World Cup

World Cup

FIFA staged separate World Cup opening ceremonies in Mexico, Canada and US in 2026. Photo: Reuters

Football, power and politics: The World Cup beyond the pitch

Every four years, we hear the same phrase: Keep politics out of football. It might sound very simple to you, but it also ignores history. Wonder how?

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group D - Paraguay v Australia. Photo: Reuters

Australia reach World Cup knockouts after goalless draw with Paraguay

In Teknaf, hundreds of Brazil supporters brought the Marine Drive area alive with a motorcycle rally, carrying green and yellow flags, wearing jerseys and chanting “Brazil, Brazil” through the streets. Photo: Collected

Rural Bangladesh catches the World Cup bug as cities pipe down

Norway's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring their second goal against Senegal in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match at New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US, on 22 June 2026. Photo: Reuters

Haaland scores twice as Norway beat Senegal 3-2 to reach World Cup knockout stage

Collage: AI Generated

The greatest World Cup team that ever existed never played a single match

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - June 13, 2026 Brazil's Igor Thiago in action with Morocco's Brahim Diaz. Photo: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

Why neutrality works in the commentary box but fails in the gallery

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha's mother arrived in Miami. Photo: Collected

Mum is here! Vozinha's World Cup wish comes true

Scene from Jafar Panahi’s Offside (2006). Photo: Collected

Football, politics and defiance in Jafar Panahi's 'Offside'

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group J - Argentina v Algeria - Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. - June 16, 2026 Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo

Argentina 3-0 Algeria as Messi nets first World Cup hat-trick

Illustration: Ashrafun Naher Ananna/TBS Creative

Youngest players in World Cup history

Iran's Ramin Rezaeian celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates. Photo: REUTERS

Iran draw 2-2 with New Zealand in politically charged World Cup clash in LA

Illustration: Ashrafun Naher Ananna/TBS Creative

Highest-scoring teams in World Cup history

The FIFA World Cup Trophy. Photo: Collected

The economics of emotion: A budget in the time of high inflation and football fever