Men’s World Cup

Bolivia beat Copa America finalists Colombia with 10 men, and the decision to play games there has transformed their bid to reach World Cup

Gareth Southgate says he intends to have one year away from coaching after leaving his role as England manager in July. The 54-year-old spent eight years in charge of the national side, as well as three years leading England’s Under-21s, before stepping down after this summer’s European Championship final defeat by Spain. Southgate said he would take his time to decide his next career move but explained a role at another national team was unlikely as “England was from the heart”. “Sometimes when you are in a big role you don’t realise the weight until it’s...

With the sport's calendar more packed than ever, something has to give - and international fixtures are in danger of falling victim

Colombia head coach Nestor Lorenzo claims his side have been “spied” on in the build up to their World Cup 2026 qualifier against Bolivia on Thursday. Speaking on Wednesday before the match in El Alto, Bolivia, Lorenzo said the Colombian Football Federation would be filing an official complaint after an unidentified individual was photographed watching his side’s training session. “It’s unfortunate to be spied upon,” said Lorenzo. “I don’t know where it came from or who it was, but we have pictures and we’ll file a complaint.

Fernando Batista’s side were Copa America quarterfinalists in July. Three weeks later, their country was engulfed in political protests

Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has announced his retirement from professional football. The 40-year-old confirmed his decision to call time on his illustrious playing career at a star-studded event in Barcelona on Tuesday. Iniesta joined Barca as a 12-year-old in 1996 and went on to make 674 first-team appearances for the club, helping them win nine La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies. “I never thought this day would come,” Iniesta told friends, family and former team-mates who were in attendance to pay tribute to the former playmaker. “All...

Argentina had two matches to see what life will be like without Messi. This is how it went...

Jesse Marsch has called up three uncapped players to his Canada squad for this month’s friendly against Panama and training camp in Montreal. Kwasi Poku, Jamie Knight-Lebel and Santiago Lopez all earned their first call-ups to the senior squad from Canada’s Under-20 team. Marsch has made it a top priority to increase his player pool and these additions could all feature against Panama. In September, 50-year-old Marsh pledged to “broaden the player pool, specifically for younger players” in his squad. Absentees include Celtic defender Alistair Johnston and Marseille...

FIFA has issued a warning to fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup, urging them to avoid purchasing tickets from “unofficial ticketing websites” and emphasizing that individual tickets will not be available until late 2025. Several unauthorized resale sites, particularly in the United States and Mexico, have reportedly begun advertising speculative ticket sales for the tournament. However, hospitality packages will be available to fans starting at the end of 2024. A FIFA spokesperson said that “FIFA.com/tickets is FIFA’s unique official sales channel for FIFA World Cup 26...

There are some elite managers who change their staff from job to job, but Pochettino is not one of them - he has a trusted team behind him

Something about the team jerseys of the '90s and early noughties has managed to capture the imagination of younger generations

The Football Association (FA) and U.S. Soccer are in talks to stage an international friendly between England and the USMNT before the men’s World Cup in 2026. The date and venue of the proposed fixture is yet to be decided but it is likely to take place on the east coast of America in June of next year. However, any games organised by U.S. Soccer with teams from Europe is dependent on results in the UEFA Nations League and World Cup qualifiers. U.S. Soccer hopes the match will help build national interest in the men’s game ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the United States is...

Graham Arnold has stepped down as head coach of the Australia men’s national team after six years in charge. Football Australia confirmed the news on Friday, stating Arnold, 61, informed the organisation earlier this week of his decision. The search for a new head coach will begin immediately as the team prepares for the second window of round three AFC Asian qualifiers in October. “I said after our game against Indonesia that I had some decisions to make, and after deep reflection, my gut has told me it’s time for change, both for myself and the programme,” Arnold said in...

The inaugural revamped 32-team Club World Cup is scheduled to take place in the United States between June 15 and July 13, 2025

The 1980s and 2000s have produced plenty of star players - but it's a very different story for those born in the 1990s