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Ajit Agarkar, Mumbai’s new captain, on what leading a team with such a successful history means to him

Interview by Amol Karhadkar03-Nov-2012Ajit Agarkar: “You would want Wasim [Jaffer] to be around all the time. That’s a massive hole to fill. But you’ve got to lead with what you have.”•FotocorpWhat does leading Mumbai mean to you after being around for 16 seasons?
Big honour. An absolute honour. You just have to look at the names who have led Mumbai earlier and you know what it is like. And a great challenge too – to follow in their footsteps.Has it been difficult to motivate yourself to come back and slog it out on the domestic circuit after being an India regular for almost a decade?
It’s not easy, honestly. Motivation is not at all a problem. As long as you love running in with the ball in your hand, you enjoy. It’s a bit difficult to return to where it started from after not being around for almost 10 years. It’s not easy to go through the paces all over again. But if you really enjoy playing the game, all other things take a backseat. You just tend to forget everything else, enjoy yourself and try and help your team as much as you can.Last year, you were in the news for all the wrong reasons. Have all the problems been sorted out with the coach Sulakshan Kulkarni?
Life moves on. You don’t hold anything against anyone in a team sport. Anyway I led [in] the one-dayers and the Twenty20s last year, so that’s not an issue at all now.So would you say that both of you have moved on like two mature individuals?
The team comes first. That’s what we in Mumbai cricket are taught as a kid first up. And that’s why it’s such a wonderful sport. To have 11 or 15 individuals coming together and aiming towards the better of the team makes it special. So what suits the team best is what suits you as a member of it and that’s what we have done.Due to the Champions League Twenty20, you haven’t been able to spend a lot of time with youngsters in the team. Have you managed to do one-on-ones with all of them?
Not really. We’ve just practised (together) for the last four days. Since I was away playing the CLT20 and I was appointed sometime mid-October, I haven’t had sufficient time to do one-on-ones. But I know everyone else well and the last four days were focussed on preparing for the game [against Railways]. I think I am still settling into the new role. Perhaps it will take a game for me to really settle in. You tend to discuss with others while practising and so far everyone has responded very well.Players like Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, just like last season, are likely to be in and out of the side for most of this one. How do you plan for such chopping and changing during the season from a captain’s perspective?
I will find out now . You do need enough depth in batting. And it’s ideal to settle in to a consistent batting line-up as early as you can. But I think we as a team are used to players joining the Indian team mid-way through a season. And from their perspective, if you are asked to play a Ranji game rather than sitting in the dressing room when you’re not playing a game for India, you are lucky in that sense. But I am still figuring it out. I haven’t got much time to delve over it since I was appointed a little late. It’ll take a game to settle down a little bit. We will have to settle the team down. You need some time for that and I am sure that will happen.Add to that Wasim Jaffer’s absence for the initial phase of the season due to personal reasons. How much will you miss him, not just at the top of the order, but as the leader of the batsmen?
You just have to see his numbers to know what Wasim means to the Mumbai team for the last 15 years. You would want Wasim to be around all the time. That’s a massive hole to fill. But you’ve got to lead with what you have.Luckily, we have Sachin [Tendulkar] available for the first game. And we couldn’t have asked for anything better to start off the season with. The batting looks pretty solid. We’ve generally had decently settled teams. Zak [Zaheer Khan] and Sachin are available for just one game, so that will change a bit. But we just couldn’t have asked for anything better than to have these two around at the start of the season.

“It’s not that we didn’t want an outright victory. But when you have eight or nine games to go with very little gap in between, you are tempted to hold yourself back, especially the bowlers. Obviously it’s an interesting rule change and the additional point for an outright win may make not just us but all the teams more aggressive.”Ajit Agarkar

What do you think is your biggest challenge as Mumbai captain?
Firstly, we have not won a trophy in two years, which I don’t think happens too often for Mumbai cricket. So that is a big challenge. The pressures of leading are very different than leading any other domestic team because you are always expected to win the Ranji Trophy. Merely qualifying for the knockouts is never good enough. Another challenge would be to keep the balance of the team intact. Luckily in Mumbai, since there is so much of quality cricket being played all the time, there is no dearth of back-ups in case something goes wrong.Of late, Mumbai have preferred to opt for gaining the first-innings lead and relax rather than going for an outright win. Will the additional point for a victory change the team’s attitude?
It’s not that we didn’t want an outright victory. But when you have eight or nine games to go with very little gap in between, you are tempted to hold yourself back, especially the bowlers. Obviously it’s an interesting rule change and the additional point for an outright win may make not just us but all the teams more aggressive. But it’s very difficult to keep on pressing yourself as a team all the time for maximum points.Would you then say that it would be better to revert to the ’90s style when there used to be decent gap between the Ranji Trophy league and knockouts?
It’s not the gap between the phases but the time between two games that needs to be looked at. When you’re playing eight back-to-back games with three days between the games, including one day of travel, it just wears you down as a player. I don’t know what can be done but if something can be done, it should be about the gap between two games.The last four seasons, as you keep on saying, have been kind of ‘stop and start’ seasons for you due to health and fitness issues. What have you been working on during the build-up to ensure you last the whole season?
More than injuries, I had to pace myself a little bit. Playing six-seven league games and three knockout games – it’s not easy being a bowler. Sometimes you have to hold back if you want to go the distance. Being the captain, it changes drastically now and I cannot afford to not look after my body. Not that I ever have done that, but now it becomes of utmost importance to be at my best always. And I haven’t done anything specifically as much. Just been trying to keep myself as fit as I can.

West Indies haven’t had Shivnarine Chanderpaul as their middle-order rock at the WACA, but they’ve had two very good imitations in Narsingh Deonarine and Brendan Nash

Brydon Coverdale at the WACA19-Dec-2009West Indies haven’t had Shivnarine Chanderpaul
as their middle-order rock at the WACA, but they’ve had two very good imitations. Cricket in the Caribbean isn’t flush with cash but Narsingh Deonarine
and Brendan Nash
have put an enormous price on their wickets, and the team could enjoy healthy dividends if their diligence continues.The long, hot Perth day eventually got to both batsmen and they departed in the final session. By then they had given their side hope in a chase of 359, although late wickets put Australia back on top. Patience and discipline are vital qualities in Test cricket and it’s no surprise that West Indies, who barring Chanderpaul haven’t always had those traits in the past decade, have won only three of their past 41 Tests.Nor is it remarkable that in a region that has produced dashing superstars like Viv Richards and Brian Lara (though they were brilliantly adaptable and could defend for their lives), a younger generation preferred to entertain. Stroke-players such as Xavier Marshall, Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Smith have rolled through the Test line-up, providing much sparkle but little substance.Now there are batsmen coming through who are aiming to emulate Chanderpaul, and the team is better for it. Much like Chanderpaul, Deonarine and Nash are small-statured left-handers whose first priority is to not get out and if runs come along the way, then that’s good. It was precisely the attitude the team needed when they came together on the fourth day at the WACA.At that stage the visitors required 291 to win, with seven wickets in hand and time was of no consequence. It was so irrelevant to Nash that for 70 minutes he didn’t score a run, remaining on 48. It didn’t bother him. He once batted through a whole session for Queensland and scored two runs.Deonarine played in a similar fashion, although he was more willing to attack and memorably brought up his half-century with a six straight back over the head of the bowler Nathan Hauritz. He would have gone through the whole series without playing a Test but for the finger injury that Chanderpaul suffered in Adelaide.He slotted into Chanderpaul’s No. 4 position with ease, batting 100 minutes for 18 in the first innings as he aimed to shore up one end, before he lasted 202 minutes for 82 in the second innings. The similarity was even more striking as Deonarine wore anti-glare strips under his eyes – the same patches that Chanderpaul has made a trademark.Deonarine was ten years old when his Guyanese countryman Chanderpaul made his Test debut in Georgetown. Eleven years later, Deonarine made his Test debut under Chanderpaul’s captaincy. With his performances, he has given himself a chance of keeping his Test spot even when his idol returns.”Since I was a little boy growing up I was always looking at Shiv and always he was my role model,” Deonarine said. “The way he’s going about doing his business, a very determined guy. I tried to model myself in his way, going out there, be determined, spend time at the crease. He taught me a lot and advised me a lot, so in the end it’s worked out.”Today, neither Nash nor Deonarine could make it through to stumps but their 128-run stand, forged over more than three hours in 35-degree heat, gave their team a chance. Deonarine missed a straight ball and saw it crash off his pads and onto the stumps; Nash’s tired brain told him to leave the new ball that swung in to knock his off stump.But it’s worth remembering that early in his career, Chanderpaul was often criticised for getting tired and not batting long enough. Things can change.Last year in the Caribbean, he was at the crease for nearly 26 hours in the three Tests against Australia, including more than 18 hours straight without being dismissed. If Deonarine and Nash can perfect their Chanderpaul imitations and become long-term investments, breaking through the West Indies’ middle order will truly become a test.

Sarfaraz’s 66-ball innings lit up the afternoon but ended in heartbreak after he was run-out with Jadeja seeking a 100th run

Sidharth Monga15-Feb-20242:41

Manjrekar: Rohit’s mental toughness was admirable

On the first day of the third Test, India’s batting finally came together but not without an early alarm. Down at 33 for 3 on a pitch that was full of runs and with two debutants to follow, India were looking at possible trouble. But a 204-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja for the fourth wicket – India’s first century stand of the series – took them to 326 for 5 at stumps. Rohit and Jadeja got centuries while Sarfaraz Khan made a sparkling debut, hitting 62 off 66, before being run-out.This was the first time since 1999 that India had three players in the top seven who had played fewer than two Tests. That in mind, Mark Wood gave England a leg-up when he got rid of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill – India’s only centurions this series before Thursday- with the new ball. Gill, in particular, got a ball that swung in and then nipped away, that took the outside edge. These two scalps doubled Wood’s tally of wickets in the first six overs of a Test innings.The early-morning moisture that had assisted Wood possibly helped Tom Hartley grip one in his ninth over, which took the front edge from Rajat Patidar. A day before the Test, Jadeja had said England were not a difficult side to beat. The team management asked him to go out and demonstrate it from No. 5 in the ninth over, the second-earliest he has walked in to bat in a Test innings, and the earliest in the first innings.Related

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A promotion to Jadeja made double sense: protect the debutant Sarfaraz and also introduce a left-hand batter. Coming back from possibly the first time he has missed a Test with a hamstring injury, and having to deal with a family dispute gone public, Jadeja would have been excused for having a lot on his mind when he joined Rohit, but he batted with the most unencumbered mind: just purely reacting to the next ball in an old-school fashion.Rohit, who had got off to a smashing start, had to do unconventional things at the start of the partnership. Wood tried to bounce him with a fine leg, a deep backward square leg and a deep forward square leg. For once, looking at the score and the situation, he decided not to hook and had to wear one in his helmet grille. He charged at James Anderson to cut down the movement, on one occasion chipping one just out of mid-on’s reach. With Hartley, he flicked in the air and against the turn. The first attempt brought four, the second an edge to slip, which Joe Root dropped.Mark Wood was the pick of the England bowlers on the opening day•BCCI

Rohit will argue this was just the luck he needed after the lack of it in the first two Tests. By then, the early movement had begun to die down. Just after that miscued chip off Anderson, Rohit went back to punch him through extra cover for four, an emphatic sign that he was in.Jadeja never looked less than in. The two took India to lunch without further bother. Just after lunch, Rohit became the 14th man in this series to hit a six. The added responsibility of being the leader of an inexperienced line-up had messed with his approach a little, but now though, we were seeing the usual Rohit. There were timely lofts, some paddle sweeps, and a lot of back-foot runs. His second six took him past MS Dhoni’s 78, with Virender Sehwag as the only Indian ahead of him.Once there was spin from both ends, Jadeja began to catch up too, hitting a six in the final over of the middle session, the first wicketless session of the series. Immediately after tea, Rohit brought up his 11th hundred with two easy couples off two short balls from Rehan Ahmed. For a long time, the team management would have hoped for the batters to not take risks and just benefit from the inevitable loose balls the inexperienced spin attack was bound to dish up. A little like how Rohit brought up his hundred.It was happening now with ease, especially for Jadeja. England had to go back to Wood’s pace. A top edge from Jadeja cleared long leg, who was 20 yards in off the fence. Rohit was getting freebies from Rehan. Fifty runs came in 11 overs after tea without having to break a sweat. Then Rohit pulled one off Wood that was probably not short enough to pull. It skidded on, got big on him, and was caught at midwicket.Sarfaraz Khan picked the lengths early against spin•AFP/Getty Images

Out came Sarfaraz with whispers already around his game against quick short-pitched bowling. That Wood began with a deep fine third, two men deep on the hook, a short leg and a catching forward square leg suggested it was not a mere whisper. Around the wicket he went and looked to bounce Sarfaraz. He ducked the first three nonchalantly. Towards the end of his spell, Wood insisted on one more over. Sarfaraz ducked again before bunting the surprise yorker down the ground.With pace out of the way, Sarfaraz displayed remarkable skill against spin, helped no doubt by Ben Stokes’ attacking fields. A series of one-twos followed: a loft over the infield followed by going deep into the crease to take a single off the seemingly inevitable shorter delivery. The feet moved perfectly according to the trajectory of the ball, the sweep was out early, and the lofts down the ground were executed perfectly. Before one realised, Sarfaraz had a fifty off 48, the joint second-quickest for an India debutant.Another byplay had begun to develop. Jadeja had got stuck in the 80s and 90s. In the time that Sarfaraz scored 50, Jadeja had got only 12. He had three hundreds, but four dismissals between 80 and 99. He almost became passive. Had Hartley reviewed his lbw shout against Jadeja, he would have got him out lbw pad-first on 93.Finally, on 99, Jadeja called Sarfaraz through for an impossible single and unsuccessfully sent him back. Looking at India still leaving the door ajar, Rohit threw his cap in disgust in the dressing room. Jadeja got to the hundred next ball, but the celebrations were subdued since Sarfaraz was gone just one delivery before. Jadeja knew there was more work to do on day two, walking back unbeaten on 110 with Kuldeep Yadav by his side.

Everything you need to know about the state of play in the CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifiers, including fixtures, results, table and TV details.

The build-up to the 2026 World Cup is going in South America, with the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying campaign ongoing. Home of legendary players such as Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Pele, South America is renowned as a place that produces some of the most accomplished footballers in the world.

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The qualification process will see reigning world champions Argentina collide with eternal rivals Brazil, who themselves are the record-holders for most World Cup titles. The likes of Uruguay and Colombia will also be expected to impress, with no shortage of competition among the 10 nations.

Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about the state of play in the CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifiers, including fixtures, results, table and TV details.

• Getty
  

  South America World Cup 2026 qualifying table standings

  Pos.	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
  1	Argentina (Q)	17	12	2	3	+22	38
  2	Brazil (Q)	17	8	7	2	+8	28
  3	Uruguay (Q)	17	7	6	4	+10	27
  4	Ecuador (Q)	17	7	8	2	+8	26
  5	Colombia (Q)	17	6	7	4	+7	25
  6	Paraguay (Q)	17	6	7	4	+3	25
  7	Venezuela	17	4	6	7	-7	18
  8	Bolivia	17	5	2	10	-19	17
  9	Peru (E)	17	2	6	9	-14	12
  10	Chile (E)	17	2	4	11	-18	10

  Last updated: September 5,

  South American World Cup qualification involves 10 teams and each team plays the other teams twice, meaning there are 18 matchdays.

  The top six teams qualify for the World Cup and the team which finishes in seventh place advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.

  South American World Cup qualifying cycles last a number of years. Matchday one began on September 7, 2023, and the final matchday is scheduled for September 2025. 

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• Getty
  

  South America World Cup 2026 qualifying fixtures & results

  The fixtures and results for the CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying can be seen below. Note that not all fixtures have been finalised, so dates and venues may vary.

  Date	Match	Venue
  Sep 7, 2023	Paraguay 0-0 Peru	Estadio Antonio Aranda, Ciudad del Este
  Sep 7, 2023	Colombia 1-0 Venezuela	Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla
  Sep 7, 2023	Argentina 1-0 Ecuador	Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
  Sep 8, 2023	Uruguay 3-1 Chile	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
  Sep 8, 2023	Brazil 5-1 Bolivia	Mangueirao, Belem
  Sep 12, 2023	Bolivia 0-3 Argentina	Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
  Sep 12, 2023	Ecuador 2-1 Uruguay	La Casa Blanca, Quito
  Sep 12, 2023	Venezuela 1-0 Paraguay	Estadio Monumental, Maturin
  Sep 12, 2023	Chile 0-0 Colombia	Estadio Monumental, Santiago
  Sep 12, 2023	Peru 0-1 Brazil	Estadio Nacional, Lima
  Oct 12, 2023	Bolivia 1-2 Ecuador	Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
  Oct 12, 2023	Colombia 2-2 Uruguay	Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla
  Oct 12, 2023	Brazil 1-1 Venezuela	Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba
  Oct 12, 2023	Argentina 1-0 Paraguay	Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
  Oct 12, 2023	Chile 2-0 Peru	Estadio Monumental, Santiago
  Oct 17, 2023	Venezuela 3-0 Chile	Estadio Monumental, Maturin
  Oct 17, 2023	Paraguay 1-0 Bolivia	Estadio Antonio Aranda, Ciudad del Este
  Oct 17, 2023	Ecuador 0-0 Colombia	Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito
  Oct 17, 2023	Uruguay 2-0 Brazil	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
  Oct 17, 2023	Peru 0-2 Argentina	Estadio Nacional, Lima
  Nov 16, 2023	Bolivia 2-0 Peru	Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz
  Nov 16, 2023	Venezuela 0-0 Ecuador	Estadio Monumental, Maturín
  Nov 16, 2023	Colombia 2-1 Brazil	Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
  Nov 16, 2023	Argentina 0-2 Uruguay	La Bombonera, Buenos Aires
  Nov 16, 2023	Chile 0-0 Paraguay	Estadio Monumental David Arellano, Santiago
  Nov 21, 2023	Paraguay 0-1 Colombia	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
  Nov 21, 2023	Uruguay 3-0 Bolivia	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
  Nov 21, 2023	Ecuador 1-0 Chile	Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito
  Nov 21, 2023	Brazil 0-1 Argentina	Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
  Nov 21, 2023	Peru 1-1 Venezuela	Estadio Nacional, Lima
  Sep 5, 2024	Uruguay 0-0 Paraguay	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
  Sep 5, 2024	Peru 1-1 Colombia	Estadio Nacional, Lima
  Sep 6, 2024	Brazil 1-0 Ecuador	Estádio Couto Pereira, Curitiba
  Sep 6, 2024	Bolivia 4-0 Venezuela	Estadio Municipal de El Alto, El Alto
  Sep 6, 2024	Argentina 3-0 Chile	Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
  Sep 10, 2024	Colombia 2-1 Argentina	Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
  Sep 10, 2024	Venezuela 0-0 Uruguay	Estadio Monumental, Maturín
  Sep 10, 2024	Paraguay 1-0 Brazil	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
  Sep 10, 2024	Chile 1-2 Bolivia	Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago
  Sep 10, 2024	Ecuador 1-0 Peru	Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito
  Oct 11, 2024	Peru 1-0 Uruguay	Estadio Nacional, Lima
  Oct 10, 2024	Venezuela 1-1 Argentina	Estadio Monumental, Maturín
  Oct 10, 2024	Bolivia 1-0 Colombia	Estadio Municipal de El Alto, El Alto
  Oct 10, 2024	Chile 1-2 Brazil	Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago
  Oct 10, 2024	Ecuador 0-0 Paraguay	Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito
  Oct 15, 2024	Uruguay 0-0 Ecuador	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
  Oct 15, 2024	Colombia 4-0 Chile	Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
  Oct 15, 2024	Brazil 4-0 Peru	Arena BRB Mané Garrincha
  Oct 15, 2024	Paraguay 2-1 Venezuela	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
  Oct 15, 2024	Argentina 6-0 Bolivia	Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
  Nov 14, 2024	Venezuela 1-1 Brazil	Estadio Monumental, Maturin
  Nov 14, 2024	Paraguay 2-1 Argentina	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asuncion
  Nov 14, 2024	Ecuador 4-0 Bolivia	Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo, Guayaquil
  Nov 15, 2024	Uruguay 3-2 Colombia	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
  Nov 15, 2024	Peru 0-0 Chile	Estadio Monumental, Lima
  Nov 19, 2024	Colombia 0-1 Ecuador	Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez, Barranquilla
  Nov 19, 2024	Brazil 1-1 Uruguay	Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
  Nov 19, 2024	Bolivia 2-2 Paraguay	Estadio Municipal de El Alto, El Alto
  Nov 19 2024	Argentina 1-0 Peru	La Bombonera, Buenos Aires
  Nov 19, 2024	Chile 4-2 Venezuela	Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago
  Mar 20, 2025	Paraguay 1-0 Chile	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
  Mar 20, 2025	Brazil 2-1 Colombia	Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília
  Mar 20, 2025	Peru 3-1 Bolivia	Estadio Nacional, Lima
  Mar 21, 2025	Ecuador 2-1 Venezuela	Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito
  Mar 21, 2025	Uruguay 0-1 Argentina	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
  Mar 25, 2025	Bolivia 0-0 Uruguay	Estadio Municipal de El Alto, El Alto
  Mar 25, 2025	Colombia 2-2 Paraguay	Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla
  Mar 25, 2025	Venezuela 1-0 Peru	Estadio Monumental, Maturín
  Mar 25, 2025	Argentina 4-1 Brazil	Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
  Mar 25, 2025	Chile 0-0 Ecuador	Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago
  Jun 5, 2025	Ecuador 0-0 Brazil	Estadio Monumental, Guayaquil
  Jun 5, 2025	Paraguay 2-0 Uruguay	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción
  Jun 5, 2025	Chile 0-1 Argentina	Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago
  Jun 6, 2025	Colombia 0-0 Peru	Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
  Jun 6, 2025	Venezuela 2-0 Bolivia	Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Venezuela
  Jun 10, 2025	Bolivia 2-0 Chile	Estadio Monumental de Maturín
  Jun 10, 2025	Uruguay 2-0 Venezuela	Centenario, Montevideo
  Jun 10, 2025	Argentina 1-1 Colombia	Estadio Mâs Monumental
  Jun 10, 2025	Brazil 1-0 Paraguay	Corinthians Arena
  Jun 10, 2025	Peru 0-0 Ecuador	Estadio Nacional de Lima
  Sep 4, 2025	Uruguay 3-0 Peru	Estadio Centenario, Montevideo
  Sep 4, 2025	Colombia 3-0 Bolivia	Estadio Roberto Melendez, Barranquilla
  Sep 4, 2025	Brazil 3-0 Chile	Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
  Sep 4, 2025	Paraguay 0-0 Ecuador	Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asuncion
  Sep 4, 2025	Argentina 3-0 Venezuela	Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
  Sep 9, 2025	Peru vs Paraguay	Estadio Nacional, Lima
  Sep 9, 2025	Venezuela vs Colombia	Estadio Monumental, Maturin
  Sep 9, 2025	Bolivia vs Brazil	Estadio El Alto, El Alto
  Sep 9, 2025	Chile vs Uruguay	Estadio Julio Martinez Pradanos, Santiago
  Sep 9, 2025	Ecuador vs Argentina	Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo, Guayaquil

• How to watch South America World Cup qualifiers

  Country	Broadcaster
  United States	Vix, Telemundo, Fubo, Fanatiz, Universo
  United Kingdom	CONMEBOL TV

  United States

  In the United States, broadcast deals for CONMEBOL qualifiers are shared between Telemundo, Universo, Fubo, Vix and Fanatiz.

  Read more about how to watch CONMBEOL World Cup qualifiers here.

  You can see which soccer games are on TV in the U.S. here.

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  United Kingdom

  In the United Kingdom, a selection of games can be watched live through the pay-per-view streaming service, CONMEBOL TV.

  See here for GOAL's guide to football on TV in the UK.

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• South America World Cup 2026 qualifying top scorers

  Rank	Player	Team	Goals
  1	Lionel Messi	Argentina	8
  2	Luis Diaz	Colombia	7
  3	Miguel Terceros	Bolivia	5
  =4	Raphinha	Brazil	5
  =4	Salomon Rondon	Venezuela	5
  =4	Enner Valencia	Ecuador	5
  =4	Darwin Nunez	Uruguay	5

Robert Lewandowski needed just 50 minutes with Lamine Yamal to realise that the Barcelona wonderkid was a “special” talent.

Youngster made breakthrough at 15Compared with all-time great MessiOlder team-mates learning from himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Having worked his way through the fabled La Masia academy system, Yamal was promoted to the first-team ranks at just 15 years of age. He immediately caught the eye of senior stars in Catalunya, with it clear from the off that he was a global superstar in the making.

AdvertisementWHAT LEWANDOWSKI SAID

Veteran Polish striker Lewandowski told of his first look at Yamal, who has been likened to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi: “It is the first time in my life I saw after 50 minutes that he had something special. I didn't believe it because I didn't see this kind of player at this age – I thought this is impossible at 15.”

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Yamal has now passed his 18th birthday, signing a new lucrative contract and inheriting the No.10 shirt at Camp Nou that eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi once wore with such distinction. He is expected to claim his own Golden Ball at some point in the not too distant future.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Lewandowski has competed for that prize himself and, at 36 years of age, admits that he can still take important lessons from younger colleagues. The prolific frontman added: “I understood that I cannot fight with them but I can help them and they can also help me. I learn from them a lot. I didn't think it would happen like that.

“When I see that I still don't have to catch the young guys, that they still have to catch me, it means this next season can also be very good. I am still there to show the best performance from myself.”

خاض فريق باريس سان جيرمان، بقيادة المدرب لويس إنريكي، ثاني مبارياته في الموسم الجديد من بطولة الدوري الفرنسي لكرة القدم، مساء اليوم الجمعة، وذلك ضد نظيره أنجيه.

واستضاف ملعب “حديقة الأمراء” مباراة باريس سان جيرمان وأنجيه، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الثانية من الدوري الفرنسي، موسم 2025/26.

وتمكن باريس سان جيرمان من تخطي أنجيه بصعوبة، حيث حقق فوزًا بهدف دون رد، ليكرر نتيجة مباراته في الجولة الأولى على نانت. هدف فوز باريس سان جيرمان على أنجيه

كان التعادل السلبي هو صاحب اليد العليا في المباراة، حيث استمر منذ الدقيقة الأولى وحتى 50.

وتمكن فابيان رويز من فك شراكة التعادل مع أنجيه، بعدما سجل هدفًا لصالح باريس سان جيرمان، حيث سدد كرة من داخل منطقة الجزاء، هزت شباك الضيوف.

ورغم استحواذ باريس سان جيرمان وفعاليته الهجومية طوال المباراة، إلا إنه فشل في تعزيز تقدمه بهدف ثاني، لينتهي اللقاء بهدف نظيف.

بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد باريس سان جيرمان إلى 6 نقاط في المركز الأول، بينما تجمد رصيد أنجيه عند 3 نقاط في المركز الثامن.

Roma have opened talks to sign Brighton youngster Evan Ferguson on a loan deal, while not ruling out a move for the struggling Rasmus Hojlund.

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• Roma want to bolster their attack
• Are planning a move for Ferguson
• Have not ruled out signing Hojlund

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to a report from , Roma are set to open talks with Brighton to sign Ferguson on loan ahead of the 2025-26 season, with an option to buy him next summer. The Serie A outfit are keen on bolstering their attack and have not ruled out a potential move for struggling Manchester United forward Hojlund either.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  On Wednesday, Fabrizio Romano reported that Roma have decided to focus on Ferguson as a reinforcement in attack; he is at the top of the Giallorossi's wish list. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants to revitalise the attack in light of departures of Eldor Shomurodov and Tammy Abraham, who has joined Besiktas. Despite interest from Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham, Roma appear to be in pole position to clinch the young Irishman.

  The report from claims that Roma and Brighton are working on a loan deal, with an option to buy for around €25-30 million (£21-26m/$29-35m). This would give Roma time to assess him before making such an investment, allowing them to use their resources to strengthen other areas of the team, such as the right wing.

• TELL ME MORE

  On the other hand, the option to sign Hojlund remains on the table, too. United would be open to letting the Danish international leave on loan this summer. Hojlund would be reunited with Gasperini at Roma, who launched his career at Atalanta, where he undoubtedly enjoyed his best season to date. Inter were also interested in the striker, but they then opted for Ange-Yoan Bonny, focusing their resources on other players. Hojlund, however, wishes to remain at Old Trafford and fight for a place under Ruben Amorim.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Having sold Joao Pedro to Chelsea for a sizeable fee, and Ferguson likely to head for an exit, Brighton will be intent on signing offensive reinforcements this summer. They have already signed teenage Greek sensation Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiakos and have been linked with a move for Liverpool's Harvey Elliott.

In an emotionally charged match, Luna silenced the crowd with two goals in the first 15 minutes, putting U.S. in final

ST. LOUIS – Less than a year into his U.S. men's national team tenure, coach Mauricio Pochettino is encountering some things for the first time. Wednesday night was the latest example. When he and the U.S. walked out for their Gold Cup semifinal, they weren't greeted by red, white and blue – they were overwhelmed by blue and white, horns and chants of "Si Se Puede" ringing out throughout Energizer Park.

These weren't the colors of Pochettino's native Argentina, but rather of Guatemala, the Central American nation that took over this city. Still, despite the cheers and the chanting and the excitement, there's only one of the two teams bound for a Gold Cup final. And it's not Guatemala.

The U.S. found their win, riding two first-half Diego Luna goals to defeat Guatemala, 2-1, and advance to Sunday's deciding game in Houston, where they will face Mexico for the eighth time in a Gold Cup final.

It was an emotionally charged match from the first whistle, although Luna did seemingly silence the crowd with two goals in the first 15 minutes. Guatemala, though, wouldn't give up and, with the backing of their fans, they had no reason to.

"This was good for our players because when you talk about the future, about seeing the team and how to fight, how to come here, how their fans behave, that is an important thing we have to learn in this country," Pochettino said. "I am not telling anyone to do this or do that. No, we talk about culture. I come from Argentina. In Argentina, it's not the same. We don't lose, because the consequences were massive."

The U.S. didn't lose. They kept their tournament going, earning a fifth straight win after losing four in a row entering the Gold Cup. The final will also present a hostile atmosphere, one that will be even louder and fiercer than Wednesday night.

Pochettino and his team believe they're ready for it, though. Having cleared their latest hurdle, the USMNT have a chance both to make a statement and to lift a trophy.

"Winning helps," said Tim Ream. "I also think guys like Diego Luna help, guys like Malik Tillman. You're seeing these guys get more and more experience and understanding of how to win games. None of this is going to happen unless we win and continue to win. And, for us, what's the hallmark of a U.S. team? Fighting and togetherness. That's what we're finding and doing in this tournament."

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Energizer Park.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Diego Luna

Throughout his young UMSNT career, Luna had influenced games, but he had yet to truly take one over. There were big plays here, an assist there, his goal against Costa Rica – all moments in which he'd make a mark. But this was more. This was domination.

It took just four minutes for Luna to find the back of the net, easing any nerves that anyone in the U.S. may have had. It was a finish defined by Luna's biggest asset: his hustle. Once Kenderson Navarro spilled Luca de la Torre's shot, there was no doubt who'd be the first one to it.

His second, though? A thing of beauty. After dribbling right on past a defender, Luna rocketed a shot into the back of the net. His shot wasn't curled or placed; it was thumped via sheer force of will. His celebration was as emphatic as his finish. Rightfully so.

"It’s an honor, I’m extremely grateful," he told Fox Sports of sporting the U.S. crest. "Every single one of these players think about it the same way I do. This is the No. 1 dream we’ve had as a kid and we’re going to fight for this to have as many chances to wear it as we can."

Time and time again, Luna continues to prove he's the man for the big moments. And with bigger opportunities ahead, there's no doubt about whether Luna should be involved.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Tim Ream

Everyone has an off game now and then, including 38-year-old veterans.

Ream, to be fair, didn't even have an off game, but rather an off half. For the first time in recent memory, Ream looked a step off in the first half this semifinal, and he was beaten several times by Guatemala's attackers. Rubio Rubin, who once played for the USMNT, got him once, forcing a tough save out of Matt Freese.

And there was a shaky moment a few minutes later that again led to a Guatemala chance. In the second half, though, Ream cleaned it up. Still, if Guatemala had a bit more quality, the U.S may have been punished. Ream knows that as well as anyone. He's been doing this for a long time and, if all goes well, he tends to do this a little bit longer. He certainly has the quality and smarts.

"I love watching these guys grow up right before my eyes, starting to understand and create connections," Ream said. "It's those two things that are worth keeping at it: these atmospheres and helping these guys become better players and better people. That's what putting on this jersey is all about and the pride that I have for it will never change. It won't change until I'm done, completely done. I'm so happy with this group and happy that I can still help."

Ream can still help. He's been proving it for years and has continued proving it all summer long. That doesn't mean he's immune from an off night, and this was a reminder of that.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Guatemala fans

All tournament long, the Gold Cup has been criticized for a lack of atmosphere. There are reasons for that: ticket prices, the ongoing Club World Cup, the upcoming World Cup.

But make no mistake – the atmosphere on Wednesday night was electric. The traveling Guatemala fans ensured that was the case.

The nation's supporters were loud and proud in Minneapolis for their win over Canada in the quarterfinals, seemingly willing their team to victory in the upset of the tournament. On Wednesday night, they were even louder. The crowd in St. Louis was largely pro-Guatemala and, even hours before the opening kick, they made themselves heard.

It didn't result in victory this time, but credit to Guatemala's fans for their energy. This game and this tournament were made better by it.

"It was an unbelievable energy, and that is football," Pochettino said after the game. "That is football! When we see the connection between the fans and the team, that is the connection that we want to see in the World Cup. We can talk about soccer, many things, different sports. But we cannot compere football to another sport.

"Do you think today was just a sport? Just a team playing? No, you play for something more. You play to be happy, be sad. I saw players from Guatemala crying. That is the way that we need to feel, and our fans need to feel the same. It's good for our players, because when we talk about culture, that is culture. That is an important thing that we need to learn here in this country."

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Getty ImagesLOSER: U.S. control

In a perfect world, the U.S. would have been able to see out the game easily. They would have found a third, maybe a fourth goal and put this game to bed. Even if they couldn't find it, they would want to keep some semblance of control, allowing them to play through the match on their terms.

That didn't happen. The moment Guatemala scored, and even at times before it, the U.S. lost control of the game. Guatemala couldn't quite seize it, but again, the U.S. didn't make this easy for themselves.

"It's a learning experience," Ream said. "Will it all happen as quickly in the next game as it did today after the second goal? Probably not. I think the guys understand it better. They can say, 'OK, I do actually have more time than I realize.' It's just talking about experience and it comes with playing in these environments and in these games."

Some of it was, as Ream said, inexperience. Some of it was personnel. Tyler Adams was taken off in the second half as a precaution as he dealt with hamstring tightness, leaving the U.S. without its most veteran presence in midfield. When John Tolkin went into the game, the U.S. was playing with two left-backs, which led to some moments of chaos before Walker Zimmerman replaced Max Arfsten to settle things down.

"In that moment, the stress and the noise make it a difficult moment," Pochettino said. "What you need to understand is how difficult it is to come off the bench in that moment. It's not easy. The rhythm of the game was really fast and it was difficult to communicate. It's not easy."

As Ream said, the U.S. need to slow things down. They need to breathe, take back control and see things out. Their inabilty to do that made this game more stressful than it should have been – he U.S. just needed to keep things tighter.

The middle-order batter hammered 64 off 28 balls in the opening T20I against South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Aug-2023

Tim David has been added to Australia’s ODI squad in South Africa to provide them with an extra middle-order option.David, who is uncapped in ODIs, smashed 64 off 28 balls in the first T20I in Durban on Wednesday. He had been due to link up with Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL after the T20 series.David has only played 16 List A matches in his career but averages 82.77 with a strike-rate of 123.14. Just one of those games has come in the Australian domestic scene with the others for Singapore and Surrey.Related

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While it would seem unlikely that David will force his way into Australia’s ODI World Cup plans at such a late stage, it is seen as an opportunity to expose him to the 50-over game. A 15-player squad will be named next week but can be changed up to September 28.”Tim is already here for the T20 series which offers an opportunity to see how his game can translate to the one-day format,” selector Tony Dodemaide said. “He will provide an extra option for us in that power role at the back end of an innings.”David gave a full display of his power in the first T20I, dominating a fifth-wicket stand of 97 with new captain Mitchell Marsh which lifted Australia from 77 for 4 towards a huge total of 226 for 6.”The great thing about Tim is he’s very level headed. He knows his role in T20 cricket can be inconsistent,” Marsh said. “But his ability to win us matches is why he’s in this team.”We’ve got full faith. I want him to play however he wants to play every game. I know that if he does that, he’ll win us games. He’s an outstanding asset for Australian cricket.”Australia will be without Glenn Maxwell for the ODIs in South Africa – he was always due to return home for the birth of his first child but left early after an ankle injury ruled him out of the T20Is.Steven Smith will also miss the series as he recovers from a wrist problem sustained in the Ashes. Marnus Labuschagne had previously been added as his replacement. Mitchell Starc is also missing the series with a groin injury.Captain Pat Cummins will join the ODI squad in South Africa as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury but is not expected to feature before the series in India at the end of the month. Marsh will continue as captain.Australia ODI squad vs South Africa Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Tanveer Sangha, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

يعد لامين يامال نجم برشلونة صاحب الـ17 عاماً أحد أبرز لاعبي كرة القدم الأوروبية خلال الوقت الحالي بفضل الجودة والقدرات التي يتمتع بها.

ويستعد لامين يامال بعد موسم استثنائي مع برشلونة لارتداء القميص رقم 10 قبل انطلاق الموسم الجديد.

أقرأ أيضاً.. بعد عرض الـ12 مليون يورو.. نيكو ويليامز يرد على بايرن ميونخ

وأصبح القميص رقم 10 شاغراً بعد رحيل أنسو فاتي عن النادي، وكان بعض جماهير برشلونة ينظرون لهذا الرقم منذ فترة طويلة أنه سيكون لائقاً بشكل أكبر للجناح لامين يامال ومع ذلك لا يزال خلافة لامين لرقم ميسي سراً معلناً حتى الآن.

وتحدث ريفالدو أسطورة برشلونة لوسائل الإعلام عن احتمالية حصول لامين يامال على القميص رقم 10 الموسم المقبل رغم عدم تأكيده رسمياً.

وقال ريفالدو: “سعيد جداً بما حققه في برشلونة والمنتخب الإسباني، لامين يامال يستحق هذا القميص بجدارة”.

وأضاف: “يامال هو الأنسب لخلافة هذا الرقم المميز ويتمتع بالشخصية المناسبة لحمله، قميص برشلونة رقم 10 في أيد أمين، أعتقد أنه يستحقه، هذا الرقم يتطلب مسؤولية كبيرة”.

وتابع: “لامين يامال يلعب بهدوء لا يصدق ولا يبدو في مثل عمره عندما تراه في الملعب، يتمتع لامين بالشخصية المتوقعة من لاعب في الخامسة والعشرين أو السادسة والعشرين من عمره”.

وحول اهتمام برشلونة بضم نيكو ويليامز رد ريفالدو: “ستكون صفقة رائعة جداً، تشكيلة برشلونة هذا الموسم كانت تتمتع بجودة عالية ولكن عندما يصل ويليامز تزداد فرص الفوز بكل شيء وخاصة الهدف الأسمى دوري أبطال أوروبا، سننتظر ونتمنى أن ينضم للفريق الموسم المقبل”.