afpf-conference-Latest News About the World Test Championship

The World Series was born in 1905 and has become one of the most famous events in sports. The most memorable moments from this storied competition are the ones that make the biggest impact and leave lasting impressions on fans. These highlights include a series-ending grand slam, an unfathomable play and a startling call.

After losing Game 1 to the Dodgers, the Yankees needed a huge win in order to keep their hopes alive for a repeat. In a must-win situation, the Yankees took advantage of some great defensive plays and came away with a 4-2 victory.

This was a highly anticipated match-up between the two best teams in baseball, and the game lived up to the hype. The game was back and forth throughout the entire affair, but the deciding factor was Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the 10th. The slam marked the first time a team won a Game 7 with a walk-off grand slam and only the second such grand slam in World Series history.

This moment encapsulated the entire World Series and stands out as one of the most significant in MLB history. It’s also one of the greatest individual performances in sports, and it was arguably the biggest home run ever with the season on the line. The play started with Eckersley getting the first two outs. He then walked Mike Davis, who was playing with an injured foot from his injury in the NLCS. But, instead of sitting out the rest of the game, Gibson pinch-hit and promptly blasted a home run into the right-field upper deck, inspiring iconic pronouncements by the era’s most recognizable broadcasters, Vin Scully and Jack Buck.

Whether you’re cheering on the top seeds in Arthur Ashe Stadium or hoping to witness an upset, the US Open is known for thrilling matches that can last late into the night. The tournament also draws a diverse crowd that loves to watch the sport’s greatest players in action. The 2025 US Open has an expanded 15-day schedule that allows fans to enjoy more match time and gives players a longer rest between rounds.

During the day, fans can see marquee matchups on center court and at the outer courts. This year, the US Open is adding a second women’s doubles session in the evening to give spectators more opportunities to watch the sport’s biggest stars.

In addition to watching the action, the US Open will have a number of activities that will be fun for families. Kids can have fun at the US Open Block Party, watch tennis legends team up in doubles matches, or take part in free Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day.

The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year, and it’s usually the most difficult of the four to win. Winning the US Open gives players several privileges that can help them secure their place among the sport’s elite.

The US Open takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. This facility has 22 outdoor courts that include four “show courts” (Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium, and the Grandstand) and 13 field courts. All of the main courts are lit, which enables match play to continue after dark.

Since the competition first started in 1955, Champions League has forged the biggest legends of European football. With unforgettable matches, epic comebacks and finals that have marked generations, the tournament represents the pinnacle of continental success.

This season, Europe’s elite competition is taking a new shape. For the first time since 1992, the number of clubs in the group stage has been increased to 36. In addition to that, the group format has been replaced with a league phase where teams play eight games against each other, four home and four away, in a system known as a ‘league table’. The top eight in the league table will qualify automatically for the last 16 while the bottom two go into a two-legged knockout play-off to join them.

In the league table, each team’s result against their opponents is added to a points total for both the home and away leg of each match. The teams with the highest total after both legs will advance to the last 16, with disciplinary points taken into account as well – red and yellow cards earning a club three and one point respectively.

A draw is made to determine the pairings for the knockout phase, with teams ranked ninth to 24 entering a playoff round in February and guaranteed a second-leg home advantage at all stages of the competition. This change was designed to strengthen the synergy between the league and knockout phases of the tournament, while also highlighting the importance of finishing as high as possible in the league phase.

The latest athlete retirement news

Soccer legend Alex Morgan, one of the most prolific goal scorers in USWNT history, has officially retired. The three-time Olympic gold medalist, who also holds the record for most career two-goal games in team history, will play her final professional match on Sunday against the San Diego Wave.

Sports retirement is a major transition for elite athletes, often requiring a reconfiguration of identity that can be challenging. According to University of Queensland research, it is important for sport organisations to consider the holistic well-being of their athletes and support them in managing the end of their sporting careers.

Research shows that a number of challenges can arise during an athlete’s retirement period including depression, low life satisfaction, feelings of loss and difficulty adjusting to a new role in their life. In addition, athletes that are particularly hard-working and success driven may find it harder to cope with the physical changes in their bodies as they age.

To help address these concerns, RBC Wealth Management is supporting an innovative pilot program with USADA to support athletes in preparing for their retirement and in the process of re-enrolling in the USADA testing pool. The program aims to provide athletes with the necessary financial support during this important stage of their career and to assist them in the successful transition to post-athletic life. Athletes wishing to re-enroll must first consult with their NGB/IF as they may have additional requirements in accordance with their sport’s protocol for movement testing.

The idea of a competition to decide the world’s best Test cricket team was first mooted by Clive Lloyd back in 1996, but it took years of careful discussion – involving many stakeholders – and meticulous preparations before the inaugural World Test Championship was launched at an ICC meeting in Dubai in 2010. The championship is based on an initial league stage over a four-year period, with the top teams from that advancing to a knock out finals stage that will culminate in a series of matches to determine the world champions.

England were favored to host the 2025 final because it falls during their summer, and offers more predictability over the weather than other locations such as India, where matches would be more likely to be disrupted by rain or adverse conditions. The ECB’s successful staging of recent finals also contributed to their being chosen as hosts.

South Africa had an easy road to the final because they did not play Australia or England during this WTC cycle. This was despite a record-breaking series win against Pakistan, and a remarkable run of eight straight victories that saw them become the number one Test team in the world. Their success was helped by the emergence of Temba Bavuma as their first Black captain and the addition of the world’s best spinner to the Proteas’ line-up.

In a thrilling match, South Africa defeated Australia by 172 runs at Lord’s to win their first ICC trophy. They were bowled out for 188 on the first day, before a brilliant 141 from Graeme Smith and a brisk half century from AB de Villiers saw them cruise to victory.

The game of hockey was contested for the first time in Olympic competition at the 1920 Games in Antwerp, Belgium. It has since been played in every Winter Olympics except one, and is the most popular men’s event. Canada has won more gold medals than any other country, with 23 total. Its teams were a formidable force for decades, dominating the sport in the 1950s and 1960s. Their victory at the 1980 Olympics is known as the Miracle on Ice.

The Soviet Union won the next four Olympics, and won every gold in the tournament until the 1972 Sapporo Games, when the U.S. team shocked the world by beating the Soviets in the final game. Two nights later, on Valentine’s Day, the Americans blasted Czechoslovakia 7-3. The Americans were trailing 4-3 in the second period when a Soviet captain came into the bench and told them to take a deep breath. It didn’t work, but the Americans did score six unanswered goals in the third period to win the game.

At the 1992 Albertville Olympics, the Red Army’s era of Olympic ice hockey ended, at least in terms of medals. The former Soviet states competed under the Unified Team banner, and won their last gold medal in the competition.

In 1998, NHL players were allowed to compete at the Olympics, a change that led to a golden era for many countries, including Canada, which won five straight golds from 2002 to 2006. Russia (as OAR) won the men’s Olympic title in 2018 and 2022.

In the world of track and field, few events have more global appeal or prestige than the World Athletics Championship. Organised by the sport’s world governing body, World Athletics (formerly known as the International Association of Athletics Federations), it is the highest level of senior outdoor competition for track and field, marathon running and race walking athletes.

Held every two years, the World Athletics Championship is a true test of the finest athletes’ physical prowess and mental strength. The event features 12 track and eight field events for both men and women, plus a mixed 4x400m relay. Middle and long distances – including the 800m, 1500m, 5,000m and 10,000m – test runners’ ability to maintain a consistent pace over several laps of the stadium circuit, while sprinting events – including the 100m and 110m hurdles – demand speed and agility. Jumps – the high jump, long jump and triple jump – demonstrate an extraordinary ability to propel themselves through the air, while a marathon and 20km and 35km race walks are classic tests of endurance.

Great Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson was one of the many stars to shine at the last World Athletics Championship in Budapest, securing a second title in the heptathlon despite suffering injury in recent years. Other gold medallists included Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis, who won pole vault for the first time at a World Championship with a clearance of 6.21 metres. The finals took place at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest from 19 to 27 August, with 404,088 fans filling the arena over the course of nine days creating an electric atmosphere and helping produce some spellbinding performances.

The Masters leaderboard keeps track of players’ rankings throughout the tournament. As players score birdies, eagles or unfortunate double-bogeys, their rankings fluctuate. These shifts add excitement and tension to the tournament. The Masters is one of the few golf events where spectators can watch these changes in real-time, thanks to live updates provided by broadcasters and online platforms.

The 2025 Masters had a few twists and turns as the second round of play came to a close. Rory McIlroy lost his place atop the leaderboard after two horrendous holes on the back nine, while the defending champion struggled to maintain his form.

Bryson DeChambeau remains tied for the lead with Rory McIlroy after a superb second round. He’s joined by Corey Conners and Patrick Reed, with Ludvig Aberg lurking in the group.

McIlroy hit his first shot of the day into a water hazard on No. 14, which cost him a shot at the par-5 15th. His second shot at No. 16 was even worse, as it ran out of bounds and into the patrons. The two dropped him to 3-under, five shots off the pace.

The Masters tournament is a major, and the top 50 players plus ties will make the cut for the final rounds of play. This year, the cut line landed at 2 over, which is the lowest in the history of the Masters. The winner of the Masters will take home a record $21 million in prize money, which is up $1 million from last year.

For better or for worse, sports moments often capture the world’s attention. They can inspire us, uplift us, or even cause us to change our views on life. The Boston Marathon bombing transformed a joyous sporting event into a tragedy, inspiring the country and the world to rally together under the banner of “Boston Strong.” And Michael Jordan’s crying during his last game with the Chicago Bulls reverberated far beyond the confines of the NBA arena.

The Olympics always have some of the biggest viral sports moments, and 2024 was no exception. From “pommel horse guy” winning a bronze medal and a spot on Dancing with the Stars to WNBA superstar Ilona Maher rumbling over Aussies to Steph Curry knocking out France, this year’s Games were filled with head-scratching, social-media-successful moments.

It’s not every day that you see a video of an athlete taking on a mascot in a wrestling match, but that’s exactly what happened when Brooklyn Nets mascot BrooklyKnight and New York City FC’s Thiago Andrade went head-to-head at center court. The clip quickly rose to prominence, with a post on the team’s Facebook page garnering over 13 million impressions.

India’s dramatic last-ball victory against Australia in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados was the most shared sports moment of 2025, with over 1 billion posts related to it recorded globally within 24 hours. The emotional and poetic farewell of cricket legend Virat Kohli left fans from all corners of the globe awestruck.