 FA Cup Final at Wembley, where Louis van Gaal 's Manchester United beat Alan Pardew 's Crystal Palace 2-1.

Sport

1 week ago Celtic and Leeds both beaten: Champions League and Carabao Cup clockwatch – as it happened

Penalties did for both Leeds and Celtic, with Kairat Almaty beating the Scots 3-2 after a drab goalless draw, and Leeds beaten 3-0 by Sheffield WednesdayJoe Pearson has filed a half-time match report: “As a retired football fan in central Indiana, I always enjoy the opportunity to watch an early afternoon weekday match,” he enthuses. “But. This match is dire. I feel I have made a bad life choice.”Still no sign of a goal in this tie, but the two teams now have 15 minutes to come up with a plan to create one. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago Eze has possible farewell goal ruled out as Crystal Palace hold Chelsea to draw

If there was a sense of the new world champions being dragged back down to earth on a sweltering afternoon at Stamford Bridge, it should not be forgotten that any side as short of match sharpness as Chelsea would not have relished trying to find a way past opponents who seem to like nothing more than to bloody the noses of the elite.Perhaps this will be read as two dropped points for Enzo Maresca’s side as they look to build on a triumphant summer in the US by mounting a title challenge. Anyone paying attention, though, will know there is nothing easy about trying to find a way through a team coached by Oliver Glasner. Crystal Palace, after all, are riding high after building on winning the FA Cup by beating Liverpool in the Community Shield and the pleasing thing for Maresca will be that his players grew into the contest as it wore on, even if the overall impression was that all the riches earned from Fifa’s expanded Club World Cup has left Chelsea with a physical price to pay. Con...

Politics

3 w. ago Carabao Cup: Huddersfield stun Leicester in shootout drama, Birmingham beat Blades

Goalkeeper Lee Nichols stars for League One sideJay Stansfield strikes late for Birmingham victoryThe goalkeeper Lee Nichols was the hero for Huddersfield, who overcame Championship opponents in Leicester via a penalty shootout following an entertaining 2-2 Carabao Cup first-round draw at the League One club’’s Accu Stadium.Huddersfield started strongly and Ruben Roosken and David Kasumu both had strong penalty shouts turned down early on after both appearing to be tripped inside the box. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Three things Tottenham learned from Chelsea about how to beat PSG

Club World Cup final offered encouragement for Spurs as they gear up for PSG test in Super Cup

Politics

3 w. ago JD Vance accused of 'lying about Scotland' as US Vice President set for stay at luxury Ayrshire estate

Vance and his family are on a private holiday to the UK and are expected to arrive in Scotland on Wednesday.

Politics

3 w. ago Entain cashes in on online betting surge as Club World Cup reels in players

The FIFA Club World Cup final, which saw Chelsea beat PSG, was the most bet-on football match of 2025 for Entain’s brands.

Sport