Football/Soccer 3h Briefing

Last updated: March 12, 2026, 10:48 PM ET

European Football

Al-Sadd will play without Mancini espn.com in their upcoming match after the Italian coach was unable to return to Qatar due to regional travel disruptions caused by ongoing conflict, the Qatari club confirmed. The absence leaves the team without its experienced manager for a crucial fixture in their domestic campaign.

Golf

At The Players Championship, five players share the early lead skysports.com after the first round at TPC Sawgrass, with Sepp Straka and Sahith Theegala among those at the top of the leaderboard. Defending champion Rory McIlroy struggled in his opening round skysports.com, posting a slower start than expected as he attempts to retain his title at the PGA Tour's flagship event. The tournament's second-round groupings skysports.com have been set, with tee times scheduled for UK audiences as the field advances through Florida's signature course.