Gianni Infantino sent a letter to the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapia, after the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Infantino highly praised the participation of Argentine football in the global tournament, emphasizing that the national team made a significant contribution to turning this event into an unforgettable celebration.
In his letter, he noted: 'Please accept my sincere congratulations on this important achievement reached by Argentine football.' He added that the 2026 World Cup became a memorable football festival thanks to spectacular matches, the emergence of new stars, the participation of football legends, and the incredible atmosphere in the stadiums.
He specifically highlighted that the magnificent play of 'Albiceleste' played an important role in making this championship unforgettable for millions of fans. Infantino asked to convey his sincere congratulations to the players, head coach Lionel Scaloni, coaches, and members of the medical staff, as well as all the fans who supported the team throughout the tournament.
According to Infantino, such successes are the result of constant work, professionalism, attention to every detail, as well as love and dedication to football, which indicates a bright future for Argentine football. He wished success to Argentina and its football in upcoming competitions and expressed hope for a quick meeting.
Eight athletes from Durban, representing the Iron Movement team, have secured spots in the South African national squad for the World Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) Championship. The event will take place in Beijing, China, in September.
These athletes are part of the national team, which comprises over twenty South Africans who will compete in the global tournament across the 3 km, 400 m, and 100 m distances. Obstacle course racing is a rapidly growing sport that combines trail running with overcoming complex obstacles such as walls, rings, rope climbs, heavy carries, and crawling under cargo nets, testing participants' speed, strength, endurance, and technical skills.
Earlier this year, Iron Movement became the official venue for the South African Modern Pentathlon Association (SAMPA) and held a regional qualification stage in June. Following this, the athletes participated in the South African National OCR Championship in July, where the national team was formed.
Among those heading to Beijing is 34-year-old Nicole Christie from Waterfield. She joined The IRON Movement at the end of 2023 for strength training and functional fitness, and about a year ago, she started taking OCR classes. Christie, who works as a communications manager, described the opportunity to represent the first South African team at the World Championship as something absolutely surreal.
She noted that although she initially sought only strength training and functional fitness, she did not expect to find a new passion in OCR. Christie emphasized that balancing training with work, rest, proper nutrition, and family time is always a complex process. Speaking about the obstacles, she added that developing the necessary grip and hanging strength takes time, just as acquiring the endurance to overcome longer and more technical elements requires great patience.
Christie also mentioned that the biggest challenge for the team is raising sufficient funds to participate on the world stage. Each athlete needs to raise between 40,000 and 50,000 South African Rands to cover costs for international travel, accommodation, sports gear, and registration fees. The team has launched a crowdfunding campaign on the BackaBuddy platform, appealing to local businesses, sports enthusiasts, and the public to help fund their trip to Beijing.
Another member of the SA team is 25-year-old Erin Pons from Hillcrest. She began obstacle course racing in January after discovering this unique and exciting sport. Pons shared that it requires extensive training, including trail running and strength exercises. The course includes rings, rope climbs, crawling under cargo nets, and moving heavy objects. She expressed great enthusiasm about the possibility of competing in international competitions, calling it a new dream she didn't know she could achieve.
Coach Rain Hoskins stated that watching his athletes qualify for the World Championship is the proudest moment of his coaching career. He noted that the team heading to the championship always demonstrates dedication and brings him the greatest pride. In Hoskins' opinion, the team's main advantage lies in the obstacles themselves, as each athlete excels through technique and strength on the setups.
Hoskins also stressed that OCR differs from many other sports because every course presents a new challenge requiring a high level of skill, excellent strength, and incredible adaptability to different tracks, making it a true test of athleticism.
Following the break caused by the World Cup, the Uzbek Super League continued at a high pace. The matches of the 13th round were intense and rich in goals: the total number of goals scored was 28, corresponding to an average of 3.5 goals per game.
In this round, teams occupying the top positions in the standings, such as Neftechis, Pakhtakor, Bukhara, and OKMK, managed to secure another victory.
Neftechis, one of the main contenders for the championship this season, achieved a convincing victory over Sogdion with a score of 5:1. The goals in the match were scored by Petr Michin in the 22nd minute, followed by Islom Ismoilov, Jamshid Iskandarov, Anvar G'ofurov, Stipe Perica (brace), and Ibrohimkhalil Yoldoshev. Jamshid Iskandarov was named the best player of the match with a rating of 8.3 points and is also the Super League's best assist provider with six passes. It is worth noting that Neftechis achieved this victory despite having made a comeback in the previous round after conceding a goal, demonstrating a desire to fight for the title.
Pakhtakor, which lost important ground in the 12th round, could not achieve an easy victory this time either. The Sherlar team defeated Khorazm at home with a score of 2:1. Although the visitors opened the scoring first, Sardor Sobirkhojaev managed to equalize, and Stefan Chinedu, who joined the team during the summer transfer window, scored the winning goal. Statistically, Pakhtakor outperformed its opponent in all indicators: 57% possession, 19 shots, and 3.82 expected goals (xG), which was the highest xG figure in the round.
Bukhara defeated Bunyodkor at home with a score of 1:0. Alexander Khomyakov outperformed his opponent, registering 10 shots and 0.78 xG. The only goal was scored by Asadbek Zoraboyev. Bunyodkor suffered its third consecutive defeat in the Super League. The club's head coach Ilyos Zeytullaev commented on the difficult situation: 'The situation is still complicated. There are players who have not received salaries since December last year. Our president is trying to solve this problem. But almost nothing has changed since December.'
'Kokkon-1912', whose squad did not correspond to the bottom places, hosted OKMK and lost with a score of 1:4. OKMK dominated the match, having 59% possession, 21 shots (9 accurate), and 1.65 xG. Goals were scored by Siavash Haknazarov, Asad Sobirjonov (brace), and Nodirbek Abdurazzokov. One of the most beautiful goals of the round was scored by Asad Sobirjonov from the penalty area with the outside of his foot. Furthermore, the highest tempo in the round was recorded by OKMK player Aziz Holmurodov—35.05 km/h. The coach of Kokkon-1912, Andrey Shipilov, did not hide his dissatisfaction after the defeat: 'You cannot treat your beloved profession like this. We entered the second half and... I am ashamed. When the team loses, all coaches are blamed. But here, it is not just the coach's fault.'
Navbahor, which continues its streak of failures, drew with Qizilqum 1:1 in this round. Despite the statistical advantage—77% possession, 11 shots—the team could not secure a victory. Temur Kapadze could not feel the taste of victory in five consecutive matches. Regardless of the appearance of new players, such as Jasur Jaloliddinov and Joel Kojo, the score did not change. Dilshod Komilov's actions attracted special attention: the left-back scored a goal and regularly participated in attacks, but his efforts were not enough for a win. Now Navbahor awaits an important match against Neftechis in the valley derby.
The most exciting match of the 13th round was the encounter between Lokomotiv and Andijan, which ended 3:3. The 'Railmen' initially took the lead thanks to goals from Sardor Mirzaev and Abdulloh Yoldashev, increasing the lead to two goals. However, Dragan Cheran and Alexander Andronikashvili equalized the score. Lokomotiv took the lead again, but young Andijan forward Khamidullo Karimov scored his debut goal in the Super League, bringing the score to 3:3. Karimov previously scored in the youth championship and is currently the top scorer of the U-21 championship with 13 goals.
'Mashal' and 'Nasaf' finished their 'Voha Derby' in a 1:1 draw. First, Strakhinya Boshyak put the hosts ahead, but later Sardor Bahramov equalized. Nasaf dominated throughout the match, showing 78% possession, 29 shots, and 13 accurate shots. These possession and shot statistics were the highest in the round. Nevertheless, the team of Rozikul Berdiev could not score the winning goal. At the same time, Mashal, under the guidance of Sergei Lushan, managed to earn four points in two games.
Dinamo won against Surkhon 2:1, despite playing with ten men. This match attracted the largest number of spectators in the round—5,227 fans in the stadium. Anvar Khojimirzaev scored twice for Samarkand. Surkhon goalkeeper Otabek Boymurodov made a serious mistake on the second goal. Statistically, Surkhon outperformed its opponent, showing 71% possession, 16 shots (7 accurate). Surkhon also demonstrated the highest rate of accurate passes in the 13th round.
At the beginning of the season, it was predicted that Neftechis and Pakhtakor would be the main contenders for the championship. After the 13th round, these two clubs significantly sharpened their positions. Neftechis confidently occupies the leading position, having earned 34 points with 11 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Pakhtakor is in second place with 30 points, and Bukhara closes out the strong top three with 23 points. The difference between fourth place (OKMK, 22 points), fifth (Navbahor, 21 points), sixth (Lokomotiv, 19 points), and seventh (Bunyodkor, 19 points) is very small. The bottom echelon of the table is led by Mashal with 4 points.
The sports economy of KwaZulu-Natal will receive an additional boost thanks to the continued growth of boxing, as another wrestling event is scheduled for Durban on August 1st.
Fans and wrestlers from other regions of KwaZulu-Natal are expected to gather in Durban. World Wrestling Alliance (WWA), led by wrestler Daryl Naidu from Chatsworth, Durban, known in the ring as Nightmare, previously held two successful shows this year at Oceans Mall in Umhlanga and Kwadukuza Mall.
Naidu noted that WWA continues to develop strongly. He emphasized that the large turnout of spectators from across KwaZulu-Natal created an 'electric atmosphere' and proved that professional wrestling is thriving again. This huge fan response inspired WWA to elevate the level of the Hotel Savera Wrestle Rampage event, which will take place on August 1st.
Naidu also announced that the event will feature more than just wrestling. Attendees will have the chance to win cash prizes and participate in various giveaways made possible by partnerships with Nasty ENRG Drink, BYD Pinetown, Pelican Pharmacy, and other valuable sponsors. Spectators are advised to arrive early to take part in the activities and promotions running throughout the day.
Furthermore, the WWA Celebrity/Influencer Championship League will officially launch at the event. This innovative concept will invite celebrities, social media personalities, content creators, and influencers to step into the ring and compete for a title in various challenges. To mark the launch, WWA has commissioned a special, exclusive WWA Celebrity/Influencer Championship Belt, which will be the main prize in this new segment.
Naidu believes that this innovative league will provide exciting cross-entertainment events, introduce a new audience to professional wrestling, and give fans the chance to see 'dream matches' between South Africa's most recognizable figures.
He added that due to increased attendance, expanded corporate partnerships, and the introduction of new entertainment formats, World Wrestling Alliance is strengthening its position as one of the fastest-growing professional wrestling promotions in South Africa. Hotel Savera Wrestle Rampage promises to be an unforgettable world-class evening of family entertainment, educational opportunity, thrilling giveaways, and the launch of a new championship capable of changing the face of sports entertainment in South Africa.
The main event of the night will be the match between Nightmare and his former student, Joshua The Bull. Naidu described this as one of the most personal rivalries in WWA history. Their conflict arose over the opportunity to compete for the tag team championship in Port Elizabeth. During this match, Joshua The Bull 'accidentally' delivered a devastating spear strike to his own partner, costing them the titles. Naidu was extremely upset after this shocking incident and did not believe it was accidental. He suspects the spear strike was far from accidental, given that they had not communicated for years before reluctantly teaming up. Fans can expect an explosive confrontation as they finally settle their differences in the ring.
Naidu concluded that for wrestling enthusiasts, families, and anyone looking for a packed Saturday day and evening, Hotel Savera Wrestle Rampage will be one of the most anticipated events of the year. The full card includes five exciting matches: Ryan Cage versus Alex Desire, The Great William versus The Crow, Shadow versus Steve Eden, Ananzi versus T.J. Tremor, and the final match between Joshua The Bull versus Nightmare.
