2026 World Cup

Messi questions playing future in tribute to late father

Lionel Messi said Wednesday he has "serious doubts" about how much longer he will continue playing soccer, breaking his silence four days after the death of his father, Jorge, who was 68.

Messi to delay Argentina retirement for farewell match, reports say

Lionel Messi's storied international career hangs in the balance following Argentina's 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 20, with teammate Leandro Paredes suggesting the Inter Miami star may have already…

Messi, Scaloni, Martinez all in doubt after World Cup loss

Two days after Spain's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, the futures of three pillars of one of international football's greatest eras remain unresolved. Captain Lionel Messi, coach Lionel Scaloni, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez have…

Iran confirms World Cup participation, issues 10 demands to host nations

Iran's football federation confirmed Saturday that the national team will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup but issued a list of demands for joint hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico, setting the stage for a high-stakes diplomatic negotiation…

Mbappe scores but Real Madrid crash out of Champions League quarterfinals

Kylian Mbappe's 2025-26 season at Real Madrid has been marred by persistent knee problems that sidelined him for weeks and fueled speculation about a potential surgery that the French forward ultimately avoided. While Mbappe returned to action and scored in…

2026 World Cup final to feature first-ever halftime show

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed this week that the 2026 World Cup Final will include a halftime show for the first time in the tournament's 96-year history. Speaking at the Semafor World Economy summit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Infantino…

Belgium routs USMNT 5-2 in World Cup warmup

The U.S. men's national team's five-game unbeaten streak came to a jarring end on Saturday as Belgium dismantled the Americans 5-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, raising alarm bells just 76 days before the opening match of the 2026 World…

FIFA confirms new time-wasting crackdown for 2026 World Cup

FIFA has confirmed a package of rule changes for the 2026 World Cup designed to crack down on time-wasting and expand the scope of video review technology, as the governing body prepares for the largest tournament in the competition's history…

2026 World Cup hits 100-day mark amid war, violence and boycott calls

The 100-day countdown to the largest FIFA World Cup in history began on Tuesday against a backdrop of war, cartel violence, boycott demands, and sky-high ticket prices that threaten to overshadow what organizers have billed as a celebration of global…

World Cup final ticket listed at $143,750 on FIFA resale site

Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have skyrocketed on FIFA's official resale platform, with one seat for the final listed at $143,750—more than 41 times its original face value of $3,450. The surge comes just weeks after most tickets…

FIFA begins notifying fans of 2026 World Cup ticket lottery results

FIFA has begun notifying fans of the outcome of the Random Selection Draw for the 2026 World Cup, with applicants receiving emails starting February 5 revealing whether they secured tickets to this summer's tournament in the United States, Mexico, and…