CONCACAF, the regional football bloc for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, has rejected FIFA's proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup, citing deep concerns over a lack of due process and transparency.
The Indian men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, is determined to end a 51-year World Cup drought, beginning their campaign against Wales with genuine optimism following recent Olympic bronze medals and an Asia Cup title.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has clarified that the plan to sell stakes in the World Cup is a proposal and 'not an obligation', following strong criticism from regional football confederations who felt blindsided by the idea.
Spain defender Marc Cucurella is set to get a tattoo of coach Luis de la Fuente's face after Spain won the World Cup, fulfilling a promise made before the tournament. Coach De la Fuente humorously acknowledged the promise, noting his players are men of their word.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has strongly condemned the post-match clashes that marred the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, calling the behaviour of Argentina's players 'unacceptable' after his side lifted the trophy with a dramatic extra-time victory.
Spain's Rodri claimed the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, Unai Simon won the Golden Glove, and Pau Cubarsi was named the Best Young Player, leaving Lionel Messi without another personal honour despite his impressive World Cup performance.
Rodri, Spain's midfield maestro, completed his collection of major football prizes by winning the World Cup, less than two years after a significant knee injury. Named the tournament's best player, he joins an elite group of footballers. Rodri highlighted the importance of overcoming adversity and praised his team's collective effort in their hard-fought victory against Argentina.
Cricket icons Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh, along with Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, were spotted at the India-Netherlands FIH Hockey World Cup match in Amstelveen. Their presence is linked to the upcoming European T20 Premier League, co-founded by Bachchan, which aims to boost cricket in Europe.
Cricket icons Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh, along with Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, were spotted at the India-Netherlands FIH Hockey World Cup match in Amstelveen. Their presence is linked to the upcoming European T20 Premier League, co-founded by Bachchan, which aims to boost cricket in Europe.
Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra has offered insights into Shubman Gill's captaincy style, comparing him to Hardik Pandya and noting Gill's reserved yet keen approach to leadership. Nehra also discussed the uncertain future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the 2027 ODI World Cup, stating it's too early to predict. He also touched upon his own coaching ambitions and reflected on past World Cup losses.
The 2026 World Cup has been marred by widespread controversy surrounding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, with coaches, players, and fans criticising its application, consistency, and impact on match outcomes, leading to a significant increase in interventions and red cards.
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to extend his contract, leading the men's national team through the 2030 World Cup, following their last-16 finish at this year's finals.
India's junior pickleball team finished fourth, and the kids' team secured a silver medal at the Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam. The Open and Masters teams reached the quarter-finals, while Purvansh Patel won gold and Veer Shah won bronze in individual singles categories.
Mexico and Argentina's football associations have publicly backed FIFA President Gianni Infantino, despite a significant backlash over his abandoned proposal to sell commercial rights to the World Cup, with other confederations and national bodies expressing strong opposition.
Cape Verde's veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, who gained social media fame during the World Cup, has arrived in Chile to join Colo-Colo on a six-month contract, with an option for a one-year extension.
Indian rifle shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon have won a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou. This medal brings India's total tally to four, including one gold, one silver, and two bronze. Both athletes expressed confidence and motivation from this achievement, with Himanshu marking his maiden senior World Cup podium.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Friday that the world soccer's governing body has abandoned its controversial plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors, following widespread backlash from major confederations and internal dissent.
Former Argentina coach Jose Pekerman reflects on Lionel Messi's 2006 World Cup debut, stating he always believed the then 18-year-old would become one of the game's defining figures and that every minute on the pitch was crucial for his development.
India faces a tough challenge against world No. 3 England in a crucial FIH Men's Hockey World Cup Pool D match. India, coming off a win against Wales, needs to improve its open play finishing and overcome a 32-year World Cup jinx against England. The outcome will significantly impact their path to the knockout stages.
India faces a critical challenge against co-hosts and reigning Olympic champions the Netherlands in their Hockey World Cup second-round opener.
The complete schedule and all the results of FIFA World Cup 2026 in IST.
Hockey India has defended its decision to change the national men's and women's hockey teams' jerseys to saffron for the upcoming FIH World Cup, citing technical feedback and the symbolic value of the colour.
Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente attributed his team's second World Cup victory to their strong team-first mentality, unity, and shared values, establishing them as a dominant force in international football.
Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the current World Cup will be his last, expressing no regrets about his illustrious career.
Wimbledon achieved record attendance and social media engagement, along with strong broadcasting figures, despite competing with the soccer World Cup. The tournament saw over half a million fans, significant retail sales, and a notable audience share for the women's singles final in the Czech Republic.
France has become the first team in FIFA World Cup history to score three or more goals in five consecutive matches, a milestone confirmed after their 3-0 victory over Sweden. Captain Kylian Mbappe's double secured their spot in the Round of 16 and set new personal records, surpassing Ronaldo and Leonidas in knockout stage goals and nearing Lionel Messi's overall World Cup goal tally.
Pakistan hockey captain Abu Bakar Mahmood expressed confidence in his team's ability to defeat arch-rivals India at the upcoming FIH World Cup, stating that "rankings don't matter" in such high-stakes encounters and performance on the day is key.
South American confederation CONMEBOL had officially proposed hosting the 2030 World Cup with 64 teams last year, allowing more countries the opportunity to join in the celebrations for the tournament's centennial edition.
India's recurve mixed pair of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kirti Sharma lost 3-5 to Italy in the bronze medal match at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid, despite holding a 3-1 lead. This marks a disappointing end for Dhiraj, while Kirti still has a chance for an individual medal.
Japan's national football team, the Samurai Blue, faces Brazil in a crucial World Cup last-32 match. This encounter holds deep significance due to Brazil's profound influence on Japanese professional football, particularly through the J-League and the presence of numerous Brazilian players and coaches over the decades. Despite past successes against Brazil, including a recent friendly win, this World Cup clash represents a major test for Japan's ambitions.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his tactical decisions in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, despite widespread criticism after his team lost 2-1. Tuchel stated he has no regrets, trusting his instincts, and attributed some performance issues to player fatigue and extensive travel. He is now focused on the third-place playoff against France, viewing it as an opportunity for England to prove their standing among top teams.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that the governing body will discuss expanding the World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 edition, following the already planned increase to 48 teams in 2026. Infantino believes a larger tournament encourages smaller nations and highlights the success of previous expansions, with the 2030 event already set to be hosted across six nations on three continents.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final sees Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, take on a strong Spanish unit featuring teenage star Lamine Yamal, with Messi aiming for back-to-back titles at a venue holding past painful memories.
Norwegian parliamentarians recreated the Viking rowing celebration made famous by their soccer fans, showing cross-party unity in support of the national team during the World Cup.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a commendable fifth-place finish at the FIH World Cup by defeating Germany 3-1 in a classification match, with Navneet Kaur scoring two goals.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his excitement over Argentina's dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, highlighting the team's ability to snatch victory from a 0-2 deficit.
Didier Deschamps, who led France to their second world title in 2018 and established them as international football's most consistent major-tournament force, will be remembered for his unprecedented legacy despite recent semi-final defeats.
India's route to the semi-finals is straightforward: if the Netherlands beats China, a win over Australia would take the ninth-ranked Indian team through.
Paris St Germain have signed Spain's World Cup-winning forward Ferran Torres from Barcelona on a contract until 2031, the two clubs announced on Saturday.
A 13-year-old boy was killed and two others injured in Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain, when a fountain collapsed during celebrations for Spain's FIFA World Cup 2026 victory. The tragic incident cast a shadow over nationwide festivities after Spain secured its second World Cup title with a 1-0 win over Argentina.
