Spain’s record-setting goalkeeper Unai Simon has stood firm and produced some brilliant saves at this World Cup. | Photo Credit: AP Ask Unai Simon about his World Cup and he’ll tell you it’s been easy and that the shots simply haven’t come, that his defence has done the work. Ask Kylian Mbappe, sprinting clear with … Read more
Spain coach Luis De La Fuente celebrates after the France vs Spain match as they advance to the World Cup final on July 14, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said his side had revived the spirit of their 2010 World Cup triumph after a commanding 2-0 win over France … Read more
Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal celebrates scoring from the penalty spot the opening goal during a World Cup semifinal match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, on July 14, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP Spain suffocated France deep in the heart of Texas on Tuesday, powering into their first World Cup final since lifting … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. France: Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe (captain). Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri (captain), Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal.
Even in his final moments in a Portugal shirt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo was the cynosure of all eyes. The footballer from Madeira has lived his life in the spotlight for two decades, and would have it no other way in his swansong at the international stage. But for the entirety … Read more
England had its back against the wall. Norway had taken the lead through Andreas Schjelderup, and the humidity rolling in from the Atlantic had drained Thomas Tuchel’s side of its usual fluency. Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Alexander Sorloth were turning every transition into danger, and England looked unusually uncertain. Then the ball came to … Read more
As the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup is days away from the finale, the excitement has reached a fever pitch with the semifinals scheduled for July 15 and 16. The mood is no different in Technopark, the IT hub. Even before kickoff itself, the companies had gone all out to celebrate the football … Read more
With just a few hours left for the kick off of the FIFA semi-finals, the four teams who are going to fight it out — France, Spain, Argentina and England — have all justified their billing as the top four teams in both the Elo ratings and FIFA rankings before the tournament commenced. Their rankings … Read more
England captain Kane and his Argentine counterpart Messi have been inspirational. | Photo Credit: AFP For most of football’s great rivalries, geography often sets the background. Cities divided by a river or a road spend generations fighting over territory, identity and belonging. Others draw their bitterness from politics or borders, where history leaves wounds that … Read more
France coach Didier Deschamps during the press conference ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal against Spain. | Photo Credit: Reuters France coach Didier Deschamps insisted he still sees Spain as World Cup favourites on Monday (July 13, 2026) ahead of Les Bleus’ blockbuster semi-final against the European champions. France take on Spain at … Read more
Fans stand to greet Norway’s men’s national soccer team at Slottsplassen after returning to Oslo, Norway, from the United States. | Photo Credit: AP More than 100,000 fans flooded the streets of the Norwegian capital Oslo on Monday (July 13, 2026) to give their football team a heroes’ welcome, turning the heartbreak of their FIFA … Read more
France’s Kylian Mbappe’s response to tirades of Paraguay’s Celeste Amarilla that found backing from footballing fans and even the United Nations. File | Photo Credit: Reuters France is gearing up to play its third consecutive semi-final at the FIFA World Cup. Having won the title in 2018 and lost the final in 2022, France is … Read more
Every expansion in football history comes with the same warnings, and 48 teams were no different. Critics lined up early: bigger groups would mean more filler, more blowouts, a World Cup stretched thin. Then Cape Verde drew Spain 0-0 in their tournament opener, and didn’t stop there. The Blue Sharks followed it up with a … Read more
When the 2026 World Cup kicked off on June 11 in Mexico City, the air was filled with cautious optimism. This being the first 48-team World Cup, there were apprehensions that the group stage would be low on quality and feature many one-sided games. But hope stemmed from sport’s innate ability to adjust, evolve and … Read more
Mbappe has scored eight goals so far in the ongoing edition. | Photo Credit: AFP France has turned consistency in World Cups into an art form, lifting the ultimate prize in 2018, finishing runner-up four years later and securing another semifinal qualification in ongoing tournament. Since conquering the football world eight years ago, Les Bleus have set … Read more
Mbappe and Yamal hold the key to France and Spain’s fortunes in the first semifinal. | Photo Credit: AFP World Cups begin by inviting everyone to dream. They end by asking who is truly great. This edition scattered hope among 48 nations, but now, with only four teams left, the old hierarchy has reasserted itself. Argentina, Spain, France … Read more
When the 2026 World Cup kicked off in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on June 12, thousands of kilometres away, sleepless fans in Kerala were watching the late-night match at the edge of their seats. Every four years, the FIFA World Cup, one of the largest sporting events in the world, sweeps countries in a football … Read more
Thinking of animals at the football World Cup is more often a casual shortcut to anthropomorphic mascots than to natural animals living around us. The football party may be hosted by prestigious FIFA but remember what Shakira said in the 2014 World Cup song, ‘Feel how the planet’s become one’. No kidding. While we have … Read more
Spain’s former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said France’s football team had “no French players”. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Spain’s conservative former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faced criticism at home and in France on Sunday (July 12, 2026) after saying the neighbouring country’s national football team had “no French players”. Also read | FIFA World … Read more
FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the stands during a 2026 World Cup match | Photo Credit: Reuters Any further expansion of the World Cup, increasing the number of teams participating at the finals to 64, will be discussed after this year’s edition, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said without providing any details. The 2026 finals in … Read more
Spain squad pose before the World Cup quarterfinal match between Spain and Belgium | Photo Credit: AP France are not afraid of Spain going into their World Cup semifinal on Tuesday (July 14, 2026), defender Ibrahima Konate said on Sunday, but they are conscious of their opponents’ quality and their near-perfect backline. Spain have conceded … Read more
Lionel Messi during the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP Lionel Messi has spent over two decades carving a path through international football, facing every World Cup-winning nation from Brazil to France, but one notable opponent has always been missing … Read more
Argentina players celebrate after the match as they qualify for the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Julian Alvarez sent defending champion Argentina to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals with a long-range strike in the 112th minute against Switzerland, while another goal by Lautaro Martinez with seconds left in … Read more
Goal! Argentina 3, Switzerland 1. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner following a fast break. Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter Final – Argentina v Switzerland – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. – July 11, 2026Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez scores … Read more
England manager Thomas Tuchel after the match as England qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup, on July 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters England manager Thomas Tuchel said his team were “lucky” to squeeze past Norway 2-1 after extra-time to reach the World Cup semi-finals, but praised “world-class” Jude Bellingham after his two … Read more
England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their second goal against Norway in the World Cup quarterfinal match, on July 11, 2026 | Photo Credit: Reuters Jude Bellingham scored in the third minute of extra time to lift England past Norway 2-1 and into the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2018. Bellingham’s goal was … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. England: Jordan Pickford, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke Norway: Orjan Nyland, Kristoffer Ajer, David Moller Wolfe, Torbjorn Heggem, Patrick Berg, Sander Berge, Martin Odegaard, Andreas Schjelderup, Alexander Sorloth, Erling Haaland, Julian Ryerson
Mikel Merino celebrates with teammates after scoring the match-winning goal against Belgium. | Photo Credit: AFP Two knockout games. Two goals. Nine minutes of actual playing time between them. If you’re looking for the quickest route to World Cup folklore, Mikel Merino has just written the blueprint — and Arsenal, whether they meant to or … Read more
Wizardry: Haaland finds the space that opponents didn’t know they had left. | Photo Credit: AP Forget the scoreline for a second. If you actually looked at how Erling Haaland has scored his seven goals this World Cup, “one behind” starts to sound like the wrong way to describe him. The Norwegian might be a … Read more
