United News of Bangladesh

FIFA has overhauled the 2026 World Cup draw format to ensure the four highest-ranked teams  like Spain, Argentina, France and England avoid each other until the semifinals, provided they top their groups. The draw, set for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., will use a tennis-style bracket system for the first time. FIFA confirmed Tuesday that the new format rewards top-ranked sides by placing them in separate pathways for the 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The change means defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, and European champions Spain, inspired by Lamine Yamal, can only meet in the final at MetLife Stadium near New York, if both win their respective groups. “To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semifinals have been established,” FIFA said in a statement, aiming to reward teams whose consistent good results have raised their world ranking. Unlike previous World Cups where knockout paths were tied to group allocation, the new approach fixes the bracket in advance. This year’s draw will place 48 teams into four pots before assigning them to 12 groups of four. A full, updated match schedule, with stadiums and kickoff times, will be released on December 6. The ceremony will last about 90 minutes, with the draw itself taking an estimated 45 minutes. As hosts, Canada, Mexico and the United States enter Pot 1, joined by the nine highest-ranked teams: Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Forty-two teams have already qualified, including Iran and Haiti, which FIFA expects to play as drawn despite political sensitivities with the U.S. The tournament will span 16 venues across the three host nations, including 11 NFL stadiums in the U.S. The remaining six entrants will be decided in March through European and intercontinental playoffs. Those teams will enter Pot 4, the lowest-ranked tier, meaning four-time champions Italy could prove a dangerous wildcard next week when the final placing draw is made. Host nations will be marked with different colored balls: Mexico as A1 (green ball), Canada as B1 (red ball), and USA as D1 (blue ball). The other nine Pot 1 teams will automatically be assigned to position 1 in their respective groups. Pot 2 features the next 12 teams: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria and Australia. Pot 3 includes Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Pot 4 contains Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand and the six playoff winners. Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn together, except for Europe, which will have 16 representatives, forcing four groups to include two UEFA nations. To maintain bracket balance, Spain (rank 1) and Argentina (rank 2) will be placed in opposite pathways. The same applies to France (rank 3) and England (rank 4), ensuring the top sides stay separated until late. For the host schedules, the USA, placed in Group D, will open on June 12 in Inglewood against a Pot 3 team, then face a Pot 2 opponent in Seattle on June 19, and finish against a Pot 4 side back in Inglewood. Mexico, in Group A, will kick off the tournament on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca against a Pot 3 team, then play a Pot 2 team on June 18 in Guadalajara, before returning to Mexico City for their final group match against a Pot 4 opponent. Canada starts on June 12 in Toronto against a Pot 4 team, then moves to Vancouver for matches against Pot 3 and Pot 2 sides. World Cup draw pots: Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Playoff A, B, C, D, FIFA Playoff Tournament 1 and 2 Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.    

Images of the home kits for two of the favorites at the 2026 World Cup—reigning European champions Spain and a resurgent England—have been leaked online, giving fans a first look at what their teams could be wearing in North America next summer. Spain Opaleak has leaked images of Spain’s home kit, which show an adidas design that blends tradition with a bold new twist. The base is a deep red body paired with dark navy sleeves, while the three adidas shoulder stripes run in a red-yellow-red sequence, a subtle nod to the Spanish flag. Fine yellow pinstripes with dotted detailing run vertically down the jersey, adding texture and depth.

Kylian Mbappé rescued France, Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal with a record-equaling goal, and England found momentum under Thomas Tuchel as European soccer powerhouses took important steps toward the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland scored five goals in Norway’s 11-1 rout of Moldova despite playing with fresh facial stitches. England dominates Serbia England registered a commanding 5-0 win over Serbia as Noni Madueke, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi scored their first international goals. Harry Kane opened the scoring with a header from Declan Rice’s corner and later set up England’s fourth goal following a red card to Serbia’s Nikola Milenkovic. “The energy has been higher and the level has been higher,” Kane said after the match. England now leads Group K by seven points over Albania. A win and two draws in the remaining group matches would secure their World Cup spot. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford remained largely untested, with Serbia failing to register a single shot on target. France survives Iceland scare France held on with 10 men to beat Iceland 2-1, with Mbappé scoring a penalty and assisting Bradley Barcola’s second-half goal. Iceland initially took the lead after a defensive error by Michael Olise. France’s Aurélien Tchouaméni was sent off in the second half, making the finish tense, but Les Bleus remain top of Group D. Ukraine’s qualification hopes dimmed after a 1-1 draw with Azerbaijan. Portugal edges Hungary Portugal secured a 3-2 victory over Hungary thanks to Joao Cancelo’s 86th-minute winner. Ronaldo had earlier converted a penalty, equaling Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz’s record with his 39th World Cup qualifying goal, raising his overall international tally to 141. In Group F, Ireland’s dream of returning to the World Cup ended in a 2-1 loss to Armenia. Haaland stars in Norway’s 11-1 win Norway’s Erling Haaland scored five goals, including a first-half hat-trick, as the team routed Moldova 11-1, extending their Group I lead over Italy to six points. Haaland played despite receiving stitches after a bus door accident. Austria moves closer to first World Cup since 1998 Konrad Laimer and Marcel Sabitzer scored as Austria defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 in Group H. Austria now shares 12 points with Bosnia-Herzegovina but has a game in hand. Cyprus and Romania played out a 2-2 draw.

Jacob Bethell will set a new record as England’s youngest-ever men’s cricket captain at just 21, when he leads the team next month. Bethell will captain England in a three-match Twenty20 series against Ireland in Dublin. The previous record was held by Monty Bowden, who was 23 when he captained England in a Test against South Africa in 1889 after regular skipper Aubrey Smith fell ill. Several senior players, including regular white-ball captain Harry Brook, will miss the Ireland series, as Brook is scheduled to lead England in one-day and T20 matches against South Africa in early September. Maxwell eyes bigger bowling role ahead of T20 World Cup “Jacob Bethell has shown strong leadership qualities throughout his time with the England squads, and the Ireland series will give him a chance to further develop those skills at the international level,” England men’s selector Luke Wright said Friday. The appointment reflects Bethell’s rapid rise, having made his international debuts across all three formats only last year. The Ireland series is set to begin on September 17.

In the fast-paced world of international cricket, few rises have been as rapid and transformative as that of Ben Duckett. The left-handed opener has become a linchpin for England across formats, epitomising the fearless “Bazball” philosophy that has revitalised the team under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. From his early days as a schoolboy prodigy to his current status as one of the world’s most dynamic batters, Duckett’s journey is one of resilience, adaptability, and unrelenting ambition. His performances in 2025 – including a record-shattering 165 against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy – have cemented his reputation as a global star, while a supportive sporting family and newfound perspective as a father keep him grounded and driven. Dominating 2025 with Bazball Aggression Duckett’s 2025 has been a year of milestones, showcasing his ability to thrive under pressure in all formats. In February, he made history in the Champions Trophy by blasting 165 off 143 balls (with 17 fours and 3 sixes) against Australia. It was the highest individual score in the tournament’s history at the time and stands as the fifth-highest one-day score ever by an England batter. Duckett’s aggressive yet controlled innings dismantled a world-class Australian bowling attack, drawing praise from fans and pundits alike. England great Jonathan Agnew noted that Duckett “would have been infuriating to bowl at” and is establishing himself as “one of the most versatile and destructive batters across all formats”. Even in Test cricket, Duckett continued to shine: he struck a brisk 62 in the first innings and a match-winning 149 in the second innings of England’s thrilling chase against India at Headingley, Leeds. Former captain Michael Vaughan was so impressed that he hailed Duckett as arguably the top all-format opener in the world, ahead of the likes of Aiden Markram and Travis Head. “Pound for pound, I reckon he is the best all-format batsman in international cricket right now,” Vaughan wrote, noting that while others excel in one format, none match Duckett’s impact across all three. Duckett’s versatility extends to the shortest format as well. He was part of England’s squad at the 2024 T20 World Cup and remains a force in white-ball cricket. Domestically, he stars for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred and has honed his game in franchise leagues like Australia’s Big Bash and Pakistan’s PSL. His ability to adapt and dominate in any arena underlines his global appeal. As BBC’s Agnew put it, Duckett is “one of the best all-format batters in the world” – a bowler’s nightmare who can make good deliveries vanish to the boundary. Read more: Najmul steps down as Bangladesh Test captain after Colombo defeat A Journey of Resilience and Redemption Duckett’s path to international stardom began in Farnborough, Kent, where he was born in 1994. Raised in a sports-loving family – his mother, Jayne, represented Britain in lacrosse – he grew up immersed in competition. He attended Stowe School on a sports scholarship, excelling in cricket, hockey, and football. His school coach James Knott credits Duckett’s hockey background for his mastery of the reverse sweep, an audacious shot that has become a hallmark of his batting. Indeed, by the time Duckett arrived at Stowe, he “could already play the reverse sweep and switch hit” thanks to those hockey-honed skills. At age 17, Duckett debuted for Northamptonshire in 2012 while still studying for his A-levels. He soon blossomed into a domestic run machine. In 2015 he amassed 1,002 County Championship runs at an average of 52.73, and in 2016 he exploded with a career-best 282* and over 1,300 first-class runs. That year he swept the Cricket Writers’ and PCA Young Player of the Year awards, earning a call-up to England’s Test and ODI squads. However, early international success proved elusive. He struggled against quality spin in India in late 2016 and was dropped after a few low scores. Then, in 2017, a moment of poor judgement on an Ashes tour – pouring a drink over teammate James Anderson in a Perth bar – led to a suspension and stalled his England hopes. These setbacks could have derailed Duckett, but instead they became fuel for his comeback. His redemption arc began in 2022 when the new Bazball ethos created an opening for his aggressive style. Recalled for the tour of Pakistan, Duckett immediately justified the faith: he struck a blazing maiden Test century (107 off 110 balls) in his first match back and piled up 357 runs in that 3-0 series sweep at an average over 70. He even weathered a painful blow to the thumb to score 85 in England’s record-breaking innings of 823/7 declared in Multan. Since re-establishing himself, Duckett has not looked back. He notched his highest Test score, 182, against Ireland in 2023, and by 2024 he had become the fastest batsman in history to reach 2,000 Test runs in terms of balls faced – a testament to his brisk scoring rate. Forming a formidable opening partnership with fellow Bazballer Zak Crawley, Duckett has consistently given England rapid starts. In one 2024 home Test, he smashed a 32-ball half-century on his way to 71 off 59 against the West Indies, a knock made all the more memorable as he raced the clock with his first child’s birth imminent. Such an innings, full of intent and imagination, has firmly entrenched him in England’s plans. Read more: Devon Conway left out of New Zealand squad for T20 tri-series against Zimbabwe, South Africa Family, Fatherhood and Fearless Motivation Behind Duckett’s success is a close-knit family and a fresh outlook on life. His father, Graham, a financial adviser and Marylebone Cricket Club member, doubles as his agent and has been a steady guiding figure. Duckett also has two sisters, Meg and Emma, who stay out of the limelight but remain part of his support system. In December 2023, he got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, model Paige Ogborne, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Margot, in July 2024. Becoming a father has given Duckett a new sense of perspective. “It’s been different for so many reasons,” he said of balancing cricket with parenthood, “but I’ve found it really switches me off between games. I don’t spend as long... dwelling on what’s happened.” Whether he has a good day or a bad day on the field, the simple duty of changing diapers at home keeps him grounded. “Suddenly, there’s something more important than cricket and scoring runs,” Duckett reflected, noting that fatherhood has helped him move past failures faster. This mental freedom has arguably made him an even more dangerous player, allowing him to play with the uninhibited joy that Bazball encourages.

India wanted to bowl first but was made to bat against England at Headingley — and it worked out well. On Friday, India kicked off the five-Test series with a dominant 359-3 on Day 1, led by standout centuries from new captain Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Gill remained unbeaten on 127 in his first Test as captain — also his first century outside Asia — while Jaiswal scored 101, becoming the first Asian opener to make a Test hundred at Headingley. Both batters played faultless innings. It was a stronger-than-expected beginning to a new chapter in Indian cricket, coming in their first Test in 14 years without retired stars Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or Ravichandran Ashwin. Gill’s performance came after a month of heightened attention following his appointment as India’s 37th Test captain. Meanwhile, left-hander Jaiswal battled through hand cramps and celebrated his century with passion. Asia Cup Archery: Bangladeshi archer Alif win recurve men's singles gold medal Captains are often targeted for their symbolic value, but Gill asserted his leadership with a poised, technically sound century — his sixth in Test cricket — as fans looked to his future with optimism. Admittedly, conditions favored batting. The sun shone, humidity was high, and the pitch flattened out — likely the easiest setup India’s relatively inexperienced lineup will encounter in England. England opted to bowl first, banking on early help from a green-tinted surface and recent stats: the last six Test wins at Headingley came after bowling first. However, the movement was minimal, and England struggled with accuracy. In the first hour, only 35% of deliveries hit the right line and length — the second-worst figure for England in a home Test opening session since 2019. Their bowlers labored throughout the day, with all three main pacers conceding over 4.3 runs per over. Captain Ben Stokes, playing just his second competitive match of the year, was the most effective, finishing with 2-43. England bowling coach Tim Southee commented, “The strength of this side is that things can be tough at times but they try not to get too caught up in the emotions of bad days.” India’s openers Jaiswal and KL Rahul capitalized on wayward bowling with elegant off-side drives. England, eager for a breakthrough, burned a review on an lbw appeal against Jaiswal, though the ball pitched well outside leg stump. Jaiswal’s only moment of discomfort came from a 145 kph (90 mph) delivery by Brydon Carse that struck his ribcage. He and Rahul combined for 16 boundaries, all on the off side, before Rahul edged Carse to first slip just before lunch for 42. Joe Root took the catch — his 209th — placing him one short of Rahul Dravid’s all-time record for non-wicketkeepers. Debutant Sai Sudharsan followed soon after, dismissed by Stokes after facing only five balls. Gill and Jaiswal then steadied the innings in a productive, wicketless second session. On his first England tour, Jaiswal dominated the off side, with only 10 runs scored to the leg side. While in the 80s, Jaiswal began cramping in both hands but only lingered in the 90s for six balls. He reached his century off 144 deliveries, which included 16 fours and a six that cleared deep point. He celebrated by twirling his helmet and punching the air — but was bowled for 101 by a sharp delivery from Stokes right after tea. “I went after the loose balls,” Jaiswal said afterward. “Gill was amazing — calm and composed. It did swing, but I focused on sticking to my process and enjoying the moment.” Australia drop Labuschagne, rule out injured Smith for West Indies test opener Vice-captain Rishabh Pant joined Gill and initially played with restraint as Shoaib Bashir tightened one end. However, as the final session wore on and the bowlers tired, the pair accelerated. Gill brought up his century with his 14th boundary, reaching the milestone in 140 balls, celebrating with a yell and bow to the dressing room. A six over fine leg carried him past 2,000 Test runs. Pant soon followed with his 22nd Test fifty, off 91 balls, also crossing 3,000 Test runs. He finished the day on 65 not out, having hit two sixes late on to excite India’s supporters. India ended the day in full control, marking a strong start to their new era.  

England ousted Zimbabwe cricketers at a rate on Friday that suggested their four-day test will be over with a day to spare at Trent Bridge. Despite an acclaimed fightback by Zimbabwe for much of the second day, the visitor was out for 265 and forced to follow on. At stumps, Zimbabwe was 30-2, still 270 runs away from making England bat again. A magnificent maiden test century by opener Brian Bennett kept Zimbabwe's spirit aflame, but his exit for 139 after tea sparked a collapse of six wickets for 26 runs, including Bennett in the second innings for 1. Rain won't appear to save Zimbabwe on Saturday, when clouds will return, giving England's battery ideal conditions to wrap up a big win in the first test matchup between the teams in 22 years. Centuries on Thursday by Zac Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope staked England to an intimidating 498-3 overnight on a flat pitch. The innings was declared at 565-6 after nine more overs on Friday morning. Pope added two runs to his overnight 169 until he drove at Tanaka Chavinga and nicked behind, ending the third highest of his eight hundreds. Captain Ben Stokes was bounced out, and declared when Harry Brook chopped on for 58 off 50 balls. Sam Cook, the first England debutant to bowl the first over in 32 years, was welcomed to test cricket by Bennett hitting three successive boundaries. But Cook got his maiden wicket in just his third over when Ben Curran edged to Brook at second slip. That was the only Zimbabwe wicket to fall by lunch, taken at 73-1 with Bennett and Craig Ervine cruising. Ervine, on 42, was also caught by Brook, and was the 50th test wicket for off-spinner Shoaib Bashir. He's England's youngest to the milestone at 21. Bashir also claimed Sean Williams. But soon after, Bashir left the field with a bloodied pinkie finger when he tried a caught-and-bowled against Sikandar Raza. Stokes finished bowling the over and another chance was mishandled when Joe Root at first slip dropped a sitter off Bennett on 89. An unfazed Bennett rushed to his century in the next over after hitting three straight boundaries against pacer Gus Atkinson. Angelo Mathews to retire from Tests after Bangladesh match Trent Bridge stood to applaud Bennett's maiden ton and the fastest test century by a Zimbabwean, in 97 balls. But Zimbabwe hopes of sighting the follow-on target of 416 were ruined by a double strike by Stokes in his first bowling stint in six months. He got Raza to nick behind and bowled Wessly Madhevere to have 2-3 off 2.2 overs. By tea, Zimbabwe was 210-5 and Bennett was steaming at 122 off 112 balls but running out of partners with teammate Richard Ngavara unavailable after suffering a back spasm on Thursday. Bennett was undone when he popped a Josh Tongue delivery to Pope at short leg. Bennett's 139 off 143 balls included 104 runs in boundaries. He received another standing ovation. Bashir returned to help wrap up the extra-short tail and took 3-62. Forced to follow on with 10 overs left in the day, Zimbabwe's first-innings leaders were both removed for the second time in the day; Bennett by Atkinson leg before on 1 and Ervine caught at short leg on 2.

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was picked for India's Champions Trophy squad on Saturday despite doubts about his fitness. Bumrah suffered back spasms and didn't bowl on the last day of the fifth and final test against Australia in Sydney two weeks ago. He was the leading wicket-taker in the series. India chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar suggested Bumrah may play the third one-day international against England on Feb. 12 in Ahmedabad to test his fitness for the Champions Trophy, which starts for India eight days later in the United Arab Emirates. “Bumrah has been advised to off load from bowling for five weeks and he won't be available for the first two ODIs against England. We are awaiting news on his fitness and will know in early February from the medical team,” Agarkar said. Captain Rohit Sharma added, “We were not sure about his fitness at the moment, and thus picked Arshdeep Singh to perform his roles with the new and old ball.” Opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal was included even though he has yet to play an ODI. Jaiswal takes Suryakumar Yadav’s spot and will be the third opener choice after skipper Sharma and Shubman Gill. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer complete the top-four options. Jaiswal averages 54 in List A cricket and he will compete for the second opener’s slot with Gill, who averages 58.20 in ODIs. There will also be a keen spotlight on the batting form of Sharma and Kohli who both struggled in the five tests against Australia. Missing the cut from the squad which reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup were Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Kishan, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin has retired, and Yadav and Kishan have been dropped. Rishabh Pant and Lokesh Rahul are the wicketkeeper-batter options. Pacer Krishna and allrounder Thakur lost their spots as India bet heavy on spin. Left-arm spin allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel were picked alongside off-spin allrounder Washington Sundar. Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav complete India's spin options. Kuldeep Yadav has missed much of the season since October after a groin issue led to hernia surgery. In the pace department, India has opted for Bumrah, Singh and Mohammed Shami. They will be complemented by allrounders Hardik Pandya and Nitish Reddy, who impressed with a maiden test century in Australia. Shami has also been picked for the Twenty20s against England before the ODIs. He took 23 wickets in the 2023 World Cup. India will play its Champions Trophy matches in the UAE after the government refused clearance for the team to travel to Pakistan owing to political tensions. While the rest of the tournament will be in Pakistan, India will play its group matches in Dubai against Bangladesh on Feb. 20, Pakistan on Feb. 23, and New Zealand on March 2. If India qualifies for the semifinals or final, both matches will also be in Dubai. If India doesn't qualify for the final, it will be staged in Lahore on March 9. India won the 2013 Champions Trophy under MS Dhoni and was runner-up to Pakistan in 2017 under Virat Kohli. Both tournaments were in England.

Heavy snow and freezing rain has brought widespread disruption across the UK, with several major airports forced to suspend flights and many key roads in the north of England unnavigable. With the weather set to stay inclement on Sunday, there are concerns that many rural communities could be cut off with up to 40 centimeters (15 inches) of snow on ground above 300 meters (985 feet). The National Grid, which oversees the country's electricity network, said it had been working to restore power after outages across the country. The company’s live map shows power cuts in Birmingham in central England, Bristol in the west and Cardiff in Wales. Many sporting events have already been postponed, but the heavyweight Premier League fixture between Liverpool and Manchester United is still on, though there will be another inspection later. Parts of UK flooded by heavy rain as wild weather continues to disrupt New Year events Liverpool's John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport had to close runways and divert flights, Birmingham Airport also suspended operations for several hours overnight but said it was on schedule for “business as usual” on Sunday. The road network was heavily impacted too, on what would have been a very busy day with many families returning home from the Christmas and New Year break and students heading back to universities. On the railways, many services were canceled with National Rail warning of disruption continuing into the working week. Britain's main weather forecaster, the Met Office, has forecast the sleet and snow will continue to push north on Sunday and be heaviest in northern England and into southern Scotland. After experiencing freezing rain for a time, the south will turn milder. Frost and icy patches will continue through the early part of the week, but Monday and Tuesday will become drier with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers.

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of cricket for at least three months because of a torn left hamstring. Stokes will undergo surgery on the hamstring next month, the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement on Monday. He was injured a week ago during the third test loss to New Zealand in Hamilton. The 33-year-old allrounder had already been left out of England's squad announced on Sunday for the Champions Trophy in February and March in Pakistan. Hamstring issues previously forced Stokes to miss the home summer series against Sri Lanka and the first test in Pakistan in October.