Real Madrid held a press conference ahead of their Champions League match against Kairat in Almaty. One of the team’s captains, Federico Valverde, was the first to answer reporters’ questions, followed later by coach Xabi Alonso. Valverde emphasized the importance of winning after the devastating 2-5 defeat to Atlético Madrid.…
Kairat head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin and defender Egor Sorokin spoke at a press conference on Monday ahead of their Champions League match with Real Madrid, outlining tactics and emphasizing mental strength in preparation for the historic encounter. Real Madrid’s debut in Kazakhstan Playing in Kazakhstan for the first time, the…
The main event of the Kazakh football season will take place tomorrow. On Sept. 30, Kairat will play its first-ever home match in the Champions League main tournament against Real Madrid. Champions League 2025-26. Round 2 Kairat (Almaty, Kazakhstan) vs. Real (Madrid, Spain) (Sept. 30, Almaty, Ortalyk Stadium, 9:45 p.m.)…
Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior has won a lawsuit over trademark rights against an entrepreneur from La Coruña, El País reported. In 2018, the businessman registered a clothing brand under the name Vinicius. Both the Commercial Court of La Coruña and the Court of Appeal ruled that he…
Kairat announced its UEFA Youth League match against Real Madrid U-19 will be played without spectators. The Sept. 30 game will be held at noon at the Segizbayev Academy field, Mailin Street, Almaty. Entry is restricted to coaches, academy staff, players’ parents and accredited media; general fans are not permitted.…
Israel has avoided immediate expulsion from European football thanks to U.S. support, according to the Israeli daily Israel Hayom. Earlier this month, Israel Hayom reported, without citing sources, that UEFA’s Executive Committee might consider suspending Israel’s national team and clubs on Sept. 23. According to the outlet, this push, allegedly…
FIFA is considering expanding the 2030 tournament to 64 teams, according to the Argentine sports outlet Olé. The organization is expected to back a proposal from the South American football confederation, CONMEBOL, to increase the number of participants. The World Cup, marking the 100th anniversary of the first tournament, was…
A lawyer and two sisters of the late Argentine football player Diego Maradona have been found guilty of fraud, La Nacion reported. Sources familiar with the matter told La Nacion that Maradona’s lawyer Matías Morla and two sisters Rita and Claudia illegally managed the footballer’s brand. The court ruled to…
Eric Cantona, a former Manchester United star, has urged football officials to bar Israel’s national team and clubs from international competition over the war in Gaza. He made these remarks on Thursday at a «Together for Palestine» charity event in London, according to Haaretz. Cantona, 59, cited the ban on…
Kairat Almaty started in the Champions League group stage with three goals conceded in three minutes and a penalty successfully saved by the team’s young third-choice goalkeeper. The match between Kairat and Portugal’s Sporting on Sept. 18 in Lisbon ended 4-1 (Sporting: Francisco Trincão 44’, 65’; Alisson Santos 67’; Geovany…
On Thursday, the U.S. tennis team clinched a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan, earning a spot in the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals for the first time since 2021, according to ESPN. Emma Navarro opened the day with a tight win over Yulia Putintseva, prevailing 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (6). However, Elena…
Kazakhstan dominated the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, finishing at the top of the unofficial medal table as the event concluded Sunday. Medal haul Kazakh fighters claimed seven golds, one silver and two bronzes. World titles were awarded to Sanzhar Tashkenbay, Makhmud Sabyrkhan, Torekhan Sabyrkhan, Aibek Oralbay, Alua Balkibekova, Aida…
The Belgium national football team eliminated Kazakhstan with a 6-0 victory (Kevin De Bruyne 42’, 84’; Jérémy Doku 44’, 60’; Nicolas Raskin 51’; and Thomas Meunier 87’) in Brussels. It was Kazakhstan’s third loss under coach Ali Aliyev, leaving the team with no mathematical chance of qualifying for the 2026…
The Philadelphia Eagles opened their 2025 campaign on Thursday night against long-time rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, but the game took a dramatic turn before the first snap. Star defensive tackle Jalen Carter was tossed from the contest immediately following the opening kickoff after appearing to spit on Cowboys quarterback Dak…
Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty and Scotland’s Celtic played the return match of the playoff round in Almaty, which ended 0-0, just like the first leg in Glasgow. However, the penalty shootout went in Kairat’s favor, with goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov saving three kicks and paving the way to the main Eurocup. Among…
Eduard Bazrov, coach of prominent Kazakhstani UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov, discussed whether the fighter will return to the Octagon before the end of the year. The Russian specialist described Rakhmonov’s situation as «very difficult.» «About the situation with Shavkat, I can’t say anything for sure. The only thing is, Shavkat…
The Asian U19 & U22 Boxing Championships wrapped up Aug. 11 in Bangkok, Thailand, with Kazakhstan taking home five gold medals and four silvers. U22 menIn the men’s U22 finals, Kazakhstan’s team faced Uzbekistan in five gold-medal bouts, winning three. Nurislam Kaldybayev (60 kg), Sanzhar-Ali Begaliyev (80 kg, pictured) and…
Kazakh schoolchildren are competing in the World Chess Championship, currently underway in the U.S. The tournament runs from Aug. 3 to 6 on the campus of Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. This year’s World Schools Team Championship features 286 young players across 55 teams representing 48 countries. Among them…
Sora Rakhmonova, the three-time hand-to-hand fighting champion and a sibling of prominent UFC fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov, commented on a car accident involving her brother’s close family members. She expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. «May the Creator be pleased with those who call and are concerned about…
The International Testing Agency (ITA) has provisionally suspended 2024 Olympic champion Lazizbek Mullajonov after he tested positive for a banned substance. The 26-year-old Uzbek boxer failed a doping test conducted a month and a half ago. A sample collected on June 11, during an out-of-competition period, tested positive for methasterone,…
Kazakhstan’s men’s epee team has stormed into the semi-finals of the 2025 FIE Senior World Fencing Championships, pulling off a series of impressive victories in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Kazakh squad edged out Italy 45-43 in a tense quarterfinal showdown to secure a spot in the final four. En route to…
After a flurry of bronze medals in the opening days of the 2025 FISU World University Games in Germany, Kazakhstan has finally claimed its first gold. Taekwondo athlete Samirkhon Ababakirov took the top spot in the men’s 63 kg weight class. Gold at last! To reach the final, Ababakirov defeated…
On the fourth day of the 2025 FISU World University Games in Germany, Kazakhstan’s Nodira Akhmedova, Tamerlan Tleules and Batyrkhan Toleugali each claimed a bronze medal, adding to the national team’s overall medal tally. The Kazakh athletes fought hard but fell in the semifinals, each losing to the eventual Universiade…
Kazakhstani UFC star Shavkat Rakhmonov posted a photo of himself with his new car — a Mercedes-AMG G 63 — on Instagram. «If you don’t make such a gift to yourself, no one will take care of you,» Rakhmonov wrote in the caption. According to the official Mercedes-Benz dealer in…
