It is not often that an England cricket coach has a winter free of international matches. England have not played since their semi-final loss to South Africa at the Women’s World Cup in India. They will not play again until a one-day international and T20 series against New Zealand, starting on May 10, before hosting…
Canada national team coach Jesse Marsch hopes to face Italy and their former forward Wilfried Gnonto at the 2026 World Cup. Canada coach Marsch hopes to face Italy in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup later this year. Advertisement The Azzurri have not yet qualified for the competition, but if they do, they…
After a year filled with opportunities to test newcomers on the international stage, Emma Hayes will use a long track to prepare her U.S. women’s national soccer team for its first major competition since the 2024 Olympics later this year and continue building toward the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. As part of Hayes’ plans,…
Democratic Republic of the Congo: CAN 2025 or World Cup 2026? Sébastien Desabre chooses without hesitation On the eve of a decisive stage for Congolese football, Sébastien Desabre makes his ambitions very clear. After reaching the semi-finals of AFCON 2023 and now just one match away from a historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup,…
With a record 48 national teams participating, some countries will get their first taste of playing in a World Cup next summer. While Brazil has played in all 22 tournaments, 132 of FIFA’s 211 member associations have never participated. Advertisement BBC Sport takes a closer look at some of those set to debut at the…
Italy is expected to host Northern Ireland in Bergamo for the World Cup play-off semi-final in March 2026, with Atalanta’s New Balance Arena having its stands close to the pitch and already providing a warm welcome at Gennaro Gattuso’s debut in September. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina confirmed last week that Italy will likely host the…
Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill admits facing Italy in the World Cup play-off semi-final is “as difficult as we can get” but has urged his players to “believe we can get there and get a surprising result”. Italy will host Northern Ireland in a single-leg World Cup play-off semi-final on March 26, after the play-off…
Karim Adeyemi has landed in trouble after receiving a criminal warrant and a €450,000 fine for illegal possession of weapons. In the wake of the case, the German Football Federation and Adeyemi’s club, Borussia Dortmund, announced Wednesday that the German international has been ordered to visit Nordstadtliga Dortmund in the coming weeks and participate in…
Soccer fans who buy tickets to next year’s FIFA World Cup in the United States will have the opportunity to skip the line for visa interviews at American embassies around the world, President Donald Trump announced Monday. Speaking in the Oval Office alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump said his administration is implementing what he…
Italy’s place in the World Cup play-offs has been confirmed after a 4-1 home defeat against Norway on Sunday night, but how will coach Gennaro Gattuso prepare his players without further international breaks between now and March? Italy, ready for the World Cup playoffs Italy finished second in Group I of the UEFA World Cup…
