| ALAHLY | 2023-24 Egyptian Premier League club; 2020-23 FIFA Club World Cup semi-finalists (2,4) |
| ALHILAL | 2025-2026 Saudi Pro League club; 2021 FIFA Club World Cup semi-finalists against Chelsea (2-5) |
| AFGHANISTAN | 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup semi-finalists (11) |
| THURSDAY | The ___ Murder Club, 2020 debut novel by Pointless TV co-presenter Richard Osman (8) |
| PALMER | Who was chosen as the best player of the FIFA Club World Cup which concluded in July 2025? (6) |
| ROBERT | Identify the first name of the player who won the best goalkeeper award in the FIFA Club World Cup held in June-july 2025. (6) |
| HAJDUK | 2024-2025 Croatian Football League club; 1972-1973 European Cup Winners' Cup semi- finalists (6,5) |
| PRAGUE | 1981-1982 Czechoslovak First League champions; 1966-1967 European Cup semi-finalists against Celtic (5,6) |
| HERBIE | England and Dolphins centre/wing; scorer of two tries in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup semi-final defeat by Samoa (6) |
| ROBSON | Which manager brought England to the World Cup semi-finals in 1990? (6) |
| ALAIN | 2025-2026 UAE Pro League club; 2025 FIFA Club World Cup participants (2,3) |
| DEBEVE | Mickael, 1987-94 Toulouse and 1994-2002 Lens midfielder; Middlesbrough 2001-02 FA Cup semi-finalist against Arsenal (6) |
| PEP | Guardiola, the first football manager in history to win four FIFA Club World Cup titles (3) |
| MILAN | Winner of the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup |
| DOUE | Identify the surname of the player who won the best young player award in the FIFA Club World Cup held in June-july 2025. (4) |
| SPLIT | 2024-2025 Croatian Football League club; 1972-1973 European Cup Winners' Cup semi- finalists (6,5) |
| IZZET | Muzzy ?, former Leicester City and Birmingham City midfielder; Turkey 2002 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist |
| AERIAL | "We lost the - - - battle," said Johann van Graan of Munster's 2019 Heineken Cup semi-final defeat by Saracens (6) |
| BAIRSTOW | Jonny, Yorkshire and England opener; 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-finalist against New Zealand (8) |
| WIDZEWLODZ | 2024-25 Ekstraklasa club coached by Daniel Mysliwiec; 1982-83 European Cup semi-finalists against Juventus (6,4) |
