SSEN bids for FIFA 2026 World Cup; in process to win rights of a few more top European leagues
Shrachi Sports Entertainment Network (SSEN), a sports OTT platform, has placed its bid for the broadcasting rights of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030. Valued at approximately Rs 18-20 crores, the bid reflects SSEN’s drive to bring out the competition of the highest level of the game for the football-passionate people across India and the subcontinent. If SSEN wins the rights, then the company has plans to stream both the tournaments entirely on a free-to-view basis. This pioneering model would ensure that millions of fans across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives can watch the world’s greatest sporting event without subscription fees or barriers to entry. The company’s chairman Tamal Ghosal revealed while speaking to Parallel Sports, So far, plans have been made, we will not charge separate registration fees for watching World Cup football matches. We have not prioritized the issue of our business from this venture. Rather, it is an initiative for the football lovers to inspire the future generation by reshaping the future of football consumption in the region.” Significantly, SSEN has already been showing live streaming of the Bundesliga Women’s league and the German Cup. The company is reportedly in talks to win the broadcasting rights of a few more top European Leagues in the coming days. The network also streams marquee tournaments, including the Calcutta Premier Division Football League and the I-League. By taking these decisive steps, SSEN signals its determination not only to challenge conventional sports broadcasting models but also to position India as a central hub in the global football narrative.
Financial crisis puts former Asia Cup and World Cup champion karate player in anxiety before participating in the Mayor Cup in Malaysia
She is Aritri Dey. The renowned karate player from Bengal, who has already accolades a galore, including World Cup, Asia Cup, and Commonwealth Games titles, needs Rs 50 thousand to fulfil the invitation to participate in the Mayor Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to be held from 29th October to 5th November. The Four-Dan Black Belt (Japan) and the founder of Bengal Academy for Karate & Self-Defence revealed while speaking to Parallel Sports, “I need Rs. 50 thousand immediately to complete the registration for the tournament, and at the same time for my flight fare and visa. Although the closing date for the registration is 25th October, it will be too late if I fail to complete registration now. I will have to deposit the total money to the Indian team management to enrol my name. It will help me to concentrate on my training. Naturally, now I am going through an anxious time.” Aritri will take part in the senior female Kata category. She said, “Some top karate players like Olympic champion, World Cup champion, will be participating in this prestigious tournament. I am also proud to have received an invitation to such a competition.” The 29-year-old karate player and instructor also divulged that she will need nearly Rs. 80 thousand for the trip. “Additionally, I need to invest more money to have a special dress for the tournament. But I have not yet been able to accumulate the amount,” informed Aritri. Karate India Organization, the national body, is not providing any grant to the players for this tournament. They will only bear the expenses of traveling for the Indian team within Kuala Lumpur city. Aritri added, “I will be thankful if any corporate or any other organization comes forward with some financial assistance. But now, I badly need Rs 50 thousand for the registration.”
Trump welcomes global fans to World Cup despite the uncertainty over visa!
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes the world to visit Great America; however, the “visa integrity fee” adding up has no way to decrease.During his speech in the UN General Assembly, he acknowledged “countless people from all over the globe” will visit the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics hosted by the United States; however, many question if that is what he wants! Next year the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary. In his long speech, he stated, “We will also be proudly hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and shortly thereafter, the 2028 Olympics,” he said. “It’s going to be very exciting. I hope you all come. I hope that countless people from all over the globe will take part.” Fans around 210 countries made up to 1.5 million ticket applications to FIFA within 24 hours of the presale draw. Mexico, Canada and the U.S. will host the 48-team tournament. However, for lots of spectators, a trip to the U.S. remains costly and complicated. Visitors from non-visa waiver countries must now pay a $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ in addition to the existing charges while also enduring lengthy waits for visa interviews. According to U.S. State Department data, the average wait time for a B-1/B-2 tourism or business visa interview is 169 days. This could particularly affect fans from countries that typically send large contingents to the World Cup, including Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. FIFA reports that most ticket demand comes from the three host nations, followed by Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil. Tourists from visa-waiver countries—mainly in Europe—are exempt from the new fee, but some are skipping U.S. trips amid fears of border hassles after several widely publicised incidents. Meanwhile, the White House has proposed rules to shorten visa durations for students, cultural exchange visitors, and media personnel. Overseas travel to the U.S. dropped 2.9% year-on-year in August, with around 3.5 million visitors, according to preliminary government data. This marks the sixth monthly decline in 2025, running counter to the global tourism rebound and defying expectations that annual inbound travel would finally exceed the pre-pandemic level of 79.4 million visitors. The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, California, in July 2028.
Argentina’s opposition in the Kochi international friendly might be the Australian national team
The Argentina national football team, which have already confirmed their participation in an international friendly in Kochi in November, is likely to play against the Australian national team, according to reports from Asianet News. The match has been planned to be staged at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, which also hosts the home matches for Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters. According to Fifa approval, the November international break will officially happen from 10th November to 18th November and in the case the international friendly between Lionel Messi-led World Cup winner Argentina and the Australian national side should be played in between 10th and 18th November. Still, a question has come up whether Argentine side would comprise the key footballers, as the majority of the Argentine national team players are currently playing in Europe. Messi himself also will have to travel from the USA to Kochi if this match actually happens in the capital of Kerala. However, the Australian football federation has not yet sent any official confirmation in this regard. The Kerala government has also not yet made any official statement about Australian national team’s participation in the friendly match. However, the Kerala Government has been accused of having spent ₹130 crores for the promise of fulfilling the prospect of bringing Messi to play a match in the state. With Kerala having a huge fan following for the Argentina football team and Messi in particular, it now looks like they are pushing to make this dream come true in the November international break.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi breaks Unmukt Chand’s record with most sixes in Youth ODI
India’s teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi set another record for the maximum sixes in Youth ODI cricket during India’s second Under-19 One Day International match against Australia Under-19 at the Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane on Wednesday. The 14-year-old surpassed compatriot Unmukt Chand’s previous record by hitting his 39th Youth ODI six. Chand had struck 38 maximums across 21 matches, while it took Suryavanshi only 10 innings to reach the milestone. The attacking left-hander smashed six sixes during his 70-run knock against Australia before falling to Australian skipper Yash Deshmukh, courtesy of a remarkable catch by Aryan Sharma. Suryavanshi who has already set multiple records, now scored 540 runs in Youth ODIs. 26% of the run came out of boundaries. He currently has 41 sixes to his name. Among Indians, after Suryavanshi and Chand, Yashasvi Jaiswal has the most maximums in Youth One-Day cricket. Jaiswal, now an established name in the Indian set-up, struck 30 sixes in the 27 matches he played between 2018 and 2020.
AIFF’s two-member committee recommends Inter Kashi as I-League champions!
Two months after Inter Kashi won at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the All India Football Federation-appointed two-member committee announced Inter Kashi as the I-League champions and also approved them to take part in the country’s top-tier League, ISL this season. The two-member committee was formed on September 11 to ratify CAS’ decision, which has ruled in favour of Inter Kashi in its submitted report. “The decision of CAS has been upheld,” a person aware of the development told News9 Sports, with the report also recommending Kashi’s subsequent promotion to the country’s topmost league. “Yes, the committee has submitted its report but I can’t speak on it,” an AIFF official said, when asked for a comment on the matter. On July 18, the Swiss Court declared Inter Kashi as I-League champions, ruling in their favor in an appeal against the AIFF, Churchill Brothers, Namdhari FC, and Real Kashmir over a registration issue involving a foreign player. Before this court decision, the AIFF had already declared Churchill as champions and handed the trophy to the Goan club. Churchill has not returned the trophy, claiming the matter remains subjudice at the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland. Churchill Brothers have even sued the AIFF in the Delhi High Court and want Kashi to be disqualified for grave discrepancies and non-compliances of conditions accepted to play in the I-League, with the matter scheduled to be heard on Wednesday. The two-member committee’s report settles the matters on top of the I-League; its status on relegation down at the bottom remains hazy as the matter remains pending in two separate judicial bodies. Delhi FC and SC Bengaluru, the bottom two finishing teams, have filed their appeals at the appeal committee and CAS. The appeal committee had issued a stay order on relegation while SC Bengaluru awaits a hearing date from the Lausanne-based court.
Bally Narayana School wants to promote football; Aims to earn success in the All-India CBSC tournament
Sudeep Pakrashi: Bally Narayana School, within only two years of its journey, has developed a noticeable infrastructure for sports for the students on its campus. The school, situated in Uttarpara, Hoogly district, has already set-up modern equipment in its premises, including artificial turf and for fitness training. Among the few disciplines available for students to participate in at school, football has been special. The Principal Rashmi Rastogi and Vice-principal Anita Shaw both are passionate about the development of football in the school. The promising students who are potential get the opportunity also to practice for two hours exclusively every week. Nayarana School organized an inter-CBSC school football tournament, one with under-17 boys and other for the under-14 boys on 20th September at its ground. 12 CBSC schools took part in the competition. In the under-14 category, Sishu Tirtha School became champion while St. Agustin School finished as the runner-up. St. Thomas School won the Under-17 title while Bally Narayana School became runners-up in the Under-17 age-group tournament. Tanmoy Dhar, the football teacher of Bally Narayana, who is also a national referee, divulged that both the School Principal, Rashmi Rastogi, and Vice-Principal Anita Shaw are passionate about the development of the game and the reflection of their passion was the football tournament, organized by the school for the first time. According to Dhar, following the desire expressed by the Principal and Vice-Principal, the school now has set focus on participating in the All India CBSC football tournament, which is scheduled to be held next year. “Our Principal and Vice-Principal have already promised to provide all the needed support for the preparation of our boys for the tournament,” said Dhar.
