Luis de la Fuente smiled when asked whether he was nervous before the biggest match of his coaching career. “Only because we’re going back by helicopter,” the Spain coach joked. “We came here by helicopter and that makes me anxious. About everything else I am calm.” It was an answer that revealed much about Spain’s state of … Read more
It is impossible to walk around Vyasarpadi, popularly known as the ‘mini Brazil of Chennai’, without running into a footballer. Football is not just another sport here. It is personal and, as Jayaseelan, a 44 year-old autorickshaw driver and ardent fan of former Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos, puts it, “Football is life itself.” As Spain … Read more
The lineup of sports legends, all on the stage at Fanatics Fest on Friday night (July 17, 2026), was almost absurd. There was Tom Brady, the greatest Super Bowl champion of all time. There was Novak Djokovic, the winner of more men’s Grand Slam tennis tournaments than anyone else. There was Kevin Durant, the only … Read more
I’m not saying India will qualify but India will have a better chance to qualify if they increase to 64 from 48,” former Indian Football star Bhaichung Bhutia said in an exclusive interview with PTI. File | Photo Credit: ANI A 64-team football World Cup, which the international governing body FIFA is mulling, will give … Read more
On Tuesday (July 14,2026) Spain beat France 2-0 to reach their first World Cup final since winning their only title in 2010. A day later, Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1, keeping alive the defending champions’ hopes of a second successive crown. How the teams got here Spain, fondly known as La Roja, … Read more
Olmo’s smart movement posed a tough challenge for France in the semifinal. | Photo Credit: Reuters Spain’s historic 2010 FIFA World Cup triumph was built on the brilliance of legendary midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. Sixteen years later, Spain is back in the summit clash of the quadrennial event. While the spotlight has rightly … Read more
England players train ahead of the third place play-off against France. | Photo Credit: Reuters There is perhaps no lonelier fixture in football than the World Cup third-place playoff. For 30 days, players dream only of one destination. They imagine lifting the trophy, hearing their anthem before the final and writing themselves into history. Then, … Read more
In 2016, The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which oversees the laws of the game, approved trials for video referees. This edition marks the third time that VAR has been used in World Cups starting with the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This World Cup has also seen numerous instances where lovers of the game … Read more
By the time Argentina’s players emerged from the tunnel on Wednesday evening, familiar songs had already begun rolling around the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The crowd came from Buenos Aires and Cordoba, from Rosario and Mendoza. But they also came with unmistakably different accents from Kolkata and Dhaka, from Kochi and Varanasi, from South Asian immigrant neighbourhoods … Read more
This image showcases a flare being thrown next to a player during a match between Brazil and Chile in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. This player feigned injury alleging that the flare had hit him. Evidence quickly showed that the allegation was false and he received a lifetime ban from football. File Published – July 17, … Read more
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after the match as they advance to the World Cup final | Photo Credit: Reuters Lionel Messi has a message for Argentina’s detractors: “Nothing was handed to us.” The Argentina superstar responded to critics who have been bashing the reigning World Cup champions over perceptions of beneficial officiating and favouritism by … Read more
FIFA World Cup 2026 | Thin line between failure and folklore
U.S. President Donald Trump will also attend a reception for football’s world governing body, FIFA, at Trump Tower in New York on July 17, 2026. File. | Photo Credit: Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, the White House said, saving his first appearance at the tournament … Read more
England’s attempt to double-team or even triple-team Lionel Messi didn’t faze the Argentine. Will Spain’s better drilled side do better? | Photo Credit: AP Mumbai As Spain and Argentina prepare to lock horns in Sunday night’s FIFA World Cup final, two of European football’s biggest names have highlighted the tactical intrigue that could define the … Read more
Lionel Scaloni has spent nearly eight years building one of the most successful teams in Argentina’s history. Yet even now, he admits it continues to surprise him. After watching his side overturn another deficit to beat England 2-1 and reach a second successive FIFA World Cup final, the coach searched for words to explain a … Read more
The British government on Thursday (July 16, 2026), urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s team after players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the contested Falkland Islands. Argentina beat England 2-1 in a World Cup semifinal on Wednesday (July 15, 2026), in Atlanta. During post-match celebrations, Argentine players held a banner handed over by fans … Read more
Argentina’s Giovani Lo Celso holds a banner with the words “The Malvinas are Argentine”, referring to the Falkland Islands, while his teammate Nicolas Otamendi gestures to him, at the end of the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta on July 15, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Argentina players held up … Read more
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late goals to snatch a 2-1 win over England in the World Cup semifinal on Wednesday (July 15, 2026) to send Lionel Messi’s reigning champions into the weekend showpiece match against Spain. England vs Argentina, FIFA World Cup semifinal Highlights Just when England appeared set for victory after … Read more
Lineups are announced and players are warming up. England’s lineup – Jordan Pickford (GK), Reese James (RB), John Stones (CB), Mark Guehi (CB), Dedj Spence (LB), Declan Rice (MF), Elliott Anderson (MF), Morgan Rogers (RW), Jude Bellingham (MF), Anthony Gordon (LW), Harry Kane (FW) Argentina’s lineup – Emiliano Martinez (GK), Nahuel Molina (RB), Cristian Romero … Read more
Bossing the turf: Spain’s relentless pressing, immaculate possession and defensive organisation suffocated France. | Photo Credit: REUTERS France had arrived in Dallas carrying the tournament’s most feared attack. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise had combined for 13 goals and 10 assists in six matches as opponents struggled to contain them. By the end of … Read more
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