Topic
353 articles
Brazil's all-time leading scorer Neymar has a minor calf injury but is expected to recover in time for the World Cup. Santos' medical team confirmed he will join the national team next week. Neymar will play in his fourth World Cup as Brazil seeks a record sixth title.
Iran's national football team has applied for U.S. and Canadian visas in Turkey ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The entire squad sought Canadian visas, while some also applied for U.S. entry. Iran will play all group matches on the U.S. West Coast.
Sardar Azmoun, Iran's second-highest all-time scorer, was surprisingly left out of the country's preliminary World Cup 2026 squad. The 31-year-old responded with an emotional social media post declaring his love for Iran and wishing his teammates success.
Spain enters the 2026 World Cup as a top contender, but faces pressure from high expectations. Former players and fans urge caution, citing past shocks and tough competition from Brazil, France, and Germany.
Egypt named a preliminary 27-man World Cup squad with Mohamed Salah as captain. Mostafa Mohamed was dropped due to poor form, while 19-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim earned his first call-up. Egypt faces Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran in Group G.
Hundreds of fans braved heavy rain at Suwon Sports Complex on May 14 to watch a North Korean football team play in South Korea for the first time in over seven years. The match marks a thaw in inter-Korean sports relations, which had been frozen since 2019. The event was seen as a positive step toward resuming sports exchanges between the two Koreas.
The 2026 World Cup will see four debutants – Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan – as the tournament expands to 48 teams. Each brings a unique story, from tiny island nations to a Central Asian giant finally breaking through. They all aim to make their mark beyond just participating.
Despite an entry ban over Ebola concerns, the US says it will allow the DR Congo national soccer team to enter for the World Cup. The team may have avoided exposure by training in Europe. Fans from the affected region will not receive the same exemption.
With just over three weeks to go until the 2026 World Cup, FIFA still hasn't secured a broadcasting deal in India, the world's most populous nation, despite initial hopes of $100 million in revenue. The impasse is due to unfavorable kickoff times, cricket's dominance, and falling football rights values. Fans are now taking legal action and bracing for potentially widespread piracy.
