Lionel Messi marked his retirement about face with a goal to give 10-man Argentina a 1-0 win over Uruguay on Thursday that lifted them to the top of the South American qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
Broadening the World Cup finals to include 40 teams could come about in 2026, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said during a tour of South America on Tuesday.
Experienced Argentine official Nestor Pitana will referee the World Cup final between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday, an uncontroversial decision which rewards his authoritative performances in Russia.
Diego Maradona's Argentina are dangerous because of the players he has regardless of the team's struggles in the World Cup qualifiers, Uruguay coach Oscar Washington Tabarez said on Tuesday. Argentina face Uruguay in a River Plate classic at the iconic Centenario on Wednesday in their final 2010 qualifier looking to get at least the draw that will send them to the South Africa finals.
Diego Forlan and Martin Palermo scored last-gasp goals as Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador switched places on a dramatic Saturday of South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup. Diego Maradona's Argentina, having beaten Peru 2-1 at home in torrential rain, go to Montevideo on Wednesday to defend an automatic berth in the South Africa finals against a Uruguay side that turned the tables on Ecuador.
Brazil coach Dunga praised his team's courage in the face of adversity after they beat Uruguay on penalties following a 2-2 draw in their Copa America semi-final.
Brazil opened the 2021 Copa America with a 3-0 win over a depleted Venezuela
Images and a round-up of all the World Cup qualifiers played across continents on Tuesday.
Mo Salah appeared with the rest of Egypt squad at a final training session in Cairo before flying to Russia on Sunday for the country's first World Cup appearance in 28 years.
City's Guardiola defends Mendy after COVID protocol breach.
Muslim soccer fans visiting Russia for the World Cup celebrated the end of the fasting month of Ramadan on Friday, with Egyptian fans hoping the festival would bring their national team good luck in a match with Uruguay later in the day.
'It's a moot point if Kailaasa will ever evolve beyond being a haven for a fugitive from justice,' notes Devangshu Datta.
Roberto Martinez's Belgium collected two wins, including their first in the UEFA Nations League over Iceland earlier this month, to bring them level with France on 1729 points.
Media reports suggest Sevilla's Argentine coach Jorge Sampaoli, who has never disguised his ambition to take charge of the national team and steered neighbouring Chile to the Copa America title in 2015, will step into the vacancy.
Brazil's teenage striker Neymar, who won the Copa Libertadores with Santos, has been voted South American soccer's Footballer of the Year.
Analysis of the eight groups for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia.
Iceland were holding Argentina 1-1 at halftime in their World Cup Group D match on Saturday after Alfred Finnbogason hit back to cancel out Sergio Aguero's opener for the South Americans.
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was given a one-match ban by FIFA on Saturday for the controversial last minute handball which denied Ghana a semi-final place.
Follow the Netherlands-Brazil and Ghana-Uruguay quarter-finals at the football Wrodl Cup live.
Chile defender Gonzalo Jara's ban for provoking Edinson Cavani has been cut from three games to two, the governing body of South American football has said.
Images from Sunday's English Premier League matches.
Lionel Messi, having reversed his decision to quit international soccer with a view to playing at another World Cup, could miss out on Russia 2018 if Argentina continue their downward spiral. Argentina played poorly in their last three qualifiers without the injured Messi and languish in fifth place in the South American group with Paraguay and Chile hot on their tails. Only four countries are guaranteed a place at the finals.
Argentina and Brazil both lost their opening World Cup qualifiers on Thursday as the South American campaign for Russia 2018 started in unexpected fashion.
The former world number one, who is easing his way back to full match fitness after a career-saving resurfacing procedure in January, saved all four break points he faced and dropped only six points on his first serve.
People across the world woke up to an early-morning call to celebrate the second International Yoga Day on Tuesday with much enthusiasm.
Mexico's Jesus Manuel Corona weaved his way past five players before firing home in the 80th minute to give his side a 1-1 draw with Venezuela that secured top spot in Group C of the Copa America on Monday.
Sergio Aguero, in fine scoring form for Manchester City this season, looks set to lead Argentina's attack in next month's World Cup qualifiers after being recalled to their squad on Friday.
We are sure you have seen enough people getting hurt trying to tame bulls. But ever seen wild horses giving a hard time?
After the high of Monte Carlo Masters title triumph, India's Rohan Bopanna and his partner Pablo Cuevas suffered a first round exit at the ATP Barcelona Open.
A compelling cast of players, two attacking teams propelled by great pace and a clash between neighbours to boot.
The World Cup will expand to 48 teams from its current 32, starting with the 2026 edition of football's showpiece tournament.
Earlier in the day, Bolivia beat Venezuela 3-1 at home and Uruguay and Paraguay drew 0-0 in Montevideo.
Lionel Messi's Copa America dream lay in tatters on Saturday after Argentina were beaten by old rivals Uruguay in a dramatic quarter-final.
Uruguay defender Diego Lugano, whose missed penalty led to the semi-final defeat against Brazil, was sent off and gave away a penalty as his side lost 3-1 to Mexico in the Copa America third-place match on Saturday.
Switzerland will be among the eight seeded teams at the World Cup draw in December after they leapt to seventh in the latest FIFA rankings announced on Thursday, while Italy were edged out.
Tite admitted he had been complaining to the referee during the first half and said the two men exchanged words.
Brazil firmed up to 3-1 favourites to win the World Cup for the sixth time after goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino secured a 2-0 win over Mexico and a place in the quarter-finals on Monday.
Spain will beat Russia in Sunday's World Cup last 16 match in Moscow -- at least if you believe Harry, the so-called 'oracle' otter in Sochi who has so far correctly forecast the hosts' two victories and one defeat at the tournament.
Sergio Ramos has responded to a putdown from Argentina great Diego Maradona
France coach Didier Deschamps was relieved to come through his side's 2-0 quarter-final win over Uruguay without losing any of his players to an unnecessary suspension, he said after Friday's match in Nizhny Novgorod.
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