21 h. ago 2026 World Cup's contingency plans for wildfire smoke risks remain unclear

The 2026 World Cup being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States is less than a year away and FIFA’s protocols for matches affected by wildfire smoke remain unclear

Events

8 d. ago World Cup pollution will be ‘equivalent to 6.5m cars driven for a year’, claims report

With an increase in the number of World Cup matches to more than 100, a report claims it will be the most polluting tournament ever staged

Transport

9 d. ago Wayne Rooney ‘lands lucrative Match of the Day punditry deal’

The deal will also see Rooney work on the BBC’s 2026 World Cup coverage

Economics

1 week ago ‘It’s offensive’: voices from Iran as fans face 2026 World Cup travel ban

After Donald Trump banned Iranians from entering the US, one of the co-hosts, there are different views on what should be done“It’s offensive for any football fan to be prevented from participating in the World Cup, not just Iranians,” Ali Rezaei of Tehran’s Borna News Agency says. In March, the national team became the second to qualify for the 2026 World Cup that will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. In June, Donald Trump authorised the dropping of bombs on Iran and hit the country with a travel ban. As things stand, while the national team will be able to enter the US next summer, fans – and perhaps media – will not.Residents of Tehran and other cities may have had enough to deal with of late, but still, being barred from entry stings, even if Iranians have long found it difficult to get into the US. “If the US government has issues with the Iranian regime for any reason, it should not result in discrimination against Iranian citizens,” Behnam Jafarzadeh, a writ...

Politics

2 w. ago Fifa urged to stand up against Donald Trump’s immigration policies ahead of 2026 World Cup

An open letter to Fifa president Gianni Infantino is begging for the governing body to protect fans

Politics

2 w. ago Groups are begging FIFA to protect fans planning to visit US for 2026 World Cup from Trump’s immigration policies

‘Spectators from other countries remain subject to invasive and burdensome vetting procedures,’ letter argues

Politics

2 w. ago Rangers owners 49ers get their chequebooks out for £22m bill as mega cost of World Cup hosting duties revealed

The 49ers Enterprises investment group have taken control of Rangers - but the American football giants will also have to fork out for the 2026 World Cup

Economics

3 w. ago How the ‘heat dome’ in the US is affecting the FIFA Club World Cup

The current heatwave serves as a stark preview for the 2026 World Cup

Society

3 w. ago Iconic World Cup stadium now looks unrecognisable during renovation works

The iconic Estadio Azteca looks unrecognisable as the stadium that towers over Mexico City undergoes renovation work ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Economics

3 w. ago Warning shot for 2026: Club World Cup’s brutal heat exposes a World Cup risk

That the US gets hot in the summer is hardly breaking news. Even if it may not give any one team an advantage, it puts players, fans and officials at riskIn the 31 years since the United States last hosted the men’s World Cup, a few things remain unchanged.Recent politics notwithstanding, the US population is diverse and air travel is relatively easy, so international games tend to attract supporters no matter where they live. As long as ticket prices are reasonable, a good crowd is a good bet. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Thomas Tuchel has England plan for "impossible" scenario laid bare by Club World Cup

Players have struggled with the extreme heat in the US at the Club World Cup and England boss Thomas Tuchel is keen to mitigate its effects at the 2026 World Cup

Politics

3 w. ago Thomas Tuchel warned England face 'massively challenging' 2026 World Cup

England boss Thomas Tuchel has plenty of pressure on his shoulders ahead of the 2026 World Cup as he bids to win a first trophy for the Three Lions since 1966 in the United States

Events

3 w. ago Mauricio Pochettino handed huge boost ahead of USA's 2026 World Cup on home soil

The USA are set to host the 2026 World Cup and boss Mauricio Pochettino will be boosted by a state-of-the-art new training centre, which will open just before the tournament starts

Politics

3 w. ago Jude Bellingham sends strong message to FIFA after concerning Club World Cup issues

Jude Bellingham has not been impressed with conditions at the Club World Cup and the Real Madrid star has called for improvements to be made before the 2026 World Cup

Politics

3 w. ago John Stones hails Thomas Tuchel as Man City star opens up about England future

John Stones has thanked new England manager Thomas Tuchel and opened up about his future on the international stage ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America

Politics

3 w. ago Harry Kane gives take on major England fear ahead of 2026 World Cup

Harry Kane is currently sampling summer football in the United States at the Club World Cup, a year away from captaining England at next year's international edition

Politics

3 w. ago Inside Man United under Ralf Rangnick and the remarkable story of a coach you probably haven't heard of

Former Manchester United coach Ewan Sharp, who will be part of the Canada staff at the 2026 World Cup, speaks exclusively to the Manchester Evening News.

Politics

3 w. ago Gennaro Gattuso seeks ‘family’ ethos in bid to avoid World Cup unthinkable

Hero of 2006 World Cup was second choice behind Claudio Ranieri and has not had a successful career as managerGennaro Gattuso said all the things he was expected to say at his first appearance as Italy manager. He talked about the need to restore enthusiasm to an Azzurri side whose morale has been dented by recent setbacks, as well as that sense of shared purpose that bonded him to teammates in the World Cup-winning side of 2006.The word he kept coming back to was “family”, insisting: “That’s the most important thing, more than tactics or formations.” His is not a vision of paternalistic authority but of a group close enough to speak hard truths to each other’s faces. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago How the US men’s national team values diversity, even in the Trump era

With World Cup 2026 on the horizon, the team has been reluctant to weigh in publicly as one of their pillars is politicizedLos Angeles will be in the spotlight during the 2026 World Cup. It’s where the US men’s national team will begin their World Cup campaign, and it’s where they’ll wrap up the group stage. It’s a city in the news lately due to the Trump administration’s deployment of Ice and the national guard, but it’s also a metro area synonymous with diversity. This US men’s national team, more than ever, reflects that diversity.“It’s not that there’s a record or anything of how many minorities have been on the national team before, but I feel like this has been the most diverse generation of national team,” said center back Chris Richards, who is poised to be a leader along the backline for the US next year. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago The fixtures Premier League’s Afcon stars will miss – including one huge potential title clash

The 2026 African Cup of Nations takes place across December and January this season

Politics