Author: Editorial Team
NEW YORK — FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared the 2026 World Cup a success on Friday, saying the expanded tournament had united people around the world as it heads into Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain. Standing alongside U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York, Infantino credited the United States for helping deliver what he described as the biggest and most successful World Cup in history. “The American dream, Mr. President, came to reality,” Infantino said. “We united the world.” Trump hosted Infantino and international football figures ahead of the World Cup final and praised the tournament…
What starts as a temporary financial support can become a family business. That is the idea behind the Community Market launched by the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority (ADSS), where 21 beneficiary families are showcasing everything from handmade Emirati crafts and crochet creations to stuffed vine leaves, chocolates and specialty coffee in a bid to build sustainable incomes instead of relying solely on financial assistance. The three-day market, which opened on Friday at Nabdh Al Falah Centre and runs until July 19, is the first edition of what ADSS says will become a recurring initiative as part of its wider…
NEW YORK — Spain captain Rodri believes his side must produce its best performance yet to defeat defending champion Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final, saying La Roja has steadily built toward this moment over the past five years. Spain enters the final after winning the UEFA Nations League in 2023 and the European Championship in 2024, achievements Rodri said laid the foundation for the team’s run to its second World Cup final. “We’ve been gradually growing,” Rodri said Friday. “We have to keep doing the same things we’re doing because it has been a process for all five years.”…
NEW YORK — FIFA will award championship rings to World Cup winners for the first time, introducing a North American sporting tradition to international football ahead of Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain. In addition to the traditional gold medals and the World Cup trophy, members of the winning team will receive customized championship rings to commemorate their triumph. The captain and coach of the victorious team will be presented with temporary rings immediately after the final, with the full collection delivered later. FIFA said the winning squad will receive **30 custom-designed gold rings**, featuring the World Cup trophy on…
The UAE Lottery has announced the results of its latest Lucky Day Draw on Saturday night, with three participants winning Dh50,000 each through the Lucky Chance raffle. The winning numbers for Draw No. 260718, held on Saturday, July 18, were 13, 8, 10, 30, 31 and 22, while the Lucky Number was 2. The three Lucky Chance winners, who can each claim Dh50,000, held the IDs CD5467064, CS6980871 and CZ7657185. Lucky Day Draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 9.30pm, giving participants the opportunity to win the Dh30 million Grand Prize, the Dh5 million Second Prize and three guaranteed…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia climbed to 13th place among the world’s largest recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, up from 17th in 2024, according to the latest World Investment Report issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The report showed that net FDI inflows into the Kingdom reached $32.6 billion in 2025, compared with $21.3 billion in 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of nearly 53%. Saudi Arabia’s total inward FDI stock also rose to $293.3 billion, reflecting continued investor confidence and the growing attractiveness of the Kingdom’s strategic sectors. UNCTAD attributed the strong performance…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia renewed its categorical rejection of Iran’s attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure, including a power generation and water desalination plant in Kuwait. In a statement on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry condemned in the strongest terms Iran’s continued attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, reaffirming the Kingdom’s full support for the three countries in the measures they take in response to the Iranian attacks, which violate international law and the principles of good neighborliness. The Kingdom stressed the need for an immediate halt to all forms of military escalation to preserve the security and stability of the…
ZURICH, 18th July, 2026 (WAM) — The 104th match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 pits European champions Spain against defending world and South American champions Argentina. Argentina have taken a hard, albeit thrilling, road to their second World Cup final in succession and seventh overall. The defending champions opened their campaign with three successive group stage victories, led by the extraordinary Lionel Messi, who now has eight goals in this tournament and 21 across his long World Cup career. Spain reached the final after outclassing favourites France in the semi-finals. Luis de la Fuente’s side controlled the match from…
The UAE expresses its deep concern over the developments that the region has witnessed over the past few days, and has called for an immediate halt to the escalation and to avoid exacerbating tensions and instability in the region. The UAE called for exercising the utmost restraint in order to avoid dangerous repercussions, and the region being pulled into new levels of violence and instability. The UAE called for an immediate end to hostilities and a swift return to negotiations and stressed the importance of ensuring safe, uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it vital to the global…
MAKKAH — Saudi Arabia recorded a 22.5% increase in Umrah visa arrivals at the start of the 1448H Umrah season, with 931,500 pilgrims entering the Kingdom on Umrah visas between Dhul Hijjah 15 and the end of Muharram, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program announced. The two entities also said more than 1.27 million pilgrims arrived from abroad during the same period, reflecting continued growth in the Kingdom’s Umrah sector as part of the goals of Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program. The ministry said the figures underscore the leadership’s continued support for serving…