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Fifa World Cup 2026

Fifa World Cup 2026
The 2026 Fifa World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States across 16 cities, making it the first to be hosted by three nations and the first North American World Cup since 1994. A total of 32 teams will compete to take the trophy, with the games planned for as-yet-unscheduled dates in the summer months.
Lionel Messi, then 20, helps to bathe Lamine Yamal, who was six months old, during a photo shoot in the dressing room of Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium in 2007. Photo: AP
Fifa

2 stars and a bathtub: when World Cup leading men Messi and Yamal first met

The two superstars face each other for the first time on the pitch in the final, but they share an incredible backstory from 19 years ago.

Donald Trump

Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke, says he’ll add cost to tariffs

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NetEase

Adidas, Lenovo among companies in China giving workers a World Cup final holiday

Hong Myung-bo

South Korean football reform group led by Park Ji-sung, Ryu Seung-min criticised

Head of local body, who supports outgoing KFA president Chung Mong-gyu, attacks ex-national footballers, Olympic table tennis champion.

Chung Mong-gyu (right) and former national team head coach Hong Myung-bo (left) received plenty of criticism after South Korea's dismal World Cup performance. Photo: Korea Times
Fifa

True team, strong defence, unbeatable coach: why Spain are in the World Cup final

European champions Spain face South American champions Argentina in Sunday’s final, and there are three key reasons for their strong run.

Celebrity Families

Meet Jobe Bellingham, younger brother to Jude and rising football star

The 20-year-old midfielder is signed with Borussia Dortmund and carving his own path – but what’s his connection to Love Island’s Mica Harris?

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Law

Legal Tales | Everything you never wanted to know about hosting the World Cup

Why lawyers have to keep their eye on the ball when nations become eager to host the next Fifa World Cup.

Official sponsors pay billions for exclusivity, meaning host nations must establish “clean zones” around stadiums where unauthorised advertising and street trading are prohibited. Photo: Reuters
Lionel Messi

While you were sleeping: England blow it, Argentina march into World Cup final

Three Lions facing another four years of hurt after throwing away semi-final lead. Defending champions to take on Spain in historic final.

Celebrity style

English midfielder Jude Bellingham’s stand-out fashion moments

Like his team’s 2026 Fifa World Cup run, the Louis Vuitton ambassador and English midfielder’s best fashion moments have been captivating the internet.

Lionel Messi

Fifa World Cup: Tuchel tactics leave England wondering what might have been

Argentina come from behind again, but England boss Thomas Tuchel will face plenty of questions in coming days after his side’s defeat.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after teammate Lautaro Martinez scores the winner. Photo: AP
Food and Drinks

Mouthing Off | How the World Cup has given tourists a new perspective on American food culture

Wide-eyed tourists have marvelled at everything from ranch to jumbo-sized Cheetos containers to gargantuan packs of supermarket meat.

Everything is bigger in the US, from crisp packets to portions in restaurants, and first-time visitors to the country for the World Cup are often overwhelmed. Photo: Shutterstock
Donald Trump

Infantino reported to IOC over Trump ties after reversal of Balogun red card

⁠Non-profit organisation and advocacy group asks for probe to check if Fifa president has repeatedly breached rules on political neutrality.

Video | Pygmy hippo Moo Deng picks World Cup semi-final winners

Ahead of matches, pigmy hippo was presented with watermelon slices bearing flags of each semi-final team.

Fifa

Fifa World Cup: England are ‘hungry, ready to go’ in semi-final against Argentina

Head coach Thomas Tuchel says finals are ‘draining and nerve-racking’ but make him ‘feel alive’ before highly-anticipated clash in Atlanta.

Thomas Tuchel addressing the media at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Tuesday. Photo: Getty Images
While you were sleeping

While you were sleeping: Rodri powers Spain to final, Mbappe goes missing

Spain prove the adage that defence wins championships, while a Super Bowl-style show could stretch half-time at the final to almost 30 minutes.

Spain’s Borja Iglesias (right) celebrates with Rodri (centre) and goalkeeper David Raya at he end of the semi-final. Photo: AP

Superb Spain beat France 2-0 to reach World Cup final, eye repeat of 2010 double

Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sink tournament favourites, keep sixth clean sheet in seven matches.

Fifa

6 million sign petition to kick Argentina out of World Cup, citing favouritism

Organisers of argentinaout.com claim Fifa and match officials have favoured the defending champions and their captain, Lionel Messi.

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Xue Fei

Chinese referee Ma Ning packs away his cards and bids farewell to the World Cup

Zhou Fei and Fu Ming have also departed, ending China’s involvement in the global showpiece football tournament in North America.

Ma Ning was the first Chinese official to referee a World Cup match in 24 years, and the only one to be selected for consecutive tournaments. Photo: Reuters
Fifa

All eyes on Mbappe, Yamal as Spain, France meet in ‘final before the final’

France, Fifa’s No 1 team, face No 3-ranked team in first semi-final, but Spain may have upper hand, having won their past two meetings.

Fifa

Fifa World Cup semis: 4 previous champions, a bitter rivalry, race for Golden Boot

Top four in Fifa rankings meet over two blockbuster matches, with Mbappé v Yamal and Messi v Kane just two of many intriguing storylines.

Fifa

Fifa president Gianni Infantino to look into expanding World Cup to 64-team format

This year’s edition is the first 48-nation tournament, a decision that was heavily criticised but has not ‌provoked much debate recently.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino in the stands before the Norway v England match at the World Cup. Photo: Reuters
Fan Zhendong

Fan Zhendong set for commentating debut during World Cup final on Chinese site

Football pundit Zhan Jun reveals that table tennis legend, a well-known football fan, will be co-commentator on sports platform Migu on Monday.

Fan Zhendong, seen here playing for German club FC Saarbrücken in May, is expected to be a guest commentator alongside Chinese professional footballer Wu Lei. Photo: Getty Images
Erling Haaland

Fifa World Cup: Sorloth under fire for Erling Haaland error in Norway defeat

Online commentators slam striker after he failed to release superstar No 9 when team led 1-0 and had England on ropes.

Hong Kong economy

Fifa World Cup: Hong Kong pubs, restaurants enjoy net gains from big matches

Lan Kwai Fong Group chairman Allan Zeman says business ‘up 60 to 70 per cent’ in nightlife district and set to get ‘crazier’ for the final.

Fifa

Fifa World Cup: Argentina beat Switzerland to book blockbuster England date

Defending champions given run for money before extra-time goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez break 10-man Swiss resistance.

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates celebrate their World Cup quarter-final victory over Switzerland. Photo: AFP
Fifa

Fifa World Cup: England ‘get lucky’ as Bellingham sinks Norway but Tuchel unhappy

German boss says team ‘made life difficult for themselves’ after come-from-behind victory sets up semi-final against Argentina.

Jude Bellingham strikes a familiar pose after his winning goal for England against Norway. Photo: Reuters
United States

My Take | If anyone deserves a red card it’s Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino

If this World Cup is to be remembered as the best ever, it will be in spite of their efforts, not because of them.

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Fifa

Fifa World Cup: Luis de la Fuente ‘convinced’ Spain can topple Kylian Mbappe and France

Dallas encounter is repeat of 2024 European Championship and 2025 Nations League semi-finals, both won by Spain.

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