3 h. ago ‘Cue air punches and tears’: why Next Goal Wins is my feelgood movie

Continuing the series where writers pick their go-to mood-lifting films is a look back to the inspiring sports documentaryIt feels apt following a 2026 World Cup draw featuring tiny island debutants Curacao and Cape Verde to revisit Next Goal Wins, an underdog story I adopted upon first watch as if it were a team I would loyally follow for the rest of my life.The documentary chronicles the world’s (once) worst soccer team, American Samoa, and their valiant efforts to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, but to label it merely a soccer film is to overlook a perfect study of remarkable characters, circumstances and a lesser seen island life. You don’t need to be a sports fan to be uplifted here. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Vonn’s Olympic comeback gathers pace with third in Val d’Isere downhill

Vonn, 41, third in Val d’Isere downhill despite costly errorAmerican extends lead in World Cup downhill standingsComeback season sharpens expectations for 2026 GamesLindsey Vonn’s expectations have shifted so dramatically during her Olympic comeback that even a podium finish now comes with a sense of frustration.The 41-year-old American finished third in Saturday’s women’s World Cup downhill at Val d’Isère, France, extending a blistering start to the season that has already included a victory and a runner-up finish in the space of nine days. But after a small mistake on the lower section of the course cost her valuable time, Vonn left the finish area convinced she had let a potential win slip away. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Bryan Mbeumo involved in AFCON chaos as Man Utd flop Andre Onana called up by wrong boss

Bryan Mbeumo has travelled to Morocco for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, but there is mounting drama and confusion with his national team Cameroon

Events

3 d. ago More anger over World Cup 2026 tickets as New Jersey fan zone charges for entry

Fan zones are typically free at major sporting events but the Fifa Fan Festival in New Jersey is charging for tickets

Sport

4 d. ago Analysis: how prices for the cheapest World Cup tickets have rocketed

A Guardian study of past ticket prices for the men’s World Cup, compared with current 2026 figures, shows how the barrier for entry has been raised for most fansIn the past, a fan’s ability to attend a World Cup hosted in their nation hinged more on bid books than their checkbooks. For 2026 in the US, Mexico and Canada, even the least expensive tickets are a luxury commodity by comparison.An analysis by the Guardian of men’s World Cup ticket pricing shows that amid the general rise in ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, the most extreme of those hikes have often applied to the cheapest tickets. The analysis is based on official Fifa pricing dating back to 1994, with more robust data available starting in 2006. Prices for 2026 games are accurate as of 16 December 2025, and do not include the 1.6% of sellable tickets for each game that Fifa recently made available for a fixed $60 price. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Do World Cup teams really need a 50% prize money hike after tickets furore? | Paul MacInnes

Fifa has made big mistakes over 2026 tournament but it can afford to slash prices and even give some tickets awayWho is the World Cup for? Fifa appeared to share some of its thinking on this topic in the past week. On the one hand, there was the revelation that spectators are being asked to pay more than twice as much for match tickets than they were in Qatar. On the other, the news that prize money for competing teams is to rise by more than 50% on four years ago. Stakeholders are doing good! Fans? Not so good.It hasn’t taken long for some of those watching to wonder whether things could be done differently. Tom Greatrex, the chair of the Football Supporters’ Association, which represents fans in England and Wales, argued that the ability to pay expanded prize money, itself a result of expanded revenue, showed “there is no need to charge extortionate ticket prices to the supporters who bring the vibrancy to the World Cup”. You could go so far as to say there was never a real need t...

Politics

4 d. ago How England fans can get World Cup 2026 tickets for £45 after Fifa climbdown

After uproar from fans around the world, Fifa has introduced the Supporter Entry Tier, giving a limited number of supporters a chance at affordable World Cup tickets in the USA, Canada and Mexico

Economics

4 d. ago These are the cruise lines showing World Cup 2026 matches next summer

Football fans won’t have to worry about missing kick-off while travelling

Politics

4 d. ago Scotland World Cup 2026: 'Protected' tickets appear on resale site at inflated price as fans group pen letter to FIFA

The World Cup 2026 tickets have landed on FIFA resale site at extortionate prices.

Economics

4 d. ago FIFA reveal huge increase in World Cup prize money with winners to land eye

The 2026 World Cup takes place in just under six months across the USA, Mexico and Canada with organisers FIFA having confirmed how much each nation could earn at the tournament

Politics

4 d. ago Fifa announces 50% increase in World Cup prize money with $50m for 2026 winners

All 48 competing nations to get minimum of $10.5mFifa Council approval comes amid ticket price rowFifa has announced a 50% increase in World Cup prize money for next year’s tournament, with the champions set to take home $50m (£37.5m) as a reward for their success.The news comes days after there was widespread public outrage over the price of seats at the tournament, to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Fifa this week announced a limited number of discount tickets for fans of participating countries. Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago World Cup prize money increased by 50% as Fifa offers $50m for 2026 winners

All 48 competing nations to get minimum of $10.5mFifa Council approval comes amid ticket price rowFifa has announced a 50% increase in World Cup prize money for next year’s tournament, with the champions set to take home $50m (£37.5m) as a reward for their success.The news comes days after there was widespread public outrage over the price of seats at the tournament, to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Fifa this week announced a limited number of discount tickets for fans of participating countries. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago How Nigeria can qualify for World Cup 2026 as FIFA 'investigate' DR Congo complaint

Super Eagles have challenged DR Congo’s use of several dual nationality players during World Cup qualification

Events

5 d. ago How Nigeria can still qualify for World Cup 2026 as FIFA 'investigate' DR Congo complaint

Super Eagles have challenged DR Congo’s use of several dual nationality players during World Cup qualification

Events

5 d. ago The great ticket price scandal: How we all became priced out of the events we love

After the news that the cheapest ticket for the 2026 World Cup final will cost more than £3,000, Helen Coffey investigates how, from dinner to theatre tickets and gigs, real-world experiences suddenly became out of everyone’s league

Politics

5 d. ago World Cup countries Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire among additions to Trump travel ban

The two African nations join Haiti and Iran on ban listFans may face restrictions when entering USA proclamation signed by President Trump widened his administration’s ongoing travel restrictions on Tuesday to include 2026 World Cup participants Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.The two African nations were added to the travel ban list with what the White House statement said were “partial restrictions and entry limitations,” currently the least restrictive category among the full group of nations covered, which now numbers 18 after Tuesday’s announcement. The sweeping travel ban already includes two countries who will participate in the World Cup: Haiti and Iran, both of whom are subject to the most stringent restrictions. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago FIFA back down after HUGE fan backlash over extortionate 2026 World Cup ticket prices

MIKE KEEGAN: FIFA's initial categorisation meant England fans faced shelling out more than £5,000 should Thomas Tuchel's side reach the final at the tournament.

Sport

5 d. ago Fifa announces limited amount of $60 tickets for 2026 World Cup after fan fury

Prices for the ‘supporter entry’ tier are capped at $60Tier will be available to supporters for all 104 gamesAllocation will comprise 0.8% of available ticketsAmid backlash against exorbitant prices for the 2026 World Cup, Fifa on Tuesday announced that it had created a new tier of tickets specifically for supporters of the involved teams for each game, with prices capped at $60 per ticket for every match of the tournament, including the final.The new pricing category will be part of the allotment of tickets distributed by the associations for the participating teams, who each get 8% of available tickets for every match they play. The new pricing tier, called the entry tier, will comprise 10% of that 8% allotment, or 0.8% of available tickets. Given the size of most 2026 World Cup stadiums, that amounts to several hundred tickets per match available at that price point. Continue reading...

Sport

5 d. ago Fifa accused of excluding disabled fans from 2026 World Cup with ‘unfair tax’

Extortionate ticket prices, and having to pay for a companion, have been described as ‘an unfair tax’ by a football supporters’ group

Politics

6 d. ago Gary Lineker making millions from new World Cup deal as BBC salary dwarfed

Gary Lineker is set to cover the 2026 World Cup in a different fashion than usual - as his podcast has struck a deal with Netflix which is set to net him millions during the tournament.

Economics