Three weeks before kickoff in the first-ever World Cup match in Canada, football leaders in the country voiced hope the tournament would finally give the sport the cultural prominence it deserved.

Alec Segaert won the 12th stage of the Giro d'Italia on Thursday after a surprise late attack denied the sprinters their chance of a bunch finish, as his teammate Afonso Eulalio again stayed in the overall lead.

Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was handed a surprise recall to Germany's 26-man World Cup squad on Thursday, coming out of international retirement to play in the tournament for a fifth time.

Former Senegal star El Hadji Diouf shares the belief of CAF president Patrick Motsepe that an African team can win the 2026 World Cup, but Nigeria great Jay-Jay Okocha is unsure.

London is to host a star-studded all-women Athlos track and field meet on September 18 as founder Alexis Ohanian builds towards his dream of "a F1 for track and field".