Who is Slavko Vinčić?

How he has managed the 2026 World Cup

During the current tournament, Vinčić has taken charge of three fixtures: Brazil’s 1-1 group-stage draw against Morocco, Algeria’s 2-1 victory over Jordan, and Mexico’s 2-0 Round of 32 win against Ecuador.

His performances have reflected the measured style that has defined his career. Across those three matches, he has brandished seven yellow cards and just one red card, preferring to let games flow while maintaining firm control whenever discipline is required.

His broader career record tells a similar story. Across 18 major international outings — spanning the UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, qualifiers, and the FIFA Club World Cup — Vinčić has averaged 25.1 fouls per game, showing 50 yellow cards, six red cards, and awarding five penalties.

A career built on football’s biggest matches

Vinčić is no stranger to club football’s grandest stages. He was the referee for the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, as well as the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers.

His résumé also includes more than 50 UEFA Champions League matches, alongside high-stakes knockout fixtures across UEFA competitions and European Championship qualifiers. Those high-profile appointments established him as one of UEFA’s most dependable assets, ultimately paving the way for FIFA’s ultimate assignment.

What can Argentina and Spain expect?

At the ongoing World Cup, Vinčić has officiated Brazil’s 1-1 draw against Morocco, Algeria’s 2-1 victory over Jordan and Mexico’s 2-0 Round of 32 win over Ecuador.

Across those three matches, he has shown seven yellow cards and one red card, suggesting a measured approach before resorting to disciplinary action.

For Argentina and Spain, that could translate into an official willing to allow physical battles in midfield but one who will not hesitate to punish reckless tackles or persistent fouling. Players known for testing referees with tactical fouls or dissent are also unlikely to receive much leeway.

Vinčić’s history with Argentina

Why FIFA chose him

Norris is one of a number of drivers who face a grid penalty this weekend, after exceeding his permitted number of batteries.

He is joined by Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, fifth fastest overall behind Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

The championship gap has closed largely because of problems for Antonelli, who retired from second place in the Barcelona Grand Prix, and lost a probable victory at Silverstone last time out by a wheel fairing failure and then a penalty, which dropped him out of the points.

Russell also took an impressive win in Austria, just fending off Verstappen and Antonelli, for his first victory since the first grand prix of the season in Australia.

Behind the top six of Antonelli, Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton and Hadjar, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, Russell and the Racing Bulls of Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson completed the top 10 ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen was complaining about gearshifts, as he so often does, but his pace was encouraging considering the team have had to shelve their ‘flip-flop’ rear wing after consecutive crashes for the Dutchman in high-speed corners in Austria and at Silverstone.

The failure was that the wing was closing too much, removing the so-called ‘slot gap’ between the main plane and flap, meaning the car had less downforce than the driver expected on corner entry.

Reverting to the standard wing, which opens like the old DRS overtaking aid, is said by insiders to cost around 0.2secs a lap.

Technical director Pierre Wache said: “It is a mechanical problem that we spot after the accident in Silverstone. We fixed it. It [the car] should be ready and bulletproof.

“I don’t want to be too precise on what we are doing because it is a performance benefit to use it. But we take it seriously, we discuss with the FIA because it is our duty to make the car safe and you will see the wing back soon.”

Red Bull hope to have a revised version of the new wing ready for the Hungarian Grand Prix next weekend.

Racing Bulls have an upgrade on Lindblad’s car this weekend. The team decided to give it to the Briton rather than Lawson after an agreement that the driver who qualified ahead at the British Grand Prix would have the new parts for Spa.

Lawson will get the next upgrade later in the year, which is also expected only to be ready for one driver initially, team principal Alan Permane said.

Cbus Super Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 20 NRL game between Gold Coast Titans and
Manly Sea Eagles. The game kicks off at 2:00 pm with Manly Sea Eagles heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Gold Coast Titans vs.
Manly Sea Eagles
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday July 19, 2026 at 2:00 pm

Where: Cbus Super Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Gold Coast Titans vs Manly Sea Eagles Odds

Gold Coast Titans vs Manly Sea Eagles Preview

Gold Coast has quietly built some encouraging form, highlighted by a win over Penrith and a competitive showing against Melbourne. Improved effort through the middle has allowed Jayden Campbell and Keano Kini to inject themselves into matches far more consistently.

Manly arrives undermanned in the forwards, presenting an opportunity for the Titans to control the ruck and dictate the tempo. Gold Coast’s attack around the middle third has been a major strength throughout the season, with Oliver Pascoe playing an increasingly important role in creating opportunities. If the Titans win that battle, they have every chance of claiming another valuable scalp.

Terence Crawford has named a Hall of Famer he was supposed to face in 2021, only for their showdown to fall by the way side.

Ultimately, ‘Bud’ has no regrets about how his career unfolded, especially with him becoming a three-division undisputed champion against Canelo Alvarez last September.

At the same time, though, there is seemingly a shred of disappointment that his blockbuster clash with Manny Pacquiao never quite materialised.

The pair were closing in on an agreement to collide in June 2025, back when Crawford had just successfully defended his WBO welterweight title against Kell Brook.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, was coming off a WBA title defence against Keith Thurman, who he defeated by split decision after scoring a first-round knockdown.

A unification match with Crawford was then becoming increasingly likely, only for financial backers in Abu Dhabi to pull the plug on their investment.

Speaking with ESPN, Crawford named the eight-division world champion as the only fighter, past or present, that he was eager to test himself against.

“The only fight I felt got away from me is the Pacquiao fight. But all the fighters before me – I don’t ever look at them and think, ‘I want to fight him’. I was just happy to watch them and learn from them.”

Following the collapse of his fight with Crawford, Pacquiao was supposed to face Errol Spence Jr, the then-WBC and IBF welterweight champion, in August 2021.

With Spence pulling out due to a torn retina, however, ‘Pac Man’ ended up facing Yordenis Ugas and lost his title via a unanimous decision.

Former West Indies cricket captain, Sir Garfield Sobers, has died at the age of 89, West Indies Cricket announced on Friday.

“A great innings has come to an end. In our hearts, now and forever, Sir Garfield Sobers,” West Indies Cricket said in a post on X.

One of cricket’s all-time greats

Sobers is considered one of the all-time greats to play the game and was known for his potent ​top-order batting, the ability ​to ‌bowl medium fast and spin, while also being an excellent ‌fielder.

Sobers represented the West Indies in an international career spanning two decades, from 1954 to 1974.

Garfield St Aubrun Sobers was born in St Michael, Barbados, on July 28, 1936 and was the fifth of six children.

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He made his first class cricket debut for Barbados at the age of 16 in 1953 and would go on to play his first test for West Indies in 1954.

At the age of 21, Sobers scored his maiden century against Pakistan and would finish with 365 not out, which was then the highest individual test innings.

Sobers scored 8,032 runs at the crease in his 93 Tests at an average of 57.78. His versatile bowling ability saw him take 235 wickets at 34.03 runs a piece while in fielding he took 109 test match catches.

Sobers was knighted for his services to cricket by Queen Elizabeth II in Bridgetown, Barbados, that reportedly drew 50,000 spectators.

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Tributes for icon of the game

“One of the greatest cricketers to have ever graced the game, Sir Garfield Sobers, has sadly passed away,” the International Cricket Council said in a post on X.  

England Cricket also paid tribute with a social media post calling Sobers “one of the greatest to ever play the game.”

“Forever in our hearts, Sir Garfield Sobers,” England Cricket said in a post on X.

Edited by: Rana Taha

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Since the start of the FIFA World Cup, shops in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar market have been flooded with jerseys of teams from around the world. Most are not official merchandise but close copies that look similar to the originals, even if they do not feel the same.

While an original jersey can set you back by nearly ₹8,000-₹9,000 apiece, copies sold in Lajpat Nagar – long known for its bargain prices – cost between ₹600 and ₹1,100, depending on the fabric quality.

This price gap also captures a broader shift in India’s sports merchandise market. Jerseys are no longer bought only as match-day apparel. Instead, they have evolved into a fashion product, opening up an opportunity that brands in India and abroad are looking to tap as football apparel becomes part of daily wardrobes. Oversized jerseys, retro designs and football-inspired T-shirts are now being paired with trousers and sneakers as streetwear, a trend that has long been popular overseas and is increasingly finding resonance in India.

Given that the price difference between official jerseys and unlicensed copies remains one of the industry’s biggest structural challenges, it is this gap that the new products hope to fill.

Industry participants say that, over the past five years, sports merchandise has moved from being an event-driven purchase to a year-round lifestyle category. At the same time, brands are betting that consumers will gradually place greater value on authenticity, quality and design.

“Young consumers don’t just watch sport anymore; they build communities around it on social media, and merchandise has become an extension of that identity. India is still early compared to mature global markets, but the trajectory is strong, and interest beyond cricket has grown sharply in just the last three years,” said Dhruv Sayani, founder and managing director at Ccigmaa Lifestyle & KT, a personal care, FMCG and grooming brand focused around sports culture, athlete partnerships, and performance-driven consumer behaviour.

According to 6Wresearch, the India licensed sports merchandise market was estimated at $361 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $517 million by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3 per cent between 2026 and 2032.

India’s large consumer base offers room for growth, but despite the projected increase in demand for licensed sports merchandise, many buyers may still be unwilling to spend a significant share of their income on official merchandise. Instead, they may turn to cheaper copies available at a fraction of the price.

That gap has also created space for a fast-growing middle segment of football-inspired apparel. Between low-cost counterfeit jerseys priced at ₹400-₹1,000 and official jerseys costing ₹7,000-₹9,000, brands are trying to build a category of design-led casual merchandise that lets fans express their support without paying premium prices.

These products are not the same as the performance jerseys worn by players on the field. Instead, they are designed as casual fashion products that allow fans to express support for a team, club, city or player. The fabric and styling are intended less for sport and more for everyday wear.

ShopFootball is one such brand. Rather than making performance jerseys, it focuses on football-inspired casualwear that fans can wear off the pitch.

“As a football fan, when you look out to buy something that is probably related to the favourite club that you support or the favourite country that you support, you have very limited options,” said founder Maaz Ahmad Siddique, who points out that ShopFootball – a bootstrapped firm – has been doubling its revenue annually, reflecting a change in consumer behaviour.

“In India, the average income is very low. You are not expected to wear a really expensive jersey,” he added.

According to him, demand in both cricket and football is still heavily driven by established stars.

“In cricket it is Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli; and for football, it has always been Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo,” he said. “We casually joke around in the office as well that if it wasn’t for Messi and Ronaldo, we wouldn’t have a business.”

Siddique said newer stars such as Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé generate short-term spikes in demand, but legacy players continue to drive sustained merchandise sales. 

Demand also remains closely linked to the sporting calendar. Cricket merchandise sees a sharp rise during the Indian Premier League and major international tournaments. In football, buying intent is strongest between May and August when major teams like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea release new kits – including jerseys – and fans prepare for the start of a new, year-long season of club football.

“(The) Peak is June. And for the past three years, the peak has always been June,” Siddique said, adding that industry revenues typically decline by around 20-25 per cent during slower periods once the initial football buying season is over.

The company also experimented with cricket merchandise during the IPL. Its Bengaluru-themed T-shirt sold around 2,500 pieces in two months, leaving the company struggling to keep up with demand because it manufactures in batches of only 200-300 pieces to avoid locking up working capital.

However, growing demand has also created challenges for smaller brands, particularly around copying and design protection.

“Recently we did, we had a legal battle with one of these folks because they were actually blatantly copying it. That’s too stressful for us, and we are a team of around seven people. For a small brand, it becomes a task. With each design, you add more money to it. And you don’t even know if this will be like a… It will pay back or not,” Siddiqui said.

He said design registration itself costs roughly ₹4,000-₹5,000 for every design, making intellectual property protection expensive for small businesses.

For small companies, pursuing every alleged copy can be costly and time-consuming. Siddique described enforcement against counterfeit sellers as a “never-ending loop”, with one seller or website often replaced by another.

“The encouraging sign is that awareness is growing, and more consumers are choosing to pay a premium for something genuine because they’ve started connecting authenticity with quality,” Sayani said.

Industry participants believe sports merchandise in India is gradually evolving from niche fan gear into an everyday fashion category, with the biggest opportunities lying in products that combine affordability, distinctive design and authentic fan culture rather than relying solely on tournament-driven demand.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has reaffirmed its “zero-tolerance” stance on corruption after former India Under-19 World Cup winner and Jaffna Kings co-owner Manjot Kalra was arrested over allegations of attempting to induce a player into corrupt practice during the Lanka Premier League (LPL).In a statement issued hours after Kalra’s arrest on Friday, the island nation’s cricket board said the ongoing investigation would not affect the conduct of the LPL and pledged its “fullest cooperation” to the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports.“Sri Lanka Cricket, together with the Lanka Premier League 2026, will extend its fullest cooperation to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports should any assistance be sought in connection with any inquiry arising from the matter,” SLC said.The board stressed that the five-team tournament, which got underway on Friday at the SSC Grounds in Colombo, would continue as scheduled.

SLC reiterates zero-tolerance policy

Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the integrity of the competition, SLC said it would not tolerate corruption, misconduct or foul play by any stakeholder associated with the league.“As the governing body of the Lanka Premier League 2026, Sri Lanka Cricket reiterates its unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the tournament and will not tolerate any form of corruption, misconduct, or foul play by any stakeholder associated with the league,” the statement read.The board added that extensive safeguards had already been put in place before the tournament began.According to SLC, its Anti-Corruption Unit has been working closely with the government’s SIU to strengthen the league’s anti-corruption framework. It has also appointed Integrity Mentors, an independent anti-corruption and sports integrity organisation, to provide specialist integrity support and education throughout the competition.“Sri Lanka Cricket has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and unethical practices and will ensure that all necessary steps are taken to safeguard the integrity of the Lanka Premier League 2026,” the board added.

Kalra remanded in judicial custody

Kalra, 27, was taken into custody by the SIU and later produced before a magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody until July 31, according to local media reports.Another Indian national, identified as Yuvraj Pushpa, was also arrested in connection with the case and remanded after being produced before the court, as per news agency PTI.Police allege Kalra attempted to offer money to a player associated with the Lanka Premier League. Reports in Sri Lanka said the complaint was lodged by Jaffna Kings players Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando and Dunith Wellalage, prompting the anti-corruption investigation.Kalra rose to prominence in 2018 when he struck an unbeaten 101 in the ICC Under-19 World Cup final against Australia, guiding India, led by Prithvi Shaw, to the title. The squad also featured future India internationals Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Mavi.After stepping away from professional cricket, Kalra moved into sports entrepreneurship and became an investor in the Jaffna Kings franchise earlier this year.His arrest came on the opening day of the Lanka Premier League, where Jaffna Kings were scheduled to face Galle Gallants. While the investigation continues, Sri Lanka Cricket has made it clear that the tournament will proceed uninterrupted, insisting that robust anti-corruption measures remain firmly in place to protect the league’s credibility.

Will the 2026 World Cup end with glory for Spain or Argentina?

We also have the game no-one wanted to be part of, the bronze final, where France and England will compete for third place on the podium.

“I’ve seen Argentina numerous times at this tournament and, compared to their teams of the past, this is not an outstanding Argentina side,” said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton.

“Still, you have to admire their fight and their aggression. They fight like no other team to stay in games and win any way they can.

“They will throw everything they can at Spain – and of course they have Lionel Messi too.”

Sutton, AI and the users of the BBC’s new predictor game are predicting the results of every game at this World Cup.

Only AI managed to get one of the semi-finals right, correctly backing Argentina to beat England.

But the users still have an insurmountable overall lead with 102 of the tournament’s 104 games now completed.

Chris has been right 65 times (64%), AI has 66 (65%), but you lot are still on top with a score of 72 (71%).

AI’s predictions have been generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat. We simply asked the tool to ‘predict the results of the World Cup final and bronze final’.

The BBC predictor game allows readers to pick a winner from each knockout tie.

PLAY WORLD CUP PREDICTOR HERE

Who did our pundits predict would win the 2022 World Cup?

France (9): Scott Brown, Gael Clichy, Rachel Corsie, Olivier Giroud, Danny Murphy, Paul Robinson, Tony Pulis, Alan Shearer & Chris Sutton

England (7): Thomas Frank, Joe Hart, Steph Houghton, Martin Keown, Wayne Rooney, Sue Smith & Ellen White

Spain (1): Micah Richards

The World Cup football final between Spain and Argentina, scheduled for the wee hours of Monday, is shaping up to be more than just a sporting spectacle.

The marquee event is expected to drive a spike in consumer expenditure across restaurants, pubs, multiplexes, food-delivery platforms and quick-commerce companies as fans gather to watch the match on bigger screens or celebrate at home.

Businesses across sectors are positioning themselves to capitalise on the expected surge in demand. Multiplex operators are anticipating higher occupancies after the semifinals drew strong crowds, while restaurants and bars are preparing for a sharp increase in footfall, particularly in cities where authorities have relaxed operating hours. Quick commerce and food-delivery platforms have also rolled out football-themed campaigns, discounts and rewards to capture late-night demand.

The heightened excitement has also translated into higher advertising expenditure. According to a media-buying source, advertising rates for the final have increased tenfold to ₹25 lakh for a 10-second spot from ₹2.5 lakh during the opening matches of the tournament. However, the rates remain below those commanded by cricket World Cup matches, where advertising typically starts at upwards of ₹30 lakh for a 10-second spot in the initial phase of the tournament. 

The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) expects the final to generate robust business for eateries, with Hyderabad and Bengaluru likely to benefit the most after state authorities extended operating hours for restaurants and pubs.

“Bars and pubs, which typically see lower footfall on Sunday evenings, could witness as much as a 100 per cent increase in business due to the FIFA finals,” Anurag Katriar, trustee, National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), told Business Standard. 

Katriar said cloud kitchens could see business double on Sunday night, while dine-in restaurants might register a 50 per cent increase in business.

“Since the match will be played after midnight, demand for easy-to-eat food like rolls, fries, sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas are expected to see higher order volumes,” Katriar said.

In Bengaluru, where restaurants have been allowed to remain open late, the hospitality industry has welcomed the government’s decision.

“Across the three nights, restaurants and restobars across Bengaluru witnessed packed houses, translating into higher business volumes, increased goods and services tax for the state, and better earning opportunities for thousands of people employed by the industry,” said P M Ananth Narayan, founder, JustBLR Group & chapter head, NRAI Bengaluru.

“The success of this initiative demonstrates what is possible when governments and industry work together. We hope it encourages more states to adopt similar progressive measures during major sporting, cultural and entertainment events,” Narayan added.

Multiplex operators are also betting on the growing appeal of communal sports viewing to drive ticket sales.

“The enthusiastic response to our screenings, with occupancies exceeding 42 per cent, reflects the growing demand for premium, collective viewing experiences. We are delighted that PVR INOX continues to be the destination of choice for fans to experience these moments  (World Cup) together, and we look forward to bringing many more iconic sporting events to audiences across the country,” said Gautam Dutta, chief executive officer (revenue and operations), PVR INOX.

PVR INOX has screened World Cup matches across more than 100 screens in 53 cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Cinépolis India has also seen strong demand, with occupancy touching nearly 90 per cent during the semifinals despite the midnight kick-off.

“Throughout the league stages we saw huge interest across our circuit. For the two semifinals we saw close to 90 per cent occupancy even though the kickoff was at midnight. With an Argentina vs Spain final it has become as big as it could, and the booking trends confirm that,” said Ashish Misra, head of commercialisation, Cinépolis India.

The company is evaluating adding more screens at key multiplexes where demand spikes and has introduced a quick-serve food and beverage menu to ensure viewers do not miss the action during the match, Misra said.

Quick-commerce and food-delivery companies are also seeking to cash in on match-night consumption through category discounts, gamified campaigns and brand partnerships.

Zepto has launched a “Street Football” campaign on its app, running until July 20, where users can unlock milestone-based rewards as instant discounts offered by participating sellers. In partnership with Nivea, the platform is also offering discounts on “Nivea Men” products. Customers purchasing eligible products worth ₹299 or more can also enter a lucky draw to win tickets to a Real Madrid home match in Spain along with official club merchandise.

Swiggy Instamart and Amazon Now are offering free delivery on orders above ₹99, while Amazon Now has rolled out discounts on products such as chips, cold drinks, ready-to-eat meals and chocolates to encourage match-night purchases.

Food-delivery platforms are also leaning into fan engagement. Zomato is offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on select items as part of its World Cup promotions. Swiggy has launched a campaign allowing users to back either Spain or Argentina ahead of the final, with participants receiving a ₹75 discount coupon on match day.

Flipkart Minutes is also offering discounts of up to 30 per cent on snacks and beverages, as platforms compete for a larger share of late-night orders.