In a remarkable feat, Punjab's Minerva Academy FC on Saturday became the champions of Gothia Cup, touted as the World Youth Cup, in the boys under-14 category in Gothenburg, Sweden, two years after winning the U-13 title.
The 48-year-old has previously also worked with Chelsea FC, one of the top clubs in Europe; he has also played an important role in fine-tuning the Chelsea squads that won the UEFA Champions League in the 2011-12 and 2020-21 seasons.
The World Cup began with 32 teams competing in a group stage, with teams divided into eight groups of four.
'So being here means we deserve to be here, it's not a change or because we are women.'
For long stretches, the atmosphere felt less Mumbai and more Camp Nou. Chants of 'Barca... Barca' and 'Suarez... Suarez' echoed through the stands as Messi interacted with youngsters, celebrities and former India football captain Sunil Chhetri.
'For us, they are referees, they are match officials'
Messi is currently at the Mumbai airport and is expected to leave shortly for the final set of engagements, which includes an appearance at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium for a ticketed event.
The stadiums at Qatar offer plenty of wisdom and chutzpah on how to take our own lives forward.
FIFA on Saturday launched its first talent academy for youngsters in India in collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), aiming to provide advanced training to talented footballers in the country.
Williams, Bharti join camp, signalling new chapter for Indian football
Between 9 and 13 December, the Argentina Football Fans Club of Kolkata is turning Aikatan, a cultural hub just a short walk from Salt Lake Stadium, into a full-blown Messi fan zone, drenched in Argentina's blue and white.
Satadru Dutta's rise was swift and ambitious. But that journey took a dramatic nosedive on Saturday.
Rediff.com brings you a quick flashback of the Round of 16 matches at the World Cup through these stunning captures!
Cristiano Ronaldo cleared to play opening matches at World Cup
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is expected to kick off a friendly football match to be attended by legend Lionel Messi during his visit to Hyderabad on December 13.
Traditional Dutch frailty in penalty shootouts again proved their Achilles heel when they lost 4-2 on spot-kicks to Argentina after a goalless World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
The India-Sri Lanka game witnessed two cricket legends, Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan, taking part in a short event during a drinks break in the second half of the match.
The stage is set for the 19th football World Cup, which kicks-off on Saturday, June 11. While 32 teams will battle it out over a month for the game's biggest prize, some big football nations and celebrated footballers will be missing during the action in South Africa, either because of non-qualification or selection or injury.
As Spain celebrates it maiden World Cup title, rediff.com too celebrates by presenting its maiden football awards.
Russia was thrown out of the tournament by FIFA as a sanction for their military operation. They had been due to face Poland in their semi-final.
The Qatar World Cup has delivered a rich feast of soccer for the past month
Get the latest updates from all the action in South Africa.
France midfielder Paul Pogba said the finals in Russia might be his last World Cup but he hopes he will be fit for more.
While most fans were left disappointed at the stadium, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan did get his moment with the football legend.
Spain fans celebrate World Cup glory
Haaland bagged a double in Sunday's 4-1 win over Italy to bring his extraordinary scoring tally in 2026 World Cup qualifying to 16 goals, twice any other player in Europe.
Dutch fans right to boycott World Cup-Van Gaal
'When we started, our primary job was to get a job; cricket was secondary for us.'
Sadio Mane injured his right fibula playing for German club Bayern Munich.
Japan are hoping for strong support from Brazilian fans when they take on Ivory Coast in their opening World Cup Group C game in Recife's Pernambuco arena on Saturday.
The many moods of the fans at the World Cup in Brazil.
Eight stadiums in Doha will host 64 matches at the World Cup.
More than 50 Africa-born or African-origin players are spread across 11 teams -- excluding sides from the continent -- that are part of the tournament in Qatar.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi is not thinking about his international future beyond next year's Copa America, where he will try to lead the country to a second successive continental title at the tournament in the United States.
Antoine Semenyo has bewildered defences with 10 goals and three assists this season for Bournemouth.
Southampton confirmed that they had signed 23-year-old Walker-Peters, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the club. British media put the fee at 12 million pounds.
David Beckham was the toast of the crowd when he entered the Wankhede Stadium accompanied by Sachin Tendulkar.
Eight years is a long time in the life of an athlete. But just like Messi, Di Maria has preserved and persisted towards his childhood dream, points out Deepti Patwardhan.
An RFEF spokesperson told Reuters that Carmona's father had been fighting a long illness and passed away on Friday.
Cricket legend Steve Waugh believes the European T20 Premier League can unlock new talent and expand cricket's footprint across Europe.
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