European nations learn play-off opponents
The route to FIFA World Cup 2026™ has been laid out for the 16 UEFA nations involved in the European play-offs, with four qualification places up for grabs via the four paths. Italy host Northern Ireland and Wales welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina in Path A, while Path B sees Ukraine up against Sweden and Poland […]
Path to 2026 laid out for Play-Off Tournament hopefuls
The draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Play-Off Tournament, in which six teams will fight it out for two places at next year’s global finals, has taken place at the Home of FIFA in Zurich. The Play-Off Tournament will feature two finals, in which the winners of the semi-finals contested by the unseeded teams […]
The Golden Boot race
TICKETS The goals are set to rain down in the Philippines, but which player will finish the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™ having scored more than the rest? FIFA spotlights the leading contenders for the adidas Golden Boot. Renata Adamatti The Italy pivot may spend time on the wing, and will have to face […]
Concacaf’s World Cup 26 qualifying in stats
156,000 With a population of around 156,000, Curaçao is the smallest nation by population size to ever qualify for the World Cup, beating the mark set by Iceland (336,000) at Russia 2018. 93 A 93rd-minute own goal by Guatemala’s Nicolas Samayoa was enough to secure Suriname’s place in the FIFA Play-off Tournament over Honduras on goals scored in the final matchday of […]
Spain stay top as Brazil climb to fifth
Spain have maintained their grip on top spot in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, with Argentina, France and England retaining their places behind the pace-setters. After a busy period of international football, featuring the conclusion of FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifiers for UEFA and Concacaf, as well as the final CAF and AFC play-off fixtures, […]
Yousef: Libya fears no one
Libya may not have commanded the attention of the football world in recent years, but their enthusiasm has not diminished. Despite mixed results and a drop in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, inside the camp there has been a quiet but unwavering determination to reclaim the standing they believe they deserve. Driven by ambition and […]
When Blanc turned white into gold
In 1998, former France defender Laurent Blanc, who is celebrating his 60th birthday today, etched his name into the history books as the first player to score a golden goal in a FIFA competition. The dramatic strike was the only goal of the last-16 tie against a plucky Paraguay side at the Stade Felix Bollaert […]
Iconic anthem helping Italy roar at U-17 World Cup
“You can hear it loud from your left and your right! It’s just a special feeling.” Italy star Dauda Iddrisa is describing the inspirational effect of belting out the country’s iconic national anthem at the FIFA U-17 World Cup™. Indeed, witnessing the team’s players, coaches and staff link arms to sing Inno di Mameli with […]
Kuba on her complete style and Polish ambitions
TICKETS | MATCHES ‘Ground’ is a word that seems to follow Klaudia Kubaszek. She covers it like a pronghorn. She broke it by becoming the first Pole to play in Italy and the first player to win two Futsal Week MVP awards. She hit it running in Metropolitan Manila. Late last week, indeed, the 27-year-old […]
Male aces predict the Philippines 2025 stars
TICKETS | MATCHES It’s all about the court queens, and its kings couldn’t be happier. Ahead of the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™, we caught up with a selection of male standouts to ask them one question: which three players will illuminate Philippines 2025? Salar Aghapour The IR Iran winger registered six goal and […]