Category: cup

Messi Names France and Brazil as Favourites to Win World Cup

MEXICO CITY—Argentina captain Lionel Messi has said defending champions France and Brazil are the favourites to win the World Cup in Qatar as they have a core group of players who have played together for a long time. Messi said Brazil, Germany, France, England and Spain are always labelled favourites to win but the 35-year-old…


More Than 1,300 Fans Banned From World Cup by UK Home Office

More than 1,300 fans from England and Wales with banning orders will not be allowed to travel to Qatar for this year’s World Cup, the UK’s Home Office has said. The new measures, which come into effect from Friday, prevent supporters with a history of soccer-related violence from making the trip to the sport’s showpiece…


US Women Win 4th Straight Gold at World Cup, Top China

SYDNEY—The names on the U.S. team have changed, the Americans’ dominance has not. A’ja Wilson scored 19 points, Kelsey Plum added 17 and the United States beat China 83–61 on Saturday to win its fourth consecutive gold medal at the women’s basketball World Cup. “It feels great,” said Wilson, who was selected as the tournament’s…


Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ Shirt Headlines Qatar Exhibit During World Cup

The shirt worn by Diego Maradona when he scored his famous “Hand of God” goal will be on display as part of an exhibit that will open ahead of this year’s World Cup, the 3–2–1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum said on Saturday. The blue jersey, which sold at auction in May for a then-record…


US Women Win Record 27th Straight Game at World Cup

SYDNEY—There’s been a long legacy of success for the U.S. women’s basketball team at the World Cup. The names change over time, but the results don’t. Kelsey Plum scored 20 points, Chelsea Gray added 16 and the United States routed Bosnia and Herzegovina 121–59 on Tuesday to break the team record for consecutive wins at…


Nadal ‘Super Excited’ for Federer Return at Laver Cup

Roger Federer has not played competitive tennis in more than a year and, like his legion of fans, Rafa Nadal also cannot wait for the Swiss great to return to action next month. Federer has not featured since Wimbledon last year after he had another operation on his knee, which has bothered the 41-year-old in…


Ukraine Beat Scotland to Keep World Cup Dream Alive

GLASGOW, Scotland—Ukraine kept alive their dream of reaching the World Cup finals by beating Scotland 3–1 in their playoff at Hampden Park on Wednesday in their first game since the Russian invasion of their country. Ukraine will now face Wales on Sunday in Cardiff with the winner taking a place at November’s finals in Qatar….


UEFA Bans Russia From Women’s Euros and World Cup, Clubs Banned Next Season

UEFA has banned Russia from the Women’s European Championship in July and from participating in qualifying for next year’s World Cup following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, European soccer’s governing body said on Monday. Portugal will replace Russia for the July 6–31 tournament in England, joining Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland in Group C. UEFA also…


US to Play England, Iran and Possibly Ukraine at World Cup

The United States was drawn to play England in a Black Friday match at the World Cup, a high-profile game that gives American soccer a chance to gain respect in its return to the global showcase. “It’s the biggest stage in soccer that you can have, to play them in the World Cup and to…