World Cup

Pochettino Problems Mount as US Routed 4-0 by Switzerland

An experimental United States line-up crashed to a 4-0 friendly home defeat to Switzerland on Tuesday, deepening the gloom around Mauricio Pochettino's squad one year out from hosting the World Cup. A game intended as a morale-boosting send-off before the USA takes part in the CONCACAF Gold Cup unraveled in a disastrous first half that saw ...

Brazil, Ecuador Book World Cup Berths, Uruguay on Brink

Brazil booked their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America on Tuesday with a lackluster 1-0 home victory over Paraguay, the first win of Carlo Ancelotti's reign. The five-time world champions punched their ticket to the finals in Canada, the United States, and Mexico thanks to Vinicius Jr. The Real Madrid star poked in from close range in ...

World Cup 2026 Host Cities Say Fans 'Welcome'

American World Cup host city officials assured Monday that overseas fans would be welcome at next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico despite "uncertainty" amid ongoing concerns over visas, border controls, and social unrest. In a briefing in New York that came just over a year from the opening game of the tournament on June ...

Belgium Battle Past Wales, Italy Win in World Cup Qualifying

Belgium held off a battling Wales, and Italy gave sacked coach Luciano Spalletti a winning send-off in World Cup qualifying on Monday. Elsewhere Manchester City star Erling Haaland's goal lifted Norway past Estonia, Luka Modric was among the scorers in Croatia's 5-1 rout of the Czech Republic, and the Faroe Islands left it late to down Gibraltar ...

Italy Coach Spalletti Says Moldova Match Will Be His Last

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti has said that Monday's World Cup qualifier against Moldova would be his last. Spalletti had come in for criticism after the Italian side lost 3-0 to Norway in their opening World Cup qualifying match last week. "We spoke with the president of the Italian federation on Saturday, and I was told that I would ...

Brazil Held in Ancelotti Debut, Paraguay Move Closer to Qualifying

Carlo Ancelotti's debut as coach of Brazil ended in a goalless draw in Ecuador in South American World Cup qualifying on Thursday. Argentina, already assured of a place in next year's tournament, beat Chile 1-0 in Santiago with a goal from Julian Alvarez, a result which guarantees Lionel Scaloni's team top spot and leaves bottom placed 'La Roja' ...

Egypt Asks to Host Some 2034 World Cup Matches

Egypt has requested the right to host a set of group-stage matches for the 2034 World Cup which will be held in Saudi Arabia, the African country's football federation president said on Wednesday. "Saudi Arabia will stand up and organize a historic edition of the World Cup, and we wish our Saudi brothers every success," Hany Abo ...

FIFA Confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup Host

FIFA on Wednesday confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup, underlining the Gulf kingdom's growing influence in world sport despite criticism of the country's human rights record. At the same time, a virtual Congress of world football's governing body confirmed that Morocco, Spain and Portugal will be joint hosts of the 2030 World ...