Sport
Afghanistan’s U19s in Group C of 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup
Afghanistan’s national Under-19 cricket team has secured a spot in the 14th edition of the inaugural ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, which will take place in the Caribbean in January.
According to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), 16 teams will take place in four groups between January 14 to February 5.
The U19 team will play in Group C against Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea (PNG) and will start their run against Zimbabwe at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, January 16.
The team will then lock horns against PNG in their next game on January 18, at the same venue. For their last match in the group stage, against Pakistan, they will play at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.
Afghanistan will also feature in two warm-up games from January 9 to 12, prior to the start of the event, to better prepare for the main matches.
The team is already in training for the event and are currently taking part in a training camp. They played Bangladesh two months ago – five ODIs and one four-day game. They lost the ODIs 3-2 but won the one-off youth test match.
Since their return to Afghanistan, they have taken part in training camps.
The first was held in Kabul and the second is currently underway in Nangarhar.
The camp will continue for another two weeks and the Afghan youths will play five intra-squad games during this time.
The United States is set to welcome the world with a major opening ceremony for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as Los Angeles prepares to host a star-powered celebration marking the start of the tournament across North America.
FIFA announced that global music stars including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla will headline the ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, June 12.
The event will officially launch what FIFA described as a “historic summer of football” across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Organizers said the ceremony will combine football, music and entertainment in a large-scale production designed to reflect the cultural diversity and global appeal of the tournament.
Gianni Infantino said the ceremony in Los Angeles would showcase the scale and ambition of the 2026 World Cup, adding that the lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the power of music to unite people.
For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, three opening ceremonies will take place across the three host nations. Mexico City will host the first ceremony on June 11, followed by celebrations in Toronto and Los Angeles on June 12.
The opening match in the United States will see the U.S. national team face Paraguay. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature a record 104 matches across 16 host cities, beginning on June 11 in Mexico City and ending with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Football fans in Afghanistan will be able to follow all the action live on the Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country. ATN will broadcast matches live on Ariana Television, providing full coverage of the world’s biggest football event for Afghan viewers.
Fans are also encouraged to stay connected with Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, including match schedules, team news, and other FIFA World Cup 2026 developments as the tournament draws closer.
Canada will host a special opening ceremony for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Toronto on 12 June 2026, shortly before its first match in the tournament.
The event will feature performances by global and Canadian artists, including Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi, Elyanna, and others. The ceremony will celebrate Canada’s diversity and the spirit of football.
FIFA said the show will highlight unity across the three host countries — Canada, Mexico, and the United States — and include a creative display inspired by the World Cup trophy.
“The opening ceremony in Toronto will be a powerful reflection of Canada’s identity and the energy surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026™,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Through music, culture and unforgettable performances, we will welcome the world with a celebration that is uniquely Canadian while also connected to a larger story unfolding across Mexico and the United States. It will be a moment of pride, unity and anticipation as Canada takes its place on football’s biggest stage.”
Canada will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in its opening match, marking its first-ever World Cup game on home soil.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 104 matches across 16 cities, with the final scheduled for 19 July 2026 in New York/New Jersey.
Football fans in Afghanistan will be able to follow all the action live on the Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country. ATN will broadcast matches live on Ariana Television, providing full coverage of the world’s biggest football event for Afghan viewers.
Fans are also encouraged to stay connected with Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, including match schedules, team news, and other FIFA World Cup 2026 developments as the tournament draws closer.
Afghanistan has made a notable jump in the latest FIFA Futsal World Rankings, climbing seven places to reach 21st position in the May 2026 update.
The Afghan national futsal team now holds 1194.68 points, up from 1156.46 points in the previous ranking cycle, reflecting improved performances and consistent results in recent international fixtures.
The latest rankings take into account a large volume of global matches, including 84 new women’s matches and 321 men’s matches, covering continental tournaments, qualifiers, and friendlies across FIFA and confederation competitions.
Men’s competitions included the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 in Indonesia, the CONMEBOL Copa América de Futsal 2026 in Paraguay, and the UEFA Futsal EURO 2026 held across Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovenia, alongside World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches.
Afghanistan’s rise to 21st place reflects the growing development of futsal in the country and its increasing competitiveness in Asian and international competitions. The latest ranking marks one of the team’s strongest positions since the system’s introduction.
At the top of the men’s futsal rankings, Brazil remain number one after winning a record 12th Copa América de Futsal title. They are followed by Portugal (2nd), Spain (3rd), Argentina (4th), and Iran (5th).
Two killed in protests against poppy field destruction in Badakhshan
High-ranking Uzbek delegation arrives in Kabul to boost trade ties
Karzai: Pakistan seeking to legitimize Durand Line, authorities must clarify
Los Angeles to welcome the world with historic FIFA World Cup 2026 opening event
SAARC failure pushes Pakistan toward trilateral ties with Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh: Dar
Bayat Power extends gas supply deal with Afghan Gas
Etihad Airways to expand Kabul–Abu Dhabi flights to daily service amid surging demand
Afghanistan’s new cricket head coach Richard Pybus arrives in Kabul
Afghanistan moves toward self-sufficiency in car battery production
Germany to launch online visa system for Afghan study and work applicants in Pakistan
Tawsia: Discussion on Afghanistan’s economic path and position
Tahawol: Pressure on Afghan refugees from Tajikistan to Europe discussed
Saar: Ongoing criticism of Pakistan’s Afghanistan policy discussed
Tahawol: Diplomatic turn in Iran–US confrontation discussed
Saar: Expanding interaction between countries and IEA discussed
-
Business1 day agoNew Afghanistan-China transport corridor launched via Turkmenistan
-
Latest News4 days agoPakistan’s Achakzai pushes for Afghanistan dialogue amid economic strain
-
Business3 days agoAfghanistan presses Chinese contractor over delays in Mes Aynak copper project
-
Business3 days agoUzbekistan launches new cargo corridor linking China and Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days agoFood prices surge 20% in Afghanistan as Hormuz crisis disrupts supply routes
-
Latest News5 days agoAustrian interior minister heads to Uzbekistan to finalize Afghan deportation deal
-
International Sports4 days agoMumbai Indians pull off record chase as IPL action continues
-
Health4 days agoMidwives Day: UN urges greater investment to protect mothers and newborns in Afghanistan