Belfast (AFP) – Switzerland took a giant step towards qualifying for Russia 2018 on Thursday but needed a controversial penalty to earn a 1-0 win against Northern Ireland in the first leg of their World Cup play-off. Vladimir Petkovic's team dominated the match at Windsor Park in Belfast but squandered a succession of chances as Michael […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Former United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel was named as head coach of the New England Revolution on Thursday, the Major League Soccer club confirmed. Friedel, 46, replaces Jay Heaps, who was fired in September after six seasons in charge. Friedel's appointment comes after the Revs failed to reach the MLS postseason […]

Paris (AFP) – France head coach Didier Deschamps backed forward Antoine Griezmann to rediscover his best form after a difficult start to the season, ahead of a friendly against Wales at the Stade de France on Friday. Griezmann has scored only three times in 13 appearances for Atletico Madrid this term and is without a […]

Saint Petersburg (AFP) – Former Saint Petersburg deputy governor Marat Oganesyan admitted that he embezzled 50.4 million rubles ($848,526) during the construction of the city's new stadium for the World Cup, the Investigative Committee of Russia said on Thursday. Oganesyan was arrested in November 2016 over a fraud scheme with a firm that was supposed […]

Moscow (AFP) – What on Earth is Telstar 18? Several heads were left being scratched on Thursday after Russia used some hardcore techno beats in a dark auditorium decked out to look like an underground dance club to present the official 2018 World Cup ball. The orb in the spotlight followed the edgy motif of […]

Lille (France) (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian stars, including the world's most expensive player, Neymar, face Japan in Lille on Friday as both nations ramp up their preparations for the 2018 World Cup. Brazil were the first team — aside from hosts Russia — to clinch their place at next year's finals after romping through […]

Geneva (AFP) – FIFA's human rights advisors on Thursday criticised a lack of transparency over the condition of workers on World Cup projects in Russia, highlighting the plight of North Koreans reportedly building facilities. In its first report, FIFA's newly-branded Human Rights Advisory Board issued a warning over "significant risks to workers' rights in the […]

Paris (AFP) – Chris Coleman indicated on Thursday that he could stay on as Wales manager, saying he doesn't see upcoming friendlies against France and Panama as "the end of anything". Wales failed to qualify for next year's World Cup after a 1-0 home loss to the Republic of Ireland last month, leading to speculation […]

Milan (AFP) – For football giants Italy the next few days could be a nightmare as they face a double-headed playoff against Sweden to avoid the humiliation of missing the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. "A World Cup without Italy isn't a World Cup" has become the catchphrase of many Italians […]

Berlin (AFP) – German internationals Sandro Wagner and Sami Khedira on Thursday heavily criticised the "disastrous" testing of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in both Italy and Germany. The technology is being trialled in Italy's Serie A and Germany's Bundesliga this season with FIFA yet to announce whether it will be used at the […]

Berlin (AFP) – Joachim Loew says he will look at his World Cup options by "experimenting" with his line-up at Wembley on Friday when Germany take on England in a friendly. With seven months to go before the World Cup kicks-off in Russia, Loew wants to ensure he has cover for each position. He will […]

Berlin (AFP) – Germany coach Joachim Loew insisted Thursday he is not losing sleep as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer struggles to recover from a fractured foot, with just seven months to go before the World Cup. "I haven't been in contact with him for the last two weeks, but from what I do know, it doesn't […]

Moscow (AFP) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev vowed on Thursday to crack down harshly on people who intended to profit from reselling their tickets to the 2018 World Cup. The price of admission for the June 14-July 15 event ranges from 1,200 rubles ($22, 19 euros) for the nosebleed seats at the opening matches […]

Burton-on-Trent (United Kingdom) (AFP) – England manager Gareth Southgate has dismissed talk of a club-versus-country row following Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane's withdrawal from his squad. Kane, the Premier League's joint-top scorer, pulled out of England's squad to face Germany and Brazil in friendlies after sustaining a knock in Spurs' 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last […]

Sydney (AFP) – Veteran goalscorer Tim Cahill remains indispensable as Australia head into their World Cup playoff with Honduras — even when he's injured and rapidly approaching his 38th birthday. Cahill's enduring value was in evidence this week when he flew out to Honduras, wearing an ice pack and accompanied by a medic, despite badly […]