Category: 6. Sports

If you’ve missed European football nights where some of the best teams battle it out on the pitch, then adidas has got us all excited with the release of their 2025-26 official men’s and women’s Champions League balls.

Appearing on the pitch from August 27th onwards, the latest edition of the men’s Champions League ball this year draws inspiration from the night sky, while the women’s Champions League ball takes inspiration from deep space and the Northern Lights. They both honour the stars of the game on their path to Budapest and Oslo, the host cities of the respective finals in May 2026.

The design of both balls sits on a clean white base, elevated through unique inspirations drawn from the heavens. The men’s Champions League ball takes cues from the night sky, with stars outlined in gold and painted in blue, complemented by hand-drawn zodiac signs in gold that symbolise heroic deeds and heavenly destiny.

adidas

Meanwhile, the women’s Champions League ball takes inspiration from space and the iconic Northern Lights, with the hexagons between the white stars finished in dark purple and overlaid with a neon green technical gradient and flowing neon green patterns inspired by the solar movement of the Northern Lights. Finishing details of luminous pink and white stars, echoing the brilliance of deep space, give the ball its final glow.

There are also some updates to the ball specifications, which include an innovative PRISMA surface with a debossing pattern for improved precision and swerve, and an outer texture coating that offers secure grip and complete control. So not only can you see your favourite players be their best under the lights, you can repeat their heroics at home.

adidas

The 2025-26 Champions League ball is also helping clean up our wonderful planet, by using recycled polyester and water-based ink, they are made from more bio-based substances than any previous UEFA Champions League and Women’s Champions League official match balls. Each layer of the ball has been adjusted to include materials such as corn fibres, sugar cane, wood pulp and rubber, without impacting its performance. We really do love to see it.

If you want to get your hands on the latest editions of the Champions League balls, then we’ve got you – let GOAL tell you how you buy them, including prices and all the different versions that are available.

Shop: 2025-26 Champions League balls 

FIBA EuroBasket: All-time medal table

Since the first tournament in 1935, there have been 14 different winners of EuroBasket.

The Soviet Union holds the record for the most titles, with 14, while the most recent champion, Spain, has four.

Come the night of Sunday, 14 September, the list of tournament winners will see another addition, marking the close of another chapter of European men’s basketball history.

By PGA of America On August 27, 2025 16:00 UTC

United States Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley today announced Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Ben Griffin, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Cameron Young as his six captain’s picks for the 2025 United States Ryder Cup Team. The 45th Ryder Cup will take place September 23-28 at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.

Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryson DeChambeau qualified via points, which concluded on August 17.

“I am immensely proud to select these six players for the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup Team,” said Bradley. “All six are incredibly talented and deserving of a spot on our team. Together with the six qualifiers, our team features a strong blend of Ryder Cup veterans and rookies, each bringing unique strengths and experience that will be hugely beneficial in our quest to reclaim the Cup next month at Bethpage Black.”

Burns returns to the U.S. Ryder Cup Team after making his debut in 2023, and will bring his strong putting prowess to Bethpage Black. The 29-year-old tallied six top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR this season, including the BMW Championship (T-4) and the TOUR Championship (T-7). Burns ranked first on TOUR this season in Strokes Gained:Putting (0.924) and Putting Inside 10 feet (90.79%).

Cantlay, 33, competing in his third Ryder Cup, brings a wealth of match play experience to the team. He owns a 5-2-1 career Ryder Cup record, highlighted by a perfect 2-0-0 mark in singles and a 3-0-1 performance in 2021 at Whistling Straits. Cantlay collected 10 top-15 finishes this season on the PGA TOUR, including T-2 at the TOUR Championship.

Griffin’s breakthrough season earned him his first U.S. Ryder Cup Team berth. The 29-year-old collected his first two PGA TOUR victories at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and Charles Schwab Challenge. His 10 top-10 results this season—which tied for second-most behind only Scottie Scheffler—included The Memorial Tournament (runner-up), PGA Championship (T-8), U.S. Open (T-10), Fedex St. Jude Championship (T-9) and TOUR Championship (T-10).

Morikawa, 28, will represent the U.S. for a third time in the Ryder Cup. The two-time Major Champion is 4-3-1 all-time, including 2-1-0 in foursomes and four-ball and going 3-0-1 in his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits in 2021. Morikawa ranked second on the PGA TOUR this season in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (1.233) and third in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (0.848).

Thomas is making his fourth Ryder Cup appearance, most among the 12 team members. The 32-year-old boasts a 7-4-2 record, including 3-0-0 in singles matches. The two-time PGA Champion secured his 16th PGA TOUR win in April when he birdied the first playoff hole in the RBC Heritage. He also totaled eight top-10 finishes, including three runner-ups, and recorded rounds of 63, 62 and 61 in competition this season.

Young, 28, is one of four Ryder Cup rookies on the U.S. Team. The 28-year-old finished the 2025 season on a high note, earning his first PGA TOUR victory with a commanding six-shot victory at the Wyndham Championship earlier this month and posting top-12 finishes in each of his last four starts. Born in Scarborough, N.Y., Young made history at Bethpage Black in 2017 when, as a teenager, he became the first amateur to capture the Met PGA N.Y. State Open.

McLaren Racing has today announced that Mastercard is set to become the Official Naming Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team from 2026 onwards.

Starting next season, the team will be known as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, with the move representing an exciting new era not only for the partnership, but for fans of the team around the world. This expanded collaboration will unlock more opportunities for fans to enjoy exclusive, behind-the-scenes access and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Delivering on its fan-first promise, Mastercard is set to debut ‘Team Priceless’ – a global initiative that will allow papaya fans to get closer to the team and action throughout the race calendar and experience a curated programme of activities. On select race days, chosen fans will enjoy incredible experiences, from hot laps on track to meeting drivers and Priceless Experiences that spotlight the host city’s local culture. More details on Team Priceless and the recruitment process will be announced soon.

To launch this new chapter of the partnership, Mastercard is hosting a spectacular live fan event in Amsterdam on the evening of Wednesday, 27 August, ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix. The event is bringing fans a mix of appearances from McLaren Formula 1 Team drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as well as live music performances and more.

Andrew Scott

The federal government on Wednesday sanctioned a financial assistance package of Rs250 million for the Pakistan hockey team’s participation in the upcoming FIH Pro League. 
According to a letter released by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), an additional Rs 400 million has been allocated from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) to provide funds to the sports federation.
From the amount released, Rs 250 million will be provided to the PHF for the expenses of the national team’s participation in the marquee event,” the letter said.

“Rs 150 million has been allocated for the organization to host the first National Youth Games, which will be held in Islamabad,” it added.
Furthermore, the PSB has instructed the PHF to outline a plan for the Pakistan hockey team’s participation in the Pro League within three days, which includes details of the travel schedule, administrative and logistical matters, and training program.
A month earlier, the Pakistan hockey team received a formal invitation from the FIH to participate in the Hockey Pro League, scheduled to take place in December this year.
The invitation followed New Zealand’s decision not to participate in the FIH Hockey Pro League due to financial constraints.
Consequently, the FIH gave PHF a deadline to inform about its decision to accept or decline the invitation.
For context, the FIH Pro League began in 2019 and is contested annually by the top nine national hockey teams, as ranked.
The team with the highest points at the end of the tournament is crowned Champion and awarded the Pro League Trophy.

LIMASSOL (Cyprus) – With the first day of action at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 now in the books, the spotlight turns to Cyprus and Poland where action is about to get underway.

The 12 teams in Groups C and D will offer up six tantalizing matchups on Thursday.

Who is going to get a morale-boosting win right off the bat and who will have to go back to the drawing board?

Key Storylines

• Reigning champs Spain take on Georgia and Toko Shengelia;

• Doncic suits up as Slovenia look to spoil Poland’s house party;

• Greece and Italy partake in an European classic in Limassol.

Group C: Champs take on Georgia in opener

Group C sees reigning champions Spain start off their campaign to retain the title on a tough assignment as Georgia, led by Toko Shengelia and Goga Bitadze, hope to spoil the start to Sergio Scariolo’s last dance. Host Cyprus will have a mountain to climb looking for a win on home soil against Bosnia and Herzegovina, whereas Greece and Italy will cap off the opening day up with a battle of European powerhouses – a battle for top spot in the group too, perhaps?

Did you know?

• Willy Hernangomez averaged 17.2 PPG in FIBA EuroBasket 2022 with only two Spanish players averaging more at a single event in the 21st century: Pau Gasol seven times and Juan Carlos Navarro twice.

• Cyprus will become the 48th team to make their debut at the FIBA EuroBasket, becoming the first to do so since Iceland in 2015.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 29.3 PPG in FIBA EuroBasket 2022, the highest scoring average by any player in a single EuroBasket tournament since his compatriot Nikos Galis in 1991.

_{All information has been provided by Opta.}

Group D: Doncic out to break hosts’ hearts

The whole of Slovenia now looks up to one man as Luka Doncic hopes to carry the 2017 EuroBasket champions into another long tournament run. In Katowice, group hosts Poland are the first obstacle and they have ambitious plans of their own at home. Group D also features the first big test of France’s new generation as the 2022 runners-up take on Belgium. Meanwhile Iceland will look for their first-everFIBA EuroBasket win against Israel.

Did you know?

• Israel have lost five of their last seven games in the Group Phase of the FIBA EuroBasket, whereas Iceland have lost all of their 10 games at the flagship event.

• Guerschon Yabusele was France’s second-leading scorer in FIBA EuroBasket 2022 with 14.8 PPG and the only French player to score 20+ points in multiple games at the 2024 Olympic Basketball Tournament.

• This will be Luka Doncic’s third FIBA EuroBasket game against Poland, the team he made his EuroBasket debut against in 2017 and played against in his most recent FIBA EuroBasket game in 2022.

_{All information has been provided by Opta.}

FIBA

TAMPERE (Finland) – Germany went on a third quarter tear to overcome Montenegro 106-76 in their Group B encounter in Tampere on Wednesday.

Both teams matched each other in the first half until Germany went on an offensive tear, with Dennis Schroder, Franz Wagner, and Andreas Obst stealing the show to seal the win.

Turning Point

After a closely fought first half, where the biggest lead for either team was eight points, you sensed that something had to give, especially down the stretch. Germany made the first move; going on a 7-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 55-45.

At the helm of that run was Andreas Obst, who hit four tough three-pointers in a 33-12 shutout in the third period with Wagner and Schroder bringing it home for the world champions.

TCL Player of the Game

Germany’s Schroder led from the front, as the reigning FIBA Basketball World Cup MVP posted 21 points and 4 assists on 54 percent from the field in just a little over 21 minutes on the floor.

Supporting Schroder were Franz Wagner – who started aggressively and maintained his mentality – leading the winners with 22 points and 8 rebounds, while Obst added 18 on 5-for-6 shooting from three-point range.

Stats Don’t Lie

Germany shot 45 percent from the field at half-time in a close contest. When the world champions made their move, their field goal percentage rose above 50 percent – including a staggering 70 percent from inside the arc.

But most telling of all, Germany’s narrow 46-43 lead at the break led to a second-half onslaught, where the Germans outscored Montenegro 60-33.

Bottom Line

A good start for Germany, as they prepare to face-off against Sweden on Friday.

Montenegro were unable to match the intensity of their counterparts as they now regroup ahead of their next game against Lithuania, who began their campaign with a win over Great Britain.

They Said

For more quotes, tune in to the official post-game press conference!

FIBA