Brazil

2026-04-252026-07-30

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

July 2026
21 JulThe Standard
… France, beaten 6-4 by England in the third-place play-off in the United States, are ranked third, with the English in fourth.Brazil (fifth, up 1) and Morocco (sixth, up 1) both leapfrog Portugal (seventh, down 2), who were eliminated in the round of 16 by the eventual winners. …
World champions Spain supplant Argentina to top FIFA rankings
20 JulCitizen Digital
… (Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP) Audio By Vocalize Aston Villa won the race to sign Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes from Wolves on Monday in a deal worth a reported £38 million ($51 million). …
Aston Villa sign Joao Gomes from Wolves
20 JulCitizen Digital
… Argentina failed to become the first team to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, but this was still a momentous day for Messi. …
Messi denied dream farewell as abject Argentina lose World Cup final
19 JulCitizen Digital
… The South Americans are striving to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain are eyeing a second title after their maiden victory in 2010. …
Spain and Argentina brace for World Cup final
19 JulCitizen Digital
… What is exceptional to us, isn't to them," he said. - Pele and Bergomi - The only players to have featured in a World Cup final at a younger age are Pele, who was 17 years and 249 days old when he scored twice as Brazil beat Sweden in 1958, and Giuseppe Bergomi. …
Spain's Yamal aims to join elite club of teenage World Cup winners
19 JulCitizen Digital
… "It is the greatest human, social, and cultural event that mankind has ever witnessed." Argentina are striving to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain are trying to win a second title after their maiden victory in 2010. …
England finish third as Spain and Argentina brace for World Cup final
19 JulThe Standard
… Argentina arrive as world champions, ranked No. 1, two victories from becoming the first men's team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy. …
Africa didn't reach today's final but its bloodlines did
19 JulThe Standard
… The South Americans are striving to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain are eyeing a second title after their maiden victory in 2010. …
Spain and Argentina brace for World Cup final
18 JulCitizen Digital
… Lionel Messi's Argentina are striving to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain are trying to win a second title after their maiden victory in 2010. …
Spain, Argentina tune up for World Cup final
18 JulThe Standard
… Two theatres built in the Amazon forest in Brazil and the Tunisian village of Sidi Bou Said might also be listed. …
UN to list more sites as 'in danger' from conflict or climate change

Sport

MPs pass bill to criminalise match-fixing in Kenya

The News

Members of Parliament have passed the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026 at Second Reading, seeking to amend the Sports Act with a legal framework to define, investigate and punish match-fixing and sports competition manipulation. If enacted, the bill will grant regulatory bodies investigative powers and introduce penalties including up to one year imprisonment and fines up to KSh1 million for offenders.

29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Yesterday

MPs pass bill to criminalise match-fixing in Kenya
Members of Parliament have passed the Sports (Amendment) Bill, 2026 at Second Reading, seeking to amend the Sports Act with a legal framework to define, investigate and punish match-fixing and sports competition manipulation. If enacted, the bill will grant regulatory bodies investigative powers and introduce penalties including up to one year imprisonment and fines up to KSh1 million for offenders.
29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Neymar retires from Brazil after World Cup loss to Norway
Brazil's record goalscorer Neymar has confirmed his international retirement, saying his time with the national team is over following Brazil's 2-1 World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Norway. He played only 37 minutes across two matches and scored one penalty.
29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Harambee Starlets face Senegal in WAFCON Group A match
Kenya's women's football team will play Senegal on Thursday at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, seeking to bounce back after a 4-0 loss to Morocco in their opening Group A fixture. Head coach Beldine Odemba said she has been working on the players' mental strength and confidence for the challenge.
29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Zinedine Zidane named France coach for 2030 World Cup
French football icon Zinedine Zidane was appointed head coach of the France national team on Tuesday, tasked with delivering the 2030 World Cup as coach, just as he won it as a player in 1998.
29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 28 July

Mancini appointed as Italy coach for second stint
Roberto Mancini has been named head coach of Italy's national team for a second time, tasked with revitalizing the Azzurri after missing out on the last three World Cups. FIGC president Giovanni Malago announced the appointment, also revealing that technical director Roberto Maldini has been replaced by Claudio Ranieri.
28 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Zinedine Zidane appointed France national team head coach
Zinedine Zidane, 54, was appointed France coach on Tuesday, replacing Didier Deschamps following France's fourth-place finish at the World Cup. Zidane had long been considered the leading candidate for the role.
28 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
International HIV funding dropped 18 percent in 2025
Global international financing for HIV in developing countries fell by 18 percent in 2025, the largest decline in decades, according to UNAIDS. The United States and European nations including France, Germany and the UK have dramatically slashed foreign aid contributions.
28 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Zinedine Zidane tasked with delivering France 2030 World Cup
French football icon Zinedine Zidane has been appointed coach of France with the goal of winning the 2030 World Cup, mirroring his success as a player when he helped France win the 1998 World Cup at home. AFP Sport reviews key moments from Zidane's illustrious playing career, including his international debut at age 22 when he scored twice against the Czech Republic and his pivotal role in France's 1998 World Cup victory.
28 July 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 27 July

Starlets aim to recover against Senegal after Morocco loss
Kenya's women's football team lost 4-0 to Morocco in their opening match at the 2026 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations and face Senegal on July 30 needing positive results to progress from the group stage, with coach Beldine Odemba saying the team has identified errors to correct.
27 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Sunday 26 July

Newcastle boss Howe unsure if Guimaraes will remain amid Arsenal bid
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said he does not know if midfielder Bruno Guimaraes will stay with the club after Arsenal reportedly offered £70 million for the Brazilian player, who is currently on holiday following Brazil's World Cup elimination.
26 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 25 July

Italian Football Federation agrees Pirlo as national team coach
The Italian Football Federation has reached an agreement with former Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo to become the national team's coach on a four-year deal, according to Italian daily La Repubblica. The 47-year-old, currently in charge of Dubai United, is replacing Pep Guardiola, who rejected the approach.
25 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 24 July

Nigeria's Tinubu approves army expansion to 12 divisions
President Bola Tinubu has approved an expansion of Nigeria's army from eight to 12 divisions with the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, as the government seeks to bolster its response to persistent security threats. Four new divisions will be established in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, to be implemented in two phases with some operational by September and others by December.
24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Italy approached Ancelotti before Guardiola for national coach
Italy's technical director Paolo Maldini said on Thursday that the Italian Football Federation approached Carlo Ancelotti about the national team coaching job before discussing the role with Pep Guardiola. Italy has been searching for a new coach since Gennaro Gattuso stepped down in April after the team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Harambee Starlets arrive in Morocco for 2026 WAFCON
Kenya's national women's football team has arrived in Morocco for the 2026 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, their second appearance at the continental tournament. Head coach Beldine Odemba said the squad is prepared to compete against Africa's best women's football nations.
24 July 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 23 July

Vozinha, Haaland named in fan-voted World Cup dream team
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha and Norway striker Erling Haaland were named in the fan-voted FIFA World Cup dream team after standout performances during their teams' unexpected runs. Vozinha topped the goalkeeper vote with 39.6% despite Spain's Unai Simon winning the Golden Glove.
23 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Six candidates compete to succeed Guterres as UN Secretary-General
Four women and two men are running to become the next UN Secretary-General, with Rafael Grossi of Argentina (current head of the UN nuclear watchdog), Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, and Macky Sall of Senegal among the contenders. The Security Council's five permanent members—the US, Britain, China, France, and Russia—have veto power over the selection.
23 July 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 22 July

Inter Miami signs Brazil midfielder Casemiro; MLS investigates tampering
Inter Miami announced the signing of Brazil international Casemiro, a 34-year-old midfielder who left Manchester United as a free agent, but Major League Soccer immediately opened an investigation into allegations of tampering by the club over the deal.
22 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 21 July

Kenyans searched widely beyond match results during 2026 World Cup
Google data shows Kenyan football fans searched for far more than match results during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with growing curiosity about football traditions, technology, players and shared viewing experiences. The most searched matches in Kenya were France versus Morocco, Brazil versus Norway, Brazil versus Japan, Norway versus England, and Portugal versus Spain.
21 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain wins World Cup, reclaims top FIFA ranking from Argentina
Spain replaced Argentina atop FIFA's world rankings after beating the finalists 1-0 in the World Cup final in New York. France finished third in the rankings after losing the third-place play-off to England 6-4 in the United States.
21 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain reaches number one after World Cup win over Argentina
Spain became world champions after beating Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final in New York on Sunday, reclaiming the top FIFA ranking they had surrendered in April. France finished third, beaten 6-4 by England in the third-place play-off, with England ranked fourth.
21 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
2026 World Cup breaks attendance and TV viewership records
The 48-team 2026 World Cup, held in the US, Canada and Mexico, set a stadium attendance record of 6.81 million spectators across 104 matches and broke previous TV viewership records "many, many times over," according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino. FIFA projects record revenues exceeding seven billion euros for 2026, a 56 per cent increase from 2022.
21 July 2026 · The Standard →
Argentina defends conduct after Spain World Cup loss
Critics condemned Argentina for dirty tactics and poor sportsmanship in their 1-0 loss to Spain, calling it "tetchy, petulant and distasteful," but Argentines argue they are passionate rather than arrogant and accuse detractors of misunderstanding their pride.
21 July 2026 · The Standard →
Spain tops FIFA rankings after World Cup final victory
Spain replaced Argentina at the top of the FIFA rankings released Monday after defeating them 1-0 in the World Cup final. France ranks third, England fourth, Brazil fifth, and Morocco sixth.
21 July 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 20 July

Aston Villa sign Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes from Wolves
Aston Villa signed Brazil midfielder Joao Gomes from Wolves on Monday in a deal worth a reported £38 million. The 25-year-old, who has 10 caps for Brazil, made 130 appearances for Wolves after signing from Flamengo in 2023.
20 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain beats Argentina 1-0 in World Cup final, denies Messi victory
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute. Lionel Messi, 39, had led Argentina to the final with eight goals and two assists, including in a dramatic semi-final comeback against England, but failed to secure another World Cup trophy four years after Argentina's Qatar victory.
20 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Sunday 19 July

Spain and Argentina meet in 2026 World Cup final
Spain and Argentina will face off in the 2026 World Cup final at New York/New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026. Argentina seeks to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups, while Spain pursue a second title after winning in 2010; it is likely Lionel Messi's final World Cup appearance.
19 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain's Yamal, 19, seeks teenage World Cup title
Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 the day before Spain beat France 2-0 in the semi-final, aims to join an elite group of teenage World Cup winners. The 2026 final will see Argentina's Lionel Messi, who will become the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup final, face Spain's young forward.
19 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
England beats France 6-4 for World Cup third place
England defeated France 6-4 in the 2026 World Cup third-place match in Miami on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappe scoring his 22nd goal of the tournament to become the all-time leading scorer. Argentina and Spain advance to the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday.
19 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain's World Cup squad built on African heritage, Argentina's not
Spain's 2026 World Cup final squad includes players of African descent, such as 19-year-old Lamine Yamal (Moroccan father, Equatorial Guinean mother) and Nico Williams (Ghanaian parents), while Argentina's squad is widely cited as the only one among the 48 tournament teams without a single Black player.
19 July 2026 · The Standard →
Argentina and Spain contest 2026 World Cup final
Argentina and Spain face off in the World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Argentina seeking back-to-back titles and Spain pursuing a second crown. The match marks the likely final World Cup appearance for Argentina's Lionel Messi, 39.
19 July 2026 · The Standard →