Moscow (AFP) – Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are all aiming to leave an indelible mark on the World Cup but with billions watching, it is the perfect stage for a new generation to showcase their talents. AFP Sport looks at five players who could emerge as breakout stars in Russia. Hirving Lozano (Mexico) […]

Berlin (AFP) – German journalist Hajo Seppelt, whose investigative reporting exposed Russia's alleged state-sponsored doping, will not travel to the football World Cup tournament out of security concerns, national broadcaster ARD said. World Cup host Russia had initially refused to issue Seppelt a visa, but later relented after massive international pressure, with FIFA stressing the […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australian tennis great Pat Cash has taken a swipe at football on the eve of the World Cup by directing his Twitter followers towards Australian Rules — a "real man's sport". The former Wimbledon champion sparked criticism with his comment as he posted a highlights package of Aussie Rules hero Shaun "Silk" […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Iran coach Carlos Queiroz believes his players have been brought closer together by Nike's decision to cut their supply of World Cup kit to the team but the acid test will come against Morocco on Friday. Nike announced they have been forbidden from providing football boots to Iran's squad during the […]

Mexico City (AFP) – With the help of two priestesses and a rain stick shaped like an ancient Mesoamerican god, Mexico's "Grand Warlock" cast a spell Wednesday to help the nation at the World Cup. Antonio Vazquez — better known as "El Brujo Mayor," a soothsayer famed for his annual predictions on politics and the […]

Krasnodar (Russia) (AFP) – Spain's World Cup preparations were thrown into turmoil on Wednesday as Real Madrid-bound coach Julen Lopetegui was fired on the eve of the tournament, just two days before their opening game in Russia. In a bombshell development which followed the naming of Lopetegui as Real's new coach on Tuesday, the Spanish […]

Yekaterinburg (Russia) (AFP) – Mohamed Salah is in a high-profile race to be fit for Egypt's World Cup opener against Uruguay on Friday and even opponents are hoping the Liverpool ace could yet play a role in Russia. The striker and Egyptian superstar, who is nursing an injured shoulder, is crucial to the north African […]

Washington (AFP) – A top US intelligence official warned football fans traveling to Russia for the World Cup that their phones and computers could be hacked by Moscow's cyber spies. William Evanina, Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said that in Russia, even people who believe they are too unimportant to be hacked […]

Madrid (AFP) – The surprise sacking of Spain's undefeated coach Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday, just two days before their opening World Cup game, was met with dismay and worry in the football-mad country. The Spanish Football Federation's announcement that it had replaced Lopetegui with sporting director Fernando Hierro dominated headlines, bumping a court order giving […]

Vatutinki (Russia) (AFP) – Joachim Loew has called on German fans to stop booing Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Ozil after the Premier League stars found themselves at the centre of a political row. Gundogan and Ozil, who were born in Gelsenkirchen to Turkish parents, were jeered and whistled by fans during pre-World Cup friendlies after […]

Vatutinki (Russia) (AFP) – Germany defender Jerome Boateng is effectively up for sale at the World Cup after Bayern Munich supremo Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed Wednesday that the Brazil 2014 winner can leave the Bundesliga champions for the right price. "The idea is not out of this world and has been revealed to me by his […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA have closed their financial fair-play case against Paris Saint-Germain after the Qatari-backed French Ligue 1 champions were cleared of any wrongdoing on Wednesday. The UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) had been monitoring PSG's 'break-even requirement' for 2015, 2016 and 2017. "Compliance with the break-even requirement for the 2018 financial year […]

Bronnitsy (Russia) (AFP) – Enzo Perez's call-up as a last-minute replacement in the Argentina squad made his country the oldest team at a second World Cup in a row, with an average age of 29 years, six months and 24 days. River Plate midfielder Perez, 32, flew out to Russia after 25-year-old Manuel Lanzini injured […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – Brazil midfielder Paulinho believes his side are in much better shape heading into this year's World Cup in Russia than they were as the host nation four years ago. Now 29, Paulinho was part of Luiz Felipe Scolari's side in 2014 as they were humiliated by Germany in the semi-finals, losing […]

Washington (AFP) – Having antagonized Canada and Mexico in trade and immigration squabbles, US President Donald Trump is suddenly under pressure to cooperate with his neighbors on an issue the rest of the world obsesses over: the beautiful game. On Wednesday, football's governing body FIFA awarded the 2026 World Cup hosting duties to a joint […]