Sport

Brazilian soccer icon Pele calls on Putin to stop ‘wicked’ Ukraine invasion

Published

4 years ago

June 2, 2022

Brazilian soccer legend Pele made a public plea on Wednesday to Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his “wicked” and “unjustifiable” invasion of Ukraine, minutes before Ukraine’s national team played in a World Cup qualifying game.

“I want to use today’s game as an opportunity to make a request: Stop this invasion. No argument exists that can justify violence,” Pele said in a statement published on Instagram.

“This conflict is wicked, unjustifiable and brings nothing but pain, fear, terror and anguish.”

Pele and Putin last met in Moscow in 2017 during the Confederations Cup, a championship held before the World Cup. The Russian leader has named Pele as one of his favorite players.

“When we met in the past and exchanged smiles accompanied by a long handshake, I never thought one day we would be as divided as we are today,” wrote Pele, who served as Brazil’s first minister of sports in the 1990s.

Ukraine beat Scotland 3-1 on Wednesday to move one game away from qualifying for the World Cup.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the team for “two hours of happiness, something we have become unaccustomed to.”

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Sorkh Poshan Khafi and Sarafan Herat edge out 1-0 wins in ACL

Published

16 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Ariana News

In the 27th match of the fifth season of the Afghanistan Champions League, Sorkh Poshan Khafi edged out Arman FC 1-0 in a tightly contested clash.

On Saturday, Sarafan Herat secured a 1-0 victory over Ettifaq Khanzadah, keeping the league race intense and unpredictable.

Looking ahead to Monday, Sarsabz Yashlar will face Sorkh Poshan Khafi at 2:00 p.m., promising another thrilling showdown for fans.

All matches are broadcast live on Ariana Television, allowing football enthusiasts across Afghanistan to follow the action and enjoy the excitement of the Champions League season.

Sport

FIFA confirms all 12 groups for 2026 World Cup

Published

1 day ago

December 6, 2025

Ariana News

The groups and match-ups for the FIFA World Cup 2026, set to be the biggest sporting event in history, were unveiled on Friday during a high-profile Final Draw ceremony held in the United States capital, Washington DC.

In front of nearly 2,000 international guests and millions of viewers worldwide, FIFA revealed the 12 groups of four teams for the expanded 23rd edition of the tournament. The draw marks a major milestone as excitement continues to build across the three host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — and the 16 host cities preparing for the event.

FIFA announced that the full schedule, including match venues and kick-off times for the tournament’s 104 games, will be released during a live global broadcast on Saturday, 6 December.

With nearly two million tickets already sold, FIFA says anticipation for the 2026 World Cup is rapidly rising.

There are 48 teams in next year’s World Cup — an expansion from the 32 teams of previous tournaments.

Sport

ACL: Abu Muslim Farah and Jawanan Perozi 6-0; Istiqlal Kabul and Sarsabz Yashlar 3-1

Published

2 days ago

December 5, 2025

Ariana News

In the 25th match of the fifth season of the Afghanistan Champions League, Abu Muslim Farah secured a dominant 6-0 victory over Jawanan Perozi.

On Friday, in the 26th match, Istiqlal Kabul defeated Sarsabz Yashlar 3-1.

Tomorrow, in the 27th match, Arman FC will take on Sorkh Poshan Khafi at 10:00 AM, followed by the 28th match, where Sarafan Herat will face Ettifaq Khanzadah at 1:30 PM.

All matches are broadcast live on Ariana Television, giving football fans across the country the chance to experience the excitement and intensity of the Afghanistan Champions League throughout the season.