Legendary footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic has voiced concerns about Cristiano Ronaldo's role in Portugal's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, citing the 41-year-old's physical decline and suggesting his selection is based more on reputation than current performance. This comes as Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against Croatia to advance to the Round of 16.
England captain Harry Kane missed a crucial opportunity against Ghana, blazing a close-range shot over the bar, which denied his side an immediate spot in the World Cup round of 32. The 0-0 draw means England must now wait to confirm their progression.
Multi-champions Brazil, Argentina and Germany all won their preparatory games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, although by small margins, with former champion England and hopeful Portugal also securing victories.
A record eight players aged 40 or older have been selected to play at the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States - one more than at all the past 22 tournaments combined.
Inspirational Lionel Messi would like to end his glittering career on a high as Argentina begin their World Cup defence on June 17 against Algeria in their Group J encounter.
With Kylian Mbappe's depth and experience, economists predict France are tipped to edge Spain to lift World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his unwavering support for Portugal following their heartbreaking FIFA World Cup Round of 16 defeat against Spain. Despite the emotional exit and uncertainty surrounding his international future, Ronaldo shared a poignant message of loyalty, stating he would not make any rash decisions about continuing with the national team.
Portugal qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday with a 9-1 hammering of Armenia that included hat-tricks from both Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest scorer in a FIFA World Cup knockout match, but Portugal coach Roberto Martinez's bold decision to substitute his captain paid off as Goncalo Ramos scored a dramatic late winner against Croatia.
For the expanded 2026 tournament, FIFA has gone a step further and introduced an extra amnesty for yellow cards, effectively wiping the slate clean twice.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to feature a significant generational divide, with players spanning over 25 years in age. Mexico's Gilberto Mora, 17, will be the youngest, while Scotland's Craig Gordon, 43, will be the oldest. The tournament will showcase a mix of emerging talents and seasoned veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, with nations like Panama and Ivory Coast representing the oldest and youngest average squads, respectively.
Cristiano Ronaldo expressed sadness after Portugal's World Cup exit following a 1-0 loss to Spain, stating he gave his all and is leaving with a clear conscience, but will take time to reflect on his international future.
Cristiano Ronaldo met Canadian music superstar Drake after Portugal's dramatic 2-1 World Cup win over Croatia, with the Portugal captain celebrating his first-ever World Cup knockout goal before a quarter-final clash against Spain.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's national team has been forced to cancel World Cup buildup events in Kinshasa due to the Ebola virus outbreak and will instead continue preparations in Belgium.
While Mbappe and Messi currently lead the charts, Haaland, Kane, Dembele, and Vinicius Junior are all within striking distance, setting up an intense battle for the tournament's top scorer award in the matches ahead.
Portugal's football team faces Uzbekistan in their next World Cup match, needing a significant improvement in their attacking performance after a disappointing 1-1 draw with DR Congo.
With hot weather due and memories fresh of the scorching 2025 Club World Cup, FIFA has for the first time mandated three-minute hydration breaks in each half for all 104 matches of the World Cup starting this week in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
France can secure a more comfortable route through the World Cup when they face Norway in their final Group I match on Friday, though finishing top could leave them facing one of the toughest roads to the trophy.
Following a dominant group stage performance, Argentina is now preparing to face Cape Verde in the Round of 32.
The Democratic Republic of Congo plans to continue its preparations for the 2026 World Cup despite a warning from the United States about a potential Ebola outbreak.
Portugal's latest bid for World Cup glory begins in Houston on Wednesday when they take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in a Group K clash.
Portugal and Colombia played to a 0-0 draw in their final World Cup Group K match, with Colombia securing the top spot and Portugal finishing second. Both teams advanced to the last 32, setting up future clashes against Ghana and Croatia respectively.
Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to training with Al-Nassr just days after marrying his long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez in a private ceremony in Cascais, Portugal.
The final teams have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Find out which teams have qualified and their group stage assignments.
Portugal defender Diogo Dalot has defended Cristiano Ronaldo and insisted the squad remains united despite criticism following their World Cup draw with DR Congo, claiming some people are actively hoping Portugal fail.
Cristiano Ronaldo called for unity ahead of Portugal's crucial World Cup clash against Uzbekistan, while teammate Ruben Dias dismissed criticism of the veteran forward following a difficult tournament opener.
Portugal's Football Federation (FPF) has denied media reports that Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during the World Cup after coach Fernando Santos dropped the captain for their last-16 win over Switzerland.
The official 26-man squads for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Spain's national football team celebrated their second World Cup victory with a massive parade through Madrid, drawing nearly two million ecstatic fans. The players, fresh from their 1-0 win over Argentina, were also greeted by King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who praised their achievement and looked forward to future successes.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot in the 58th minute to net his 39th goal in World Cup qualifying matches, equalling the record held by Guatemala's Carlos Ruiz.
Cristiano Ronaldo has fuelled speculation about his retirement plans after saying the upcoming year will probably be the last of his playing career.
Indian trap shooters are aiming for a better performance at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier after a disappointing showing from the skeet team. Key athletes like Bhowneesh Mendiratta, Prithviraj Tondaiman, and Kynan Chenai are set to compete.
Zlatko Dalic, former Croatia manager, has been appointed as the new head coach of the United Arab Emirates national football team. He previously led Croatia to a World Cup final and returns to the UAE where he won a league title with Al Ain.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo led an emotional tribute to his late teammate Diogo Jota after their dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32. The team dedicated their win to Jota, who tragically died in a car crash a year prior, posing with his No. 21 jersey and carrying his memory throughout the tournament.
Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to retire from international football in September, with speculation suggesting his final match will be Portugal's UEFA Nations League fixture against Wales.
Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan at the FIFA World Cup 2026, scoring two goals. His performance was overshadowed by a viral post-match moment where he appeared to ignore a question about Lionel Messi. Ronaldo also made history by becoming the first player to score in six different World Cups and surpassed Eusebio as Portugal's all-time leading scorer in the tournament.
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic has stepped down after nine years in charge, the Croatian Football Federation said on Wednesday, less than a week after his side's exit from the 2026 World Cup following a 2-1 loss to Portugal in the Round of 32.
Next year's 48-team World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
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.
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj shared an emotional tribute to football icon Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal's exit from the FIFA World Cup. Siraj, a long-time admirer, stated that Ronaldo's greatness transcends a single game and thanked him for inspiring millions globally, including himself, often using Ronaldo's mindset and celebration as motivation.
