FIFA World Cup 2026
United States ease security restrictions on Iran national team
A small change, on paper, opening the door for Team Melli to enter the country two days before matches, a shift that leaves them in far better conditions than those they have had so far.
Cristiano Ronaldo has also scored at this World Cup, but the difficult part comes now
The brace against Uzbekistan breaks new records, and CR7 is again in a tournament that, in effect, had been waiting for him.
We are living through a World Cup that, thanks to artificial intelligence, will change football forever
Thanks to Lenovo, AI is now shaping the game: referee Ref Cams, FIFA AI Pro for tactical analysis, and hyper-realistic 3D avatars of all players called up for the tournament.
Erling Haaland has swept through the World Cup like a force of nature, and not just through his goals
The Norway ‘Viking Row’ is a fitting metaphor for the Manchester City striker’s impact: he leads from the front, a strong team behind him capable of overwhelming anyone.
Erling Haaland is turning into a name in the United States, especially in commercial terms
A lethal striker of rare physical force, almost beyond comparison, his presence slides into something American in scale, almost comic-book by instinct.
Jeremy Doku would leave Belgium at the World Cup for the birth of his first child, a decision broadly accepted in football circles
Except for one L’Équipe journalist, who wrote that “fathers at childbirth are useless.
There are eleven World Cup matches in which a single player is worth more than the entire squad of the opposing national team
Lamine Yamal, for example, has a market value four times higher than the combined value of Cape Verde’s 26-man squad (though the match against Spain ended 0–0).
“Wonderwall” by Oasis has become England’s new unofficial anthem, and hearing it sung by supporters is one of the most striking scenes of this World Cup so far
Until Euro 2024, England’s victories under Kane and his teammates were accompanied by Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”. Not anymore.
Palestinian football fans have a team to support at the World Cup: Spain, a purely political choice
Pedro Sánchez’s government’s stance has reinforced support already present, now far stronger.
Belgium with little left to excite, Rudi Garcia included
The draw against Iran, following the one against Egypt, is a clear sign: at a certain level, talent alone is not enough to make a winning team.
Japan’s rise built on a long-term project between federation and clubs, with World Cup victory set for 2092
Japanese football authorities turned to Europe, shaping the system and a national team able to compete with anyone.
US bars and restaurants raise prices as World Cup fans fail to leave tips
Most European fans are unfamiliar with the custom and often ask when the tipping options appear on screen.