India’s ace fast bowlerMohammed Shami has openly acknowledged that playing all their matches in Dubai has given his side a crucial edge in the ICC Champions Trophy – a viewpoint that stands in stark contrast to the rebuttals issued by captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Shami, India’s standout bowler in the tournament with eight wickets from four matches, admitted that being stationed at a single venue has played in the team’s favour.
“It has definitely helped us because we know the conditions and the behaviour of the pitch,” Shami said after India’s semi-final victory over Australia in Dubai.
“It is a plus point that you are playing all the matches at one venue. The main thing is to gauge the conditions and know how the pitch behaves because you are playing at one venue and you can get to know it well.”
However, Gambhir was quick to dismiss suggestions that India have benefited from an unfair advantage. Responding to criticism from certain past and present players, the former opener did not mince his words.
“I know there’s a lot of debate about the undue advantage. But what is an undue advantage? First of all, this is as much of a neutral venue for us as it is for any other team. I don’t remember the last time we played a tournament at this stadium,” Gambhir told the media.
“We haven’t even trained here – we’ve been at the ICC Academy, where the conditions are completely different. Some people are just perpetual cribbers. So, I feel we didn’t have any undue advantage.”
Controversy over venue
Under the Hybrid Model introduced for the tournament, India have played all their matches in Dubai, including the semi-final and upcoming final, while the rest of the competition has been split across three venues in Pakistan. Critics argue that this has spared India the fatigue of travel and allowed them to capitalise on the spin-friendly surfaces at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Sold-out finals
Meanwhile, the clamour for final tickets reached a fever pitch, with all seats for the game on March 9 selling out within just two hours. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with a capacity of 25,000, has seen near-full attendance for India’s matches.
Unsurprisingly, India’s passionate fan base in the UAE has ensured an energetic atmosphere at every fixture, further strengthening their sense of home advantage. As the final looms, the debate over whether this has tilted the tournament in India’s favour is unlikely to subside any time soon.
With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.
Football fans travelling with Emirates this summer won’t have to worry about missing any FIFA World Cup 2026 action. Dubai’s flagship airline Emirates, has announced that it will broadcast every match of the tournament live onboard its flights through Sport24, its dedicated live sports channel available on the award-winning ice entertainment system.
Passengers will be able to follow every moment of the world’s biggest football tournament while flying at 40,000 feet. The move ensures customers can stay connected to the action no matter where they are travelling, with live coverage available throughout the competition.
Emirates said the complete FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast schedule is featured its ice magazine, allowing passengers to plan their journeys around key fixtures and follow their favourite teams during the tournament.
The live coverage will be available on most Emirates aircraft equipped with Sport24 and Sport24 Extra, although availability may vary depending on aircraft type and route. Selected FIFA World Cup matches will also be shown in Emirates Lounges across Dubai, giving travellers additional opportunities to catch the action before departure.
Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca was transformed into a global stage on Thursday Night as the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially got underway, marking the beginning of the biggest edition in the tournament’s history.
A vibrant opening ceremony showcased a blend of Mexican culture, music and modern spectacle, with performances from international stars including Shakira and Burna Boy. The ceremony was designed to reflect both the heritage of the host nation and the global nature of the tournament, which for the first time will be staged across three countries — Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Before the first whistle of the competition, the atmosphere inside the historic stadium reached a crescendo as thousands of fans filled the stands, waving flags and lighting up the arena in a sea of colour. The Estadio Azteca, already steeped in football history, has now become the first venue in the world to host matches across three separate FIFA World Cups, having previously staged the 1970 and 1986 finals.
In a further highlight of the ceremony, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed the tournament’s official anthem, adding a classical flourish to an evening otherwise defined by high-energy performances and large-scale choreography.
FIFA officials described the opening event as a “symbolic bridge between continents”, underlining the expanded format of the 2026 tournament. For the first time, the World Cup will feature 48 teams — up from 32 — and a total of 104 matches, spread across 16 host cities across North America. The expansion is intended to increase global participation and bring the tournament to a wider range of supporters.
Immediately after the ceremony, hosts Mexico faced South Africa in the tournament’s opening match, kicking off what is expected to be a month-long football spectacle. The match began under heavy security and heightened global attention, with millions watching around the world.
The expanded format has also brought logistical challenges, with teams required to travel across vast distances between venues in multiple countries. Organisers have emphasised investments in transport infrastructure, stadium upgrades and sustainability measures aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of the tournament.
The 2026 edition also arrives at a time when football’s global profile continues to grow rapidly, with record broadcast deals, increased digital streaming access and heightened commercial interest from sponsors. Analysts expect the tournament to break previous viewership records, particularly given its tri-nation hosting model and expanded team lineup.
Estadio Azteca itself remains one of football’s most storied venues. It famously hosted Brazil’s Pelé lifting the trophy in 1970 and Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” performances in 1986. Its role in opening the 2026 tournament has been widely seen as a nod to football’s rich history in Mexico, while also signalling a new era for the sport.
As fireworks lit up the Mexico City skyline following the ceremony, attention now turns to the next phase of the tournament’s opening schedule, with matches set to continue across North America in what promises to be the most geographically expansive World Cup ever staged.
For fans, players and organisers alike, the message from Mexico City was clear: the world’s biggest sporting event has begun, and it is set to be bigger, broader and more ambitious than ever before.
Emirati International Arbiter Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi has been appointed to the officiating panel for the 2026 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships, one of the biggest events on the global chess calendar.
The championship will take place in Hong Kong from June 16 to 22 and is expected to feature many of the world’s leading grandmasters, including world number one Magnus Carlsen.
Al Mazmi’s selection highlights the growing international recognition of Emirati chess officials. He currently serves as Chairman of the Arab Chess Federation’s Arbiters Committee and Tournament Director of the prestigious Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship.
Speaking about the appointment, Al Mazmi said he was proud to represent the UAE at one of chess’s most prestigious global events. He described the selection as a reflection of FIDE’s confidence in Emirati arbiters and their ability to officiate at the highest international level.
He added that the role carries significant responsibility and offers a valuable opportunity to exchange expertise with some of the world’s top chess officials while showcasing the progress of UAE chess on the global stage.
The appointment marks another milestone for Emirati representation in international sports administration and reinforces the UAE’s growing presence in the world of chess.
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