Lionel Messi makes history as double in win over Austria moves him to 18 World Cup goals
Messi’s first-half goal took him ahead of Germany’s Miroslav Klose as top scorer in the history of the tournament
Fifa
Cristiano Ronaldo risks ruining his legacy if he continues to stymie Portugal at the World Cup
One of the finest players to grace the game no longer deserves his place in the team
Keith Duggan: Seattle appeared magical – the US may have found its natural football home
A special few weeks lie ahead as a city for so long shrouded in mystery embraces a tournament for which it seems well matched
‘This place was crazy’: Visiting World Cup fans give Americans cause for celebration
People in the US are getting a kick out of seeing European football fans explore their country, from a German embracing junk food to Scots livening up a baseball game
‘Useless’ in the delivery room, footballing fathers may as well stay put at the World Cup
Jeremy Doku’s wish to attend the birth of his first child drew a rather emphatic response
Ken Early: World Cup feats by Messi and Mbappé go against efforts to break players’ flow
Fifa and other football rule-makers seem determined to destroy the sport’s defining characteristic
Spain hand Luis de la Fuente the perfect birthday present as normal service resumes
Lamine Yamal opens World Cup account while Mikel Oyarzabal impresses with two goals against Saudi Arabia
Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey doubles as five-star Netherlands crush sorry Sweden
Excellent late goal from Crysencio Summerville adds garnish in Houston
Brazil fall short of their arrogant fans’ belief they are centre of the football world
Brazil ran out 3-0 winners in their World Cup game against Haiti but failed to amass the goals to take control of their group
Ken Early: A few Uber journeys and I get the impression of a ‘World Cup of the rich’
The driver wanted to see the matches at least in Philadelphia, then the prices gave him no chance
USA in fever pitch after second World Cup win against Australia
A raucous Seattle crowd watched on as Mauricio Pochettino’s team emerged victorious in the noon-time heat
World Cup All in the Game: Reports of Messi bereavement greatly exaggerated
Argentinian presenter resigns after mistakenly saying Messi’s father died ‘right in the middle of the World Cup’
Declan Rice is running out of steam, leaving England boss Thomas Tuchel with a midfield conundrum
England mainstay is flagging after six years of nonstop action, but finding a solution to his absence is no easy task
The World Cup takes over as the backdrop to summer in New York
As Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi took their respective bows, it became obvious New Yorkers are happy to extend their sports crazy summer for another few weeks
Switzerland’s late surge overwhelms Bosnia and Herzegovina after Muharemovic red card
Up-and-coming talent Johan Manzambi scores twice in Los Angeles
Elye Wahi gets visa in U-turn after being denied for World Cup match amid fixing allegation
Ivory Coast striker, who started against Ecuador, will miss Saturday’s Germany game in Toronto
Mokoena’s late penalty rescues point for South Africa against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic had led for most of the game in Atlanta after Michal Sadílek’s early strike
Brand it like Beckham: how football’s most shameless shill is cashing in on the World Cup
David Beckham is appearing in a lot more advertisements in the US than anyone actually playing in the tournament
Who knew Fifa would be easier to deal with than your average GAA steward?
Whether in Kansas City or Salthill, some games can only be appreciated in the flesh
England looked like their usual tournament selves against Croatia – and that is their problem
England fall back into old tournament habits before half-time turnaround
Yoanne Wissa gives DR Congo first ever World Cup point in draw with Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo cuts a frustrated figure in opening game of his sixth World Cup
Ken Early: Those who had paid $1,000 got to say they saw a Messi goal early. Then it got better
Messi scores sensational hat-trick in 3-0 win to draw level with Miroslav Klose as the top scorer in tournament’s history
Kylian Mbappé on the double as France state clear intent against Senegal
Didier Deschamps’ side spring to life in final stretch to show why they’re among favourites
Pico Lopes ‘overwhelmed’ by support from Ireland following World Cup debut
Cape Verde defender has been inundated with well-wishers since draw with Spain, but focus now switches to Uruguay clash
Tino Livramento ruled out of World Cup as England call up Trevoh Chalobah
Thomas Tuchel’s full-back options look light following injury-enforced departure of Newcastle United player
Iran’s emotive World Cup opener was a compelling human drama
Iran come from behind twice against New Zealand to force a 2-2 draw in their game in Los Angeles
World Cup ticket prices have come a long way from what I paid in 1966
Pricing is an own goal keeping fans away
Cape Verde and Crumlin’s Pico Lopes keep Spain at bay to secure historic World Cup point
Shamrock Rovers centre back part of a brilliant defensive performance on a memorable occasion in Atlanta
Fifa seeking answers after VAR official accused of ‘far-right’ hand gesture
Australian official Shaun Evans made the upside-down ‘OK’ symbol with his right hand as the broadcast feed cut to VAR hub in Dallas
Irish bars are the real winner in the host city where the World Cup feels oddly distant
Despite hosting six games, the tournament feels slightly elsewhere. Thankfully there are plenty of Mexican fans and Irish pubs
World Cup 2026: The ruthless rise of Gianni Infantino
In the News podcast: Fifa president owns the modern game
Betting on football is hard – betting on World Cup stocks is harder
Using the World Cup as a read-through for picking shares is of questionable value
Lipstick on a pig fails to conceal sheer grubbiness surrounding World Cup so far
Moments of joy from Curaçao and Qatar combine to make one almost forget the insufferable bits around this tournament
Curaçao deliver an unforgettable World Cup moment before Germany take control
Livano Comenencia delivers unforgettable moment before before Jamal Musiala and Deniz Undav show their worth
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