The Guardian

Ten years in the making, the greatest show on earth is set for a six-week sprint through Trump’s America This is the end, of our elaborate plans, the end. Of everything that stands, the end. It seems fitting that football’s latest stopping point on its voyage upriver into the blank parts of the map, a mission so choice that when it’s over you may never want another one, should be a World Cup over…

Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winner on being good without training, his political legacy and why he loves social media Few people’s interview list over the past year features Neymar, Robert Lewandowski, Xavi Hernández and Iker Casillas. But then not many interviewers have the pulling power of Romário. Thirty-two years after the former Brazil striker was crowned world champion and best player at the 19…

Uruguayans hope Marcelo Bielsa will have less of a rollercoaster of results so Federico Valverde can inspire them to reach the latter stages This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network , a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the to…

England were outclassed in Mallorca and would have been better served by trying to contain the world champions As the game ticked into second-half stoppage time, Spain were almost showboating, Aitana Bonmatí flicking the ball around the pitch with grace, style and a swagger that sent out an emphatic message: Spain are significantly better than England. On a balmy evening in Palma, the world champ…

Brunson leads Knicks to second road finals win New York take 2-0 series lead back to Garden Spurs face uphill battle after home-court sweep The New York Knicks moved within two wins of their first NBA championship in more than half a century on Friday night, edging the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 in a Game 2 thriller to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA finals before the series shifts to Madiso…

Opener scores 57; New Zealand in trouble in chase Gay: ‘I’m trying to lap it all in and enjoy it’ Emilio Gay described his Test debut as “a bit of a whirlwind” and “like a dream” after his half-century on the second day against New Zealand at Lord’s made him the game’s top scorer and helped to put England in the driving seat. By stumps the tourists were 36 for three , still 218 runs from victory.…

Ranked only behind France and having a teenage prodigy in Lamine Yamal alongside an in-form Nico Williams, we can expect much from La Roja This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network , a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tour…

England likely to face World Cup qualification playoffs Manager calls for a reaction in final group match Sarina Wiegman said she wants to see a reaction from her Lionesses after England suffered their heaviest defeat in 17 years against Spain. It was a humbling evening for Wiegman and her team, who needed a win or a draw to qualify for the World Cup. Even a defeat by a single goal would have kep…

Head coach says Bayern Munich striker is in ‘top shape’ England face New Zealand in warm-up on Saturday Thomas Tuchel has said that Harry Kane is in top shape and ready to lead England to glory at the World Cup. The Bayern Munich striker has been short of fitness at previous major tournaments but he has enjoyed a brilliant season in Germany and has looked in peak physical condition in training th…

Driver died four years after founding McLaren but his legacy lives through his inspirational tenacity and team’s roll call of champions As the streets of Monaco echo to the roar of engines, history too will resonate long and loud in Monte Carlo this weekend. Allegiance be damned, it would take a heart of stone not to recognise McLaren’s achievement and contribution to the sport when the team that…

For football fans in Canada, the initial prospect of the World Cup coming to town was thrilling – but hundreds of tickets remain unsold As far back as he can remember, football has long been a part of Lawrence Yee’s life. Growing up in a Canadian town where hockey was the dominant sport, he found community and passion in the game. The sport – and the full, at times devastating, spectrum of emotio…

Test debutant opener enjoyed a few breaks but showed he could handle himself when the odds are against him to offer hope for a longer stay in role Emilio Gay lived three lives on Friday. The first ended in the 14th over, when he was on 20 and he leaned forward towards a ball from Matt Henry that zipped off the pitch, caught the edge of his bat and spat through the gap between first and second sli…

Brilliant defensive skills and craft have propelled world No 114 from qualifying into Roland Garros final but Mirra Andreeva has the game to match The summer of 2022 took Maja Chwalinska to the familiar surroundings of the Bank of England Sports Club in Roehampton. A world away from the real thing, the then world No 170 worked her way through three gruelling Wimbledon qualifying matches against p…

O’Neill agrees one-year deal after successful return Keane had a managerial spell with Maccabi Tel Aviv Celtic are expected to confirm the appointment of Martin O’Neill as the club’s permanent manager after the 74-year-old agreed a one-year contract to remain in Glasgow. O’Neill led Celtic to the domestic double during the second of two interim spells he undertook this season. Robbie Keane had be…

Here’s how to follow along with our coverage – the finest writing and up-to-the-minute reports Continue reading...