Portugal held to 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their World Cup opener
Portugal and their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo were left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw by Group K rivals Democratic Republic of Congo in their World Cup clash in ...
Messi says his tears after first goal were caused by personal ‘difficult days’
An emotional Lionel Messi was wiping his tears with his shirt after scoring Argentina’s first goal against Algeria in the World Cup, a strike that marked the beginning of ...
England seek to exorcise demons in World Cup opener v Croatia
England will launch their bid to end a 60-year World Cup title drought on Wednesday when they open Group L play in Arlington, Texas, against a veteran Croatian group looking ...
Praying for a World Cup miracle? Fans flock to baby Jesus in Mexico kit
In Mexico City thousands of fans are making the pilgrimage to the capital’s cathedral to pray to a baby Jesus dressed in a Mexican soccer kit, asking for World ...
Portugal eye fast start against DRC in bid for elusive World Cup glory
Portugal’s latest bid for World Cup glory begins in Houston on Wednesday when they take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in a Group K clash against a side ...
Group J: Austria return from long World Cup absence with nervy 3-1 win over Jordan
Austria celebrated their long-awaited return to the World Cup with a 3-1 win over determined debutants Jordan on Tuesday, with substitute Marko Arnautovic the difference in a gritty, end-to-end Group ...
Group J: Messi hat-trick equals scoring record as Argentina dazzle against Algeria
Lionel Messi scored a majestic hat-trick to equal the all-time World Cup scoring record, answering doubts about his influence at age 38 and firing up Argentina’s title defence with a 3...
Group I: Haaland and Mbappe set early World Cup pace as Norway and France open with wins
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe wasted little time announcing themselves at the World Cup on Tuesday, producing decisive performances to guide Norway and France to opening victories and immediately establish ...
England’s Saka prepared to push through Achilles pain in World Cup bid
England winger Bukayo Saka said he was willing to risk his fitness and play through the pain for Thomas Tuchel’s team at the World Cup, insisting he was fit ...
Tunisia sack Lamouchi after just one game
Tunisia have sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi and replaced him with fellow Frenchman Herve Renard in the wake of the 5-1 defeat by Sweden in their World Cup opener in Monterrey ...
Messi eyes history as Argentina begin title defence against Algeria
Lionel Messi has very little left to prove in his career, but the iconic Argentine forward gearing up for another World Cup is like Tom Brady running it back for ...
With critics circling, Mbappe turns to favourite stage at World Cup
Kylian Mbappe heads into France’s World Cup opener against Senegal on Tuesday with questions swirling around him after a season that has left the country’s biggest football star ...
Norway’s Haaland aiming to extend his goal-scoring rampage against Iraq
Human goal machine Erling Haaland will seek to get his World Cup account up and running immediately when Norway take on Iraq on Tuesday to end the country’s nearly ...
Group G: Iran fight back twice against New Zealand while own goal saves Belgian blushes against Egypt
Iran and New Zealand share four-goal thriller amid political tensions
Iran twice came from behind to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw with New Zealand in a gripping Group G encounter ...
Group H: Araujo equaliser saves Uruguay’s blushes in draw with Saudis
Maxi Araujo scored a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw for Uruguay in their World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia on Monday, preventing another stunning upset in Group H ...
Omonia’s Semedo features as Cape Verde hold Spain to draw
Omonia winger Willy Semedo played his part as Cape Verde held European champions Spain to a goalless draw in their first ever game at a World Cup finals at the ...
Ghana coach enters record books at his fifth World Cup in row
Carlos Queiroz is still one tournament short of matching the record for coaching at the World Cup, but the 73-year-old will still enter the record books this week.
Queiroz takes ...
Tuchel’s ‘Grade E’ ref to take charge of England’s World Cup opener
England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia on Wednesday will be refereed by Frenchman Clement Turpin, who was once labelled “Grade E” by Thomas Tuchel who is now England ...
Iran face New Zealand in politically charged Los Angeles opener
Iran open their World Cup Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday in a match shaped as much by events off the pitch as by the ...
Spain face tiny Cape Verde in collision of swagger and wonder
Spain arrive in Atlanta with the air of a team expecting a long World Cup summer, but on Monday they face opponents carrying an equally powerful feeling: the giddy disbelief ...
Group E: Ivory Coast break deadlock in 90th minute to defeat Ecuador
Substitute Amad Diallo struck in the 90th minute to give Ivory Coast a deserved 1-0 win over Ecuador in both teams’ Group E opener on Saturday night.
Diallo’s first-time ...
Germany crush debutants Curacao 7-1 in opener
Germany walloped Curacao 7-1 in their World Cup opener on Sunday after Felix Nmecha scored the tournament’s fastest goal so far and then drew a penalty in first-half stoppage ...
Elder-led Curacao prepare for soccer giants Germany
The latest country to make its World Cup debut will also have the oldest coach ever in the tournament when Curacao plays traditional powerhouse Germany in a Group E match ...
‘Once you’re a football fan, the time doesn’t really matter’
The first World Cup that Giovanni remembers vividly was South Africa in 2010. He was 15 at the time, on summer holiday, and went a little football-mad, watching every game.
Life got ...