Super6, Author at The Sportz Planet

India Among Seven Bidders For 2031 AFC Asian Cup

India has officially entered the race to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, joining a record number of bidders vying to stage Asia’s premier men’s national football tournament. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Friday that seven bids, including one joint proposal, were received ahead of the March 31, 2025 deadline Alongside India, the other contenders are Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and a joint bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Notably absent from the list is China, which had previously been awarded the 2023 edition but later withdrew due to COVID-19-related restrictions. AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa announced the submissions during the AFC Executive Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur, expressing enthusiasm over the unprecedented interest. “This record number of bids reflects the growing stature of the AFC Asian Cup, especially after the success of the 2023 tournament in Qatar, which drew 7.9 billion digital impressions and viewership across 160 territories,” he said. The 2023 edition, originally set to be hosted by China, was relocated to Qatar, which had also hosted in 2011 and once again emerged as champions. The 2027 edition is set to be held in Saudi Arabia, making it the third consecutive Asian Cup in the Gulf region after the UAE in 2019 and Qatar in 2023. Also Read: India Bids For The Hosting Rights Of 2030 Commonwealth Games In Ahmedabad India’s bid marks a potential historic first, as the country has never hosted the AFC Asian Cup. If successful, it would represent a major milestone for Indian football and underscore the nation’s ambition to become a leading sporting destination in Asia. Australia, a former champion and host in 2015, and Indonesia, which co-hosted the 2007 edition, are also prominent contenders. South Korea, despite being a two-time winner, has surprisingly never hosted the tournament since its inception in 1956. Kuwait, which hosted and won the 1980 edition, and the UAE, hosts of the 1996 and 2019 tournaments, round out the solo bids. The AFC will now initiate the next phase of the selection process, including documentation review and a scheduled workshop for bidding nations later this month. The final decision on the host country will be made at the AFC Congress in 2026. As anticipation builds, India’s bid could pave the way for a transformative moment in the nation’s footballing journey.Prakhar SachdeoThe Sportz Planet Desk

World’s Most Valuable Sports Franchises As Of 2025

In the high-stakes world of professional sports, franchises have evolved into sophisticated business empires, attracting global investment and generating revenue that rivals multinational corporations. With TV rights deals, global fan engagement, merchandise sales, and lucrative sponsorships, the value of a sports franchise now extends far beyond athletic performance. Forbes‘ latest valuation of the world’s most valuable sports franchises reflects this seismic shift—where branding, media presence, and market reach are as important as trophies. This article ranks the top ten franchises by value, offering insights into the ownership, venues, and strategic positioning behind their financial dominance. 10. San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers are San Francisco based American football team. They have been valued at $6.8 billion. The team is owned by the York family. The team competes in the National Football League (NFL) and plays its home games at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. In June 2023, the American group also became the owner of the English football club Leeds United. 9. New York Jets The next team on the list is New York Jets. Like San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets is also an American football team and features in the National Football League. The Forbes values the New York Jets at $6.9 billion. New York Jets is co-owned by American billionaire brothers Woody Johnson and Christopher Johnson. New York Jets play their home matches at the MetLife Stadium. The venue will be the site for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final and the 2025 FIFA World Cup final. 8. Los Angeles Lakers Basketball team Los Angeles Lakers are the eighth most valuable sports franchise in the world. The team has been valued at $7.1 billion and features in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With 17 NBA titles, Los Angles Lakers are the second-most successful team in the tournament’s history. American businesswoman Jeanie Buss has the controlling owner of the team. American billionaire Todd Boehly, who also is co-owns English football club Chelsea, is one of the minority stake holder of Los Angeles Lakers. 7. New York Giants New York Jets’ intra-city rivals New York Giants have been valued at $7.3 billion. New York Giants also play their home games at the MetLife Stadium. The team is jointly owned by billionaires Steve Tisch and John Mara. 6. New England Patriots The next team to feature on the list is New England Patriots. The Forbes’ values the team at $ 7.4 billion. The American football team is based in Greater Boston area and plays its games at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots is owned by American billionaire Robert Kraft. 5. New York Knicks Basketball team New York Knicks have been valued at $7.5 billion. The team is owned by owned by James Dolan and his family, who control Madison Square Garden Sports Corporation. New York Knicks play its home games at Madison Square Garden, an arena they share with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. Also Read: World’s Richest Sports Team Owners As Of 20254. New York Yankees Another New York based sports team to feature on this lucrative list is New York Yankees. New York Yankess is a baseball team and features in Major League Baseball. The team is valued at $7.55 billion. The Yankees are owned by Yankee Global Enterprises which in turn is controlled by the Steinbrenner family. 3. Los Angeles Rams American football team Los Angeles Rams is the third-highest valued sports franchise in the world. The team’s value is $7.60 billion. The Rams play in National Football League and plays its home games at the SoFi Stadium. American billionaire Stan Korenke owns the team. Korenke is also the owner of Premier League giants Arsenal. 2. Golden State Warriors Basketball team Golden State Warriors is the second-most valued sports franchise in the world at $8.8 billion. The team competes in the National Basketball Association and is based in San Francisco. Chase Center in California is the home venue for Golden State Warriors. The team is co-owned by American billionaires Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. 1. Dallas Cowboys At $10.1 billion, Dallas Cowboys remains the most valued sports franchise in the world. Dallas Cowboys is an American Football team and features in the National Football League. The team has retained its position on the list for nine straight years. Dallas Cowboys play their home games at the AT&T Stadium. The team is owned by American businessman Jerry Jones. Prakhar SachdeoThe Sportz Planet Desk

Cricket Returns To The Olympics After 128 Years, 28 More Medal Events Added For LA Games

Cricket is all set to make a historic return to the Olympic Games after a gap of 128 years, with six teams vying for glory at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Organizers officially confirmed the development on Wednesday. The sport last appeared in the Olympics in 1900, during the Paris Games, where Great Britain faced France in a one-off, two-day match — now considered an unofficial Test. At LA 2028, cricket will be played in the fast-paced T20 format, featuring six teams in both men’s and women’s competitions. Each squad will include up to 15 players, with 90 athlete quotas allotted for each gender. Also Read: Paris Paralympics Sets New Global Broadcast Coverage Benchmark The International Cricket Council (ICC) comprises 12 full-member nations, including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe. Additionally, 94 countries hold associate membership. While the qualification criteria are yet to be finalized, it is expected that host nation USA will receive a direct entry, leaving five remaining spots to be filled through ICC rankings or a qualification process. The top five ranked teams as of a designated cut-off date are likely to secure their places. While the qualification criteria are yet to be finalized, it is expected that host nation USA will receive a direct entry, leaving five remaining spots to be filled through ICC rankings or a qualification process. The top five ranked teams as of a designated cut-off date are likely to secure their places. Cricket joins four other new sports added to the LA28 Olympic roster: baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes), and squash. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave its nod to their inclusion in 2023. On Wednesday, the IOC Executive Board approved the event program and athlete quotas for the Los Angeles Games, introducing 22 additional medal events compared to Paris 2024. The LA28 program will now feature a record 351 medal events, while the overall athlete quota remains capped at 10,500. An additional 698 slots have been allocated to accommodate the newly included sports. In a significant step toward gender equality, LA28 will be the first Olympic Games where all team sports will have equal representation for men and women. Boxing will also reach full gender parity, with the addition of a seventh women’s weight category, matching the men’s events.Prakhar SachdeoThe Sportz Planet Desk