German tennis number one Alexander Zverev defeated Italy‘s Flavio Cobolli in a five-set thriller at the French Open on Sunday to win his first-ever Grand Slam.

In his fourth major final, Zverev beat first-time finalist Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1.

The 29-year-old from Hamburg, currently ranked third in the world, had previously lost in the finals of the US Open (2020), the French Open (2024) and the Australian Open (2025), but finally secured a maiden Grand Slam in Paris.

Zverev became the favorite for this year’s tournament at Roland Garros after top seed and world number one Jannik Sinner was eliminated in the second round, followed by world number four Novak Djokovic in the third round.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the event with an arm injury and Zverev took full advantage, only losing two sets of tennis en route to the final against tenth seed Cobolli.

Zverev twice leads but Cobolli responds

The German romped to a 6-1 first-set win before being pegged back 4-6 in the second. He restored his lead by winning the third set 6-4 before recovering from an early break of serve in the fourth to take the set to a tie break.

Zverev had won his previous 12 French Open tie breaks, but finally lost one when it really mattered as Cobolli converted a second set point to take the fourth set 7-6 and set up a decider.

After a long break, Zverev drew on his experience of three previous Grand Slam final defeats and ensured that they would not be followed by a fourth as he quickly broke the Cobolli serve twice and raced into a 3-0 lead in the final set.

He survived one final scare in the fourth game as he rescued three Cobolli break points to hold serve at 4-0, before finally breaking serve again to take the set 6-1 and write German tennis history.

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah

For decades, the FIFA World Cup has been as much about traveling supporters as it has been about football itself. Fans routinely crossed continents, filled fan zones, packed local bars, and followed their national teams from the opening match to the final whistle.

But ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a growing number of long-time supporters say this edition has become financially and logistically out of reach.

From soaring ticket prices and expensive inter-city travel to visa concerns and political unease surrounding travel to the United States, many loyal fans are choosing to watch from home rather than attend in person.

London-based IT worker Mike Wilson, who has attended four World Cups over the last two decades, is among them. Instead of flying across North America this summer, he plans to watch part of the tournament from a beach in Portugal.

Others are making similar decisions. Argentine supporter Emiliano Becerra will attend only two group-stage matches before returning home, while Dutch fan Peter Bergakker has ruled out traveling to the United States altogether.

A World Cup Designed for Wealthier Fans?

International football tournaments have always required significant financial commitment, but supporters argue that previous World Cups still offered pathways for ordinary fans willing to save for years. The numbers tell a different story in 2026.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, lower-tier Category 3 group-stage tickets cost $69. For the upcoming tournament, FIFA has listed comparable tickets for as much as $265.

Transportation has become another challenge. Unlike Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, where fans benefited from free travel options between host cities, supporters attending matches across North America’s vast geography face substantial transportation expenses.

The tournament’s ticket resale system has also drawn criticism. Previous World Cups limited resale prices to face value through FIFA’s official platform. This time, fans can sell tickets at market rates, while FIFA collects a 30% fee from transactions.

The economics of following a team

Japanese supporter Tomonori Akutsu, preparing to attend his sixth consecutive World Cup, admits the costs have forced him to reconsider his plans.

Without hesitation, he described the United States as the most difficult host nation he has experienced.

“Complete lack of hospitality in every aspect,” Akutsu said, pointing to expensive tickets, inflated resale prices, costly hotels, and fan festivals that require paid admission.

“Simply, my impression is this is America, the ultimate capitalism.”

For Argentine doctor Emiliano Becerra, the financial reality has dramatically altered how he follows his national team.

Becerra paid $1,100 to attend Argentina’s victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final. During recent tournaments, he routinely followed Argentina through every knockout-round match.

This year, however, he spent $1,200 on a resale ticket just to watch Argentina face Jordan in Dallas during the group stage.

The economics simply no longer support a full tournament journey.

Could High Prices Damage the World Cup Atmosphere?

One of the tournament’s defining features has always been the culture created by traveling supporters.

Wilson believes that culture could suffer if ordinary fans continue to be priced out.

He and his friends ultimately decided that the overall cost of attending was impossible to justify. Historically, he had never paid more than $200 for a World Cup ticket. In 2026, that amount barely secures a seat high in the stands for a group-stage match.

Rather than attend, the group opted for a football-themed holiday in Portugal.

The concern for many observers is whether a tournament increasingly accessible only to affluent supporters risks losing some of the atmosphere that has made the World Cup unique.

Scotland’s Fans Refuse to Stay Away

Not every supporter group is backing down. Scotland’s return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence has created a determination among fans to attend regardless of cost.

Campbell Lewis and his friends began reserving refundable accommodation across the United States immediately after qualification to avoid future price increases.

Demand has been so high that obtaining Scotland match tickets has proven difficult. Lewis recently secured two tickets for Scotland’s second group-stage game for himself and his 10-year-old son, but he continues to wait for prices to fall before purchasing tickets for the opener against Haiti. As of Thursday, the cheapest resale ticket for that match remained above $600.

“For a lot of Scottish people of my generation, this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Lewis said. “We were all kids the last time we qualified. And even though the prices have gotten out of hand, there’s just this determination that we want to go.”

Travel rules add another layer of uncertainty

Cost is not the only obstacle facing international supporters.

Unlike Russia in 2018, which waived visa requirements for ticket holders, and Qatar in 2022, which simplified entry procedures, many fans traveling to the United States still face lengthy visa processes.

Earlier this year, supporters from countries including Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia were expected to provide bonds of up to $15,000 before entering the country. The policy was later reversed, but concerns remain.

Carlos Pera, president of Uruguay’s travel agency association, recently cited U.S. visa requirements as one reason fewer Uruguayan fans are traveling to the tournament. For some supporters, concerns extend beyond bureaucracy.

Peter Bergakker, a Dutch financial controller living near Heidelberg, Germany, said political tensions and what he described as President Donald Trump’s “hostile” stance toward European allies influenced his decision not to travel.

A Test for FIFA’s Business Model

The 2026 World Cup is expected to generate record revenues through ticket sales, sponsorships, hospitality packages, and tourism spending.

Yet the growing dissatisfaction among traditional supporters highlights a challenge for FIFA: balancing commercial success with accessibility.

While demand remains strong and premium experiences continue to sell, the organization faces increasing questions about whether the sport’s biggest event is becoming less welcoming to the fans who helped build its global culture.

As football enters an era of unprecedented commercial growth, World Cup 2026 may become a case study in how far a tournament can push pricing before its most passionate supporters decide to stay home.

Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head (AP Photo)

Australia will head into their upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh without three key players, with skipper Mitch Marsh, star opener Travis Head and spinner Tanveer Sangha all set to miss matches for different reasons.Marsh has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series due to an ankle injury, while Sangha will take no part in the tour after suffering a hamstring injury. Head, meanwhile, has been granted personal leave for the entire tour as Australia manage the workload of one of their most important all-format players ahead of a packed international calendar.The absences have forced changes to the squad, with Todd Murphy, Ollie Peake and Matt Short called up for the ODI leg of the series that begins on Tuesday.With Marsh unavailable, wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis will once again captain Australia in the 50-over matches after leading the side during the recent white-ball assignments against Pakistan.

Selectors back replacements

Australia selector Tony Dodemaide confirmed that Sangha’s injury ended his involvement in the tour.“Unfortunately, Tanveer Sangha sustained a hamstring injury during the second ODI against Pakistan and will take no further part in the tour,” Dodemaide said.The selector revealed that Marsh had not yet fully recovered from his ankle issue, although the all-rounder is expected to join the squad in Bangladesh ahead of the T20I series.“We were hopeful Mitch Marsh would be available for the Bangladesh ODI series however he is still returning to full fitness from an ankle injury. Mitch will join the group in Dhaka and begin preparations for the T20I Series,” he said.Dodemaide also explained that Head, who had originally been selected for both legs of the tour, had been granted leave before Australia’s busy stretch of Test cricket.“Travis was initially selected in the ODI and T20I legs of this Bangladesh tour but has subsequently been granted personal leave for both. We look forward to seeing him again for the top end Test Series against Bangladesh,” he said.

Fresh opportunities for Murphy, Peake and Short

The changes have opened the door for fresh faces. Off-spinner Todd Murphy has earned his maiden ODI call-up, while Peake and Short retain their places after impressing during the Pakistan tour.“We’re excited to welcome Todd Murphy into the ODI squad for the first time, while it made sense for Ollie Peake and Matt Short to stay with the group following the Pakistan tour,” Dodemaide said.Despite the high-profile absences, Australia will hope their revamped squad can maintain momentum before attention turns to a demanding Test schedule featuring Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand.Australia squad for Bangladesh ODIs:

Australia squad for Bangladesh T20Is:

BAN vs AUS full series schedule

The list is mostly populated by boring innings-eater types, with the notable exception of one rookie

Advertisement

Jun 7, 2026

at

11:09 pm ET

•

1 min read

Feyenoord have sacked manager Robin van Persie after just 16 months in charge of the Eredivisie club.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker guided the club to a second-place finish and Champions League qualification in his only full season as manager, though they finished 19 points behind winners PSV Eindhoven.

The 42-year-old departs just two weeks after Devy Rigaux’s appointment as technical director and Robert Eenhoorn as general manager.

“Robin van Persie has given everything for the club over the past 1.5 years. He certainly deserves credit for concluding a difficult season with a final second-place finish. This secured Champions League football, which is of course very important,” said Rigaux.

“We conducted a thorough internal analysis. In this, we took into account, among other things, the development of the style of play and the declining trend in terms of points total, both in Europe and in the Eredivisie.

“The conclusion was that it is better to start the next season with a new head coach.”

Van Persie had two spells as a player at Feyenoord the start and end of his career, scoring 46 goals in 122 appearances for the Rotterdam club.

After retiring he became assistant coach under Dick Advocaat and worked with their youth teams.

He left to take charge of Heerenveen in May 2024 but returned to Feyenoord nine months later.

The former striker spent eight years at Arsenal from 2004 and helped them to win the FA Cup before joining Manchester United in 2012 where he won the Premier League in his first season at the club.

“He (Suthar) has been brilliant. We as players who have been playing with him in the last few years know what he can actually bring to the table, especially in this format. The amount of skills he’s got and the way he’s sort of worked on them over the years is a genuine treat to watch. For him to bring out his best skill sets, especially on Day 2, is amazing. Congrats to him, and you can expect a lot more from him, especially in terms of winning a lot of games for India,” Washington, who scored an unbeaten half-century in India’s first innings, said. 

Roberts was summoned from the bench by head coach Craig Bellamy in the 60th minute of Wales’ defeat by Romania.

The 64-cap international’s fellow substitute David Brooks levelled proceedings just three minutes after entering the pitch to cancel out Florinel Coman’s opener at Stadionul Steaua.

But Adrian Rus netted an 80th minute winner as the men in yellow clinched their first victory since football legend Gheorghe Hagi was appointed boss in April.

It means Wales are without a win in four matches in 2026 while their winless run in away friendlies was extended to 17 matches – a sequence stretching back to November 2008.

Despite the disappointing result, Roberts was delighted to be back on the pitch representing his national side once again.

“Personally for me, it’s brilliant to be back,” said the Burnley defender.

“Some people are happy that I’m back, some people not so happy, but I am back and hopefully I can keep ticking over during the summer and go again next season for club and country.”

Oleksandr Usyk has been confronted by allegations that he is running scared, preferring to enter a rematch with Rico Verhoeven than face his mandatory challenger.

The 39-year-old came through a tougher-than-expected encounter with Verhoeven last month, when many expected him to dismantle the former kickboxer in double-quick fashion.

As it happened, though, a subpar performance from Usyk saw their heavyweight contest progress into round 11, at which point the Ukrainian was trailing on one of the judges’ scorecards.

The southpaw then managed to capitalise on a fatigued Verhoeven, who was floored by a right uppercut before being stopped on his feet by referee Mark Lyson.

Due to the finish arriving at the sound of the bell, many have suggested the Dutchman was wrongfully waved off, while perhaps believing that Usyk was afforded a slice of luck as he retained his WBC, IBF and WBA titles.

Whichever way you slice or dice it, though, Usyk must now decide whether to vacate his WBC strap or face ‘interim’ champion Agit Kabayel in his next outing.

Either way, the German contender is due his shot at the full title, but tells talkSPORT that he suspects Usyk will pursue an immediate rematch with Verhoeven.

“I’m the next [in line] for Usyk, for the WBC title. But now, when I come back to Germany, I think Usyk is scared of me. He will not want to fight Agit Kabayel.

“I think he will make a rematch with Rico. He understands he can beat Rico better; now he can watch [their first] fight and make the [adjustments].

“When he fights with Kabayel, it’s a different fight and for now I think he’s scared of Kabayel. Yes, 100% [he’s scared].”

Kabayel secured his ‘interim’ title with a sixth-round finish over Zhilei Zhang in February 2025, while other notable stoppages have come against Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov.

Local police departments and federal agencies across the U.S. are racing to prepare anti-drone defenses ahead of the World Cup, which kicks off next week and is expected to draw up to 7 million visitors across the 11 American venues.

Protecting the tournament is like “78 Super Bowls over 39 days,” Andrew Giuliani, executive director of President Trump’s World Cup task force, told The Associated Press.

And drones, which are increasingly popular among both hobbyists and soldiers in wars like the Iran and Ukraine conflicts, are topping the list of key dangers for many security officials.

“If there is one threat that keeps me up at night, it is from drones,” New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in May as she announced a multi-million dollar investment in drone systems ahead of the games.

A partial government shutdown earlier this year and supply chain issues reportedly slowed U.S. efforts to beef up anti-drone security. Meanwhile, federal officials are still formulating rules and training departments to implement last year’s SAFER SKIES Act, which gives state and local police the ability in some circumstances to knock out drones that threaten public safety.

”On the counter-drone measures, everybody’s a little behind,” Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin testified before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday.

“Drones are my biggest concern. … Every single day, we improve,” he added. “But that is a huge concern that we have.”

Counter-drone systems have been installed at all 11 U.S. World Cup venues, Mullin testified.

The Secret Service, meanwhile, told lawmakers this spring that the agency has spent more than $100 million in the past year and a half on similar technologies.

FEMA has also directed $250 million in grants to local jurisdictions protecting the games for drone-related tech.

Federal money has helped local police departments and state agencies purchase sophisticated counter-drone technologies.

Washington’s King County Sheriff’s Office, which will help protect Seattle’s Lumen Field, is spending around $12 million on counter-drone tech, and it will use patrol drones to monitor crowds and venue security during the Cup.

“We have to think about, ‘What is the worst case scenario?’” Undersheriff Jeff Flohr told KOMO News in April. “One of our biggest concerns two and a half years ago when we started planning was, ‘What do we do with a dangerous drone?’”

Police in Kansas City, which houses both a World Cup stadium and team bases for England and Argentina, plan to monitor for unauthorized drone traffic, disable UAVs remotely, and send “hunter-catcher” drones with nets to bag threatening unmanned aircraft.

“In these types of operations you don’t know what the intent of the drone is, nefarious or someone trying to make a political statement, it’s a very dynamic and challenging part of the security apparatus,” Tom Adams, of DroneShield, one of the companies working on the effort, told The Sunday Times in May. “You could have to make a decision in seconds.”

Other police departments in New York City, Dallas, and Houston are pouring millions of dollars into tech that both detects drones and uses drones to fly above active World Cup zones for security reasons.

Agencies also spending hours training up officers and drone operators to respond to World Cup threats, which could range from clueless amateurs flying their drones into restricted areas to full-on terror attacks.

The FBI has certified more than 60 law enforcement agencies in a first-of-its-kind federal training program ahead of the games, including the LAPD, NYPD, and Louisiana and Maryland state police departments.

Those agencies will work alongside federal agents who plan to deploy radar, listening devices and other tools to remotely take control of hostile drones.

Axon, the maker of widely used police body cameras, is reportedly coordinating with departments across the 11 U.S. host cities to deploy a system combining its drone detection sensors and cameras with the Skydio X10 drone, which can fly autonomously to the location of a law enforcement alert, Police 1 reports.

Another contractor, Utah’s Fortem Technologies, said in February it had secured a “multimillion-dollar order” with DHS to protect American venues using its net-equipped DroneHunter interceptor drones.

Law enforcement officials urge members of the public to check official airspace maps before flying drones near the World Cup.

Piloting a drone through restricted airspace is punishable by up to a $100,000 fine and a year in prison.