Sreehari Menon

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to be a fan favourite, with his popularity even eclipsing several senior India stars. The 15-year-old is part of the India A squad touring Sri Lanka and is attracting far more attention from fans than several established stars like Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the squad.

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has ordered federal government employees in Mexico City to work from home and suspended classes on June 11 as the city prepares to host the opening events of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The hosts face off against South Africa with the opening ceremony set to feature the likes of Shakira, Tyla and Burna Boy.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was spotted celebrating alongside fellow basketball fans at a Queens bar on Wednesday night as the New York Knicks delivered a dramatic playoff comeback victory that sent the packed crowd into a frenzy. In the video, the crowd erupted in celebration as the final moments unfolded, with chants, applause, and high-fives filling the bar.

The 2027 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 4 to November 21, could carry special significance for Indian cricket fans. The tournament is shaping up to be the final World Cup stage for two of India's greatest modern-day stars — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

India A suffered an agonising defeat at the hands of Afghanistan A in the second game of their tri-series in Dambulla. Batting first, the Men in Blue posted a mammoth 349. In the chase, Afghanistan were well placed at 177/2 with captain Imran Mir scoring a fine half-century. Rain then played spoilsport, with Afghanistan clinching a four run win over DLS method.

Former Australia captain Lisa Sthalekar has pushed back against claims that Nikhil Chaudhary is the first Indian-origin cricketer to be selected by Australia in more than 60 years. The Delhi-born all-rounder was called up to the BAN vs AUS ODI series, but is not the first, given Lisa herself was born in Pune and had a Hall of Fame career.

Mexico City has been swept up by World Cup fever, with thousands of fans gathering outside the iconic Azteca Stadium more than four hours before the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa. Videos circulating on social media showed huge crowds assembling around the venue early Thursday morning, with supporters eager to be among the first to enter the stadium.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the official FIFA World Cup 2026 match ball, Trionda, was manufactured in Pakistan. The claim sparked discussion online, with users questioning its accuracy. Reports said Adidas' official tournament ball is produced by Forward Sports in Sialkot, a city that has supplied FIFA World Cup match balls since 1982 and remains a major football-manufacturing hub.

Before the opening match, fans will be treated to the official FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony, which is expected to feature cultural performances, music acts and a celebration of the tournament's three host nations — Mexico, United States and Canada. Shakira is also expected to perform her Dai Dai along with Burna Boy.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 got underway in spectacular fashion on Thursday as global music stars turned the opening ceremony into a dazzling celebration of football, culture and entertainment. Shakira stole the show at Mexico City's iconic Estadio Azteca, performing 'Dai Dai' with Nigeria's Burna Boy.