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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.
Argentina’s Leandro Paredes clashes with Spain’s Gavi after the end of the World Cup 2026 final. Spain won 1-0. Like in sports, tantrums and meltdowns are also aplenty in the hospitality world, Charmaine Mok says. Photo: Imagn Images via Reuters
Food and Drinks

On the Menu | How Argentina’s World Cup meltdowns echo restaurant award tantrums

Just as Argentina suffered a sad case of sour grapes over losing to Spain, so too have restaurateurs and chefs been ungracious in defeat.

Erling Haaland

Vozinha, Haaland named in World Cup dream team, but no place for Kane, Yamal

Sex and relationships

Meet Maduka Okoye’s baby mama Jelicia Westhoff, who’s accused him of cheating

Fifa

China’s World Cup frenzy: 70 billion views, 83.3 billion yuan in lottery sales

Figures from CCTV and China Sports Lottery reveal tournament’s reach while sponsors and retailers also benefit from huge interest.

The World Cup final had a peak real-time viewership of 41.23 million in China, according to CCTV. Photo: EPA
Fifa

Spain return home for massive parade, with World Cup and all-conquering identity

Winning team, who are greeted in Madrid by almost two million people including royals and prime minister, are apex of a now-dominant system.

Celebrity Families

Meet England footballer Jude Bellingham’s parents, Denise and Mark

Mark is a retired non-league footballer, while Denise was an HR professional – but now they’re both involved in their 2 sons’ football careers.

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Erling Haaland

Spain leapfrog Argentina in Fifa rankings after World Cup win, Norway biggest climber

France and England remained No 3 and No 4, while Tunisia dropped 12 places after being the only African nation to miss out on the knockouts.

Spain overtook Argentina for the No 1 spot in the Fifa men’s ⁠world rankings after winning the World Cup. Photo: Getty Images
China’s private sector

Fifa effect: Hong Kong developers bet on sport fever to keep shoppers spending

Neighbourhood malls to host year-round events encouraging consumers to open their wallets after World Cup mania delivers double-digit gains.

videocam
Fifa

More teams, bigger format but same result: key takeaways from 2026 Fifa World Cup

Despite fears beforehand over how fans would be treated and how the hosts would fare, there were thrills aplenty and some fairy-tale stories.

Spain

Teen dies during Spain World Cup celebrations

The teen died and several people were injured after a fountain collapsed in western Spain during celebrations.

A fountain in Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain’s Salamanca province, is cordoned off on Monday after it collapsed during World Cup celebrations. Photo: EPA
Fifa

Spain’s World Cup win sparks surge in flight searches as Argentina face backlash

Data from mainland travel agency shows a sharp rise in inquiries for flights to Spain as losing fans deal with their side’s actions.

Supporters of Spain celebrate their team’s win at a bar in Beijing on Monday morning. Photo: EPA
Athletes

Meet Ferran Torres, who scored Spain’s winning World Cup goal

The 26-year-old was discovered when playing futsal with friends at school, and played for Valencia and Man City before joining Barcelona.

Lionel Messi

France’s Kylian Mbappe wins second World Cup Golden Boot, Spain sweep other awards

Midfielder Rodri ‌collected the Golden Ball, goalkeeper ⁠Unai Simon won Golden Glove and defender Pau Cubarsi claimed Best Young Player.

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong restaurants score extra HK$500 million thanks to World Cup

Crowds of football fans, including children and elderly, flocked to shopping centres for match between Spain and Argentina at 3am.

Spain celebrate their World Cup win against Argentina. Photo: Associated Press

Emotional Spain boss praises side’s ‘team first’ approach after World Cup win

Luis de la Fuente becomes oldest coach to guide a team to win World Cup. Spain now unbeaten in 38 matches across all competitions.

Spain coach Luis De La Fuente lifts the World Cup trophy alongside his players. Photo: Reuters
Fifa World Cup

Spain beat 10-man Argentina to win one-sided World Cup final

Ferran Torres scores only goal of a game in which defending champions did not create a chance in more than 90 minutes.

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Fifa

BTS, Madonna and the Muppets light up Fifa World Cup half-time show

The star-packed, Super Bowl-style extravaganza during the match between Spain and Argentina also featured a tribute to football icon Pele.

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Donald Trump

Trump and Infantino set to face red-card protest at Fifa World Cup final

The US president and Fifa boss have faced criticism after US striker Folarin Balogun had his ban lifted despite receiving a red card.

US President Donald Trump (right) holds up a red card during a meeting with Fifa president Gianni Infantino at the Oval Office in the White House in Washington in 2018. Photo:AP
Fifa

Fifa World Cup final: what factors favour Argentina, what factors favour Spain

Looking beyond Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, what are the strengths that help title holders Argentina and European champions Spain?

China exports

China did not qualify for the World Cup. It may have won in economic terms

While its men’s team has not competed since 2002, this year’s tournament has generated significant profit for many Chinese firms.

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Tuchel claims England should be proud of World Cup bronze, Deschamps bows out

Third place is England’s best finish at a World Cup since 1966. Deschamps leaves France after 14 years in charge.

England’s Bukayo Saka celebrates putting his side 4-0 up on the stroke of half-time. Photo: AP

Mbappe overtakes Messi as World Cup’s top scorer, England win 10-goal thriller

Kylian Mbappe scores twice to take lead in race for golden boot and become highest scorer in tournament history. Saka bags hat-trick.

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England’s Bukayo Saka (centre) celebrates his hat-trick alongside Jude Bellingham (left) and Reece James. Photo: AP
Fifa World Cup

Editorial | World Cup has showcased the beautiful game despite some ugly moments

While high ticket prices, visa issues and a Trump intervention cast a shadow on the tournament, the engrossing competition has also brought people together.

Erling Haaland

Messi pulls ahead of Yamal in Ballon d’Or race, with all to play for at World Cup

Bookies, prediction markets make Lionel Messi favourite to claim trophy despite 39-year-old playing in a second-tier domestic competition.

China travel

The Haaland effect? Chinese tourists flock to Norway amid World Cup ad blitz

The hulking striker has become a huge star in China during the World Cup, helping his homeland attract a growing wave of tourists.

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Norwegian football star Erling Haaland has become the face of a major advertising campaign for the Chinese herbal drink brand Walovi during the World Cup. Photo: Captured from Instagram

Trump quips about US-China World Cup bid, praises Infantino over red card reversal

US president hailed the tournament as the ‘most successful sporting event perhaps in the history of the world’ at a reception in New York.

Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino at a Fifa reception at Trump Tower in New York. Photo: Reuters
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

Smoke from Canadian fires has enveloped a swathe of the US, raising questions about conditions for Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey.

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