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Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo has been handed a five-match suspension by FIFA's Disciplinary Committee following the tackle that seriously injured Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone during their World Cup clash in Vancouver. The incident occurred in the 56th minute of Canada's dominant 6-0 victory over Qatar, with Madibo receiving a red card after a VAR review confirmed the severity of the challenge. The tackle resulted in Kone suffering fractures to both his tibia and fibula, requiring immediate surgery. While Madibo initially served a one-match

Something extraordinary began on 18 December 2022, when Argentina defeated France in one of the greatest FIFA World Cup finals ever played. While Argentina celebrated their third World Cup title, football fans around the globe witnessed the beginning of a new chapter in the remarkable rivalry between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Four years later at the FIFA World Cup 2026, both superstars continue to rewrite football history and climb the tournament's all-time scoring charts. The Night That Changed World Cup History Before

Iran's push for a ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been shrouded in further controversy when head coach Amir Ghalenoei revealed his squad did not have sufficient time to recover after being ordered to leave the United States immediately following their Group G opener against New Zealand. Melli came away with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand Monday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. But instead of remaining overnight to recover, the Iranian delegation was allegedly ordered to head straight back

Spain's FIFA World Cup campaign got off to a frustrating start as the European champions were held to a 0-0 draw by tournament debutants Cape Verde in Atlanta on Monday. Despite dominating possession for much of the match, Spain struggled to break down a disciplined Cape Verde defence, raising concerns reminiscent of their disappointing World Cup exits in 2018 and 2022. Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, returning from a hamstring injury, started on the bench and was introduced in the second half. Although his

The FIFA World Cup 2026 continues with three important group-stage fixtures as Belgium, Uruguay, and Iran begin their quests for a place in the knockout rounds. Today's matches could shape the early standings in Groups G and H. With the expanded World Cup format rewarding consistency, a strong start can make all the difference. Belgium Look to Assert Control Against Egypt Belgium open their campaign against Egypt in what promises to be one of the most competitive matches of the day. The Red

Andres Iniesta believes 16-year-old Lamine Yamal has the skill and character to be among the best players of FIFA World Cup 2026. Iniesta, who has watched the likes of Lionel Messi, Pele and Kylian Mbappe take the footballing world by storm at a young age, believes Barcelona and Spain winger Ansu Fati possesses similar traits. During the Opening of his new Academy in Dubai, Iniesta hailed Yamal as a one-in-ten-million talent with the potential to have an electric impact on the global game,

Five years after he suffered a cardiac arrest at the European Championship, Christian Eriksen translated into distressing memories on Saturday night when he collapsed in Denmark's friendly against Ukraine but was eventually able to leave the field on foot. The 34-year-old former Manchester United midfielder, who has the type of pacemaker, endured the collapse in Odense during the 64th minute on Sunday. Medics flooded the pitch while players surrounded him from both teams to protect the area from TV or phone cameras. With

AP Soccer fans bringing the party to World Cup games will not be able to do so with vuvuzelas, which have been banned by FIFA from venues in the US, Canada and Mexico under its stadium code of conduct. The horn with a long tube of plastic has accompanied South African soccer matches for decades and took the world by storm during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. But have faced backlash for their repetitive droning noise likened to a hys of

As anticipation for the 2026 Fifa World Cup ramps up, cybersecurity experts and law enforcement have begun warning fans of a cyber surge in bogus ticket websites and counterfeit merchandise offerings. The expanded 48-team, 104-match tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico has proved a major honeypot for cybercriminals keen to catch football fans seeking tickets. Fake Websites Mimic Official Fifa Platforms The sites — with domain names like fifa-ticket. live" and "fifaworldcup26. sales" are designed to look almost identical to Fifa's

Brazil midfielder Casemiro believes that not being considered one of the leading favourites for the upcoming FIFA World Cup could work to the team's advantage. The five-time world champions are aiming to secure a record-extending sixth World Cup title at the tournament, which will take place in North America from June 11 to July 19. However, bookmakers currently rank Spain, France, and England ahead of Brazil among the favourites to lift the trophy. "We're a Step Behind, But That's Good" Speaking to FIFA's

Lionel Messi is big enough that he trained solo as the defending World Cup champion Argentina held its first practice in the U.S. The Inter Miami captain has been struggling with fatigue in his left hamstring since May 24 but should be fit for Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16. Messi, 38, went to Argentina's training base in Kansas City on Monday and did "targeted work" with a number of team mates also nursing fitness issues. Argentina's

Dalic confirmed an unchanged 26-man squad that sees Croatia captain Luka Modric set to lead his country in what is expected to be the Ballon d'Or winner's final World Cup appearance. Dalic retained the provisional list announced on May 18 and cut seven players from a standby list as Croatia set their sights on building upon recent tournament achievements. The 40-year-old will have one final opportunity to take Croatia to World Cup success after guiding his country through to the runners-up spot in

Qatar suffered a hard-fought 1-0 defeat against the Republic of Ireland in an international friendly at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Early Goal Decides Match Ireland took the lead in just the fifth minute when defender Nathan Collins headed home a dangerous free-kick delivered by Jack Moylan. The goal proved enough to secure victory for the hosts in front of 28,981 fans. Match Highlights Despite several attacking efforts from Qatar, including chances created by captain Akram Afif, Ireland defended strongly throughout the match. The game

Brazil’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered a major concern on Wednesday after Neymar missed the national team’s first training session due to a calf injury scare. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that the 34-year-old forward underwent medical imaging tests at a private clinic in Teresopolis after experiencing discomfort in his right calf. Neymar Under Medical Assessment In an official statement, the CBF said: Neymar’s absence quickly became the biggest talking point at Brazil’s World Cup camp as fans and

Following Inter Miami CF's wild 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday, Lionel Messi raised an injury flag before this month's FIFA World Cup. The Argentine sensation was replaced in the 73rd minute after he appeared to hold the back of his thigh following one of his signature free kicks. Coach Says Messi Was Suffering From Fatigue Inter Miami manager Guillermo Hoyos had no immediate medical report to provide but indicated the switch was largely precautionary. According to Hoyos: Messi was clearly

It was their first Premier League title in 22 years and Arsenal marked the occasion with a win, beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday. A 2-1 win on the final day completed an amazing season for Mikel Arteta's side, who finished on 85 points — seven clear of second with Manchester City losing against Aston Villa. Match Highlights Arsenal players were presented with their medals after the final whistle and then lifted the Premier League trophy to travelling fans. Emotional

Cristiano Ronaldo fired in two goals to secure Al Nassr the Saudi Pro League title on the final day of the season thanks to a 4-1 victory against Damac, with Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman also netting for Jorge Jesus's side. With the victory, Al Nassr ended on 86 points, two ahead of local rivals Al Hilal, who beat Al Fayha 1-0 but were forced to settle for second place. The victory sees Al Nassr win their first league title since 2019, the

Pep Guardiola faced Manchester City's heartbreaking title bid end on Tuesday then deflected questions again about his future, insisting no decision had yet been made while warning that it would be "wrong" to make such an announcement. On Tuesday, City's 1-1 draw at Bournemouth dismantled hopes of a Premier League challenge with an inauspicious end when Erling Haaland's late leveller was more reliant on keeping alive the race on Sunday against Aston Villa down to little more than probably an emotional farewell for

Manchester City will this weekend reportedly put an end to Pep Guardiola's decade-long trophy-laden reign. Guardiola, 55, has won: If City maximum two matches left (Bournemouth,Aston villa) win and Arsenal can not win a match against Crystal Palace in Sunday league matches final round, he could add another to his collection. Guardiola will leave following Villa's visit to the Etihad. The city has declined to comment on the rumors. The club were set to parade the League Cup and FA Cup trophies over

Phil Foden provided the type of magic that cannot be planned for in a tactics board and it was exactly what Pep Guardiola needed after Manchester City cruised to a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Despite a lineup that included six changes, City kept the pressure on Arsenal by reducing the gap at the top of the table to two points with two games remaining following their dominant win over Palace. Foden had the second rare appearance in the starting 11,