Zurich (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed in an exclusive interview with AFP on Thursday that he backs expanding the World Cup to 48 teams, giving "more of a chance to more teams". Infantino believes "a fundamental point" for an expanded finals would be to have it co-hosted "by several countries". He also declared […]

Los Angeles (AFP) – When the United States take to the field to face Cuba at Havana's Estadio Pedro Marrero on Friday, it will mark another step on the road towards normalization of relations between the former foes. In July last year, Cuba and the United States brought more than half a century of enmity […]

Milan (AFP) – Barcelona's Gerard Pique does not expect to see another Alessandro Florenzi wonder-goal, but Spain will be wary of Italy's attacking qualities when they meet on Thursday. Pique will come face to face with Florenzi a year after the versatile Roma midfielder scored an incredible goal from 50 yards against the Catalans in […]

Turin (Italy) (AFP) – Gianluigi Buffon admits the prospect of losing his status as Italy's undisputed number one goalkeeper has been brought closer by the arrival of Spain ahead of the sides' 2018 World Cup qualifier on Thursday. At 38 years old, Buffon remains pivotal to an Azzurri side that upset Euro 2016 predictions by […]

Milan (AFP) – Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi will be honoured by UEFA on Thursday in recognition of having passed the 100-cap mark with the Azzurri. Italy host Spain in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Turin in what will be the first meeting between the sides since Spain lost 2-0 in the last 16 […]

London (AFP) – Arsene Wenger would be an "ideal" manager for England but should remain with Arsenal beyond the end of this season, the club's former star Robert Pires told AFP on Wednesday. Wenger, who recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as Arsenal manager, will be out of contract at the end of the current campaign. […]

London (AFP) – John Stones said Wednesday that caretaker England manager Gareth Southgate had taken time to speak to players on an individual basis after being parachuted into the job following Sam Allardyce's shock exit. Allardyce was forced to resign as England manager after just 67 days and one game in charge following his controversial […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Controversial Rangers midfielder Joey Barton was issued with a formal "notice of complaint" by the Scottish Football Association on Wednesday after being accused of betting on football matches. The SFA issued a statement on Wednesday in which it English footballer Barton placed 44 bets between July 1 and September 15 this year. […]

It wasn’t that long ago when Arsenal fans endured the years of Sebastien Squillaci, Johan Djourou, Philippe Senderos, and Mikael Silvestre manned the club’s central defense. While the Gunners have been widely known for their attractive, slick passing style of play since the arrival of Arsene Wenger 20 years ago, the team’s defensive record has […]

Berlin (AFP) – Having endured a few sleepless nights following the Champions League defeat last week in Madrid, Franck Ribery has issued his Bayern Munich team-mates with a wake-up call. The French veteran sat out Saturday's lacklustre 1-1 draw at home to Cologne in Germany's top flight with tiredness after problems sleeping following last Wednesday's […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini could end his exile from football if the Chinese consortium buying the seven-time European champions gave him a "direct role of responsibility". With seven league titles, five Champions League trophies and 902 appearances in Serie A where he played 25 years with AC Milan, Maldini is one […]

London (AFP) – Agents are a "cancer" on the game of football, Napoli's outspoken president Aurelio De Laurentiis declared on Wednesday. "Agents are the cancer of our domain," De Laurentiis said during a talk at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in London. He told reporters: "Not every agent. It is the system which is weak. […]

London (AFP) – European leagues could be encouraged to engineer fixture clashes with the Champions League over contentious changes to the competition, the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) threatened on Wednesday. UEFA has angered the continent's small and medium-sized leagues by guaranteeing England, Spain, Germany and Italy four Champions League slots between 2018 and 2021. EPFL […]

Berlin (AFP) – Injury-prone Ilkay Gundogan says he is ready to fill Bastian Schweinsteiger's midfield role in world champion Germany's upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Germany host the Czech Republic in Hamburg on Saturday and Northern Ireland next Tuesday in Hanover having opened their qualifying campaign last month with a 3-0 win in Norway. With […]

Beijing (AFP) – Ambitious China and 2022 hosts Qatar will come out fighting as they seek to salvage their bids to reach the 2018 Russia World Cup on Thursday. China, with one point from their two games so far, entertain war-torn Syria in Xian, while rock-bottom Qatar have it all to do against Son Heung-Min's […]