FOOTBALL

BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Image Courtesy : Internet The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially began in spectacular style on Thursday night at the historic Estadio Azteca, as the global football community witnessed the opening of the first-ever 48-team tournament, jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The iconic stadium, which previously hosted the

BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Image Courtesy: BBC News Mexico City – The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially got underway in spectacular fashion as global music icons Shakira and Burna Boy delivered a thrilling performance during the opening ceremony at the iconic Azteca Stadium on Thursday, setting the stage for football’s biggest tournament. Ahead of the

BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Image Courtesy: BBC Sports As the countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 reaches its final stages, football legends and leading pundits have shared their predictions on who they believe will lift the prestigious trophy at the end of the tournament. The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway on Thursday at

BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Image Courtesy: Football Federation of Sri Lanka Nuwara Eliya, June 6, 2026 – In a landmark move set to transform the administrative landscape of Sri Lankan football, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has announced a historic initiative to establish permanent office facilities for all its member leagues across the

BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Image Courtesy: AIPS LAUSANNE – The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has called on FIFA to urgently intervene after numerous accredited journalists encountered visa-related difficulties ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, raising concerns over media access to one of the world’s biggest sporting events. With only days remaining before the

BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW With the countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 entering its final stages, several of the tournament favourites are using international friendlies to finalise their squads and tactical plans ahead of football’s biggest event. Defending champions Argentina national football team, five-time world champions Brazil national football team, along with Spain national

BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW In a major boost for football broadcasting in India, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has acquired the media rights to 39 FIFA tournaments, including the prestigious FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, and FIFA World Cup 2030. The landmark agreement will see Zee broadcast FIFA competitions in India

BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Japan’s veteran left-back Yuto Nagatomo is preparing for a record-breaking fifth FIFA World Cup appearance, continuing a remarkable international career defined by longevity, passion, and leadership. At 39 years old, Nagatomo remains an influential figure in the national setup, even as Japan prepares for the tournament in the United States, Canada,

BY SANDHYA DISSANAYAKE, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Sysco LABS recently hosted Tech Liga 2026, a futsal tournament that brought together Sri Lanka’s technology sector for a day of competition, networking, and team bonding beyond the workplace. The event was held at Club Fusion and featured 14 teams representing 10 leading technology companies, competing across a packed schedule of