Messi, Ronaldo, Serena, Novak: What sport stars dodging retirement tells us June 25, 2026 Sport heroes used to retire at the top but now the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Serena and Djokovic have other ideas, writes Matt Readman. Sport is nothing if not storytelling. And every athlete wants the perfect ending to their own story. The crowning moment. The final wave to the crowd. Departing with dignity on your [...]
Premier League clubs warned crypto deals could be worthless in a year June 25, 2026 Premier League football clubs have been warned that long-term sponsorship deals with crypto firms could be rendered worthless in a year’s time. It comes after the Financial Conduct Authority took the unusual step of writing to teams about the issue this month and as the watchdog rolls out plans for tighter scrutiny of the sector. [...]
Wimbledon to stay on BBC as grand slam bucks paywall trend June 25, 2026 Wimbledon will remain on the BBC until 2033 after the public service broadcaster announced a deal extension with the All England Club. The Wimbledon Championships fortnight, which this year begins next Monday, is, in part, in cahoots with the government’s so-called Crown Jewels list – officially called the Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed [...]
Is football eating itself? Not before it eats other sports first June 25, 2026 The World Cup has become so big that it now puts all other sports in the shade, laments Ed Warner. I remember the summer of 1976 as a swathe of bleached playing fields, jumpers for goalposts and pick-up games of cricket. There happened to be an international football tournament that June, but I defy anyone [...]
Silverstone safe amid MotoGP calendar shake-up, chiefs insist June 25, 2026 MotoGP chiefs have insisted their Silverstone race is safe despite plans for a drastic shake-up to the motorsport’s calendar. After signing a major deal with the five manufacturers – akin to Formula 1’s governing Concorde Agreement – which formalises the commercial framework across the sport until 2031, MotoGP will now look to grow an organisation [...]
Exclusive: Russian ambassador was invited to box at Queen’s Club June 25, 2026 The Russian ambassador to the UK was invited to sit in a box at Queen’s tennis club during last week’s 2026 HSBC Championship, Morning Wire can reveal. Andrey Kelin, who has been Vladimir Putin’s chief diplomat based in the UK since 2019, was photographed at the private tennis club in West London during the precursor [...]
Brentford in talks to host Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League fixtures June 24, 2026 Brentford are among the clubs in talks to host Shakhtar Donetsk’s home fixtures in the Champions League next season. The Ukrainian club are prohibited by Uefa for safety reasons from staging their European games in the war-torn country and last season hosted teams in Krakow, Poland. But Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium has emerged as a [...]
Fifa World Cup brand value trebles to £4bn thanks to sponsorship and media rights June 24, 2026 The Fifa World Cup brand has grown in value to over $5bn after more than trebling in value in recent years, according to a new industry report. Consultancy Brand Finance estimates the World Cup brand is now worth $5.2bn (£4bn) – a 244 per cent increase on its value when the 2010 tournament was held [...]
England draw with Ghana worth £20m extra to British pubs June 24, 2026 England’s lacklustre 0-0 draw against Ghana may have lacked fizz but hospitality industry experts estimate it was worth an extra £20m in trade for Britain’s pubs. Thomas Tuchel’s men were held to a goalless 90 minutes in Boston on Tuesday but the late kick-off and blistering weather proved a boon to boozers up and down [...]
Tartan Army cancel flights as Scotland eye a piece of World Cup history June 24, 2026 Scottish football fans have cancelled flights home from the US as the Tartan Army dare to dream of reaching the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time. Others who had already returned home are flying out again ahead of tonight’s final Group C fixture, against Brazil, even if they don’t have match [...]