England icon Walker announces international retirement
England defender Kyle Walker has called time on his outstanding 14-year international career ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The 35-year-old will go down in history as one of the Three Lions’ greatest right-backs. After making his senior debut in 2011, Walker made 96 appearances for England and competed in five major tournaments, including […]
Young USA players who emerged on the big stage
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is just around the corner and time is ticking before USA coach Mauricio Pochettino finalises his roster for the tournament. There is high expectation that the Argentinian tactician will look to several young players to provide a spark to an American team playing on home soil. History suggests that at […]
World Cup wonder goals: Nelinho’s ferocious free-kick
93 days to go… We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day. Nelinho Brazil v Poland Argentina 1978 | Second group stage Estadio Libertador General San Martin, Mendoza “I was sure it was going to go to my left, towards the top corner,” said […]
93 days to go: The Puppet Master’s pass stats
Xavi completed 93 per cent of his attempted passes in the South Africa 2010 final to help Spain conquer a first star. It helped ‘The Puppet Master’ set a new record for successful passes in a World Cup: 599. That was broken by a successor in the Roja midfield, with Rodri completing 638 out of […]
26 Superstars: Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal will turn 19 this coming 13 July, on the eve of the first of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ semi-final showdowns. However, the Spanish sensation will be hoping that there will be little time for celebrations and that the focus is firmly on La Roja’s quest to add a second star to their shirt […]
Ahmed: It’s crazy to think how far I have come
Six years ago, Ali Ahmed was contemplating his future in the game after trials at non-league English clubs such as Enfield Town, Cheshunt FC and Tooting & Mitcham United all came to nothing. Now the wing wizard is playing a starring role with Norwich City in the English Championship and looking forward to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with Canada. Ahmed’s […]
USA shine at SheBelieves Cup as Canada bounce back
Amid Asian, European and Oceania qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2027™, four of the leading teams in North and South America battled it out in the 2026 SheBelieves Cup to gain valuable tournament experience ahead of the global showpiece. USA emerged triumphant with three wins out of three, culminating with a 1-0 triumph […]
O’Neill: Australia’s clash with USA will be intense
Aiden O’Neill is used to doing the dirty work as the proud owner of a cattle farm in the Australian state of New South Wales. The 27-year-old’s hard graft is continuing to reap rich rewards, with the versatile midfielder helping Australia punch their ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026™. “It’s a bit different. Not […]
Renard and the Saudi trio eyeing a third World Cup
This year marks Saudi Arabia’s seventh appearance at the FIFA World Cup™ and a return to the site of their first, back in 1994 in the USA. The draw for the tournament has slotted them into Group H alongside heavyweights Spain, Cabo Verde and Uruguay, guaranteeing some tricky early tests. They will be helped, however, […]
Côte d’Ivoire at the FIFA World Cup: Team profile and history
Like their continental counterparts Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire are preparing to step back onto the global stage for the first time since the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, when they came within a hair of qualifying for the round of 16. Emerse Fae’s troops, who tasted CAF Africa Cup of Nations glory on home soil in 2024, will […]