Javokhir Sindarov knows the ultimate challenge awaits him later this year when he takes on defending champion D Gukesh for the world crown, but the Uzbek chess prodigy says his preparations for the showdown will begin only after this month’s Chess Olympiad.

Sindarov will face Gukesh in a battle for the world crown between two 20-year-olds in Geneva over 14 classical games from November 24 to December 12.

However, the Uzbek is currently keeping his focus firmly on the tournaments immediately ahead, rather than allowing the much-anticipated title clash to dominate his thoughts.

“Right now, I’m focusing on my next events — the Global Chess League and the Olympiad. After those, I will start preparing for the World Championship match,” Sindarov, who will represent Fyers American Gambits in the fourth edition of GCL, said during a media interaction here.

The GCL will be held here from September 5 to 13, followed by the Olympiad from September 15 to 27 in Samarkand.

Sindarov earned his shot at the world title by winning this year’s Candidates Tournament with a round to spare, producing one of the most dominant performances in recent memory as he strung together four consecutive victories against elite opposition.

His preparations for the Geneva clash are being overseen by coach Roman Vidonyak and it is believed that he is unlikely to tinker much with the formula that has already brought Sindarov considerable success.

Gearing up for GCL His team’s icon player, Sindarov further said he was treating the franchise event like any other tournament despite its different format.

“It’s a completely different format, but I try to play my best chess in every tournament. My team works behind the scenes while I focus on the event in front of me,” he said.

In GCL, six franchises compete in a double round-robin league stage before the knockouts are held to determine the champion.

Each team fields six players across six boards at the same time in a match. The teams consist of one Icon, two Superstar Men, two Superstar Women, and one Prodigy player.

The league uses rapid time control, with 20 minutes per player and a two-second increment from move 41. A win with Black earns four Game Points, compared with three for a win with White. A draw earns one point for each player.

The Indian football team are set to take on Brazil in a much-anticipated international friendly on October 3 in Kolkata, with the five-time world champions set to make their first appearance against India at senior international level. Ahead of the much-anticipated clash, Brazil’s former World Cup-winning captain Cafu offered his perspective on the contest, saying that modern football has made it possible for teams of different levels to compete on more equal terms despite a significant gap in the FIFA rankings.

Brazil are currently ranked fifth in the world, while India sit much lower (138th position), making the Kolkata fixture the highest-ranked opposition the Indian team have faced since the FIFA World Rankings were introduced in 1992. Cafu, however, believes rankings cannot fully determine what happens on the pitch, pointing to the performances of smaller nations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as evidence of how international football has changed.

Cafu backs India to benefit from Brazil test

Cafu believes the fixture can provide Indian football with more than just the occasion of hosting one of the most decorated national teams in the sport.

The former Brazil captain said India can learn considerably from facing a side with five World Cup titles, while recognising that there remains a sizeable difference between the two countries in the FIFA rankings. His assessment was that the modern game has become more competitive, meaning teams cannot simply be judged by their position on the rankings table.

That was the context behind his view that India can approach the game as a valuable learning experience rather than being overwhelmed by Brazil’s pedigree.

World Cup examples show changing football landscape

Cafu’s argument about the narrowing gap in international football was based partly on what he saw at the 2026 World Cup.

He highlighted Curacao and Cape Verde as examples of nations that were able to compete with much higher-ranked opponents during the tournament. While neither country belongs to international football’s traditional elite, their performances showed that smaller nations can now enter major competitions with greater belief and competitiveness.

Cape Verde, in particular, made it through to the round of 32 before narrowly losing 3-2 to Argentina, while Curacao competed at the tournament despite being one of the less established teams on the global stage.

For Cafu, such performances demonstrate why India’s ranking should not automatically define its prospects against Brazil. He believes the growth of international football has created more opportunities for developing nations to test themselves against the best.

Cafu sees opportunity in proposed World Cup expansion

The Brazilian also believes India could benefit if FIFA goes ahead with its proposal to expand the World Cup from 48 teams in 2026 to 64 from the 2030 edition. FIFA has yet to take a final decision on the proposal.

Cafu sees a wider tournament as an opportunity for countries outside the traditional World Cup group to establish stronger connections with leading football nations.

For India, however, greater access to the World Cup would need to be accompanied by development at home. Cafu’s comments pointed towards the importance of creating a broader football culture rather than relying solely on an expanded tournament to improve the country’s international prospects.

Grassroots development key to India’s progress

Cafu believes India’s long-term progress will depend heavily on getting more children involved in football. He called for the sport to be popularised further, with greater encouragement for youngsters to play and more attention paid to successful footballing systems around the world.

The former Brazil full-back pointed to Japan, South Korea and China as examples of Asian nations that invested in football by bringing in Brazilian coaches and players and using that exposure to help develop the sport domestically.

His broader message was that India already has the potential to grow as a footballing nation but needs to build that development from the grassroots level.

Brazil’s World Cup drought and identity concern Cafu

Cafu also turned his attention to the current state of the Brazilian national team, which has not won the World Cup since its 2002 triumph.

The former captain acknowledged that the Brazil team of his era cannot be directly compared with the current generation. During his playing career, Brazil reached three consecutive World Cup finals, winning the tournament in 1994 and 2002.

He nevertheless remains hopeful that Brazil can end its long wait for another World Cup title in the next cycle.

One concern he raised was the increasing tendency for young Brazilian players to move to European clubs at an early age. Cafu believes this can make it harder for them to develop a strong connection with the national team and with Brazilian football culture.

He described that connection as a sense of ‘brasilidade’ an identity and understanding of what it means to represent Brazil.

World Cup success is unpredictable

Cafu also rejected the idea that World Cup success can be reduced to rankings or simply having the strongest squad.

He believes winning the tournament depends on a combination of factors, meaning the team considered the best on paper is not necessarily guaranteed to become champion.

That view is consistent with his assessment of India’s upcoming meeting with Brazil. While he accepts the obvious difference in ranking and pedigree, he believes modern football has created more opportunities for teams to challenge expectations.

For Brazil, the immediate priority remains rebuilding a side capable of challenging for another World Cup title after a prolonged drought.

India set for historic clash vs Brazil

India are set to take on Brazil on October 3 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata as part of a three-match international friendly series. The fixtures will begin with India facing Panama on September 26 in Bengaluru, before the team meets Brazil and then Uruguay on October 6, both in Kolkata.

The Brazil fixture will be historic as it will be the first senior men’s international meeting between India and Brazil. The two countries have previously crossed paths in football, but those encounters involved Brazil XI sides rather than the senior national team.

Brazil, five-time World Cup champions, will therefore provide an unprecedented test for Khalid Jamil’s side. The match will also give Indian players the opportunity to compete against a team ranked among the world’s best and experience the demands of facing one of international football’s most decorated sides.

India vs Pakistan Free Live Telecast And Live Streaming, Women’s Asia Cup 2026: In a blockbuster clash, India take on Pakistan in a Group A match of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co., who have already advanced to the semi-finals by winning two consecutive matches, will aim to complete a hat-trick of victories when they face their arch-rivals. On the other hand, Fatima Sana-led Pakistan will be eager to register a win and seal a final-four berth. They started their campaign with a 35-run victory over Thailand and now face India in a highly anticipated clash. After this, Pakistan will play Hong Kong in their final group-stage match.

For India, it has been a superb tournament so far. They beat Thailand by a big margin of 94 runs before outplaying Hong Kong by 137 runs to seal a semi-final berth.

When will the India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match take place?

The India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match will take place on Saturday, September 5.

Where will the India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match be held?

The India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

What time will the India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match start?

The India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match will start at 8 PM IST. The toss will take place at 7:30 PM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match?

The India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match will be televised live on the Sony Sports Network. Users who do not have a subscription can watch the match for free on DD Sports.

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Where to follow the live streaming of the India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match?

The India vs Pakistan, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match will be streamed live on the Sony LIV app and website.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster.)

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Former Al-Nassr centre-back Alvaro Gonzalez has revealed how Cristiano Ronaldo’s behavior differs on the pitch compared to inside the dressing room. The pair played 10 games alongside each other on the pitch during the 2022-23 campaign, following Ronaldo’s signing in January 2023.

Despite being in the twilight years of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to wear his heart on his sleeve for Al-Nassr, as seen on multiple occasions over the past three years. The 41-year-old remains one of the best finishers in the world, guiding the Knights of Najd to the Saudi Pro League title last season.

During an interview with Radio MARCA, Gonzalez provided further insights into Ronaldo’s character, stating (via OneFootball):

“Honestly, and after confirming it with other team-mates we’ve had in common, he’s absolutely fantastic inside the dressing room. Inside the dressing room, he’s a completely normal person, approachable and someone who helps you.”

He added:

“From the moment he leaves the dressing room and steps onto the pitch, he completely changes. He’s a competitive beast. Afterwards, we’d go to the jacuzzi, have some laughs and joke around, and it would all be forgotten. People like him and [Lionel] Messi will go down in the history of football.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, who is contracted with Al-Nassr until June 2027, is currently targeting an iconic milestone of 1000 career goals. The Portugal megastar has scored 978 goals in 1333 appearances across all competitions for club and country to date.

“I’ll be able to tell this story, and that was part of it too” – Al-Nassr boss provides his verdict on becoming part of Cristiano Ronaldo’s story

Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou has admitted that he is ‘fortunate’ to be a part of Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic journey, comparing his experience with other top stars, including Ferenc Puskás, Tim Cahill, and Son Heung-min. Postecoglou replaced Jorge Jesus as Al-Nassr’s manager over the summer, following his stints at Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.

During a recent pre-match press conference, Postecoglou said (h/t Al Nassr Zone):

“When I look back on my career, what stands out to me the most is how incredibly fortunate I’ve been to be part of other people’s journeys. When I was a player, Ferenc Puskás was my coach, and he was one of the greatest players in the history of football.”

“Just being connected to him was amazing for me, because I became a small part of that man’s story, a very, very small part, but still a part of it. With the Australian national team, I worked with Tim Cahill, who is probably the greatest Australian player of all time, so I’m a small part of his story too. And Son Heung-min is the greatest Korean player of all time, and I’m also a small part of his story.”

He continued:

“So, without a doubt, with Cristiano Ronaldo being here, you find yourself thinking: I could become a small part of his story too. And it’s not from a selfish perspective. It’s about my own journey in life, everything I’ve dreamed of doing since I was a kid, and finding yourself connected to these people throughout your career.”

“That was part of the attraction for me… It’s not necessarily that they’ll remember my story alongside theirs, but I’ll be able to tell this story, and that was part of it too.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr have started the season well and are currently second in the Saudi Pro League standings with 12 points from four games. They will next face rivals Al-Ittihad later tonight (September 5).