An England World Cup win could mean an extra bank holiday, Sir Keir Starmer has hinted ahead of a quarterfinal clash with Norway. The Prime Minister hailed Monday’s win over Mexico as “one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen” and victory against Norway would take them a step closer to a first World Cup win for 60 years. Asked whether he would back a bank holiday if England…
FIFA’s referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has defended officials at the World Cup after Egypt claimed “serious” mistakes had been made by the referee in their round-of-16 loss to Argentina. The Egyptian Football Association called for French referee Francois Letexier and his team to be sent home after being left angered by key decisions in Tuesday’s match, when they conceded three late goals to lose 3-2 to the defending champions. Egypt…
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will face Spain for the first time in his international career on Friday, entering the World Cup quarterfinals as a self-proclaimed underdog capable of staging an upset. The Real Madrid keeper, who has spent 11 years playing in Spain, trained with Belgium at the LA Galaxy‘s facilities on Wednesday. While the memory of his team’s 4-1 thrashing of the United States in Seattle on Monday remains…
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Morocco will be without star forward Ismael Saibari for their World Cup quarterfinal with France on Thursday, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi said. Saibari was replaced in some discomfort 22 minutes into Morocco’s 3-0 round-of-16 victory over Canada in Houston on Saturday, and has undergone medical tests and analysis over the last few days to determine the extent of his hamstring injury. – FIFA rejects France’s appeal of…
Manchester City have confirmed the coaching staff set to join Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium. The club previously announced Maresca’s appointment as head coach on a three-year deal, with the Italian returning to Manchester for a third spell as he succeeds Pep Guardiola. And it won’t just be the club he is familiar with, as he will be joined by staff members with whom he has long-standing relationships from…
MEXICO CITY — Rafael Márquez is taking the reins of the Mexican national team. The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) announced Wednesday that the former Barcelona star will succeed Javier Aguirre as head coach leading up to the 2030 World Cup. Márquez, 47, served as Aguirre’s assistant from August 2024 until Mexico’s recent 3-2 Round of 16 loss to England. While a succession plan had been in place since 2024, rumors…
France head coach Didier Deschamps has played down the appointment of Argentinian officials for their World Cup quarterfinal against Morocco on Thursday. Rivalry between the two nations has been fierce since Argentina beat France in the 2022 final, and a repeat remains a possibility this time around. But Deschamps said he had no issue with Facundo Tello being awarded the game, along with two Argentinian assistants, reserve assistant and fourth…
KANSAS CITY — Morgan Rogers has said Erling Haaland might be “unstoppable” but believes cutting the Norway striker’s supply line is the key to England keeping their World Cup dream alive. Manchester City forward Haaland has scored seven goals in Norway’s run to the quarterfinals, where they will face the Three Lions in Miami on Saturday. It continued the 25-year-old’s prolific season at club level, where he won the Premier…
Martin Ødegaard has said that “underdogs” Norway are ready for their “big test” against England in Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal. All eyes will be on the Hard Rock Stadium as the Scandinavian side look to repeat their stunning 2-1 victory against Brazil when they take on Thomas Tuchel’s men in Miami. Manchester City star Erling Haaland‘s brace saw off the Selecao on Sunday to set up an enthralling clash against…
Justin Bieber will bring his swag to the World Cup’s star-studded, Super Bowl-style halftime show, joining fellow headliners Madonna, Shakira and BTS, FIFA announced Wednesday. Afrobeats star Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus — a choir of elementary school students based in Staten Island, New York — will also perform, the last joined by Coldplay. – Madonna, Shakira, BTS headline World Cup final halftime show The…