Ousmane Dembele delivered a sensational first-half hat-trick for France against Norway in their final Group I match, overshadowing the anticipated clash between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
Saudi Arabia's 2-1 victory over Argentina is rated the biggest shock in World Cup history.
Morocco are happy to sit back and look to punish opponents on the counter-attack using the speed and skill of Hakim Ziyech
Lionel Messi's Argentina take on Jude Bellingham's England in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, reviving one of football's greatest rivalries with a place in the final on the line.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot in the 58th minute to net his 39th goal in World Cup qualifying matches, equalling the record held by Guatemala's Carlos Ruiz.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni believes 39-year-old Lionel Messi will continue to be the world's best player for as long as he desires, dismissing age concerns as Messi dominates the World Cup with eight crucial goals.
Lionel Messi has become the most prolific scorer in World Cup history, netting two goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria. This achievement, which saw him surpass Brazilian great Marta's record of 17 goals, also secured Argentina's place in the knockout stage with a game to spare. Despite missing a penalty, Messi expressed satisfaction with the team's performance and the crucial win.
'My only problem is banning alcohol'
Here's what you need to know about the opening ceremony that will take place ahead of the November 20-December 18 World Cup in Qatar:
Pedro Porro has emerged as a pivotal player for Spain in the World Cup, transforming the right-back position into a strength. His exceptional performance against France in the semi-final, where he scored and was named MVP, has solidified his place, drawing parallels to Marc Cucurella's rise. Porro's defensive prowess and attacking contributions have been crucial for Spain's journey to the final against Argentina.
Ahead of Bosnia's World Cup Round of 32 match against the United States, a Bosnian restaurant in Northern California has become a gathering place for passionate fans. For many, the event is more than football-it's a celebration of their culture, resilience, and journey to a new home.
Morocco showcased their evolution as a top football nation with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Canada in the World Cup last 16.
'We had a fantastic goalkeeper today, Livakovic, he was great, he was insurmountable, he defended the penalties in a very strong, stable manner.'
The authentic FIFA World Cup trophy arrived at the football crazy city of Kolkata on Thursday by a chartered flight from Canada.
Balloons in the national colours of Israel and Qatar festooned the departure gate for the first commercial flight between the countries on Sunday, permitted by Doha for fans of the World Cup despite the absence of formal bilateral relations.
'Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality'
Stephen Eustaquio's stoppage-time winner sent Canada into the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, with coach Jesse Marsch paying an emotional tribute to the midfielder's late parents after the dramatic 1-0 win over South Africa.
FC Barcelona have signed Egypt forward Hamza Abdelkarim on a three-year deal, the LaLiga club said in a statement on Tuesday.
Eight stadiums in Doha will host 64 matches at the World Cup.
Argentina start their bid for back-to-back World Cups on Tuesday with a side full of familiar faces from Qatar 2022, facing an Algerian team buoyed by warm-up wins and featuring a 20-year-old rising star nicknamed after Diego Maradona.
Netherlands striker Cody Gakpo and his partner experienced the tragic loss of their unborn son. The national team, including coach Ronald Koeman and captain Virgil van Dijk, has offered immense support, allowing Gakpo time off with his family during the World Cup. Despite the personal tragedy, Gakpo is expected to play in the upcoming match against Morocco, showing remarkable fortitude.
MLS enters its 31st season amid World Cup buzz and Lionel Messi's impact, with Don Garber calling it a defining moment for the league's future.
Adidas on Friday unveiled Al Rihla - the official match ball for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
French prosecutors open investigation of PSG's Hakimi, a source tells Reuters.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended the VAR decisions that helped his side beat Croatia 2-1, while FIFA explained how Connected Ball Technology confirmed the stoppage-time offside call that ended Croatia's World Cup campaign.
England captain Harry Kane sparked a social media buzz after showing off his cricket skills during the team's FIFA World Cup 2026 training camp in the United States.
Davies's poor spot-kick was saved low to his right by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Canada wasted numerous other opportunities to open the scoring.
Brazil shocked and other big upsets at World Cup qualifiers played on Tuesday
France's World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain marks the end of Didier Deschamps' 14-year reign, with Zinedine Zidane widely expected to take over and lead a new generation of gifted players towards future global titles.
Neymar Junior returned to international football after a 981-day absence, playing 20 minutes as a substitute in Brazil's 3-0 World Cup victory over Scotland.
Kylian Mbappe's crucial second-half penalty secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for France over a resilient Paraguay, propelling them into the World Cup quarter-finals where they will face Morocco.
Cape Verde coach Bubista expressed immense pride in his team's performance at their first World Cup, despite their 3-2 extra-time loss to three-time champions Argentina in the last-32. He highlighted their draws against Spain and Uruguay, and the character shown by his players, many of whom are not from elite leagues, in taking Argentina to the wire. Bubista emphasised that their World Cup campaign was about showcasing the island-nation's spirit and identity.
Football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic heavily criticised Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman following their penalty shootout loss to Morocco, stating that the team lost its traditional identity under his leadership, which made him "angry". Morocco advanced to the Round of 16 after a dramatic 1-1 draw and a 3-2 penalty victory.
The emblem's design embodies the vision of an event that connects and engages the entire world, while also featuring striking elements of local and regional Arab culture and allusions to the beautiful game.
Former India internationals analyse Spain's dominant performance and tactical discipline that led them to the FIFA World Cup final, highlighting their defensive solidity and adaptability.
Miloslav "Curby" Urbanec, a Czech music promoter, has transformed his three-storey house in Bukovka into a vibrant shrine dedicated to the Argentine national football team, featuring sky-blue and white paint, a Lionel Messi mural, and a Diego Maradona statue, all stemming from a childhood passion ignited by the 1978 World Cup.
Neymar has suggested he may have played his final match for Brazil following their 2-1 defeat to Norway in the World Cup round of 16, a result that eliminated the five-time champions. The emotional 34-year-old scored a penalty but indicated his international career might be over, marking Brazil's worst World Cup performance since 1990.
Cape Verde, despite being a significant underdog, is confident of challenging Argentina and Lionel Messi in their World Cup knockout match.
The United States' World Cup dreams came to a crashing halt in the last 16 against Belgium on Monday as Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in a 4-1 win, overshadowed by FIFA's controversial decision to suspend US forward Folarin Balogun's ban.
Belgium, who missed a slew of scoring chances against Iran on Sunday, have taken only two points from their opening two matches despite entering the tournament as favourites to progress from the group.
