Montevideo (AFP) – Lionel Messi fired Argentina into the World Cup with a brilliant hat-trick on Tuesday as South American champions Chile suffered a shock elimination. Messi single-handedly resurrected Argentina's hopes in a 3-1 win over Ecuador in Quito that drew a line under a chaotic campaign that had left the two-time champions in danger […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australia coach Ange Postecoglou failed to confirm or deny reports he's about to quit on Thursday, raising speculation he'll walk away even if they qualify for the World Cup. Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop also hinted at possible changes when he said the Socceroos needed to "lock in our set-up" […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – A nation exploded with relief on Tuesday as Lionel Messi single-handedly dragged his Argentina team into next year's World Cup finals with a spellbinding hat-trick in Quito. "Messi is E.T. He's from another planet. He's not from this world," Marco Mouras, a 28-year-old Brazilian said in a crowded Buenos Aires bar […]

Sydney (AFP) – Australia coach Ange Postecoglou is set to sensationally quit, regardless of whether the Socceroos qualify for next year's World Cup, reports said on Thursday. Football Federation Australia was due to comment later on the reports, which come after Australia beat Syria in extra time on Wednesday to reach an intercontinental play-off for […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Final standings from 2018 World Cup qualifying competition for North America, Central America and the Caribbean after games on Tuesday (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, against, points): Mexico-q 10 6 3 1 16 7 21 Costa Rica-q 10 4 4 2 14 8 16 Panama-q 10 3 4 3 […]

Couva (Trinidad and Tobago) (AFP) – The United States failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 on Tuesday, crashing to a shock 2-1 defeat against already-eliminated Trinidad and Tobago. In a result that will be viewed as a catastrophe for soccer in the United States, Trinidad took all three […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Final standings from 2018 World Cup South American qualifying competition (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, against, points) Brazil-q 18 12 5 1 41 11 41 Uruguay-q 18 9 4 5 32 20 31 Argentina-q 18 7 7 4 19 16 28 Colombia-q 18 7 6 5 21 19 27 ————————————– Peru-x […]

Couva (Trinidad and Tobago) (AFP) – The United States failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 on Tuesday, crashing to a shock 2-1 defeat against already-eliminated Trinidad and Tobago. In a result that will be viewed as a catastrophe for soccer in the United States, Trinidad took all three […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Results from 2018 World Cup qualifying games in North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) on Tuesday: At Couva, Trinidad & Tobago Trinidad & Tobago 2 (Gonzalez 17-og, Jones 37) United States 1 (Pulisic 47) At Panama City Panama 2 (Torres 52, 88) Costa Rica 1 (Venegas 36) At San […]

Quito (AFP) – Lionel Messi scored a brilliant hat-trick as Argentina sealed their place at the 2018 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Ecuador here Tuesday. Barcelona superstar Messi single-handedly rescued Argentina's World Cup hopes as the South American giants came from behind to win in Quito. Romario Ibarra had given Ecuador a shock […]

Madrid (AFP) – Catalonia's drive for independence from Spain could have wide-reaching consequences for the region's football clubs, including the world famous Barcelona. Catalan leaders signed a declaration of independence from Spain on Tuesday but immediately put it on hold and called for talks with Madrid to resolve the country's worst political crisis in decades. […]

Buenos Aires (AFP) – An anxious nation held it's collective breath on Tuesday as Lionel Messi's Argentina prepared for a do-or-die World Cup qualifier in the thin air of high-altitude Ecuadorian capital Quito. "It's going to be a very tight game, I'm counting on a 1-0 win for Argentina," said 31-year-old engineer Juan Manuel Santamaria, […]

Lisbon (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal defeated Switzerland 2-0 in Lisbon on Tuesday to earn a place at the 2018 World Cup and consign their opponents to next month's play-offs. An own goal from Johan Djourou handed the European champions the lead on 41 minutes and Andre Silva netted a second before the hour as […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Netherlands captain Arjen Robben signalled the end of his international career on Tuesday after his country failed to reach the 2018 World Cup finals despite a 2-0 win over Sweden. The Bayern Munich star signed off by scoring both goals in Amsterdam as the Dutch fell well short of the unlikely 7-0 […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Antoine Griezmann's France booked spots at the 2018 World Cup finals on Tuesday while the Netherlands crashed out. Portugal beat Switzerland 2-0 in Lisbon thanks to a Johan Djourou own goal and an Andre Silva strike. France needed goals from Griezmann and Olivier Giroud in a hard-fought 2-1 […]