Tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King has spent her life fighting for gender equality and championing the rights of the LGBTQ community so it would hardly be surprising if she joined the long list of those criticising Qatar as World Cup hosts. The American, however, believes staging soccer’s blue-riband tournament in the conservative Gulf Arab state can open minds and become a power for good.

King said that the WTA Tour she helped create used to stage its end-of-season tournament in Doha. Asked if she would be happy to host the Billie Jean Cup finals, which begins this month in Glasgow, in Qatar, she said: “I probably would be. I think it’s important to show up and be an influencer. I think it’s delicate. But I think it’s important to go if you get the opportunity, not just go there for money or whatever.”

‘Captain America’

New York: The pressure is on for ‘Captain America’ Christian Pulisic to put on a superhero performance at his World Cup debut in Qatar, building on years of sky-high expectations from his US fans. He was the youngest man to feature in a US World Cup qualifier six years ago aged 17 before suffering the bitter disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 edition.

But the Chelsea forward has emerged as the most recognisable face in a US squad eager for redemption. The US will be praying he does not pick up an injury ahead of the Cup with Chelsea involved in so many matches.

“I have I don’t even know how many games leading up. So I have to be prepared and take care of myself,” he said.

Doctor’s priority

Geneva: Fifa’s top doctor highlighted brain injuries in soccer as his priority ahead of a World Cup where teams can use an extra substitute if a player has a suspected concussion. “I joined Fifa to try and make a little bit of a difference and brain injuries is top of my list,” said Andrew Massey, who joined Fifa as its medical director in 2020.

“What we do at the World Cup will be evidenced at grass roots football.”