Sport in brief: September 23 2026

By Bella Katz

Snippets of news from the sporting world with JAMIE J

Women’s Tennis / 22 September 2026 Great Britain fall to Czechia in Billie Jean King Cup Finals last eight 22 September 2026 Men’s Football / 22 September 2026 Israel FA launches furious attack on Republic of Ireland boss 22 September 2026 Campaigners call for Ireland to boycott Sunday’s opener in Hungary

MEN’S CRICKET: Warwickshire take an 11-point lead over Somerset into the final round of County Championship Division One games that are due to start on Thursday.

The West Midlanders host relegation-haunted Leicester, while Somerset face Surrey at Taunton.

Defending champions Nottingham sit a further four points back in third before they play Yorkshire, Sussex visit already doomed Hampshire and Glamorgan take on Essex.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Namibia are up against Congo when the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tournament kicks off Thursday afternoon, two weeks before the Court of Arbitration for Sport finally decides whether Morocco or Senegal won the 2025 edition.

Tomorrow’s other games include four-time winners Ghana at three-time champions Ivory Coast, Tunisia against Uganda, Cameroon facing the Comoros and Libya playing Botswana.

CYCLING: Led by Filippo Ganna and Elisa Longo Borghini, Italy claimed their first-ever World Championship mixed relay team time trial title in Montreal on Tuesday.

The Italians finished under nine seconds ahead of France with Switzerland in third, despite Stefan Kung suffering a broken handlebar.

Australia, who were seeking their third successive gold medal in the event, were 40 seconds off the pace in fourth.

BASEBALL: Philadelphia closed in on a place in the end-of-season Major League play-offs with a 6-4 win over table-toppers Milwaukee Brewers this morning.

The Tampa Bay Rays are through after thumping the already qualified New York Yankees 6-1, while Cleveland kept their hopes alive with a 3-2 victory over Boston Red Sox. Bottom of the table Colorado Rockies lost again, 7-2 at home to Arizona Diamondbacks.