English

More news

Sport

All of Uzbekistan readies to watch history at its first World Cup

Schools, offices and city squares across Uzbekistan are setting up screens for Thursday's 7 am kick-off against Colombia, as the country makes its World Cup debut under coach Fabio Cannavaro. "In the heart of every Uzbek, this is a matter of pride and honour," an education ministry official said.

Sport

Will Cristiano Ronaldo finally win the World Cup?

Ronaldo, now 41, is gearing up for what's set to be his final World Cup appearance. And it could be Portugal's best ever shot at lifting the trophy.

Europe Today

Watch: Cash, power, and politics—inside Gianni Infantino’s World Cup empire

A massive revolt is brewing for football’s most powerful man. For many, it would be a career game changer. But will it be for Infantino?

Europe Today

G7 leaders press Trump on Ukraine as summit wraps up

The eyes of the world are on Evian-les-Bains, where G7 leaders are gathering for their third day and final day of talks. Beyond the photo ops, European leaders used this precious face time with the US President to urge him to break the deadlock on Ukraine.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sport

Lionel Messi scores first World Cup hat trick in 3-0 win over Algeria

France finds a way to break a goalless first half as they cruise past Senegal, the African champions whose recent AFCON title was stripped on a technicality and awarded to Morocco, delivering a 3-1 win campaign opener.

No Comment

UK lions predict England's World Cup fate

Lionesses and lions at a UK sanctuary were given World Cup-themed boxes to choose from, with keepers treating their picks as playful predictions for England's group-stage matches.

Iran

Iran coach calls team World Cup's 'most oppressed' after US exit order

Amir Ghalenoei said his side was ordered to fly back to Tijuana hours after Monday's 2-2 draw with New Zealand, while captain Mehdi Taremi called it "a disaster for us," adding that the team's "goal and wish is to pursue peace and happiness".

Sport

Cape Verde World Cup defender superstar was recruited through LinkedIn

The national team's call came from 4,500 km away across the Ocean and not in the way most people would expect.

No Comment

Watch: German chancellor surprises Trump with 'Trump 47' football jersey at G7

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a personalized football jersey during the G7 summit in France.

Travel News

The best FIFA World Cup liveries for 2026

National carriers have sent their teams to the world’s biggest stage in style aboard special themed planes.

No Comment

Protesting and cheering as Iran's World Cup match divides diaspora

Iran's opening World Cup match drew both supporters and protesters outside the stadium near Los Angeles, highlighting divisions within the Iranian-American community.

Europe Today

Europe Today: Inside the G7 Summit in Évian

Global leaders are gathering in the French spa town of Évian les Bains for the second day of the G7. US President Donald Trump told allies that he expects the Strait of Hormuz to be “fully open” on Friday, where the framework deal to end the war is expected to be formalised in Switzerland.

Health news

How experts track disease threats as 6 million head to the World Cup

As six million fans travel across North America for the 2026 World Cup, health authorities are on alert for any sign of an infectious disease outbreak.

Sport

Here is every World Cup fixture you may have missed on Monday

Spain, considered by many as one of the favourites to win the title, failed to impress in their opening match against Cape Verde, which ended in a nil-nil draw, as La Roja star Lamine Yamal remains sidelined with injury.

No Comment

Meet Merlin: The duck that became the World Cup's viral mascot

A duck named Merlin has become an unlikely World Cup sensation after videos of him wearing a Mexico jersey and joining celebrations in Mexico City spread across social media.

Sport

Spain held by Cape Verde in World Cup's first goalless draw

Debutants Cape Verde, a nation of over 500,000 people, held out against Luis de la Fuente’s star-studded team, playing defensively and relying on few counterattacks that nearly caused an upset for Spain in the 90th.

The Cube

Do pricey World Cup 2026 tickets reflect the market, as FIFA says?

FIFA says World Cup ticket prices reflect US market rates and help prevent scalpers from profiting. But experts and consumer groups say the comparison with US sports leaves out important context.

Europe News

Baby boom after summer fairy tale: Can football boost birth rates?

If an entire country is celebrating, does that mean more babies are born nine months later? Following the 2006 and 2014 World Cups, this theory persisted. A look at the statistics, maternity wards and research reveals what truth there really is to it.

Business

Spanish bars gear up for World Cup with extra beer

The hospitality sector hopes the national team’s progress will pack out its venues, but admits the pandemic changed habits and time zones hurt early kick-offs.

No Comment

Berlin musician turns Germany football opener into musical spectacle

Germany's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup became an unusual cultural event on 14 June in Berlin, where composer Stephan Graf von Bothmer performed a live musical score as the national team faced Curaçao.