Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazil's World Cup qualifying clash against Argentina was dramatically suspended 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 came to a halt when a group of unidentified officials came […]

London (AFP) – England marked their return to Wembley for the first time since their Euro 2020 final heartbreak by seeing off minnows Andorra 4-0 on Sunday to preserve their perfect World Cup qualifying record. Manager Gareth Southgate changed the entire starting XI following his side's comfortable 4-0 win in Hungary in midweek — the […]

Paris (AFP) – USA women's World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis said Sunday she would be "open to everything" when asked if playing football's landmark tournament every two years was a good idea. Ellis, who coached the United States to back-to-back World Cup triumphs in 2015 and 2019, has been appointed by FIFA to lead its […]

London (AFP) – England marked their return to Wembley for the first time since their Euro 2020 final heartbreak by seeing off minnows Andorra 4-0 on Sunday to preserve their perfect World Cup qualifying record. Manager Gareth Southgate changed the entire starting XI following his side's comfortable 4-0 win in Hungary in midweek — the […]

Kazan (Russia) (AFP) – Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick, including a 93rd-minute winner, as Wales fought back to beat Belarus 3-2 on Sunday in World Cup qualifying. The victory was Wales' second in three games in Group E and moves them up to third, one point behind the second-placed Czech Republic with a game in […]

The first World Cup Qualifying game for the USMNT since the debacle against Trinidad & Tobago was somewhat anticlimactic. A thunderous rendition of the El Salvador national anthem created an electric atmosphere which gave way to a game that saw very few clear-cut chances for either team. In the end it finished 0-0 with each […]

Rome (AFP) – Franck Ribery, a free agent since the summer, will extend his playing career at Salernitana, a club promoted to Serie A this season, Italian media reported on Sunday. The club confirmed there was an agreement in principal, but has yet to confirm the signing of the 38-year-old former French international and Bayern […]

Paris (AFP) – World Cup holders France stuttered again in their bid to qualify for the 2022 finals in Qatar after a 1-1 draw in Ukraine, while Memphis Depay inspired the Netherlands to a rout of Montenegro on Saturday. France drew their fifth successive match as Anthony Martial scored his first international goal in five […]

Kiev (AFP) – Anthony Martial scored a rare international goal on Saturday but World Cup holders France stumbled again on their road to the 2022 finals in Qatar, drawing 1-1 with Ukraine in Kiev. Manchester United forward Martial forced in the equaliser five minutes into the second half to cancel out a superb strike by […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Southgate has saluted England duo Raheem Sterling and Jude Bellingham for the "incredibly mature" way they handled racist abuse from Hungary fans. Sterling and Bellingham were subjected to vile monkey chants during England's 4-0 victory in a World Cup qualifier in Budapest on Thursday. England players were also pelted with cups […]

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 […]