36 h. ago Football Daily | Fifa bingo! World Cup playoff draw checks all boxes as Irelands and Wales plot paths

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!An audience full of middle-aged and elderly men almost certainly preoccupied with what’s for lunch? Check. Constant reminders that football unites the world? Check. A charming hostess and former Miss Switzerland, Melanie Winiger? Check. Numerous ornate plinths bearing see-through bowls, a trophy or a football. Check. More montages from World Cups passim than were strictly necessary? Check. A dizzying array of acrylic multi-coloured draw balls? Check. “Fifa legends” Christian Karembeu, Marco Materazzi and Martin Dahlin? Checkity-check-check. A shiny floor? Check. Fifa competition manager Manolo Zubiria explaining protocol? Check. Self-important claptrap from an increasingly obsequious and craven “haunted cue-ball” Fifa president? Check.I was 34, I’d spent nine years at Arsenal and there had been a fair amount of discussions with the club. I wanted to go back to France with my family. There were deteriorated relationships with people ...

Sport

40 h. ago World Cup 2026 playoffs draw: Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia v Republic of Ireland, Italy v Northern Ireland – live

Live updates as the draw is made in SwitzerlandWho has qualified | European tables | Mail BillyTell us: have you bought tickets for the World Cup?Here is some reading on how Republic of Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland made it into the playoffs. Plus a bonus Scotland match report after they sealed the place at the World Cup in dramatic style.“As an ROI supporter, I hope we get a home match against a theoretically weaker side,” writes Martin. “I dream of beating Spain in the final. I fear it’s all going to end in tears, starting about an hour from now.” Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland discover World Cup play

As England and Scotland qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup - held in the United States, Canada and Mexico - Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland had to settle for the play-offs

Politics

41 h. ago Coldest night of season recorded in most of UK as snow forces school closures

Temperatures in Northern Ireland, England and Wales fell their coldest of the season so far.

Politics

5 d. ago Areas of UK where Christmas shoppers expect to spend most and least revealed

The average festive shopper expects to spend £377.98 in the weeks ahead, which is around £32.63 or 9% more than last year, MyVoucherCodes said.

Economics

6 d. ago Motorists given fine warning as Met Office predicts 'arctic blast' to hit UK

The Met Office has warned that an 'arctic blast' and 'wall of snow' is set to hit the UK, with it expected to fall in Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England, and possibly North Wales in what is being described as a "widespread wintry spell"

Events

2 w. ago World Cup 2027 qualifying draw live: England face Spain rematch as group opponents revealed

Sarina Wiegman’s European champions will take on the world champions in their road to Brazil in 2027, while Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland are also hoping to qualify

Politics

2 w. ago World Cup 2027 qualifying draw live: England could face nightmare group with opponents to be revealed

Sarina Wiegman’s European champions could face a tricky test on the road to Brazil in 2027, while Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland are also hoping to qualify

Politics

2 w. ago Why England could face a horror draw in Women’s World Cup qualifying

England are in pot 2 for this afternoon’s draw, meaning a European heavyweight awaits, while Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will also look to qualify for the 2027 World Cup

Events

2 w. ago Why are European champions England in pot 2 for Women’s World Cup qualifying?

England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will look to qualify for the 2027 World Cup

Politics

3 w. ago Free bus pass update as Department for Transport responds amid age change call

Calls are growing for more people to get concessionary bus travel in England - to bring it into line with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Politics