Sport
World sport, with a Tunisian and Arab lens
Esperance Secures CAF Bye as F1 Enters Final Zandvoort Weekend
- Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix: Circuit Zandvoort is hosting its final Formula 1 weekend, culminating with a sprint race and Sunday’s Grand Prix before the venue drops off the calendar for the 2027 season. Kimi Antonelli arrives at the Dutch coast leading the 2026 driver’s championship for Mercedes, while Max Verstappen has just signed a contract extension with Red Bull Racing through to 2030, ending paddock speculation and anchoring the team’s long-term commercial future.
- African Club Football: The 2026/27 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup campaigns have officially commenced, backed by a record continental investment of over $48 million per season. Following the preliminary draws in Cairo, Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis, alongside Morocco’s RS Berkane and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, received automatic byes to the second preliminary round due to their dominant continental rankings. Meanwhile, Libya’s Al-Ahli Tripoli has signalled serious regional ambition, securing high-profile signings including former Pyramids forward Fiston Mayele.
- Saudi Pro League: The 2026/27 season has opened with an adjusted calendar designed to accommodate a winter pause for Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. On the pitch, Al-Nassr established immediate dominance with a comprehensive 4-0 away victory over Al-Riyadh, setting an aggressive pace for a season defined by intensive domestic competition and the kingdom’s broader strategic positioning in Asian football governance.
- US Open Tennis: The final Grand Slam of the year is progressing through its qualifying rounds in New York ahead of the main draw. Organisers are actively expanding the commercial footprint of the mixed doubles format, granting wild cards to high-profile entrants including Carlos Alcaraz, Serena Williams, and Emma Navarro to elevate the discipline’s broadcasting appeal alongside the traditional singles campaigns.