FIFA wants to hold a new six-team playoff round in the 2026 World Cup host country to complete the expanded 48-team tournament lineup. The final two qualifying slots would be decided in the proposed mini-tournament played in the November before the World Cup as a test event, a move that puts the Confederations Cup’s long-term […]
The post FIFA targets six-team playoff round for 2026 World Cup appeared first on The Japan Times.
Yoshihito Nishioka, who withdrew from the Miami Open after complaining of pain in his left knee, said Friday on his Twitter account that he will be have surgery to repair a torn knee ligament. The 21-year-old, who is ranked 58th in the world, returned to Japan for tests after sustaining the injury while leading 4-2 […]
The post Nishioka to have knee surgery next week appeared first on The Japan Times.
Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez’s fiancee testified in his double-murder trial Thursday that she learned to keep her mouth shut and “not to ask any questions” in certain situations. Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez testified against Hernandez under a grant of immunity from prosecutors. She and Hernandez have a 4-year-old daughter. She said she took Hernandez’s last name […]
The post Fiancee testifies in Hernandez double-murder trial appeared first on The Japan Times.
FIFA on Thursday proposed to allocate eight slots for Asia at the 2026 World Cup, an increase from the current 4.5 for the continent when the field expands from 32 to 48. The plan by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his counterparts from six confederations, to be ratified by the FIFA Council on May 9 […]
The post FIFA proposes granting eight spots for Asia at 2026 World Cup appeared first on The Japan Times.
There’s a stuffed Giabbit doll headed Lillianne Mikolas’ way. If things go her father’s way, there’ll be whole lot more coming. Miles Mikolas threw seven solid innings, Shinnosuke Abe and Hayato Sakamoto hit two-run home runs, and the Yomiuri Giants made a winning start to the 2017 NPB season with a 6-2 opening day victory […]
The post Giants usher in new season with victory over rival Dragons appeared first on The Japan Times.
The Sendai 89ers found a way to edge the visiting Levanga Hokkaido on Friday night. And it came down to the final second to make it happen. Shooting guard Fumiya Sato came through in the clutch, nailing an outside jumper with a second remaining on the game clock to lift Sendai to a 55-53 victory […]
The post Sato gives 89ers down-to-the-wire win over Levanga appeared first on The Japan Times.
Yusei Kikuchi delivered another strong opening day start and this time got a win for his trouble as the Seibu Lions defeated the defending champion Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 8-1 on Friday evening. Kikuchi allowed a run on four hits and two walks over seven innings. In front of 41,138 at Sapporo Dome, the lefty […]
The post Southpaw Kikuchi delivers strong performance as Lions outplay Fighters in season opener appeared first on The Japan Times.
