Jun 6, 2026
The dark horses who could gatecrash the 2026 World Cup
With 48 teams and an extra knockout round, the 2026 World Cup is built for an outsider to make a run. Here are the dark horses worth backing, from Mor...
World Cup 2026
101 articles tagged with "World Cup 2026"
Jun 6, 2026
Ronaldo’s Portugal host Chile in Lisbon as the World Cup looms
Portugal round off their World Cup preparations against Chile at the Estadio Nacional on Saturday, with Cristiano Ronaldo set to lead the line at what...
Jun 6, 2026
Brazil face Egypt in their final World Cup tune-up without the injured Neymar
Brazil round off their World Cup preparation against Egypt in Cleveland on Saturday, but Carlo Ancelotti has to do it without Neymar, who is racing to...
Jun 5, 2026
The World Cup warm-ups are sending the favourites a warning
France, Spain and the Netherlands all stumbled within 24 hours of each other against supposedly lesser opponents. In a 48-team tournament built for up...
Jun 5, 2026
England open their World Cup warm-up against New Zealand in the Florida heat
Thomas Tuchel takes his side into the Florida heat for the first of two send-off games, with acclimatisation and minutes for the fringe mattering more...
Jun 5, 2026
USA host Germany at Soldier Field in a final World Cup dress rehearsal
Mauricio Pochettino’s co-hosts close out their preparations against Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany in Chicago on Saturday, the last test before the tourn...
Jun 5, 2026
Mexico shrug off an early scare to thump Serbia 5-1 in their World Cup send-off
Two own goals and a Luis Chávez stunner helped the World Cup co-hosts recover from going behind in Toluca, rounding off their preparations with a stat...
Jun 5, 2026
Doski’s stunner earns Iraq a 1-1 draw with a much-changed Spain in La Coruña
Ferran Torres put a rotated Spain ahead at the Riazor, but Merchas Doski’s left-footed effort levelled it and the World Cup favourites could not find...
Jun 4, 2026
Greece snatch a late 2-2 draw to spoil Sweden’s World Cup send-off
Viktor Gyökeres and Gustaf Nilsson had Sweden in front, but Giorgos Masouras’ stoppage-time strike earned Greece a 2-2 draw in Solna to take the gloss...
Jun 4, 2026
Mbappe, Haaland and the closest thing this World Cup has to a group of death
France, Senegal, Norway and Iraq landed in the same pool, and an expanded World Cup built to avoid carnage handed Group I the heaviest draw of the lot...
Jun 3, 2026
Messi trains apart from Argentina and is a doubt for the Honduras friendly
The Argentina captain is managing a hamstring problem and looks set to sit out the warm-up against Honduras, though Scaloni’s staff expect him ready f...
Jun 3, 2026
Why the biggest transfers are waiting for the World Cup to finish
The 2026 window opens four days into the World Cup, and that changes how everyone behaves. The headline moves are on hold until clubs see who shines i...
Jun 2, 2026
At 41, Ronaldo is still the question Portugal cannot bring themselves to answer
Portugal are taking a 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to a sixth World Cup, and not everyone thinks they should. The real test is whether Roberto Martin...
Jun 1, 2026
Spain lead the World Cup market, but Yamal’s hamstring keeps the door open
The favourites look clear on paper, yet with Lamine Yamal’s fitness in doubt and France, England and Argentina lurking, the 2026 World Cup feels like...
Jun 1, 2026
Messi named in Argentina’s World Cup squad for a record-equalling sixth tournament
A fit-again Lionel Messi will captain the holders at his sixth World Cup, with Franco Mastantuono the surprise name left out as Argentina prepare to o...
May 29, 2026
Tuchel’s ruthless England squad leaves Foden, Palmer and Alexander-Arnold at home for the World Cup
England’s 26 are settled before camp opens in Florida on 1 June, and the omissions of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold say everythin...
Apr 23, 2026
Yamal converts a penalty then limps off as Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 1-0 to stay nine clear
Lamine Yamal scored from the spot in the 40th minute before a suspected hamstring injury forced him off, with Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Celta Vigo keep...
Apr 15, 2026
Carrick or Nagelsmann? Manchester United’s two-man shortlist is really a one-man race
Manchester United have narrowed their permanent manager search to Michael Carrick and Julian Nagelsmann, but the case for keeping the interim boss who...
Apr 11, 2026
FC Cincinnati open exploratory talks with Neymar over potential MLS move
FC Cincinnati have begun preliminary discussions with Neymar’s representatives about bringing the Brazilian forward to Major League Soccer, though any...
Apr 1, 2026
DR Congo end 52-year World Cup wait as Tuanzebe’s extra-time winner sinks Jamaica
Axel Tuanzebe scored in the 100th minute to send DR Congo to the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Jamaica in Guadalajara, ending a wait that str...
Apr 1, 2026
Three World Cups missed and no end in sight: what has gone wrong with Italian football?
Italy’s penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia in Zenica means the four-time world champions will miss a third consecutive World Cup. The 2006 triumph feel...
Apr 1, 2026
Bosnia, Sweden, Turkey and Czechia seal World Cup spots in dramatic playoff night
Four European nations booked their places at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday night, with Italy suffering the cruelest blow of all as Bosnia knocked them...
Mar 30, 2026
Doue scores twice as France cruise past Colombia in World Cup warm-up
PSG forward Desire Doue opened his international scoring account with a double as France beat Colombia 3-1 in a friendly at Northwest Stadium on Sunda...
Mar 29, 2026
Ten years of FIFA membership and one match from the World Cup: Kosovo’s extraordinary rise
Kosovo were admitted to FIFA in May 2016 and lost their first competitive games by cricket scores. On Tuesday in Pristina, they face Turkey for a plac...