Qatar seek to move beyond shadow of 2022 disappointment
Qatar will arrive at the World Cup seeking to redefine themselves after a disappointing tournament in 2022 when they became the first host nation to lose all three group matches despite ...
Resurgent Swiss seek new story to break hoodoo
After having a stellar Euro 24 run and going unbeaten in qualifying, Switzerland have reason to believe 2026 can be their breakthrough World Cup – if they can banish a hoodoo hanging over ...
Mexico’s World Cup ‘curse’ faces ultimate test on home soil
Mexico will become the first country to host three World Cups when the renovated Estadio Azteca again takes centre stage from June 11, but beneath the historic milestone lies a national ...
South Africa hope for World Cup boost after failing to capitalise on 2010
South Africa failed to generate momentum after hosting the World Cup in 2010 but following a long period of stagnation they have a chance to become consistent competitors on the global ...
Physical Czechs will look to win ugly to qualify from Group A
Lacking the kind of big-name stars who led the Czech Republic at their last World Cup appearance in 2006, this time around the team will rely on winning ugly with combative, ...
Lukaku returns in style with 90th goal for Belgium
Romelu Lukaku marked his return to the Belgium side with a record-extending 90th international goal as they beat Croatia 2-0 away in their World Cup warm-up friendly on Tuesday.
Captain ...
Modric primed for swansong as Croatia’s beating heart
Croatia head into the World Cup aiming to extend a run that has cemented their status as one of football’s most consistent overachievers, but their preparations have been clouded ...
Ghana’s late coaching switch to Queiroz could boost World Cup hopes
A late change of coach ahead of the World Cup might provide a boost to Ghana, who have turned to veteran Portuguese Carlos Queiroz after a run of poor results ...
Panama target first World Cup match win under Dane Christiansen
Panama will play in their second World Cup as Central America’s only representative, aiming to raise the region’s profile and showcase recent progress under manager Thomas Christiansen.
The 53...
England bank on Kane’s Bayern goal fest for World Cup success
When England take to the field in Dallas on June 17 to face Croatia in their World Cup opener, all eyes will be on captain Harry Kane, with fans hoping he ...
Australia coach says ‘fearless’ Socceroos ready for World Cup
Australia coach Tony Popovic said his young World Cup squad is better than the Socceroos’ 2022 line-up and should have high expectations heading into the tournament in North America.
Popovic’s 26...
Germany’s Nagelsmann banks on family feeling, team spirit ahead of World Cup
Germany players will not be focusing on the World Cup just yet at the start of preparations, coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Wednesday, with a family atmosphere in their training ...
Denmark goalkeeper Schmeichel retires due to shoulder injury
Denmark and Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel announced his retirement from professional football on Wednesday after failing to recover fully from a serious shoulder injury.
The 39-year-old Dane suffered the injury ...
De la Fuente says Spain come before club loyalty after first World Cup squad without Real Madrid players
Luis de la Fuente stressed that Spain’s badge outranks any club crest on Tuesday after naming a World Cup squad with a distinctly Barcelona hue and, for the first ...
England leave Foden, Palmer and Maguire out of World Cup squad
England will head to next month’s World Cup without several familiar faces after midfielders Phil Foden and Cole Palmer missed the cutfor manager Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad on ...
Ronaldo judged on form not age as Portugal weigh World Cup role
Cristiano Ronaldo is 41, but Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said age is only a number and that his captain is judged on current form and by the same standards as everyone ...
Madonna, BTS and Shakira to headline first World Cup final halftime show
Madonna and Shakira will line up with K-pop supergroup BTS to headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, FIFA said on Thursday.
...
Score safely in the bedroom: Toronto offers free World Cup-themed condoms
As Toronto gears up for the World Cup, the city wants to help people score safely in the bedroom by offering free football-inspired condoms.
With more than 300,000 visitors expected for ...
Set-piece boom unlikely to dominate World Cup, says FIFA
Set-piece prowess may be reshaping club football, but FIFA’s Technical Study Group said on Monday that dead-ball dominance is unlikely to define this year’s World Cup, largely due ...
Shakira unveils official World Cup song ‘Dai Dai’
Colombian singer Shakira unveiled the official song for the 2026 World Cup, “Dai Dai”.
The 49-year-old posted a video on Instagram on Thursday from Brazil’s Maracana stadium to tease the ...
FIFA president says World Cup ticket prices in line with US market
As World Cup ticket prices continue to be debated, FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared they are in line with most American sporting events.
FIFA has come under fire for the ...
Fox Sports hiring ‘World Cup Watcher’ for $50,000
Forget the status that comes with the corner office, the best job in America this summer will pay one individual $50,000 to watch all 104 World Cup games.
Fox Sports has teamed ...
Iran will be at World Cup and will play in the US, says FIFA boss
FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted Iran would play World Cup matches in the United States, as the soccer governing body’s Congress opened on Thursday without the country’s delegation, ...
Panini sticker collectors face biggest World Cup challenge yet
For generations of football fans, no World Cup would be complete without the thrill of opening a packet of Panini stickers and discovering Zico, Franz Beckenbauer, Diego Maradona or Lionel ...