- England pick Ahmed as third spinner for deciding Pakistan Test
- Verreynne century puts South Africa on top, Bangladesh 19-2 at tea
- Navalny's tomb 'covered with fresh flowers every day': widow
- Schauffele targets more success in Japan after major breakthroughs
- Rare Tintin albums go under the hammer in Paris
- Blinken in Israel to push for Gaza truce
- Most markets fall as traders weigh US rates outlook
- Harris and Trump push for every vote with just 14 days to go
- Hyundai Motor India shares dip on debut after record IPO
- South Africa 243-8 at lunch, lead Bangladesh by 137
- Apple CEO visits China for second time this year as sales slump
- Glasgow confirmed as host of 10-sport 2026 Commonwealth Games
- 'Serious business': influencer degree launches in Ireland
- In South Africa, water shortages are the new reality
- Frontline Ukraine cafe offers glimpse of normality as war rages
- In Mozambique, cigars 100% made in Africa
- North Korea UN representative denies Pyongyang sent troops to Russia
- Leipzig host Liverpool under Klopp's looming shadow
- Harvey Weinstein diagnosed with bone marrow cancer: US media
- King Charles caps Australia trip with 'barbie' and Opera House bash
- Tuipulotu named All Blacks captain to face Japan
- Is Musk's million-dollar US voter lottery legal?
- Britain seeking EU trade reset: minister
- Most Asian markets drop as traders weigh US rates outlook
- Wealthy Israelis offer rewards for release of Gaza hostages
- China launches live-fire exercise in Taiwan Strait
- Putin seeks to rival West with high-profile summit
- New Zealand's Williamson out of second India Test
- League convert Suaalii in Wallabies squad for Europe, Skelton returns
- Unsung heroes who saved 1,000 children from Rwanda genocide
- Rwanda orphans build hope from horror 30 years after genocide
- Brest in dreamland after perfect start to debut Champions League campaign
- Flick's revitalised Barca ready for Bayern challenge
- Hurricane leaves six dead in Cuba as power blackout eases
- Peru's ex-president Toledo gets 20 years for corruption
- Chile launches vaccine that neuters dogs for a year
- Toxicology tests show Liam Payne had 'multiple' drugs in system: reports
- WNBA players union opts out of deal, now set to end in 2025
- Harris woos on-the-fence Republicans, Trump tours storm damage
- Power restored to most of Cuban capital after nationwide blackout
- Henderson howler hands Forest victory over Crystal Palace
- Yankees and Dodgers to renew epic rivalry in World Series
- Stock markets mostly slide, oil jumps as China cuts rates
- Parents of Venezuela minors held after election ask UN to intervene
- NBA and Nike extend partnership deal for 12 years
- Israel strikes 300 Hezbollah targets as US urges war's end
- Tourist dreams turn sour after Cuba lights go off
- Italy PM seeks to save Albanian migrant deal amid spat with judges
- Tagovailoa returns to NFL practice Wednesday after concussion
- US infant mortality spiked after right to abortion overturned: study
RBGPF | 100% | 61.75 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.53% | 24.65 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.27% | 7.42 | $ | |
JRI | -0.53% | 13.15 | $ | |
BCC | -2.78% | 137.9 | $ | |
RELX | -1.13% | 47.63 | $ | |
BCE | -0.45% | 33.39 | $ | |
SCS | -0.93% | 12.89 | $ | |
NGG | -1.45% | 67.03 | $ | |
RIO | -0.63% | 64.95 | $ | |
GSK | -1.02% | 38.16 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.68% | 24.87 | $ | |
VOD | -1.35% | 9.63 | $ | |
AZN | -1.06% | 77.44 | $ | |
BTI | -0.73% | 34.25 | $ | |
BP | 0.44% | 31.47 | $ |
Afghanistan chase football milestone on road to 2026 World Cup
Afghanistan hope to achieve a footballing milestone on Tuesday by snatching a spot in the third and final phase of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The team ranked 151 in the world are on the brink of history and a place at the 2027 Asian Cup under their English coach Ashley Westwood.
Once on the books of Manchester United, he took over the Afghan team seven months ago and has masterminded a significant upturn in fortunes for the footballing minnows.
They play away at Kuwait on Tuesday in the final round of games in the second qualifying stage knowing they need to better India's result at Qatar to progress further.
Afghanistan held already qualified Qatar, the Asian champions, to a precious 0-0 draw on Thursday in a "home" game for the Afghans that was played in Saudi Arabia.
"When we took over in November just before the first game against Qatar, which we lost 8-1, (if) you told us that we'll be giving ourselves a chance of qualifying with one game to go, we wouldn't have believed it," Westwood said afterwards.
"The players are excited and we believe that we have a genuine chance of making history for Afghanistan in reaching the Asian Cup and third round of the World Cup qualifiers."
India are also trying to reach the final stage of World Cup qualifying for the first time.
Igor Stimac's side currently occupy the second qualifying berth from Group A on goal difference from the Afghans.
Just to complicate things, Kuwait are also in with a shot of progressing, with the group going right down to the wire.
After Stimac saw his men held to a goalless home draw against Kuwait on Thursday, the coach said: "We don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves because our chances are still alive.
"I need to do everything in the next five days to make the boys believe they will take us into the challenge against the Asian champions."
- Indonesia breakthrough? -
Elsewhere, it is a straight shootout between China and Thailand for the second qualifying berth out of Group C.
China are in the driving seat in second place and needing only a point from their final game to guarantee advancement.
However, they must travel to Son Heung-min's table-topping South Korea while Thailand have a far easier task when they host basement side Singapore in Bangkok.
As well as Qatar and South Korea, also already into the last qualifying round are: Japan, Oman, Iran, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Australia and Palestine.
Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia and Indonesia are all bidding to join them in the third Asian qualifying round for the first time.
It is between Indonesia and Vietnam to take the second qualifying place out of Group F.
Indonesia will be favourites to progress because they are a point in front and host already eliminated Philippines in Jakarta. Vietnam travel to table-toppers Iraq.
Ch.Kahalev--AMWN