Brazil failed to win for the first time in 11 games with their own lacklustre midfield as much to blame for the 0-0 draw with Mexico as the inspired goalkeeping performance of Guillermo Ochoa.
The Asian Football Confederation has confirmed Indonesia's immediate ban from all international football, including next week's 2018 World Cup qualifiers, because of government meddling in the country's domestic league.
Containing Colombia's potent attacking game, even without injured striker Radamel Falcao, will be key to defensive-minded Greece's attempt to upset the World Cup Group C favourites on Saturday.
Images from Wednesday's football World Cup qualifiers.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi said defending champions France and Brazil are the favourites to win the World Cup in Qatar as they have a core group of players who have played together for a long time.
'To our Moroccan friends: Congratulations on this beautiful journey. You are making football history.'
'Khalid will have to begin with consistency and with new players and good strikers from U-23 because he has to build for the future.'
Rediff.com presents the best goal celebrations at the football World Cup.
The Germans suffered their earliest tournament ouster in 80 years when they crashed out of the first round at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. They were also eliminated in the Last 16 at last year's Euro.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest forwards of all time but his latest struggles with Manchester United and Portugal have raised many questions about whether his brilliant career is nearing a bitter end.
Lionel Messi's brief appearance in Kolkata was marred by security breaches and crowd management issues, raising concerns about planning and coordination. Eyewitness accounts and social media footage reveal a chaotic scene with organizers and VIPs crowding the player, leading to his early withdrawal and subsequent protests.
'A change we have seen after the Russia-Ukraine war is the energy crisis in Europe.' 'Earlier, in Europe, people used to change their clothes after 5 washes, now they are using it till 15-20 washes.' 'They used to change their entire wardrobe after 2 months or so, but because of the economic conditions, it has changed.' 'It has affected exports as 40% of our exports is to Europe, 30% to the US and 10% to the UK.' 'The war has to end for better days to come.'
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Maradona wore Argentina's No. 10 shirt in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England in Mexico.
Reigning FIFA World Cup champions Spain arrived in Brazil. Bookmakers rank traditional powerhouses Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain as the top teams to win the Cup.
England dumped Nigeria out of the Women's World Cup in a last-16 penalty shootout
With one month to go until the start of the 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil on June 12, we take a look at how things are shaping up on the playing side for 10 of the leading nations.
Spain and Japan have six points and will play each other on Monday for top spot in the group
The Swedes, who came second as hosts in 1958 and third in 1994, missed the 2010 and 2014 tournaments and while they qualified for Euro 2012 and 2016, they limped out at the group stage on both occasions.
Don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves, we're still alive: Stimac
England spent little time celebrating Sunday's 3-0 World Cup win over Senegal before turning their thoughts to an intimidating quarter-final next Saturday against reigning champions France.
Many fans arrived in Brazil for the World Cup expecting a six-week party with a heady mix of top quality football, tropical beaches and Caipirinha cocktails played out to the soundtrack of a funky Samba beat.
The 'OneLove' armbands were originally launched in 2020 as part of an inclusiveness campaign by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).
European countries will be able to bid to host the 2026 World Cup only if none of the eligible candidates are good enough, soccer's governing body said on Friday.
Karim Benzema, who struck twice and came close to a hat-trick in France's opening victory over Honduras, again caused havoc against the Swiss at Salvador's Fonte Nova arena, scoring once and setting up another two.
Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's touchdown in Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday sent the city into a frenzy.
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has sent his signed 2022 World Cup victorious jersey to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 75th birthday.
Miroslav Klose scored a landmark goal as Germany and Ghana drew 2-2 with all the goals coming in a terrific second half of another rip-roaring football World Cup clash in Fortaleza, on Saturday.
It seems that Brazil World Cup fever has taken over Bollywood as well, with Shah Rukh Khan taking to Twitter to express his excitement over the sports fiesta.
France striker Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar after suffering an injury in training.
The working used to be so tough that they were given breaks every 20 minutes and adequate arrangements for labourers like fans and glucose water was made available.
Brazilians say they will find their trademark exuberance once the goals start rolling in. For now, though, many of the international soccer fans descending on a country renowned for its Carnival celebrations, samba and soccer are disappointed.
With the FIFA World Cup 2006 round the corner, Pakistan, the world's largest producer of soccer balls, has exported more than 55.8 million footballs worth $14 million for the event.
Frenchman Lucien Laurent, who scored the first goal in World Cup history in 1930, died on Monday aged 97.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is planning a fresh 24-team Club World Cup to start with a 'pilot' edition in 2021.
Cristiano Ronaldo provided Portugal with a major confidence boost ahead of the World Cup when he made a successful return from injury in a 5-1 romp against Ireland on Tuesday.
World Cup sidelights: All the fun news from Brazil right here...
Luis Rubiales told a court on Tuesday that player Jenni Hermoso had given her consent for him kiss her in the aftermath of the Spain women's World Cup victory in 2023.
Prince Abdullah said Saudi players have become 'extras' since the number of foreign players per team on matchdays rose to eight, urging a cut to seven and more investment in youth development.
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