World Cup

The ball used by Diego Maradona to score the famous "Hand of God" goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final has been sold at a US auction for $3.3 million (£2.5 million). Despite the significant price, the sale at Heritage Auctions fell short of expectations, as experts had anticipated a figure closer to $10 million.

Since scoring Spain's winning goal in the World Cup final, he has been everywhere – and not everyone is thrilled with his new persona. The absurd rating he gave himself in FIFA, his surprise at his own goal tally for Barcelona, and his demand that the club "show they want him" have sparked a wave of mockery.

The 2026 World Cup ended a month ago, and in recent days FIFA has been publishing rare footage from the camera of Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić during the World Cup final. As you may recall, Argentina lost to Spain 0:1.

While waiting at the gate at the airport, passengers on the flight from Madrid to Liverpool were stunned to discover that Rodri was waiting in line next to them. A BBC Radio sports broadcaster documented: "We got such a crazy end to an amazing vacation." The Manchester City midfielder returned to England, while talks regarding his move to Barcelona continue.

The Telegraph presented the alliance between the two in a particularly harsh light and claimed that both are interested only in money: "The Trump card is the only one left for Infantino"

The US President provides backing to the FIFA President, who is under increasing pressure from UEFA and other associations around the world: "If he leaves, the World Cup will never again be as successful or profitable."

Nicolas Tagliafico, one of the few players who had not yet spoken following Argentina's loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, broke his silence on his Twitch channel. The 33-year-old defender reflected on the tournament and his future with the national team.

During the World Cup, the FBI operated the International Police Cooperation Center, where American security agencies and police representatives from participating countries worked together. The center monitored, among other things, terror threats, threats against players, violent fans, and incidents that could have compromised the security of the tournament. According to an investigation by the...

Will Europe's major football teams boycott the World Cup? The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has announced that it has lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and does not rule out extreme measures. The acute crisis erupted following a secret plan by Infantino to sell stakes in the World Cup tournament to private investors.

International pressure has broken the world football leadership: following the European boycott and the wave of sharp criticism, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafström jointly published an official letter to the associations in which they expressed "sincere apologies for the mistakes" in managing the controversial plan to privatize percentages of the World Cup. The...

Shawn Carrington, a 36-year-old from England, went viral on social media after deciding to celebrate his team’s historic World Cup win before the tournament even ended. He was so confident in the team’s success under coach Thomas Tuchel that he rushed to tattoo the World Cup on his leg alongside the winning caption. But reality had different plans, and he had to find a creative and amusing...

As part of a plan to establish a commercial entity, FIFA President Gianni Infantino considered opening 20% of the organization's capital to private investors. Facing harsh criticism and reports of a potential resignation, the Swiss official published a strange Instagram post praising Kylian Mbappé for his World Cup performance, which concluded on July 19.

One of the heroes of the 2026 World Cup, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, has arrived in Chile to join Colo-Colo. He was greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic fans at the airport in Santiago.

Raisa Bellini became one of the most prominent figures in the tournament's stands thanks to her daring appearances, and now she talks about the messages she received from football figures. And yes, she plans to star in Euro 2028 as well.

In less than 72 hours, Gianni Infantino's ambitious plan to privatize FIFA's core assets collapsed into a major political crisis. Facing a united boycott threat from UEFA and other confederations, the FIFA president was forced to abandon the deal.

FIFA has officially announced it will not proceed with the sale of a 20% stake in its World Cup management unit following intense backlash from major football associations.

Jérémy Doku will never forget the 2026 World Cup. The Manchester City winger arrived at the tournament with high ambitions to lead the Belgium national team, but did not expect such a chaotic month. It all began with a respiratory infection that prevented him from participating in the second match of the group stage against Iran, which ended in a 0:0 draw. What no one knew was that the infection...

Days after France's 2026 World Cup run, Michael Olise surprised fans by joining an amateur game in a New York park. At 24, he is one of Europe's most influential players, blending phenomenal stats with a complete lack of interest in fame.

Gianni Infantino is facing a major crisis over plans to privatize World Cup ownership. UEFA and CONCACAF are threatening a boycott, demanding the cancellation of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.

An oversight that Tom Holland won't forget, a rap song that became a hit, and hilarious AI videos: how did Erling Haaland become the undisputed king of social media, and what does he have to say about the madness surrounding him?

UEFA and 55 football associations have threatened to boycott FIFA competitions in response to Gianni Infantino's plan to privatize the World Cup and bring in private investors linked to the Trump family.

Following a series of posts against the Argentina team and support for Spain in the World Cup final, as well as an incident involving singer Rusliya, the controversial star replied to followers: "Don’t forget that I’m also anti-Zionist."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is attempting to lower tensions surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan, asserting that it is merely a consultative proposal rather than a binding step. UEFA has labeled the initiative a "red line" and is considering a potential boycott of FIFA tournaments.

Gianni Infantino is promoting a new company to manage FIFA's national team events, with potential investment from Joshua Kushner's fund. UEFA is furious, calling it a "red line" and threatening a boycott.

The international football association is preparing a major reorganization by establishing a new commercial entity. Part of the company will be sold to private investors, while investment bank JPMorgan is leading talks to inject billions of dollars into the organization.

Beverage giant Coca-Cola reported strong quarterly results of 13.4 billion dollars and raised its annual forecast, as the CFO admitted that the controversial hydration breaks at the World Cup were profitable for the company.

Under Armour, DoorDash, and American Eagle are just some of the international brands recruiting World Cup stars for new campaigns, trying to make the most of their peak moment.

Marc Cucurella proved that promises made before a World Cup final must be kept. The Spanish national team's left-back, who promised before the tournament to tattoo the face of coach Luis de la Fuente if 'La Roja' lifted the trophy, has officially fulfilled his vow.

The Qatar national basketball team will begin its path to the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be held in the country. Similar to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar has constructed new arenas, and the final match will take place at the Lusail Arena, just ten kilometers from the stadium that hosted the football final.

In an unusual and extraordinary move that has caused a huge stir in the sports world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent a particularly sharp letter directed against critics of the World Cup.

The Football Association of Slovenia has confirmed that World Cup final referee Slavko Vinčić has decided to hang up his whistle and officially retire. The 46-year-old Slovenian, who officiated Spain's victory over Argentina, has chosen to end his career.

The Argentina national team captain was spotted for the first time since the loss to Spain while attending a match of Leones, the club presided over by his brother. Despite his attempt to keep a low profile, he was quickly recognized by fans.

Marcos Senesi's girlfriend showcased a personal mate kit on social media that the defender received from the captain: a customized bag, a gold-plated thermos, a drinking vessel, mate herbs, and a straw.

FIFA President sent a letter to the chairman of the Argentine Football Association after the loss to Spain in the World Cup final, and complimented the players and staff for "constant work, commitment and attention to detail" — despite the events at the end of the match and the investigation opened following the confrontation.

The World Cup final crushes the weekly rating charts with a rare figure of 40.6% and over a million viewers, while familiar prime-time programs and news editions struggle for the remaining spots in the top table | Full ranking here

The Cape Verde national team goalkeeper, who was a hero of their historic run and selected for the fans' all-star team, has found a new home — and will not be joining Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

I do not like the World Cup tournament and do not find real interest in football, unless it has a fascinating story like Diego Maradona or Bnei Yehuda.

The Athletic has ranked every tournament in history, placing the most recent one in only tenth place—just one spot above the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Who took the top spot? The full ranking is below.