FIFA chief Gianni Infantino in favor of 48-team Qatar World Cup
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said expanding the 2022 World Cup to 48 teams was "feasible" on Wednesday, as hosts Qatar pledged to come to a decision in the early part ...
Akira Nishino reflects on Japan's wild World Cup ride
Former national team manager Akira Nishino admits he still has regrets about Japan's exit from this summer's World Cup in Russia, but he believes the team has a bright future ...
World Cup star Kylian Mbappe played through back injury in final two games
France striker Kylian Mbappe has revealed he played the World Cup semifinals and final with a back injury he hid from his rivals. In an interview with France Football magazine, Mbappe ...
Croatia left heartbroken yet proud after loss to France in World Cup final
The rain hid Croatia's tears. After Luka Modric collected his Golden Ball award in a downpour, he shared an emotional embrace with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, both wearing the country's red-and-white checkered uniform. Croatia knows Sunday's 4-2 loss to France in the World Cup final was ...
Taking turns sliding across the rain-soaked turf holding the World Cup trophy tight, teenager Kylian Mbappe and the rest of France's players acted like the youthful bunch they are. Nothing, not a Pussy Riot protest nor a postgame downpour that soaked Russian President Vladimir Putin, ...
Belgium has best World Cup showing, beats England by 2-0 to secure third-place finish
Belgium beat England 2-0 in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday to secure its best-ever finish at a World Cup and send Gareth Southgate's side home with a second straight loss. France will face Croatia in Sunday's final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. A ...
Hajime Moriyasu emerges as top coaching candidate for Japan national team
Hajime Moriyasu, who will coach Japan's men's team during the soccer competition at the 2020 Olympics, is the top candidate to manage the full national team, sources said Tuesday. The members of the Japan Football Association's technical committee, which is selecting the successor to Akira ...
Belgium's golden generation has come up short at a major tournament. Again. With Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard in fantastic form creating chances for themselves and Romelu Lukaku up front, Vincent Kompany fit again at the heart of the defense and Thibaut Courtois standing ...
They're young, they're brash and they're collectively worth a billion dollars. The one thing missing for this French squad is an international title. Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba and France are about to get that chance. Les Bleus are headed to the World Cup final. Samuel Umtiti clinched ...
France holds no hard feelings over Henry's role with Belgium
Thierry Henry might be working as an assistant coach for Belgium, but his place in the pantheon of French soccer is secure, and there will be no hard feelings no matter the outcome of the World Cup semifinal, French forward Olivier Giroud said Sunday. Two ...
Nyet this time. Although Russia made it further at this year's World Cup than most anyone expected, it was Croatia that advanced to the semifinals with a 4-3 shootout victory Saturday following a 2-2 draw. The overachieving hosts, the lowest ranked team in the tournament at ...
