World Cup 2026
FIFA Men's World Cup — USA, Canada, Mexico.
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Lineker fires back at Shearer's BBC jibe in X-rated Rest is Football exchange
Gary Lineker traded expletive-laden barbs with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards on the debut episode of their Netflix Rest is Football World Cup show, after Shearer quipped that Lineker was 'not relevant anymore' following his BBC departure.
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Trump administration bars Africa's top referee from World Cup over terror links claim
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named Africa's referee of the year in 2025 and set to become Somalia's first World Cup official, was denied entry to the United States after CBP officials cited alleged associations with suspected members of terror organisations.
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Micah Richards demands FIFA act after Somali referee denied entry to World Cup host US
Omar Artan was set to become the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup before being refused entry to the United States days before the tournament begins. Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has called for immediate action.
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Messi scores 117th goal and becomes Argentina's oldest goalscorer
Back after a two-week absence due to muscle fatigue, Lionel Messi converted a penalty 53 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Iceland, setting a new age record for the Argentine national team.
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Dembélé sacrificed by Deschamps: Larqué accuses France of wasting his Ballon d'Or
Quiet during France's 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland, Ousmane Dembélé is at the heart of a tactical debate: his positioning behind Mbappé, who drops deep into the centre, would stifle him according to several observers.
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Messi scores penalty as Argentina seal 3-0 win over Iceland at Auburn
Lionel Messi came off the bench to net a penalty as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 pre-World Cup friendly victory over Iceland at Jordan-Hare Stadium on the Auburn University campus, completing a two-game SEC stadium tour.
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DR Congo lose to Chile and enter controversy eight days before World Cup
Beaten 2-1 by Chile on Tuesday in Orléans, the Leopards approach the 2026 World Cup under tension: starting goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi is heavily criticized by supporters after conceding two long-range goals.
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Kane declares 2026 World Cup his best ever chance to win it all with England
Harry Kane says his peak physical condition and strong domestic form make the upcoming World Cup the greatest opportunity of his career to deliver international glory for England, who open Group L against Croatia on June 17.
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Freese or Turner? USA's World Cup No. 1 still undecided three days before Paraguay opener
Mauricio Pochettino has yet to name his starting goalkeeper for the United States' World Cup opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday, leaving both Matt Freese and Matt Turner in the dark ahead of the tournament.
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England beat Ukraine 3-0 but fall short of automatic World Cup qualification
The Lionesses responded to Friday's 4-0 thrashing by Spain with a professional 3-0 win over Ukraine at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium, but Spain's simultaneous victory over Iceland sealed Group A3 and condemned England to the play-offs for a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
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Malard's acrobatic goal sends France to 2027 World Cup in Brazil
Melvine Malard's acrobatic finish in the 40th minute gave France a 1-0 victory over Ireland at Stade des Alpes in Grenoble on Tuesday, securing direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
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Four sets of brothers will represent rival nations at the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup will feature four pairs of brothers competing for different countries, from the Williams siblings split between Spain and Ghana to the Doué brothers divided by France and Ivory Coast — a trend shaped by decades of migration to Europe.
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Guehi likens Tuchel to Guardiola and backs Stones' England recall despite City absence
Marc Guehi has drawn striking parallels between Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola, saying both managers share the same passion and tactical vision. The Manchester City defender also defended John Stones' place in the England squad despite his limited club minutes this season.
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Tuchel warns Bellingham his England starting spot is far from guaranteed at World Cup 2026
Thomas Tuchel has made clear that Jude Bellingham is not assured of a starting role at the World Cup, with the Real Madrid midfielder in a three-way battle with Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for England's No.10 position.
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Tuchel confirms Saka's Achilles concern leaves England sweating before World Cup opener
Bukayo Saka is managing an Achilles problem and is not yet at full fitness, Thomas Tuchel confirmed ahead of England's final warm-up against Costa Rica on Wednesday, with the tournament opener against Croatia on June 17.
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Tuchel managing Saka carefully as England build him up for World Cup 2026
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed England are taking precautions with Bukayo Saka following a March injury, gradually building up the Arsenal winger ahead of the World Cup 2026 group stage. The other three Arsenal players in camp — Madueke, Eze and Rice — are fully fit.
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Timber ruled out of World Cup as groin injury dashes lifelong Netherlands dream
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has been forced to withdraw from the Netherlands' World Cup squad after failing to recover sufficiently from the groin injury he sustained in March. Lutscharel Geertruida has been named as his replacement.
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Somalia's first-ever World Cup referee denied US entry after 11-hour airport interrogation
Omar Artan, set to become the first Somali referee at a World Cup, was turned away at Miami International Airport after an 11-hour interrogation and subsequently removed from FIFA's roster. US Customs cited unspecified "vetting concerns" despite Artan holding a valid visa.
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Tuchel promises physical intensity as England face Costa Rica in final World Cup warm-up
Thomas Tuchel says England will push hard in Wednesday's warm-up against Costa Rica, with players set for 60-70 minutes ahead of the squad's move to their World Cup base in Kansas. The manager also played down talk of England being tournament favourites.
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180,000 tickets remain unsold on FIFA resale portals as World Cup 2026 approaches
Nearly 180,000 tickets for World Cup 2026 are still listed on FIFA's official resale portals, with the United States' opening match against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium yet to sell out despite the tournament beginning this week.
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