Spend enough time with Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach of the US men’s national team, and you’ll almost certainly spot a charm dangling from a chain on his right wrist. It bears the image of Saint Christopher, the guardian spirit of travelers. It’s a fitting symbol for Pochettino, or any elite manager, given the inherently […]
Continue ReadingOne of football’s eternal truths? You can never, ever rule out Lionel Messi. Precisely when it seemed his ambition of steering Argentina to a second straight world title lay in ruins, the 39-year-old once again delivered a breathtaking rescue act for his nation. With just 11 minutes remaining and still shell‑shocked by Yasser Ibrahim’s early […]
Continue ReadingA noticeable tremble ran through Christian Pulisic’s voice as he responded to the last question put to him at the 2026 World Cup. On the surface, the query was simple: how did the tournament as a whole measure up against his expectations? But the weight came from what lay beneath. For eight years, this World […]
Continue ReadingOur illustrator examines the key events from the World Cup as England advance to the quarter-finals while the United States are eliminated Purchase David’s illustrations | A selection of his most popular pieces And his newest title, Chaos in the Box: order your copy Continue reading…
Continue ReadingFifa has retaliated against Uefa in their escalating dispute over the cancellation of USA forward Folarin Balogun’s suspension, accusing the European body of hypocrisy for condemning the ruling. In a statement credited to Mohammad al-Kamali, head of Fifa’s disciplinary panel, released before the USA’s last-16 defeat by Belgium, Fifa maintained that “reversing red cards is […]
Continue ReadingBeyond the final result, there was a distinct shift in the team’s display. Pochettino had moved them past a timid outlook, instilling a confident, almost brash approach earlier in the competition. Their attacking play was so compelling that supporters genuinely began to feel their side could defy expectations and win the entire tournament. “We’re going […]
Continue ReadingA persistent point of discussion in recent international competitions has centered on whether the legendary forward should remain in the starting lineup. He holds the men’s international scoring record with 146 goals for his nation, though detractors have increasingly argued that his overall contribution beyond finding the net has diminished. Given his colossal reputation and […]
Continue ReadingCristiano Ronaldo has acknowledged that his World Cup career is over, yet even at age 41 he insists he remains undecided about what comes next. Twenty-three years after his first senior appearance, the Portugal captain’s 233rd international match concluded with a late 1-0 loss to Spain, sending his team out of the tournament in Dallas. […]
Continue ReadingThe foundation of that defensive strength starts with Unai Simon. The Spanish shot-stopper continues to set new landmarks as he stretched his clean sheet streak at the World Cup to a historic 609 minutes, keeping Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates off the scoreboard in Dallas. “Portugal controlled large portions of the match, but Rafael Leao […]
Continue ReadingThe decisive moment arrived via a lanky, somewhat awkward figure surging through the centre‑forward channel—though not the one the storyline had called for. Deep in added time, Mikel Merino latched onto Ferran Torres’s pass, and with a composure that belied an otherwise chaotic contest, slotted the winner beyond Diogo Costa. His celebration mirrored the one […]
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