Cricket

Navi Mumbai: India beat South Africa by 52 runs to win their first Women's World Cup title in Mumbai on Sunday. India players celebrate during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 one-day international (ODI) final match between India and South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on November 2, 2025. (Photo by Punit Paranjpe / AFP) Hosts India posted 298-7 and then bowled out South Africa for 246, with spinner Deepti Sharma taking five wickets in the final in front of a sell-out crowd at the DY Patil Stadium.

Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025is all set to commence tomorrow at the state-of-the-art Competition Complex in Aspire Zone. Over the next 25 days, Qatar will host the stars of tomorrow, as the country gets ready to welcome fans from across the world once again. Here are 10 things to look forward to at the upcoming tournament: First FIFA World Cupto feature 48 teams This is the biggest ever edition of the youth tournament and the first FIFA World Cupto feature 48 teams from across the world who will be competing for the coveted trophy. Catch the football action at one venue All 104 matches of the tournament will take place across eight pitches at the Competition Complex in Aspire Zone. The unique hosting concept will allow fans to enjoy the football activities in one single venue. The Final will take place at Khalifa International Stadium, also located in Aspire Zone. Attend up to eight matches a day with a Day Pass The group stage through to the Round of 32 will stage up to eight matches a day. With a Day Pass, fans will be able to attend multiple matches a day and soak in all the football action. Five teams are making their debut Amongst participating teams, Fiji, Republic of Ireland, Zambia, El Salvador and Uganda are set to make their debut, with many fans expected to travel to Qatar to cheer on their teams from the stands. Football-festival atmosphere for the whole family Football fans will be treated to a vibrant fan zone on match days. The fan zone will be operational on match days only, from 1:30pmuntil the final whistle, offering culinary experiences as well as live match screenings. A celebration of cultural diversity A variety of cultural programmes will run from 4pm-8pm at the fan zone, on match days. From folkloric performances to live bands, fans will revel in a celebration of global diversity. Giving youth a platform As future stars get set to shine on the pitch, the tournament will also be a celebration of young talents outside the pitch. Qatar’s youth will play an active role in bringing the fan zone to life through participation in a variety of activities, from e-gaming to cultural performances by students. Meet BOMA– the tournament mascot BOMAthe Owl – the official mascot for FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 – will make special appearances throughout the tournament. The mascot is inspired by the legendary Serbian coach Velibor “Bora” Milutinović, whose career as both coach and talent scout has influenced football development in Qatar and across the world. Barrier-free experience for all disabled fans The tournament will ensure inclusivity through accessibility features such as wheelchair-accessible seating options as well as audio-descriptive commentary in English and Arabic for selected matches. A dedicated sensory room will provide an inclusive space for fans with neurodivergent needs. Community comes together Several local entities such as Qatar Foundation Pre-University Education, Qatar Scouts and Guides Association, Doha Film Institute, and Torba Market, amongst others, will be present at the Fan Zone, bringing the community together through a variety of offerings, such as creative workshops, movie nights, story-telling session, fitness challenges and many more. Aspire Zone is located within close proximity to Al Aziziyah (Gold line) metro station. Fans can purchase tickets here.

Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: The 20th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 will kick off in Doha Monday, running until Nov. 27, with the participation of 48 national teams -- the largest number in the tournament’s history. This edition marks the first of five consecutive tournaments that Doha will host until 2029. Matches will take place across eight stadiums within the Aspire Academy over 25 days, featuring a total of 104 matches, with eight games played daily throughout the various stages of the competition. The final match will carry special significance as it will take place at Khalifa International Stadium, one of the iconic venues of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The Qatar national team will officially open the tournament, facing Italy at 6:45pm tomorrow (Monday) on Pitch No. 7 at Aspire in Group A, which also includes South Africa and Bolivia. Al-Annabi is aiming for a strong start and a successful campaign, hoping to surpass its best-ever result, the fourth place in the 1991 edition in Italy. That remains Qatar’s standout achievement from its seven previous appearances in 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, and 2005. Under the leadership of Spanish coach Alvaro Mejia, the Qatari squad has undergone a thorough preparation period, including participation in several tournaments and test matches. In the final stage of preparations, the Qatari U-17 team held an overseas training camp, where they played a series of friendly matches, losing 2-1 to Belgium, 3-0 to Croatia, and then defeating Ukraine 2-1. The technical staff also utilized last month’s GCC U-17 Cup in Doha to provide all players with opportunities across different lineups in preparation for the World Cup. The opening day of the tournament will feature eight matches before the official opening ceremony. The first match will see Bolivia, making its third appearance in the tournament, face South Africa, which is participating for the second time, at 3:30 pm on Aspire Field No. 3, as part of Group A fixtures. In the second match, Costa Rica, taking part for the 11th time, will meet the United Arab Emirates, marking the first Arab appearance in this year’s edition and the UAE’s fourth participation overall. This match will kick off at 3:30 pm on Aspire Field No. 8, within Group C, which also features a clash between Senegal, making its third appearance, and Croatia, appearing for the fourth time, scheduled for 4:00 pm on Aspire Field No. 1. Meanwhile, Morocco, competing in the tournament for the third time, will start its campaign with a tough match against Japan, a team with a strong record of ten previous appearances, at 4:30 pm on Aspire Field No. 5, as part of Group B. In the same group, Portugal, the 2025 European champion, will take on New Caledonia at 6:15 pm on Aspire Field No. 4. Also on the schedule, Tunisia, which has appeared in three previous World Cups, will open its Group D campaign against Fiji, making its debut appearance in the tournament, at 6:45 pm on Aspire Field No. 8. The same group will also see a high-profile encounter between Argentina, third-place finisher in the 2003 edition, and Belgium, which finished third in 2015, set for 5:45 pm on Aspire Field No. 2. The FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 is being held in a single location, designed to create a football carnival, especially as the areas surrounding the eight stadiums within Aspire Zone will serve as fan zones throughout the tournament. This year’s edition marks the beginning of a major transformation introduced by FIFA to its youth tournaments. The Doha U-17 World Cup is the first FIFA competition ever to feature an expanded lineup of 48 teams, and it also introduces another major change; the tournament will now be held annually instead of every two years, as was the case under the previous system. According to the new tournament format, the 48 teams have been divided into 12 groups of four. Each group will compete in a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group along with the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the Round of 32, for a total of 32 teams moving on to the knockout stage. The knockout rounds will follow a structured elimination format, beginning with the Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, leading up to the final match, which will take place on Nov. 27 at Khalifa International Stadium. Prior to the draw, held in Doha at the end of May, FIFA allocated the 48 participating teams into four seeding pots based on their performances in the last five U-17 World Cups, with 12 teams in each pot. As the host nation, Qatar was placed in Pot 1 and seeded at the top of Group A. According to the draw, the teams were divided as follows: Group A: Host Qatar, Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia. Group B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, and Portugal. Group C: Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica, and United Arab Emirates. Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, and Fiji. Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, and Egypt. Group F: Mexico, South Korea, Côte d'Ivoire, and Switzerland. Group G: Germany, Colombia, North Korea, and El Salvador. Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, and Zambia. Group I: United States, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, and Czech Republic. Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, and Ireland. Group K: France, Chile, Canada, and Uganda. Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, and Saudi Arabia. The local organizing committee made all necessary arrangements to ensure the tournament is presented in the best possible manner, with expectations that it will be highly successful, given Qatar’s experience in organizing major events.