With the countdown for the FIFA World Cup's kickoff drawing closer and closer, here is a guideline of new rules and breakdowns of how certain plays work.
Alan Koch expects the Group B opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina to be a difficult game for Canada on Friday, but he is confident the team can advance through the competition.
Netflix will make its biggest push into the gaming industry so far with the debut of “FIFA World Cup Launch Edition” June 11. Created by “007 First Light” developer Delphi Interactive and Netflix Games in collaboration with FIFA, “FIFA World Cup” is described as a “streamlined football simulation game” that only requires having Netflix queued […]
Zinedine Zidane put a new meaning on header in the last game of his international career.
In 2006, the French soccer player—affectionally referred to as “Zizou” and widely considered one of the...
Ghanaian star soccer player Thomas Partey is set to miss his national team's opening FIFA World Cup match next week after he was denied entry to Canada. Partey, who also plays for Villarreal CF in Spain's club soccer league, is currently facing charges in the United Kingdom including seven counts of rape and one count...
All were destined for overseas markets, with nearly 80% set to be shipped to the Americas, where the World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
NASHVILLE, June 12 — Japan captain Wataru Endo was ruled out of the World Cup with injury and announced his international retirement yesterday three days before his team’s opener against the Netherlands.
The Liverpool midfielder pulled out of the tournament after failing to recover from a foot injury, and was replaced in Japan’s squad by Borussia Monchengladbach’s Shuto Machino.
The 33-year-old Endo said on social media that he was “frustrated” at not being able to play but backed his team to impress in Group F, where they face the Dutch, Tunisia and Sweden.
“There will definitely come a time in the future when Japan win the World Cup, so let’s believe in that and support the team,” he wrote on X.
“Let’s bring the strength of Japan together so that that moment can happen at this tournament in North America.”
He added: “I have decided to retire from the national team. From now on, I will be supporting Japan as just another fan.”
Endo suffered a season-ending foot injury playing for Liverpool against Sunderland in February but returned for Japan in a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland in Tokyo on May 31.
He came off at half-time and continued to feel discomfort at the team’s pre-World Cup camp in Mexico, where he was not involved in any full training sessions.
He took part in training when Japan moved to their World Cup base in Nashville on Monday but was not able to get up to speed in time for the tournament.
“I’ve done everything in my power since I sustained the injury so I have no regrets,” said Endo.
“Of course I’m frustrated that I can’t play at this World Cup.
“But more than that, I’m proud that I’ve been able to captain this team since the Qatar World Cup and help it grow into a group where it feels natural to say our target is to win the World Cup.”
Endo made his Japan debut in 2015 and retires with 73 caps, having scored four goals for his country.
He was a member of Japan’s squads for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and played in their stunning wins over Germany and Spain in Qatar.
Defender Ko Itakura will take over as Japan’s captain at the World Cup.
“Wataru is the one who will feel the most frustration at this,” said Itakura.
“He has been a real leader for this team. I want to accept this role with a sense of responsibility and determination.”
Japan have been hit hard by injuries heading into the World Cup.
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma was left out after injuring his hamstring less than a week before Moriyasu named his squad.
Monaco’s Takumi Minamino also missed out after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in December. — AFP
Change in viewing habits offered by match times at 2026 tournament could mean using cheaper off-peak power
Watching late-night or early hours football could provide UK households with a practical opportunity to cut their energy bills, as even just doing the washing when cheaper electricity rates apply can net a decent saving.
At a time when energy costs are back at worrying highs, research by E.ON Next shows the potential to save money on a time-of-use tariff – in this case, its Next Smart Saver deal, which has three rates: peak, off-peak and super off-peak.
MORELIA, June 11 — Five Mexican police officers were shot dead and five others wounded yesterday in violence-hit Michoacan state on the eve of the World Cup opener in Mexico City, local authorities said.
The officers were attacked by unknown assailants in an Indigenous region of the western state, which is plagued by cartel violence, the state government reported.
The pickup truck they were traveling in was riddled with bullet holes, according to images obtained by AFP.
The attack took place in the municipality of Nahuatzen, a region inhabited by the Purepecha people where the powerful Jalisco New Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) operates.
In May, the brazen murder of a small-city mayor, allegedly by the CJNG, prompted angry protests targeting symbols of the state, which many residents accused of failing to combat spiralling violence.
Michoacan’s capital Morelia is situated around 300 kilometers from both Mexico City and fellow World Cup host city Guadalajara.
The state’s security department said police were searching for the perpetrators of Wednesday’s attack.
Mexico’s government insists that there is no security threat to visiting World Cup fans.
Mexico is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and the United States. — AFP
MEXICO CITY, June 12 — South Korea came back from a goal down to snatch a thrilling 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their World Cup Group A opener today, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu grabbing the winner in the 80th minute.
Korea captain Son Heung-Min wasted a number of decent chances before his Czech counterpart Ladislav Krejci broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 59th minute by heading home from a long throw-in, but the lead was short-lived as Hwang In-Beom kept his cool to dink the equaliser over the keeper eight minutes later.
Tomas Soucek thought he had put the Czechs back in front with a header from a free kick in the 77th minute but the goal was chalked off for offside, and less than three minutes later the Koreans went ahead as Hwang turned provider, pulling the ball back for Oh to fire home from close range.
Co-hosts Mexico top the group after their 2-0 win over South Africa and they will meet the South Koreans in Guadalajara next Thursday, while the Czechs take on South Africa in Atlanta. — Reuters
Head coach Jesse Marsch unveiled his roster on Friday following a training camp, Davies was not at the camp in Charlotte as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
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Zinedine Zidane put a new meaning on header in the last game of his international career.
In 2006, the French soccer player—affectionally referred to as “Zizou” and widely considered one of the...
