Global football, written sharply
On June 27, 1982, Austria and West Germany played 10 minutes of genuine football in Gijón, Spain. West Germany scored. The teams then spent 80 minutes passing calmly between themselves while Algeria, which had beaten West Germany three days earlier, watched from the stands as the result that would eliminate them was held in place … Read more
There’s a concise way to describe the central challenge of World Cup transport at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex has seven million people, two major rail networks, and an urban core with genuine transit culture. AT&T Stadium holds 80,000 fans, hosts nine matches (more than any other venue in the tournament), … Read more
Unpaid bonuses and food complaints are destabilising Senegal’s World Cup camp. What is really happening, and can the Lions of Teranga recover?
Goalkeepers are struggling with the Trionda at World Cup 2026. We examine the evidence, compare it to the Jabulani era, and ask what happens next.
Vancouver has the most integrated transit network of any 2026 World Cup host city. SkyTrain runs from the airport, the ferry terminal and deep into the suburbs. On paper, BC Place looks like the easiest venue to reach in the tournament. The station nearest the front door sits two minutes from the gates. It is … Read more
Gianni Infantino confirms Donald Trump will present the World Cup trophy at the 19 July final. Here is what we know, what remains unclear, and why it matters.
Fifa leadership overruled US-based staff who opposed dynamic ticket pricing at World Cup 2026. We examine the financial logic, the fallout, and what comes…
Houston does not blush about its relationship with the automobile. The city sprawls across more than 600 square miles — larger than Los Angeles — and its freeway network is among the most extensive per capita of any major American metro. So when FIFA chose NRG Stadium as one of its four air-conditioned World Cup … Read more
Pape Thiaw coached Senegal through the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2025, led them to World Cup qualification, and arrived in the United States for the biggest tournament of his career without a signed contract. He hadn’t been paid since February. The original team chef left mid-camp. Players chased bonus payments owed from months … Read more
Cape Verde scored their first ever World Cup goal against Uruguay, sending a fan wild on live BBC News. Plus Messi’s record, Mbappé, Haaland and more from…
