7 h. ago Lionel Messi casts doubt on whether he will play at 2026 World Cup

Messi cast doubt on his World Cup participation next year after bagging a brace for Argentina

Politics

39 h. ago World Cup’s dynamic pricing model lays bare Fifa’s singular motive: profit, at all costs

At one point not long ago, the world governing body at least tried to look like it cared about growing the game worldwide. Not any moreIf there’s the tiniest sliver of an upside to the latest news about ticketing for the 2026 World Cup, it’s that we can finally dispense with the pretense that Fifa is interested in growing the game any more.Fifa confirmed on Wednesday that it will, for the first time, use a dynamic ticket pricing model for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. While tickets will initially range from $60 for the cheap seats in some group-stage matches to $6,730 for the best vantage point at the final, those prices will then be algorithmically handed over to the market to respond to demand, which will probably cause them to skyrocket. After all, the first tranche of tickets goes on sale through an application and lottery system next week, but the World Cup draw will not take place until December. The gap between ticket sales a...

Economics

42 h. ago From fast risers to fallen giants: World Cup 2026 qualifiers to watch

Bolivia, Peru, struggling Nigeria and flagging Italy face an uphill struggle, but others have reason for optimismThere are only three automatic places available via the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers because the USA, Mexico and Canada have secured their spots as hosts, although the two best runners-up head into the inter-confederation playoffs. Suriname have made it to the final round of qualifying only once before and will be hoping to kick off their campaign with a victory when they host Panama in Paramaribo on Thursday. Managed by the former Netherlands goalkeeper Stanley Menzo, they have been steadily climbing Fifa’s rankings since allowing players born in the Netherlands with Surinamese heritage to represent the national side and have the Huddersfield defender Radinio Balker in their ranks. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago How FIFA’s ‘dynamic’ pricing for 2026 World Cup tickets will see tickets priced $60 to $6,000

FIFA said the percentage of stadium seats set at its cheapest price points will “not be insignificant”

Economics

57 h. ago Fifa says 2026 World Cup tickets will start at $60 but dynamic pricing looms

Dynamic pricing has drawn complaints in other areasStart of sales process for tournament will begin next weekFifa has confirmed that it will employ dynamic pricing for tickets to the 2026 World Cup from the beginning of the sales process, which starts next week. The system was also used for this year’s Club World Cup and, in the UK, drew widespread complaints from fans buying tickets for Oasis’s comeback tour.The use of dynamic pricing was one of a few new details Fifa officials discussed around ticketing for the World Cup one week before sales open, including the first collection of prices. The cheapest tickets will start at $60 (£44), with the most expensive, for a prime spot at the final, starting at $6,730 (£5,760). Fifa did not provide any price points in between those two. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Jack Grealish hopeful of England recall after impressive Everton form

Jack Grealish has impressed since joining Everton on loan and the 29-year-old is hoping that England boss Thomas Tuchel will hand him a recall ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Politics

9 d. ago Ruben Amorim suffers new Man Utd low as Grimsby stun Prem fallen giants

Ruben Amorim's Manchester United nightmare has continued to hit new lows as he watched his Red Devils team concede to Grimsby at Blundell Park

Politics

1 week ago Scotland at the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Remaining fixtures, squad, history, how to watch, qualification

The Scots will be looking to build on a promising opening match.

Politics

1 week ago Steve Clarke names Scotland squad for Denmark and Belarus clashes as Aaron Hickey makes emotional return

It's back into the real stuff as Scotland's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign gets started next week

Politics

1 week ago ‘Nightmare’ for fans a month out from first ball hurts Women’s Cricket World Cup | Mrinal Asija

Late venue changes and delayed ticket sales leave the ODI tournament in India and Sri Lanka at serious risk of disgruntled fans and empty standsSue Kitchen has her flights and hotels booked for next month’s Women’s Cricket World Cup in India. Her excitement, however, has gradually dissolved into anxiousness as she waits for news of the match tickets going on sale. The ICC insists this will be the biggest Women’s World Cup yet. But with just over a month to go, travelling fans are grappling with last-minute surprises, and the players are preparing to make their way to unfamiliar, uninspiring venues.In a Facebook group of women’s cricket supporters, Kitchen describes the planning process for her upcoming trip from England as a “nightmare”. Her sentiments are shared by other fans outside India, many of whom have already entered the ticket ballot for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England. Some have even abandoned their travel plans for India due to the logistical challenges. Continu...

Politics

1 week ago Infantino’s latest Oval Office show reminds us Trump will be inescapable at the 2026 World Cup

The US president has an aptitude for elbowing himself into the spotlight, and next year he’ll make sure he has the world’s attentionWhen Donald Trump remained on stage, grinning in the sun as Chelsea lifted the Club World Cup trophy last month, it was all too easy to treat the incident as a one-off mistake. A moment that said plenty about Trump’s ego, sure. But ultimately, only a moment.Nope. It’s reality. Inescapable. Donald Trump will be everywhere Fifa is in the US, including at the 2026 World Cup – due to start in about 10 months, when Canada and Mexico will co-host. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump says he's 'not happy' with Putin after fresh attacks on Ukraine and issues NEW ultimatum on peace meeting

President Donald Trump announced Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup game.

Politics

2 w. ago 2026 World Cup draw will be held at Washington's Kennedy Center, Trump says

President Donald Trump says that the draw for the 2026 World Cup will happen on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington

Politics

2 w. ago Trump makes major FIFA World Cup announcement – but people are more interested in his hat

Donald Trump has split the internet after he made a huge announcement about the World Cup 2026 hosted in the US – but some could only focus on his interesting new hat

Politics

2 w. ago Trump says 2026 World Cup draw will be staged at Washington’s Kennedy Center

Trump says Kennedy Center to host Cup drawVenue also site of $257m renovation project2026 World Cup spans US, Canada and MexicoThe 2026 World Cup draw will take place at Washington’s Kennedy Center on 5 December, US president Donald Trump confirmed on Friday.Calling it “the biggest, probably the biggest event in sports”, Trump made the announcement from the Oval Office while seated alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino. The president sported a cap reading “Trump Was Right About Everything” as he spoke to reporters. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Steve Clarke 'excited' by Scotland job pressure as World Cup 2026 qualification campaign edges closer

The Scots kick off their campaign to reach the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico next month

Events

2 w. ago When is the Champions League draw? Date, start time, teams qualified and how to watch live

The Premier League will have six representatives in this year’s competition, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs set to feature

Sport

3 w. ago LA28 to break longstanding tradition with corporate venue names at Games

LA28 to allow corporate names on competition venuesComcast, Honda first naming partners in Games historyMove marks break from Olympics’ clean venue traditionFor the first time in Olympic and Paralympic history, competition venues will carry corporate names, breaking from the longstanding “clean venue” tradition.That policy, also enforced at other mega-events like the Fifa World Cup, requires stadiums and arenas to strip or cover all non-official sponsor branding, including naming rights signage. The aim is to protect the exclusivity of global partners who pay millions for official status. In past events, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium became “Arsenal Stadium” for Uefa matches, and New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium will be known as “New York New Jersey Stadium” during the 2026 World Cup. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Manchester United show patience and hope for big things from Benjamin Sesko | Andy Brassell

After the club’s two previous attempts to sign the forward, Ruben Amorim will be hoping they have found the real dealIt has, for a while, appeared to be destiny. Benjamin Sesko’s arrival at Manchester United was third time lucky for last season’s Europa League finalists, having attempted to make a deal for the Slovenia striker when he was leaving Domžale in 2019 and again when he agreed to fly the Red Bull Salzburg nest in 2022, eventually joining up with RB Leipzig a year down the line.Now United have their still-only-22-year-old man and if Sesko has been feted in the inner circles of European football since his mid-teens, one could suggest the wait has not only be worthwhile but that it could work in favour of Ruben Amorim as he attempts to author a dramatic uptick in the fortunes of the English game’s premier fallen giant. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago When is Carabao Cup second round draw? Start time, ball numbers, qualified teams and how to watch

Everything you need to know as 11 Premier League sides enter the competition

Politics