2 h. ago FIFA receive official letter of complaint as World Cup controversy surfaces already

Planning for the 2026 World Cup is already well underway but FIFA have received a complaint from one of the nations who have already booked their spot at the tournament

Politics

3 h. ago LGBTQ+ events to go ahead at World Cup game despite Egypt and Iran objections

Organisers confirm ‘Pride Match’ activities will take placeSeattle to host Egypt v Iran in Group G next summerPlans to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms in Seattle during next summer’s World Cup will continue despite objections from the Egyptian and Iranian football federations over the “Pride Match” due to take place in the city.Seattle organisers have confirmed they are “moving forward as planned” with Pride activities in the city when Egypt face Iran in Group G on 26 June. Rainbow flags will also be allowed into the stadium by Fifa. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Egypt and Iran complain to Fifa about World Cup ‘Pride’ match

Egypt and Iran are scheduled to play in a World Cup ‘Pride’ match next year

Politics

8 h. ago ITV to show opening game of 2026 World Cup as UK TV schedule confirmed

ITV and BBC again share broadcasting duties in the United Kingdom for the 2026 tournament

Culture

15 h. ago Egypt and Iran ask Fifa to prevent LGBTQ+ Pride celebration at World Cup 2026 match

Egypt’s football body says Pride event would clash with valuesIran raises objections to plans organised by local Seattle groupEgypt and Iran are calling on football’s governing body to intervene in the LGBTQ+ Pride celebration planned to coincide with their group stage match in Seattle at the 2026 World Cup.Egypt’s Football Association (EFA) said on Tuesday it had sent a letter to Fifa urging them to prevent any LGBTQ+ Pride-related activities during the national team’s match against Iran next June. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago How to watch England World Cup game in Texas and become a cowboy for a day

Tour operators are already saddling up, offering Three Lions fans the 'ultimate match-day adventure' with packages to watch England play in the World Cup 2026 in Texas

Politics

50 h. ago Fifa to use cooling breaks at every World Cup 2026 game, regardless of weather

Every game will pause 22 minutes into each halfBreaks will essentially split games into four “quarters”Fifa said the change is in the interest of player safetyFifa says it will include three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every game at next year’s World Cup, not just those played in hot weather.The referee will stop the game 22 minutes into each half for players to take drinks, regardless of the temperature, the host country – the United States, Canada or Mexico – or whether the stadium has a roof and air conditioning. Continue reading...

Politics

52 h. ago World Cup 'Pride' match to feature countries where homosexuality is illegal

Plans for the Seattle game to be a 'Pride Match' were put in place before it was identified as the venue for Egypt v Iran. This only happened after the World Cup draw

Events

52 h. ago Three failed asylum seekers from Iran and Egypt all deny repeatedly raping a woman on Brighton beach

Sussex police officers received a report that a 33-year-old woman had been raped on the lower esplanade in Brighton at around 5am on the morning of October 4.

Events

53 h. ago ‘He’s got something against the world’: Bellamy reignites feud with Canada’s Marsch

Wales could meet Canada at World Cup after playoffsBellamy riled by Jesse Marsch’s high fives in SeptemberCraig Bellamy has revived his feud with Jesse Marsch after Wales were put on the same World Cup path as co-hosts Canada.Bellamy felt slighted by Marsch and his staff celebrating with touchline high fives before the final whistle sounded on Canada’s 1-0 September friendly victory in Swansea. The Wales boss reacted to those premature celebrations by saying after the game: “I hope I see you at the World Cup.” Continue reading...

Politics

53 h. ago The top AP photos from the Middle East in 2025: Conflict, courage, and moments of wonder

The Associated Press’ top photos from the Middle East and the surrounding region in 2025 capture conflict, resilience, and moments of quiet wonder. Taken across Gaza, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, the 35 images reveal a turbulent year.

Events

58 h. ago World Cup match dedicated to Pride will feature two nations where homosexuality is ILLEGAL

MIKE KEEGAN: A dedicated Pride match at the World Cup will feature two countries in which homosexuality is illegal.

Events

4 d. ago Africa Cup of Nations shunted into margins as greedy game finds no room at top table | Jonathan Wilson

So long as the Premier League invests in its players and Fifa pays it lip service, the continent’s flagship tournament will always struggle to fit inPerhaps attitudes are not quite as parochial as they once were, but it remains true that, in England at least, the Africa Cup of Nations is discussed less as a tournament in its own right than in terms of what it means for the Premier League.There will be the usual harrumphing about why the tournament is played in the middle of our season, but the Confederation of African Football has tried to satisfy European clubs only to be thwarted by Fifa and the increasing demands of the calendar. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago World Cup 2026 fixtures: England to kick off under roof in Dallas during UK primetime

England to play Croatia at Dallas Cowboys’ stadiumScotland’s opener against Haiti starts 2am UK timeEngland will kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas at 9pm UK time on Wednesday 17 June. They will play at the Dallas Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cowboys, which has a retractable roof and air conditioning. That will mitigate the effects of a 4pm EST kick-off (3pm local time). The roof will be closed for the opener.England learned the specifics of their group phase schedule at part two of the World Cup draw in Washington DC, on Saturday. Their second game, against Ghana, on 23 June, will be played in Foxborough, near Boston at 4pm EST. It is an open-air stadium. The average June daily temperate high there is 26C. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Wales potential 2026 World Cup game schedule confirmed amid tense qualification wait

Wales are still vying for their place at the 2026 World Cup through play-off qualifiers next March, but they have already learned who and when they will play in North America next summer - if they qualify.

Politics

4 d. ago No time for a rest! England face nightmare run of FOUR games in just 12 days during hectic 2026 World Cup

England's games will essentially be crammed into a week less because they have been drawn in Group L and will not play game one until six days after the World Cup starts.

Sport

5 d. ago BREAKING Trump grins as he dances to YMCA at World Cup draw while football fans fume 'game has officially gone'

This is a breaking news story and is being constantly updated by our reporters as the breaking news story develops

Politics

5 d. ago Trump grins and dances to YMCA at World Cup draw as fans fume 'game has officially gone'

US President Donald Trump received a peace prize from FIFA head honcho Gianni Infantino before the draw was made, then bopped away to 70s disco hit YMCA after a torturous broadcast. The game has gone

Politics

5 d. ago BUCKTIN: 'MAGA fanboy Gianni Infantino’s degrading peace prize farce for Donald Trump'

"What should have been a celebration of the beautiful game at the FIFA World Cup draw instead curdled into a tawdry display of political fawning over Donald Trump"

Politics

5 d. ago FIFA 2026 World Cup match schedule: When and where every game will be played

The 2026 World Cup draw is almost underway with England and Scotland anxiously awaiting who shall be their opponents at next summer's major tournament

Politics