Alex Albon plans to visit South Africa at the end of July, which is currently the closest event to a Grand Prix for local fans.
Williams has confirmed that the driver of the Atlassian Williams F1 Team will visit in partnership with brands Super Group — Betway and Jackpot City. This visit followed a month-long tour during which the Williams FW48 show car visited shopping centers in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town.
This public event allowed fans to see the Formula 1 race car up close and also provided an opportunity to win VIP meetings with Albon during his stay.
Although it is not equivalent to a start on the Kyalami track, Formula 1 fans in South Africa have had nostalgia for the sport since 1993. South Africa hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1993 when Alain Prost won the Kyalami Grand Prix in a Williams FW15C.
According to Williams, Albon's visit will be the first official return of an active Williams driver to South African soil since Prost's victory, which occurred more than three decades ago.
Albon stated that he has always wanted to visit South Africa and called the country's fans 'among the most passionate' in this sport. He noted: 'It's incredible that I am the first Williams driver here since Alain Prost won in 1993, and I would love to see a race in Africa.'
The publication The Race previously reported that Kyalami's plans to upgrade to FIA Grade 1 status were approved, which is a necessary condition for a potential Formula 1 Grand Prix to be held there in the future. The same report mentioned that South Africa's application process attracted interest from Cape Town, as Cape Town received 'international money' and put forward its candidacy.
The Williams team emphasizes that its efforts to attract fans are based on the fact that, according to projections, only 1% of global Formula 1 fans will be able to attend a Grand Prix in person throughout their lives. The team reported that its fan zones in Melbourne, Austin, and Las Vegas attracted over 340,000 visitors in the last two years, explaining the significance of the show car's appearance in the South African shopping center.
Super Group CEO, Neil Manashe, noted that the reaction to the roadshow demonstrated the scale of local interest. He stated: 'Formula 1 has an incredibly passionate community in South Africa, and we are proud to help bring the sport closer to fans through our partnership with Atlassian Williams F1 Team.'
Currently, South Africa is receiving Albon and the Williams show car.
12h Livre expressed its desire to obtain access to the pilot test.
The draw for the football tournament at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya has determined the groups and opponents for the men's and women's national teams of Uzbekistan.
The men's national team of Uzbekistan, as part of the U23 squad, has been placed in Group C. Within this group, the team will compete against teams from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Kuwait.
The women's national team of Uzbekistan will participate in Group G. Its opponents will be China, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.
After the completion of the group stage, the teams will continue to fight for tournament medals according to the established competition rules.
The International Federation of Football (FIFA) has completed its analysis of the Uzbekistan national team's performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling the team's participation a historic debut in the world's premier football tournament.
In its official review, FIFA noted that Uzbekistan's campaign concluded in the group stage. Nevertheless, the country's first appearance at the World Cup marked a significant milestone in the history of its national football team.
The governing body specifically highlighted midfielder Abbozbek Faizullaev, who scored Uzbekistan's first goal at the World Cup against Colombia. Additionally, Eldor Shomurodov's goal against the Democratic Republic of Congo was noted and recognized as the best goal of the group stage based on a poll organized in collaboration with Hyundai.
According to FIFA, the Fabio Cannavaro-managed team maintained its commitment to its style of play throughout the tournament, which is based on technical football and high dedication. The organization also pointed out that the players found it increasingly difficult to maintain a high match tempo as the tournament progressed.
The review also paid special attention to young athletes, including 18-year-old Bekhruz Karimov. FIFA emphasized that participating in the World Cup provided young players with valuable experience in top-level competition, which should contribute to Uzbekistan's further development before the next World Cup in four years.
