FIFA Series

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4 min

news SAR +5

Revealed: Two World Cup Matches Played in 'Severe Heat' as Guardian Analysis Exposes Player Safety Risks

A Guardian analysis has found that two opening-round matches at the 2026 World Cup were played in severe heat exceeding safety thresholds set by playe...

3 weeks ago 42

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3 min

news Egy +15

ITV Dominates Opening Week of World Cup Ratings War with BBC

ITV has taken an early lead in the UK World Cup TV ratings battle, with England's 4-2 win over Croatia drawing 15.4 million viewers—the year's highest...

3 weeks ago 480

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4 min

news TW +3

Iran to Lodge Formal Complaint with FIFA Over ‘Oppressive’ World Cup Restrictions

Iran are set to file a formal complaint with FIFA over travel and accommodation restrictions that have disrupted their 2026 World Cup campaign. The te...

3 weeks ago 189

2 min

news England

Thomas Tuchel Wins Battle with FIFA to Move Photographers Away from England Bench During Anthems

England manager Thomas Tuchel has successfully persuaded FIFA to move photographers away from the substitutes' bench during national anthems at the 20...

3 weeks ago 95

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4 min

news Mor +24

World Cup 2026: Numbers Behind the Drama – Stats Stories from the Opening Fixtures

A deep dive into the stats from the first round of the 2026 World Cup reveals slow build-ups, Premier League influences, set-piece dependence, and was...

3 weeks ago 143

4 min

news Por

How Collina's time-wasting crackdown is slashing stoppage time at World Cup 2026

World Cup 2026 has seen a dramatic drop in stoppage time compared to Qatar, with matches averaging 96 minutes instead of 100-plus. FIFA referees' chie...

3 weeks ago 986

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4 min

news USA +5

FIFA's Mandatory Hydration Breaks: Safety Measure or Broadcast Bonanza?

FIFA's introduction of mandatory three-minute hydration breaks at all 2026 World Cup matches has sparked controversy. Intended to protect players from...

3 weeks ago 41

3 min

news Por

Hydration boos and surprise results: World Cup first round talking points

The 2026 World Cup’s first round saw FIFA’s new time-keeping approach—absorbing hydration breaks into regular play—draw boos from fans despite reducin...

3 weeks ago 47

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4 min

news CVI +5

Messi or Mbappe? The Battle for Supremacy in the World Cup Openers

Analyzing the first round of World Cup 2026 matches, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe delivered masterclasses, but Mbappe’s statistical output gave him...

3 weeks ago 98

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5 min

news Liv +15

Ten players who've caught the eye in the first week of the World Cup

The first round of the 2026 World Cup saw a host of standout performances. Sky Sports named ten players who caught the eye, including Erling Haaland’s...

3 weeks ago 95

5 min

news CVI +1

US Intervenes to Clear Visa Hurdle for Cape Verde Goalkeeper Vozinha's Mother Ahead of World Cup

In a heartwarming twist to the World Cup, US House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has secured a visa for the mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinh...

3 weeks ago 141

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3 min

news Genk II +4

From Vozinha to Tim Payne: How the World Cup Is Creating Viral Stars

Social media is transforming the 2026 World Cup into a dual tournament, as players like Cape Verde's Vozinha and New Zealand's Tim Payne see their fol...

3 weeks ago 41