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The 2023 Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final will take place in Cape Town’s DHL Stadium on Saturday, May 27 at 18:30 local (17:30 UK & Ire) as defending champions DHL Stormers meet Munster in a clash of the hemispheres. As the highest-ranked team to reach the Grand Final, DHL Stormers (3) will host the …
The DHL Stormers will have an opportunity to defend their Vodacom United Rugby Championship title after securing their second successive home final following their victory against Connacht in Cape Town and Munster’s surprise win over Leinster in Dublin in the semi-finals this weekend. The Capetonians defeated Connacht 43-25 at the DHL Stadium in the first …
The Cell C Sharks and Fidelity ADT Lions claimed important wins against the Currie Cup Premier Division’s frontrunners, while there were further victories for DHL Western Province and the Vodacom Bulls in the matches staged over the weekend, with all four visiting sides victorious. The only major change to the Premier Division log sees DHL …
Sou African Rugby has advised that reports that Mr Chris Swift was appointed as administrator of the Western Province Rugby Football Union are incorrect. An announcement is expected to be made shortly once the South African Rugby Union Executive Council has considered the recommendation of its Finance Committee. The new incumbent replaces Rian Oberholzer who …
Match tickets available as of 13 May; 24 teams competing in four venues across Argentina; Tournament kicks off on 20 May, Final on 11 June.
Football's Future Legends will take centre stage as the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™ kicks off.
Category 1 tickets for the FIFA U-20 World Cup are now on sale.
Click here to access the ticket sales portal (https://apo-opa.info/3I4Fqdx)
Click here to view the match schedule (https://apo-opa.info/41y01hy)
The U-20 World Cup will feature 52 matches taking place across four host cities: La Plata, Mendoza, San Juan, and Santiago del Estero. It will be the first time this tournament will be held in South America since Colombia 2011.
The tournament will open on 20 May with four matches on the opening day in San Juan and Santiago del Estero, including hosts Argentina taking on Uzbekistan in Santiago del Estero Stadium.
Both cities will also play host to the quarter-final round, while La Plata Stadium will host the semi-finals, 3rd place match, and Final.
Official song “Glorious” released
Ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023™, FIFA has also launched the Official Song of the tournament. The song, titled "Glorious" (https://apo-opa.info/3M2bArw), was written by Indonesian electronic trio Weird Genius, and performed together with young Indonesian superstars Lyodra, Tiara Andini, and Ziva Magnolya. The song will serve as the anthemic backdrop to the drama, thrills, and excitements of the tournament.
The song is available on streaming services:
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media:
AfricanMedia@fifa.org
Grey High can add 2023 to their list of victories over Paarl Boys’ High School after another convincing win in Paarl on Saturday, taking this one by 39-30. It was the monster pack of Grey that overpowered the home side, setting up the groundwork for the win, especially in the first half when the strong …
Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ (www.FIFA.com) Brand to be launched in Los Angeles, USA, on 17 May 2023; #WeAre26 campaign launched, revealing the faces and places of the 16 Host Cities and inviting fans to get involved; 16 bespoke Host City brands developed by FIFA in an unprecedented initiative to unite fans across the continent.
On Wednesday, 17 May 2023, the Official Brand of the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup™ will be unveiled to fans around the world, with FIFA and host countries Canada, Mexico and the USA celebrating a major milestone on the road to the biggest sporting event ever. The unveiling will take place at 19:30 local time (04:30 CEST on 18 May) in Los Angeles, USA, one of the tournament's 16 Host Cities, at a star-studded show with special guest performances live-streamed to the whole world on FIFA+ (https://apo-opa.info/3BkOp6O).
Projections, events and digital amplifications across the other Host Cities in Canada, Mexico and the USA will also take place on 17 May, giving fans another opportunity to get involved in the Official Brand launch and start counting down the days until kick-off.
Anticipation has already started building as FIFA, the 2026 host countries and the event's commercial partners launched #WeAre26, a campaign that will empower people, places and communities to play an integral role in introducing the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Official Brand. The campaign will capture portraits of faces and places that tell their own unique FIFA World Cup stories, featuring individuals and experiences that await fans in 2026 and inviting everyone to be a part of #WeAre26.
“The Official Brand introduces fans to the tournament's new emblem, typeface and striking colour palette, three exciting elements that will bring this tournament to life in the coming months and years. But it also goes beyond that, as we open countless opportunities to local communities and our partners to integrate their own story. A local football fan, a global superstar or a famous location, the brand will spotlight distinctive aspects and highlight the inclusive and diverse aspect of the first FIFA World Cup featuring 48 teams,” said FIFA's Chief Business Officer, Romy Gai.
The Official Brand will be accompanied by 16 bespoke Host City brands developed by FIFA in an unprecedented initiative to integrate local fans and cultures across Canada, Mexico and the USA. Each Host City brand embodies its own world‑renowned culture and heritage, in which millions of international fans will immerse themselves when kick-off comes in 2026. The public in all 16 Host Cities will be treated to a range of activations on 18 May, when the artworks will be presented by the hosts themselves. Everyone taking part is encouraged to use the hashtags #FIFAWorldCup and #WeAre26 and join the celebration.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the biggest single-sport event ever. Three host countries, 16 Host Cities, 48 teams and 104 matches will unite an entire continent and showcase a momentous new tournament to ensure the ultimate football show. The much-loved four-team group stage phase remains ahead of an expanded knockout phase that will see the 32 world's best teams fight it out for the game's ultimate prize.
With more countries, cities, teams and matches, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the most inclusive and diverse sporting event ever, uniting the entire world on a vast stage and engaging millions of fans across 16 stadiums and billions worldwide.
Fans and members of the media worldwide are invited to tune in to the event via FIFA+ (https://apo-opa.info/3BkOp6O).
For general FIFA media enquiries, please contact the FIFA Media Team on media@fifa.org. The FIFA Media Team can also assist with specific Host City media team contacts if required.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media:
AfricanMedia@fifa.org
Artificial pitch built in Kebbi, a state in northwestern Nigeria; another being installed further south in Ugborodo, in Delta State; projects supported by the FIFA Forward Programme (https://www.FIFA.com).
“Before it became a career, I just played football for fun. Farming was my main job. I had to finish work on the farm before I could go and play football. The only goal I had in life was to have my own farm.”
Reported in the Nigerian press, those words belong to Porto and Nigeria full-back Zaidu Sanusi, who hails from the state of Kebbi. They could, however, belong to any number of young people who live in this northwestern corner of Nigeria, which is home to 4.4 million people and lies on the borders with Niger and Benin. It is a part of the world where football is secondary in importance to other matters, but where talented players like Sanusi are not in short supply.
It is no surprise, then, that Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi, was chosen back in 2020 as the site for the construction of an artificial football pitch that is now available for young boys and girls to use. Meanwhile, a second pitch is under construction in Ugborodo, situated further to the south. Undertaken by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), these two ambitious projects have received around USD 2 million in funding from FIFA through its Forward Programme.
The main goal of the programme, which is now into its third cycle, is the growth of football around the world. Forward 3.0 (https://apo-opa.info/3VWIiPy) is giving the game's global governing body the chance to redouble its efforts and lay down ever more solid foundations for promoting this growth, with the construction of facilities an important lever in supporting the whole process.
“The aim is simply to develop football in the region,” said Alhadji Abubakar Ladan, NFF representative for the state of Kebbi. “Of the seven states in the northwestern region [Nigeria has 36 states in all], Kebbi has the largest number of amateur teams. Even so, there is no question that it also has fewer football facilities than the rest. The NFF is aware of the efforts being made to develop football here, but these efforts are being held back by the lack of facilities. This artificial pitch is a boost and a push in the right direction.”
It has certainly proved a source of motivation and delight for local young footballers, who have made it their second home as they work on the skills they hope will one day make them Super Falcons and Super Eagles. A unique pitch flanked by a stand that is regularly filled with enthusiastic supporters, it is now the scene of friendlies, competitive matches and training sessions.
“Football used to be just a street sport for us, so we're delighted to be able to play on this wonderful pitch,” said Zeynup Dauda, a teenager from Birnin Kebbi. “This sport means a lot to me. I tend to get a bit bored at home, but when I'm on the pitch, it's magical. I forget everything. My ultimate dream would be to play for a big team in a big stadium and on a big pitch. I want to play all over the world. I want to play for the whole nation.”
Zaidu Sanusi has shown the way for his home region and has proved that nothing is impossible, that there are pathways running from the street to the football pitch, between farms and the world's greatest stadiums, and between dreams and reality.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media:
AfricanMedia@fifa.org
Utility back Mnombo Zwelendaba makes his return from injury in DHL Western Province’s Currie Cup encounter with the Novavit Griffons in Welkom on Friday. There are a few changes to the DHL Western Province team for the game at Down Touch Investment Stadium, which kicks off at 15h00 on Friday. Zwelendaba comes in on the …
The DHL Stormers will have one goal in mind when they meet Connacht in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship semi-final in Cape Town on Saturday – to deliver a top-class performance that will secure them a place in the Grand Final in two weeks’ time and a shot at defending the title they won last …
Former Wales international wing Mark Jones has been named as Wales Under 20 [men’s] interim head coach after Byron Hayward tendered his resignation as Lead Pathway coach. The Welsh Rugby Union has acted swiftly in replacing Hayward with Jones who has a vast pedigree as a former player with Wales and the Scarlets before beginning …
The third edition of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) 100% Cricket Future Leaders Programme begins on 18 May 2023 and comprises a record-breaking intake of 25 future female leaders in cricket. The mentees, who have increased from 20 in 2022, will be paired with senior leaders from across global cricket to work on a one-on-one …
The race for Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final places will intensify this weekend, with teams outside the top four anxious to get back to winning ways, while the First Division and Mzansi Challenge continues with matches in Despatch, Windhoek and Strand. With five rounds remaining before the Currie Cup Premier Division playoffs, the Toyota Cheetahs …
All five participating United Rugby Championship nations were represented in the United Rugby Championship Elite XV for the 2022/23 season. Ireland accounted for six of the 15 players selected, which were determined by a media vote, with four coming from South Africa, two each from Scotland and Italy and one from Wales. A total of …
The gold medal for Rugby Sevens at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris cannot be won in Toulouse in 2023, but don’t tell the Springbok Sevens team that. In fact, according to Blitzbok coach Sandile Ngcobo, their approach is to use this weekend’s HSBC France Sevens at Stade Ernst-Wallon as an Olympic trial. This may …
The Disciplinary process related to Tom Jordan Red Card in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Semi-Final game against Munster on Saturday, May 6 has resulted in an five week suspension. After an act of foul play by Glasgow Warriors player No 10 (Tom Jordan), referee Andrea Piardi showed the Player a Red Card in the …
Two South Africans, Jaco Peyper and Marius Jonker, were included in the team of match officials World Rugby announced on Wednesday for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France later this year. A total of 26 Emirates Match Officials (12 referees, seven assistant referees and seven Television Match Officials) representing nine nations with more than 630 …
There is no doubt that a core of experienced Blitzboks available for the final two legs of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series has boosted the confidence of the squad, players and management alike. The team arrived in Toulouse for the penultimate tournament of the current World Series, the HSBC France Sevens and according to …
Ulster hooker Tom Stewart has landed an awards double after being named United Rugby Championship’s Next-Gen Player of the Season for 2022/23 awards. This accolade is open only to players aged under 23 at the start of the season and who have earned no more than five international caps at that point, with a media …
The DHL Stormers happily accepted Connacht’s gift of a BKT URC home semi-final in Cape Town but the defending champions won’t be returning any favours as they continue their ruthless streak at the DHL Stadium. (Related: This Clash Will be Brutal) It has been coach John Dobson’s mantra that his squad is all about making …
The SA Rugby Academy squad will go on tour to Johannesburg and Durban in the next week for two friendly matches to increase the players’ match sharpness and fitness in preparation for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship which South Africa is hosting from next month. The travelling group of players and management leave Cape Town …
As the Vodacom United Rugby Championship play-offs reach fever pitch, rugby fans are gearing up for what promises to be a brutal clash between reigning champions, the DHL Stormers, and the ultimate underdog of the season, Connacht Rugby. The Irish province has defied the odds and punched above their weight this season, proving to be …
South Africa’s Jaco Peyper and Wayne Barnes of England will referee this season’s Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals respectively following the announcement today (Tuesday 9 May) of the match officials for the showpiece games who have been appointed by a selection committee chaired by EPCR’s Head of Match Officials, Tony Spreadbury. Peyper …
The group will be led by captain Jamie Ritchie and will be trimmed to the requisite 33-player list ahead of the tournament itself, which gets underway in France in September. Of the 23 forwards selected by Townsend, flanker Rory Darge returns to the international set-up having missed the Guinness Six Nations through injury, with winger …
