Sports
Chelsea stand 2 wins from supremacy as Fluminense await in CWC semis
Just two wins from another piece of international silverware, Chelsea step into Tuesday’s Club World Cup semifinal with Fluminense looking to extend their blistering end-of-season run and edge closer to global dominance.
Fresh off a hard-fought 2-1 quarterfinal win over Palmeiras – featuring a slick Cole Palmer finish and a fortuitous Agustin Giay own goal – the Blues face a spirited South American underdog riding a fairytale run of its own.
Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have hit their stride, winning four of five matches in the competition and carrying momentum from their UEFA Europa Conference League triumph.
Even a group-stage stumble to Flamengo couldn’t derail their progress, and fortune favored them in the knockout draw, steering them clear of the European powerhouses.
Cup double
Chelsea’s semifinal berth adds to a strong close to Maresca’s debut season, which once teetered mid-campaign.
A win Tuesday would move them into the final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain – and a shot at matching their 2021 Club World Cup glory.
But the road has been rocky. Their last-16 victory over Benfica was delayed by weather, stretching into extra time before Chelsea eventually pulled through. Injuries and suspensions now add to their challenge.
Reece James and Romeo Lavia remain sidelined, while Liam Delap and Levi Colwill are suspended for Tuesday. New signing Joao Pedro may step into the attacking void left by Delap, and Tosin Adarabioyo is tipped to partner Benoit Badiashile in defense.
Moises Caicedo is expected back in midfield after serving a ban.
Former ally, now foe
Awaiting them is a familiar face: 40-year-old Thiago Silva, Chelsea’s ex-captain, now marshals Fluminense’s back line.
Despite a recent nose injury, he’s expected to lead the Brazilian defense in New Jersey.
Fluminense stunned many by edging Al-Hilal 2-1 in the quarters, with 44-year-old keeper Fabio rolling back the years and substitute Hercules sealing the win late.
They’ve made a habit of late goals – half of their eight in this tournament have come after the 70th minute – and are undefeated in 11 matches, boasting five clean sheets in their last seven.
But the Tricolor’s Cinderella story hides domestic struggles: they finished just four points above relegation last season and currently sit sixth in the 2025 Brazilian league standings.
The Renato Gaucho effect
Fluminense’s charge is helmed by flamboyant coach Renato Gaucho – real name Renato Portaluppi – who’s turned the squad from relegation survivors into world contenders in three whirlwind months.
A cult hero in Brazilian football, he once claimed to be “better than Cristiano Ronaldo” and famously scored the winning goal with his belly in a Rio derby final.
Despite a career dotted with triumphs and tantrums – he once hosted a barbecue for rivals after a crushing defeat – Portaluppi has delivered when it counts.
A Libertadores winner both as player and coach, he’s crafted a high-pressing “chaos” style that’s unsettled giants like Inter Milan and Al-Hilal.
Yet Tuesday presents his sternest test: taking down Chelsea, who have rediscovered their rhythm and are primed for a second world title in four years.
Fluminense will be without suspended pair Martinelli and Freytes, while attacking threats German Cano and Jhon Arias lead the line again.
Arias, the tournament’s dribbling and chance-creating dynamo, remains their X-factor.
Organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games revealed the official visual identity Monday, showcasing a floral-themed design system that celebrates the city’s neighborhoods, landscapes and cultural spirit.
The branding will appear across competition venues, fan zones, citywide installations, signage, digital platforms and broadcast presentations during the Games, LA28 said.
At the heart of the design is the “Superbloom,” inspired by Southern California’s wildflower surges that follow seasonal rains. LA28 described it as a metaphor for the Games, where years of preparation culminate in a brief, high-profile global spectacle.
The core graphic is composed of 13 individual blooms, each symbolizing a different facet of Los Angeles, from its entertainment culture to its neighborhoods, people and native environment.
The color palette draws on the bird of paradise, the official flower of Los Angeles, and is grouped into four families, poppy, scarlet flax, bluebell and sagebrush, to evoke the region’s terrain and vegetation.
Organizers said the typographic style was inspired by Los Angeles street signage, including strip mall and hand-painted storefront lettering, in an effort to give the identity a distinctly local feel.
LA28 said the design was developed to work across a wide range of settings, from nearly century-old venues to new facilities, while also accounting for broadcast requirements, digital formats and lighting conditions.
The organizing committee partnered with design studio Koto on the project.
The identity was unveiled more than two years before the Olympic opening ceremony in what organizers described as an unusually early rollout, giving partners and stakeholders more time to incorporate the branding into their materials.
Los Angeles will host the Olympics for a third time in 2028, after staging the Games in 1932 and 1984. It will also host the Paralympics for the first time.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance, values or position of Daily Sabah. The newspaper provides space for diverse perspectives as part of its commitment to open and informed public discussion.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Miami Open campaign came to a halt in the third round Sunday, as Sebastian Korda outlasted the world No. 1 in a gripping three-set battle.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, fresh off completing a career Grand Slam with his Australian Open triumph in January, slipped to 17-2 on the season.
The defeat follows his semifinal exit to Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells last week, marking a rare dip in form for the tour’s top-ranked player.
Korda looked poised to finish the job in straight sets when he served for the match at 5-4 in the second, only for Alcaraz to surge back with five straight games and force a decider.
The 25-year-old American, however, steadied himself in the third, sealing a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory in two hours, 19 minutes.
“It was a tough match,” Alcaraz said. “He was incredible today, played at a really high level. There were key moments I didn’t take, and he handled those situations better.”
Ranked No. 36, Korda became the lowest-ranked player to defeat Alcaraz since David Goffin, then No. 55, pulled off a similar upset at the same tournament last year, according to the ATP Tour.
“A lot of tense moments, for sure,” Korda said. “But I think today the ultimate thing was belief, going back to just believing, committing to every shot, and luckily I got it done at the end.”
Next up for Korda is qualifier Martin Landaluce, who advanced with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) win against 14th-seeded Karen Khachanov.
Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul joined Korda in the fourth round. The sixth-seeded Fritz beat Reilly Opelka 6-3, 6-4, and No. 22 seed Paul eliminated Raphael Collignon with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5) victory.
No. 21 Jiri Lehecka, No. 24 Valentin Vacherot and No. 29 Tomas Martin Etcheverry also were among the winners.
On the women’s side, top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 win against Catherine McNally. No. 3 Elena Rybakina beat No. 27 Marta Kostyuk 6-3, 6-4, and No. 5 Jessica Pegula posted a 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 26 Leylah Fernandez.
No. 7 Jasmine Paolini, No. 9 Elina Svitolina, No. 11 Ekaterina Alexandrova, No. 15 Madison Keys and No. 18 Iva Jovic were eliminated. Paolini lost to No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko in three sets, and Svitolina was knocked out by Hailey Baptiste in straight sets.
Türkiye’s Toprak Razgatlıoğlu continued his baptism of fire in the MotoGP World Championship, finishing 17th at the Brazilian Grand Prix as the rookie navigates the sharp transition to the sport’s elite level.
Round two of the season at the Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiania on Sunday offered little respite.
Extreme heat and tire degradation forced race officials to shorten the contest to 23 laps, turning it into a survival test as much as a speed contest.
For Razgatlıoğlu, racing with Prima Pramac Yamaha on the new YZR-M1 V4 prototype, the challenge was relentless.
The 29-year-old crossed the line 17th, over 30 seconds behind race winner Marco Bezzecchi, repeating his result from his debut outing in Thailand earlier this month.
Yet the raw result only tells part of the story.
Across the weekend, Razgatlıoğlu showed flashes of the aggressive talent that made him a three-time World Superbike champion.
He pushed into Q2 during qualifying and briefly ran among the front-runners in tricky, changing conditions, signaling his growing confidence on unfamiliar machinery.
Race day, however, exposed the gap that still separates him from MotoGP’s established names.
The Turkish rider struggled with tire management and overall bike feel in the punishing Brazilian heat, key factors that define performance in the premier class.
The technical demands of the prototype Yamaha, particularly compared to the production-based Superbikes he once dominated, remain a work in progress.
His team also endured a difficult outing, with teammate Jack Miller retiring early, underlining the broader challenges facing the Pramac Yamaha setup.
Still, Razgatlıoğlu’s presence marks a milestone.
As MotoGP’s first Turkish rider, he carries both expectation and history, attempting to translate his Superbike success into competitiveness on the sport’s biggest stage. For now, progress is measured less in points and more in adaptation.
At the front, Bezzecchi’s victory secured back-to-back wins to open the season and extended his winning streak to four races, strengthening his early championship lead. But for Razgatlıoğlu, the focus remains inward, on closing the gap step by step.
The next opportunity comes quickly. The championship moves to Austin for the United States Grand Prix on March 29, where Razgatlıoğlu will aim to build on two demanding weekends and edge closer to the points.
Galatasaray’s Champions League hopes ended in heartbreak at Anfield, where Liverpool routed the Turkish champions 4-0 on March 18, 2026, completing a 4-1 aggregate to reach the quarterfinals.
The loss was compounded by the injury of Galatasaray’s star striker Victor Osimhen, who fractured his right forearm in an aerial collision with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté early in the first half.
The 27-year-old Nigerian displayed grit by continuing briefly with a bandaged arm but was substituted at halftime as pain worsened.
Galatasaray confirmed the fracture after hospital evaluation and announced surgery would follow further assessment.
Osimhen traveled to Nigeria during Galatasaray’s brief break, appearing on a Twitch livestream with influencer Carter Efe.
He confirmed the need for surgery and outlined a 4-6 week recovery window.
“Six weeks at most. Most of the time, it’s four weeks, then two weeks to train alone, regain fitness, and rejoin the team,” he said, adding that two Liverpool players had apologized for the incident. His relaxed demeanor and occasional brace-free movements in Nigeria sparked mixed reactions online.
Back in Istanbul on March 22, Osimhen underwent further scans to finalize the surgery plan. Galatasaray and local outlets report that the operation could take place within 48-72 hours, depending on swelling and fracture assessment. While an initial conservative approach was considered, surgery is now deemed necessary.
Prominent Turkish commentator Levent Tüzemen noted in his Monday column that the specific surgical method could allow Osimhen an earlier-than-expected return.
He emphasized the striker’s importance: “Galatasaray has adapted to Osimhen’s style. Both scorer and goalkeeper matter. Uğurcan makes saves; Osimhen scores or sets up goals. Losing him will be felt for more than a month.”
Tüzemen expects Galatasaray to adjust with Lang on the left, a Yunus-Sane-Sallai option on the right, and Barış leading the attack.
Osimhen’s absence will impact upcoming Süper Lig clashes, including the Istanbul derby against Fenerbahçe on April 26.
African football is grappling with a crisis that has shifted the narrative of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from a dramatic final to a defining battle over governance, legitimacy, and the limits of authority, with Sadio Mane at the center after being ordered to return his Player of the Tournament award.
What unfolded in Rabat on Jan. 18, 2026 was initially remembered as a tense, hard-fought decider. Senegal edged Morocco 1-0 after extra time, sealing what appeared to be their second continental crown.
But that on-field result has since been erased, replaced by a ruling that has shaken the foundations of the tournament.
At the heart of the controversy is Confederation of African Football, whose appeals board determined nearly two months later that Senegal forfeited the match.
The decision stemmed from a flashpoint deep in stoppage time, when referee Jean Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a penalty after a VAR review involving Brahim Diaz.
Senegal’s bench, led by coach Pape Thiaw, reacted by pulling players off the pitch in protest.
The match was suspended for over 15 minutes as tensions spilled into the stands.
Security forces intervened, and it took the intervention of Mane to restore order and bring his teammates back.
When play resumed, the moment that triggered the chaos appeared to dissolve.
Diaz missed the penalty, denied by Edouard Mendy, and Senegal regrouped to win the match in extra time through Pape Gueye.
In the immediate aftermath, Mane was named Player of the Tournament, recognized for both his performances and leadership in defusing a volatile situation.
That narrative has now been dismantled.
CAF ruled that Senegal’s temporary withdrawal constituted a violation of competition rules, specifically provisions governing refusal to continue play.
The result was annulled and replaced with a 3-0 default win for Morocco, handing the hosts their first AFCON title in nearly five decades.
What has elevated the dispute from controversy to crisis is what followed.
CAF did not stop at the team result. It moved to align every individual accolade with the revised outcome, triggering a rare and sweeping post-tournament recalibration.
In a directive that has stunned players and officials alike, Mane has been asked to return his MVP award, a decision that cuts to the core of how individual excellence is judged.
The award has now been reassigned to Diaz, whose tournament tally of five goals and consistent influence for Morocco positioned him as a leading contender even before the final.
With the revision, he is no longer just a standout performer but the official face of a tournament rewritten after its conclusion.
For Senegal, the response has been defiant. Federation officials have rejected the ruling outright, describing it as unjust and unprecedented.
Plans are underway to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a process that could take months and potentially redefine the outcome once again.
Reports indicate the disputed trophies, both team and individual, have been secured domestically, signaling a refusal to recognize CAF’s authority on the matter.
Beyond the immediate standoff, the broader implications are significant.
Critics argue that retroactively altering both results and awards undermines the integrity of competition, eroding the principle that matches are decided on the pitch.
The delay in CAF’s ruling has also drawn scrutiny, raising questions about consistency, transparency, and timing in disciplinary decisions.
Ronald Araujo rose highest to head Barcelona to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, stretching their La Liga lead over Real Madrid to seven points.
Real Madrid, coached by Alvaro Arbeloa, face city rivals Atletico Madrid later in a derby clash that could shape the title race.
Araujo powered in Joao Cancelo’s corner in the 24th minute at Camp Nou, a decisive moment in an otherwise tense contest in which goalkeeper Joan Garcia proved just as vital.
“We knew how important it was to win before the international break. We did, but we suffered more than we wanted,” Garcia told DAZN.
“They caused us problems, and we weren’t at our usual level on the ball. But we knew we had to win. What the other teams do is out of our hands.”
Hansi Flick’s side started sluggishly and were nearly punished early, but Garcia reacted sharply to deny Carlos Martin from close range, setting the tone for a resilient defensive display.
Recently called up by Luis de la Fuente to the Spain squad for upcoming friendlies, Garcia made several excellent saves to keep Rayo at bay, with the visitors dominant in the second half.
At the other end, Raphinha was guilty of wasteful finishing on several occasions. The winger scuffed wide after picking Pathe Ciss’s pocket and charging through on goal.
A few minutes later, Ciss appeared to bring down teenage star Lamine Yamal in the area, but the Barcelona player’s appeals were waved away by the referee.
Yamal’s superb outside-of-the-boot cross created another fine chance for Raphinha, but the Brazilian’s mis-hit effort was tipped over by Augusto Batalla.
Barcelona took the lead through Araujo’s header from Cancelo’s corner midway through the first half.
Araujo has not featured much since taking a mental health break late last year but came on as a substitute in Barcelona’s 7-2 Champions League rout of Newcastle in midweek.
With Eric Garcia rested because of a muscle issue, Flick started the Uruguay international at right back and was rewarded with what proved to be the winner.
Barcelona hold firm
The hosts came close to a second after the break, but Yamal dragged a low effort across the face of goal.
Rayo took control and began creating dangerous chances in search of an equalizer.
Joan Garcia denied Alvaro Garcia and then produced a spectacular save to push away Unai Lopez’s header.
Pacha Espino should have leveled for the visitors but, after beating Barcelona’s high line and staying onside, curled his effort over the bar.
Garcia pushed away a Jorge de Frutos drive before six minutes of stoppage time were added, but Barcelona held on.
“The second half was perfect, but we lacked the goal,” said Rayo coach Inigo Perez.
“(Joan Garcia) appeared at key moments when we might have been able to draw.”
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