6 d. ago Arsenal star 'could switch national allegiance' in bid to play at World Cup

The defender has admitted there is a chance he could jump ship

Politics

6 d. ago England captain Zoe Aldcroft on winning World Cup: ‘We had so much belief’

Back from partying in Ibiza after a ‘massive whirlwind’, the Gloucester-Hartpury forward is now focused on success in the Premiership Women’s Rugby“I was telling myself: ‘Don’t cry right now, Zoe. Do not cry right now.’ But I just knew that we’d done it.”Zoe Aldcroft is reflecting on the moment last month when she realised England had won the Women’s Rugby World Cup. There were 12 minutes to play at a sold-out, increasingly euphoric Twickenham, but the hosts had created a 20-point cushion against Canada thanks to Alex Matthews’s second try. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago South Africa qualify for first World Cup in 16 years while Nigeria handed play

South Africa 3-0 Rwanda: Bafana Bafana will compete in their first World Cup in 16 years, while Nigeria guaranteed themselves a play-off lifeline with a 4-0 win over Benin in Group C

Politics

8 d. ago Harry Wilson wants ‘massive’ home advantage for Wales in World Cup play

The Dragons’ final game at home to North Macedonia is set to decide second spot in the group.

Politics

8 d. ago Cardiff City defend pest control policy after rat halts Wales football match

Wales’s World Cup qualifying loss to Belgium interrupted‘It’s something I’ve not seen in my 36 years at Cardiff City’Cardiff City have defended their pest control policy after a rat halted play during the second half of Wales’s World Cup qualifier against Belgium.The Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made an unsuccessful attempt to catch the rodent during Belgium’s 4-2 win on Monday night before the Wales substitute Brennan Johnson ushered the rat off the Cardiff City Stadium pitch. The rat then slipped past a ball boy and disappeared behind the VAR monitor and was not seen again. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Cape Verde clinch first World Cup berth after capping fairytale qualifying run with Eswatini win

The West African side will become the second-smallest nation by population to play at the World Cup finals

Politics

8 d. ago Cape Verde seal historic debut place at World Cup 2026 and deny Cameroon

Blue Sharks beat Eswatini 3-0 to top qualifying groupCameroon second in Group D after draw with AngolaCape Verde have booked their place as debutants at the 2026 World Cup after a 3-0 home victory over Eswatini secured top spot in their African qualifying group.With a population of just under 525,000, the tiny Atlantic island nation will become the second-smallest country by population to play at a men’s World Cup finals, behind only Iceland, who qualified in 2018.More to follow Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Bizarre Uefa rule means San Marino could qualify for World Cup play

MINNOWS San Marino could be handed a free pass to the World Cup play-offs. But only if they are absolutely HAMMERED in their final qualifying group match. The ridiculous mathematical quirk that can benefit what is officially the world’s WORST international side is an unintended consequence of Uefa’s qualification process to determine the 16 European...

Politics

9 d. ago Roy Keane admits Man Utd should be 'pretty ashamed' of major decision

Roy Keane has reflected on Manchester United's decision to withdrawn from the FA Cup in 2000 - instead choosing to play in the Club World Cup - and concedes they should be ashamed

Politics

1 week ago 'I was set to play with David Beckham at World Cup before road crash changed my life'

Former Manchester United target Matt Jansen recalls agonisingly missing out on the World Cup and the incident that left him fighting for his life

Events

1 week ago Defensive, wily and intense, Ecuador aims to make 2026 World Cup its best

The South American nation performed better than ever in World Cup qualifying, with strength in depth that make them difficult to play againstLast September, in the sweltering night heat of Guayaquil, Ecuador finished off their Conmebol World Cup qualifiers with a 1-0 victory over table-leaders and defending champions Argentina. Enner Valencia, the 35-year-old journeyman and the nation’s all-time scorer, sealed the win with a penalty in his 100th appearance. The Estadio Monumental roared with ecstasy and emotion.Both sides had already sealed qualification for 2026 and the visitors were playing without Lionel Messi, who had also said goodbye to qualifiers after his final game in Buenos Aires a few days prior. But none of these narratives mattered to Ecuadorian fans. They were acknowledging a magnificent campaign as La Tricolor ended second in the table, their best-ever finish since Conmebol qualifiers moved to a single table. And this despite starting the campaign with a three-point p...

Events

1 week ago Defensive, wily and intense, Ecuador aim to make 2026 World Cup their best

The South American nation performed better than ever in World Cup qualifying, with strength in depth that make them difficult to play againstLast September, in the sweltering night heat of Guayaquil, Ecuador finished off their Conmebol World Cup qualifiers with a 1-0 victory over table-leaders and defending champions Argentina. Enner Valencia, the 35-year-old journeyman and the nation’s all-time scorer, sealed the win with a penalty in his 100th appearance. The Estadio Monumental roared with ecstasy and emotion.Both sides had already sealed qualification for 2026 and the visitors were playing without Lionel Messi, who had also said goodbye to qualifiers after his final game in Buenos Aires a few days prior. But none of these narratives mattered to Ecuadorian fans. They were acknowledging a magnificent campaign as La Tricolor ended second in the table, their best-ever finish since Conmebol qualifiers moved to a single table. And this despite starting the campaign with a three-point p...

Events

1 week ago Tuchel criticises ‘silent’ England fans, World Cup qualifying news and more: football – live

⚽ All the latest going into weekend’s internationals⚽ Sign up for Football Daily | Mail MichaelPerhaps we should start with Scotland. Ewan Murray was our reporter at Hampden and was brutally honest about how fortunate the home side were to take a crucial victory over Greece.If Scotland make it to the promised land of next summer’s World Cup, they will glance back at this as a crucial evening. There must also be laughter to accompany reflection.No sane observer could claim Steve Clarke’s team deserved to prevail here. Lewis Ferguson and Lyndon Dykes sealed the win. Dick Turpin sprang to mind. Someone, somewhere appears to be smiling on Scotland’s bid to play in a World Cup for the first time since 1998. The Scots, who had just 31% possession, are now in an excellent position in Group C. A playoff spot could be secured on Sunday evening, when Belarus visit Glasgow. Greece, who next travel to Denmark, need snookers. Continue reading...

Sport

1 week ago World Cup permutations: State of play for Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa after Egypt qualify

Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia have also booked their place at next summer’s tournament

Politics

1 week ago World Cup permutations: State of play for Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon after Egypt qualify for showpiece

Five more automatic spots are up for grabs ahead of the final round of fixtures

Politics

2 w. ago Nolberto Solano: ‘I would like to play like Klopp but you need to be realistic’

The former Newcastle and Peru winger became Pakistan’s head coach in July and he tells Tusdiq Din he enjoys the challenge of making the team more competitiveNolberto Solano has become accustomed to firsts. He was the first Peruvian to feature in the Premier League after he joined Newcastle in 1998, and the first to play in an FA Cup final the following year. In April 2001 he became the first Premier League player to be sent off by Mike Dean. Now, in the latest stop on a peripatetic coaching journey, the 50-year-old is hoping to lead Pakistan’s men to their first Asian Cup.After taking the lesser trodden path from Lima to Lahore, Solano faces crucial back-to-back qualifiers for the 2027 tournament against Afghanistan, beginning at home on Thursday. Then, in November and March, come visits from Syria and Myanmar, who won the reverse fixtures. Solano, who replaced the Englishman Stephen Constantine as Pakistan’s head coach in July, is clear on his ambitions. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Second Ryder Cup rule change called for as Keegan Bradley demand laughed off by Europe

Team USA fans called for a play-off to be introduced in the Ryder Cup in the event of a tie, as Keegan Bradley's injury regulation gripe was dismissed by Team Europe

Politics

3 w. ago Rory McIlroy blasted an 'insufferable baby' after refusing to play at Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy took aim at Ryder Cup fans who threw a drink at his wife, Erica Stoll, and Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has since weighed in on the controversy

Politics

3 w. ago Play hard, party harder: England's Red Roses revel in World Cup glory at London celebrations

Play hard, party harder: England's Red Roses revel in World Cup glory at London celebrations  Sky News

Politics

3 w. ago Ryder Cup prize money and how much players earn for winning golf tournament

Team USA are being paid to play in this year's Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, while Team Europe will not make a penny, even if they come out on top in New York

Sport