World Cup 2026
FIFA Men's World Cup — USA, Canada, Mexico.
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Braintree Town's FIFA World Cup windfall lifts transfer embargo at sixth-tier club
Sixth-tier Braintree Town are set to receive over £175,000 from FIFA's Club Benefit Programme after defender Tommy Smith was called up by New Zealand for the World Cup, with the payment arriving in time to clear the club's transfer embargo and outstanding player wages.
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Lizarazu Mixed on France's Friendly Defeat to Ivory Coast
France lost 1-2 to Ivory Coast in Nantes on Thursday, suffering their first warm-up defeat under Didier Deschamps just twelve days before the 2026 World Cup. TF1 consultant Bixente Lizarazu praised a strong first half but criticized a second half that was 'completely lifeless'.
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France drops to third in FIFA rankings after loss to Ivory Coast
Beaten 1-2 by Ivory Coast at Stade de la Beaujoire in a World Cup 2026 warm-up match, France's national team loses its number one ranking. The Blues, now with 1,869.43 points, are overtaken by Argentina and Spain just eleven days before the 2026 World Cup begins.
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Gyokeres shakes off knee scare to score as Sweden draw with Greece in World Cup warm-up
Viktor Gyokeres suffered a worrying knee injury scare during Sweden's pre-World Cup friendly against Greece after a clumsy challenge from defender Panagiotis Retsos, but the Arsenal striker recovered to equalise from a free-kick in a 2-2 draw.
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England's iconic 1990 World Cup third shirt never worn at Italia '90 but beloved by fans
The England 1990 World Cup third shirt — famously never worn at Italia '90 but immortalised in New Order's 'World in Motion' video — has been named the second-best England kit of all time by FourFourTwo, behind only the 1966 World Cup-winning away strip.
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Cherki scores and shows wit after France's loss to Ivory Coast
France fell 1-2 to Ivory Coast on Thursday in a 2026 World Cup warm-up match in Nantes. Rayan Cherki, the sole French goalscorer, delivered a notable media appearance mixing lucidity about the result with self-deprecating humour.
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FIFA confirms centre-circle anthem ceremony for all players at 2026 World Cup
FIFA has introduced a new pre-match ceremony for the 2026 World Cup, requiring both starting XIs and substitutes to gather around the centre circle during national anthems, giving stadium crowds a 360-degree view of every squad member.
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FIFA revamps World Cup 2026 anthem ceremony to include all squad members
FIFA has announced a redesigned pre-match ceremony for the 2026 World Cup in which every player in the matchday squad, not just the starting eleven, will gather around the centre circle during national anthems. The 360-degree format also introduces flag banners, player entry arches, and pyrotechnics for later rounds.
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Cherki shines in France's defeat to Ivory Coast with goal and impressive first half
Despite France's loss to Ivory Coast (1-2) in Nantes, Rayan Cherki dominated the first half, scoring the opening goal and earning praise from manager Didier Deschamps and observers.
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FIFA cancels free World Cup 2026 tickets issued by pricing error, offers repurchase
Around 60 fans who secured World Cup 2026 tickets at zero cost due to a checkout glitch on FIFA.com have had their orders cancelled and refunded. FIFA has reserved the same seats for them to buy at the correct price within seven days.
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2026 World Cup: All players gathered at centre circle during anthems
FIFA is modifying the pre-match protocol for the 2026 World Cup: starters and substitutes will group together around the centre circle during national anthems, a first in the competition's history.
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Spain held by Iraq in World Cup warm-up as De la Fuente rests ten players over fitness concerns
European champions Spain were frustrated to a 1-1 draw by Iraq in A Coruña, with Luis de la Fuente omitting up to ten players — including Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Rodri — due to fitness concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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Amad scores late winner for Ivory Coast as France fall in World Cup warm-up
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo struck an 84th-minute first-time finish to give Ivory Coast a comeback victory over France in a World Cup warm-up, reviving confidence in the forward after a difficult domestic season.
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Deschamps warns France over pace problem after 2-1 friendly defeat to Ivory Coast
France fell to a 2-1 defeat against Ivory Coast in a World Cup warm-up in Nantes on Thursday, with Didier Deschamps conceding his side lost control after half-time and warning the same pace-based threat awaits them at the tournament.
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Digne and Théo Hernandez struggle: France's left flank concerns mount ahead of World Cup
France lost 2-1 to Côte d'Ivoire on Thursday in a warm-up match, exposing defensive weaknesses on the left flank where neither Lucas Digne nor Théo Hernandez impressed just twelve days before their World Cup opener against Senegal.
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Deschamps reveals Portugal's 2016 Euro winning goal would have been disallowed with VAR
With the 2026 World Cup just weeks away, Didier Deschamps reflects on the Euro 2016 final lost to Portugal (0-1 a.e.t.) and claims to have learned at a FIFA meeting that Eder's goal would have been ruled out if VAR had existed.
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Africa Cup of Nations 2025: For Alexandre Ruiz, Senegal Remains the Only Legitimate Winner
While the Court of Arbitration for Sport has yet to rule on the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final, journalist Alexandre Ruiz unambiguously defends Senegal's legitimacy as winners on the pitch against Morocco (1-0, a.e.t.).
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France suffer defeat to Ivory Coast but remain calm ahead of World Cup
France lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast in Nantes on Thursday in a World Cup 2026 warm-up match. Tchouameni and Cherki played down the defeat ahead of the Blues' tournament opener.
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FFF needs World Cup 2026 semi-final to avoid losses
French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo acknowledged that the FFF, which posted a deficit of €8.7 million, is counting on a deep run by Les Bleus at the 2026 World Cup to restore its finances.
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Ebrima Tunkara, Barcelona's 16-year-old gem already coveted across Europe
Sixteen-year-old attacking midfielder Ebrima Tunkara, trained at La Masia, has caught the attention of Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus after providing three assists at the U17 Euros. Barcelona, where he is contracted until 2029, intends to keep him.
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