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Honorfx Eagles beat game changers Falcons 20-15, gets first win of the season

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After suffering defeats in their first two matches, HonorFX Eagles bounced back with a 20-15 victory in their last match of the World Tennis League Season 3 held at the iconic Etihad Arena on Saturday. 

This win took HonorFX Eagles to second place with an overall game tally of 54 points, while the Game Changers Falcons, despite the setback, held on to the top spot with 68 points.  However, all eyes will be on the final league-stage match between TSL Hawks and Kites, as the finalists will be determined later in the evening after this showdown. With all four teams still in contention, the match promises to be a decisive and thrilling encounter.

The women’s singles clash between HonorFX Eagles’ Iga Swiatek and Game Changers Falcons’ Elena Rybakina began on an even note. Swiatek broke Rybakina’s third serve to seize the advantage and went on to comfortably close out the set 6-3 for HonorFX Eagles.

In the women’s doubles, Iga Swiatek and Paula Badosa made an immediate impact, breaking the opening serve of their opponents, Elena Rybakina and Caroline Garcia, to take control of the set. The duo cruised to a comfortable 6-2 victory, extending HonorFX Eagles’ lead to 12-5. 

The men’s doubles saw a similar dominance from HonorFX Eagles as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Shevchenko outclassed Game Changers Falcons’ Andrey Rublev and Denis Shapovalov. The HonorFX Eagles duo closed out the set 6-4 with ease, giving their team a massive 18-8 lead.

In the all-important set of the match, Game Changers Falcon’s Rublev came out all guns blazing against HonorFX Eagles’ Tsitsipas. Rublev stormed to a commanding 5-0 lead before Tsitsipas managed to hold serve, making it 5-1. Rublev then sealed the set 6-1, narrowing the overall score to 15-19 and pushing the game into Over Time.

Despite his earlier struggles, Tsitsipas rose to the occasion in the Over Time, holding Rublev to love in a critical game to clinch the match 20-15. The victory marked the HonorFX Eagles’ first win of the season.

Rublev, who has been in fine form and has won all the men’s singles sets he has competed in at WTL so far, reflected on his performance. He said, “I don’t think I’m leading the team; it just happens that my singles matches have been the last ones, and I’ve managed to win them all, so maybe it looks that way. But the truth is, we’re a team, and we’re all trying to do our best together.” 

“Today, I think I played a good match. It was Stefanos’ first singles match here, so it’s understandable he didn’t feel his best. I struggled in my first match too, but now I’ve adjusted to the conditions, and I think I played really well today,” Rublev added while talking about his match-up against Tsitsipas.

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Ajman hosts Asian Fitness and Bodybuilding Championship for the first time

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Ajman is flexing its sporting muscles this week as it hosts the 58th Asian Fitness and Bodybuilding Championship for the very first time. The prestigious event marks a major milestone in the emirate’s growing sports scene.

The event, which kicked off yesterday, will run until June 17 at the Emirates Hospitality Centre. The championship features top athletes from 23 Asian countries, turning Ajman into a regional hub for elite bodybuilding and fitness talent.

Speaking at the 2025 Annual Conference of the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, Dr Rafael Santonja, President of the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB), praised Ajman’s efforts to support bodybuilding and encourage youth participation, noting the professional-level planning and warm hospitality extended by the organisers.

“I’m confident that this edition of the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship will set a new standard,” said Dr Santonja. 

As Ajman makes its debut on the Asian bodybuilding stage, the event not only brings together top-tier competitors but also gives fans a chance to watch these world-class athletes closer to home.

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FIFA Club World Cup: Bayern Munich humiliate Auckland City 10-0 in record-breaking opener

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The FIFA Club World Cup got off to a jaw-dropping start in the US, and not for the right reasons. Bayern Munich, Germany’s footballing powerhouse, demolished New Zealand’s part-time club Auckland City FC 10-0 on Sunday night at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, setting a new record for the biggest win in a senior men’s FIFA competition.

The German champions were 6-0 up before the halftime whistle even blew. Then came the second-half carnage: Jamal Musiala netted a hat-trick off the bench, and departing legend Thomas Müller wrapped up the scoring to push Bayern into double digits.

With this emphatic win, Bayern sit comfortably at the top of Group C. They’re now waiting to see who they’ll face next, either Benfica of Portugal or Argentina’s Boca Juniors.

A mismatch that raised eyebrows

This year’s expanded Club World Cup, now with 32 teams, was already stirring debate before the first ball was kicked. From concerns over player fatigue and ticket sales to questions about security and scheduling, the revamped format has been under a microscope.

But all that faded temporarily, until the second match day delivered a lopsided scoreline that felt more like a training ground drill than a global tournament fixture.

Auckland City are the only amateur side in the tournament. In contrast, Bayern Munich’s squad is valued at over $1 billion, with stars like Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich leading the charge. Auckland’s entire trip to the U.S. reportedly cost more than their annual revenue.

Michael Olise, who also grabbed a hat-trick, was asked after the game whether he felt any pity for the opposition. He laughed and simply said, “No.”

Why it matters for UAE fans

The 10-0 drubbing is now officially the biggest defeat in a men’s FIFA tournament — eclipsing the previous record of 6-1 from the 2002 Club World Cup.

It also highlights the gulf between top-tier football and the teams brought in from less prominent leagues. For UAE-based fans, used to seeing competitive fixtures at the FIFA Club World Cup when it was hosted in Abu Dhabi, Sunday’s match may feel like a step backward.

So, was this what FIFA had in mind when expanding the tournament?

Whether it’s a one-off result or a sign of things to come, Sunday’s match has reignited concerns about fairness and competitiveness in the Club World Cup. For now, though, Bayern Munich have made their point, in record-breaking style.

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From Messi to Mbappe: World champions set to clash in FIFA Club World Cup 2025

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Get ready for one of the biggest club football tournaments in the world. The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is taking place from June 14 to July 13 across 11 cities in the United States, bringing together 32 of the world’s top men’s football clubs in a revamped and supersized format.

The month-long tournament will culminate in a blockbuster final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where one club will lift the title of world champions.

FIFA has confirmed the 32 teams that will compete in the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025 —and it’s loaded with legends.

From Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to Sergio Ramos and Thomas Müller, a total of 26 FIFA World Cup winners will be in action, giving fans across the globe, and especially in the UAE, a reason to tune in.

A Truly Global Tournament

The tournament will bring together 32 of the world’s top club teams, playing 63 matches across 12 venues in 11 host cities, including Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Seattle.

In what FIFA is calling the first true “world championship” for clubs, players from 81 countries will take the field, including representatives from all six football confederations and 22 nations that have never before appeared in a FIFA World Cup.

Star Power: World Cup Winners to Watch

The player list reads like a who’s who of modern football:

  • Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) – Likely to feature in the tournament’s opening game vs. Al Ahly on June 14
  • Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
  • Sergio Ramos (CF Monterrey)
  • Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami CF)
  • Thomas Müller & Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern Munich)
  • Antoine Griezmann, Hugo Lloris, Angel Di María, and many more

In fact, Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad is heavily represented, with 13 players taking part. French fans will spot nine stars from their 2018 triumph.

Clubs With the Most Champions

  • Atletico de Madrid leads the way with six World Cup winners
  • CA River Plate follow with four
  • Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain also boast multiple international icons

Why UAE Fans Should Watch

  • Messi’s first game is on June 14, expect major regional TV coverage and streaming
  • Multiple Arab clubs are taking part, including Al Ahly (Egypt) and Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
  • A chance to see club giants like Man City, Chelsea, Palmeiras, and Urawa Red Diamonds battle for global supremacy

Squad Rules and Transfers

Clubs submitted 26–35 player squads, and FIFA allowed a special transfer window from June 1 to 10 to reinforce line-ups.

There’s also an in-competition registration period (June 27 – July 3), meaning late squad tweaks are possible.

FIFA President on the Tournament

“This will be the most competitive and inclusive club football tournament ever,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “We’ll see some of the best players from every continent fight to become the first club to win both the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.”

Key Games

  • Opening match: Saturday, June 14, 2025
  • Final: Expected in mid-July 2025
  • Venues: 11 host cities across the US
  • Broadcasters: UAE TV rights expected to be announced closer to the date

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