The Guardian

World Cup friendly football news from 8am UK time Your essential guide to every player at the World Cup You can email us here | Sign up for Football Daily 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. …

Backroom staff denied entry visas for US, claims post on X Team have moved training base from Arizona to Mexico Iran has slammed World Cup co-hosts the United States over what it called “discriminatory treatment” by not granting visas for some members of the Iranian national team’s delegation to attend the tournament. “Why do you not say that visas were denied to a large portion of the managerial…

Over-by-over updates from 11am UK time Sooryavanshi to face England | Email James Can I just stop you… the sun has come out at Lord’s! It’s mizzling at Lord’s currently. A few minutes ago I spied Emilio Gay signing autographs and posing for selfies with a group of fans as he headed to have a net in the indoor school. He spoke really well after play last night and Andy Bull wrote a lovely piece ab…

2026 tournament will be the biggest, longest and most expensive – and the most intricately refereed – ever seen The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest, longest and most expensive. It will also feature a hefty number of rule changes. New responsibilities for video assistant referees, new red card offences and a number of initiatives to speed up the game will be put into effect. Here are the rule c…

Fans will be allowed one sealed bottle at matches World body again alters policy after condemnation Fifa has again amended its water bottle policy for the World Cup in North America, allowing fans to bring in one sealed, disposable 590ml bottle into stadiums. Ticket holders had previously been permitted an empty, transparent and reusable bottle up to one litre but an update earlier this week conf…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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