Montevideo (AFP) – Brazil became the first team to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday after beating Paraguay to clinch an eighth consecutive victory as Argentina's campaign stumbled after the shock suspension of Lionel Messi. Five-time champions Brazil had been left waiting in suspense after goals from Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Marcelo handed them […]

Panama City (AFP) – United States coach Bruce Arena accused Panama of targeting teenage star Christian Pulisic after a rugged CONCACAF World Cup qualifying battle ended in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday. Clint Dempsey scored his fourth goal in two games to give the US a precious point on the road as they aim to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Joachim Loew says Germany duo Joshua Kimmich and Andre Schuerrle need more matches — and to spend less time on the bench — for their Bundesliga clubs ahead of next year's World Cup defence. Neither Kimmich nor Schuerrle are first-choice starters for their clubs with both facing stiff competition at Bayern Munich […]

Santiago (AFP) – Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez powered Chile to a 3-1 victory over Venezuela on Tuesday as the South American champions edged ahead of Argentina in the battle for places at the 2018 World Cup. Sanchez opened the scoring with a magnificent curling free-kick after only four minutes to give Chile the lead against […]

La Paz (AFP) – An Argentina side reeling from the shock suspension of captain Lionel Messi crashed to a 2-0 defeat against Bolivia on Tuesday, dealing a fresh blow to their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign. Goals from Juan Carlos Arce and Marcelo Martins secured a deserved win for Bolivia, who retain a slender hope […]

Paris (AFP) – Spain twice benefited from the use of video assistance to defeat France 2-0 on Tuesday, while Sweden rallied from two goals down to beat Portugal 3-2 and spoil Cristiano Ronaldo's homecoming in Madeira. Antoine Griezmann headed in what appeared to be the opening goal at the Stade de France shortly after half-time, […]

Geneva (AFP) – FIFA said Tuesday it had launched an investigation into incidents which led to the abandonment of a friendly match between Ivory Coast and Senegal in Paris following a series of pitch invasions. The sides were level at 1-1 late Monday when French referee Tony Chapron called off the match in the 88th […]

Rabat (AFP) – New African football chief Ahmad Ahmad gave his backing on Tuesday to a potential bid from Morocco to host the 2026 World Cup. The north African country has bid to host the global showpiece on four previous occasions but missed out on the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 editions. "We are convinced […]

Moscow (AFP) – Alexander Bukharov netted an injury-time equaliser as Russia battled back from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Belgium in the first ever match at Sochi's Fisht Arena on Tuesday. Bukharov and Alexei Miranchuk came off the bench to cancel out the visitors' two-goal lead after Everton forward Kevin Mirallas scored from […]

Monaco (AFP) – France international full-back Djibril Sidibe is a major doubt for Monaco ahead of Saturday's French League Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain, his club said on Tuesday. The 24-year-old injured his ribs in the 3-1 World Cup qualifying victory in Luxembourg last Saturday. Monaco said Sidibe will be gradually eased back into training […]

London (AFP) – Chelsea's Eden Hazard will decide on a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season, with the Spanish giants prepared to pay a world record transfer fee, according to former club president Ramon Calderon. The Belgium midfielder is under contract with Premier League leaders Chelsea until June 2020 but Hazard, […]

Zurich (AFP) – Barcelona star Lionel Messi was suspended for four Argentina matches by FIFA on Tuesday for swearing at an assistant referee, a ban that will see the striker miss out on decisive qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. Messi was found guilty of "having directed insulting words at an assistant referee" in the […]

Abuja (AFP) – Nigeria could avoid playing friendlies in London from now on because of problems obtaining visas for staff and players, coach Gernot Rohr has said. The Super Eagles played Senegal at non-league Barnet's ground in north London last Friday, drawing 1-1, but a second scheduled match against Burkina Faso on Monday had to […]

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich's hopes of securing a second treble in four years received a boost on Tuesday with Douglas Costa back in training after the club confirmed he does not need knee surgery. The Brazil winger did some stability exercises at Bayern's training ground as Carlo Ancelotti's squad gathered after the international break. […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iran's Mehdi Taremi dealt China's World Cup hopes a major blow on Tuesday, as Australia grabbed a crucial win over UAE to stay in the hunt for an automatic spot at Russia 2018. Japan ended Thailand's campaign with a 4-0 victory in Saitama, and South Korea squeezed past Syria 1-0 to get […]