Kratovo (Russia) (AFP) – Portugal midfielder Manuel Fernandes said Cristiano Ronaldo "doesn't look at all worried about his future" as the Real Madrid superstar contemplates a possible exit from the Spanish giants this summer. There has been intense speculation over Ronaldo's future after the 33-year-old suggested he could have played his last game for Real […]

London (AFP) – British pop star Robbie Williams will perform at the World Cup opening ceremony in Moscow on Thursday, the world football governing body FIFA and the singer's representatives said. The award-winning singer formerly in the band Take That, who is best known for his hit single "Angels", will sing alongside Russian soprano Aida […]

Cairo (AFP) – Egyptians hoping to watch the World Cup for free have been offered a chink of light after the country's competition authority said it was obliging FIFA to let state TV show games. Egypt's national team — including star striker Mohamed Salah — is gearing up for its first World Cup in 28 […]

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) – The phoney war is over and most of the big guns have arrived in Russia ahead of the start of the World Cup on Thursday. AFP Sport takes a look at how the favourites are shaping up. – Brazil – In 2014, Brazil were being widely tipped for success on home […]

Bronnitsy (Russia) (AFP) – Argentina captain Lionel Messi said his international future will be determined by his country's performance at the World Cup in Russia. "It will depend on how far we go, how we're going to finish" at the finals, Messi said in an interview with Spanish daily Sport. "We've just lost three finals […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – The globalisation of the Premier League is often blamed for hampering home-grown players but the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have played a key role in boosting England's World Cup chances. Of Gareth Southgate's 23-man squad in Russia, 15 finished in the top four under star managers Guardiola, Klopp, […]

Moscow (AFP) – Brazil's squad arrived in Russia on Monday with their star Neymar seemingly recovered from a broken foot bone as they begin their quest to win a sixth World Cup. The Brazilians landed in the early hours in Sochi, the Black Sea resort where they will be based, fresh from beating Austria 3-0 […]

Tokyo (AFP) – Crisis-hit Japan would struggle to avoid an early World Cup exit even under Jose Mourinho — that's the stinging assessment of former coach Philippe Troussier. The Blue Samurai controversially axed Vahid Halilhodzic in April and replaced him with former Japan Football Association (JFA) technical director Akira Nishino — a high-risk move that […]

Grozny (Russia) (AFP) – Liverpool star Mohamed Salah sat out Egypt training again on Sunday following the north Africans' arrival in Grozny ahead of the World Cup in Russia. Nursing a shoulder injury suffered in the Champions League final — which Liverpool lost 3-1 to Real Madrid — Salah did come out onto the pitch […]

Moscow (AFP) – France's attack-minded squad arrived in Russia on Sunday full of hope that they can win a second World Cup 20 years after their first victory. Led by forwards Antoine Griezmann and teenage star Kylian Mbappe, the French flew into Moscow before heading to their base in the forest in Istra outside the […]

Gelendzhik (Russia) (AFP) – Iceland needed police help to keep their World Cup plans on track after coach Heimir Hallgrimsson put his bag on the wrong bus in a comical start to their debut campaign. Hallgrimsson's bag was on a bus headed for northern Iceland rather than the team coach bound for the airport on […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – They aren't big fans of football, but Viktoria, Roman and Valeria are ready to spend a month of their time helping visitors attending the World Cup in Russia. "Of course the World Cup is an enormous, important event, but for me personally it is more about helping people. That's the reason […]

Madrid (AFP) – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hit back at Yaya Toure denying accusations he's racist in an interview on Spanish television. "He knows I'm not," insisted Guardiola when asked about Toure's previous claims the Spaniard "has problems with Africans". "What do you want me to do," added Guardiola in an interview with […]

Mumbai (AFP) – India's football captain Sunil Chhetri Sunday joined Argentine star Lionel Messi as the second highest international goal scorer among active players with his 64th strike for the country. Chhetri scored twice in his team's 2-0 win over Kenya to lift the Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai that saw another good crowd turnout after the […]

Moscow (AFP) – Neymar scored on his return to the starting line-up in Brazil's final World Cup warm-up on Sunday as Cristiano Ronaldo trained with European champions Portugal and Mohamed Salah touched down in Russia. As the clock ticks down to Thursday's World Cup opener in Moscow between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia, Neymar found […]