World Cup: Meet Iraq player, Iqbal, set to make history for Pakistan

 A former Manchester United prospect will make men's World Cup history if he steps on to the pitch for Iraq on Tuesday - but not for the country he is representing.

The moment will instead be monumental for fans in Pakistan, a nation of more than 240 million people – the fifth largest population in the world – whose football team have never reached a World Cup.

In fact, they have won just one qualifying game in their entire history.

Placed 198th in the FIFA world rankings, the South Asian country sits among the 15 worst-performing nations in the sport, and its people have never been able to cheer on anyone who represents them on the biggest stage.

Until now.

Utrecht's former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal, representing Iraq, is poised to become the first player of Pakistani heritage to play in a men's World Cup.

He says he was "surprised" when he found out about the honour - but his heritage is something he is proud of.

"To be honest, I didn't even know it myself," he told BBC Sport. "I followed the account that posted it [that he was the first player of Pakistani heritage to play at a men's World Cup] and sent it to my dad straight away. I think we were both surprised. When I tried to qualify for the World Cup with Iraq, I didn't think of anything like this.

"My dad is Pakistani. He's my father, the man I respect the most in my life, who helped me so much in my career.

"I play for Iraq, grew up in England, but my dad was born in Pakistan. My grandad was a first-generation there, so I have a lot of respect for that side of my family."

Iqbal was born and raised in Manchester. He is Pakistani through his father and Iraqi through his mother. The talented midfielder says he takes pride in representing both nations and shows this when he takes to the pitch by wearing both countries' flags on his boots.

Asked why he chose to play in boots that showcase his heritage, the 23-year-old reiterated his "respect" for both sides of his family's background.

"I wear the Iraqi flag on my left side and the Pakistani flag on my right side," he said. "I think that's because I respect both sides.

"When people ask me what I feel more connected to, I can't answer. For me, they're both equal. It's about respect and something I carry with a lot of pride."

Wimbledon 2026: Williams sisters bag doubles wildcard

 American superstars Serena Williams and Venus Williams will return to Wimbledon action together after they were handed a wildcard to compete in the women's doubles.

Neither sister is included on the list of singles wildcards, although there is one remaining spot still to be given.

Serena, 44, made her comeback at Queen's last week, four years after playing what many expected to be the final match of her career at the 2022 US Open.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, whose tally in that count includes seven Wimbledon titles, is playing doubles in Berlin this week with Karolina Muchova and will continue her comeback on the Grand Slam stage alongside Venus at the All England Club.

Five-time Wimbledon singles champion Venus, 45, has lost all seven of her singles matches this season, but won a doubles match alongside Britain's Katie Boulter at the Madrid Open in April.

Former British number one, Dan Evans, has not been given a wildcard for the men's singles main draw in what will be the final tournament of the 36-year-old's career.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who is also retiring at the end of the season, has been handed a place, along with Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov.

French Open runner-up Maja Chwalinska has been rewarded for her Roland Garros run with a wildcard for the women's singles.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon 2026 begins on Monday, June 29.

French Open: Zverev set to break Grand Slam title jinx

 Title favourite Alexander Zverev is one win away from elusive maiden Grand Slam title after holding his nerve to beat Jakub Mensik in the 2026 French Open semi-finals.

The second seed is through to his fourth major final and his second at Roland Garros, having lost to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets in 2024.

Taken to a fourth set for only the second time in the tournament, Zverev kept his composure to win 7-5 6-2 3-6 6-3 against first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist and 26th seed Mensik.

Zverev, who has been the front-runner to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires since world number one Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic suffered shock exits in the first week, will face either 10th seed Flavio Cobolli or Matteo Arnaldi in Sunday's final.

Should he win, the 29-year-old will be the seventh oldest first-time Grand Slam men's singles champion in the Open era and the first German man to win a major since Michael Stich won Wimbledon in 1991.