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With just over 1,400 days to go until 2030 kicks off, the co-hosts are facing a series of challenges familiar to their South African predecessorsMorocco’s World Cup adventure came to a halt with their quarter-final defeat by France. But taking a break, even for a brief post-season summer, is no option for officials of the FRMF, the country’s football federation.The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), in its newly expanded 16-team format, begins in Rabat on Sunday, a week after the World Cup final in New Jersey, and Morocco then hosts the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in the autumn.The main focus, however, with just over 1,400 days before the start of the centenary 2030 World Cup finals, which Morocco will co-host, mainly with Spain and Portugal, is to ensure that preparations are professionally managed for the second World Cup to take place on African soil.With 50-60 billion Moroccan dirhams (£4bn-£4.8bn) budgeted for direct football investments, and further expenditure for infrastructure upgrades totalling a reported £17bn, the task is herculean. An International Monetary Fund assessment found that accelerated expenditure between 2024 and 2030 would amount to the equivalent of 11.9% of the country’s 2024 GDP.The Morocco 2030 Foundation – the country’s tournament preparation organisation, which started work in 2024 – has spent considerable time in the United States to learn from its organisation of the World Cup.Meetings with Spain and Portugal happen monthly “to align cooperation” and Fifa is expected to designate the host cities at the end of this year and decide whether it will revert to the local organising committee (LOC) model ditched for this year’s tournament because world football’s governing body managed preparations from its Miami office.“The World Cup, for Morocco, is beyond football; it is about developing infrastructure that would be beneficial for the country going forward,” said a leading official who declined to be named. “Our stadiums in Rabat and Tangier are 100% ready.”King Hassan II, who reigned for 38 years and died in July 1999, began the country’s quest to host the World Cup with a failed bid to stage the 1994 tournament. Three subsequent attempts – 2006, 2010 and 2026 – also failed, before Morocco got the 2030 nod, under its current monarch, King Mohammed VI.“Being in my 40s, I bear testimony to all the unsuccessful bids to host the World Cup,” says the journalist Amine El Amri. “Hosting a World Cup is a project that engages every Moroccan in a common dream, knowing that a World Cup comes with a cost, but also with a huge boost to the infrastructure of a very young and very demanding society.”Abderrahim Bourkia, a sports sociologist at the Institute of Sports Science in Settat, does not dismiss the view of those who question the World Cup’s importance to the country. “Others with political positions wonder whether the huge investments should be directed toward education, health, or employment,” he says.“Social status and educational background can shape perceptions too. Public opinion, therefore, remains somewhat ambivalent, reflecting differences in social background, political views, and economic expectations.“Morocco is investing heavily in transport infrastructure, airports, railways, stadiums, urban renewal and digital services. Beyond physical infrastructure, the country is strengthening its institutional capacity to organise mega-events, coordinate policies and improve governance.”Morocco would be well advised to draw on South Africa’s 2010 hosting knowledge. “Our experience shows that ‘success’ lies in planning for legacy, promoting national unity and ensuring infrastructure does not become a burden over the long term,” says Dennis Mumble, a former CEO of the South African Football Association, who was a member of the 2010 World Cup’s LOC.“Some stadiums can become a burden on the fiscus, if not utilised optimally. I don’t believe we built white elephants, but we may not have learned how to position these venues as multi-purpose venues, for concerts of global performers, multi-sports use, church and massive political events.”With many Moroccans apprehensive about the cost of hosting, Mumble tells a cautionary tale about South Africa’s experience. “There were significant cost overruns on the stadium development because the contractors knew the government approved the funds quite late. The result was predatory pricing imposed by contractors who knew we had no choice but to pay whatever they charged.“They were later [criminally] charged and convicted, paying relatively steep fines for this unlawful conduct. Planning to the most minute detail became everything for us.”Morocco is framing its co-hosting of the World Cup as “one with African colours”, but many within the continent’s football community, particularly its sub-Saharan members, are wondering whether, beyond the PR slogans, there will be genuine legacy benefits.Over the past decade, the FRMF has entered into bilateral cooperation agreements with the majority of football federations on the continent. With nearly half of African countries lacking first-rate pitches to stage international matches, forcing them to play official games outside their countries, Moroccan officials say a partnership with the Confederation of African Football to solve this is a part of its World Cup legacy programme.Mumble counsels, based on his experience in the four-year buildup to the 2010 event, that global reputation management will be as big a challenge for Morocco as the nuts-and-bolts preparations, with its political, economic and social issues put under closer media scrutiny.That is something Qatar, the 2022 host, knows a lot about, having had to deal with deeply negative criticism over the deaths of migrant workers and human rights abuses.

World Cup News

Spain midfielder Gavi does not believe Argentina's Leandro Paredes should be suspended for his part in the confrontation following the World Cup final.Argentina players Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada plus assistant coach Roberto Ayala all appeared to be involved in the fracas on the pitch as Spain celebrated their 1-0 win.Paredes seemed to push Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat and unused substitute Gavi tried to intervene but was forced to the ground by Almada.Paredes pushed the Barcelona midfielder to the turf by putting his hand in the Spaniard's face."I don't think [Paredes] should be suspended," Gavi told El Partidazo de COPE, external."I understand it's not a good image for children but I think there's also that side to football, which is a bit more physical, more aggressive."The most logical thing would have been to send him off during the match and that's it. In the end, I think it's all football and it has to be that way.""When the match ended, I saw a scuffle in the middle of the pitch and I went over to stop it from escalating, because that's not who we are," Ayala told Capital Radio in Valencia."I take responsibility for what I did. My intention was simply to go and separate them, nothing more."It was incorrectly reported on Fifa's commentator information system that Paredes had been sent off by referee Slavko Vincic for pushing Garcia by the throat.Paredes' red card was deleted on the system shortly afterwards and Fifa has confirmed to BBC Sport that no disciplinary action was taken at the time.Argentina's Enzo Fernandez was dismissed during the final, receiving a second yellow card in second-half added time.

World Cup News

The first 48-team World Cup had its positives and negatives – do we need to brace for a 64-team future?It was less than 12 months after Gianni Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter as president that Fifa announced the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams. The reaction was mixed. Diego Maradona said he was “delighted by Gianni’s initiative” because it allowed each country to dream of reaching the tournament, renewing their passion for football. Joachim Löw, then in charge of the world champions Germany, said: “I don’t think it’s a good idea to dilute the sporting value … In the long term, the quality suffers.”On the evidence of the first 48-team edition, won by Spain after 104 games across five-and-a-half weeks in North America, it’s fair to conclude Maradona and Löw both had a point.“Football is more than Europe and South America; football is global,” Infantino said after the 48-team format was announced in 2017, and the 2026 World Cup was undeniably a celebration of the sport’s diversity. Africa and Asia benefited more than other confederations when it came to greater qualifying quotas and all four debutants had their moments. Livano Comenencia’s equaliser for Curaçao against Germany was a group-stage highlight and Cape Verde were the tournament’s biggest underdog story, even if they didn’t win a game.Adding the last 32 also gave six nations the opportunity to play knockout football at a World Cup for the first time, with Egypt and Canada recording their first such wins. With Infantino likely to spread the tournament’s record revenues across Fifa’s member associations, you could argue that the smaller nations – especially those drawing on a previously untapped diaspora – will only get stronger in future tournaments.With a bigger tournament came a wider disparity between opponents in the group stage. At the last 32-team World Cup in Qatar, Brazil v Ghana was the biggest group mismatch, with a difference of 60 in their world rankings. In this tournament there were five group games with gaps of more than 65 places. Some of these were competitive – England 0-0 Ghana, Spain 0-0 Cape Verde. But there was little chance of a shock defeat for the big guns, let alone a humiliating group exit such as those endured by the holders Spain in 2014 or Germany in 2018. A poor Uruguay were the only major early casualty this time around.Whereas Costa Rica had the worst goal difference in 2022 (-8), there were five nations who either matched that or did worse in 2026. Iraq (-11) were the whipping boys in Group I – the closest to a group of death as the 48-team format could muster with France, Norway and Senegal, who all progressed in predictable fashion. The more pedestrian group stage did at least offer star names such as Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi a chance to gain some real momentum in a memorable race for the Golden Boot.After the drama of the 2022 group stage, where only two teams (about 6%) were officially out before the final round of fixtures, Fifa changed their plans for three-team groups for the expanded 48-team format and stuck with four-team groups, with eight third-place teams heading through to the last 32. This did not entirely bury the question of collusion between teams nor the fact that those playing later had a competitive advantage in knowing what result they needed to progress.Knockout opponents could also change in an instant. When Riyad Mahrez put Algeria 3-2 up against Austria in the 93rd minute of the final game in Group J, it meant Algeria would go through as runners-up to play Spain in the last 32. When they conceded an equaliser in the 96th minute, it meant they would face Switzerland on the other side of the draw. Players and fans of third-place finishers such as Scotland were also forced to hang around for several days before finding out they were, in fact, going home.With the shift from goal difference to head-to-head as a tie-breaker, there were five teams (about 10%) already eliminated before their final group game, the third-place system giving an illusion that everything would still be to play for.Infantino again stressed the importance of organising the World Cup “not just for Europe and South America” when he dropped the hint of an expansion to 64 teams. Adding an extra 16 nations – but only 24 more games – seems like a logical next step for Fifa if it wants to do away with the third-place system and return to the top-two-go-through group format. There would at least be some jeopardy, although the disparity within the groups would be even greater.Nations such as New Caledonia (ranked 151) and Indonesia (118) were involved in late-stage qualifying for the 2026 edition and could make it in with higher quotas. How would they fare against Spain or Argentina? And with the world’s 16 best teams all in the same pot, glamour group ties – which were already in short supply this time – would probably be a thing of the past. England 4-2 Croatia would not have happened with 64 teams.Then there is the logistical issue of playing four games a day for a three-week group stage – with many matches taking place during the summer daytime heat in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Of the 23 proposed venues, only the revamped Bernabéu and Camp Nou would have roofs. Further expansion will be a hot topic in the months to come, for sure.

World Cup News

Nationality in football is increasingly complex and the influence of players from the diaspora has never been higher at a World Cup“Nationality says where you come from. And I actually come from four countries: France, Algeria, Nigeria and Great Britain. I consider myself very lucky to possess these four parts, which all enrich me.” This view was given by Michael Olise. He set up seven goals at the World Cup, breaking Pelé’s record for the most assists at a single edition of the tournament. And he did so for France, one of four countries he was eligible to represent, but not the one in which he was born.The influence of players from the diaspora has never been higher at the World Cup. Four years ago, 16.5% of the players at the tournament were born in different nations from those for whom they played. That represented a 5.1% increase on 2018 and was the previous high for the tournament. No longer. Almost a quarter (23.6%) of the 1,248 players named in squads this year were selected by countries other than their birthplace. This proportion remained broadly consistent for the contribution these players made towards the minutes played, assists provided and goals scored. In a 48-team, 104-match tournament, these are big numbers.There were 70 goals either scored or assisted by footballers born in countries other than the one on their shirt, with a further 19 both set up and converted by such players. As much as the World Cup has never featured as many games, six of the first eight editions saw no more than 89 goals in total, regardless of whether players were born in the nation they represented or not.Not all goals are equal, though, especially at this level. World Cup moments become embedded within the collective consciousness of nations unlike almost anything else from any walk of life. All three host countries saw players born outside their borders make significant contributions. Colombia-born Julián Quiñones delivered the opening goal of the tournament in Mexico’s 2-0 win against South Africa. He scored in a further three matches, including in both knockout games that his team played.Malik Tillman was responsible for two goals and an assist for the USA. When he was replaced after setting up a goal against Paraguay by Gio Reyna (who went on to score), it meant a German-born player went off for one initially raised in England. Players born in the US in turn helped their neighbours. Jonathan David spent his early months in the country yet became a Canadian hero by scoring a hat-trick in their first ever World Cup win. A total of 12 players were born in one of the co-hosting nations but in the squad for another country.North America had nothing on France, though. Seventy-four players at the World Cup were born there without being on Didier Deschamps’ roster. While no squad can touch Curaçao’s for single impact from a specific other nation – with 25 of their 26 men being born in the Netherlands – the next five largest examples of one country providing players for another saw French-born footballers representing other teams.There were 140 combinations of birthplace and team where the two countries differed, helping to illustrate how national borders matter less than ever before in this competition. There were even siblings who proved this point, with some experiencing wildly different campaigns. Nico Williams assisted the winning goal in the final for his homeland Spain, enjoying a better tournament than brother Iñaki, who only reached the last 32. His Ghana side were helped by a goal from Derrick Luckassen, the Amsterdam-born defender whose half-brother Brian Brobbey was the Netherlands’ joint-leading scorer this summer.The Doué brothers were born in Angers, France, though while Désiré plays for the country, Guéla represents Côte d’Ivoire. It’s a similar story in the Souttar family, with Harry (Australia) and John (Scotland) choosing different paths despite both being born in Aberdeen.If one player sums up how the 2026 World Cup crossed borders in multiple ways like never before, it might be Nestory Irankunda. Born in Tanzania, he plays for Watford. The 20-year-old represented Australia and scored the opening goal of a victory against Turkey in Canada before he headed to Seattle to face the USA. His performances this summer have reportedly drawn the interest of Sporting, so he could be off to Portugal next.Nationality in football has never been so complex, nor more readily blurred in international competitions.

World Cup News

The best games, goals and personal highlights – from a magical Azteca to Erling Haaland breaking AmericaParaguay 1-1 Germany. There were plenty more games with more goals but none could match the drama of the penalty shootout in this last-32 tie. Germany aren’t supposed to lose in them but they did this time in spectacular fashion. Ed AaronsAlgeria 3-3 Austria was a completely strange fever dream, seeming to exist on a separate plane of reality. I know that sounds grandiose but remember, going into this one the expectation was that it would be a biscotto – a meaningless, pre-arranged kickabout where a draw would see both sides through. For a while in the second half, it looked like that would happen. And finally, in stoppage time, chaos. There were certainly better matches in terms of quality, and maybe a couple that had this beat for drama, but no game was weirder. Alexander AbnosFrom the 14 I attended, it has to be Mexico 2-3 England at the awesome Azteca. The buildup seemed to start as soon as the draw was made – fortunately the stars aligned and a grippingly tense game ensued in a venue like no other. It was a high point for England that should cut through despite later disappointments, too. Nick AmesFrance 4-6 England was borderline hilarious. Egypt 1-1 Iran in Seattle had plenty of late drama, Iran’s disallowed stoppage-time winner bookended by them twice hitting the woodwork in the final minutes. The draw ultimately proved insufficient for unbeaten Iran, faced with endless hurdles, to progress. Ben FisherArgentina 3-2 Egypt. The defending champions looked down and out, thinking about their flights home, before a late Lionel Messi-inspired comeback enabled them to claw back a two-goal deficit and win this last-16 match in normal time. Barry GlendenningMexico 2-3 England. I have decided that all my answers should relate to things that happened while I was at the tournament and this was one. I mean, I wasn’t there ticking off the “bucket list” of a visit to the Azteca (I think I saw at least half a dozen British hacks claim that), but I did watch it on TV. Besides being like drinking cortisol neat, this was so dramatic, the images so evocative, that even if you are an ardent England fan (as I am) this was pure cinema. Paul MacInnesI am biased here in the sense I attended it but Cape Verde 2-2 Uruguay in Miami was superb. Cape Verde’s attitude and discipline were a joy. Such fun to watch. Ewan MurrayArgentina 3-2 Egypt. Incredible drama, despite the questionable behaviour of the referee. Osasu ObayiuwanaTough to pick from over 100 options, but Mexico 2-3 England with Thomas Tuchel’s men surviving the vaunted Azteca and the best first half Mexico could have mustered narrowly takes this category. Jeff RueterBias says Mexico v England, but Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde was incredible, Sidny Lopes Cabral bending it top right. Max RushdenFor improbable wonder there was Argentina v Cape Verde, for sheer unpredictability there was Mexico v England. Often, though, one is drawn to something more predictable, more familiar: England 1-2 Argentina. Jack SnapeArgentina 3-2 Cape Verde. It’s not a debate. Jacob SteinbergArgentina 3-2 Egypt. The possibility of a shock, a great Messi-inspired turnaround, a couple of great goals, refereeing controversy … what else do you want? Jonathan WilsonRodri was the standout player for the best team in a tournament where the big stars came to the party but all ultimately fell short. EAKylian Mbappé. Yes, his Golden Boot was padded a bit by that insane third-place game, but the France striker was the best player on what looked to be the best team in the tournament ... at least until that loss to Spain in the semi-final. AAIt’s impossible to look further than Rodri, who looks back to his best and absolutely in his element as the fulcrum of this Spain setup. Otherwise it was good to see a World Cup where the stars largely shone. Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Messi and Mbappé were all one more decisive knockout display away from rising above the rest. NARodri. Michael Olise was majestic, though should have scored a hat-trick against England. Bellingham was equally instrumental for Tuchel’s side – it is crazy to think there were people questioning his inclusion in the squad. BFVozinha. What a man. I think it’s largely because his story is so relatable in these parts – middle-aged man finally receives the plaudits he has always deserved! – but the saves were also top drawer. Add in the pedigree of the teams he either shut out or frustrated, and this was an actual fairytale that didn’t need to be spun by any marketing department. And did you know that he’s 40? PMVozinha, the Cape Verde goalkeeper. At 40, and without a club, he was brilliant for the World Cup debutants. OOWhile Rodri is an incredibly worthy Golden Ball winner and others made their marks, Erling Haaland leaves this World Cup with the greatest possible souvenirs: a credible if short Golden Boot campaign, a famous first Norwegian foray into the quarter-final stage, and perhaps the biggest boost in star appeal in the lucrative North American market. JRHard not to say Rodri although I thought Dani Olmo was great too, and a shout for Pico Lopes. MRHaaland, Mbappé and Messi have lived up to expectations. But in those moments where a contest teeters – evading pressure with the ball, in transition to defence or staring down a 50-50 – no player has shown his quality more consistently than Rodri. JSnRodri. If only England had a player like the Spain captain. JStRodri. As Spain have reverted to a more possession-driven model, their metronome in midfield has been the outstanding figure, setting the tempo and providing control. JWFor sheer drama, it has to be Sidny Lopes Cabral’s brilliant equaliser for Cape Verde against Argentina. His reaction was almost as good as the goal itself, clasping his hands to his head before picking out his girlfriend in the crowd to celebrate with. EAI mean, it’s Sidny Lopes Cabral v Argentina. But I feel that the goal from Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov against the Democratic Republic of the Congo deserves mention too: an instinctive, oddly satisfying lob from a tight angle. No other goal in the tournament was quite like it. AAJulián Alvarez had a largely quiet World Cup but his vicious, swerving long-range goal in extra time against Switzerland was a jaw-dropping moment and lit up the cauldron-like stadium in Kansas City. NAThose seen in the flesh always seem to score more points. A buzz surrounded Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegovic coming into the tournament and the 18-year-old eliminating a clutch of defenders and blasting in, off balance, from the outside of the box against Qatar only enhanced his reputation. Johan Manzambi’s run and pass in the buildup to Breel Embolo’s opener against Algeria was also a joy. BFWhile Morocco’s superior quality would ultimately see them through their group-stage win against Haiti, Wilson Isidor’s breathtaking long-range strike to put the Caribbean nation 2-1 up was as good a goal as any scored in the World Cup. Ever. BGI had the privilege of reading the paper by the Seoul Women’s University on the aerodynamic effect known as “drag crisis” which is particularly common when people smack an Adidas Trionda, so as such I thought a lot of the big hits were overrated. I do, however, exempt Sidny Lopes Cabral from that critique. Absolute long-range worldie from the Cape Verde full-back-cum-winger. That it pegged Argentina to parity in extra time of a knockout round only made it more memorable. PMHarry Kane’s second for England against DRC. EMSidny Lopes Cabral of Cape Verde, against Argentina. Magical goal. OOI will never, in all my years, be able to recreate the sound that left my body as Sidny Lopes Cabral’s audacious effort against Argentina completed its curl between a diving Emi Martínez and his far post. Masterful execution in an unprecedented moment. One of many proud moments for Cape Verde at this tournament. JRBeyond Sidny Lopes Cabral – the disallowed Uzbekistan one (was it Uzbekistan?) – someone walloped one into the top left-hand corner and it didn’t count. MRErling Haaland’s second against Brazil, placed into the bottom-right corner from outside the box to seal the upset, was a microcosm of his effectiveness at the tournament: precise and powerful with a hint of whimsy. JSnSidny Lopes Cabral’s equaliser for Cape Verde against Argentina was a proper jaw-dropping moment. One of the great World Cup goals. JStWilson Isidor v Morocco. There were more consequential goals, but none struck quite as sweetly or quite as accurately. If Haiti have nothing else, they’ll always have that. JWIt was a joy to watch Eloy Room’s performance in goal for Curaçao against Ecuador as he broke the World Cup record for the most saves made in a 90-minute match. While Cape Verde’s veteran Vozinha stole most of the headlines for his heroics, the 37-year-old Room clearly enjoyed his moment in the spotlight. “I think I need a statue in Curaçao now,” he joked. EAMy first visit to the Azteca was Mexico’s win over Ecuador and I’ve never heard a noise like it. The place really is as magical and monumental as they say. The celebrations afterwards weren’t conducive to a good night’s sleep but were incredible in scale too. Football-wise I’ll also add Messi’s record-breaking goals against Austria in Dallas, which seem an awfully long time ago now but were such a thrill to witness. Those early Argentina games were essentially mass Messi pilgrimages. One more? The view from Monterrey Stadium. Just go, if you can. NAWatching Senegalese journalists pass around a pack of malted milks during their anthem before their collapse against Belgium. And playing eight-a-side with Danny Cipriani, who once spent six weeks training at Tottenham, Harry Kane among his teammates, will stick in the memory. BFWatching my Irish compatriot Roberto “Pico” Lopes excel while repeatedly putting his body on the line for Cape Verde, his father’s homeland. It would be nice to think Pico’s performances will earn him a life-changing move to a more lucrative league in the twilight of his career but his age could stand against him and he may well be content with being a Shamrock Rovers and Cape Verde legend. BGExplaining to a mariachi in a gigantic sombrero how it could possibly be that a team in third could get through the group and how it might still be Spain turning up at the Azteca. Alas, it wasn’t. Sharing a birthday with Martin Ainstein and Luis de la Fuente and my family. And watching a motorcade with the Spain bus pass from the sixth-floor window where Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK was pretty surreal. SLI loved watching both France eviscerate Sweden and the Instagram reels of Americans acting like they thought the Tartan Army had permanently changed their lives. PMPlayers running out to warm-up to the tune of Scotland the Brave, via bagpipes, before the game against Haiti in Foxborough. Scotland’s 28-year World Cup wait was over. The less said about all that happened next, the better. EMSeeing Vozinha’s mum, against all expectations, travelling from Cape Verde to the World Cup to see her son play. OOHaving covered the nation’s third-to-fifth most popular sport for more than a decade and lived through ICE’s heinous occupation of Minnesota this winter, the sheer scale of interest in soccer was overwhelming and so invigorating – a welcome reprieve in the isolationist second Trump era. Impossible to go through a couple of hours in a World Cup host city without some stranger striking up a conversation about the sport. Long may this remain a part of American society. JRShouting Paraguay. Number 10. Cover his mouth. Decision is RED CARD. Jonathan Wilson thinking Robbie Williams was Kevin Pietersen. Mark Langdon’s chow mein bridge. The pancakes at Mile End Deli. Doing a live show in Manhattan and legitimately getting to say “HELLO NEW YORK!” MRCovering Australia, the tournament petered out from an extraordinary high. Twenty-six minutes into the Socceroos’ opening victory against Turkey, goalscorer Nestory Irankunda revived Tim Cahill’s goal celebration in a ceremonial handover to mark a new generation. JSnBeing at the Azteca for Mexico 2-3 England. It did not have the most quality but it was hard to beat as an occasion. An epic night at an iconic stadium. A thunderstorm pushing kick-off back, a brilliant display from Bellingham, everyone exhausted when it was over. Things didn’t end well for England but this was easily their greatest away win. JStStanding knee-deep in raging floods in Monterrey waiting for a bus having only gone to the stadium to collect a mislaid iPad that I then lost in Houston a week later anyway. That or the weirdly beautiful flyovers outside Dallas. JWThe level of interest from the American public surprised me and it was fascinating to meet so many who were interested in what was happening in the tournament. Many people in the US definitely caught World Cup fever. Logistically it was a real test of endurance with so much travelling required between venues and that wasn’t helped by so many being miles from the city centre. And it would have been much better to have played the final in Mexico City or Atlanta’s impressive downtown stadium. EAI felt unfortunate not to make it to any games in Mexico and only one in Canada. But overall I’m happy that the everyday people who populate the US seemed to show visitors their good side throughout the month. This country has plenty of infrastructure issues I’d like to have seen fixed, but the personal impact is arguably more important, and it seems like the US mostly got that right. AAIf first impressions are everything then I refer you to the often troubling weirdness of the Texas Republican party convention in Houston. But more seriously I was very happy, in the US, to find the hoped-for warmth and openness pretty much everywhere – and in bundles. In their different ways, people really did engage with the World Cup. Less welcome was the US administration’s attempt, duly pandered to by Fifa, to bend the course of the tournament with Folarin Balogun’s reprieve. In Mexico I found a fervent, febrile, fascinating football culture that deserved not to be dwarfed by other co-hosts. NAAmericans love a big-ticket event but it was clear they were hooked by Mauricio Pochettino’s side as they progressed. It was a privilege to witness Canada’s first World Cup game on home soil in Toronto, where there was a match-day buzz and an afterglow despite being held to a draw by Bosnia and Herzegovina. BFWhile I didn’t meet Donald Trump, the handful of Americans whose acquaintance I did make – hotel staff, a few bartenders and one LA-based reality TV show star – could not have been friendlier. BGSo many people came up to us to say they really hoped we were enjoying this and that we understood that that wasn’t them. We did and they were so nice. SLI spent two days in Toronto, around Canada Day, and I think they were both welcoming and very keen to hear that they qualified as an actual football nation. People in the US were pleasant, although for travelling fans most experiences will have been complicated by the ubiquitous request for a tip. I did think, though, that sometimes there was an expectation that we should all be delighted to be there. Which we were, but perhaps not for the reasons some wanted. PMCanada and Mexico? Excellent. US stadiums were first class, as was the extent to which the nation embraced the World Cup. It is just impossible to ignore the stench of the Balogun situation. EMOn an on-field football level? Far from spectacular. The US needs a new player-development architecture to ensure there is a pipeline of high-quality players. They also need a new head coach, with the right vision for the future. Tournament organisation? The fact that Fifa took direct control of it should be a cautionary tale. A local organising committee is always needed. OOAll three co-hosts fared about as well as I had projected, but each may have exceeded my expectations in terms of how they went about it. Canada were thrilling at times – I covered their 6-0 win over Qatar at BC Place – and had plenty of pluck with Jesse Marsch as their coach-cum-hype man. The USA played some of the prettiest soccer ever seen by a US national team of any gender, and will for ever rue a missed opportunity to do something greater against Belgium. Mexico were one of the biggest bandwagon teams as they barnstormed Group A, then outclassed an Ecuador team on the rise and pushed England to the brink until they ran out of ideas in the final half-hour. Jobs well done across the board. JRI had six weeks in America. All the Americans were lovely. MRThis tournament put the whirled in the World Cup, its scale ensuring it evaded generalisation. Cities such as Vancouver and Seattle – with downtown stadiums and soccer traditions – were fitting hosts, while metropolises such as Dallas and San Francisco accommodated the month-long novelty without embracing it. JSnThe people in Mexico could not have been more welcoming, even when England beat their side. It was the same in Kansas City, England’s base and where I spent most of my time. On the other hand it would have been better if getting around some US cities was easier. Public transport infrastructure isn’t really a thing in some places. Florida especially. The Boston traffic was ridiculous, too. JStA wide range depending on venue but broadly friendly, welcoming and enthusiastic. Would benefit from improved public transport and generally lower volume. Wifi hopeless, coffee weak. JW

World Cup News

The next men’s World Cup is still four years away, but we take a look at the teams with the firmest foundations who should be primed to contendThe 2026 World Cup provided many an esteemed veteran with what could be their international swansongs, with golden greats Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Neymar, James Rodríguez and Guillermo Ochoa all making teary exits as their tournament ended. As we turn ahead to the 2030 World Cup, any player 32 or older will be sweating their selection status and changing their daily routines to stay sharp against inevitable aging.For these power rankings, we’re overvaluing sure things. Teams with plenty of leading players comfortably in their 20s can build for this impending four-year cycle with greater confidence than a team replacing an ageless talisman. Consider these the 10 teams with the firmest foundations and viable reasons to hope to reach a quarter-final in four years’ time.Mentioned players’ ages on 1 June 2030 listed (in parentheses).The first defending World Cup champion to host the ensuing installment, Spain will enter 2030 as favorites to run it back. With Luis de la Fuente’s masterful sense of his team’s strengths and universal commitment from his players, this group could develop into a juggernaut.Unai Simón (32), Joan García (29) and David Raya (34) could repeat as the goalkeeping trio. Marc Pubill (26), Eric García (29), Pedro Porro (30) and Pau Cubarsí (23) are a solid defensive bedrock. Dani Olmo (32), Gavi (25) and Pedri (27) should return in midfield, while Rodri (33) stands a good chance to start at the midfield’s base. Nico Williams (27) and Lamine Yamal (22) will hope to enjoy better fitness but demonstrated their importance in the final stages, and Ferran Torres (30) may be a threat from the bench again.And, of course, there’s great talent beyond the title-winning 26. Dean Huijsen (25) and Cristhian Mosquera (25) are options to replace Aymeric Laporte (36), while Fermin López (27), Pablo Barrios (26), Javier Guerra (27), Marc Bernal (23) and Jesús Rodríguez (24) have featured under de la Fuente. If Samu Aghehowa (26) or Gonzalo García (26) can become a viable option at striker, Spain could wring even more goals from their possessive machine – a scary thought, indeed.A fresh touchline voice arrives just in time, with Zinedine Zidane replacing the great Didier Deschamps after decreasing returns across his three World Cups. What lessons can Zizou glean from their stunning semi-final crumble against Spain?Mike Maignan (34) should have another cycle in his capable gloves, shielded by Dayot Upamecano (31), Ibrahima Konaté (31) and William Saliba (29). The midfield is in good stead with Manu Koné (29) and Aurélien Tchouaméni (30), as well as squad snubs Eduardo Camavinga (27) and Khéphren Thuram (29). Kylian Mbappé (31) will be raring to extend his goalscoring record with Michael Olise (28) and Désiré Doué (24) in support. Talent wasn’t the issue so much as overcoming Spain’s structure, and for all his success with Real Madrid, Zidane impressed more with his squad management than his tactical chops.The Three Lions showed impressive resolve, outlasting Mexico in an instant classic and coming back against Norway to return to the semi-final. Their timid failures to close out a 2-0 lead over Argentina will haunt many, but the reality is that England are poised for a very strong response at Euro 2028 and the next World Cup – with one glaring asterisk.Marc Guéhi (29) looked a leading center-back for much of the tournament, with Djed Spence (29) having finished the World Cup in top form. Declan Rice (31), Elliot Anderson (27), Jude Bellingham (26) and Kobbie Mainoo (25) offer plenty of midfield combinations, and Bukayo Saka (28) and Anthony Gordon (29) fared well on the wings. The biggest question is whether Harry Kane can be a 90-minute option at age 36, as England hasn’t yet found an obvious successor to their leading goalscorer. Goalkeeper should also be an open battle, but players who missed Thomas Tuchel’s squad such as Lewis Hall (25), Cole Palmer (28), Adam Wharton (26), Alex Scott (26), Phil Foden (30), Rio Ngumoha (21) and Ayden Heaven (23) reiterate the depth of the pool.The groundwork is excellent for another of 2030’s primary co-hosts. Back-to-back World Cup quarter-final runs, with one berth in the semis. Legal custody of the Afcon 2025 title. A freshly installed coach who got more verve from his side without sacrificing stability. Can Morocco take things a step or two further in 2030?Achraf Hakimi (31), Chadi Riad (26), Anass Salah-Eddine (28) and Noussair Mazraoui (32) project to stick around in defense. Ayyoub Bouaddi (22) should be even better after his emergent World Cup, along with his midfield partner Azzedine Ounahi (30). Ismael Saibari (29) was a safe bet to score before his injury, while Bilal El Khannouss (26), Gessime Yassine (24) and Brahim Díaz (30) also challenge any backline.Morocco won the most recent U-20 World Cup, led by forwards Othmane Maamma (24) and Yassir Zabiri (25) as well as goalkeeper Ibrahim Gomis (25). If goalkeeping hero Yassine Bounou (39) can somehow stay in his usual blistering form, they’ll be a tough draw for anybody.Argentina’s run to the final reiterated how uniquely vital Messi was to his team, both as the determinant of their attack and the heart every teammate fought hard to protect. He is, by every definition of the word, irreplaceable.Then again, Argentina were not just a one-man band. Julián Álvarez (30) has grown increasingly comfortable as a leading man, and should again be backed up by lethal Lautaro Martínez (32). Enzo Fernández (33) has a lot of apologies to give after his send-off, but should anchor midfield this cycle. Nahuel Molina (32), Cristian Romero (32) and Lisandro Martínez (32) will be veteran defenders, while Emiliano Martínez (37) should have plenty left to offer. They also were runners-up at the last U-20 World Cup, with standouts including midfielder Milton Delgado (24), left-back Julio Soler (25) and goalkeeper Santino Barbi (24).Portugal were left to wonder what could have been with a more natural and mobile line-leader atop an otherwise terrific team. Ronaldo has admitted he won’t play in the 2030 tournament at age 45, and the biggest question will become whether Roberto Martínez squandered this generation’s best chance to win a first World Cup.Diogo Costa (30) is among the world’s best goalkeepers, with Gonçalo Inácio (28) and Nuno Mendes (27) forming a strong defensive base. António Silva (26) will hope to get his promising career back on track, seemingly with Bournemouth, while João Neves (25) and Vitinha (30) would start in nearly any nation’s midfield. Gonçalo Ramos (28), João Félix (30) and Francisco Conceição (27) return in attack, too. But with the list of aging players including the great Bruno Fernandes (35), Bernardo Silva (35) and Rúben Dias (33), it’s hard not to feel the best opportunity has been missed.Few will underestimate Norway after their deserved run to the quarter-final, with a culture in and around the team that became the envy of the summer. Many of their men should be back in four years, including the main-est man of all.Few people seemed to have enjoyed this World Cup as much as Erling Haaland (29), who should still be devastating defenses when the next one comes around. Andreas Schjelderup (26), Antonio Nusa (25) and Oscar Bobb (26) are credible running mates in the final third, while Martin Ødegaard (31) will hope to shirk his injury bugs to pull the strings once again. There will need to be ample rotation in the defensive half and in goal, but as long as Haaland is leading the line, Norway will stand a chance.The Elephants impressed in a tricky Group E, beating Ecuador and Curaçao before falling to Norway in the last-32. If Emerse Faé is back to lead this team, he’ll enjoy an immense level of talent to work with as (part of) the tournament returns to Africa.Yahia Fofana (29) is steady in goal, his job made easier by the collective defending of Ousmane Diomande (26), Odilon Kossounou (29) and Wilfried Singo (29). Their forward options pose champagne selection issues: Amad Diallo (27), Oumar Diakité (26), Elye Wahi (27), Yan Diomandé (23), Simon Adingra (28) and Ange-Yoan Bonny (26). Midfield appears to be their only thin area especially if Franck Kessié (33) ages out of starting status. But on paper, and on the back of a first World Cup knockout match and the Afcon 2023 title, they’re a team to watch.While the legion of club managers making their World Cup debuts in 2026 saw mixed returns, Jürgen Klopp has four years to build his ideal culture and refine a new system for Die Mannschaft. That seems a dream scenario after a trio of disappointing tournaments on the back of 2014’s triumph.The bigger question is whether Germany have the players. An injury to Lennart Karl (22) on the eve of the World Cup put a damper on preparations, but the Bayern playmaker would be a welcome addition. Kai Havertz (30) should pop up with timely goals, while Florian Wirtz (27) and Jamal Musiala (27) will hope to arrive in better form and fitness. Nathaniel Brown (26) looks to be an ideal wing-back for the next few cycles, and Joshua Kimmich (35) has already dismissed concerns that he may retire before Klopp arrives. That’s a relief given how much turnover will be necessary from this summer’s squad in the defensive half.The Balogun Affair stripped the sheen off of what had been the US’s most promising men’s World Cup showing to date. Mauricio Pochettino’s status for the next cycle is uncertain. Still, the Americans’ run to the last 16 saw many players of a similar age group step up and project to be mainstays.Folarin Balogun (28) should be an even more refined forward to follow his three-goal showing this summer, while Malik Tillman (28) offers strong dead-ball service and tidy midfield play. Chris Richards (30), Tyler Adams (31), Weston McKennie (31), Christian Pulisic (31) and Alex Freeman (25) will probably continue to be foundational pieces, while Sebastian Berhalter (29), Gio Reyna (27) and Ricardo Pepi (27) should stick around after capable World Cup showings. A 12th-place finish still indicates a last-16 exit that has become the frustrating norm for the US, but perhaps the lessons of a high-pressure hosting gig will really pay off in four years.

World Cup News

Many Black Americans were not cheering Spain’s complicated history. They were rooting against the racism, politics and silence associated with ArgentinaThere are moments in sports when you realize people aren’t just watching the score any more. They’re watching values. They’re watching who speaks. They’re watching who stays silent. And they’re watching what those silences say.I found myself thinking about that throughout this World Cup. On paper, Sunday’s final looked simple. Spain v Argentina. Two footballing giants and countries with glorious soccer histories. Two nations whose pasts are also stained by colonization, oppression and chapters of history that shouldn’t be whitewashed simply because someone can score a goal.So no, this wasn’t some fairytale of good versus evil. Spain’s colonial legacy is well documented. Nobody who knows history should pretend otherwise.Yet for many Black Americans, this final wasn’t really about rooting for Spain. It was about rooting against Argentina.When your fanbase repeatedly becomes associated with racist incidents … when videos circulate of Argentinian fans decked out in Argentina team gear hurling racial epithets toward Black people … when the world watched members of Argentina’s national team sing a racist chant targeting France’s Black players after winning Copa América … when American streamer IShowSpeed was verbally assaulted by fans fully dressed in Argentina team gear … when word spreads across social media that in Argentina, there is a real hamburger business in Llavallol whose official name uses the “-a” version of the N-word: “Big N– Burgers” … when Argentina president Javier Milei openly embraces positions that align very closely with Donald Trump and offers support for Israel in the midst of a genocide, ethnic cleansing and slaughter of Palestinians … when Benjamin Netanyahu is asked on a recent podcast if he was rooting for Messi and says, “No, before Messi, Milei. He’s a superstar” … eventually, the tide of supports shifts. After a while, any accomplishments on the field become overshadowed.It’s like a college basketball coach who has all the appearances of a great program. He has a great winning percentage and a high graduation rate, and all of his players are disciplined, articulate and present themselves as professionals. But you keep hearing stories of verbal abuse and berating, whispers of a tyrant coach who is actively damaging his players’ mental health. At some point, the results become secondary and people start asking, “What’s going on with the Indiana Hoosiers?”Argentina kept giving people reasons to ask that question. Which brings us to Lionel Messi.This is where people get uncomfortable because everybody loves Messi, and for good reason. His brilliance doesn’t require exaggeration. His résumé speaks louder than any sports debate ever could. Whether you think he’s the greatest player ever or merely one of them – shoutout to Pelé – you’re arguing over different shades of greatness.But greatness on the field has never automatically translated into courage off it.Muhammad Ali taught us that. Bill Russell taught us that. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf taught us that. Craig Hodges taught us that. John Carlos and Tommie Smith taught us that. Being extraordinary with a ball, a bat or track shoes isn’t the same thing as being willing to risk comfort for conviction.To my knowledge, throughout this entire World Cup, Messi never publicly condemned the racist incidents involving sections of Argentina’s fanbase. He did not publicly address the racist chant that drew worldwide criticism after Copa América. Nor has he publicly spoken out after videos of Argentina supporters racially abusing Black people circulated online.He didn’t even offer the kind of broad, indirect condemnation that many critics argued was insufficient when Caitlin Clark addressed racist abuse coming from some of her supporters. As my co-host Chuck Modi argued on our show The Collision: Where Sports and Politics Collide:“She has to be more specific. When Alyssa Thomas was getting death threats, she has to say Alyssa Thomas by name, and say directly to her fans that you cannot have death threats going to Alyssa Thomas in my name the same way we as Jewish people say not in my name for Palestinian rights. She needs to use all of her clout and tell her fans this is unacceptable.”Messi did not even clear that lower bar. He offered no public statement at all addressing the racism carried out by some of his supporters.As Dr Martin Luther King Jr said in his Beyond Vietnam speech: “A time comes when silence is betrayal.”Sometimes silence becomes its own statement simply because the loudest voice in the room chose not to use it. Contrast that with the generation coming after Messi.Lamine Yamal has spoken openly about his family’s sacrifices. He has recalled how his father searched through discarded items that could be repaired or sold so there would be enough money for food. He has said he grew up in a tiny apartment where the kitchen and bedroom were one and the same. Today, he says what makes him happiest is seeing his mother smile and knowing his younger brother can enjoy the childhood he never had.Nico Williams carries a similarly powerful story. His mother, María, walked nearly 2,000 miles while pregnant, from Ghana toward Spain, in search of a better life. Decades later, her son set up the goal that won Spain the World Cup and then placed his winner’s medal around her neck.Spain’s triumph was never just about tactics, possession or technical excellence. It was about possibility. It was a team that reflected the modern Spain – diverse, confident and shaped by the journeys of families who crossed borders in pursuit of a better life. That, more than any passing sequence or tactical innovation, was their most powerful statement.After Spain defeated Argentina on Sunday, one image stood out to me: Lamine Yamal embracing Messi. No taunting or chest-pounding or disrespect, just respect from one generation to another. Like the old African Proverb says: “The lion doesn’t need to roar after every meal.”Another image that resonated was seeing Lamine Yamal kneel in prayer amid the chaos around him while emotions boiled over after the match. While others argued, he prayed. That image reminded me that composure can be louder than confrontation.Lamine Yamal has also shown a willingness to let people know where he stands on issues beyond football, including expressing solidarity with Palestine. Whether people agree with every public stance an athlete takes is almost beside the point. The point is that he is willing to recognize that his platform extends beyond 90 (or 120) minutes on the field.Jackie Robinson wasn’t remembered simply because he stole bases. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar isn’t remembered simply because he had the most unstoppable move the NBA has ever seen. Colin Kaepernick isn’t remembered simply because of his dual-threat quarterbacking skills. Eventually the statistics become paragraphs, but character becomes chapters.That’s why comparisons between Messi and Ali don’t really work for me. One changed football forever, but the other changed the world.Some people have asked why so many Black Americans seemed emotionally invested in seeing Argentina lose. I don’t think it’s complicated. When you’ve spent your entire life hearing people tell you sports and politics should stay separate – but somehow they only say that after racism enters the conversation – you start recognizing the pattern.People told Ali to “just box”. People told Kaepernick to “just play football”. People told LeBron James to “shut up and dribble”. People effectively accused Jaylen Brown of being “uppity”. Apparently athletes are free to use their platforms – unless they’re using them for something that makes people uncomfortable.That’s always been the rule, until it isn’t.This World Cup became about more than goals because people made it about more than goals. Racism made it bigger. Politics made it bigger. Silence made it bigger. For many viewers, supporting Spain wasn’t an endorsement of Spain’s history; it was simply rejecting what Argentina had come to represent in this particular moment. Sometimes cheering isn’t about choosing perfection, but about choosing the option that feels less harmful.Maybe that’s why so many people found themselves drawn to this young generation. Not simply because they won, but because they represent the possibility that excellence and conviction don’t have to play on different teams. To quote Abdul-Rauf from our interview for my book Police Brutality and White Supremacy: The Fight Against American Traditions: “What you do speaks so loudly in my ears that I can’t hear a word you’re saying.”

World Cup News

Plus: the most World Cup assists, Ballon d’Or winners with fewest caps and what happens to World Cup balls?Mail us with your all of your questions and answers“Adding the World Cup to his résumé means Rodri has now won the World Cup, the European Championship, the Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or,” writes Owen Bagnall. “Has anyone else ‘completed football’ like this?”Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller were the first to complete the set, doing so on the same day – 7 July 1974 – when West Germany beat the Netherlands to win the World Cup (Müller scoring the winner). The pair had come into that tournament on the back of a Bayern Munich’s 1974 European Cup-winning campaign and had both won the European Championship with Die Mannschaft two years earlier, Der Kaiser captaining all three sides and Der Bomber scoring in all three finals. Müller had won the Ballon d’Or in 1970 and Beckenbauer in 1972.It was nearly 30 years before anyone would match those achievements, Zinedine Zidane doing so by winning the Champions League with Real Madrid (and scoring that goal) in 2002. That trophy went on the shelf with the 1998 World Cup, 1998 Ballon d’Or and 2000 European Championship.Rivaldo joined the club the following year. Having won the Copa América with Brazil in 1999 and the Ballon d’Or the same year, the 2002 World Cup and the 2003 Champions League competed the set with the only caveat the fact that he was an unused substitute for Milan in that final against Juventus, though he had played throughout the competition.Similarly, Ronaldinho’s claim carries a tiny asterisk, with the forward a member of the Brazil squad at the 1999 Copa América but an unused sub in the final. Still, he got the medal and went on to add the 2002 World Cup, the 2005 Ballon d’Or and the 2006 Champions League with Barcelona.In very predictable news, Lionel Messi also has the full quartet, winning the Champions League for the first time in 2006 as a member of the Barcelona squad but playing a full role in their 2009 win in any case. The Ballon d’Or followed in 2009, then came the long wait for international honours, finally arriving with the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup.And finally Rodri joined the club on Sunday, adding the World Cup to the 2023 Champions League, 2024 Euros and 2024 Ballon d’Or. Only Beckenbauer scooped all four quicker, with his set coming within the space of two years.The full quartet is yet to be achieved in the women’s game, due in large part to the Ballon d’Or Féminin being just seven editions old. Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí have won five of those between them and both have a Champions League and a World Cup under their belts … but they will have to wait until the 2029 European Championship for another chance to complete the set. Megan Rapinoe, winner of the Ballon d’Or Féminin in 2019, also has a World Cup and a Concacaf W Championship to her name but a continental club championship eluded her (unsurprisingly, given Concacaf only set one up in 2024).“Who has the most World Cup assists?” wonders Michael Ross.This is one of those questions that should be straightforward but isn’t. The stats from the early days of the tournament don’t really exist in any meaningful way and the absence of TV footage means they are lost to history. So we can only be anywhere near accurate from 1966 onwards – and the upshot is the 2026 tournament (perhaps predictably given the number of games played by the final four) produced a new record for assists at an individual tournament by one player, while a new name (yes, the one you’d think) rose to the summit of the all-time list.Most assists at one tournament (from 1966) 7 Michael Olise (France, 2026)6 Pelé (Brazil, 1970)5 Robert Gadocha (Poland, 1974), Pierre Littbarski (West Germany, 1982), Diego Maradona (Argentina, 1986), Thomas Hässler (West Germany, 1994)4 Siggi Held (West Germany, 1966), Tostão (Brazil, 1970), Zico (Brazil, 1982), Igor Belanov (USSR, 1986), Michael Ballack (Germany, 2002), Francesco Totti (Italy, 2006), Juan Román Riquelme (Argentina, 2006), Juan Cuadrado (Colombia, 2014), Bruno Guimarães (Brazil, 2026), Brahim Díaz (Morocco, 2026), Lionel Messi (Argentina, 2026), Martin Ødegaard (Norway, 2026), Kylian Mbappé (France, 2026).Most assists overall (from 1966) 12 Lionel Messi (Argentina, 2006-26)8 Diego Maradona (Argentina, 1982-94)7 Grzegorz Lato (Poland, 1974-82), Pierre Littbarski (West Germany, 1982-90), Michael Olise (France, 2026)6 Pelé (Brazil, 1966-70), Uwe Seeler (West Germany, 1966-70) Thomas Hässler (Germany, 1990-98), David Beckham (England, 1998-2006), Francesco Totti (Italy, 2002-06), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, 2006-14), Thomas Müller (Germany, 2010-22), Ivan Perisic (Croatia, 2014-26), Kylian Mbappé (France, 2018-26).Most England assists 6 David Beckham4 Harry Kane3 Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon2 Tommy Taylor, Bobby Moore, Keith Newton, Steve Hodge, Paul Gascoigne, Harry Maguire, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice.“When reading about King Kev at his sad passing this week, I was surprised to learn that he only had 63 caps,” writes Steve Richards. “That seems very low, especially for a two-time Ballon d’Or winner. Is his number of caps the lowest for a Ballon d’Or winner, especially a multi-winner?”International fixtures were simply fewer and further between back in the day, so plenty of early Ballon d’Or winners won fewer than 50 caps, including Luis Suárez (Spain, 32 caps), Igor Belanov (USSR, 33) and George Best (Northern Ireland, 37).But the Ballon d’Or winner with the fewest caps is 1961 winner Omar Sívori, who picked up 19 for Argentina in the mid 1950s before moving to Italy and being exiled by La Albiceleste. He then made nine appearances for Italy in the 60s – including at the 1962 World Cup – for a grand total of 28 international appearances. Plenty of fascinating detail on his career can be found in his Guardian obituary, written by Brian Glanville in 2005.Of the multiple winners, Alfredo Di Stéfano won the fewest caps with 41 for Spain, Colombia and Argentina to go along with his 1957 and 1959 Ballons d’Or. Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten, both three-time winners, won 48 and 58 caps respectively for the Netherlands.“What happens to World Cup balls used throughout the tournament,” asked Jonathan Wilson (not that one) in 2014.In total 3,240 balls were used throughout the 2014 World Cup, 20 for each match – all printed with matchday personalisation (teams, date and venue) and each team were also given 20 training balls on arrival at their training camp in Brazil. So where do they go? “The balls are used after a tournament for souvenirs for the teams and referees, host cities, Fifa partners and the Fifa museum,” a Fifa spokesperson told us. Specifically Adidas, manufacturer of the ball, says: “For this World Cup we opted for all used matchballs from the games to be given to the marketing teams in those countries involved in that particular game. However, not all markets opted to take up this option. Each local market team is then encouraged to run a giveaway through social media to allow fans the chance to win the balls.”“In the aftermath of England’s semi-final exit we may have overlooked the real winner on the evening,” begins James Mackenzie. “Step forward Barcelona’s Anthony Gordon. Not only did he join the club of being a World Cup semi-final goal scorer for England he also bagged arguably the bigger award of a lifetime’s free access to Leeds Bradford airport’s VIP lounge! Are there any better example of a more ludicrous consolation prize in football?”“I noticed that Irish Premier Division side Shelbourne recently appointed John Russell as the men’s team manager,” writes Alan Kinsella. “Their women’s team manager is Sean (Irish for John) Russell. They aren’t related. Is this a first having men’s and women’s team managers of the same name?”“In August 1968, Plymouth Argyle hosted Exeter City in the first round of the League Cup. The match ended 0-0,” begins John Eales. “A week later, the two teams met in a replay at St James Park. After another goalless 90 minutes, extra time was played, but still the score remained 0-0. A few days later, a second replay took place, this time on neutral territory (Torquay United’s Plainmoor ground). After 90 minutes, you’ve guessed it, the score was 0-0. With a minute of extra time remaining, John Kirkham scored to give City a 1-0 win. I was wondering whether this is some sort of record? 329 minutes of a cup tie without a goal being scored …”

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Explosion in ticketing and hospitality revenue goes along with a Fifa desire to recoup lost TV income in future dealsAs is often the case, it has been left to Donald Trump to say the quiet bit out loud. “We have to do this again and we have to do it while I’m around, you hear that Gianni?” the US president told Fox News in an interview broadcast in the buildup to the World Cup final.An American bid for the 2038 World Cup has been the talk of the hotel lobbies populated by administrators from around the world over the past month, who have watched this country’s seemingly limitless appetite for major events and willingness to pay whatever it takes to attend them.The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, told representatives of the governing body’s 211 member associations that its revenue projections for the current four-year cycle has increased from $11bn (£8.2bn) to $15bn, with the vast majority of the growth coming from an explosion in ticketing and hospitality revenue.A Fifa source disclosed that such has been the demand in the US in particular that ticketing and hospitality sales have gone past $5bn, with that part of the market now worth more than the World Cup’s TV rights for the first time.“Fifa will want to get back here as quickly as possible,” said a senior figure at one of its hospitality partners.While ticket sales have exceeded expectations, helped by the dynamic pricing and secondary market resale models that are embedded in US culture, in one crucial respect Fifa left a huge amount of money on the table, another reason it is desperate to return.In an extraordinary deal, Fox Sports was awarded English-language TV rights in the US by Fifa without a bidding process, a precautionary move by the world governing body to prevent a lawsuit when Qatar 2022 was moved to the winter after the TV contracts had already been signed, creating a direct clash with the US domestic sports season, particularly the NFL and NBA.With no competitive tension, Fox was given a relative bargain, paying $485m for the 2026 rights, the same as in Qatar, despite the World Cup having an extra 40 matches and taking place on home soil. For context, the NFL’s domestic TV deal is worth $11bn a year, with the NBA bringing in around $7bn.Fox has capitalised this summer as a result, on the back of bumper viewing, with industry experts predicting it will make more than $1bn from TV adverts, whose volume and value has increased due to the addition of hydration breaks.Having watched with frustration as Fox has cashed in, ESPN and NBC are expected to bid for the 2030 tournament, while initial conversations have also taken place with Netflix about them joining in the auction.Netflix has already signalled its growing interest in football by buying American rights for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031, the latter being held in the US, and another men’s tournament seven years later would spark another boom.No country has hosted the World Cup twice in 12 years, but Fifa’s statutes and recent staging decisions give it the flexibility for this to happen.By taking the 2030 World Cup to three continents and six countries – Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – before Saudi Arabia hosts in 2034, a North American bid for 2038 is permitted under Fifa’s confederation rotation policy, along with one from Oceania.Soccer Australia had wanted to bid for 2034, but after being given less than a month to formally register its interest by Fifa, withdrew its candidacy leaving Saudi Arabia to be selected unopposed, Infantino’s preferred method.To complicate matters slightly, the North American confederation, Concacaf, is understood to have reservations about another US bid as it wants to give opportunities to other members.Costa Rica, Jamaica and Mexico have been added to the 2031 Women’s World Cup bid and another joint endeavour could emerge, although unsurprisingly Trump would prefer the US to be sole hosts. “Based on the numbers we will be requesting it again immediately,” he told Fox.Fifa’s timeline for opening the 2038 process is not yet known, but history suggests it could move quickly to secure the outcome it wants. The sudden opening of the 2034 bidding process in October 2024 took most confederations by surprise with Infantino announcing that Saudi Arabia would be the hosts just 25 days later, a decision ratified by all Fifa members at a bizarre virtual extraordinary general meeting two months later.Infantino will be re-elected for a fourth full term at next year’s Fifa Congress in Morocco, almost certainly unopposed, and then all eyes will turn to the 2038 contest.Barring what would be an unprecedented change to the US constitution to permit an additional term, Trump is due to leave office in January 2029, which may quickly become the deadline for Fifa.

World Cup News

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World Cup News

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez has claimed Argentina represented their nation "in the best possible way" during the World Cup, despite ugly scenes during and after their final loss to Spain.Fernandez was sent off late in normal time for two yellow cards and Spain won 1-0 after extra time on Sunday in New Jersey.His first booking was for showing dissent towards Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic and Fernandez was later dismissed for catching Pau Cubarsi with a challenge that sent the defender cartwheeling in the air.But, in a statement on social media, the Chelsea midfielder did not mention the red card and said: "As time goes by, you realise there is something much bigger than just a result."For years, this group has represented the team in the best possible way. It teaches that competing isn't just about winning; it's about giving your all for the jersey and never giving up."It has been a privilege to be part of a group that always stepped up, competed at the highest level, and defended these colours with pride, humility, and commitment."Keeper Martinez may 'step aside' from ArgentinaFifa's disciplinary committee has appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess what happened and any player or coach involved could face suspension, while the Argentine Football Association may also be fined.Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala all appeared to be involved, with Paredes pushing Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat.Spain's Gavi tried to intervene, but was forced to the ground by Almada, before Paredes pushed Gavi to the turf by putting his hand in the Spaniard's face.Ayala then looked to be holding Garcia around the throat, before appearing to strike Spain midfielder Dani Olmo.While the match ended with ugly scenes broadcast around the world, questions remain over what happened behind closed doors prior to kick-off.There has been widespread speculation on social media about what was said in the Argentina dressing room before the game, including whether Lionel Messi informed his team-mates that the final would be his last match for the national side.It comes after Argentine television company RLC Noticias posted footage appearing to show Messi urging his team-mates to stay calm on their walk to the tunnel - and "forget about everything else".In the footage, which has not been verified by the BBC, Messi is seen saying: "Let's go, boys, [let's keep] calm people, calm. The main thing is for us to remain calm, boys, that we remain calm."Let's just concentrate on playing, nothing else - calm, OK? Forget everything else."Let's just play, let's just concentrate on playing. Let's go."The actions of the Argentina players on the pitch were heavily criticised by former England internationals.Ex-England captain Alan Shearer said: "Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone's face. He went for them. There is no place or space for that."We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible."Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart added: "The game's done, they can have absolutely no complaints about what happened. Disgusting behaviour."Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni attempted to calm the situation down in his post-match interview.He said: "We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat. Today, we are showing that we know how to lose."We lost the match, and we accept it, but that doesn't mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here."Argentina, the World Cup winners in 1978, 1986 and 2022, won their first seven matches in North America, beating Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England before losing to Spain.Against Egypt, Argentina were 2-0 down before scoring three late goals to win and in the semi-final with England, the Three Lions led 1-0 until the 85th minute before goals from Fernandez and a Lautaro Martinez header gave them a 2-1 win.Several media outlets in Argentina have suggested the final could be Scaloni's last in charge and called it the end of an era, with talisman Lionel Messi, in tears at the end, unlikely to play at another World Cup."The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal. But I also hold onto all the good things," Messi wrote on social media.However, the team were still greeted by thousands of Argentina fans with an open-top bus parade through the streets of Buenos Aires.Scaloni and 16 of his 26 players returned to the country and were welcomed by a red carpet and military band at Ezeiza International Airport.Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made 11 saves during the final, was among the players in Argentina, but Messi was one of those who did not make the trip, instead returning to Miami where he plays club football for Inter Miami.Keeper Martinez may 'step aside' from ArgentinaWhen the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport

World Cup News

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez says he is considering whether it is "time to step aside" from international football after his side's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final.The 33-year-old has won 67 caps for his country and played every minute of Argentina's eight World Cup games, keeping two clean sheets and conceding eight goals.He was a World Cup winner in 2022, also claiming the golden glove award as the tournament's outstanding goalkeeper."I dreamt we'd win it again, I dreamt of bringing it back to Argentina and making history once more," Martinez wrote in a post on Instagram., external"The truth is, the pain is hard to explain. There are many things to reflect on and how to move forward, and if it's time to step aside."I'm so sorry, I truly tried my best to help my country and my team-mates."Martinez won the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world's best goalkeeper at the Ballon d'Or awards, in 2023 and 2024.He has played for Aston Villa since 2020 and has a contract until 2029, but has been linked to a move to Italian side Juventus this summer.Fernandez defends Argentina as Messi questions remainWhen the World Cup finishes, the football continues on BBC Sport