scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
TopicFIFA World Cup

Topic: FIFA World Cup

Iraq’s long road to FIFA World Cup qualification is a story of survival, defiance

Historically, football has been used as a lens through which political anger, identity, and resistance come into focus. From Mohun Bagan to Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast, this claim can be easily cemented.

Will Messi play another World Cup? ‘Logical to think I might not,’ he says at teary Argentina ‘farewell’

The Argentine talisman scored a brace against Venezuela Thursday, lifting his World Cup qualifier tally to 36, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s record.

Japan yet to finalise FIFA Women’s World Cup TV broadcast, coach says might harm game

This is the first time the rights to the Women’s World Cup have not been bundled with those of the men’s tournament.

Kylian Mbappe & Achraf Hakimi’s bromance on hold ahead of France-Morocco semi-final clash

Mbappe took Hakimi under his wing when the Moroccan joined PSG from Inter Milan in 2021. The pair sit next to each other on plane trips, they play video games and holiday together.

Argentina have worked out where to hurt Croatia, says coach Scaloni

When asked about Croatia's veteran midfielder Luka Modric, Scaloni said he was a pleasure to watch. Argentina will trust their system when they face Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals.

Xi didn’t start the fire & a newly discovered Himalayan peak, ‘Kem Cho’

The best cartoons of the day, chosen by the editors at ThePrint.

Argentina should sound a warning — Lionel Messi & co. are starting to click into gear

Argentina's shock defeat to Saudi Arabia early on had put them on the back foot but they steadily got better and saved their best performance for arguably their toughest pool opponent.

Ecuadoreans celebrate team’s perfect start to World Cup in historic win against host Qatar

Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso joined the festivities with his country 'making history'. The game marked the first time a host nation had been beaten in a World Cup opener.

Qatar World Cup ambassador calls homosexuality haram, says it’s ‘damage in the mind’

Over a million visitors are expected to flock to Qatar for the World Cup and Khalid Salman said anyone coming for the tournament should behave according to the rules of the country.

Flick’s Germany still an enigma but seek World Cup redemption in Qatar

Unlike their 2014 title win in Brazil, however, Germany are far from favourites this time round, with bookmakers putting their pre-tournament odds at 10-1 to lift the trophy.

On Camera

Rahul Gandhi wants to jail Himanta Sarma but Congress has a Bihar-sized problem in Assam

The Congress has promised Rs 50,000 assistance to each woman but as we've seen in many recent elections, voters seem to be conscious of the proverb: 'A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.'

Stocks fall, oil prices climb as Trump issues fresh threat to Iran ahead of his deadline

Fears that an escalation of the conflict could heighten a fuel squeeze & endanger the economy unnerved traders, with NYT reporting Iran stopped negotiating a truce with the US.

UAE walks away from financing Rafale F5 due to restricted access to technology, reports French media

French newspaper La Tribune earlier last week indicated that UAE withdrew from deal to fund EUR 3.5 billion. India is looking to order 114 new Rafales, which could include the F5.

China insulated itself against energy shocks. India is ‘all talk, no walk’

China patiently invested capital, skill and technology in coal gasification. Unlike it, we won’t move from words to action. As crude prices decline, we lose interest.