France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Kylian Mbappé scored twice to move past Pelé and Lionel Messi with 14 World Cup goals, Bradley Barcola added another … Read more
Iraq’s Aymen Hussein in action with Norway’s Kristoffer Ajer, Sander Berge and Torbjorn Heggem. | Photo Credit: Reuters Erling Haaland scored a brace on his World Cup debut as Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 on Tuesday (June 16, 2026) in their Group I match to make a winning return to the tournament 28 years after their … Read more
Norway’s Erling Haaland (9) takes a shot against Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan (12) during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Iraq and Norway in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Erling Haaland’s first-half brace in his World Cup debut helped Norway to a 4-1 victory against Iraq … Read more
Canada’s Cyle Larin (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides first goal of the game in the second half of the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Bosnia, on Friday, June 12, 2026, in Toronto. | Photo Credit: AP Canada striker Cyle Larin came off the bench to grab a 1-1 … Read more
Brazil has entrusted Ancelotti with ending a 24-year title drought. | Photo Credit: Imagn Images via Reuters The road to the World Cup is built on promises. Some come from history, others from possibility. When Brazil and Morocco walk onto the pitch in East Rutherford, they bring both. One carries five stars and two decades … Read more
Canada’s Cyle Larin (9) celebrates after scoring his sides first goal of the game in the second half of the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Bosnia, on Friday, June 12, 2026, in Toronto. | Photo Credit: AP Late substitute Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute and co-host Canada earned its … Read more
U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14, 2026, on his 80th birthday. File | Photo Credit: Reuters President Donald Trump will not be in attendance when the United States opens its World Cup competition against Paraguay on Friday (June 12, 2026) in Inglewood, Calif. That … Read more
Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina, has an unique record in World Cup history as he is the only player to have scored a hattrick in two consecutive World Cups – 1994 & 1998 both on June 21 of that year. Published – June 12, 2026 05:11 pm IST
Jose Mourinho has been appointed the new manager of Real Madrid | Photo Credit: Reuters Real Madrid is bringing back José Mourinho for a second stint some 13 years after he left the club, the Spanish powerhouse said Thursday (June 11, 2026). The Portuguese coach joins on a three-year contract and will officially take charge … Read more
Team Fontspell | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement FSl Biryani | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A bunch of designers from Ramanattukara, Kozhikode district, are expressing their passion for football through typography. They have launched FIFA-inspired fonts in Malayalam and English. A combination of curvy, squarish and rounded lettering, the fonts reflect a sense of playfulness and … Read more
A 25-foot cut-out of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi at Chellanam | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT Have you seen the viral photograph of the 25-foot cutout of Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi put up by fans at Chellanam, in Kochi? Placing a cutout of Messi is now something of a FIFA World Cup tradition at Chellanam. … Read more
Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Gavi during training ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener | Photo Credit: Imagn Images via REUTERS Spain stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams took part in training on Thursday (June 11, 2026), allaying fears over their fitness ahead of La Roja’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde. Both … Read more
Fans of Argentina’s soccer team gather during an event ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, at Kurumassery village in Kerala, India, June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: Sivaram V Bringing an end to months of anticipation, the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off on Thursday (June 11, 2026) with Mexico’s triumphing victory of 2-1 … Read more
The United States of America (USA) begin their FIFA World Cup challenge on Friday, taking on a savvy Paraguay side in a high-stakes match in Los Angeles. The World Cup co-hosts know they must avoid a banana skin at the futuristic SoFi Stadium in the first World Cup finals game on U.S. soil for 32 … Read more
South Korea reacts after defeating Czechia during the World Cup Group A soccer match in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, on June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo said his team had followed his pre-match instructions to the letter after they staged a 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic in their … Read more
South Korea’s Oh Hyeon-gyu (right) scores the winning goal during the Group A FIFA World Cup game against Czechia in Guadalajara on June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP South Korea came back from a goal down to snatch a thrilling 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their World Cup Group A opener on … Read more
The FIFA World Cup returns in 2026 as the biggest edition in the tournament’s history. It kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City, with 48 teams playing 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico. By comparison, the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 featured just 13 teams and 18 matches. The … Read more
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre reacts during the World Cup Group A soccer match against South Africa in Mexico City, on June 11, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP Mexico coach Javier Aguirre revealed his team had overcome a bout of stage fright before clinching their first victory in a World Cup opener with a 2-0 … Read more
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match against South Africa in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Mexico had never won their opening game of World Cup in seven attempts, registering five defeats and two draws during their previous appearances … Read more
Japan’s captain Wataru Endo is out of this FIFA World Cup and also announced his retirement from international football. | Photo Credit: AP The Japan Football Association said Thursday (June 11, 2026) that captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the country’s World Cup squad due to a foot injury. Later the Liverpool midfielder announced his … Read more
South Korea’s Seol Young-woo (22) celebrates with his team after a goal during the World Cup Group A soccer against Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP South Korea came back from a goal down to snatch a thrilling 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their FIFA … Read more
Messi mundu or Neymar mundu? Which would you pick? Football merchandise has just got a Malayali upgrade with local stores designing mundus (dhoti) and lungis featuring football heroes. While jerseys have always been around, FIFA 2026 has inspired a range of regional attire too. In a State already awash with football colours, flags, buntings and … Read more
Shakira performs during the opening ceremony before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, on Thursday, June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy had the spectators out of their seats in the opening ceremony for the 2026 World Cup in the … Read more
Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16) celebrates with Israel Reyes after scoring their opening goal against South Africa during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, on Thursday, June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Mexico ignited their World Cup party with a dominant 2-0 victory over nine-man South … Read more
Messi. | Photo Credit: Reuters A look at age-verification documents would make one wonder how these warhorses’ batteries still have enough charge for the FIFA World Cup. It appears as though they have been competing at football’s glitziest spectacle since time immemorial. The ageless fighters, however, are likely to bid adieu to the pinnacle of … Read more
A volatile second half comes to an end, with three players having received their marching orders in the half. Mexico wins 2-0, taking three points from the tournament’s opening to take an early lead in the Group A standings. The win should be enough to grant them a place in the next round, but the … Read more
Shakira performs during the opening ceremony before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, on Thursday, June 11, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy had the spectators out of their seats in the opening ceremony for the 2026 World Cup in the … Read more
Desire, left, and Guela share a light-hearted moment. | Photo Credit: AFP FIFA World Cups are as much about shared memory as they are about football. They are, at the same time, grand and intimate — a collective realisation that we are about to turn the page to a brand-new chapter in our global family … Read more
Argentina Valentín Barco (8) celebrates with Valentin Barco (2) after he scores during the first half of an international friendly match against Iceland, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Auburn, Ala. | Photo Credit: AP With the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off, the debate over who will lift football’s biggest prize is intensifying. Are France … Read more
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held across the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. The tournament will be the largest in the competition’s history, expanding from 32 to 48 teams and featuring a record 104 matches. Spanning three countries, four time zones and distances of up … Read more