One-month countdown to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025
In one month’s time, 24 nations will meet in Chile to battle it out for FIFA U-20 World Cup™ glory in the competition’s 24th edition. Since the inaugural event at Tunisia 1977, some of the best players the sport has to offer have passed through the tournament’s gates. Diego Maradona dazzled in Japan two years […]
Curaçao secure Chong coup for Concacaf qualifying
Persistence has paid off for Dick Advocaat. Just a few months after expressing frustration about his efforts to expand the Curaçao playing pool, the veteran coach has landed seven new players for the Caribbean nation’s upcoming FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying campaign. The headline star is former Manchester United, Club Brugge and Werder Bremen winger […]
O’Neill: No time like the present for Northern Ireland
Michael O’Neill was a teenage midfielder making his way in Northern Irish domestic football when his country last graced the FIFA World Cup™. Mexico 1986 marked the nation’s second consecutive qualification for the tournament, but it has been four decades since the Green and White Army have had the chance to travel to the sport’s […]
Budimir: Croatian pride means we never give up
Croatia have consistently punched above their weight in the biggest arenas in world football, and they are out to do so again at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025™. A nation of under four million people, the country boasts a rich history of producing technically supreme players who get fans off their feet. As […]
The state of play in CAF World Cup 26 qualifying
Africa’s national teams will be back in FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying next month, with Matchdays 7 and 8 upon us, before the final two rounds of fixtures take place in October. With the upcoming encounters promising table-topping thrillers, plenty of twists and turns and unlikely surges up the standings that could unleash more high drama, FIFA […]
Akliouche earns maiden France call-up as Ekitike misses out
Didier Deschamps has handed Monaco playmaker Maghnes Akliouche his first France call-up but surprisingly overlooked Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike. The 56-year-old’s squad for the FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifiers against Ukraine in Wroclaw and Iceland in Paris is headlined by superstars Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Kylian Mbappe. Akliouche, alongside the likes of Rayan Cherki, […]
Turner: Pochettino has always stood by me
Matt Turner has returned to the scene of the sublime. After making a name for himself at the New England Revolution, the USA goalkeeper recently secured a comeback to the Major League Soccer (MLS) club to try to ensure he retains the No1 jersey at the FIFA World Cup 26™. Thanks to his standout performances […]
El Kass: We’re playing to bring joy to the Egyptian people
After 28 years away, Egypt are returning to the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ in a long-awaited comeback that revives a dream left on hold for far too long. Their berth offers a fresh start and a golden opportunity for a new generation to prove themselves on the world stage. The road to qualification was not […]
Kaio Jorge, Joelinton and Paqueta make Brazil squad
Carlo Ancelotti has handed a maiden Brazil call-up to emerging striker Kaio Jorge for their final two FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifiers, but omitted Neymar due to fitness issues. Caio Henrique, Douglas Santos, Lucas Paqueta and Joelinton, who missed out on the Italian’s first squad, also made the cut. Brazil will take on Chile at […]
Knott: Champions Cup is a privilege
One afternoon in mid-May earlier this year, Chloe Knott sat with her Auckland United FC team-mates in the rooms at Tahiti’s Stade Pater. Moments before walking out for the semi-finals of the OFC Women’s Champions League, they gathered in a circle. In the middle was Knott, visualising how things would play out against their opponents […]