London (AFP) – England boss Gareth Southgate says he is "open-minded" about holding the World Cup every two years and has spoken to Arsene Wenger about the proposal. Former Arsenal manager Wenger, who is now director of development at world governing body FIFA, has called for football's showpiece competition to become a biennial event. Southgate […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Former West Ham attacker Sebastien Haller scored twice in nine minutes to give the Ivory Coast a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over fellow African top-10 nation Cameroon in Abidjan on Monday. Haller, who moved to Ajax Amsterdam last January after scoring 14 goals in 54 outings for the Hammers, converted a […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Questions swirled on Monday after Brazilian health officials dramatically halted a World Cup qualifier against Argentina over alleged Covid-19 quarantine breaches by the visitors. As Argentina captain Lionel Messi and others questioned the timing of the controversial intervention, football's world governing body FIFA said a probe was under way. In remarkable […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazilian football great Pele has undergone surgery for a suspected colon tumor and is recovering, the hospital in Sao Paolo treating him announced on Monday. "The tumor was identified during routine cardiovascular and laboratory examinations and the material was sent for pathological analysis," said the Albert Einstein Hospital where 80-year-old Pele has […]

Paris (AFP) – Liverpool said Monday midfielder Naby Keita was "safe and well" after he and his Guinea teammates were blocked in their home country by an apparent military coup. The 26-year-old was on international duty for a World Cup qualifier in his homeland when a group of soldiers detained 83-year-old president Alpha Conde. After […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Questions swirled Monday after Brazilian health officials dramatically halted a World Cup qualifier against Argentina over Argentinian players' alleged Covid-19 quarantine breaches. As Argentina captain Lionel Messi and others questioned the timing of the controversial intervention, football's world governing body FIFA said a probe was under way. In remarkable scenes on […]

London (AFP) – Tottenham are aiming to host the "world's first net-zero carbon" football match at an elite level when the Premier League team face Chelsea on September 19. Spurs have joined forces with the British government and broadcaster Sky to raise awareness of the dangers of climate change. The London club hope the fixture, […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA said Monday it regretted the chaotic scenes that preceded the suspension of the World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina and a decision on possible disciplinary action would be taken "in due course". The match at Sao Paulo's Neo Quimica Arena on Sunday was halted when Brazilian health officials ran onto […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – The United States were held to a second consecutive draw in CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup on Sunday as Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies helped Canada grab a 1-1 draw against the Americans in Nashville. Coach Gregg Berhalter's US side, forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against El […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazil's World Cup qualifying clash against Argentina was sensationally abandoned shortly after kick-off on Sunday as controversy over Covid-19 protocols erupted. Amid incredible scenes at Sao Paulo's Neo Quimica Arena, the match between the two giants of South American football was halted when Brazilian health officials ran onto the pitch, triggering […]

Johannesburg (AFP) – Mostafa Mohamed scored in the final minute to snatch a 1-1 World Cup Group F qualifying draw for 10-man Egypt in Gabon on Sunday after Jim Allevinah had put the dominant hosts ahead. Billed as a showdown between high-profile English Premier League forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Mohamed Salah of Egypt, […]

Paris (AFP) – Italy broke the world record for the longest unbeaten run in international football with a goalless draw at Switzerland on Sunday, while Germany got their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track by thrashing Armenia 6-0. European champions Italy should have taken all three points, but Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer saved Jorginho's […]

Stuttgart (Germany) (AFP) – Serge Gnabry netted twice as Germany thrashed Armenia 6-0 on Sunday in Stuttgart to replace the visitors at the top spot of their World Cup qualifying group. Gnabry showed off his stirring-gesture celebration with early goals before Marco Reus and Timo Werner also netted in the first-half as Germany raced into […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss the USA's upcoming World Cup qualifier against Honduras, US Soccer confirmed Sunday. In a statement released a few hours before the US were due to play Canada in a CONCACAF qualifier, US Soccer said Steffen had contracted the […]

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazil's World Cup qualifying clash against Argentina was sensationally halted shortly after kick-off on Sunday as controversy over Covid-19 protocols erupted. Amid incredible scenes at Sao Paulo's Neo Quimica Arena, the match between the two giants of South American football was halted when a group of Brazilian public health officials came […]