Iran congratulated Spain after La Roja defeated France to reach the World Cup final. Iran's backing for Spain is because of the European nation's stance against U.S.


FIFA world cup 2026: Iran says Spain on 'right side of history' ahead of world cup final

Kylian Mbappé has continued his long-standing commitment to charity by donating all of his match fees and bonuses from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rather than keeping his national team earnings, the France captain directs the funds toward charities supporting hospitalized children, struggling families, and frontline workers.


FIFA world cup 2026: Kylian Mbappe continues to donate France earnings

Lionel Messi delivered another masterclass, providing two crucial assists as Argentina came from behind to defeat England 2-1 and book their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. After Anthony Gordon gave England the lead, Enzo Fernandez equalised before Lautaro Martinez headed home the winner in stoppage time from Messi's cross. The defending champions will now face Spain in a blockbuster final as Messi moves one step closer to winning back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles.

FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final 2: Argentina beat England 2-1

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has become more than just a football tournament, with politics and diplomacy entering the spotlight. Iran’s reported support for Spain ahead of the World Cup final has added a new dimension to the global sporting event, highlighting how football can reflect international relationships, rivalries, and public sentiment.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Iran cheers for Spain, World Cup turns into diplomatic theatre 

The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is set to feature a major entertainment spectacle, with global music stars BTS and Justin Bieber reportedly preparing to make their World Cup event debut. The high-profile performances are expected to bring together football fans and music lovers from around the world as the tournament reaches its grand finale. With a historic final match and a star-studded celebration planned, the FIFA World Cup 2026 promises to be one of the biggest sporting events ever.

FIFA World Cup 2026 final: BTS, Justin Bieber to debut World Cup event

Iran congratulated Spain after La Roja defeated France to reach the World Cup final. Iran's backing for Spain is because of the European nation's stance against U.S.

Iran Says Spain on 'Right Side of History' Ahead of World Cup Final

Big news for England fans. Declan Rice has recovered from a stomach bug and is declared to start. That’s huge. England need their midfield engine now more than ever with defending champions Argentina standing in the way in Atlanta. One game, one spot in the World Cup Final on the line. Rice going from sick to starting in 48 hours is the kind of turnaround you want to see before a semi-final. 


England's vice-captain fit for Argentina World Cup semi-final showdown

Tom Cruise is heading to MetLife Stadium — but this time it's football, not fighter jets. FIFA has confirmed the Hollywood star for a "special appearance" at the 2026 World Cup closing ceremony on July 19, joining Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed. 


Tom Cruise joins FIFA World Cup 2026 closing ceremony

Table tennis Olympic champion Fan Zhendong is set to take on a new role as a commentator for the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, bringing his sporting expertise to football’s biggest stage. The Chinese star, known for his achievements in table tennis, will join the global coverage of the highly anticipated World Cup finale. The final promises a thrilling showdown as football fans around the world await the crowning of the next champion.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Table Tennis Olympic champion Fan Zhendong set for World Cup duties 

FIFA is set to consider expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 edition, with President Gianni Infantino saying the move would give more countries from around the world a chance to compete. The proposal was first put forward last year and FIFA will now assess whether the success of the new 48-team format makes further expansion possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of expanding the tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;"When organising a World Cup, it's important to organize it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving."&nbsp;<h2>What could be the biggest advantages and challenges of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams?</h2>A 64-team World Cup could give more countries a chance to play on the biggest stage and could help grow football in developing nations and bring more money through extra matches, sponsorships and broadcasting deals. However, it could also mean more pressure on players, bigger organising challenges, higher costs and concerns about the quality of games.&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>Simpler group stage: A 64-team format could make qualification easier to understand, with only the top two teams from each group moving ahead.</li><li>More importance to every match: Teams would have more pressure to perform in every group game, as there would be fewer chances to qualify.</li><li>More matches, tougher scheduling: A 64-team World Cup would increase the number of games, making it harder to schedule matches at convenient times for fans across different time zones.</li><li>Longer tournament, more pressure: More fixtures would add to the workload of players and could make the competition harder to manage.</li><li>Fewer possible hosts: Hosting a 64-team World Cup would require many stadiums, facilities and infrastructure, meaning only few countries may be able to host it alone.</li></ul><h2>How a 64-team World Cup could boost chances for smaller nations</h2>Expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams would add more qualification spots, giving more teams from Asia, Africa and smaller football nations a chance to play in the tournament. It would help make the competition more global and allow emerging teams that have missed out in the past to compete at the highest level.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-is-kylian-mbappe-fit-for-the-semifinal-clash-against-spain-1784024658952">FIFA World Cup 2026: Is Kylian Mbappe fit for the semifinal clash against Spain?</a>

FIFA World Cup 2026 Live on Zee5

<h2>How could a bigger World Cup impact players, clubs and the football calendar?</h2>A 64-team World Cup would add more matches to an already crowded football calendar, increasing player injury risks. Clubs could also face challenges as they may have to release players for longer periods, affecting pre-season plans and domestic competitions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-wc-2026-spain-vs-france-sf-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1784022493641">FIFA WC 26, Spain vs France SF: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;A bigger tournament would require either a longer schedule or more compact fixtures, creating difficulties for leagues and international tournaments. FIFA will need to carefully review these factors before making a final decision.&nbsp;<h2>Will a bigger World Cup boost global football or reduce competition quality?</h2>A 64-team World Cup could give more nations from Asia, Africa and other regions a chance to compete, helping football grow globally and increasing fan engagement.&nbsp;However, some believe that it could reduce match quality, increase the risk of injuries and create scheduling challenges.

FIFA is set to review a proposal to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 edition, with President Gianni Infantino aiming to give more nations a chance to compete.

FIFA is set to consider expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 edition, with President Gianni Infantino saying the move would give more countries from around the world a chance to compete. The proposal was first put forward last year and FIFA will now assess whether the success of the new 48-team format makes further expansion possible. "That's definitely an issue that will be examined and discussed in the relevant committees after this World Cup," Infantino told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport when asked about the possibility of expanding the tournament. "When organising a World Cup, it's important to organize it for the whole world - not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world. Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. "You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high, and it's getting higher and higher, all over the world. If you don't give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they'll lack the incentive to keep improving." What could be the biggest advantages and challenges of expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams? A 64-team World Cup could give more countries a chance to play on the biggest stage and could help grow football in developing nations and bring more money through extra matches, sponsorships and broadcasting deals. However, it could also mean more pressure on players, bigger organising challenges, higher costs and concerns about the quality of games. Simpler group stage: A 64-team format could make qualification easier to understand, with only the top two teams from each group moving ahead. More importance to every match: Teams would have more pressure to perform in every group game, as there would be fewer chances to qualify. More matches, tougher scheduling: A 64-team World Cup would increase the number of games, making it harder to schedule matches at convenient times for fans across different time zones. Longer tournament, more pressure: More fixtures would add to the workload of players and could make the competition harder to manage. Fewer possible hosts: Hosting a 64-team World Cup would require many stadiums, facilities and infrastructure, meaning only few countries may be able to host it alone. How a 64-team World Cup could boost chances for smaller nations Expanding the FIFA World Cup to 64 teams would add more qualification spots, giving more teams from Asia, Africa and smaller football nations a chance to play in the tournament. It would help make the competition more global and allow emerging teams that have missed out in the past to compete at the highest level. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Is Kylian Mbappe fit for the semifinal clash against Spain?

FIFA is set to review a proposal to expand the men’s World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 edition, with President Gianni Infantino aiming to give more nations a chance to compete.

Will FIFA expand the World Cup to 64 teams? Here's how it could work

Belgian ambassador to India, Didier Vanderhasselt, spoke to Wion's Vidur Kathuria on Belgium's World Cup campaign. The ambassador hosted a screening at his residence for the Quarter-final clash between Belgium and Spain

 Belgian Ambassador to India reflects on Red Devils' World Cup campaign

Police in Atlanta have been put on alert for the semi-final clash between England and Argentina. Officers have been briefed on potential flashpoints between the two sets of fans.


FIFA WC 2026: Police on alert in Atlanta for England-Argentina semi-final

For the first time ever, The top four teams in the FIFA rankings have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup.


FIFA World Cup semi-finals set, top four-ranked teams through

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says the governing body will examine the possibility of expanding the men's FIFA World Cup to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament. Following the jump from 32 to 48 teams, the proposal, first raised by CONMEBOL for the 2030 centenary edition, could further reshape international football, with Infantino saying every nation should have the opportunity to dream of reaching the World Cup.

FIFA World Cup 2026: FIFA to discuss expanding men's World Cup to 64 teams

We have a special economic segment called pitch & portfolio, a series where we analyze the beautiful game of football through the lens of global markets. As we come down to the business end of the tournament, the analysis goes deeper, but to see who wins the economic match. As Argentina and Switzerland prepare to face off, this is a closely watched contest on the field and in the portfolio.


World Cup of Economies: Argentina vs Switzerland

England captain Harry Kane has labelled Erling Haaland “a machine” but said he and Norway’s “beast” of a number nine are completely different players as they prepare to face off in the World Cup quarterfinal.

“I think we’re completely different players. I know we’re both strikers, but we’re in almost two different positions,” Kane told his pre-match news conference on Friday.

FIFA World Cup 2026: England vs Norway Quarter-Final on Saturday

Egypt returned home from the 2026 FIFA World Cup to a heroes' welcome after their heartbreaking defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16.


Egypt squad returns home after historic world cup campaign 

Norway star striker Erling Haaland has claimed that all the pressure is on England ahead of the World Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday.


Erling Haaland: All the pressure is on England

The quarter-finals are set and it’s a big one. European champions Spain take on Belgium in Los Angeles. Spain edged past Portugal with a last-minute winner in the Last-16 and haven’t conceded a single goal in the tournament so far. But Belgium are coming in hungry for an upset. 


Quarter finals: Spain vs Belgium | Can Belgium upset the European champions?

Next up, we have a special economic Segment called pitch & portfolio,
A series where we analyze the beautiful game of football through the lens of global markets. As we come down to the business end of the tournament, the analysis goes deeper, but to see who wins the economic match. As Norway and England prepare to face off, this is a closely watched contest on the field and in the portfolio.

World cup of economies: Norway vs England

France secured a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals as Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé delivered match-winning performances against Morocco. The French attack proved decisive in a thrilling knockout clash, keeping their title hopes alive. France now moves one step closer to another World Cup final appearance.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Mbappe, Dembele fire France past Morocco into semifinals

Next up, we have a special economic segment called pitch & portfolio, a series where we analyze the beautiful game of football through the lens of global markets.

As we come down to the business end of the tournament, the analysis goes deeper, but to see who wins the economic match.
As Spain and Belgium prepare to face off, this is a closely watched contest on the field and in their portfolios.

World cup of economies: Spain vs Belgium

France have booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, where they will take on Morocco in a highly anticipated knockout clash. The encounter promises an intense battle as both teams aim to secure a place in the last four. Fans can expect a thrilling contest between two determined sides on football's biggest stage.

FIFA World Cup 2026: France to face Morocco in quarter-finals 

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has entered the quarterfinal stage, with just eight teams remaining in the race for football's biggest prize. After weeks of thrilling knockout action, the tournament is now set for blockbuster clashes as the road to the semifinals begins. Here's a look at the teams that made it through and the upcoming quarterfinal fixtures.

FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals: Which eight teams qualified?

The World Cup 2026 is heating up and we’re down to the last 8. Quarter-finals kick off July 9 with France vs Morocco in Foxborough. Then it’s Spain vs Belgium in LA, Norway vs England in Miami, and Argentina vs Switzerland in Kansas City. One month of drama comes down to this. The final is set for July 19 at New Jersey. 


Road to the final | FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals set 

Is FIFA Favouring Argentina? That is the question being asked after Egypt accused football's world governing body of helping the defending champions stay alive at the World Cup. 

World Cup 2026: Egypt alleges Argentina favouritism 

Argentina produced a stunning comeback to keep their FIFA World Cup dreams alive, defeating Egypt 3-2 in a dramatic Round of 16 clash. Trailing 2-0 with just 11 minutes of regulation time remaining, the defending champions staged an incredible fightback to seal a place in the quarterfinals.

Argentina will now face Switzerland in the last eight as their title defence gathers momentum. Watch the full story and match analysis.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina end Egypt's world cup dreams

World Cup fever is in full swing as fans rush to official stores to grab jerseys, scarves and souvenirs. Merchandise is flying off the shelves, with jerseys of star players proving to be among the biggest sellers during the tournament.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Star players drive Jersey sales at World Cup stores 

Star player performances and personalized jersey requests are causing unprecedented spikes in merchandise demand globally, prompting Adidas to report temporary shortages of customization letters like "V" for stars such as Kai Havertz. 

FIFA World Cup 2026: Star players drive jersey sales at World Cup store 

The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot is historically tight, with an epic three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard. Kylian Mbappé (France), Lionel Messi (Argentina), and Erling Haaland (Norway) are all locked at 7 goals each, with England's Harry Kane trailing closely behind at 6 goals.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Who is winning the race for Golden Boot award?

Argentina defeated Egypt to book their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, ending the Pharaohs' impressive tournament run. Lionel Messi played a key role as Argentina delivered a composed performance to keep their title hopes alive. Egypt bowed out after a spirited campaign on football's biggest stage.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina ends Egypt's World Cup dreams 

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