Wenger defends Club World Cup amid Klopp criticism

Wenger defends Club World Cup amid Klopp criticism
Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of Global Football Development, Al-Hilal President Fahad bin Nafel and FIFA President Gianni Infantino interact prior to the Club World Cup quarterfinal between Fluminense and Hilal at Camping World Stadium on July 4, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Getty Images via AFP)
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Updated 11 July 2025
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Wenger defends Club World Cup amid Klopp criticism

Wenger defends Club World Cup amid Klopp criticism
  • Wenger: Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I don’t share Jurgen Klopp’s view at all. I feel that a Club World Cup, a REAL Club World Cup was needed
  • Wenger also pointed to the unexpectedly high attendance figures as evidence of the competition’s success

NEW YORK: Arsene Wenger has dismissed Jurgen Klopp’s criticism of FIFA’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup, calling the tournament a “fantastic competition” and emphasizing the support it has received from participating teams, players, and managers.

Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, described the expanded summer competition as “the worst idea ever invented” in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt two weeks ago. Wenger, now FIFA’s chief of Global Football Development, countered these remarks on Thursday during a FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) briefing in New York.

“Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I don’t share Jurgen Klopp’s view at all,” Wenger told reporters. “I feel that a Club World Cup, a REAL Club World Cup was needed. If you make an inquiry today with all the clubs who were here at this competition, I’m basically sure that we have 100 percent of answers of people who want to do this again. So that’s basically the best answer.”

Wenger also pointed to the unexpectedly high attendance figures as evidence of the competition’s success. “The decisive question is, do the fans like it? Attendance projections were low, but in reality, they were much higher. The answer is there,” he added.

The tournament has provided FIFA with a testing ground ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place across North America. Wenger acknowledged that the summer heat in the US posed challenges but said FIFA has learned valuable lessons to address these issues.

“The heat in some games was a problem,” Wenger admitted. “We tried to combat that with cooling breaks and watering the pitches during breaks. We learned a lot on that front.”

He singled out Orlando as one of the venues where pitch conditions proved difficult, though he praised the quality of natural grass pitches overall. Philadelphia’s surface, he said, would serve as a benchmark for future competitions in the US.

Looking ahead, Wenger said FIFA is considering using covered stadiums in cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Houston to host early matches in next year’s tournaments. He also revealed that FIFA analysts have studied the impact of heat on player performance, finding that temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) affect high-speed running and sprints more than overall distances covered.

“Certainly next year, there will be more roofed stadiums as we have to follow the TV schedule. We are learning to be better equipped to deal with these conditions,” Wenger said.

The inaugural 32-team Club World Cup concludes on Sunday, with Paris St. Germain taking on Chelsea in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.


Saif Alblooshi wins first gold for UAE at IMMAF Youth World Championships

Saif Alblooshi wins first gold for UAE at IMMAF Youth World Championships
UAE's Saif Alblooshi celebrates winning gold at the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Al Ain. (SUPPLIED)
Updated 8 sec ago
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Saif Alblooshi wins first gold for UAE at IMMAF Youth World Championships

Saif Alblooshi wins first gold for UAE at IMMAF Youth World Championships
  • Emirati Ghala Al-Hammadi secures silver in women’s Youth B 44 kg category

AL-AIN: The UAE’s Saif Alblooshi clinched the host nation’s first gold medal at the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Al-Ain on Wednesday, defeating Azizullo Mirzoev of Tajikistan in the men’s Youth B (14–15 years) 40 kg final.

Alblooshi delivered a composed and technically dominant performance, spurred on by strong support from the home crowd.

This marks the second time Alblooshi has won gold at the IMMAF Youth World Championships, having also topped the podium in 2023 in the same weight division.

Adding to the UAE’s medal tally, Ghala Al-Hammadi secured silver in the women’s Youth B 44 kg category.

The results mean the UAE’s haul now stands at 11 — one gold, two silver and eight bronze.

Day three saw the start of the Youth B category at the ADNEC Centre in Al-Ain. The division continues on Thursday, with more closely matched bouts expected as athletes compete across multiple weight classes.

The event, hosted in the Al-Ain region for the first time runs until July 27 under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Mohammed Jasem Al-Hosani, member of the MMA Committee at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, said: “We are seeing clear progress each day in terms of technical skill and tactical discipline shown by athletes inside the cage. This year’s championship is gaining momentum and reflects a promising future for youth athletes around the world. The strong spectator presence and family support have added a meaningful community and cultural dimension to the event.”


Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al-Maktoum joins PFL ownership group

Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al-Maktoum joins PFL ownership group
Updated 4 min 28 sec ago
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al-Maktoum joins PFL ownership group

Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al-Maktoum joins PFL ownership group
  • PFL MENA continues to grow its presence in the Middle East following Champions Series Dubai event in January and ongoing season

DUBAI: The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced that Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum has joined the PFL’s global ownership group.

This strategic addition strengthens PFL’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Middle East and supporting the growth of mixed martial arts across the UAE and the region. 

“I am delighted to join the PFL’s ownership group as I believe in PFL’s global vision to grow the sport of MMA, and I am excited by PFL’s momentum in staging world-class fight events in Dubai and the UAE region,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

Sheikh Mohammed is the founding Chairman of Alpha MBM Investments, a diversified investment company based in Dubai with strategic interests across real estate, technology, energy, and sports. Under his leadership, Alpha MBM has become a key player in driving economic innovation and global partnerships across sectors aligned with the UAE’s long-term vision.

The PFL has already made a significant impact in the region, having become the first global MMA organization to stage a major event in Dubai earlier this year. The event, held in partnership with Dubai Economy & Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council, featured what many called the most exciting title fight of the year: a clash between undefeated Russian star Usman Magomedov and rising Irish sensation Paul Hughes.

“PFL is excited to welcome Sheikh Mohammed and his expertise to our ownership group,” said Peter Murray, CEO of PFL International. “This marks another major milestone in our global expansion strategy and reinforces our long-term commitment to expanding our presence in the Middle East.

With the addition of Sheikh Mohammed to the PFL ownership group, the league is further poised to deliver premium MMA experiences in the UAE and across the broader MENA region, while also building pathways for regional fighters to compete on the global stage.

The PFL is continuously elevating the sport of MMA in the Middle East through the widely-successful PFL MENA franchise, which is currently in its second season. The regional tournament has successfully created stars from the MENA region including the likes of PFL MENA Champions Abdullah Al Qahtani and Omar El Dafrawy, and Middle Eastern women’s MMA pioneer Hattan Alsaif. The third event of the ongoing PFL MENA season is expected to take place in September. 


Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk takes in Esports World Cup in Riyadh

Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk takes in Esports World Cup in Riyadh
Skateboarder Tony Hawk during a viusist to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. (AN Photo)
Updated 24 July 2025
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Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk takes in Esports World Cup in Riyadh

Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk takes in Esports World Cup in Riyadh
  • ‘It’s multiple arenas, thousands of competitors, it kind of takes over the whole city and it’s very impressive,’ says star

RIYADH: From skateboarding in drained swimming pools to becoming the global face of skateboarding, Tony Hawk has been at the center of an industry he has seen grow from a backyard hobby to featuring in the Olympic Games.

And in a similar way, gaming and esports have rapidly grown into global phenomena, capturing the hearts and minds of millions worldwide. And while the world’s most famous skateboarder has seen and been part of some incredible spectacles, he has been stunned by the scale of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.

“This is my first time ever in Saudi Arabia and in Riyadh at the Esports World Cup. I think the most surprising thing is the size of it,” said Hawk. “I thought it would be one arena and games coming in and out. It’s multiple arenas, thousands of competitors, it kind of takes over the whole city and it’s very impressive.”

Arriving in Riyadh, Hawk took the opportunity to tick another country off his skating bucket list, breaking out his board to carve the streets of Saudi Arabia and check out the local skate scene.

“I think there’s a lot of potential here, especially in skateboarding or action sports,” he said. “I see a growing passion for skateboarding. They could really seize the opportunity and create a thriving skate scene very quickly.”

Soaking in the atmosphere and touring the Esports World Cup Festival, Hawk has garnered huge attention from local fans eager to interact with an icon of the skateboarding world.

“I am surprised any time I get recognized, especially in foreign countries that are not very skate centric. It’s always a shock because I never got into skateboarding to be famous; no one was famous in skateboarding, in fact it was the furthest thing from fame you could do when I started.

“All these interactions I just think are entertaining, because I get recognized but people don’t expect me to have gotten older since they last saw me, which is usually from a video game, so they’re like, ‘it looks that guy, but he can’t be that old.’ And that’s fine with me.”

Having been at the forefront of an industry that accelerated from a niche activity to a global sport, Hawk has seen significant parallels between gaming and skateboarding. He believes esports will only get bigger, providing people around the world who have a passion for gaming with the opportunity to pursue impactful careers in the industry.

“I see a lot of parallels between skateboarding and gaming,” he said. “Especially in the early days, you did it because you loved it. It was the furthest thing from cool, there was no future, there was no career,” Tony says. “Mostly you were told you shouldn’t be doing that. Especially by adults and especially when you become an adult.

“Gaming is the same. When playing games as a kid I’m sure parents thought you spent too much time doing it, [that] it’s not productive, it’s eating into your homework or your social life. Now it’s a huge industry and you can become a professional, the same as skateboarding.

“I feel the people who were there in the earlier days understand it on a deeper level because they were chastised for it. These days if someone gets into skating or gaming, they know that they could make a living out of it, without question, and their parents might even encourage it. That’s kind of wild to me. No parents were really encouraging skateboarding in my day.”

With the gaming and esports industry thriving around the world alongside the growth of streaming and social media, pathways into the gaming and esports industry have been established, creating opportunities for young people to forge careers in the industry they love.

What seemed impossible a few years ago is becoming a reality; the gaming industry continues to grow and with it comes the opportunity for those with the ability, dedication and creative spark to become professionals within the industry.

“My parents were the rare exception, that they were supportive of my skating, but they didn’t think it was going to be a career either,” said Hawk. “They wanted me to go to college. I was a professional skateboarder, I was buying a house in my senior year of high school, and they wanted me to enroll in college. So they didn’t believe it was going to be my future either.

“Kids who aspire to game for a living have a chance now, and their parents may be supportive of that decision. I don’t know if it’s going to happen every time, but it’s kind of like skateboarding in that way too. There are so many ways to do it. You can be a streamer, you can have your own niche, you can have your own brand or personality and with skateboarding it’s the same. You don’t have to compete. If you’re making good content and you’re putting it out there and you’re innovative, you can still thrive at it.”

On release the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series became one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, defining a generation and accelerating the growth of skateboarding and gaming culture across the world.

More than 20 years later, the re-release of the original titles and updates to the franchise continue to capture the imaginations of gamers across the world, connecting them to the nostalgia of the originals, while updating them to engage with a new generation of gamers.

“Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 just came out, and it’s a remake of our third and fourth games from over 20 years ago,” said Hawk.

“I think the reason that we even get to do those now is that there is a very deep nostalgia for these games. For people, I think it defines a time in their lives where they formed their taste in music, where they learned about something other than mainstream sports, skateboarding specifically, but also other fringe sports and alternative, action sports. I hear a lot of people say that it was their best days playing that game, or it’s the reason I failed college, and either one I take as a compliment.”

He added: “I think what set Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater apart in the early days was that it was authentic. It represented skateboarding in all its forms, the culture, the music, the fashion, the skaters, the tricks and the renegade attitude, hopping fences and everything. To bring it [back in] 2025 we had to update it in all respects. I wanted to reflect how skateboarding is now, how much more inclusive it is, how much more international it is, and I think we did that well. We chose some new skaters, brought back most of the iconic legends, and we even brought in three new levels, so I do feel we’ve entered a new era.”


LIV Golf and Roshn partner on ‘Rising Stars’ program

LIV Golf and Roshn partner on ‘Rising Stars’ program
Updated 24 July 2025
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LIV Golf and Roshn partner on ‘Rising Stars’ program

LIV Golf and Roshn partner on ‘Rising Stars’ program
  • Collaboration aims to increase youth access to golf and promote talent development in the Kingdom

RIYADH: Roshn has joined LIV Golf as a global Pillar Partner for 19 international tour stops during the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Part of the partnership involves training initiatives through the “Rising Stars” program. Roshn Group and LIV Golf will look to increase youth access to the sport and promote talent development.

The initiative is a central part of “Potential Unleashed,” LIV Golf's sustainability and community engagement program. And it is in collaboration with “Yuhyeek,” Roshn Group’s community and social responsibility program.

The “Rising Stars” program is a pioneering initiative to nurture and shape the Kingdom’s next generation of golf talent.

It will last six months and include up to 20 players, aged 8 to 15, who will receive mentorship from LIV Golf players and a Saudi Arabia-based training program, starting from July 2025.

Roshn Group and LIV Golf will also select a few Rising Stars Ambassadors who are amateur or emerging golfers in Saudi Arabia. They will attend LIV Golf events to be mentored by professionals, and join PRO-AM activities.

During LIV Golf UK by JCB, at JCB County Club, from July 25 to 27, the Rising Stars team will receive training from LIV professionals.

Mohammed Ashour, associate director of corporate social responsibility at Roshn Group, said: “For the Roshn Rising Stars program, this journey to LIV Golf UK represents a pivotal moment in their development, offering unparalleled access to LIV Golf’s professional golfers and coaches.”

“This immersive training opportunity provides enthusiastic young athletes with direct mentorship and exposure to the highest levels of the sport,” he added.

“Through initiatives like this, Roshn Group is directly investing in the future of Saudi talent, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and global perspective needed to truly excel in the sport of golf and beyond.”


Tsitsipas splits with coach Ivanizevic after less than two months

Tsitsipas splits with coach Ivanizevic after less than two months
Updated 24 July 2025
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Tsitsipas splits with coach Ivanizevic after less than two months

Tsitsipas splits with coach Ivanizevic after less than two months
  • “Working with Goran Ivanizevic was brief but an intense experience and a truly valuable chapter in my journey,” Tsitsipas posted on his Instagram story on Wednesday

Stefanos Tsitsipas has ended his collaboration with coach Goran Ivanizevic after less than two months, the former world number three said.

“Working with Goran Ivanizevic was brief but an intense experience and a truly valuable chapter in my journey,” Tsitsipas posted on his Instagram story on Wednesday.

Tsitsipas, ranked 29th, appointed Ivanizevic as his coach in May after a string of disappointing results at the Grand Slams.

The 2021 French Open and 2023 Australian Open runner-up was forced to retire from his Wimbledon first-round match in June while trailing 6-3 6-2 to French qualifier Valentin Royer due to a back injury.

Following Tsitsipas’ opening round exit at Wimbledon, Ivanizevic gave a scathing assessment of the 26-year-old Greek, saying he has “never seen a more unprepared player” in his life. Tsitsipas has made one quarter-final in his last nine Grand Slam tournaments.

Tsitsipas expressed thanks “for the time, effort and energy he dedicated to me and my team.”

“As we are now following our separate ways, I have only respect for Goran — not just for what he’s achieved in tennis, but also for who he is as a person. I wish him nothing but the very best moving forward.”

Ivanizevic, who won Wimbledon as a player in 2001, helped Novak Djokovic claim nine of his 24 Grand Slam titles before leaving his team in March last year. He then had a short stint with Kazakh world number 12 Elena Rybakina this season.