2006 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
American football
Super Bowl XL – the Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC) won 21–10 over the Seattle Seahawks (NFC) Location: Ford Field Attendance: 68,206 MVP: Hines Ward, WR (Pittsburgh) Rose Bowl (2005 season): The Texas Longhorns won 41–38 over the Southern California Trojans to win the BCS National Championship March 14 - former San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees signs a 6-year, $60 million deal with the New Orleans Saints after the Miami Dolphins were suggested by medical staff to not sign Brees due to a career-threatening shoulder injury he suffered at the end of the 2005 season. After Brees had immediate success and broke several records in New Orleans, this signing is believed by many as the greatest free agency signing in NFL history, tied with the Denver Broncos’ signing of Peyton Manning in 2012. August 19 - Barrow High School played the first organized football game in the Arctic against Delta Junction High School. MVP of Super Bowl XL is Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward. Reggie White, Troy Aikman, John Madden, Warren Moon, Harry Carson, and Rayfield Wright are elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Association football
January 1 – Australia officially leaves the Oceania Football Confederation and joins the Asian Football Confederation International competitions 2006 African Cup of Nations – Egypt 2006 FIFA World Cup – Italy 2006 FIFA Club World Cup – Sport Club Internacional Copa Libertadores 2006 – Sport Club Internacional UEFA Champions League 2005-06 – FC Barcelona Domestic competitions Argentina Primera División – Boca Juniors (Clausura) Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro – São Paulo FC England Premiership – Chelsea France Ligue 1 – Lyon Germany Bundesliga – Bayern Munich Italy Serie A – Inter Milan awarded title after initial winners Juventus were stripped of the title due to involvement in the 2006 Serie A match fixing scandal. Spain La Liga – FC Barcelona Portugal Liga – FC Porto
Athletics
March – 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne
May 12 – Justin Gatlin equals Asafa Powell's 100 m world record time of 9.77 seconds in Doha, Qatar. Gatlin was initially given a time of 9.76, which would have been a new record, but a few days later the time was corrected to 9.77 June 11 – Asafa Powell equals the 100 m world record once again, as he ran the distance in 9.77 seconds at Gateshead, England August 18 – Asafa Powell runs the 100 m in a record-equalling 9.77 seconds for a third time, this time in Zürich August – 2006 European Championships in Athletics held in Gothenburg, Swedeno
Baseball
March 20 – Japan wins the first World Baseball Classic, defeating Cuba 10–6 in the championship game. May 28 – Barry Bonds hits his 715th career home run in a 6–3 home loss to the Colorado Rockies, passing Babe Ruth for second place on the career list and setting a new record for left-handed hitters. July 11 – American League wins the MLB All–Star Game by a score of 3–2 on Michael Young's game-winning 2-run triple in the 9th inning. October 14 – Detroit Tigers sweep the Oakland Athletics in the American League Championship Series and advance to their first World Series since 1984. October 27 – St. Louis Cardinals win the 2006 World Series 4–1 in Game 5. The St. Louis Cardinals (10 wins) advance to 2nd place for most World Series wins after the New York Yankees (27).
