World Cup

Read more news and analysis on the Fifa World Cup.

Upbeat mood returns for Scotland after Steve Clarke weathers Nations League storm

After losing their first three games Clarke’s side now have realistic hopes of remaining in the top tier

Tue Nov 19 2024 - 16:11

Heimir Hallgrímsson to pick up the pieces after Wembley humbling in World Cup play-off push

Ireland have potential to improve for clash with Nations League C runner-up, as Andrew Moran’s impressive cameo stands out in defeat to England

Mon Nov 18 2024 - 23:00

States of Play: How Sportswashing took over Football by Miguel Delaney - Admirably thorough, depressingly persuasive

Author argues convincingly that soccer’s Faustian bargain with big moneyed interests is undermining its sporting competitiveness and moral integrity

Thu Nov 14 2024 - 04:36

Gianni Infantino to avoid spotlight with 2026 World Cup draw held virtually

Controversy remains over decision to give the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia

Wed Nov 13 2024 - 10:25

Fifa is ‘ignoring human rights report’ into Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid

Lawyers say Fifa is ‘dealing with the devil’ with Saudi bid

Fri Oct 11 2024 - 16:18

Netherlands and Ajax great Johan Neeskens dies aged 73

Midfielder considered one of the best of all-time in his position won three European Cups with Ajax

Mon Oct 07 2024 - 16:47

Totò Schillaci obituary: Striker who shot to global fame in the summer of 1990

Salvatore Schillaci became the unlikely personification of Italy’s notti magiche, or magical nights

Sat Sept 28 2024 - 00:15

LGBTQ fans would be welcome in Saudi Arabia for World Cup, says 2034 bid chief

Hammad Albalawi denied accusations of sportswashing country’s human rights record ahead of football tournament’s hosts announcement this December

Tue Sept 24 2024 - 22:10

Mauricio Pochettino lands in the USA full of hope, but World Cup glory looks a long way off

The Argentinian’s task is to figure out a winning formula for a squad that has continually added up to less than the sum of its parts

Thu Sept 19 2024 - 06:00

Totò Schillaci’s joy was infectious and he was loved in Ireland, despite that goal

Italian striker who scored six goals in Italia 90, including one to knock out Ireland, died at the age of just 59

Wed Sept 18 2024 - 14:51

Former Italy striker Totò Schillaci dies aged 59

Totò Schillaci, an Italian Golden Boot winner, scored the goal that knocked Ireland out of the 1990 World Cup

Wed Sept 18 2024 - 10:41

Global economy headed for ‘soft landing’ after four years of crises, World Bank says

Washington-based institution cautions that better outlook comes with several high-profile risks including possibility of another commodity price shock.

Tue Jun 11 2024 - 14:30

Germany World Cup winner Andreas Brehme dies aged 63 after cardiac arrest

Defender scored winner in 1990 final against Argentina from the penalty spot

Tue Feb 20 2024 - 19:19

Ireland kitman Charlie O’Leary at 100: ‘You’d have to say to yourself, what did I do to deserve this?’

A kitman for Jack Charlton’s Ireland team, O’Leary had a front row ticket to one of the greatest shows in Irish sport

Sun Jan 28 2024 - 06:00

Doha Letter: Museum of slavery casts light on plight of migrant workers everywhere

Qatar officially ended slavery in 1952 but there were accusations of modern-day enslavement in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup

Tue Jan 16 2024 - 05:00

Franz Beckenbauer obituary: Footballer who radiated an iconic status

The German became the kind of central defender that football had never seen before

Sat Jan 13 2024 - 00:15

Jonathan Wilson: Beckenbauer transformed football and made it conform to his skills

Germany could not quite fathom where to play him, so he effectively invented a role for himself

Tue Jan 09 2024 - 14:47

Mario Zagallo, World Cup winner as player and manager, dies aged 92

Brazilian won as a player in 1958 and 1962 before winning the tournament as a manager in 1970

Sat Jan 06 2024 - 13:06

What our experts got right and wrong in sporting predictions for 2023

Based on past experience, we IT sportswriters should probably offer advance apologies to all those we have predicted to have a mighty 2024

Tue Jan 02 2024 - 06:00

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni says he may quit after win in Brazil

The World Champions hand Brazil third straight loss after crowd violence delay in Rio

Wed Nov 22 2023 - 12:07

Saudi Arabia confirmed as sole bidder to host 2034 World Cup

A statement from Football Australia said it had ‘explored the opportunity’ of a bid but had decided against it

Tue Oct 31 2023 - 18:02

World Cup in 2030 to be played in Europe, Africa and South America

Decision looks to have paved the way for Saudi Arabia to host the tournament in 2034

Wed Oct 04 2023 - 18:57

Astonishing Rubiales soap opera mars Spain’s historic World Cup triumph

Unrepentant Spanish football association president’s outrageous behaviour could prove a significant episode for Spain’s MeToo moment and the broader society

Thu Aug 31 2023 - 19:31

Ken Early: Victory for the gifted Spanish due to their national coaching system – not the coach

The work of thousands of youth coaches is evident now in the textbook technique the Spanish have turned into a national style

Mon Aug 21 2023 - 06:00

After the wildfires, the next threat to the people of Lahaina: predatory real estate agents

Planet Business: Rupert Murdoch’s new date, Russia’s rouble woes and the commercial winners of the Fifa Women’s World Cup

Sat Aug 19 2023 - 06:30

Girls in Green welcomed home after World Cup: ‘We want to inspire the next generation’

‘We want to push on and make major tournaments a regular thing,’ says captain Katie McCabe

Thu Aug 03 2023 - 21:07

Ireland’s World Cup clash with Canada most-viewed women’s sports event in Irish television history

Women's World Cup match saw an average of 550,600 watching, an audience share of 68.9 per cent

Thu Jul 27 2023 - 16:23

‘I quit my job to come here’: Loyal Ireland fans disappointed but praise team’s performance

Megan Carter from Wexford quit her jobs as a financial analyst to follow Ireland in the World Cup in Australia

Wed Jul 26 2023 - 17:50

Olivia O’Toole: ‘I’m going to be uncontrollable at the national anthem. I’ll be crying, sobbing’

Ireland’s second-greatest goalscorer behind Robbie Keane worked in a vacuum for women’s soccer, but is glad to see Ireland finally reaching the World Cup and reaching a wider fanbase

Sun Jul 09 2023 - 05:00

Vera Pauw: ‘When I tell players they are not going to the World Cup, they hate me’

The Women’s Podcast with Róisín Ingle

Thu Jun 08 2023 - 09:32

Emily Whelan and Claire Walsh win Scottish Premier League title with Glasgow City

Squad Watch: Pauw will be encouraged by the return to action of Niamh Fahey and Leanne Kiernan for Liverpool

Mon May 22 2023 - 05:00

Former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa named head coach of Uruguay

Argentine signs three-year deal and replaces Diego Alonso after World Cup failure

Tue May 16 2023 - 10:36

No more camel rides: Players reflect on a 50-year journey for Irish women’s soccer - and see good times ahead

Republic of Ireland players past and present tell Mary Hannigan how far the country has come, from Portakabins to the World Cup

Thu Mar 30 2023 - 19:00

Fifa agrees to pay clubs extra €135m to release players for men’s World Cup

Clubs will also get a greater say in football calendar as deal could make European Super League less likely

Mon Mar 27 2023 - 20:57