Plan to expand Africa Cup of Nations from 24 to 28 teams is rejected

Executive committee member says it was ‘very bad idea’ Caf says its aim is to make tournament world class A plan to expand the Africa Cup of Nations from 24 to 28 teams has been rejected, the Guardian has learned. The proposal had been made by the Confederation of African Football’s president, Patrice Motsepe, in February at a press conference in Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. Had it been agreed it would have been put in place for the 2028 tournament. Continue reading...

Police units deployed across South Africa before anti-immigration marches

Government fears repeat of anti-migrant violence in 2008 that led to looting and resulted in deaths of 62 people South African authorities have deployed police units to towns and cities around the country before planned demonstrations against undocumented foreign nationals . Security personnel were seen patrolling the central business district in Johannesburg, the economic capital, where many shopkeepers decided not to open on Tuesday. Trucks and other assets belonging to the South African National Defence Force were also present, according to local media reports. Continue reading...

Nagelsmann quits Germany with Klopp 'ready' to take over

Julian Nagelsmann has left his role as head coach of Germany with Jurgen Klopp ready to replace him, according to Sky Germany.

It’s time to write off the Germans and Brazil battle past Japan | World Cup Daily

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning , Archie Rhind-Tutt and Nicky Bandini as Germany leave the tournament in dramatic fashion in the last 32 Continue reading...

Sunderland and Palace hunting Real and PSG in WC goal charts!

Which teams' players have scored the most goals at the World Cup so far?

Morocco win wild penalty shootout as Netherlands pay heavy price for misses

Morocco’s players set off in pursuit of Ismael Saibari and, once they had caught up, lost one another in a pile of exhilarated bodies. Maybe they are about to do it all again and make a heavy dent in the latter stages of a World Cup. This was certainly a huge hurdle cleared and there were echoes of 2022 when Yassine Bounou, hero against Spain back then , repelled the Netherlands’ fifth penalty. Crysencio Summerville had struck it straight at him, the latest error in a strange and wobbly shootout; Saibari showed rare mental clarity to accept the gift. Earlier on another bundle had engulfed Cod

Canale and Gill the heroes as Paraguay hand Germany first World Cup shootout defeat

Germany exited the World Cup in Boston not with a whimper or even a cry of pain, just an extended wrestle into the dust at the hands of a thrillingly dogged Paraguay, followed by the most extraordinary of penalty shootouts. Not only did Germany lose their first shootout since the original Panenka one of 1976. They did so in a whirl of errors, shanked kicks and what amounted to a sporting meltdown in the New England gloaming. Paraguay will now progress to play a last-16 tie in Philadelphia, but not before celebrating this result as surely the greatest in their football history. And rightly so,

Brazil into last 16 as Martinelli strikes in stoppage time to break Japan hearts

Not for the first time in this tournament, there were long periods when Brazil did not impress. And not for the first time in this tournament, they got away with it. It may be inexplicable but the Carlo Ancelotti method that worked at Real Madrid is working again: stay in games and eventually either opponents will make a mistake or brilliant players will do something brilliant. Brazil were 1-0 down at half-time and struggling. Their earliest exit form a World Cup seemed entirely possible. Five players in the Brazil starting lineup were aged over 30, five of the six defensive players – and they

Spain vs Austria team news LIVE!

Egypt boss unsure if Salah will start vs Australia

Switzerland vs Algeria LIVE!

Nations Championship: Pressure on England as depleted Ireland seek history

We look at some of the major talking points ahead of the summer's inaugural Nations Championship Tests...