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.
FIFA's digital watchdogs uncovered 89,000 abusive posts on social media during the group stage of the World Cup, marking a 13-fold increase from the 2022 edition in Qatar, world soccer's governing body said on Wednesday.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said the hydration breaks introduced in each half of matches at the World Cup add nothing to football while destroying the sport's cultural essence.
Japan delivered a commanding 4-0 win over Tunisia in the World Cup's 1,000th match on Saturday to move to the brink of the knockout stages, while the North Africans were eliminated after a second successive defeat in Group F.
From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Cape Verde's fairytale run, VAR controversies and unforgettable fan moments, relive the memories that made the 2026 FIFA World Cup the biggest and most dramatic tournament in history.
FIFA rejects Norway coach Stale Solbakken's claim of spider-cam interference in Jude Bellingham's equaliser for England.
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.
'Our biggest opportunity lies with the younger age-group teams.' 'If you look at the senior national team, our chances are about 50-50.' 'The gap becomes smaller as you move down the age groups.' 'At the Under-20 level, it's closer to 60-40.' 'By the Under-17 level, it's around 80-20. That's where I feel we have our best chance.'
FIFA's new hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup have sparked controversy, with coaches including Marcelo Bielsa and Gustavo Alfaro claiming they disrupt football's rhythm and serve commercial interests more than player welfare.
Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who has Indian ancestral roots, attributes the rise of young athletes like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi across global sports to advancements in technology and better access to information from an earlier age.
Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia believes Lionel Messi needs to win the 2026 World Cup to truly equal Diego Maradona's legendary status, despite Messi's 2022 triumph. Bhutia rates Maradona higher due to his single-handed 1986 World Cup victory, while also tipping Spain as slight favourites over Argentina in the upcoming final.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has approved the adoption of the National Sports Governance Act but deferred a decision on picking a new commercial partner for the Indian Super League (ISL) during its Special General Body Meeting.
'Following successful live operation in the Emirates FA Cup, the Premier League will look to implement the system later this season.'
This is India's first technology-driven residential football training centre exclusively for girls, the company has claimed.
Gaming and cyber security experts suggest how kids and parents can stay aware to fight the growing threats and miscreants who act from behind the screen.
Soccer's governing body FIFA has confirmed that goal-line technology will be used at the 2014 World Cup and has invited more providers to submit tenders.
Following are the four goal-line technology systems licensed by soccer's governing body FIFA.
Soccer's rulemakers and its governing body FIFA bowed to pressure on Thursday when they finally approved the use of goal-line technology and agreed to allow Muslim women players to wear a headscarf.
A fourth system of goal-line technology has been approved and granted a licence, soccer's governing body FIFA said on Friday.
After unsuccessful tests of goal-line technology in 2005 and 2007, FIFA promised on Saturday that future World Cups would be free of any more shocking Frank Lampard moments.
Iraq want their World Cup qualifier against Palestine next month moved from the Jordanian capital of Amman, having also knocked back a Palestinian proposal to stage the match just outside Jerusalem.
Twelve cameras in each stadium will track 29 points on the body of each player and a sensor inside the match ball will send data to the VAR operations room 500 times a second to allow a highly accurate assessment of when the pass was played.
A third goal-line technology system has been approved and granted a licence, making it eligible to be considered for use at the 2014 World Cup, FIFA said in a statement on Monday.
FIFA deferred a final decision on whether Islamic women can play in a headscarf, or hijab, until July when they will also make their long-awaited decision on what goal-line technology system to employ.
Pakistan is playing a big part in the soccer World Cup by making the balls
IMAGES from the FIFA World Cup Group C match played between France and Australia at Kazan Stadium on Saturday
Argentina dominated the opening stages and earned the penalty when Di Maria was fouled by Ousmane Dembele, with Messi sending France keeper Hugo Lloris the wrong way to move to the top of the goalscoring charts in Qatar.
UEFA President Michel Platini remains ardently opposed to the use of goal-line technology, which is being employed by FIFA for the first time at the Club World Cup, and said on Tuesday the money would be better spent developing the game.
Jose Mourinho believes an expanded World Cup tournament would develop the sport in areas lacking strong soccer foundations without proving to be a burden for both clubs or players in major leagues.
Several countries across the globe use VAR in their domestic club competitions after it was first introduced in Australia and the United States.
Referees at next year's World Cup will use goalline technology for the first time to settle some of the disputes that have marred past tournaments.
FIFA assured that technology to determine whether the ball has crossed the goal line would be ready for World Cup final.
'The sooner Kalyan Chaubey leaves, the better it is for Indian football'
FIFA are studying camera-based goalline technology as well as a "smartball" containing a computer chip.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has added his voice to calls for the introduction of goalline technology to the English Premier League -- perhaps as early as the 2012/13 season.
India's chances of the hosting the Under-20 World Cup in 2019 have brightened after the overwhelming success of Under-17 World Cup which is all set to topple China-1985 as the best attended event in the tournament's history.
Soccer will continue to rely on human judgement when it comes to disputed goals after the game's rule-makers flatly rejected the use of video and chip technology now and in the foreseeable future. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) voted against two proposed systems on Saturday, and said it would not risk sacrificing the sport's human element.
Technology that could change football in coming years.
Goal-line technology was approved in principle by the soccer's lawmakers on Saturday and could be used for the first time at FIFA's Club World Cup finals in Japan at the end of the year.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has asked FIFA why the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was not used to review two key decisions they believe hindered their side during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
