97 m. ago The World Cup is out of reach for many. The hope lies outside the stadiums | Leander Schaerlaeckens

The opportunity for this tournament’s legacy is in the fan fests, camps and tune-ups accessible to more than the lucky fewIn Germany, fans watched the games on screens in crowded town squares, their roars careening off ancient buildings, or from the banks of rivers, peering at floating, double-sided big screens on barges. At the next World Cup, in South Africa in 2010, people gathered in parks and open-air markets and hotel lobbies and unlicensed, makeshift bars in people’s garages. In Brazil, four years later, fans spilled from the bars on the Copacabana or watched in restaurants or in streets closed for the occasion – not as if anybody was driving during the Seleção’s games anyway.During the 2018 World Cup, Russia surprised visitors – and its own citizens – with its friendliness as spontaneous parties broke out all over the country. The reason the 2022 World Cup in Qatar didn’t entirely feel like a real World Cup is that those sorts of spontaneous soccer gatherings just didn’t see...

Politics

97 m. ago Concorde chief pilot: Passenger planes won’t break sound barrier until ‘around 2050’

Exclusive: ‘Supersonic flight was a fantastic experience – but we won’t miss it as much as some think’ says BA Captain Jock Lowe

Politics

1 hour ago BBC Winterwatch's Chris Packham shares heartbreak after facing 'catastrophic' family loss

BBC's Winterwatch presenter Chris Packham, who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in his forties, sadly admitted "I hadn't prepared myself" for the devastating loss

Politics

2 h. ago From Ashes hangover to subcontinental scars as England bid to rewrite history

Harry Brook’s side begin Sri Lanka ODI series in poor form but confidence is needed ahead of crucial winter periodA subcontinental World Cup to close an Ashes winter? History tells us this does not end well for England. In 2014 a whitewash in Australia was followed by a group-stage exit at the World T20 with a 45-run defeat to the Netherlands in Chattogram. In 2011 the 50-over side – largely made up of Test regulars – was brutalised by Kevin O’Brien in Bengaluru before exiting with a 10-wicket quarter-final loss to Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Vic Marks, writing for the Observer, wondered beforehand if England had “anything left to give” after so many months on the road.And so to the Premadasa again, 15 years on, this time without the goodwill of a recent series victory in Australia. The first one-day international against Sri Lanka will begin just two weeks after Alex Carey struck the winning runs at the SCG, and open the second half of England’s winter, with thre...

Politics

2 h. ago From Ashes hangover to subcontinental scars as England aim to rewrite history

Harry Brook’s side begin Sri Lanka ODI series in poor form but confidence is needed ahead of crucial winter periodA subcontinental World Cup to close an Ashes winter? History tells us this does not end well for England. In 2014 a whitewash in Australia was followed by a group-stage exit at the World T20 with a 45-run defeat to the Netherlands in Chattogram. In 2011 the 50-over side – largely made up of Test regulars – were brutalised by Kevin O’Brien in Bengaluru before exiting with a 10-wicket quarter-final loss to Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Vic Marks, writing for the Observer, wondered beforehand if England had “anything left to give” after so many months on the road.And so to the Premadasa again, 15 years on, this time without the goodwill of a recent series victory in Australia. The first one-day international against Sri Lanka will begin just two weeks after Alex Carey struck the winning runs at the SCG, and open the second half of England’s winter, wit...

Politics

2 h. ago Arsenal transfer news: 'Brazilian Pedri' price tag discovered as Arteta admits regret

Arsenal's time is running out to make improvements to their squad before the end of the January transfer window in the hopes of not letting another Premier League title evade their grasp

Sport

2 h. ago Family ‘didn’t accept’ man stabbed with scissors died by suicide, court told

Police initially believed that there were no suspicious circumstances when Osaretin Oronsaye, 62, was found dead at his flat in Dartford in July 2025.

Events

2 h. ago Olympics chief admits she has not spoken to US president Trump about LA 2028 Games

Kirsty Coventry steers clear of global politics in buildupOrganisers will meet with vice-president JD VanceThe International Olympic Committee has yet to establish formal communications with the US president Donald Trump on preparations for the Los Angeles Games in 2028, the IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, has confirmed.Trump has been speaking in Davos in Switzerland after a turbulent start to 2026 during which he has suggested he will invade Greenland, threatened a trade war with Europe and ousted the Venezuela president Nicolás Maduro. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Royal Ascot and Cheltenham bookie given suspended sentence for child sex offences

Jonathan Goss, 51, who worked for over 15 years in the betting industry, admitted a number of sexual offences against children before given a suspended prison sentence when he appeared in court

Politics

3 h. ago Inside the latest £4million Omaze house in Cornwall with stunning views

One lucky entrant could step straight into a contemporary waterfront home, complete with an additional £250,000 in cash to help them settle in

Economics

3 h. ago Gordon Ramsay admits new project 'scares the s*** out of me' in Netflix teaser

Netflix has confirmed the release date of its new culinary docuseries Being Gordon Ramsay, which follows the celebrity chef as he takes on one of his most ambitious projects yet

Politics

3 h. ago Gabby Logan admits fears over TV return after devastating call during Match of the Day

Gabby Logan had to leave midway through Match of the Day earlier this month after rushing to a family emergency as her father passed away - but she was back in action on Tuesday

Politics

3 h. ago Man admits killing dad by shoving him in front of ambulance racing to 999 call

Lewis Budge attacked Robert Bromell at the Corran Esplanade in Oban, Argyll and Bute on September 6 2023.

Events

4 h. ago Suni Williams, Starliner astronaut, retires after 27 years at Nasa

She set the record for most spacewalk time by a woman and spent nine months at the International Space StationSuni Williams, one of two Nasa astronauts whose 10-day test flight mission turned into a nine-month odyssey on the International Space Station (ISS), has retired from the US space agency.The 60-year-old former navy captain left in December after 27 years with Nasa, according to a press release from the agency on Tuesday. Jared Isaacman, the agency’s new administrator, praised her as “a trailblazer in human spaceflight”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Tyson Fury's brother admits to doubts about fighter's comeback

The 'Gypsy King' remains eager to make a return to the ring despite announcing his retirement last year after back-to-back to Oleksandr Usyk

Politics

5 h. ago Marine Le Pen admits 'mistake' in EU embezzlement trial as she fights to save political career

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen acknowledged a "mistake" at a key appeals trial in Paris

Politics

5 h. ago William Saliba issued grovelling apology by World Cup winner who never thought Arsenal star would become ‘world class’

FRANCE World Cup winner Marcel Desailly has apologised to William Saliba, admitting he underestimated the Arsenal defender but reckons he is now a “world-class player”. Saliba, 24, has earned a reputation as one of Europe’s best centre-backs in recent seasons, playing at the heart of an almost impenetrable Arsenal defence. But Desailly, who made 116...

Politics

6 h. ago Man United deliver perfect response to Roy Keane after brutal swipe at coach

Manchester United appear to have sent a response to former captain Roy Keane over his explosive comments live on Sky Sports before the Manchester derby win over City

Politics

6 h. ago Top surgeon gives his verdict on Emmanuel Macron's severely bloodshot eye... and it's a condition that CAN be caused by a slap to the face

The French Premier, who has been seen sporting mirrored aviator style sunglasses, has previously admitted he is suffering an eye condition that is 'completely harmless'.

Politics

6 h. ago Alan Carr addresses Chatty Man return after Celeb Traitors failed to bring in TV offer

Alan Carr has revealed whether or not Chatty Man will make a return following his Traitors success, and admitted that he is considering selling pictures of his feet on OnlyFans

Events