The England Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Bullingham has said that LGBTQ+ fans will not face police action for kissing or holding hands in public during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.&nbsp;

The middle-eastern country has a strict rule regarding same-sex couples but the FA has assured the fans that they will not face any problems during the tournament in November-December. Earlier, there were reports that some English fans will be staying away from the competition because of this reason.&nbsp;

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However, Bullingham made it clear that the police have been briefed to be “tolerant”.&nbsp;

"We have been asking those questions of the Qatari authorities over the last six months. They have absolutely told us all the right answers for anything we've talked about, even down to the point of 'are rainbow flags allowed?',” he told reporters while talking about the upcoming competition.&nbsp;

"Yes, absolutely (they are allowed) as long as someone doesn't go and drape them on the outside of a mosque - that was one example we were given - and were disrespectful in that way.”&nbsp;

"But they have absolutely been briefed to be very tolerant and act in the right way. Any time we ask a direct question we tend to get an answer," he added while speaking to AFP.&nbsp;

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Meanwhile, the England football team also joined nine other nations to join the 'OneLove' anti-discrimination campaign. Skipper&nbsp;Harry Kane&nbsp;will wear a rainbow armband during the World Cup.

"As captains, we may all be competing against each other on the pitch, but we stand together against all forms of discrimination," Kane said at the unveiling of their new jersey for the World Cup.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

The England Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Bullingham has said that LGBTQ+ fans will not face police action for kissing or holding hands in public during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The England Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Bullingham has said that LGBTQ+ fans will not face police action for kissing or holding hands in public during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The middle-eastern country has a strict rule regarding same-sex couples but the FA has assured the fans that they will not face any problems during the tournament in November-December. Earlier, there were reports that some English fans will be staying away from the competition because of this reason. Also read | Roger Federer eyes dream farewell alongside Rafael Nadal at Laver Cup However, Bullingham made it clear that the police have been briefed to be “tolerant”. "We have been asking those questions of the Qatari authorities over the last six months. They have absolutely told us all the right answers for anything we've talked about, even down to the point of 'are rainbow flags allowed?',” he told reporters while talking about the upcoming competition. "Yes, absolutely (they are allowed) as long as someone doesn't go and drape them on the outside of a mosque - that was one example we were given - and were disrespectful in that way.” "But they have absolutely been briefed to be very tolerant and act in the right way. Any time we ask a direct question we tend to get an answer," he added while speaking to AFP. Also read | Chelsea sack director within a month for 'inappropriate messages' to agent Meanwhile, the England football team also joined nine other nations to join the 'OneLove' anti-discrimination campaign. Skipper Harry Kane will wear a rainbow armband during the World Cup. "As captains, we may all be competing against each other on the pitch, but we stand together against all forms of discrimination," Kane said at the unveiling of their new jersey for the World Cup. (with inputs from agencies)

FA chief says LGBTQ+ fans won't face arrest for kissing at FIFA World Cup in Qatar

FIFA's partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer's governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare said on Tuesday.

Qatar has faced intense criticism from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers, who along with other foreigners comprise the bulk of the country's population. Qatari authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters about the rights groups' report. The government of Qatar has said that its labour system is still a work in progress, but denied a 2021 Amnesty report that thousands of migrant workers were still being exploited.

Last week, a YouGov survey of more than 17,000 fans from 15 countries -- 10 of them European -- commissioned by Amnesty showed 73% of respondents would support a proposal for FIFA to compensate migrant workers, while 10% opposed it.

Minky Worden, the director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said that sponsors should use their "considerable leverage" to apply pressure on FIFA and Qatar to fulfill their responsibilities to workers.

"Brands buy rights to sponsor the World Cup because they want to be associated with joy, fair competition and spectacular human achievement on the field -- not rampant wage theft and the deaths of workers who made the World Cup possible," said Worden.

The three human rights organisations said they had written to FIFA's 14 corporate partners and World Cup sponsors in July and that four of them -- AB InBev/Budweiser, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's had indicated their support for ensuring remedy for workers.

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Ten other sponsors -- Visa, Hyundai-Kia, Wanda Group, Qatar Energy, Qatar Airways, Vivo, Hisense, Mengniu, Crypto and Byju's -- have not responded to written requests to discuss tournament-related abuses, the organisations said in a statement https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/09/20/fifa-world-cup-all-sponsors-should-back-remedies-workers.

In May, Amnesty and other rights groups had called on FIFA to earmark $440 million to compensate migrant workers in Qatar. FIFA said then that it was assessing Amnesty's proposition and that workers had received payments of a total $22.6 million as of December 2021, with an additional $5.7 million committed by contractors.

It added last week that a wide range of measures had been implemented in recent years to improve protection for workers in Qatar, which will host the World Cup from Nov. 20.

FIFA's partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer's governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare said on Tuesday.

FIFA's partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer's governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare said on Tuesday. Qatar has faced intense criticism from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers, who along with other foreigners comprise the bulk of the country's population. Qatari authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters about the rights groups' report. The government of Qatar has said that its labour system is still a work in progress, but denied a 2021 Amnesty report that thousands of migrant workers were still being exploited. Last week, a YouGov survey of more than 17,000 fans from 15 countries -- 10 of them European -- commissioned by Amnesty showed 73% of respondents would support a proposal for FIFA to compensate migrant workers, while 10% opposed it. Minky Worden, the director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said that sponsors should use their "considerable leverage" to apply pressure on FIFA and Qatar to fulfill their responsibilities to workers. "Brands buy rights to sponsor the World Cup because they want to be associated with joy, fair competition and spectacular human achievement on the field -- not rampant wage theft and the deaths of workers who made the World Cup possible," said Worden. The three human rights organisations said they had written to FIFA's 14 corporate partners and World Cup sponsors in July and that four of them -- AB InBev/Budweiser, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's had indicated their support for ensuring remedy for workers. ALSO READ | Injured duo Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matteo Politano leave Italy camp before England face-off Ten other sponsors -- Visa, Hyundai-Kia, Wanda Group, Qatar Energy, Qatar Airways, Vivo, Hisense, Mengniu, Crypto and Byju's -- have not responded to written requests to discuss tournament-related abuses, the organisations said in a statement https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/09/20/fifa-world-cup-all-sponsors-should-back-remedies-workers. In May, Amnesty and other rights groups had called on FIFA to earmark $440 million to compensate migrant workers in Qatar. FIFA said then that it was assessing Amnesty's proposition and that workers had received payments of a total $22.6 million as of December 2021, with an additional $5.7 million committed by contractors. It added last week that a wide range of measures had been implemented in recent years to improve protection for workers in Qatar, which will host the World Cup from Nov. 20.

Rights groups turn to sponsors to press FIFA, Qatar on migrant worker compensation

Fans were offered a sneak peek into what the stadium that will be used for the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup will look like brimming with fans.

The&nbsp;Lusail Iconic Stadium, which can entertain up to 80,000 fans, recently welcomed them in hordes as&nbsp;the entire stadium was chock-full of fans waiting to watch the Egyptian and the Saudi Arabian champions go toe-to-toe against each other.&nbsp;

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Merely 72 days away from the start of the highly-anticipated international footballing festival, the stadium announced that they had sold out all their available seats to fans to enjoy the clash between Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal and Egypt's Zamalek SC.

In addition to the game, which went down to penalties that ended 4-1 after the two teams drew with one goal apiece, fans were also offered the pleasure of watching Egyptian superstar singer, composer and actor Amr Diab in his element in a pre-match concert.

It is interesting to note that the visiting Egyptian and Saudi fans were required to apply for a special fan ID known as the&nbsp;Hayya card, which is something that every fan visiting the country to watch the action unfold in person will have to acquire.

The stadium, which is worth a whopping $675 million, was the last pitch to be inaugurated by the Qatari officials. Furthermore, there are no more games scheduled to take place before the start of the World Cup.

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The club-friendly was organised as a test run to make sure that there were no snags in&nbsp;security and the border immigration system.

It also served to be the first assessment of the multi-billion dollar driverless metro train network that will shoulder the responsibility of ferrying more than a million fans across Doha over the course of the international tournament.

&nbsp;

Fans were offered a sneak peek into what the stadium that will be used for the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup will look like brimming with fans. The Lusail Iconic Stadium, which can entertain up to 80,000 fans, recently welcomed them in hordes as the entire stadium was chock-full of fans waiting to watch the Egyptian and the Saudi Arabian champions go toe-to-toe against each other.

Fans were offered a sneak peek into what the stadium that will be used for the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup will look like brimming with fans. The Lusail Iconic Stadium, which can entertain up to 80,000 fans, recently welcomed them in hordes as the entire stadium was chock-full of fans waiting to watch the Egyptian and the Saudi Arabian champions go toe-to-toe against each other. ALSO READ: LaLiga raises Barcelona's spending cap to €800 million after sale of club assets Merely 72 days away from the start of the highly-anticipated international footballing festival, the stadium announced that they had sold out all their available seats to fans to enjoy the clash between Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal and Egypt's Zamalek SC. In addition to the game, which went down to penalties that ended 4-1 after the two teams drew with one goal apiece, fans were also offered the pleasure of watching Egyptian superstar singer, composer and actor Amr Diab in his element in a pre-match concert. It is interesting to note that the visiting Egyptian and Saudi fans were required to apply for a special fan ID known as the Hayya card, which is something that every fan visiting the country to watch the action unfold in person will have to acquire. The stadium, which is worth a whopping $675 million, was the last pitch to be inaugurated by the Qatari officials. Furthermore, there are no more games scheduled to take place before the start of the World Cup. ALSO READ: He has no idea about football: Mainz sporting director slams Chelsea owner Todd Boehly for sacking Tuchel The club-friendly was organised as a test run to make sure that there were no snags in security and the border immigration system. It also served to be the first assessment of the multi-billion dollar driverless metro train network that will shoulder the responsibility of ferrying more than a million fans across Doha over the course of the international tournament.

FIFA World Cup final stadium passes assessment with first sell-out crowd ahead of high-profile competition

Pakistan's cabinet has cleared a proposal for its soldiers to provide security at the FIFA world cup in Qatar. The announcement coincided with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Doha. Palki Sharma decodes Pakistan's historic military ties with the Gulf.

Gravitas: Pakistan soldiers to provide security at Qatar world cup

Brazil's national team coach currently finds himself in a feud with star forward Kylian Mbappe as he rejected the Frenchman's assessment of South American football, in which he claimed that the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup were much easier for teams from that part of the world due to a lack of quality competition as teams are not as advanced as those in Europe.

In a recent interaction with the media, Tite dismissed these claims, declaring that the matches between South American teams are much more difficult compared to those between European countries.&nbsp;

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"Maybe [Mbappe] is talking about these Nations League clashes or European friendlies, but not World Cup qualifiers. We don't have, with all due respect, Azerbaijan to play. We don't have anyone that gives you a break. The qualifiers here have a much higher degree of difficulty than the group stage [of European qualifying]."

It is interesting to note that Tite is not the only one who seemingly took offence or disagreed with Mbappe's statements regarding the quality of football being played in South Africa. The Frenchman's Paris Saint-Germain teammate and Argentine footballing icon Lionel Messi also offered his two cents on the same.

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"Many times we talked about that in Spain. When we came back from a qualifying (match), we told them, 'You don't know how difficult it would be for you to qualify for the World Cup if you had to go there, at the altitude, the head, Venezuela'..." said Lionel Messi in a previous media interaction.

Kylian Mbappe, who is already a world champion with France, is looking to bolster his country's prospects of bagging the most coveted trophy in international football in the world. Should France lay claim to the title in Qatar, it will successfully become the first country to defend its FIFA World Cup title in almost 60 years after Brazil.

Brazil's national team coach currently finds himself in a feud with star forward Kylian Mbappe as he rejected the Frenchman's assessment of South American football, in which he claimed that the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup were much easier for teams from that part of the world due to a lack of quality competition as teams are not as advanced as those in Europe.

Brazil's national team coach currently finds himself in a feud with star forward Kylian Mbappe as he rejected the Frenchman's assessment of South American football, in which he claimed that the qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup were much easier for teams from that part of the world due to a lack of quality competition as teams are not as advanced as those in Europe. In a recent interaction with the media, Tite dismissed these claims, declaring that the matches between South American teams are much more difficult compared to those between European countries. ALSO READ: Dire consequences! What FIFA's ban on AIFF means for Indian football "Maybe [Mbappe] is talking about these Nations League clashes or European friendlies, but not World Cup qualifiers. We don't have, with all due respect, Azerbaijan to play. We don't have anyone that gives you a break. The qualifiers here have a much higher degree of difficulty than the group stage [of European qualifying]." It is interesting to note that Tite is not the only one who seemingly took offence or disagreed with Mbappe's statements regarding the quality of football being played in South Africa. The Frenchman's Paris Saint-Germain teammate and Argentine footballing icon Lionel Messi also offered his two cents on the same. ALSO READ: Kylian Mbappe decides there is only space for one of Lionel Messi or Neymar at PSG - Report "Many times we talked about that in Spain. When we came back from a qualifying (match), we told them, 'You don't know how difficult it would be for you to qualify for the World Cup if you had to go there, at the altitude, the head, Venezuela'..." said Lionel Messi in a previous media interaction. Kylian Mbappe, who is already a world champion with France, is looking to bolster his country's prospects of bagging the most coveted trophy in international football in the world. Should France lay claim to the title in Qatar, it will successfully become the first country to defend its FIFA World Cup title in almost 60 years after Brazil.

'No one gives a break'- Brazil boss slams Kylian Mbappe for claiming competition in the Americas is bleak

The World Cup in Qatar will kick off a day earlier than scheduled, governing body FIFA said on Thursday after its ruling bureau agreed unanimously to hold the opening ceremony and the host nation's first match on Sunday, November&nbsp;20. The original plan was for the opening ceremony to be held before Qatar's game on Nov. 21 against Ecuador, which would have created the unusual situation of two matches — Senegal v Netherlands and England v Iran — being held before the ceremony.

Normally, the ceremony is conducted before the kick-off of the first game of the tournament. Hosts Qatar will now make their World Cup debut against Ecuador at 1900 local time after an opening ceremony at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium. The change is in line with the long-standing tradition of opening matches involving hosts or holders.

The Group A match between Senegal and Netherlands, originally scheduled to be the tournament opener, has been pushed back by six hours from 1300 local time on Nov. 21 to the 1900 slot vacated by Qatar v Ecuador. England's Group B match with Iran and the United States'&nbsp;opener against Wales, which are also scheduled for Nov. 21, remain unaffected by the change.

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The plan has been signed off by a committee comprising of the heads of FIFA's six regional confederations and president Gianni Infantino. "The decision followed an assessment of the competition and operational implications, as well as a thorough consultation process and an agreement with key stakeholders and the host country," FIFA said.

The change stretches the World Cup to 29 days until the Dec. 18 final and comes after several rounds of ticket sales, with organisers having sold 1.8 million tickets so far. "Ticket holders will be duly notified by email that the relevant matches have been rescheduled and their tickets will remain valid irrespective of the new date/time," FIFA added.

"In addition, FIFA will seek to address any issues arising from this change in a case-by-case basis." 
 
It will be the first World Cup staged in the Middle East and has been pushed back to later in the year than its typical June-July schedule to avoid the region's punishing summer heat.

The World Cup in Qatar will kick off a day earlier than scheduled, governing body FIFA said on Thursday after its ruling bureau agreed unanimously to hold the opening ceremony and the host nation's first match on Sunday, November 20.

The World Cup in Qatar will kick off a day earlier than scheduled, governing body FIFA said on Thursday after its ruling bureau agreed unanimously to hold the opening ceremony and the host nation's first match on Sunday, November 20. The original plan was for the opening ceremony to be held before Qatar's game on Nov. 21 against Ecuador, which would have created the unusual situation of two matches — Senegal v Netherlands and England v Iran — being held before the ceremony. Normally, the ceremony is conducted before the kick-off of the first game of the tournament. Hosts Qatar will now make their World Cup debut against Ecuador at 1900 local time after an opening ceremony at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium. The change is in line with the long-standing tradition of opening matches involving hosts or holders. The Group A match between Senegal and Netherlands, originally scheduled to be the tournament opener, has been pushed back by six hours from 1300 local time on Nov. 21 to the 1900 slot vacated by Qatar v Ecuador. England's Group B match with Iran and the United States' opener against Wales, which are also scheduled for Nov. 21, remain unaffected by the change. ALSO READ | Qatar World Cup to kick off sooner than expected as FIFA allows hosts to play first - Report The plan has been signed off by a committee comprising of the heads of FIFA's six regional confederations and president Gianni Infantino. "The decision followed an assessment of the competition and operational implications, as well as a thorough consultation process and an agreement with key stakeholders and the host country," FIFA said. The change stretches the World Cup to 29 days until the Dec. 18 final and comes after several rounds of ticket sales, with organisers having sold 1.8 million tickets so far. "Ticket holders will be duly notified by email that the relevant matches have been rescheduled and their tickets will remain valid irrespective of the new date/time," FIFA added. "In addition, FIFA will seek to address any issues arising from this change in a case-by-case basis." It will be the first World Cup staged in the Middle East and has been pushed back to later in the year than its typical June-July schedule to avoid the region's punishing summer heat.

FIFA moves Qatar World Cup start forward by a day, to kick off on November 20

Football fans worldwide may be in for a treat, considering how the biggest footballing event in the world is seemingly inching close faster than what fans were expecting. A report by Reuters suggests that FIFA has moved to prepone the highly anticipated&nbsp;World Cup by a day in addition to offering the host nation the tournament's first draw.&nbsp;

Should FIFA's ruling regarding the change in dates pass, fans will be able to enjoy the opening ceremony and Qatar's first game on Sunday, i.e. November 20th. In accordance with the new dates, the tournament will span from 20 November through to 18 December 2022.&nbsp;Per the previous schedule, the opening ceremony was set to take place before the Group A contest between Qatar and&nbsp;Ecuador&nbsp;on November 21st.

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However, this created an extremely unusual situation considering how&nbsp;two games were scheduled to be&nbsp;played before the opening ceremony. The Group A game between the African champions Senegal and Netherlands and the Group B game between England and Iran were scheduled to take place before the opening ceremony&nbsp;even though it is customary for the ceremony to be held&nbsp;before all the action.

The plan to prepone the event was put in motion after Qatar expressed interest in opening the tournament as it has become the norm for the host country to kick off the action. However, the Bureau of the FIFA Council, consisting&nbsp;of president Gianni Infantino and the heads of the six FIFA regional confederations, needs to arrive at a consensus regarding the issue before a change&nbsp;in dates can be authorized.&nbsp;

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The scheduled match between England and Iran and other Group B games will remain unaffected by the change of dates. However, the Senegal vs. Netherlands match will most likely face a short delay. Although the motion to change the dates was moved on short notice, it is expected to be agreed upon soon.&nbsp;

Football fans worldwide may be in for a treat, considering how the biggest footballing event in the world is seemingly inching close faster than what fans were expecting.

Football fans worldwide may be in for a treat, considering how the biggest footballing event in the world is seemingly inching close faster than what fans were expecting. A report by Reuters suggests that FIFA has moved to prepone the highly anticipated World Cup by a day in addition to offering the host nation the tournament's first draw. Should FIFA's ruling regarding the change in dates pass, fans will be able to enjoy the opening ceremony and Qatar's first game on Sunday, i.e. November 20th. In accordance with the new dates, the tournament will span from 20 November through to 18 December 2022. Per the previous schedule, the opening ceremony was set to take place before the Group A contest between Qatar and Ecuador on November 21st. ALSO READ I 'No party at all': World Cup fans can face up to 7 years in Jail if caught having one-night stands in Qatar However, this created an extremely unusual situation considering how two games were scheduled to be played before the opening ceremony. The Group A game between the African champions Senegal and Netherlands and the Group B game between England and Iran were scheduled to take place before the opening ceremony even though it is customary for the ceremony to be held before all the action. The plan to prepone the event was put in motion after Qatar expressed interest in opening the tournament as it has become the norm for the host country to kick off the action. However, the Bureau of the FIFA Council, consisting of president Gianni Infantino and the heads of the six FIFA regional confederations, needs to arrive at a consensus regarding the issue before a change in dates can be authorized. ALSO READ I FIFA World Cup 2022: Stadiums to be alcohol-free for mega event in Qatar The scheduled match between England and Iran and other Group B games will remain unaffected by the change of dates. However, the Senegal vs. Netherlands match will most likely face a short delay. Although the motion to change the dates was moved on short notice, it is expected to be agreed upon soon.

Qatar World Cup to kick off sooner than expected as FIFA allows hosts to play first - Report

Golden Boot winners from last 5 editions of FIFA World Cup

While Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United continues to remain a mystery for one and all, Lionel Messi is also making heads turn on whether he would stay at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for another year or not.&nbsp;

Earlier, it was reported that the French club is keen to release both Neymar and Messi and revamp their squad around superstar Kylian Mbappe. It is now being reported that PSG is keen to offer a contract extension to Messi. The club is looking&nbsp;to extend Messi's stay by a year.&nbsp;As per a report in Marca, PSG have&nbsp;hinted to the 35-year-old superstar footballer that they are planning to offer him a fresh contract. While the offer hasn't&nbsp;officially been presented as of now, the Argentine captain has stressed that he will make a final decision regarding his stay post the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, to be held later&nbsp;this year.

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For the unversed, Messi would still have about six more months in his contract by the time Qatar 2022 comes to an end. Thus, he would have the option of exploring the market before making the final call. Amid all this, there are&nbsp;reports also surfacing online that Messi's boyhood club Barcelona is eager to resign him. If there is any truth to such claims, the Argentine might go back to his former club and finish off his stellar career with the Spanish giants. His exit from Barcelona had made heads turn and it was quite an emotional moment for Messi.&nbsp;

At PSG, Messi hasn't been at his usual best. While many blame the former manager Mauricio Pochettino for not making full use of his abilities, the Argentine was also not at his consistent best and only returned with 14&nbsp;goals across 34 competitions in his maiden season -- ending with the worst-ever season in&nbsp;his professional career. Winning the Ligue 1 title with the club was the only bright spot for Messi in 2021/22 season.

While Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United continues to remain a mystery for one and all, Lionel Messi is also making heads turn on whether he would stay at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for another year or not.

While Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United continues to remain a mystery for one and all, Lionel Messi is also making heads turn on whether he would stay at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for another year or not. Earlier, it was reported that the French club is keen to release both Neymar and Messi and revamp their squad around superstar Kylian Mbappe. It is now being reported that PSG is keen to offer a contract extension to Messi. The club is looking to extend Messi's stay by a year. As per a report in Marca, PSG have hinted to the 35-year-old superstar footballer that they are planning to offer him a fresh contract. While the offer hasn't officially been presented as of now, the Argentine captain has stressed that he will make a final decision regarding his stay post the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, to be held later this year. ALSO READ | UNBELIEVABLE! Saudi club makes irresistible offer for Man United's Cristiano Ronaldo: Report For the unversed, Messi would still have about six more months in his contract by the time Qatar 2022 comes to an end. Thus, he would have the option of exploring the market before making the final call. Amid all this, there are reports also surfacing online that Messi's boyhood club Barcelona is eager to resign him. If there is any truth to such claims, the Argentine might go back to his former club and finish off his stellar career with the Spanish giants. His exit from Barcelona had made heads turn and it was quite an emotional moment for Messi. At PSG, Messi hasn't been at his usual best. While many blame the former manager Mauricio Pochettino for not making full use of his abilities, the Argentine was also not at his consistent best and only returned with 14 goals across 34 competitions in his maiden season -- ending with the worst-ever season in his professional career. Winning the Ligue 1 title with the club was the only bright spot for Messi in 2021/22 season.

PSG looking to extend Lionel Messi's stay by a year, Argentina captain to decide post Qatar 2022: Report

All eyes are now on the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, to be held in Qatar later this year. Ahead of the mega event, which will be the first to be played in a Muslim country, Qatar's World Cup stadiums are set to be alcohol-free with beer sales outside arenas only allowed prior to and after the conclusion of some matches, a source with knowledge of plans for the football tournament revealed.

Thus, the alcohol ban can present&nbsp;a unique challenge for the organisers of the showpiece event as often fans can be seen enjoying their drinks&nbsp;sponsored by global brewing brands in such tournaments.

"At stadiums, the plans are still being finalised, but the current discussion is to allow fans to have beer upon arrival and when leaving stadium, but beer won't be served during the match or inside the stadium bowl," the source told Reuters.

Football's relationship with booze has long become a lot more tricky in recent times. For the unversed, in the lead up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil had to lift a ban on alcohol at stadiums owing to pressure&nbsp;from governing body FIFA.

There were dark clouds hovering over&nbsp;the availability of alcohols at this year's competition&nbsp;ever since the Gulf Arab state won the hosting rights in 2010. Nonetheless, it is believed that the fans&nbsp;will&nbsp;be able to buy beer during restricted times in certain parts of the main FIFA fan zone in the Al Bidda park in Doha, the Qatari capital. "Unlike previous World Cup fan zones, beer won't be served all day long, but at restricted times," the source added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-fifas-new-high-technology-for-offside-calls-at-2022-qatar-world-cup-493572">EXPLAINED: FIFA's new high technology for offside calls at 2022 Qatar World Cup</a>

A spokesperson for the organisers -- Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy -- has pointed out&nbsp;that together with FIFA they will reveal the plans regarding&nbsp;alcohol availability&nbsp;"in due course".

"Alcohol is already available in designated areas in Qatar, such as hotels and bars, and this will not change in 2022. With the aim of catering to visiting fans in 2022, alcohol will be available in additional designated areas during the tournament," the spokesperson said.

The upcoming 32-nation World Cup will be the first to be held&nbsp;at the end of the calendar year in November and December. France will enter the tournament as the defending champions, beating Croatia 4-2 in last edition's final.

All eyes are now on the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, to be held in Qatar later this year. Ahead of the mega event, which will be the first to be played in a Muslim country, Qatar's World Cup stadiums are set to be alcohol-free with beer sales outside arenas only allowed prior to and after the conclusion of some matches, a source with knowledge of plans for the football tournament revealed.

All eyes are now on the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, to be held in Qatar later this year. Ahead of the mega event, which will be the first to be played in a Muslim country, Qatar's World Cup stadiums are set to be alcohol-free with beer sales outside arenas only allowed prior to and after the conclusion of some matches, a source with knowledge of plans for the football tournament revealed. Thus, the alcohol ban can present a unique challenge for the organisers of the showpiece event as often fans can be seen enjoying their drinks sponsored by global brewing brands in such tournaments. "At stadiums, the plans are still being finalised, but the current discussion is to allow fans to have beer upon arrival and when leaving stadium, but beer won't be served during the match or inside the stadium bowl," the source told Reuters. Football's relationship with booze has long become a lot more tricky in recent times. For the unversed, in the lead up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil had to lift a ban on alcohol at stadiums owing to pressure from governing body FIFA. There were dark clouds hovering over the availability of alcohols at this year's competition ever since the Gulf Arab state won the hosting rights in 2010. Nonetheless, it is believed that the fans will be able to buy beer during restricted times in certain parts of the main FIFA fan zone in the Al Bidda park in Doha, the Qatari capital. "Unlike previous World Cup fan zones, beer won't be served all day long, but at restricted times," the source added. ALSO READ | EXPLAINED: FIFA's new high technology for offside calls at 2022 Qatar World Cup A spokesperson for the organisers -- Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy -- has pointed out that together with FIFA they will reveal the plans regarding alcohol availability "in due course". "Alcohol is already available in designated areas in Qatar, such as hotels and bars, and this will not change in 2022. With the aim of catering to visiting fans in 2022, alcohol will be available in additional designated areas during the tournament," the spokesperson said. The upcoming 32-nation World Cup will be the first to be held at the end of the calendar year in November and December. France will enter the tournament as the defending champions, beating Croatia 4-2 in last edition's final.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Stadiums to be alcohol-free for mega event in Qatar

This will be the first time that six countries from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will be taking part in a FIFA World Cup as the 2022 edition kicks off in Qatar later this year. The usual Asian heavyweights – Saudi Arabia, Iran, Australia, South Korea and Japan – have all booked their spot in the tournament while hosts Qatar will be making their debut. The six teams will also take strength from the fact that the last time Asia hosted the tournament back in 2022, South Korea reached the semi-finals while Japan made it to the Round of 16. With a few months to go ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022, here’s a look at the six AFC teams which will be taking part in the competition -

Australia

The Socceroos had the longest road to the FIFA World Cup 2022 as they defeated Peru on penalties in the inter-confederation play off. The campaign started on a superb note as they topped their first-round group with absolute ease. However, two losses against Japan and another one against Saudi Arabia meant that they had to face United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the fourth-round play-off. It was a hard-fought encounter but Australia were able to clinch the win by a late goal from Ajdin Hrustic. With 7 goals, Jamie Maclaren was the top scorer for them in the qualification process and although substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the star against Peru, Matt Ryan will play a major role in their campaign in Qatar. Things will get tougher for the Socceroos as they were placed in Group D where they will face dark horses Denmark, Tunisia and defending champions France.

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Japan

Japan finished their first-round qualifying journey with 46 goals from just eight matches and in the second round, it was once again their attackers who guaranteed their seven consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance. The Blue Samurais did slump to defeats against Oman and Saudi Arabia but with the duo of Takumi Minamino and Yuya Osako scoring 10 goals each over the two rounds, it was easy sailing for Hajime Moriyasu’s side. In Qatar, they will be placed in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ along with the two European heavyweights – Germany and Spain – along with Costa Rica.

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Iran

Under the management of Dragan Skocic, Iran has the most impressive team in the AFC qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2022. With most goals scored and the most points for any nation, Iran cruised past their opponents with their only loss coming against South Korea. Bayer Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun finished the campaign with 10 goals while his strike partner Mehdi Taremi provided able support. This will be Iran’s sixth appearance in the World Cup and with England, Wales and the United States in their group, it will be a tough job for them to reach the playoffs.

South Korea

Son Heung-min and Co had a relatively easy journey to the FIFA World Cup 2022 with five wins out of the six games in the first round and just loss in the second round. The Tottenham superstar led his team by example as he was the top-scorer with six goals but it will be tough for them to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 Round of 16 from a group featuring Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/pride-month-lgbtq-couples-in-sports-who-inspire-us-to-come-out-of-the-closet-489114" hreflang="en">Pride Month: LGBTQ couples in sports who inspire us to come out of the closet</a>

Saudi Arabia

Another team which cruised through the qualifying process with just one loss in two rounds. Salem Al-Dawsari and Saleh Al-Shehri top-scored with seven goals and with Argentina, Mexico and Poland in their FIFA World Cup 2022 group, there is an outside chance for the Asian giants to reach the next stage. This will be the sixth appearance for the top Asian side in the FIFA World Cup.

Qatar

This will be the debut appearance for Qatar in the FIFA World Cup as they will be hosting the footballing extravaganza. Qatar took part in the qualification Round 1 in order to secure their place in the Asian Cup 2023 and ended up toping their group with seven victories and one draw. Over the last couple of years, they have taken part in invitational competitions, but it will be a tough road for them in the World Cup as they are placed in Group A along with Ecuador, Senegal and Netherlands.

This will be the first time that six countries from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will be taking part in a FIFA World Cup as the 2022 edition kicks off in Qatar later this year.

This will be the first time that six countries from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will be taking part in a FIFA World Cup as the 2022 edition kicks off in Qatar later this year. The usual Asian heavyweights – Saudi Arabia, Iran, Australia, South Korea and Japan – have all booked their spot in the tournament while hosts Qatar will be making their debut. The six teams will also take strength from the fact that the last time Asia hosted the tournament back in 2022, South Korea reached the semi-finals while Japan made it to the Round of 16. With a few months to go ahead of FIFA World Cup 2022, here’s a look at the six AFC teams which will be taking part in the competition - Australia The Socceroos had the longest road to the FIFA World Cup 2022 as they defeated Peru on penalties in the inter-confederation play off. The campaign started on a superb note as they topped their first-round group with absolute ease. However, two losses against Japan and another one against Saudi Arabia meant that they had to face United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the fourth-round play-off. It was a hard-fought encounter but Australia were able to clinch the win by a late goal from Ajdin Hrustic. With 7 goals, Jamie Maclaren was the top scorer for them in the qualification process and although substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the star against Peru, Matt Ryan will play a major role in their campaign in Qatar. Things will get tougher for the Socceroos as they were placed in Group D where they will face dark horses Denmark, Tunisia and defending champions France. Also read | WWE hit by a scandal! Why has Vince McMahon stepped down as chairman and CEO? Japan Japan finished their first-round qualifying journey with 46 goals from just eight matches and in the second round, it was once again their attackers who guaranteed their seven consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance. The Blue Samurais did slump to defeats against Oman and Saudi Arabia but with the duo of Takumi Minamino and Yuya Osako scoring 10 goals each over the two rounds, it was easy sailing for Hajime Moriyasu’s side. In Qatar, they will be placed in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ along with the two European heavyweights – Germany and Spain – along with Costa Rica. Iran Under the management of Dragan Skocic, Iran has the most impressive team in the AFC qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2022. With most goals scored and the most points for any nation, Iran cruised past their opponents with their only loss coming against South Korea. Bayer Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun finished the campaign with 10 goals while his strike partner Mehdi Taremi provided able support. This will be Iran’s sixth appearance in the World Cup and with England, Wales and the United States in their group, it will be a tough job for them to reach the playoffs. South Korea Son Heung-min and Co had a relatively easy journey to the FIFA World Cup 2022 with five wins out of the six games in the first round and just loss in the second round. The Tottenham superstar led his team by example as he was the top-scorer with six goals but it will be tough for them to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2022 Round of 16 from a group featuring Portugal, Uruguay and Ghana. Also read | Pride Month: LGBTQ couples in sports who inspire us to come out of the closet Saudi Arabia Another team which cruised through the qualifying process with just one loss in two rounds. Salem Al-Dawsari and Saleh Al-Shehri top-scored with seven goals and with Argentina, Mexico and Poland in their FIFA World Cup 2022 group, there is an outside chance for the Asian giants to reach the next stage. This will be the sixth appearance for the top Asian side in the FIFA World Cup. Qatar This will be the debut appearance for Qatar in the FIFA World Cup as they will be hosting the footballing extravaganza. Qatar took part in the qualification Round 1 in order to secure their place in the Asian Cup 2023 and ended up toping their group with seven victories and one draw. Over the last couple of years, they have taken part in invitational competitions, but it will be a tough road for them in the World Cup as they are placed in Group A along with Ecuador, Senegal and Netherlands.

FIFA World Cup 2022: A look at the Asian contingent as record six teams qualify

In a dramatic shootout, Australia beat Peru to clinch their place in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which is set to be held later this year. Playing Peru at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha, on June 13, Australia held their nerves in what was a thrilling contest and grabbed their berth for the showpiece event with a 5-4 win in the penalty shootout after the regular time resulted in a 0-0 scoreline.

Thus, both sides were to be tested in the shootouts. While the penalties always put pressure on players but this time around, the crucial slot at Qatar for the finals was also to be determined by virtue of it. Australia's substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the star as he was roped in just minutes before the end of play and finished with two stunning saves to guide his side to the World Cup for the fifth successive time.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-grabs-world-cup-berth-after-dramatic-penalty-shootout-against-peru-487921">Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth after dramatic penalty shootout against Peru</a>

Redmayne danced around the goal line to distract the Peruvians and it worked wonders&nbsp;as Luis Advincila fired a shot against the post whereas Alex Valera's kick got saved. Following the result, a Aussie reporter couldn't manage to keep his calm while being on-air and rejoiced with&nbsp;fans and supporters on the streets. Here's the video of the reporter's reaction as it has gone viral in no time:

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BREAKING🧣 
Tony Armstrong get’s his mum’s hand knitted scarf back. 
Oh, and in other news: Australia to advance to the World Cup over Peru by a score of 5-4, after hours in a sudden death penalty shoot-out.<a href="https://twitter.com/Tonaaayy_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tonaaayy_</a> <a href="https://t.co/HygD6R4aAs">pic.twitter.com/HygD6R4aAs</a>
— (SCA) SCOTT CHRISTIAN ANDERSON 🇦🇺🇨🇦🇳🇿 (@christianlexus) <a href="https://twitter.com/christianlexus/status/1536465703163019264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afc-asian-cup-qualifiers-india-afg-players-engage-in-ugly-brawl-after-chhetri-cos-2-1-win-watch-487669">AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: India, AFG players engage in ugly brawl after Chhetri &amp; Co.'s 2-1 win - WATCH</a>

The reporter rejoiced and almost lost his mother's hand knitted-scarf to a fan as a group of Socceroos' supporters went berserk following their dramatic win. He, however, regained it back amid the plethora of out-of-control fans.

In the 2018&nbsp;FIFA World Cup, Australia lost to France and Peru in the group stage and only managed a draw versus Denmark. How far will they go in the forthcoming edition? Only time will tell...

In a dramatic shootout, Australia beat Peru to clinch their place in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which is set to be held later this year. Playing Peru at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha, on June 13, Australia held their nerves in what was a thrilling contest and grabbed their berth for the showpiece event with a 5-4 win in the penalty shootout after the regular time resulted in a 0-0 scoreline.

In a dramatic shootout, Australia beat Peru to clinch their place in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which is set to be held later this year. Playing Peru at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha, on June 13, Australia held their nerves in what was a thrilling contest and grabbed their berth for the showpiece event with a 5-4 win in the penalty shootout after the regular time resulted in a 0-0 scoreline. Thus, both sides were to be tested in the shootouts. While the penalties always put pressure on players but this time around, the crucial slot at Qatar for the finals was also to be determined by virtue of it. Australia's substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the star as he was roped in just minutes before the end of play and finished with two stunning saves to guide his side to the World Cup for the fifth successive time. ALSO READ | Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth after dramatic penalty shootout against Peru Redmayne danced around the goal line to distract the Peruvians and it worked wonders as Luis Advincila fired a shot against the post whereas Alex Valera's kick got saved. Following the result, a Aussie reporter couldn't manage to keep his calm while being on-air and rejoiced with fans and supporters on the streets. Here's the video of the reporter's reaction as it has gone viral in no time: BREAKING🧣 Tony Armstrong get’s his mum’s hand knitted scarf back. Oh, and in other news: Australia to advance to the World Cup over Peru by a score of 5-4, after hours in a sudden death penalty shoot-out.@Tonaaayy_ pic.twitter.com/HygD6R4aAs — (SCA) SCOTT CHRISTIAN ANDERSON 🇦🇺🇨🇦🇳🇿 (@christianlexus) June 13, 2022 × ALSO READ | AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: India, AFG players engage in ugly brawl after Chhetri & Co.'s 2-1 win - WATCH The reporter rejoiced and almost lost his mother's hand knitted-scarf to a fan as a group of Socceroos' supporters went berserk following their dramatic win. He, however, regained it back amid the plethora of out-of-control fans. In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Australia lost to France and Peru in the group stage and only managed a draw versus Denmark. How far will they go in the forthcoming edition? Only time will tell...

WATCH: Reporter cannot keep calm after Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth with win over Peru

Costa Rica booked the final berth of the FIFA World Cup football tournament to be played&nbsp;later this year as they edged out New Zealand in a playoff.

Joel Campbell was the hero as he scored Costa Rica's lone goal after just three minutes as New Zealand failed to qualify for the World Cup finals.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-grabs-world-cup-berth-after-dramatic-penalty-shootout-against-peru-487921">Also Read:&nbsp;Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth after dramatic penalty shootout against Peru</a>

New Zealand's luck ran out as they were disallowed a goal by VAR and the situation turned grim after&nbsp;Kosta Barbarouses was sent off in the 69th minute reducing the team to ten men.&nbsp;

New Zealand put up a spirited effort but failed to score as Costa Rica held on to beat the Kiwis.

Watch:&nbsp;Story of Africa's first female referee to officiate the FIFA World Cup 2022

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Costa Rica qualified to clinch a&nbsp;place&nbsp;in Group E in the World Cup along with Japan, Germany and Spain.

New Zealand coach Danny Hay felt disappointed after the match as he felt "only one team" was "trying to put together good quality football".&nbsp;

Hay felt New Zealand was the "better team" even as Costa Rica's coach Luis Fernando admitted that his team struggled after scoring early.

The World Cup will kick off in Qatar on November 21 and the finals will be played in Doha's Lusail Stadium on December 18.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

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Costa Rica booked the final berth of the FIFA World Cup football tournament to be played later this year as they edged out New Zealand in a playoff. Joel Campbell was the hero as he scored Costa Rica's lone goal after just three minutes as New Zealand failed to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Costa Rica booked the final berth of the FIFA World Cup football tournament to be played later this year as they edged out New Zealand in a playoff. Joel Campbell was the hero as he scored Costa Rica's lone goal after just three minutes as New Zealand failed to qualify for the World Cup finals. Also Read: Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth after dramatic penalty shootout against Peru New Zealand's luck ran out as they were disallowed a goal by VAR and the situation turned grim after Kosta Barbarouses was sent off in the 69th minute reducing the team to ten men. New Zealand put up a spirited effort but failed to score as Costa Rica held on to beat the Kiwis. Watch: Story of Africa's first female referee to officiate the FIFA World Cup 2022 Costa Rica qualified to clinch a place in Group E in the World Cup along with Japan, Germany and Spain. New Zealand coach Danny Hay felt disappointed after the match as he felt "only one team" was "trying to put together good quality football". Hay felt New Zealand was the "better team" even as Costa Rica's coach Luis Fernando admitted that his team struggled after scoring early. The World Cup will kick off in Qatar on November 21 and the finals will be played in Doha's Lusail Stadium on December 18. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Costa Rica edge out New Zealand to claim final FIFA World Cup berth

Australia beat Peru after a dramatic shootout to clinch their place in the 2022 World Cup at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Doha.

The match had ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes as both teams prepared for a shootout to decide the crucial slot at Qatar for the finals later this year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gareth-bale-led-wales-beat-ukraine-1-0-qualify-for-2022-world-cup-485438">Also Read:&nbsp;Gareth Bale-led Wales beat Ukraine, qualify for 2022 World Cup</a>

Although Peru is ranked higher in the FIFA standings ranked 22nd in the world but they were outsmarted by Australia ranked 42nd in the world.

Peru's Alex Valera missed the penalty as Australia clinched the crucial playoff between the Asian and South American qualifiers 5-4.

Watch:&nbsp;Good news for Israeli football fans as they can now fly to Qatar

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Australia's substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the star as he was brought in just minutes before the end of play as Australia bit the bullet.

Redmayne made two saves as Australia entered the World Cup for the fifth consecutive time.&nbsp;

Redmayne danced around the goaline much like Bruce Grobbelaar when Liverpool won the European Cup in 1984 to distract the Peruvians and the trick worked as Luis Advincila fired a shot against the post and Valera's kick was saved as Australia entered the World Cup for the sixth time.

The Australians had missed the first penalty shot but swiftly converted the next five in front of thousands of Peru supporters.

The last place in the finals will be decided on Tuesday when Costa Rica clashes against New Zealand.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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Australia beat Peru after a dramatic shootout to clinch their place in the 2022 World Cup at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Doha. The match had ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes as both teams prepared for a shootout to decide the crucial slot at Qatar for the finals later this year.

Australia beat Peru after a dramatic shootout to clinch their place in the 2022 World Cup at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Doha. The match had ended in a goalless draw after 120 minutes as both teams prepared for a shootout to decide the crucial slot at Qatar for the finals later this year. Also Read: Gareth Bale-led Wales beat Ukraine, qualify for 2022 World Cup Although Peru is ranked higher in the FIFA standings ranked 22nd in the world but they were outsmarted by Australia ranked 42nd in the world. Peru's Alex Valera missed the penalty as Australia clinched the crucial playoff between the Asian and South American qualifiers 5-4. Watch: Good news for Israeli football fans as they can now fly to Qatar Australia's substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the star as he was brought in just minutes before the end of play as Australia bit the bullet. Redmayne made two saves as Australia entered the World Cup for the fifth consecutive time. Redmayne danced around the goaline much like Bruce Grobbelaar when Liverpool won the European Cup in 1984 to distract the Peruvians and the trick worked as Luis Advincila fired a shot against the post and Valera's kick was saved as Australia entered the World Cup for the sixth time. The Australians had missed the first penalty shot but swiftly converted the next five in front of thousands of Peru supporters. The last place in the finals will be decided on Tuesday when Costa Rica clashes against New Zealand. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth after dramatic penalty shootout against Peru

Neymar scored a pair of penalties to move to within four goals of Pele at the top of the country`s all-time scoring list as Brazil cruised to a 5-1 win over fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday.

The Paris St Germain striker netted either side of halftime to move onto 73 goals in 118 appearances for his country and close in on the three-time World Cup winner`s record in a comfortable win for Tite`s side. Richarlison gave Brazil the lead in the seventh minute and, although Hwang Ui-jo levelled for Korea just after the half-hour mark, it was the visitors who always looked more likely to prevail.

Neymar netted from the spot to put his side back in front three minutes before halftime and he was on hand with another penalty in the 57th minute before late goals from Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus put the seal on a comprehensive win. Billed in some quarters as a battle between Neymar and South Korea`s Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min, it was Brazilian and his team mates who dominated in an often one-sided contest.

The South Americans took the lead early when Alex Sandro stormed into the penalty area and cut back to Fred, whose attempt was redirected past Kim Seung-gyu by Richarlison from close range. Brazil had already seen Thiago Silva`s header ruled out for offside while Raphinha and Dani Alves also went close before the Koreans scored against the run of play in the 31st minute.

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Receiving possession with his back to goal, Hwang used all his upperbody strength to hold off Silva before turning to fire his right foot shot into the far corner. The Brazilians, though, were back in front in the 42nd minute when referee Ryuji Sato awarded a penalty following a VAR review as Lee Yong upended Sandro and Neymar coolly slotted in.

He was even more composed when he rolled his second spot kick of the game home three minutes before the hour mark after Sandro was again brought down in the box, this time by Kim Young-gwon. Coutinho added the fourth with 10 minutes remaining and Jesus scored a fifth three minutes into injury time when he sprinted through the Korea defence to score low into the corner.

Neymar scored a pair of penalties to move to within four goals of Pele at the top of the country`s all-time scoring list as Brazil cruised to a 5-1 win over fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday.

Neymar scored a pair of penalties to move to within four goals of Pele at the top of the country`s all-time scoring list as Brazil cruised to a 5-1 win over fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday. The Paris St Germain striker netted either side of halftime to move onto 73 goals in 118 appearances for his country and close in on the three-time World Cup winner`s record in a comfortable win for Tite`s side. Richarlison gave Brazil the lead in the seventh minute and, although Hwang Ui-jo levelled for Korea just after the half-hour mark, it was the visitors who always looked more likely to prevail. Neymar netted from the spot to put his side back in front three minutes before halftime and he was on hand with another penalty in the 57th minute before late goals from Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus put the seal on a comprehensive win. Billed in some quarters as a battle between Neymar and South Korea`s Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min, it was Brazilian and his team mates who dominated in an often one-sided contest. The South Americans took the lead early when Alex Sandro stormed into the penalty area and cut back to Fred, whose attempt was redirected past Kim Seung-gyu by Richarlison from close range. Brazil had already seen Thiago Silva`s header ruled out for offside while Raphinha and Dani Alves also went close before the Koreans scored against the run of play in the 31st minute. ALSO READ | LA Lakers superstar LeBron James creates history, becomes 1st active NBA player worth $1 billion Receiving possession with his back to goal, Hwang used all his upperbody strength to hold off Silva before turning to fire his right foot shot into the far corner. The Brazilians, though, were back in front in the 42nd minute when referee Ryuji Sato awarded a penalty following a VAR review as Lee Yong upended Sandro and Neymar coolly slotted in. He was even more composed when he rolled his second spot kick of the game home three minutes before the hour mark after Sandro was again brought down in the box, this time by Kim Young-gwon. Coutinho added the fourth with 10 minutes remaining and Jesus scored a fifth three minutes into injury time when he sprinted through the Korea defence to score low into the corner.

Neymar closes in on Pele's record as Brazil send World Cup warning with dominant win over South Korea

Scotland fell short in their quest to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as goals from Andriy Yarmolenko, Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk gave Ukraine the win in the Play-off semi-final clash at Hampden Park on Wednesday. With this win, Ukraine have set up the Play-off final against Wales. For Scotland, Callum McGregor`s second-half strike went in vain as they lost 3-1.

The anthems got proceedings underway at Hampden Park - as the Ukraine players each stood draped in their country`s flag for their anthem on an emotional night in their first competitive match since the ongoing conflict began in Ukraine in February. As the game got underway, it was the away side who created the first opening in the 8th minute as Viktor Tsyhankov latched onto a cut-back but his crisp first-time effort was tipped over by Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

The Scots grew into the game though and Hickey headed wide before Grant Hanley also missed with a header from a Robertson corner. Ukraine then almost took the lead in the 15th minute, but Gordon once again produced a brilliant save, this time down low to deny Andriy Yarmolenko. It was an open first half and the hosts were the next to pour forward, with Robertson seeing his shot blocked before John McGinn fired over. It was the away side who crafted the next opening in the 33rd minute though and this time Gordon could not repeat his heroics. The dangerous Yarmolenko made a great run to get on the end of a ball over the top, before taking a touch and cutely dinking the ball over the Scottish goalkeeper.

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Just that goal separated the sides at the break but it was soon to get worse for Scotland as the visitors doubled their lead on 49 minutes as Roman Yaremchuk rose to head in at the far post. Scotland attempted to rally and McGregor was inches away from pulling a goal back as he charged down a clearance, before substitute Ryan Christie produced a save from Heorhiy Bushchan with a low strike.McGinn then narrowly missed the target with a glorious-headed opportunity as the hosts began to pile on the pressure. It was Scotland`s best period of the game and Che Adams was next to come close with a low drive before McGinn`s follow-up was excellently blocked. The pressure soon told and it was McGregor who got the Scots on the scoresheet in the 79th minute.

Stuart Armstrong`s lofted cross was only parried by Bushchan and the midfielder followed up to strike on the half-volley, with hawk-eye ruling that the ball had just carried over the line after a touch from the Ukrainian goalkeeper. The home support roared on their side and they continued to press for an equaliser but Hanley`s missed header was the closest they came to a leveller. There was to be a cruel end for Scotland as Ukraine broke forward in the 95th minute and substitute Artem Dovbyk scored a third with the last kick of the game after a counterattack.

Scotland fell short in their quest to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as goals from Andriy Yarmolenko, Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk gave Ukraine the win in the Play-off semi-final clash at Hampden Park on Wednesday.

Scotland fell short in their quest to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as goals from Andriy Yarmolenko, Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk gave Ukraine the win in the Play-off semi-final clash at Hampden Park on Wednesday. With this win, Ukraine have set up the Play-off final against Wales. For Scotland, Callum McGregor`s second-half strike went in vain as they lost 3-1. The anthems got proceedings underway at Hampden Park - as the Ukraine players each stood draped in their country`s flag for their anthem on an emotional night in their first competitive match since the ongoing conflict began in Ukraine in February. As the game got underway, it was the away side who created the first opening in the 8th minute as Viktor Tsyhankov latched onto a cut-back but his crisp first-time effort was tipped over by Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon. The Scots grew into the game though and Hickey headed wide before Grant Hanley also missed with a header from a Robertson corner. Ukraine then almost took the lead in the 15th minute, but Gordon once again produced a brilliant save, this time down low to deny Andriy Yarmolenko. It was an open first half and the hosts were the next to pour forward, with Robertson seeing his shot blocked before John McGinn fired over. It was the away side who crafted the next opening in the 33rd minute though and this time Gordon could not repeat his heroics. The dangerous Yarmolenko made a great run to get on the end of a ball over the top, before taking a touch and cutely dinking the ball over the Scottish goalkeeper. ALSO READ | Lionel Messi stars in Argentina's 3-0 dominance over Italy to win Finalissima 2022 Just that goal separated the sides at the break but it was soon to get worse for Scotland as the visitors doubled their lead on 49 minutes as Roman Yaremchuk rose to head in at the far post. Scotland attempted to rally and McGregor was inches away from pulling a goal back as he charged down a clearance, before substitute Ryan Christie produced a save from Heorhiy Bushchan with a low strike.McGinn then narrowly missed the target with a glorious-headed opportunity as the hosts began to pile on the pressure. It was Scotland`s best period of the game and Che Adams was next to come close with a low drive before McGinn`s follow-up was excellently blocked. The pressure soon told and it was McGregor who got the Scots on the scoresheet in the 79th minute. Stuart Armstrong`s lofted cross was only parried by Bushchan and the midfielder followed up to strike on the half-volley, with hawk-eye ruling that the ball had just carried over the line after a touch from the Ukrainian goalkeeper. The home support roared on their side and they continued to press for an equaliser but Hanley`s missed header was the closest they came to a leveller. There was to be a cruel end for Scotland as Ukraine broke forward in the 95th minute and substitute Artem Dovbyk scored a third with the last kick of the game after a counterattack.

Ukraine defeat Scotland in first competitive match since war, keep World Cup dream alive

The 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar is expected to be watched by 5 billion people around the world, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Monday. The TV audience for the 2018 World Cup in Russia was a record-breaking 3.5 billion people.

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The forthcoming showpiece event is set to kick off later this year. It will commence on November 21 and conclude on December 18. France are the reigning champions after beating Crotia in the 2018 edition's finale.

The 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar is expected to be watched by 5 billion people around the world, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Monday. The TV audience for the 2018 World Cup in Russia was a record-breaking 3.

The 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar is expected to be watched by 5 billion people around the world, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Monday. The TV audience for the 2018 World Cup in Russia was a record-breaking 3.5 billion people. ALSO READ | PSG's Nasser Al-Khelaifi responds to La Liga president's 'insult to football' remark on Kylian Mbappe deal The forthcoming showpiece event is set to kick off later this year. It will commence on November 21 and conclude on December 18. France are the reigning champions after beating Crotia in the 2018 edition's finale.

Qatar's World Cup audience projected to be 5 billion, claims FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Wales manager Rob Page named the following 26-man squad for their World Cup playoff against either Scotland or Ukraine, plus three Nations League games next month. Wales face Poland away in Wroclaw in the Nations League on June 1 before hosting the winner of the Scotland-Ukraine playoff semi-final in the World Cup playoff in Cardiff on June 5.

The Welsh then return to Nations League action at home against the Netherlands on June 8 and Belgium on June 11.

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Squad: 
Goalkeepers: Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Wayne Hennessey (Burnley), Danny Ward (Leicester City) 
Defenders: Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Gunter (unattached), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Joe Rodon (Tottenham Hotspur), Neco Williams (Liverpool) 
Midfielders: Joe Allen (Stoke City), Ethan Ampadu (Venezia), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Dylan Levitt (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Glasgow Rangers), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth) 
Strikers: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Nathan Broadhead (Sunderland), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Dan James (Leeds United), Rabbi Matondo (Cercle Brugge), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield Town), Jonny Williams (Swindon Town), Harry Wilson (Fulham). 
(Compiled by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)

Wales manager Rob Page named the following 26-man squad for their World Cup playoff against either Scotland or Ukraine, plus three Nations League games next month.

Wales manager Rob Page named the following 26-man squad for their World Cup playoff against either Scotland or Ukraine, plus three Nations League games next month. Wales face Poland away in Wroclaw in the Nations League on June 1 before hosting the winner of the Scotland-Ukraine playoff semi-final in the World Cup playoff in Cardiff on June 5. The Welsh then return to Nations League action at home against the Netherlands on June 8 and Belgium on June 11. ALSO READ | Qatar 2022: In a first, women referees to officiate at men's FIFA World Cup Squad: Goalkeepers: Adam Davies (Sheffield United), Wayne Hennessey (Burnley), Danny Ward (Leicester City) Defenders: Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Gunter (unattached), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Connor Roberts (Burnley), Joe Rodon (Tottenham Hotspur), Neco Williams (Liverpool) Midfielders: Joe Allen (Stoke City), Ethan Ampadu (Venezia), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City), Dylan Levitt (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Glasgow Rangers), Joe Morrell (Portsmouth) Strikers: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Nathan Broadhead (Sunderland), Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest), Mark Harris (Cardiff City), Dan James (Leeds United), Rabbi Matondo (Cercle Brugge), Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth), Sorba Thomas (Huddersfield Town), Jonny Williams (Swindon Town), Harry Wilson (Fulham). (Compiled by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)

Gareth Bale included in Wales squad for FIFA World Cup play-off vs Scotland or Ukraine

Global soccer governing body FIFA confirmed that the intercontinental playoffs for the World Cup will be played at Doha`s Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on June 13-14. Asian rivals Australia and United Arab Emirates meet in a playoff at the same venue on June 7, with the winner to meet Peru on June 13.

The winner of the Peru clash goes into Group D with world champions France, Denmark and Tunisia. Costa Rica play Oceania champions New Zealand on June 14 for the final place at the World Cup in November and December, with the winner to slot into Group E with Spain, Germany and Japan.

Global soccer governing body FIFA confirmed that the intercontinental playoffs for the World Cup will be played at Doha`s Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on June 13-14. Asian rivals Australia and United Arab Emirates meet in a playoff at the same venue on June 7, with the winner to meet Peru on June 13.

Global soccer governing body FIFA confirmed that the intercontinental playoffs for the World Cup will be played at Doha`s Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on June 13-14. Asian rivals Australia and United Arab Emirates meet in a playoff at the same venue on June 7, with the winner to meet Peru on June 13. The winner of the Peru clash goes into Group D with world champions France, Denmark and Tunisia. Costa Rica play Oceania champions New Zealand on June 14 for the final place at the World Cup in November and December, with the winner to slot into Group E with Spain, Germany and Japan.

FIFA confirms World Cup playoffs schedule, matches to be held in mid-June

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host one of the biggest football clashes when Brazil and Argentina play a friendly in June in preparation for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year. Brazil and Argentina will be returning to the MCG, having last faced off at the venue in 2017 when Lionel Messi`s Argentina had defeated their South American rivals 1-0 in front of 95,569 fans. 
 
A statement on the MCG`s homepage said on Wednesday that, "Football fans in Melbourne and across Australia will witness the astonishing skills of football giants, Brazil and Argentina live when the two teams face off for Superclasico 2022 at the MCG on June 11."

Recollecting the 2017 clash between the two footballing giants, MCG said, that fans were then treated to the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Paulo Dybala and Gabriel Jesus across the two South American powerhouses, as the MCG recorded its largest crowd for a football match, eclipsing the Liverpool FC and Melbourne Victory friendly back in 2013.

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Superclasico was created in 2011 as a two-game series between both nations but was altered in 2014 to a one-off match at a neutral venue with previous matches played in front of record crowds. 
 
International matches played in a World Cup year are vital to the preparation of qualifying teams, and Superclasico organisers are expecting both Brazil (1st in the FIFA world rankings) and Argentina (4th in the FIFA world rankings) to field their strongest available teams. 
 
"To have two of the most successful football teams in the world return to the MCG to continue their longstanding rivalry reinforces our position as one of the world`s great sporting cities and Australia`s event capital," Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula, said on Wednesday. 
 
"We are delighted to welcome two footballing giants back to the MCG to dazzle Melbourne and Australian football and general sports fans, and in a World Cup year no less," said Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive, Stuart Fox.

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host one of the biggest football clashes when Brazil and Argentina play a friendly in June in preparation for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year.

The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host one of the biggest football clashes when Brazil and Argentina play a friendly in June in preparation for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year. Brazil and Argentina will be returning to the MCG, having last faced off at the venue in 2017 when Lionel Messi`s Argentina had defeated their South American rivals 1-0 in front of 95,569 fans. A statement on the MCG`s homepage said on Wednesday that, "Football fans in Melbourne and across Australia will witness the astonishing skills of football giants, Brazil and Argentina live when the two teams face off for Superclasico 2022 at the MCG on June 11." Recollecting the 2017 clash between the two footballing giants, MCG said, that fans were then treated to the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Paulo Dybala and Gabriel Jesus across the two South American powerhouses, as the MCG recorded its largest crowd for a football match, eclipsing the Liverpool FC and Melbourne Victory friendly back in 2013. ALSO READ | Chelsea vs Arsenal live streaming: When and where to watch Premier League match in India Superclasico was created in 2011 as a two-game series between both nations but was altered in 2014 to a one-off match at a neutral venue with previous matches played in front of record crowds. International matches played in a World Cup year are vital to the preparation of qualifying teams, and Superclasico organisers are expecting both Brazil (1st in the FIFA world rankings) and Argentina (4th in the FIFA world rankings) to field their strongest available teams. "To have two of the most successful football teams in the world return to the MCG to continue their longstanding rivalry reinforces our position as one of the world`s great sporting cities and Australia`s event capital," Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula, said on Wednesday. "We are delighted to welcome two footballing giants back to the MCG to dazzle Melbourne and Australian football and general sports fans, and in a World Cup year no less," said Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive, Stuart Fox.

MCG to host Brazil-Argentina football friendly in June in preparation for Qatar World Cup

The United States will face England and Iran in Group B at the World Cup finals while Spain will take on Germany in a clash of former winners in Group E. 
 
Holders France will meet Denmark and Tunisia in Group D while the tournament will kick off on Nov. 21 with hosts Qatar playing Ecuador. 
 
For the U.S., the draw pits them against their former colonial rulers England and the Iranians, a country they have had long-running political disputes with.

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The U.S. faced Iran at the 1998 World Cup in France, losing 2-1 to the Gulf nation. 
 
Group G was one of the toughest, pitting five-times World Cup winners Brazil against Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon. 
 
The draw came after a 45 minute musical and video show as FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised the event would "simply be the best tournament ever".

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The decision in 2010 to hand the hosting rights to Qatar was heavily criticised and there has been intense scrutiny of the human rights situation in the country. 
 
Qatar`s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomed the guests who included national team coaches, World Cup-winning players and football officials all waiting to discover the group stage match-ups during a ceremony presented by British actor Idris Elba and broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury. 
 
The tournament will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18 -- the first time soccer`s top prize has been competed for in the Middle East and there was a distinct Arabian feeling to the show.

The United States will face England and Iran in Group B at the World Cup finals while Spain will take on Germany in a clash of former winners in Group E. Holders France will meet Denmark and Tunisia in Group D while the tournament will kick off on Nov.

The United States will face England and Iran in Group B at the World Cup finals while Spain will take on Germany in a clash of former winners in Group E. Holders France will meet Denmark and Tunisia in Group D while the tournament will kick off on Nov. 21 with hosts Qatar playing Ecuador. For the U.S., the draw pits them against their former colonial rulers England and the Iranians, a country they have had long-running political disputes with. Also read | Bruno Fernandes signs new contract extension with Manchester United till 2026 The U.S. faced Iran at the 1998 World Cup in France, losing 2-1 to the Gulf nation. Group G was one of the toughest, pitting five-times World Cup winners Brazil against Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon. The draw came after a 45 minute musical and video show as FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised the event would "simply be the best tournament ever". Also read | IPL 2022: BCCI likely to go ahead with 50 percent capacity from next week The decision in 2010 to hand the hosting rights to Qatar was heavily criticised and there has been intense scrutiny of the human rights situation in the country. Qatar`s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomed the guests who included national team coaches, World Cup-winning players and football officials all waiting to discover the group stage match-ups during a ceremony presented by British actor Idris Elba and broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury. The tournament will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18 -- the first time soccer`s top prize has been competed for in the Middle East and there was a distinct Arabian feeling to the show.

U.S. to face England and Iran, Spain meet Germany in FIFA World Cup 2022 group stage

FIFA's strongly contested plans to hold the World Cup on a biennial basis are not on the agenda for this week's congress but talks are instead set to focus on alternative proposals, sources have told Reuters.

While FIFA delegates will hear an update on consultations over changes to the international match calendar, the controversial proposal to hold the World Cup every two years, instead of the current four-year rotation, will not be voted on.

The World Cup plan, put forward by FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger and backed by president Gianni Infantino, met with strong opposition from European football govering body UEFA and the leading European clubs.

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The Doha congress on Thursday had been seen as a potentially decisive battle over the idea but on Tuesday Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chairman of the European Club Association, said he was not surprised at its absence from the agenda.

"For us it is not an idea, basically, so we don't think we need to discuss it ... it doesn't exist for us. I think I cannot be more clear," said the Qatari, who is also president of Paris St Germain.

World soccer governing body FIFA says that discussions continue over Wenger's plans to reform the calendar, which sets out which tournaments and matches are held throughout the season. The current agreement on the calendar runs out in 2024.

Sources have told Reuters that having been strongly opposed to the biennial plan, European officials are now engaged in the broader calendar talks which are expected to intensify this week in informal settings.

"There is a different mood now, things have improved between UEFA and FIFA," said one global football source.

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NO GO

Earlier this month, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin suggested that FIFA had now given up on Wenger's idea.

“A biennial World Cup is a no go for everyone in football. I am glad FIFA has realised that as well," said Ceferin.

“We have discussions but, as far as I am concerned, a biennial World Cup is off the table. I am sure we will come to a solution with FIFA soon."

Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF which governs the game in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has floated the idea of holding a different tournament in the slot that had been envisaged for the additional World Cup.

Montagliani, who is also a FIFA vice-president, has suggested that either a tournament loosely based on the old Confederations Cup, which has not been held since 2017, or a global version of the Nations League format, used by UEFA and CONCACAF, could be a solution.

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The Confederations Cup was held every four years, in advance of the World Cup, and the eight-nation tournament featured each of the winners of the continental championships such as the Euros and Copa America along with the World Cup holders and the host nation.

Although not considered a major tournament in Europe, it was popular elsewhere and sources said that some discussion has focused on a 16-team knockout format for any revamped version.

The Nations League format was created as an alternative to friendly matches in Europe and CONCACAF and one idea being discussed, sources said, was to 'globalise'&nbsp;the competition with short finals, similar to how UEFA's 'Final Four'&nbsp;has operated.

The next World Cup is in Qatar starting in November and the draw for the tournament will take place in Doha on Friday.

FIFA's strongly contested plans to hold the World Cup on a biennial basis are not on the agenda for this week's congress but talks are instead set to focus on alternative proposals, sources have told Reuters.

FIFA's strongly contested plans to hold the World Cup on a biennial basis are not on the agenda for this week's congress but talks are instead set to focus on alternative proposals, sources have told Reuters. While FIFA delegates will hear an update on consultations over changes to the international match calendar, the controversial proposal to hold the World Cup every two years, instead of the current four-year rotation, will not be voted on. The World Cup plan, put forward by FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger and backed by president Gianni Infantino, met with strong opposition from European football govering body UEFA and the leading European clubs. ALSO READ: North Macedonia clash matter of life and death, want hell breaking loose at stadium: Cristiano Ronaldo The Doha congress on Thursday had been seen as a potentially decisive battle over the idea but on Tuesday Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chairman of the European Club Association, said he was not surprised at its absence from the agenda. "For us it is not an idea, basically, so we don't think we need to discuss it ... it doesn't exist for us. I think I cannot be more clear," said the Qatari, who is also president of Paris St Germain. World soccer governing body FIFA says that discussions continue over Wenger's plans to reform the calendar, which sets out which tournaments and matches are held throughout the season. The current agreement on the calendar runs out in 2024. Sources have told Reuters that having been strongly opposed to the biennial plan, European officials are now engaged in the broader calendar talks which are expected to intensify this week in informal settings. "There is a different mood now, things have improved between UEFA and FIFA," said one global football source. ALSO READ: Italy manager Roberto Mancini vows to stay despite missing out on FIFA World Cup 2022 NO GO Earlier this month, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin suggested that FIFA had now given up on Wenger's idea. “A biennial World Cup is a no go for everyone in football. I am glad FIFA has realised that as well," said Ceferin. “We have discussions but, as far as I am concerned, a biennial World Cup is off the table. I am sure we will come to a solution with FIFA soon." Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF which governs the game in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has floated the idea of holding a different tournament in the slot that had been envisaged for the additional World Cup. Montagliani, who is also a FIFA vice-president, has suggested that either a tournament loosely based on the old Confederations Cup, which has not been held since 2017, or a global version of the Nations League format, used by UEFA and CONCACAF, could be a solution. ALSO READ: Indian women's football team to play international friendlies against Egypt, Jordan in April The Confederations Cup was held every four years, in advance of the World Cup, and the eight-nation tournament featured each of the winners of the continental championships such as the Euros and Copa America along with the World Cup holders and the host nation. Although not considered a major tournament in Europe, it was popular elsewhere and sources said that some discussion has focused on a 16-team knockout format for any revamped version. The Nations League format was created as an alternative to friendly matches in Europe and CONCACAF and one idea being discussed, sources said, was to 'globalise' the competition with short finals, similar to how UEFA's 'Final Four' has operated. The next World Cup is in Qatar starting in November and the draw for the tournament will take place in Doha on Friday.

FIFA begins talks over alternative proposals to biennial World Cup plan

With a spot on the line for what could be his fifth and final World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo needs to avoid an upset like the one that ended Italy's hopes of making it to the tournament in Qatar.

Portugal faces a winner-take-all game on Tuesday against North Macedonia, the team that shocked Italy last week to keep the four-time champions out of the World Cup for the second straight time.

"We were surprised," Ronaldo said Monday.

"North Macedonia has surprised in many matches. But I don't think they will surprise us tomorrow. Portugal will play better and we will make it to the World Cup."&nbsp;

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Portugal is trying to reach its sixth straight World Cup, and Ronaldo is hoping to play in his 10th consecutive major tournament after appearing in four World Cups and five European Championships since 2004.

"We know that if we win we will go to the World Cup and if we lose we are out,"&nbsp;he said.

"We have the responsibility to be positive and win the match. I see everyone well prepared and wanting to be at their best tomorrow."

Ronaldo is the only player to have scored at least once in the finals of nine top tournaments in a row.

The highest scorer in men's international soccer, Ronaldo would be 41 by the time of the next World Cup if Portugal doesn't qualify to play this year in Qatar.

The Manchester United forward didn't want to talk about the possibility of a World Cup without him.

"There is no World Cup without Portugal,"&nbsp;Ronaldo said.

"There are no individualities here."

Ronaldo said he is starting to hear repeated questions about his future and made it clear he is the only one who can make a decision on that.

"If I feel like playing, I will keep playing," he said.

"If I don't, I won't."

Portugal advanced to the game against North Macedonia by beating Turkey 3-1 in Porto on Thursday, when the visitors squandered an 85th-minute penalty kick that could have erased a two-goal lead from the first half. The Portuguese added their third goal in injury time.

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Portugal had been forced into the playoffs after conceding late and relinquishing a lead last year in the final group game against Serbia.

North Macedonia, which gained independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, is trying to make it to the World Cup final for the first time. It made its first appearance in the European Championship last year.

Aleksandar Trajkovski's surprising winner against Italy on Thursday came in the second minute of stoppage time in Palermo. North Macedonia had also beaten Germany a year ago in its European qualifying group, in which it finished second to the Germans.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos will have a more complete squad for the match&nbsp;in Porto as defenders Pepe and Jo'o Cancelo are back after missing the game against Turkey. Pepe had tested positive for COVID-19, while Cancelo was suspended.

With a spot on the line for what could be his fifth and final World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo needs to avoid an upset like the one that ended Italy's hopes of making it to the tournament in Qatar.

With a spot on the line for what could be his fifth and final World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo needs to avoid an upset like the one that ended Italy's hopes of making it to the tournament in Qatar. Portugal faces a winner-take-all game on Tuesday against North Macedonia, the team that shocked Italy last week to keep the four-time champions out of the World Cup for the second straight time. "We were surprised," Ronaldo said Monday. "North Macedonia has surprised in many matches. But I don't think they will surprise us tomorrow. Portugal will play better and we will make it to the World Cup." ALSO READ: Canada beat Jamaica 4-0 to bring an end to 36-year long wait for a spot in FIFA World Cup Portugal is trying to reach its sixth straight World Cup, and Ronaldo is hoping to play in his 10th consecutive major tournament after appearing in four World Cups and five European Championships since 2004. "We know that if we win we will go to the World Cup and if we lose we are out," he said. "We have the responsibility to be positive and win the match. I see everyone well prepared and wanting to be at their best tomorrow." Ronaldo is the only player to have scored at least once in the finals of nine top tournaments in a row. The highest scorer in men's international soccer, Ronaldo would be 41 by the time of the next World Cup if Portugal doesn't qualify to play this year in Qatar. The Manchester United forward didn't want to talk about the possibility of a World Cup without him. "There is no World Cup without Portugal," Ronaldo said. "There are no individualities here." Ronaldo said he is starting to hear repeated questions about his future and made it clear he is the only one who can make a decision on that. "If I feel like playing, I will keep playing," he said. "If I don't, I won't." Portugal advanced to the game against North Macedonia by beating Turkey 3-1 in Porto on Thursday, when the visitors squandered an 85th-minute penalty kick that could have erased a two-goal lead from the first half. The Portuguese added their third goal in injury time. ALSO READ: India end Bahrain outing with 3-0 loss to Belarus in international friendly Portugal had been forced into the playoffs after conceding late and relinquishing a lead last year in the final group game against Serbia. North Macedonia, which gained independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, is trying to make it to the World Cup final for the first time. It made its first appearance in the European Championship last year. Aleksandar Trajkovski's surprising winner against Italy on Thursday came in the second minute of stoppage time in Palermo. North Macedonia had also beaten Germany a year ago in its European qualifying group, in which it finished second to the Germans. Portugal coach Fernando Santos will have a more complete squad for the match in Porto as defenders Pepe and Jo'o Cancelo are back after missing the game against Turkey. Pepe had tested positive for COVID-19, while Cancelo was suspended.

Portugal ready to avoid an upset: Cristiano Ronaldo after North Macedonia dump Italy out of FIFA World Cup

Canada qualified for the World Cup finals for just the second time on Sunday, beating Jamaica 4-0 to book their ticket to Qatar and end 36 years of failure and heartache.

While Canada celebrated, Mexico and the United States will have to wait to learn their fate despite picking up wins along with Costa Rica, who also kept their Qatar hopes alive.

The United States got a hat-trick from Chelsea midfielder Christian Pulisic as they romped to a 5-1 home win over Panama while Mexico needed a 70th-minute goal from Edson Alvarez to win 1-0 and avoid a humiliating draw with winless Honduras.

The victory for Canada puts the leaders on 28 points in the CONCACAF qualifying group, three points ahead of the United States and Mexico, with Costa Rica, who beat El Salvador 2-1, a further three points back.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-end-bahrain-outing-with-3-0-loss-to-belarus-in-international-friendly-465976">India end Bahrain outing with 3-0 loss to Belarus in international friendly</a>

The top three teams earn automatic places in November's World Cup with the fourth-place finisher facing an Oceania team in an intercontinental playoff for another berth.

Mexico will host El Salvador on Wednesday, the United States travel to San Jose to take on Costa Rica and Canada wrap up their campaign against Panama. Both Mexico and the United States require only a draw to seal an automatic berth.

After failing to clinch a finals spot with a 1-0 away loss to Costa Rica on Thursday, Canada returned home with renewed purpose and a chance to complete the job in front of a frenzied, red-clad, flag-waving, sold-out crowd of nearly 30,000 at BMO Field.

"I'm just so pleased we didn't win in Costa Rica," said Canada coach John Herdman. "This is how it was meant to be, I know why the football gods wouldn't let us score, it was for tonight.

"We just qualified for the World Cup, this is a legit football country."

There would be no blown second opportunity as Cyle Larin and Tajon Buchanan netted in the first half and Junior Hoilett added another after the break with Adrian Mariappa's own goal rounding off the scoring.

Canada will play at the World Cup for the first time since 1986 in Mexico, where they lost all three games and failed to score a goal.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-becomes-englands-joint-second-highest-scorer-after-penalty-strike-against-switzerland-465961">Harry Kane becomes England's joint second-highest scorer after penalty strike against Switzerland</a>

"I think this country never believed in us because we've given them nothing to believe in," said Herdman. "They believe now.

"This is the time for everyone to get behind football and unite because we can be a powerhouse."

It was a warm welcome home on a biting cold afternoon, making it the classic Canadian stage to take on a Jamaican side anchored near the bottom of the eight-team group in seventh, with one win and no hope of getting to Qatar.

There was a time during their 36-year quest to return to a World Cup finals that playing at home was no different than away for Canada, with as many fans supporting the visitors as the home side.

But there were no split allegiances on Sunday in a lopsided contest Canada dominated from start to finish.

Canada qualified for the World Cup finals for just the second time on Sunday, beating Jamaica 4-0 to book their ticket to Qatar and end 36 years of failure and heartache.

Canada qualified for the World Cup finals for just the second time on Sunday, beating Jamaica 4-0 to book their ticket to Qatar and end 36 years of failure and heartache. While Canada celebrated, Mexico and the United States will have to wait to learn their fate despite picking up wins along with Costa Rica, who also kept their Qatar hopes alive. The United States got a hat-trick from Chelsea midfielder Christian Pulisic as they romped to a 5-1 home win over Panama while Mexico needed a 70th-minute goal from Edson Alvarez to win 1-0 and avoid a humiliating draw with winless Honduras. The victory for Canada puts the leaders on 28 points in the CONCACAF qualifying group, three points ahead of the United States and Mexico, with Costa Rica, who beat El Salvador 2-1, a further three points back. ALSO READ: India end Bahrain outing with 3-0 loss to Belarus in international friendly The top three teams earn automatic places in November's World Cup with the fourth-place finisher facing an Oceania team in an intercontinental playoff for another berth. Mexico will host El Salvador on Wednesday, the United States travel to San Jose to take on Costa Rica and Canada wrap up their campaign against Panama. Both Mexico and the United States require only a draw to seal an automatic berth. After failing to clinch a finals spot with a 1-0 away loss to Costa Rica on Thursday, Canada returned home with renewed purpose and a chance to complete the job in front of a frenzied, red-clad, flag-waving, sold-out crowd of nearly 30,000 at BMO Field. "I'm just so pleased we didn't win in Costa Rica," said Canada coach John Herdman. "This is how it was meant to be, I know why the football gods wouldn't let us score, it was for tonight. "We just qualified for the World Cup, this is a legit football country." There would be no blown second opportunity as Cyle Larin and Tajon Buchanan netted in the first half and Junior Hoilett added another after the break with Adrian Mariappa's own goal rounding off the scoring. Canada will play at the World Cup for the first time since 1986 in Mexico, where they lost all three games and failed to score a goal. ALSO READ: Harry Kane becomes England's joint second-highest scorer after penalty strike against Switzerland "I think this country never believed in us because we've given them nothing to believe in," said Herdman. "They believe now. "This is the time for everyone to get behind football and unite because we can be a powerhouse." It was a warm welcome home on a biting cold afternoon, making it the classic Canadian stage to take on a Jamaican side anchored near the bottom of the eight-team group in seventh, with one win and no hope of getting to Qatar. There was a time during their 36-year quest to return to a World Cup finals that playing at home was no different than away for Canada, with as many fans supporting the visitors as the home side. But there were no split allegiances on Sunday in a lopsided contest Canada dominated from start to finish.

Canada beat Jamaica 4-0 to bring an end to 36-year long wait for a spot in FIFA World Cup

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