2018 FIFA World Cup

Madrid, June 4 (IANS) Spain were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland in the first of their two warm-up games for the World Cup. The Spanish, who thrashed Argentina 6-1 in March, had threatened…

Bogota, June 3 (IANS) Striker Paolo Guerrero will give the Peruvian football team a “shot of motivation” at the World Cup in Russia, French great David Trezeguet said. “It’s important that he be at the…

Klagenfurt (Austria), June 3 (IANS) World Cup holders Germany got a wake-up call as they lost 1-2 to Austria in their first warm-up tie before football’s quadrennial extravaganza kicks off in Russia from June 14….

Mexico City, June 3 (IANS) Mexico gave a good demonstration but missed numerous scoring opportunities despite beating Scotland 1-0 on Saturday in a friendly at the Azteca stadium before travelling to the FIFA World Cup…

Beijing, June 3 (IANS) Croatia’s football history will forever be synonymous with France ’98, when the recently-formed nation defied expectations to defeat Germany on the way to finishing their debut World Cup in third place….

Montevideo, June 3 (IANS) In the past 10 years, under coach Oscar Tabarez’s leadership, the Uruguayan national football team have entered a stable and prosperous period. Uruguay will face hosts Russia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia…

Montevideo, June 3 (IANS) Sampdoria midfielder Gaston Ramirez was among the three players cut from Uruguay’s final 23-man FIFA World Cup squad. Seattle Sounders playmaker Nicolas Lodeiro and Deportivo La Coruna teenager Federico Valverde were…

Stockholm, June 3 (IANS) Sweden and Denmark battled to a bland 0-0 stalemate in an international friendly football match here. Saturday evening’s match was part of the preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to…

Brussels, June 3 (IANS) Belgium and Portugal played out a goalless draw here in a friendly match in preparation for the imminent FIFA World Cup in Russia. The European champions could not count on Cristiano…

Abuja, June 3 (IANS) Nigeria’s head coach Gernot Rohr has downplayed his team’s chances at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia. Rohr told the official news agency of Nigeria that the current rankings by…

Villarreal, June 2 (IANS) The Spanish football team will play the first of two preparatory matches for the forthcoming World Cup as they take on Switzerland at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday night….

Seoul, June 2 (IANS) South Korea on Saturday confirmed their final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, dropping three footballers from their preliminary roster. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Kim Jin-su, Lee…

Bergamo (Italy), June 2 (IANS) Colombia dominated against Egypt in a FIFA World Cup tune-up for both teams that ended 0-0 as the South Americans struggled with a lack of finishing against a North African…

Washington, June 2 (IANS) Four years after their stunning last eight finish at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Costa Rica will look forward to another trip to football’s biggest stage. The Central American…

Rio de Janeiro, June 2 (IANS) Given their proud history and superb recent form, it comes as little surprise that Brazil will be among the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup when the tournament…

Cairo, June 2 (IANS) Assuming talisman Mohamed Salah is fit in time for Egypt’s first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1990, the north African nation will still have their chance to make a name in…

Moscow, June 2 (IANS) The past decade or so hasn’t been the best of periods for Danish football. The national team missed out on qualifying for two of the past three FIFA World Cups and…

Geneva, June 2 (IANS) Turkey and Tunisia battled to a 2-2 draw in an international friendly as the North African side continue their preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where they are…

Jeonju (South Korea), June 2 (IANS) South Korea’s national side lost 1-3 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a pre-World Cup friendly, a stinging defeat that comes less than two weeks before the start of the…