Cape Verde Islands, population 525k, qualify for their first World Cup on Monday if they beat Eswatini.

Tickets in the 8k-seater Estádio da Várzea are gold dust. There is no online sale but 5 different sale points for tickets: the stadium, 3 petrol stations, and a bakery.

A timely reminder that 3 of London's tube lines temperatures exceed 30 degrees - which is the legal limit for transporting cattle.

(source: makingmoveslondon.co.uk/blog/data-pr...)

Luka Modric will leave Real Madrid as one of the most decorated, and influential, midfielders of the modern era. Worth remembering the Catalan press mocked Madrid for signing him in 2012 and he was voted the worst signing of the year by Madrid fans in the same season.

Astonishing attendance for today's Dublin derby between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers. A new League of Ireland record. Great to see clubs engaging meaningfully with communities and fans getting behind them in numbers.

Usman Khawaja on sport and politics mixing: "Politicians are not really special people...they are public servants. I'm a citizen, and I have the right to speak about politics just like everyone else. I have to talk about politics, because it affects me and you." (Part 2 of 2)

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja gives the perfect answer on whether sport and politics mix. "People who can't see it just don't understand it." (Part 1 of 2)

Tonight is the ‘lluvia de peluches’ at Real Betis. The annual tradition of stuffed toys thrown on to the pitch and collected for disadvantaged children ahead of Christmas. An estimated 15,000 toys are expected for collection.

Paris Saint-Germain vs Lyon temporarily stopped to ask for homophobic chants to stop. PSG were previously punished with partial stand closure for homophobic chants in October Ligue 1 match.

"forensic, politely determined and never lets her subject off the hook."

One day, a Spanish media outlet will learn how to copy and paste the spelling of my name.

Gianni Infantino: "This is what we expect and look forward to: social improvements, positive human rights impacts."

Going to be another decade of FIFA PR, the "reform" buzzword and not learning any lessons. Just 6 years on from Russia WC and 2 years since its illegal invasion of Ukraine.

This excerpt from a very good piece is an extraordinarily revealing insight into modern football.

"Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo."

Hugely emotional scenes at Mestalla for Valencia's first match since the tragic floods. And a clear message to politicians from the fans: Only the town's people can save themselves, because nobody else will.

Serbia's Eternal Derby between Crvena Zvezda and Partizan isn't just a football rivalry.

This is tip-off at the Belgrade Arena for tonight's basketball EuroLeague. Incredible multi-sport fandom culture and community to generate this atmosphere.

On the contrary, the London underground map from the sky is actually pretty cool.

Werder Bremen confirm they have abandoned X/Twitter and will instead post on BlueSky.

They join St. Pauli in abandoning the other place.

This is a powerful statement that pulls no punches.