World Cup

News Hour: FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura on Thursday said there were no reasons to move the 2018 World Cup from Russia. “The World Cup bid process was fair and there are no reasons to take...

News Hour: The 2026 soccer World Cup could be split between up to four countries, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday, announcing the organisation would encourage applications to co-host the tournament. “We will encourage co-hosting...

News Hour: FIFA’s ruling council on Tuesday unanimously approved an expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026, with a format of 16 groups of three nations. “The FIFA Council unanimously decided on a...

News Hour: Diego Maradona is delighted by plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams and Argentina’s former captain said on Monday that it would rekindle interest in the tournament. The FIFA Council is expected...

News Hour: Migrant workers building soccer stadiums in Qatar’s desert heat are to be given ‘cooling’ hard hats to reduce their body temperature and risk of suffering heat stroke, tournament organizers said. Scientists at Qatar University...

News Hour: Football federations are “overwhelmingly in favor” of expanding the existing 32-nation World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday. The global football federation boss wants to increase the number of teams playing in...

News Hour: European countries will only be able to bid to host the 2026 World Cup if none of the eligible candidates are good enough, soccer’s governing body said on Friday. In a further boost to...

News Hour: Lionel Messi, having reversed his decision to quit international soccer with a view to playing at another World Cup, could miss out on Russia 2018 if Argentina continue their downward spiral. Argentina played poorly...

News Hour: FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plan to expand the World Cup faces a key test from Thursday at a meeting of world football’s top executives. Infantina wants to expand the tournament to 48 teams, a...

News Hour: Jason Day has been forced to withdraw from the World Cup of Golf and Australian Open next month due to a lingering back injury, the world number one has said. Day had been scheduled...