The Netherlands' top scorer Memphis Depay and Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber were both included on Wednesday in the country's squad for next month's World Cup despite concerns over their fitness.

Sometimes a single goal changes an entire life. It becomes more than a strike into the net – it turns into a man’s identity, the essence of who he is. For Mario Gotze, there was one such moment. Just one. But one was enough.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the initial news regarding superstar Lionel Messi's fitness "is not that bad" and hopes further examinations will confirm that diagnosis with the World Cup just a fortnight away.

Borussia Monchengladbach attacking midfielder Reyna appeared as a substitute in the USA's friendly defeats to Belgium and Portugal in March after impressing Pochettino during last November's international window.

The 33-year-old forward, once one of the most prolific goalscorers in England at Tottenham Hotspur, has yet to hit the mark for Los Angeles FC in the league so far this season.

Ouahbi, who took up the Moroccan coaching role three months ago, has kept faith with the majority of the squad that took part in the African Cup of Nations.

In his hometown of Santo Domingo, Caicedo's face appears on murals, shirts and even on the shin guards of children who dream of following in his footsteps, such as nine-year-old Julian Hidalgo.

For the Netherlands, it was a golden opportunity to banish the ghosts of back-to-back final defeats in 1974 and 1978

Having notched four goals at the 2022 edition, including a memorable brace in the semi-finals against Croatia, Alvarez is now dreaming of further international glory at this year’s World Cup.

Luis de la Fuente stressed that Spain's badge outranks any club crest on Tuesday after naming a World Cup squad with a distinctly Barcelona hue and, for the first time, no Real Madrid player in sight.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohamed Kudus will miss next month's World Cup due to injury after being ruled out of Ghana's preliminary 28-man squad named by Carlos Queiroz on Tuesday.

Bangladeshi broadcasters T Sports and Star News, in a joint venture, and a Dubai-based company have emerged as potential buyers

Saudi Arabia defender Saud Abdulhamid will arrive late to the national team's camp ahead of the World Cup after his passport was stolen during a break-in in Amsterdam, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation said on Monday.

Lionel Messi remained at the heart of an injury scare only weeks before the World Cup after medical tests diagnosed him with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, Inter Miami announced on Monday.

Brazil's quest to regain World Cup supremacy from their European rivals has led to them handing the reins to a European, with Italian Carlo Ancelotti charged with the task of ending the nation's wait to win their sixth title.

Iran's national soccer team will sleep in Mexico and travel to the U.S. on the days of its three World Cup matches after Washington declined to host the squad for the tournament, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday.

An Iranian vice president called Monday for striker Sardar Azmoun, who faced allegations of treason from Iran's state media, to be reinstated to the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Quiet and unassuming off the pitch, Jonathan David is already one of Canada's greatest footballers at just 26. Now, as the co‑hosts prepare for the World Cup, the forward hopes to make plenty of noise on the global stage.

Inside the stadium, tens of thousands of people were crying, yet there was almost no sound. That silence hurt more than any scream ever could. Supporters in yellow jerseys sat with their faces buried in their hands. Some stared blankly at the pitch, unable to process what had just unfolded before their eyes. Just six minutes. In the span of six devastating minutes, a nation’s dream, a generation’s wait, an entire country’s footballing identity turned to dust.

There are World Cups that live on through trophies, and then there are World Cups remembered for the players who briefly made football feel like poetry. For many fans, the 2014 FIFA World Cup belonged to one such player -- James Rodriguez.