Tehran (AFP) – Iran has announced its final 23-man line-up for the 2018 World Cup as it arrives in Russia with arguably its most accomplished squad ever and the wind in its sails after an unbeaten run through qualifiers. Iran have some strong choices up front, including Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who became the first Iranian to top […]

Milan (AFP) – Serie A club Sassuolo confirmed on Tuesday that coach Giuseppe Iachini was leaving the club after just over six months in charge. The 54-year-old former Palermo boss took over in late November and helped the club remain in the top flight this season as they finished midtable. "The Neroverdi want to express […]

Seoul (AFP) – South Korea's performance at the last World Cup was so poor that the players were pelted with toffees on their return. It was the ultimate humiliation for the former semi-finalists, who will be hoping to avoid a similarly sticky end this time. A gross insult in Korea, "Go suck on a toffee!" […]

Moscow (AFP) – Although some pushed it down to the wire, all 12 stadiums have been completed in time for the June 14 to July 15 World Cup in Russia. From Moscow's grand Luzhniki Stadium, which also hosted the 1980 Summer Olympics, to the worrisomely late Samara Arena, here is a look at where the […]

Veliky Novgorod (Russia) (AFP) – Halfway between Moscow and Saint Petersburg in a city abandoned by time, the ball pings across the slushy snow as boys emulate the stars who will shine at the World Cup. More than a thousands years old, Veliky Novgorod has followed the fate of many other historic Russian cities, losing […]

London (AFP) – David Beckham has thrown his weight behind North America's bid to host the 2026 World Cup as the vote looms, saying the fans' passion for football would make the event "very special". The US-Canada-Mexico joint bid is battling against Morocco for the right to stage the tournament, with FIFA members picking the […]

Geneva (AFP) – FIFA on Tuesday said it had filed a criminal complaint against the secondary ticketing firm Viagogo's sale of 2018 World Cup tickets, opening a new battle between sports organisations and websites seeking a share of their profits. "As part of its efforts to protect the fans and prevent unauthorised ticket resales for […]

Shanghai (AFP) – A senior club official buried a penalty just weeks short of his 45th birthday to become the oldest goal-scorer in Chinese professional football history, media reports said. Zhuang Yi, an investor in third-tier Shenyang Urban, is a former player who came out of retirement last month — and on Sunday proved he […]

Shanghai (AFP) – True to form, China failed to qualify for the World Cup but the planet's most populous country will be far from absent: thousands of its fans will fly to Russia, and Chinese sponsors will loom large on global TV screens. Despite not being able to cheer on their home side, many Chinese […]

Milan (AFP) – Bologna forward Simone Verdi has confirmed he has accepted a move to join Carlo Ancelotti's Serie A runners-up Napoli next season. The 25-year-old turned down a move to Napoli last January but is now ready to head south where he will team up with fellow Italy international forward Lorenzo Insigne. "I have […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Mastercard on Monday said it was changing a campaign in which thousands of free meals were to be given to the needy every time football superstars Neymar and Messi scored goals. Under the scheme, every time the Brazil and Argentina strikers scored, 10,000 meals would be donated to the United Nations […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Nathan Ake headed in a late equaliser as the Netherlands held 10-man Italy 1-1 in Monday's international friendly in Turin between two heavyweights who failed to qualify for the World Cup. Simone Zaza had put Italy ahead after 67 minutes in Juventus' Allianz Stadium but the hosts were hit two minutes […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius suffered a concussion shortly before the blunders which gifted Real Madrid their Champions League final crown last month, two Boston doctors who examined the shotstopper revealed on Monday. A statement from doctors Ross Zafonte and Lenore Herget said Karius had undergone a comprehensive examination at Massachusetts General […]

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA's president indicated Monday that the 2022 World Cup cannot be expanded to 48 teams without agreement from hosts Qatar, while backing further study of the "interesting" proposal. Speaking just 10 days before the 2018 tournament kicks off in Russia, Gianni Infantino did not categorically say that Qatar has the right to […]

Mumbai (AFP) – Thousands answered India captain Sunil Chhetri's emotional plea for football fans to turn out and support the team in their international against Kenya on Monday after earlier matches saw scant attendance. And Chhetri did not disappoint the home crowd with two goals in his 100th international appearance as India won their second […]