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Head coach Hajime Moriyasu, in the presence of team director Masakuni Yamamoto and Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, announced a 26-member national team squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Friday (May 15) in Tokyo. The Asian giants will be without star midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, who sustained a hamstring injury during Brighton's win over Wolves in the English Premier League. Speaking at the press conference, Hajime said the team had lost "a major presence" in Mitoma. Japan have recalled former Arsenal player Takehiro Tomiyasu, while fellow defender Yuto Nagatomo, at age 39, will be making his 5th World Cup appearance. The Wataru Endo-led Blue Samurai are in Group F, and open their campaign against the Netherlands on June 14, then face Tunisia on June 21 and Sweden five days later. The expanded 48-team tournament, being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA, starts on June 11. Japan will play their final pre-World ⁠Cup friendly against Iceland on May 31.

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026

Elina Svitolina survived a three-set showdown to beat Iga Swiatek in their Italian Open 2026 women's singles semi-final at the Foro Italico, Rome, on Thursday (May 14). In a clash of former champions, the 31-year-old Ukrainian took the first set, but conceded the second to the three-time champion from Poland. In the final set, Svitolina -- the winner in the 2017 and 2018 editions -- saved all five break points to seal a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win. She will face American Coco Gauff, who defeated Sorana Cirstea of Romania in straight sets (6-4, 6-3), in the title clash. After the Rome final, both Gauff and Svitolina will compete in the French Open as seeded players, 4th and 8th, respectively. Gauff will enter the clay court Grand Slam at Roland Garros as the defending champion, while Svitolina is a five-time quarter-finalist.

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026

Coco Gauff defeated Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea in straight sets to enter the final of the WTA Italian Open 2026 at the Foro Italico on Thursday (May 14). The 22-year-old American lost the opening game and was trailing 2-4. But the two-time Grand Slam champion won four straight games to take the first set. The second set proved relatively easier as last year's finalist (lost to Jasmine Paolini of Italy) won the match 6-4, 6-3. In the women's singles final, she will face Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who defeated Polish star and three-time champion Iga Swiatek in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-2). The WTA 1000 event in Rome is now part of the European clay court season, which culminates with the French Open.

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026

Find today's news in pics from India and around the world for May 15, 2026

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026

Casper Ruud of Norway beat Russian Karen Khachanov 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 in the ATP Italian Open 2026 men's singles quarter-final match at the Foro Italico, Rome, on Wednesday (May 13). Rudd raced to a 6-1 win in the first set, but as the rain halted play for more than two hours in the second set, he played an indifferent game and lost 1-6. In the decider, the 27-year-old from Snaroya regrouped well to win the clash 6-1, 1-6, 6-2. Back in the semi-finals of the Rome event, he will now face Italian Luciano Darderi, who defeated Rafael Jodar of Spain 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-0 for a place in the final. In another semi-final, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will take on Daniil Medvedev. First played in 1930, the Italian Open is now part of the European clay court season. French Open 2026, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year, starts on May 24.

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026

On day 3 of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, several stars like Yuan Shanshan, Pierre Niney, Virginie Efira, Natasha Andrews and others lit up the red carpet. Let's take a look at the highlights.

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026

Former champion Daniil Medvedev survived a three-set tussle with lucky loser Martin Landaluce en route to his first ATP Italian Open semi-final since lifting the trophy in 2023. The Russian maverick conceded the opening set without a fight, and was behind (2-3) in the decider, but completed the quarter-final victory over the 20-year-old Spaniard in two hours and 22 minutes (1-6, 6-4, 7-5) on his fourth match-point. The 30-year-old, who now resides in Monte Carlo, will face the local favourite and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner for a place in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event days before the start of the season's second Grand Slam tournament, the French Open.

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026

World No. 1 and local favourite Jannik Sinner took one hour and 32 minutes to subdue Russian Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-4 in their ATP Italian Open 2026 men's singles quarter-final at the Foro Italico on Thursday (May 14). With the win, the last year's losing finalist (to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz) has become only the second man to reach the semi-finals at the first five Masters 1000 events of a season. If the 24-year-old Italian lifts the trophy on Sunday, he will match Serbian great Novak Djokovic's feat of completing the Career Golden Masters. The four-time Grand Slam champion will face Daniil Medvedev in the semis. Founded in 1930, the Rome event is now part of a bigger European Clay Court season leading to the French Open.

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026

The antipoverty nonprofit Global Citizen is no stranger to big stages. The advocacy group rallied more than 60,000 festivalgoers at its Central Park concert last year around issues of rainforest protection and energy access. But Global Citizen is preparing for its most ambitious production yet: the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show on July 19, curated with help from Coldplay vocalist Chris Martin. Super Bowl-style performances — uncommon in soccer — will feature Madonna, Shakira and BTS. Also Thursday, Shakira released the official World Cup song “Dai Dai” featuring Afrobeats giant Burna Boy.

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026

Real Madrid fans made their discontentment known Thursday by jeering players at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium before a 2-0 win over already relegated Oviedo. Kylian Mbappé came on as a substitute after an injury layoff and was booed by part of the crowd, as was Vinícius Júnior earlier. A couple of banners against president Florentino Pérez were held up briefly before being removed by security officials. Pérez saluted some of the fans, but at one point he appeared to get into an verbal altercation with some of the team’s supporters near the VIP tribunes, according to Spanish media reports.

BY Photo Webdesk 15 May 2026