Sports

Jürgen Klopp had long been the overwhelming favorite to become the new head coach of Germany's national football team. On Friday, the German Football Association (DFB) made his appointment official.  DFB President Bernd Neuendorf announced at a press conference in Frankfurt that Klopp had signed a contract that would see him remain Germany coach through the 2030 World Cup. He is to officially take up the post on August 15.   "It is a great honor to sit here," Klopp said. "I had an idea how big the job is, but when you are directly involved, you feel the responsibility even more. It is a very special day for me." At the same time, the new Germany coach, who often appears light-hearted in public, appeared to issue a stern warning to the gathered reporters.   "On the day you don't want me...

Manuel Neuer retired from international duty after Germany's early exit from the 2026 World Cup, opening the door for a new No. 1. Jonas Urbig appears the obvious choice, but Neuer is still the starter at Bayern Munich, which severely limits Urbig's playing time. If the 23-year-old was Bayern's first choice, he would likely be Germany's number one too. As it stands, though, it appears doubtful that Germany's new coach Jürgen Klopp will even call him up to his first squad. On September 17, he will announce his squad for four UEFA Nations League games against the Netherlands, Greece, and Serbia. And no position in the current Germany team is more up for grabs than goalkeeper. Oliver Baumann: The automatic Neuer replacement? Oliver Baumann represents exactly the kind of selfless No. 2 who ...

When Russia's parliamentary elections are held from September 18 to 20, Alexander Ovechkin won't be there to cast his ballot in person. On Monday he took his first few strides back on the ice in the United States as he starts gearing up for a new National Hockey League (NHL) season with the Washington Capitals, his 22nd in the world's best league. Before leaving his homeland, where he spent his summer break, he did make his contribution to the election campaign, however, appearing in a video promoting the ruling United Russia party, which steadfastly supports President Vladimir Putin. In the video, which has been widely shared on social media, Ovechkin doesn't speak but can be clearly seen in the third row of a group of supporters behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is hea...

Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin has achieved something that seemed impossible just a few years ago; the man known as the "Great 8" has broken Wayne Gretzky's all-time National Hockey League (NHL) regular-season record of 894 goals scored. Goal number 895 went in a 4-1 loss in one of the final games of the Washington Capitals' season in the US-Canadian NHL. Ovechkin was celebrated as a hero ― not just by fans of his Washington Capitals, but by ice hockey fans all over North America and beyond. There was no shortage of congratulations, including from NHL top brass, and the man whose record he is set to break, Wayne Gretzky. "To be honest with you, when I was tying the record, I still can't believe it," Ovechkin said afterwards. "It was so emotional. Such a great night. But this is som...

When Russia's parliamentary elections are held from September 18 to 20, Alexander Ovechkin won't be there to cast his ballot in person. On Monday he took his first few strides back on the ice in the United States as he starts gearing up for a new National Hockey League (NHL) season with the Washington Capitals – his 22nd in the world's best league. However, before leaving his homeland, Russia, where he spent his summer break, he did make his contribution to the election campaign, appearing in a video promoting the ruling party United Russia, which steadfastly supports President Vladimir Putin. In the video, which has been widely shared on social media, Ovechkin doesn't speak but can be clearly seen in the third row of a group of supporters behind Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, w...

How did the EuroLeague come about? A quarter of a century ago, many of Europe's top basketball clubs were dissatisfied with how the then-EuroLeague was being operated and marketed. That version of the EuroLeague was operated by FIBA, basketball's global governing body and the clubs were seeking more control over revenue, schedules, and media rights. In 2000, a group of clubs established the current EuroLeague under the umbrella of the Union of European Leagues of Basketball (ULEB). The goal was a professional, commercially successful club competition, similar to football's Champions League. The organizers were able to call it the "EuroLeague" as FIBA had failed to trademark the brand. Who plays in the EuroLeague? Now operated by the private company Euroleague Basketball, 13 of the 20 c...

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said a proposed NBA Europe league would "respect the traditions of European basketball."  Silver used the occasion of Thursday's NBA game in Berlin between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies — the first regular season game to ever take place in Germany — to give an update on the venture. He said the NBA was continuing to hold discussions with clubs about its plans, which would see it partner with FIBA, world basketball's governing body, to create a 16-team European league. Up to 12 spots would be reserved for permanent members, and at least four would be available to teams that qualify through FIBA's existing European competition. "I would just say we continue to be enormously excited about it," Silver said about the notion of an NBA Europe, adding ...

The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) of the women's national basketball association (WNBA) in the United States is a seismic moment in sports history. The deal, agreed in mid-March 2026 after 17 months of negotiations, reportedly includes a salary cap increase, significantly higher minimum salaries, revenue sharing and charter flights. It is considered a huge step in the right direction for player empowerment and league growth. More than that, though, it is the headline of a wider movement in women's sports that is empowering players to push for better pay, conditions and a greater share of the revenue they help generate. "This agreement is historic not just for basketball, but for the architecture of women's professional sport globally," Popi Sotiriadou told DW. Sotiriadou, an as...

The world's best players showcased their sport at the Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin, which wrapped up on September 13. Germany, led by Leonie Fiebich and Nyara, improved with every game throughout the preliminary and intermediate round of the 10-day tournament. In the quarterfinals, Germany beat European champions Belgium, delivering what was arguably their best-ever performance. The final weekend though, revealed the team still isn't quite ready to compete with the world's elite over a full 40 minutes. Germany lost to France in the semifinals before losing to Spain in the match for third place. Despite their disappointment, the Germans still saw the tournament as a huge success. "We simply aren't good enough yet," said Fiebich after the Spain match. "We played the tournament ...