AFP Sport looks at who needs what to make the global showpiece being staged in India in October and November.

Source: https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/cricket/cricket-world-cup-teams-qualifying/

Alcaraz, the world number one and top seed, will face Novak Djokovic, the seven-time champion who is 16 years his senior, in Sunday’s mouthwatering showpiece.

Source: https://jerseyeveningpost.com/uksport/2023/07/14/carlos-alcaraz-sets-up-mouthwatering-wimbledon-final-with-novak-djokovic/

A new name will on the Venus Rosewater Dish after the Centre Court showpiece as last year’s runner-up Jabeur takes on Vondrousova who is the first unseeded women’s finalist in SW19 since 1963.

Source: https://www.completesports.com/2023-wimbledon-final-tunisias-jabeur-targets-africas-first-female-singles-grand-slam-title/

Dunlop stretched his lead to 22 seconds by the end of the fourth lap and nursed the Honda home to claim his first Superbike TT win since 2018 – his eighth success in total in the showpiece class.

Source: https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/motorcycling/tt-2023-michael-dunlop-says-people-doubted-me-after-ulster-rider-returns-to-winning-ways-in-superbike-class-for-23rd-island-victory-4169012

Group-IB research detected more than 16,000 scam domains in the run up to the men's Qatar showpiece along with dozens of fake social media accounts, advertisements and mobile apps targeting World Cup fans and attendees.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11819255/Cybercrime-experts-warn-scammers-targeting-FIFA-Womens-World-Cup-Australia-NZ.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

If the game cannot be played this weekend, next weekend has been set aside for the showpiece two-day clash.

Source: https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/8133619/the-boy-becomes-the-man-liam-rodgers-road-to-the-moment-of-truth/?src=rss

In the event of Inverness beating Celtic in the season’s showpiece, they would take the Scottish Cup’s Europa League play-off berth.

Source: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-and-hibs-learn-their-possible-european-opponents-and-dates-for-the-europa-conference-league-qualifiers-4157645

It had all started according to plan for Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen, who have not made a European final since their 2002 appearance in the Champions League showpiece.

Source: https://thefrontierpost.com/roma-take-narrow-lead-over-leverkusen-in-europa-league-semi/

It later declares athletes are gearing up their preparations to "unite Africa at the continent's showpiece sporting event".

Source: https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1137397/accra-2023-promotional-video-released

It was a record World Cup defeat for Asian champions and 1995 semi-finalists China, who exit in the group stage for the first time in eight appearances at the global showpiece.

Source: https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/08/01/england-thrash-china-6-1-to-ease-into-last-16/

KL Rahul’s pillaging hundred, the fastest by an Indian in World Cup, and Shreyas Iyer’s doubts-allaying 128 lit up the Diwali day as India mowed down Netherlands by 160 runs here Sunday, registering their ninth consecutive victory in the showpiece.

Source: https://www.orissapost.com/on-cloud-nine-shreyas-rahul-fireworks-power-india-to-160-run-win-over-netherlands/

Lynn will join teams from Leigh, Consett and District, and Romsey Golf Clubs at the showpiece event and team captain Mark Butt said: “We want to try to win it for Grace and her family of Mark, Karen and Grace’s son Tommy.

Source: https://www.lynnnews.co.uk/sport/lynn-golfers-chase-glory-in-memory-of-grace-9301833/

Madrid's 1-0 win at the Stade de France on May 28 was overshadowed by the scenes surrounding European football's showpiece event.

Source: https://guardian.ng/sport/former-nba-nfl-team-owner-mccombs-dead-at-95/

Neither player was picked for the squad that is currently in Argentina for their match in Buenos Aires on Saturday, meaning that there are just two warm-up games left for them to get any sort of game time ahead of the showpiece event.

Source: https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/big-risk-boks-kolisi-pollard-world-cup-cold/

Not for the first time, it’s the Pacific island of Fiji warming hearts at rugby’s showpiece.

Source: https://wtop.com/sports/2023/09/flying-fiji-lifts-everyones-hopes-at-rugby-world-cup-eyes-now-on-big-ireland-south-africa-showdown/

Prop Zander, who had played at the previous World Cup, was on for the first 55 minutes at Stade Velodrome and back-rower Matt, who missed out on selection for the 2019 showpiece in Japan, was introduced from the bench in the 64th minute.

Source: https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2023/09/17/fagerson-brothers-spent-special-time-with-parents-ahead-of-scotland-opener/

Sandwiched between the two league defeats in France and at Fev was the 1895 Cup semi-final victory at York Knights, which set up the showpiece occasion - Batley’s first ever appearance at the national stadium - with Halifax Panthers next Saturday.

Source: https://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/people/bulldogs-v-bulls-preview-craig-lingard-wanting-win-in-vital-game-against-bradford-as-batley-look-to-cement-play-off-spot-4240400

Sunday afternoon’s opening semi-final will see Humphries and Wade collide, before Bunting takes on Cross for a place in the evening’s showpiece, with a £150,000 top prize on offer to the eventual champion.

Source: https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/sport/23933238.stephen-bunting-playing-grand-slam-darts-semi-final/?ref=rss

Tendulkar, an Indian batting great who retired from the game in 2013, has the highest runs — 2,278 — in the 50-over showpiece event.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/icc-world-cup/ind-vs-aus-warner-beats-tendulkars-fastest-1000-world-cup-runs-mark/article67395872.ece

That earned him the nickname 'The Bronzed Adonis', coined by commentator Tony Green, but Beaton himself has an explanation for teasing claims that sunbeds and hairdressers formed part of his preparation for darts' showpiece event.

Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/1847103/world-darts-championship-steve-beaton