Less than nine full months since Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar last year, the long qualification process to determine the 48 countries that will grace the fields across the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026 gets underway. Three host nations are receiving automatic places in the final tournament. Consequently, 208 nations […]

London (AFP) – Scotland manager Steve Clarke insists he will not listen to the critics who blasted his team after their painful World Cup play-off defeat against Ukraine. Clarke's side blew their chance to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998 as Ukraine won 3-1 at Hampden Park in the play-off semi-final […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scotland captain Andy Robertson said missing out on the World Cup rounded off the toughest 10 days of his career after the Liverpool left-back also failed to get his hands on the Premier League and Champions League. Robertson was far from his best as Scotland were well beaten 3-1 by Ukraine at […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Ukraine are one game away from qualifying for the World Cup after beating Scotland 3-1 in a play-off semi-final in Glasgow on Wednesday in their first competitive match since the country was invaded by Russia. Andriy Yarmolenko, Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk scored the goals for Ukraine to set up a play-off […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Ukraine's national team are dreaming of a place at the World Cup to bring some relief to a war-torn nation as they face Scotland in a playoff semi-final on Wednesday. Oleksandr Petrakov's side have not played a competitive match since Russia's invasion in February. Their trip to Scotland was postponed in March […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Ukraine's Oleksandr Zinchenko broke down in tears on Tuesday as he expressed what a place at the World Cup would mean to his war-torn homeland. For the first time since Russia's invasion, Ukraine return to competitive action against Scotland in Wednesday's World Cup playoff semi-final at Hampden Park. The match was postponed […]

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainians on Tuesday hoped for victory on the football field, a day before their national team plays its first official match since Russia's invasion, facing Scotland in a World Cup qualifier.  The Ukraine-Scotland match will be held in Glasgow on Wednesday. It was rescheduled from March after Russian President Vladimir Putin […]

Glasgow (AFP) – Scotland manager Steve Clarke reiterated his support to the Ukrainian national team, but he is desperate to deny them a place in the World Cup later this year in Qatar. Ukraine will play a competitive fixture for the first time since Russia's invasion of their homeland in a World Cup playoff semi-final […]

London (AFP) – Oleksandr Zinchenko says he wants to give Ukrainians something to smile about as his team prepares for next week's World Cup play-off semi-final against Scotland. The match, taking place in Glasgow next Wednesday, was rescheduled from March after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine are certain to earn the support of fans around […]

London (AFP) – Andrew Robertson on Wednesday urged Scotland to put sentiment aside when they face Ukraine in next week's World Cup play-off semi-final. Scotland host war-torn Ukraine next Wednesday in a semi-final rescheduled from March after Russia's invasion began in February. Ukraine are certain to earn the support of fans around the world in […]

London (AFP) – Scotland manager Steve Clarke expects Ukraine to be focused in their World Cup play-off showdown despite the impact of the war in their homeland. Clarke's side host Ukraine on June 1, in a rescheduled play-off semi-final which was due to be played in March before Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a […]

London (AFP) – Gareth Bale has been named in the Wales squad for their World Cup play-off final against Scotland or Ukraine despite recent back trouble as they seek to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1958. The captain has made just two substitute appearances for Real Madrid since scoring both goals […]

Brdo Castle (Slovenia) (AFP) – Ukraine midfielder Taras Stepanenko said Friday that the team from the war-torn country would "play with our souls and our hearts" as they prepare in Slovenia for their 2022 World Cup play-off against Scotland. Preparations started this week at the Slovenian Football Association training centre at Brdo pri Kranju, some […]