Moscow (AFP) – The head of the Russian Orthodox Church said on Wednesday that "hope and prayer" were the only things he could offer the beleaguered national team as they head into the World Cup as host nation. "I hope this big event will bring success and will positively influence the mood of our people," […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – A one-time A-League reject who sought refuge in Malaysia's top flight, Australia's Andrew Nabbout is poised to cap a remarkable career revival with a World Cup debut against France on Saturday. And if the rookie Australia striker get the nod from coach Bert van Marwijk, he has pledged to make it […]

Krasnodar (Russia) (AFP) – Spain dramatically sacked coach Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday — just two days before the team's opening game against Portugal at the World Cup. In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, Real Madrid named Lopetegui as their next manager to start work after the tournament in Russia, sparking outrage among the federation and […]

Grozny (Russia) (AFP) – Mohamed Salah gave Egypt's World Cup hopes a huge boost Wednesday when he joined a squad training session at their Grozny base. The Pharaohs' superstar has been sidelined since suffering a shoulder injury in Liverpool's Champions League final loss to Real Madrid on May 26. However, an AFP reporter saw the […]

London (AFP) – Maverick former Argentina and Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa is close to agreeing to becoming the surprise new manager of sleeping English football giants Leeds United according to media reports. The 62-year-old would according to The Yorkshire Evening Post be the highest paid manager in the club's history and will fill the vacuum […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – World Cup fever is finally taking hold in Russia, where wild enthusiasm in provincial centres such as chilly Kazan is filtering through to Moscow ahead of Thursday's opening match in the capital. While curious locals have clamoured to see the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar, it has proved a slow […]

Moscow (AFP) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that world football's governing body was "clinically dead" when he took over following a corruption scandal that engulfed his predecessor Sepp Blatter. Two years later, it was "very much alive" and full of "joy", with a clear vision for its future, he said in his opening […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – The World Cup group stage will see 48 games crammed into two weeks. AFP Sport picks out the moments to look out for in Russia: – Opening match – How can anyone miss the opening game at the World Cup? It sets the tone for a month-long festival of football, even […]

Krasnodar (Russia) (AFP) – Julen Lopetegui's position as Spain boss was called into serious question just 48 hours ahead of La Roja's World Cup opener against Portugal, according to furious Spanish press reports on Wednesday, after he was named the new Real Madrid coach. Lopetegui was announced as Zinedine Zidane's successor at the Santiago Bernabeu […]

Kratovo (Russia) (AFP) – Portugal winger Bernardo Silva says Spain coach Julen Lopetegui's appointment as the new Real Madrid boss will have no impact on Friday's World Cup group clash between the two countries. Real announced on Tuesday that Lopetegui would replace Zinedine Zidane after the tournament in Russia, despite having only recently extended his […]

Dhaka (AFP) – The World Cup is arousing high passions in Bangladesh, where machete-wielding fans of Brazil and Argentina have clashed in the streets and flags of the two countries are so ubiquitous that some people want to ban them. Ignoring the lack of any obvious link to the South American giants, and the absence […]

Moscow (AFP) – FIFA members vote Wednesday on whether to award the 2026 World Cup to a slick North American bid or to Morocco, which has African support to bring football's showpiece event back to the continent. On the eve of the 2018 World Cup, delegates from 207 nations gathered in Moscow are faced with […]

Repino (Russia) (AFP) – England defender Harry Maguire insists he will do everything possible to bring some cheer to long-suffering fans having experienced the frustrations of following the Three Lions from the stands at Euro 2016. Maguire travelled with a group of friends and family to watch a 0-0 stalemate with Slovakia in St. Etienne […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – Inmates in an Argentine prison have begun a hunger strike to press authorities to repair the cable TV system so they can watch the World Cup. "Cable television is an indispensable right for everyone deprived of their liberty," according to a statement from nine inmates at Puerto Madryn jail some 1,300 […]

Gelendzhik (Russia) (AFP) – Sweden have moved on from the Zlatan Ibrahimovic era and are focusing only on the World Cup, team captain Andreas Granqvist said Tuesday after arriving at their Black Sea coast team base. The 36-year-old Swedish icon retired from the national team after Euro 2016 but speculation lingered in the run-up to […]