Japan thrashed Australia to reach 2022 world cup, Saudi Arabia also qualifies
Substitute Kaoru Mitoma scored twice in the dying minutes as Japan beat Australia 2-0 on Thursday to book their place at a seventh straight World Cup and in doing so also helped Saudi Arabia qualify. It was a crushing blow…
Ibrahimovic warns he is ‘an old guy’ as 2022 World Cup playoff looms
Zlatan Ibrahimovic said Tuesday that Sweden fans should not expect too much of him in the World cup playoffs and that he was “panicking” at the prospect of retiring. The 40-year-old striker is suspended for the World Cup playoff semi-final…
News flash: Paulo Dybala set to leave Juventus on free transfer
Juventus stalwart Paulo Dybala will not be extending his current contract and is set to leave the club in the summer, according to reports. Dybala, 28, is out of contract in the summer and his agent, Jorge Antun reportedly met…
Football: Karim Benzema becomes France’s leading scorer with 412 career goals
Karim Benzema became the highest French scorer in history on Monday as his goal against Mallorca in La Liga took him to 412 in his career, one more than Thierry Henry. The Real Madrid striker converted a penalty in the…
Challenges mount for FIFA 2026 World Cup co-hosts Mexico
Fan violence, homophobic chanting and signs of criminal gangs infiltrating the stands — challenges are stacking up for Mexican football authorities four years before they co-host the World Cup. The football-mad nation was shocked by a mass brawl between rival…
Euro 2024: Irish coach Stephen Kenny targets qualification after signing extension
Ireland coach Stephen Kenny’s “big dream” is to qualify for the 2024 European Championship now that he’s signed a contract extension. Kenny discussed his goals for Ireland at a news conference Thursday, a day after he was given an extension…
Messi included in Argentina squad for 2022 world cup qualifiers
Lionel Messi has returned to Argentina’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador, the Argentine Football Association said on Sunday. The 34-year-old Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward missed the Albicleste’s last qualifiers against Chile and Colombia earlier this year…
FIFA suspends Zimbabwe, Kenya soccer boards over respective government interference
FIFA suspended Zimbabwe and Kenya from international competitions on Thursday for government interference in the running of their national soccer bodies. Zimbabwe was banned after its government-run Sports and Recreation Commission refused to relinquish control of the Zimbabwe Football Association…
Alexis Sanchez stars to relaunch Chile’s Qatar World Cup hopes
Veteran Alexis Sanchez scored a brilliant brace to relaunch Chile’s hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup with a 3-2 win away to Bolivia on Tuesday. Sanchez opened the scoring on 14 minutes with a wicked free-kick before netting…
Lewandowski, Messi and Salah finalists for FIFA Best award
Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah were named on Friday as the three finalists for the FIFA Best Men’s Player award, while Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas was nominated for the women’s prize. Poland star Lewandowski won last year’s…
