National Sports
Dutch youth internationals cleared to play for Suriname in World Cup qualifying playoffs
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
ZURICH (AP) — Ahead of World Cup qualifying playoffs next week, Leeds forward Joël Piroe has been cleared by FIFA to play for Suriname. Piroe and Melayro Bogarde, a defender with Austrian club LASK, are Netherlands youth internationals with family ties to Suriname, which plays Bolivia on March 26. FIFA published its approval late Wednesday ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Michael Bambang Hartono, tobacco tycoon and Indonesia’s richest man, dies at 86
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s richest man, Michael Bambang Hartono, who helped turn the Djarum cigarette company into one of the country’s largest business empires and later became a controlling shareholder of Bank Central Asia, Indonesia’s biggest private lender, died Thursday. He was 86. Hartono died at a hospital in Singapore on Thursday afternoon, the ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Real Madrid’s Courtois could miss Bayern clash after tearing thigh muscle
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has torn a muscle in his upper right leg, jeopardizing his availability for a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. Courtois was substituted at halftime of Madrid’s Champions League game at Manchester City on Tuesday. Madrid won 2-1 and the round-of-16 tie by 5-1 on aggregate. The ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Como ‘deeply saddened’ by death of co-owner Michael Bambang Hartono
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
COMO, Italy (AP) — One of Como’s owners, Indonesian tobacco billionaire Michael Bambang Hartono, has died. He was 86. Como announced the news on Thursday without giving details of how Hartono died. “Como 1907 is deeply saddened by the passing of Michael Bambang Hartono,” the club said in the brief statement. “We extend our sincere ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Runaway leader Bayern Munich to use Bundesliga as training ground for Real Madrid clash
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
BERLIN (AP) — Confident of another German title, Bayern Munich can use the Bundesliga as a tune-up for its Champions League showdown with Real Madrid. The Bavarian powerhouse is nine points clear of its closest domestic rival and has lost only once all season with eight rounds to go. Union Berlin is next to visit ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Ireland winger Robert Baloucoune sidelined for three months after elbow injury
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland winger Robert Baloucoune is out for three months after damaging an elbow against Scotland in the Six Nations last weekend. The injury requires surgery, his Ulster club said on Thursday. Baloucoune was named the rising star of the Six Nations, the most impactful debutant, last Saturday after Ireland beat Scotland 43-21 ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!North Korea qualifies for the Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2011
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — North Korea has qualified for the Women’s World Cup for the first time since a doping saga in 2011 led to its long absence from top-tier international tournaments. Hong Song Ok scored a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Taiwan on Thursday in playoffs at the Women’s Asian Cup ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Switzerland recalls Sanches ahead of World Cup one year after he tore ACL on debut
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Switzerland recalled Alvyn Sanches ahead of the World Cup on Thursday, exactly one year after he tore an ACL 25 minutes into his international debut. Sanches, AC Milan playmaker Ardon Jashari and Monaco captain Denis Zakaria are among fit-again players back in coach Murat Yakin’s plans for warmup games this month. ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Is soccer no longer Italy’s best sport? The Azzurri face World Cup playoff amid others’ success
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
ROME (AP) — Italy is coming off a record performance at the Winter Olympics. Kimi Antonelli just became the second youngest driver at 19 to win a Formula One race and is considered The Next Big Thing in auto racing. The Azzurri rugby squad beat England for the first time in the Six Nations. Jannik ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Top seeds are big favorites to start March Madness. It could be tricky for fans to spot an upstart
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Illinois’ Brad Underwood knows all about the traps awaiting a favored team in March Madness. He remembers springing two himself as a double-digit seed while coaching Stephen F. Austin. “It’s what we talk about all year,” Underwood said before the third-seeded Illini faced 14th-seeded Penn in the first round of the ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Osimhen played with a broken arm against Liverpool in the Champions League
By Canadian Press on March 19th, 2026
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen played with a broken arm during the 4-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League. His club said in a statement after Wednesday’s game that Osimhen took a knock on his right arm during the first half at Anfield. He remained on the pitch until halftime but ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!
