Veteran Indian midfielder Manpreet Singh, preparing for his fourth and potentially final Hockey World Cup, expresses his determination to lead India to its first title in 51 years. He highlights the team's experience, preparation, and focus on fitness and defence, confident in their ability to reach the final.
Lionel Messi said Argentina's World Cup final defeat by Spain had left "immense" pain but praised his team for reaching a second successive final and thanked supporters for uniting behind the national side.
Indian women's hockey team captain Savita Punia believes their recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to challenge top teams and secure a podium finish at the upcoming World Cup.
The FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 is set to begin on August 15, with India featuring in both the men's and women's tournaments. Here is the complete India schedule, fixtures and squad details for the World Cup.
India's men's hockey team has experienced a varied journey in the World Cup, from winning bronze in 1971 and gold in 1975 to a prolonged period without a podium finish.
Indian women's hockey captain Salima Tete believes the team's recent FIH Nations Cup triumph has instilled the confidence needed to compete for the top prize at the FIH Women's World Cup 2026, despite facing a challenging pool.
South African batting stalwart David Miller has expressed his strong desire to win the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa. He aims to finish his career on a high note by lifting the trophy in front of home fans. Miller also reflected on his career as a middle-order finisher and highlighted his most memorable innings.
Ireland's aspirations for direct qualification to the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup have been extinguished after the opening ODI against Afghanistan was abandoned due to persistent rain, mathematically ruling them out of contention for an automatic spot.
India defender Ishika Chaudhary, set to make her Women's Hockey World Cup debut, believes her team can spring a surprise, drawing parallels with recent FIFA World Cup upsets. She discusses her journey, overcoming setbacks, and the team's strategy to peak at the right time, guided by senior players and coaches.
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.
US President Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at the New York-New Jersey stadium on Sunday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.
Pakistan's chief selector Samiullah Khan believes a draw against arch-rivals India will be crucial for the national hockey team to advance past the group stage in the upcoming World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. Pakistan, participating after an eight-year hiatus, has announced a 20-member squad, with foreign coaches assisting the team.
Former India captain Climax Lawrence has predicted Spain to lift the FIFA World Cup, praising their tactical discipline and fitness.
Argentina's conduct after their World Cup final defeat to Spain has come under fire, with players and fans facing criticism for their actions during the trophy presentation and post-match celebrations.
South Africa reached the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time after a 1-0 win over South Korea.
Spain defender Marc Cucurella fulfilled his promise to get a tattoo of national team coach Luis de la Fuente's face after Spain won the World Cup. He had vowed to do so if they lifted the trophy, and after their victory against Argentina, he got an image of De la Fuente holding the World Cup inked on his arm.
Cricket South Africa CEO Pholetsi Moseki expressed excitement as the brand identity and 12 host venues for the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup were unveiled, marking the tournament's return to Africa after 24 years with a new three-stage format.
Afghanistan has secured automatic qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup after defeating Ireland, while the West Indies, ranked 10th, will once again have to navigate qualifiers for the third consecutive edition of the tournament.
Fifteen-year-old Chilean Jaime 'Craime' Bustos has become the youngest-ever Esports World Cup champion, winning the Street Fighter 6 title. Representing Team Falcons, Craime defeated Japan's Hibiki in the final, securing USD 250,000 and a spot in Capcom Cup 13. Other championships were also decided, with Team Falcons maintaining their lead in the Club Championship standings.
Karnataka's Mohith HS, an accidental goalkeeper, is set to represent India at the FIH Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium. The 24-year-old, who impressed in the FIH Pro League, will join Suraj Karkera as one of the team's custodians. Mohith's journey began by chance in school, evolving into a promising career that saw him play in the Junior World Cup and now the senior national team, driven by a dream to win for India.
Iran's football federation announced its World Cup ticket allocation has been revoked just days before the tournament, leaving many fans unable to attend.
Former Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques, born in Madeira, will captain Portugal in their bid to qualify for the Twenty20 World Cup for the first time, leading a 14-man squad in the Europe Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Finland.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has accelerated India's preparations for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup by appointing Bibiano Fernandes as head coach and Ranjit Bajaj as team manager. The tournament, scheduled for October in Azerbaijan, will feature an 8vs8 format with direct entry for all FIFA member associations. The AIFF also addressed other matters, including the Santosh Trophy format and budget approvals.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final joined an exclusive list after Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in extra time. This is the ninth time a Cup final went beyond the stipulated 90 minutes,
Louis Vuitton has once again designed the bespoke trunk for the FIFA World Cup trophy, marking the fifth consecutive tournament. The luxury travel case, featuring a golden V and the brand's monogram, will transport the coveted prize to the New York-New Jersey stadium. This partnership highlights the growing presence of luxury brands in professional sports, with Louis Vuitton also crafting trunks for Formula 1 and Tiffany & Co. for the Super Bowl trophy.
Afghanistan defeated Ireland by three wickets in the third ODI, securing direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
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.
Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes said Spain were the better team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and deserved to lift the trophy after their 1-0 victory.
The 10 takeaways from the FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas has expressed strong belief in Indian batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, stating they still have significant contributions to make and should feature in upcoming ODI World Cups. He emphasised their skill, experience, and fitness as key factors, dismissing age as a barrier. Abbas also touched upon the importance of traditional batting techniques and offered thoughts on Pakistan cricket.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that Jude Bellingham faces significant competition for a starting position in the upcoming World Cup, despite being considered a potential starter.
France striker Kylian Mbappe has become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi's 21 goals, after netting twice in France's third-place play-off match against England.
Neymar appeared to confirm his retirement from international soccer, saying he no longer wanted to play for Brazil, weeks after suggesting his international career had ended following their World Cup last-16 loss to Norway.
A football commentator has been stripped of his World Cup credentials by FIFA after an expletive-laden tirade against the organisation and match officials during Paraguay's 1-0 victory over Turkey when Miguel Almiron was sent off.
Lionel Messi equalled the men's World Cup all-time scoring record with a hat-trick in Argentina's Group J opener against Algeria on Tuesday.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final saw a galaxy of stars on the field and off it.
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.
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.
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 Pakistan Cricket Board has finalised a five-match One-Day International series against England in May 2025, serving as vital preparation for both teams ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup later that year.
