Page 2 - Fifa World Cup

England loss to Japan won't impact World Cup hopes, says Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel insisted England's dispiriting 1-0 loss to Japan in a friendly will have no bearing on the team's chances at the upcoming World Cup. England has lost some of the momentum built up under Tuchel by drawing with Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on Friday and then succumbing to Kaoru Mitoma's first-half goal for Japan at the same venue four days later. Tuchel has fielded experimental lineups for both games, with key regulars like captain Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka missing because of minor injuries. The German coach also said many of his players are "heavily invested" in their club campaigns at this stage of the season. For that reason, Tuchel felt sure "this camp will not define us." "It's just a reality if teams like Uruguay or Japan come well-drilled, with their top lineup, it's a difficult task," Tuchel said. "It was not necessary to lose the match. Unfortunately, we lost it, which is disappointing, and I hate losing, like no one else, and it will take a while

Congo overcome Jamaica 1-0 in extra time to book FIFA World Cup 2026 berth

Congo scored in extra time to edge Jamaica 1-0 and become the 47th of 48 teams that will play at the World Cup. Axel Tuanzebe scored following a corner kick in the 100th minute of the intercontinental playoff. The Jamaican defenders failed to clear the ball and Tuanzebe, who plays for Burnley in the English Premier League tapped it into the net. Congo has never played in a World Cup under that name, although it participated in the 1974 edition in Germany as Zaire. With its victory in the intercontinental playoff at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, the Congolese team completes Group K at the World Cup, where it will face Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan. "We're going to enjoy the qualification, but we'll keep working. We know we'll be facing top nations who play in the World Cup every four years," Congo captain Chancel Mbemba said. "We'll stay humble, keep our feet on the ground, and continue to work. We'll give everything to make our supporters and our people proud." Th

Mexico's World Cup plans reviewed as Sheinbaum meets FIFA President Gianni

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum met FIFA's President Gianni Infantino to assess preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada in June and July. Sheinbaum said on her social media account that she had breakfast with Infantino at the National Palace "because we are evaluating everything for the upcoming World Cup," adding that "everything is going to be wonderful." The tournament kicks off on June 11 at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City with a match between the hosts and South Africa. A friendly match between Mexico and Portugal was held at the Mexico City stadium last Saturday as part of the World Cup preparations. The event was marred by the death of a fan who fell from the second tier to the ground floor in the VIP box area. "This inauguration is going to be historic, exceptional," said Sheinbaum while holding a FIFA pennant alongside Infantino. The FIFA president echoed Sheinbaum's sentiments, assuring that the Wo

Co-host Mexico revamps base, seeks to match 1970 and 1986 WC performances

Mexico's best performances at the World Cup came during the two occasions it hosted the tournament. Now that the country will be hosting for the third time - with the United States and Canada - fans want history to repeat itself. And maybe more. To ensure optimal preparation, the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) invested 400 million pesos (around $22 million) in renovating their training center known as Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR), or High Performance Center, which was officially reopened on Saturday. As a player, current Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was part of the national team that reached the quarterfinals in 1986, matching the country's performance in the 1970 World Cup. Aguirre, with the revamped training center, will try to match at least that as a coach. Mexico begins training at the High Performance Center on May 6, with players from the domestic league. Its first match in the World Cup is the tournament opener on June 11 against South Africa. Building a ...

Italy seal 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in WC qualification playoff semis

Italy finally won a match in the World Cup playoffs. Now the four-time champion needs to win one more to avoid failing to qualify for a third straight time. The Azzurri beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in the European semifinals on Thursday. Sandro Tonali broke the deadlock with a half-volley early in the second half for Italy at home in Bergamo and then set up another goal for Moise Kean. "After taking the lead, we cleared our minds," Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said. "We put in a good performance. This should be a confidence boost for Tuesday. We have to win. We have no other choice." Also advancing to the playoff finals scheduled for Tuesday were Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Poland, Turkey, Kosovo, Denmark and the Czech Republic. Italy next visits Bosnia and Herzegovina needing another victory to reach the upcoming tournament in North America and avoid going at least 16 years without even playing a match at soccer's biggest event. Bosnia beat Wales, and the Czech Republic beat Ir

Ireland suffer blow as Szmodics stretchered off in World Cup playoff tie

Ireland midfielder Sammie Szmodics was stretchered off after being left unconscious following a heavy collision with an opponent in a World Cup qualification playoff game against the Czech Republic on Thursday. Szmodics collided with Czech player Stepan Chaloupek as they both moved toward a high ball. Szmodics collapsed to the ground immediately and seemed to display involuntary arm movement. Medical staff treated Szmodics on the ground for several minutes before he was moved onto a stretcher with support for his head and neck. Fans sang and applauded as Szmodics was carried off. "He was knocked out cold," Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said. "At least he's conscious now. He will stay here tonight." Hallgrimsson was hopeful that Szmodics would fly back on Friday. Szmodics, who plays for Derby in England, had only been on the field for less than two minutes after coming off the bench for Ireland in the 115th minute of extra time before the incident happened. He was replaced by .

FIFA scraps 2000 hotel bookings in Philadelphia before 2026 WC; here's why

FIFA has said that the cancellations should not be interpreted as a reduction in planning or scale. Instead, it is part of a structured process followed in the lead-up to major tournaments

FIFA World Cup 2026: What are Italy's chances of dropping the ball again?

The Azzurri's WC fate rests on the playoffs, as they open their playoff campaign against Northern Ireland on 26 March.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Final chance for 22 teams to grab remaining 6 spots

Italy, looking to avoid missing out on a third consecutive World Cup, begin with a clash vs Northern Ireland on 26 March. If they progress, they will face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Senegal's FIFA World Cup 2026 kit to carry one AFCON star instead of two

Senegal's team jersey will display only one star instead of two at the World Cup this summer, but it has nothing to do with the country being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title. The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) issued a statement to clarify that production of the jerseys by kit manufacturer Puma began in August last year and "manufacturing deadlines and industrial constraints did not allow for the interruption of this ongoing process." Senegal went on to win the Africa Cup in January for its second continental crown after winning the 2021 edition, to which its first star refers. But the Teranga Lions were surprisingly stripped of the second title on Tuesday when the Confederation of African Football's appeals board ruled that Senegal forfeited the Jan. 18 final by leaving the field of play without the referee's authorization, awarding Morocco a default 3-0 win. The FSF made no mention of that decision in its statement, where it continued to refer to "our victory" a

Italy's soccer under pressure as Azzurri enter playoff battle for FIFA WC

Italy is coming off a record performance at the Winter Olympics. Kimi Antonelli just became the second youngest driver at 19 to win a Formula One race and is considered The Next Big Thing in auto racing. The Azzurri rugby squad beat England for the first time in the Six Nations. Jannik Sinner is back to winning ways on the tennis court. Italy's men and women are the world champions in volleyball. Even the country's unheralded baseball and cricket teams have broken barriers recently. Yet there's one big team from Italy that continues to struggle. The once-dominant men's soccer team is at risk of failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup. The four-time World Cup champion needs to beat Northern Ireland in the playoffs next Thursday in Bergamo and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away to avoid going at least 16 years without even playing a match at soccer's biggest event. "Sports are about cycles but this one in soccer has gone on for too long," Italy Sports M

WADA puts off Trump sporting ban call until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The World Anti-Doping Agency has put off a decision about barring government officials from major sporting events if their countries voluntarily withhold dues, pushing a potential conflict with President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials until at least after this summer's World Cup. The WADA executive committee met and said it would consider the new rule in September, two months after the end of the World Cup, which the U.S. is hosting along with Canada and Mexico. If such a rule is adopted later this year, it would presumably go into effect before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The U.S. hasn't paid its dues since 2023. If that continues, the new rule could place Trump and U.S. lawmakers on a banned list for Games in their own country, though there are doubts about whether an anti-doping regulator could keep any of them from attending the Olympics. Conflict with WADA has not been a particularly partisan issue in the U.S., which withheld the payments in 2024 and 2025 - once .

Messi to lead Argentina in Guatemala friendly before 2026 FIFA World Cup

Lionel Messi was called up Wednesday for a March 31 friendly match against Guatemala as Argentina gears up to defend its title in the World Cup. The game at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires was arranged after the Finalissima between Argentina and Spain on March 27 in Qatar was called off because of the conflict in the Middle East. Coach Lionel Scaloni left out striker Lautaro Martinez, defender Lisandro Martinez, and midfielder Giovani Lo Celso because of physical problems. Martinez (left calf strain) has been cleared to play but has yet to return for Inter Milan. Jose Manuel Lopez of Palmeiras in Brazil was called up in his place. Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez is unavailable due to physical discomfort. Lo Celso of Real Betis is recovering from a muscle tear. Estudiantes de La Plata defender Tomas Palacios and Racing Club full-back Gabriel Rojas received their first senior national team call-ups. Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was called up despite being embroiled in ...

Newcastle's Tonali suffers injury ahead of Italy World Cup 2026 playoffs

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali went off injured against Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, eight days before Italy starts its World Cup qualifying playoffs bracket. Tonali appeared to hurt his left thigh chasing back to defend Fermin Lopez and put the ball out for a corner. It was 4-2 at the time early in the second half, and Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski scored a header from the corner to all but guarantee the Spanish champion will advance to the quarterfinals. Barcelona was soon leading 6-2 at Camp Nou after the teams drew 1-1 in Newcastle last week. Tonali has been an expected starter for Italy as the four-time champion aims to play at a World Cup for the first time since 2014. Italy hosts Northern Ireland on March 26 at Atalanta's stadium in Bergamo and the winner will travel to face either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later. The playoff bracket winner will enter a World Cup group with co-host Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

Football World Cup 2026: Here's why FIFA won't shift Iran matches to Mexico

Iranian football authorities have said they are exploring the possibility of shifting their group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico due to safety concerns surrounding the tournament

FIFA partners with YouTube for unique streaming format for 2026 World Cup

A key feature of the agreement is FIFA's plan to encourage broadcasters to show the first 10 minutes of matches live on YouTube

Argentina squad untested ahead of World Cup after Finalissima cancellation

Three months before its World Cup defense, Argentina lost a great chance to gauge where it's at against European champion Spain when the Finalissima was canceled. Since winning the 2022 World Cup, Argentina has steamrolled through South American qualifying - four defeats in 18 matches - won the 2024 Copa America and played 11 low-key friendlies and won them all. Coach Lionel Scaloni was counting on facing Spain this month to clear up the great uncertainty of captain Lionel Messi 's availability for the World Cup, evaluate other starters and assess younger prospects. But the war in the Middle East made staging the Finalissima in Qatar on March 27 impossible, and the Argentine Football Association couldn't find a suitable new date with UEFA. The AFA also had to scrap a friendly against Qatar. That's sent the AFA into frantic negotiations for new opponents in this month's international window with no word regarding immediate plans. The AFA also has not confirmed any final warmup ...

Neymar struggles for Santos as World Cup hopes hang in the balance

Neymar's troubled path to the upcoming World Cup narrowed further after his subdued performance for Santos in a 1-1 home draw against rival Corinthians in a Brazilian league match. It was Neymar's last game before Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti announces his squad for two key friendlies on Monday. Neymar is Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals. Brazil's matches against France and Croatia in the United States will, in turn, be the two last games before Ancelotti announces his final squad in May for the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19. The 34-year-old Neymar's performance against Corinthians came after he missed a match that the Brazil coach attended. Memphis Depay opened the scoring on Sunday for Corinthians in the 19th minute at the Vila Belmiro Stadium. Gabriel Barbosa equalized four minutes later. Neymar's best chance in Sunday's game was a second-half header that narrowly missed. The Santos striker struggled to dribble and didn't shoot on goal. Two staffers

Mexico hit by injury blow as Marcel Ruiz tears ACL and to miss World Cup

In the span of three days, Mexico has lost two players for the World Cup. Midfielder Marcel Ruiz tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, his club Toluca announced on Friday. The 25-year-old Ruiz injured the joint on Wednesday in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match against San Diego of the MLS. Toluca said in a statement that in addition to the ligament rupture, Ruiz also suffered a meniscus tear in the same joint and will undergo surgery. "Everyone at this club regrets what happened and we stand in solidarity with him, wishing him a speedy recovery," the team said. Mexico plays the World Cup opener on June 11 against South Africa. Ruiz was key in helping Toluca win their second consecutive championship last December. Ruiz received his first call-up to the senior national team in 2023, and has been one of the most consistent players since Javier Aguirre took over as manager in August 2024. The midfielder has 17 matches with the national team and was expected to go to hi

Donald Trump says Iran team welcome at World Cup but warns of safety risks

His statement came in response to comments from Iranian officials suggesting that the national side 'cannot' participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to escalating conflict in West Asia