FIFA World Cup 2026
Upending Euro-centric bias
The club geography of the Paraguayan roster offers clear evidence of the self-sustaining strength of football in the Americas
1 July 2026
Mbappe draws level with Messi in Golden Boot race
Kylian Mbappe joined Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot race at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after scoring twice in France's convincing 3-0 victory over Sweden in their Round of 32 clash at the New York-New Jersey Stadium today.
1 July 2026
Mbappe brace helps France ease into World Cup last 16
Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Michael Olise was in scintillating form as France beat Sweden 3-0 at the World Cup on Wednesday and set up a last-16 clash with Paraguay.
1 July 2026
Haaland hailed as the 'greatest goalscorer' after more World Cup heroics
Erling Haaland was described as "devastating" and "the greatest goalscorer in the world" after pouncing for a dramatic late winner on Tuesday for Norway at the World Cup.
1 July 2026
Koeman steps down as Netherlands coach after World Cup exit
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said on Tuesday he was stepping down after his team were knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco in the last 32.
1 July 2026
Football brings joy to Venezuelan kids displaced by quakes
"What do we want to play?" Juan Cordero asks a group of Venezuelan children left homeless following last week's harrowing earthquakes.
1 July 2026
France reshuffle left flank against Sweden, Digne and Barcola start
France coach Didier Deschamps reshuffled his left flank for France's World Cup last-32 clash with Sweden on Wednesday, handing full back Lucas Digne and forward Bradley Barcola spots in the starting lineup.
1 July 2026
Electric evolution of Atlas Lions
By sending the Netherlands packing, Morocco have notified the world that their dominance on the football map is no temporary flash in the pan
1 July 2026
Haaland scores winner to send Norway into last-16 Brazil clash
Erling Haaland scored a late winner as Norway set up a last-16 showdown with Brazil at the World Cup after taming the Ivory Coast 2-1 in Texas yesterday.
1 July 2026
Welcome to football’s ultimate theatre
No supercomputer can account for the emotion, pressure and sheer unpredictability that unfold once the stakes reach this level. Nobody knows what tomorrow's headline will be.
1 July 2026
Calmness that defies logic
When the entire Brazil dugout erupted in celebration, one man barely flinched. As Gabriel Martinelli buried the winner in the final minute of stoppage time to seal Brazil's 2-1 victory over Japan in the World Cup Round of 32 on Monday, Carlo Ancelotti remained almost expressionless, except for a familiar twitch of his eyebrows, as though the ending had been written long before the final whistle.
30 June 2026
Germany questions footballing identity after fresh World Cup failure
Yet another World Cup failure has Germany questioning its footballing identity, with some calling for radical changes at all levels in the football-mad nation.
30 June 2026
The great Asian collapse
Across the tournament, AFC teams managed just three victories in the group stage. Only Australia and Japan survived to see the knockout rounds. But any hopes of a deep run evaporated in the Round of 32 when Japan fell 2-1 to heavyweights Brazil, courtesy of a devastating 95th-minute winner by Gabriel Martinelli.
30 June 2026
Mexico, Ecuador renew rivalry 24 years later
Mexico and Ecuador lock horns for a place in the last 16 in the Azteca Stadium, with the match kicking off on Tuesday at 7:00 am Bangladesh time.
30 June 2026
France favourites, Sweden believers
Sweden have embraced their underdog status ahead of tonight's World Cup Round of 32 clash with France in New Jersey, insisting the pressure rests firmly on the 2018 champions.
30 June 2026
Ivorians out to steal Haaland’s thunder
Erling Haaland will be the centre of attention in Dallas tonight but the Ivory Coast will be hoping to highlight some attacking talent of their own when they take on Norway in their World Cup Round of 32 clash.
30 June 2026
'If Tah's goal is illegal, then Arsenal won't be English champions'
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp launched a scathing attack on VAR after Germany's extra-time winner was ruled out in their dramatic World Cup Round of 32 defeat to Paraguay.
30 June 2026
Alisson thanks Bangladesh for unwavering support
Bangladesh's extraordinary passion for football has earned another heartfelt acknowledgement from a global superstar, with Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker thanking the country's fans for their unwavering support during the FIFA World Cup.
30 June 2026
Neymar pokes fun at German economist over failed prediction
Brazil forward Neymar could not resist poking fun at German economist and football forecaster Joachim Klement after the Selecao's 2-1 victory over Japan proved another of Klement's World Cup predictions wrong.
30 June 2026
From a black-and-white TV to the World Cup stands
Getting a ticket for the 2026 World Cup was a challenge in itself. Of course, I wanted to watch a Brazil match, but ticket prices for Brazil or Argentina games required a very different kind of bank balance from mine. So I spent almost an entire day on FIFA's website and eventually managed to get a ticket for Spain versus Saudi Arabia in Atlanta - about an eight-hour drive from where I live - at a price that was at least manageable.
30 June 2026