Qatar Sport

Zurich: The Qatari national football team has been ranked 55th globally and 5th among both Arab and Asian teams, accumulating 1,456.5 points in the FIFA World Rankings for March. Meanwhile, Argentina maintained its position at the top of the global rankings. Qatar, the reigning AFC Asian Cup champion for the past two editions, dropped seven places in the rankings following its recent 1-3 defeat to Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek during the eighth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The loss resulted in Qatar missing out on direct qualification for the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The team must now rely on securing a third- or fourth-place finish in its group to advance to the fourth qualification round. With 10 points, Qatar currently sits in fourth place in Group A. Iran leads the group with 20 points, having secured direct qualification for the World Cup. Uzbekistan, in second place with 17 points, is on the verge of qualifying for the first time in its history, holding a four-point lead over third-placed UAE. Kyrgyzstan follows in fifth with six points, while North Korea occupies the bottom spot with just two points. Under the qualification system, the top two teams from each of the three groups in this round will directly qualify for the World Cup. Meanwhile, the third- and fourth-placed teams will advance to the fourth round, where they will be divided into two groups of three. The winner of each group will qualify for the World Cup, while the two runners-up will face off in an intercontinental playoff. At the top of the FIFA World Rankings, Argentina retained first place with 1,886.16 points, while Spain moved up one spot to second with 1,854.64 points, pushing France down to third with 1,852.71 points. England followed in fourth place with 1,819.2 points, while Brazil ranked fifth with 1,776.03 points. The Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Germany completed the top ten. Among Arab teams, Morocco remained the highest-ranked, sitting 12th globally with 1,694.24 points and leading African teams ahead of Senegal, which ranked 19th globally with 1,630.32 points. Egypt followed at 32nd globally (2nd among Arab teams and 3rd in Africa), while Algeria ranked 36th, Tunisia 49th, Qatar 55th, and Saudi Arabia 58th. In Asia, Japan retained its top spot, ranking 15th globally with 1,652.64 points. Iran followed in 18th, South Korea in 23rd, Australia in 26th, and Qatar in 55th place.

Football

Belgrade: The United States is the sole bidder for the 2031 Women's World Cup, and the United Kingdom is set to host the 2035 tournament, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Thursday. "Today I can confirm that we have received one bid for 2031 and one valid bid for 2035," said Infantino on stage at the UEFA Congress in Belgrade. "2031 is from the USA and potentially some other CONCACAF members together, and '35 is from Europe, from the home nations." Infantino also said FIFA planned to increase the number of participating teams at the Women's World Cup from 32 teams to 48 in time for the 2031 tournament. Thursday's announcement comes after the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland revealed last month that they would submit an expression of interest in staging the tournament. World football's governing body last month said it would only welcome bids for 2035 from Europe or Africa, with expressions of interest to be made in the first quarter of this year. FIFA has said that the identity of the hosts would be confirmed at its congress in the second quarter of 2026. The United States also confirmed in early March that it would push ahead with a bid for 2031. South Africa and Morocco had also been in the running with African nations invited to bid too, but Infantino's comments suggest they are now out of contention. The next Women's World Cup will take place in Brazil in 2027. The United States will co-host the 2026 men's World Cup with Canada and Mexico, and will also host the first edition of FIFA's expanded Club World Cup this June and July. Next year's World Cup will be the first time 48 teams have participated in the men's tournament, up from 32. The Women's World Cup was expanded from 24 teams to 32 for the first time for the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand. The United Kingdom and Ireland will co-host the men's European Championship in 2028, while the Women's Euro in 2022 took place in England. FIFA has already attributed the 2030 men's World Cup jointly to Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with three games also being played in South America. Saudi Arabia will then host in 2034.

Formula One

Suzuka, Japan: McLaren's championship leader Lando Norris said Thursday ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix that it was "our turn" to have Formula One's best car. McLaren have been the team to beat so far this season, with Norris winning the opening Australian Grand Prix before teammate Oscar Piastri led him in a one-two finish in China. Red Bull have dominated F1 in recent years, with Max Verstappen winning the drivers' championship for the past four seasons. Britain's Norris believes McLaren are now faster and he intends to prove it again this weekend at Suzuka. Read Also Hamilton rubbishes claims he's lost faith in Ferrari Tsunoda targets podium finish in Japan after ‘unreal’ Red Bull move Aston Martin to sell stake in Formula One team "Do I agree we have the best car? Yes, and it's nice to say that," said the 25-year-old, who has never won in Japan. "We've not had that before in Formula One. Max has had his time of having the best car by a long way and now it's our chance, it's our turn." Norris leads Verstappen in the championship standings by eight points, with Piastri in fourth place behind Mercedes' George Russell. McLaren are one of the few teams at the front of the grid who did not make any driver changes ahead of the new season. Norris said the chemistry between he and the Australian Piastri gives them an advantage over their rivals. "I would never put myself on any pedestal ever, but how we work as a team, I do think is better than every other team," said Norris. "How we push each other and get more out of one another as two drivers, I also agree we're better than any other team." Verstappen has won the Japanese Grand Prix for the last three years and led then-teammate Sergio Perez in a one-two finish at Suzuka last season. "I think if you go back one year ago, Red Bull were still a lot further ahead than we are now," he said. "The fact that they had two drivers up there, dominating, they were a lot further ahead than we are now. "So I think we're doing a very good job, and I feel like people are talking about us a lot more now."