… "He likes to be the focus, he likes the responsibility, he likes to take the initiative." England's victory in the Azteca on Sunday sees them move on to a quarter-final against Norway next Saturday, after Erling Haaland produced two stunning goals to dump Brazil out of the tourna …
… GES via AFP) Audio By Vocalize Norway coach Stale Solbakken hit out at FIFA's World Cup reprieve of United States striker Folarin Balogun on Sunday, saying football's governing body had made a "bad decision." Speaking after Norway's 2-1 last-16 upset of five-time champions Brazil …
… GES via AFP) Audio By Vocalize Norway coach Stale Solbakken hit out at FIFA's World Cup reprieve of United States striker Folarin Balogun on Sunday, saying football's governing body had made a "bad decision." Speaking after Norway's 2-1 last-16 upset of five-time champions Brazil …
Neymar calls time on Brazil career after World Cup elimination By AFP July 06, 2026 08:35 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Brazil superstar Neymar indicated Sunday that his international ca …
Neymar calls time on Brazil career after World Cup elimination By AFP July 06, 2026 08:35 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Brazil superstar Neymar indicated Sunday that his international ca …
Ancelotti promises Brazil will bounce back after World Cup exit By AFP July 06, 2026 08:00 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Sunday's painful World Cup last …
Ancelotti promises Brazil will bounce back after World Cup exit By AFP July 06, 2026 08:00 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Sunday's painful World Cup last …
… up, FIFA ruling triggers uproar By AFP July 06, 2026 07:36 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize England battled past Mexico into the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday and Norway stunned Brazil …
… up, FIFA ruling triggers uproar By AFP July 06, 2026 07:36 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize England battled past Mexico into the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday and Norway stunned Brazil …
… While it dramatically affected some parts of the world, including severe flooding in Brazil, and also contributed to 2024 being the hottest year ever recorded, some of the expected effects did not materialise. …
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.