Zagreb (AFP) – Iconic Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic, who scored the winning goal against England in the semifinals of the World Cup in 2018, has retired from the game, three years after playing his last international. The 35-year-old announced his decision in a post on Instagram, which included a photo of a pair of boots, […]

London (AFP) – Wales captain Gareth Bale would back his players if they ever left the pitch in protest at racist abuse as the Real Madrid forward demanded serial offenders be kicked out of international football. The behaviour of fans is in the spotlight after Hungary supporters subjected England duo Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham […]

London (AFP) – England forward Jadon Sancho has been ruled out of the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Poland after suffering a "minor knock". Sancho missed England's 4-0 win in Hungary on Thursday due to the problem he suffered in training. The 21-year-old will play no part against Andorra at Wembley on Sunday or […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice as Nigeria beat Liberia 2-0 in Lagos on Friday to go top of an African World Cup qualifying group. He struck after 21 and 45 minutes for a nation that has competed at six of the last seven World Cup tournaments, without ever getting past […]

London (AFP) – FIFA on Friday opened a disciplinary inquiry after racist abuse was aimed at England players during their World Cup qualifier in Hungary as Prime Minister Boris Johnson labelled the incidents "completely unacceptable". Monkey chants were directed at Raheem Sterling and unused substitute Jude Bellingham during Thursday's match at the Puskas Arena in […]

Budapest (AFP) – The Hungarian Football Federation on Friday defended "the vast majority" of the country's supporters after England players suffered racist abuse at a World Cup qualifier in Budapest. The body vowed to take action against fans who "entered the field, threw flares and cups" but insisted any "disruptors" were in the minority and, […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal have signed two-time World Cup winner Tobin Heath, the Women's Super League club announced on Friday. The US forward, 33, who was available on a free transfer after leaving Manchester United, has scored 35 goals in 177 international appearances. Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall told the club's website: "Tobin's record speaks […]

London (AFP) – FIFA vowed to take action after racist abuse was aimed at England players during their World Cup qualifier in Hungary as Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday labelled the incidents "completely unacceptable". Monkey chants were directed at Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham during Thursday's match at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, which […]

Paris (AFP) – Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has called for the World Cup to be held every two years in an interview with French sports daily L'Equipe published on Friday. The 71-year-old Frenchman, who is now director of development at FIFA, also called for a single annual period of international qualifiers in a global […]

London (AFP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday condemned racist abuse aimed at England players during a World Cup qualifier in Budapest as "completely unacceptable", calling on FIFA to act. Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham were targeted with monkey chants during Thursday's match in the Puskas Arena, which England won 4-0. Manchester City […]

London (AFP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday it was "completely unacceptable" that England footballers were racially abused by Hungary fans during a World Cup qualifier in Budapest. Johnson urged football's world governing body FIFA "to take strong action against those responsible to ensure that this kind of disgraceful behaviour is eradicated […]

San Salvador (AFP) – The United States kicked off their road to World Cup redemption with a 0-0 draw against El Salvador on Thursday as the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for Qatar 2022 got under way. The US, aiming to bounce back from the shock of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Argentina maintained their unbeaten start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, cruising to a 3-1 victory at 10-man Venezuela on Thursday night. But Brazil continued their perfect start to qualifying with a seventh win out of seven as Everton Ribeiro scored the only goal in a 1-0 away victory over Chile. In […]

Montevideo (AFP) – Argentina maintained their unbeaten start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, cruising to a 3-1 victory at 10-man Venezuela on Thursday night. In his first match for his country since moving to Paris Saint-Germain, Lionel Messi struggled to stamp his authority on the match in Caracas, but it mattered little. Lautaro Martinez […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Algeria trounced Djibouti 8-0 on Thursday to match the African World Cup winning margin record for a qualifier set by the Democratic Republic of Congo and equalled by Libya. The Congolese trounced Djibouti 9-1 in Kinshasa in 2002 qualifying and Libya overwhelmed Sao Tome e Principe 8-0 in Tripoli in an eliminator […]