The 4th round matches of the Women's Football League' 2021-22 begins on Wednesday (November 30) at the Bir Shreshta Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mustafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur.  Three matches will be held on Wednesday. Barishal Football Academy will play Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan College SC at 1:pm. Bashundhara Kings will face Dhaka Rangers Football Club at 3 pm while FC Brahmanbaria will take on Suddopuskorini JSC at 5 pm at the same venue. Read more: 1st Div Football: East End earn 2-0 win over Dilkusha SC On the following day (Thursday),Nasrin Sports Academy will meet Cumilla United Club at 1 pm, Uttara Football Club will encounter Jamalpur Karcharipara Akadash at 3 pm while Siraj Smriti Sangsad will play Farashganj Sporting Club at 5 pm, all at the Kamalapur Stadium.

Defending champions Dhaka Abahani Limited will play Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra in the first semifinal of the season's curtain raiser soccer meet, the Bashundhara Group Independent Cup Football' 2022 at the Bir Shrestha Fl Lt Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj on Wednesday. Bashundhara Kings will face Bangladesh Police FC in the 2nd semifinal at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Thursday (December 1)  Read more: BFF U-18 Football: Bashundhara Kings earn 4-2 victory over Police FC The final match will be held on Monday (December 5) at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla while the 3rd place deciding match between two losing semifinalists will be held on Sunday (December 4) in Munshiganj.  All the four knock out basis matches will kick off at 1 pm. Earlier, Dhaka Abahani Limited qualified for the semi-final eliminating Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 2-1 goal while Sheikh Russell KC booked a seat for the last four stage eliminating Chittagong Abahani Limited by 1-0 goal in the quarterfnals. Read more: Ind Cup Football: Dhaka Abahani clinch group title beating Muktijoddha SKS 3-1 In the other quarterfinals, Bangladesh Police FC qualified for the semis defeating Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad KC by 5-4 goal while star-studded Bashundhara Kings assured the semifinal berth beating Dhaka Mohammedan SC by 2-0 goal in their respective quarterfinals.

The business end of the Qatar World Cup 2022 group phase starts today (day 10). Four qualified teams for the Round of 16 from Groups A and B will be confirmed after Tuesday’s fixtures. However, all eyes will be on the Iran vs USA match today due to political tensions between the two countries. Group A The Netherlands vs Qatar match will take place at the Al Bayt Stadium, while the Senegal vs Ecuador game will be played at the Khalifa International Stadium. Both matches will kick off at 9 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). Read More: FIFA World Cup: Bruno scores twice as Portugal march to last 16 Netherlands vs Qatar The Dutch team is in better condition than the other teams in Group A.They can even reach the Round of 16 phase even without winning this fixture, depending on the outcome of the Ecuador vs Senegal game. However, the Netherlands will undoubtedly look to dominate against the host Qatar and finish first in the group phase points standings. Qatar, on the other hand, have nothing to lose as they are already out of the tournament. Therefore, the Qatari side will play with no extra pressure. They will look to finish their first World Cup tournament by defeating the Netherlands.Qatar can certainly dream of defeating the Dutch side with plenty of support from the local crowd. Senegal vs Ecuador This contest will probably be decided by the second-placed team in Group A. Senegal and Ecuador have both shown enough potential to reach the knockout round. Now they have come to a point where this game will act as a tiebreaker. Ecuador currently hold the second position with 4 points. They only need to draw the match against Senegal to advance to the next round. But if Ecuador lose this fixture and the Netherlands draws against Qatar, they will be out of the competition. So, the South American team will likely play with a bit of a cautious approach. Senegal, on the other hand, need to win the fixture against Ecuador in its quest for a Round of 16 berth. However, they can still advance by drawing this match. But in that case, the Netherlands would have to lose heavily against Qatar, which is highly unlikely. Read More: Why are World Cup players donning unusual face masks on pitch? Group B The Iran vs USA match will take place at the Al Thumama Stadium, while the England vs Wales match will be held at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. Both the fixtures will kick off at 1 a.m. Wednesday (Bangladesh Standard Time). Iran vs USA The United States vs Iran match is so politically driven that it is expected to be a tough battle between the two sides. The USA have shown enough fighting spirit in this tournament, while Iran made a strong comeback against Wales after a 6-2 demolition by England.Besides, the fixture between the USA and Iran will also be important in the quest for a Round of 16 berth. The winner of this match will move on to the knockout round. The Iranian side, however, is in a better position than the USA, as they are currently in second place with 3 points. The USA are in third place with 2 points. Iran can move to the next phase by drawing the match.Iran, therefore, will likely play with a defensive mindset and try to frustrate the USA side. But the United States of America have no other choice but to win the contest. Overall, this fixture promises to be an exciting affair to witness, whether it's for sporting or political reasons. England vs Wales England and Wales, two teams from the United Kingdom, will face each other today as well. This is going to be an interesting contest to watch. Both sides will be aiming to outshine each other. However, given the strength of the two teams, England will likely overcome the fixture with ease and finish the group in top position.England’s qualification for the Round of 16 is all but confirmed. They will have no extra pressure to deal with. But Gareth Southgate's side will surely be up for the No. 1 position in Group B. So, they won’t take this contest lightly.Wales, on the other side, have no choice but to win in order to secure a place in the Round of 16. Having said that, Wales will also have to rely on the outcome of the Iran vs USA match, as they expect this contest to end in a draw. Read More: Casemiro helps Brazil overcome Swiss challenge Aftermath All four matches on FIFA World Cup 2022 Day 10 are crucial and will determine the qualified teams for Round 16. However, fans in general will pay special attention to the USA vs Iran match, which is viewed as a politically charged contest.

Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar bagged four wickets in the opening day of the unofficial Test between Bangladesh A and India A on Tuesday in Cox’s Bazar. Saurabh's outstanding bowling performance put Bangladesh on the back foot. At the end of day one, India A are leading by eight runs in their first innings with all wickets in hand. India have won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat first. Read more: Touring Bangladesh women's cricket team suffer seven-wicket defeat against New Zealand XI Indian bowlers have justified the decision by wrapping up Bangladesh in just 112 runs. Five of Bangladesh’s first six batters were unable to reach a double-digit total. Two of them, Zakir Hasan and Mohammad Mithun, suffered a duck each, while two, Mominul Haque and Jaker Ali, scored four each, and the other, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, could only score one. Number three, Najmul Hossain Shanto, scored 19 runs, and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat saved the team from being bundled out for a total of less than one hundred, scoring 63 runs. Read more: North Zone win Bangladesh Cricket League one-dayers title And two of the last three batters have also suffered a duck each. It was an innings that Bangladesh A would love to forget. For India A, Saurabh bagged four wickets while Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar scalped three and two wickets, respectively. In reply, India A ended the day at 120 for none. The openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran, remained unbeaten, respectively, for 61 and 53.

The last World Cup clash between the United States and Iran 24 years ago is considered one of the most politically charged matches in soccer history. This time, the political overtones are just as strong and relations perhaps even more fraught as the U.S. and Iran face off once again on Tuesday in Qatar. Iran’s nationwide protests, its expanding nuclear program and regional and international attacks linked back to Tehran have pushed the match beyond the stadium and into geopolitics. No matter the outcome, tensions are likely only to worsen in the coming months. When relations soured between the U.S. and Iran depends on who you ask. Iranians point to the 1953 CIA-backed coup that cemented Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi’s power. Americans remember the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover and 444-day hostage crisis during the Iranian Revolution. In soccer, however, the timeline is much simpler as this will be only the second time Iran and the U.S. have played each other in the World Cup. The last time was at the 1998 tournament in France — a totally different time in the Islamic Republic. Iran won 2-1 in Lyon, a low point for the U.S. men’s team as Iranians celebrated in Tehran. At the time, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the Iranian team, saying “the strong and arrogant opponent felt the bitter taste of defeat.” But off the pitch, Iran’s then-president, Mohammad Khatami, sought to improve ties to the West and the wider world. Inside Iran, Khatami pushed so-called “reformist” policies, seeking to liberalize aspects of its theocracy while maintaining its structure with a supreme leader at the top. U.S. President Bill Clinton and his administration hoped Khatami’s election could be part of a thaw. The two teams posed for a joint photograph, and the Iranian players handed white flowers to their American opponents. The U.S. gave the Iranians U.S. Soccer Federation pennants. They even exchanged jerseys, though the Iranians didn’t put them on. They later played a friendly in Pasadena, California, as well. Fast-forward 24 years later, and relations are perhaps more tense than they’ve ever been. Iran is now governed entirely by hard-liners after the election of President Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of Khamenei, who took part in the 1988 mass execution of thousands of political prisoners at the end of the Iran-Iraq war. Following the collapse of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, sparked by President Donald Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the accord, Tehran is now enriching uranium to 60% purity — a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels. Non-proliferation experts warn the Islamic Republic already has enough uranium to build at least one nuclear bomb. A shadow war of drone strikes, targeted killings and sabotage has been shaking the wider Middle East for years amid the deal’s collapse. Meanwhile, Russia pounds civilian areas and power infrastructure in Ukraine with Iranian-made drones. For two months, Iran has been convulsed by the mass protests that followed the Sept. 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been earlier detained by the country’s morality police. The protests have seen at least 451 people killed since they started, as well as over 18,000 arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, an advocacy group following the demonstrations. At the World Cup in Qatar, Iran’s 2-0 win against Wales provided a brief moment of good news for hard-liners. After the match, riot police in Tehran waved Iranian flags in the street, something that angered demonstrators. Khamenei himself acknowledged the win “stirred joy in the country.” However, the supreme leader warned that “when the World Cup is taking place, all eyes are on it. The opponent typically takes advantage of this lax moment to act.” As the demonstrations intensified, Iran has alleged without providing evidence that its enemies abroad, including the U.S., are fomenting the unrest. At a World Cup where organizers hoped to divorce politics from the pitch, those tensions have bled out around the stadiums with pro- and anti-government demonstrators shouting at each other. Ahead of Tuesday’s match at Al Thumama Stadium, Iran has released a propaganda video with young children singing, including girls in white hijabs, in front of a small field. Waving flags and set against a blasting synthesizer beat, the children sing: “We back you on the bleachers, all with one voice Iran, Iran.” “We are waiting for a goal, our heart second by second is beating for our Iran,” they add. Such a win could prove to be a further boost to hard-liners. Already, they’ve reacted angrily to a protest by the U.S. Soccer Federation that saw them briefly erase the emblem of the Islamic Republic from Iran’s flag in social media posts. It’s unclear whether any Iranian or U.S. government officials will be on hand for the match. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken already attended the U.S. match against Wales at the start of the tournament. But opponents of Iran’s government are on hand in Qatar with their own message. Among them is former U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, who flew in Monday afternoon for the Iran match. Ortagus served in the Trump administration and was one of the faces of its so-called “maximum pressure” campaign. “It’s one of those pivotal moments when geopolitics and sports collides,” Ortagus told The Associated Press. “You’re seeing the Iran team do what they can to stand up for the protesters and the people peacefully demonstrating.”

A protester ran onto the field Monday carrying a rainbow flag and wearing a blue Superman T-shirt that said “SAVE UKRAINE” on the front and “RESPECT FOR IRANIAN WOMAN” on the back during a World Cup match between Portugal and Uruguay. Security officials chased the protester down and the flag was dropped on the field before the person was escorted away. The referee then picked up the flag and left it on the sideline, where it stayed for a few moments before a worker came and collected it. The protester was ushered away through a tunnel. It wasn’t immediately clear if the person faced any charges or had been detained by police. Thierry De Backer, FIFA’s media officer at the game, told The Associated Press he had “no idea” what happened to the protester. Local Qatari organizers would not comment. read more: Why are World Cup players donning unusual face masks on pitch? In the first week of the tournament in Qatar, seven European teams lost the battle to wear multi-colored “One Love” armbands during World Cup matches. Fans also complained they weren’t allowed to bring items with rainbow colors, a symbol of LGBTQ rights, into the stadiums of the conservative Islamic emirate. Qatar’s laws against gay sex and treatment of LGBTQ people were flashpoints in the run-up to the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East. Qatar has said everyone was welcome, including LGBTQ fans, but that visitors should respect the nation’s culture. The incident occurred during the second half of the game at Lusail Stadium. Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who scored both goals in his team’s 2-0 win, said he was so focused on the game that he didn’t really notice what the protester’s intent was, and that he thought the protester might have wanted to take a picture with Cristiano Ronaldo, his star teammate. Read more: Qatari bathrobes’: German commentator under fire for disparaging remark about traditional attire “To be honest I didn’t really see what was the message that was trying to be conveyed,” Fernandes said through a translator. “But we’ve already spoken about that many times. ... We respect all human rights but those are political issues where we unfortunately don’t really have much strength, where we can’t really change anything.” Before the World Cup started, Fernandes said soccer should be “for everyone,” adding that he wasn’t happy about workers who died building stadiums in Qatar.

With Wales on the verge of World Cup elimination, Gareth Bale was dismissive when asked if Tuesday’s game against England could be the last for his country. “Nope,” was his one-word answer. He chose not to elaborate. While questions hang over Bale’s long-term future, Wales’ concerns are more immediate. If Wales fails to beat England in its final Group B game it is out of the World Cup. But even a win might not be enough to secure qualification to the knockout stages. “We’re disappointed in the results and the performances,” Bale said Monday. “But that’s football, it’s not easy, it’s a World Cup. We don’t need to get anyone going — we just need to keep working hard and hopefully things will turn around for us.” Read more: Why are World Cup players donning unusual face masks on pitch? The 1-1 draw with the United States in Wales’ opening game, when Bale scored a penalty to tie, was a solid enough start. But a 2-0 loss to Iran has put Wales in jeopardy of World Cup elimination. So it is understandable that Bale had little interest in engaging in discussion about his storied career and what remains for his playing days. He was asked how a win against England and moving into the round of 16 would rank against his five Champions League trophies with Real Madrid. “I’ll let you know if it happens,” he said curtly. At 33, Bale doesn’t need to be told occasions like this might be over for him once Wales’ World Cup adventure ends. After leading his country to the semifinals of Euro 2016 and through to the knockout stages of Euro 2020, he ended Wales' 64-year wait to qualify for a World Cup. But his influence is declining, as has been evident in Wales’ opening two games. Meanwhile, other key players in Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen are also past their peak. With a lack of obvious replacements coming through, qualification for another major tournament may not be on the horizon any time soon. Read more: Viral Wales video hangs over World Cup clash with England Bale has also said goodbye to elite European football – joining MLS team Los Angeles FC in the summer. In short, his opportunities to play in front of a global audience could be scarce beyond Qatar. But it would be unwise to write off a player who has made a career of producing game-changing moments on the biggest occasions. That's a fact England coach Gareth Southgate noted when was asked to pay tribute to one of British soccer’s greats. In his mind, Bale represents a very live threat. “He’s had a fantastic — or is having a fantastic career,” he said. “Clearly his club career and what he won with Real Madrid is phenomenal. We know that he’s capable of those individual moments of brilliance in the penalty area and from distance as well. Free kicks, of course, are a great strength.” Perhaps no team at the World Cup is more reliant on one player as Wales is with Bale. Not Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo – or Argentina with Lionel Messi. “I do the same as I always do. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” said Bale. “Sometimes I have a good game, sometimes I don’t. It’s football, it’s difficult to always play well. “I will give everything, like I always do for my country. I will just try to lead by example and hopefully that’s enough on the day. That is all I can do.”

Portugal marched to the last 16 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup beating Urgugay by 2-0 on Monday. It was Bruno Fernandes who eventually credited with the goal that set up Portugal’s 2-0 win.  Fernandes curled in a cross from the left that barely went over the head of the leaping Ronaldo and bounced into the far corner of the net in the 54th minute to give Portugal a 1-0 lead. Read More: Neymar gets treatment at hotel as Brazil plays at World Cup A grinning Ronaldo threw his arms in the air, suggesting he got the final touch, and was embracing Fernandes as multiple close-up replays were being shown on the big screens in Lusail Stadium. The goal wound up being awarded to Fernandes, who added a second from the penalty spot in stoppage time after a handball by Jose Maria Gimenez. Fernandes was denied a hat trick with virtually the last kick of the game, his shot from outside the area hitting the post and bouncing wide. Portugal, which opened with a 3-2 win over Ghana, became the third team to reach the last 16 after France and Brazil. Read More: Why are World Cup players donning unusual face masks on pitch? Uruguay has one point from two matches and needs to beat Ghana on Friday to stand a chance of advancing. The match was briefly interrupted just before the goal by a protestor carrying a rainbow flag and wearing a blue Superman T-shirt that said "SAVE UKRAINE" on the front and "RESPECT FOR IRANIAN WOMAN" on the back. Security officials chased the protestor down and the flag was dropped on the field. Portugal defender Pepe became the second oldest outfield player to feature at a World Cup, at the age of 39. The oldest is Roger Milla, who was 42 when he played for Cameroon at the 1994 tournament. Portugal left back Nuno Mendes dropped to the ground in the 40th minute and was soon in tears after sustaining a match-ending injury. He was able to walk off the field unassisted. Portugal’s other left back is Raphael Guerreiro. Read More: Casemiro helps Brazil overcome Swiss challenge After this win over Uruguay, Portugal are at the top of the points table with six points from two wins, while Ghana are right behind them with three points from one win. South Korea and Uruguay have secured one point each. 

From South Korea's Son Heung-min, Croatia's Joško Gvardiol, Tunisia's Ellyes Skhiri, Belgium's Thomas Meunier to Iran's Alireza Beiranvand, several players have been spotted wearing unusual face masks on the pitch during the FIFA World Cup 2022 matches in Qatar, drawing comparisons to Batman and the Phantom of the Opera. The masks, made from materials like polycarbonate, are leaving social media users curious as to why the footballers are sporting the black shields. But it's not a fashion statement. When football players suffer facial injuries, they frequently don protective masks. Some of these masks are 3D printed, enabling them to be customised to each player's facial features. Read more: France's Benzema ruled out of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Fernando Torres, and Antonio Rudiger wore face masks before. RB Leipzig centre-back Gvardiol sported a black protective mask during the Group F match against Morocco and Canada. The reason for the 20-year-old sporting the face covering is he had a collision with teammate Willi Orban in a Bundesliga match on November 10, with scans later showing he had broken his nose and suffered minor injuries to his face and eyes. Also read: Neymar to miss Brazil’s second World Cup match due to injury In a similar on-field collision, Son suffered a fracture in his face, specifically around the eye socket, while playing for Tottenham during a November 1 Champions League win against Marseille. The 30-year-old winger also stepped onto the field against Uruguay and Ghana, donning a black carbon fibre mask. FC Köln midfielder Ellyes donned a mask against Denmark and Australia in Group D. The 27-year-old is nursing a broken cheekbone after suffering an injury in October. Read More: Qatari bathrobes’: German commentator under fire for disparaging remark about traditional attire Belgium's Borussia Dortmund star Thomas Meunier was also seen wearing a mask against the Red Devils' match against Canada. In Dortmund's match against Hannover 96 earlier this season, the defender fractured his cheekbone and had to undergo surgery.

Carlos Casemiro scored the only goal for Brazil as the South American giants beat Switzerland in their second match of the FIFA World Cup on Sunday night and secured their place in the tournament’s Round of 16 with two wins from two games. Following the match played at Doha’s Stadium 974, Brazil are now top of the points table in Group G with six points from two matches. Switzerland are right behind them with three points, while Serbia and Cameroon have a point each after their thrilling 3-3 draw earlier in the day.  Brazil headed to this match without their main star Neymar who sustained a blow to his ankle in their World Cup opener. Tite’s men felt the absence of Neymar throughout the match.  It was assumed that a Brazil team without Neymar would not win a match easily against an opponent like Switzerland.  Read More: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Mohammed Kudus scores winner as Ghana beat South Korea in five-goal thriller Vinicius Jr won a free kick early in the match. He was running unopposed down the left flank. All of a sudden, he was stopped by only a Swiss foul. Richarlison, the hero of Brazil’s first win, took the free kick that passed over everyone.  Legendary Brazilian striker RonaldoI, as well as Cafu and Roberto Carlos, the best-ever fullback pairing for the Selecao, all of them World Cup winners in 2002, were seen in the gallery of the 974 stadium. That might have inspired Brazilian supporters to come in full voice in the gallery. The Swiss supporters were outnumbered in this match in the venue. Richarlison ran well behind the Swiss defense. In the 14th minute of the match, Paqueta fed him with an outside of the boot flick, but Richarlison failed to reach Vinicius Jr in the middle. It was a really lovely piece of play from the men of Tite.  After a few minutes into the game, Switzerland had a good platform in the center of the pitch after a foul by Casemiro. They took a free kick that was not strong enough to reach Brazil’s net. Switzerland were a bit wasteful whenever they reached Brazil’s half.  Brazil were slightly better than Switzerland in the first half of the game. But the Swiss also grew into the game.  Coming into the second half of the match, Brazil got brighter and they kept attacking relentlessly.  Read More: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Cameroon, Serbia share points as match ends in 3-3 draw In the 66th minute, Vinicius Jr looked like he put Brazil in front with a neat finish, but his strike was ruled out for an offside in the build-up. Brazil did not stop there. They eventually scored in the 83rd minute when the ball fell to Casemiro inside the box and the midfielder lashed home an audacious first-time finish with the outside of his boot.  The Casemiro goal came as a sigh of relief for the Brazilians as they managed to get over the line in this game against Switzerland, leaving nothing to chance in their remaining group game, for which Neymar will again be missing. The Paris Saint Germain star is expected to be fighting to be fit for the knockout phase games.