Buenos Aires, May 30 (IANS) River Plate has completed the signing of World Cup-winning defender Nicolas Otamendi from Portugal’s Benfica on a free transfer, the Argentine club said on Friday.The 38-year-old agreed to a contract that runs until December 2027, according to a brief statement on the Buenos Aires club’s website.”This Friday, May 29, the defender finalized his contract, which will keep him at the club from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027. The contract was signed in the presence of …
Latest 2026 FIFA World Cup News & Updates
Miami, May 26 (IANS) Inter Miami CF has provided an update for Lionel Messi after the Argentina star suffered an injury scare less than three weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup.Messi left the field during Sunday’s MLS match against Philadelphia Union, due to physical discomfort after taking a free kick. What raised concerns was the fact that Messi did not remain on the bench after being substituted, instead heading straight to the locker room accompanied by members of the medical staff…
Beijing, May 12 (IANS) FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom said on Tuesday that preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remain on track, while also expressing optimism about the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams.The 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to kick off on June 11 and will be the first edition featuring 48 teams instead of 32. “The preparations are going very well. We’re very excited. Only a few days left for the tournam…
Munich, May 8 (IANS) German football giant Bayern Munich have suffered another injury setback after star full-back Alphonso Davies was ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury sustained during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.The Bundesliga champions confirmed the development on Friday, though the club did not specify an exact timeline for the Canadian international’s recovery.”Alphonso Davies suffered a muscle injury in his left hamstring …
Berlin, March 31 (IANS) Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann faces growing concerns over his striking options ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with no clear first-choice forward emerging.Nagelsmann travelled to Eindhoven to watch group opponent Ecuador in a friendly against the Netherlands, but questions persist over Germany’s attacking line, particularly the lack of a reliable penalty-box striker.The coach has been relying on Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, and Stuttgart’s Deniz …
Madrid, March 28 (IANS) Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals as Spain sailed past Serbia 3-0 at home in one of its last preparation matches ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.In other International Friendlies played on Friday night, England were held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay at Wembley Stadium in London, the Netherlands defeated Norway 2-1 at the Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam, while Germany overcame Switzerland 4-3 in an away match at Stade de Suisse, with Florian Wirtz scoring a late brace.Defending c…
New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) With just over three months until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, officials from host cities — USA, Canada and Mexico — say security planning has fallen dangerously behind schedule, raising fears of major disruptions when the tournament begins on June 11. During testimony before the United States House Homeland Security Committee, local representatives cited two key setbacks: a freeze on federal security funding and poor coordination between federal and local aut…
Mumbai, Feb 24 (IANS) After the killing of Mexico’s most wanted cartel leader triggered violent unrest across the country, rapper-singer Yo Yo Honey Singh, who was in the country, shared an update about his well-being and said that he is “safe in Mexico” and flying back home. The musician, known for belting out hits such as Angrezi Beat, Brown Rang and Millionaire among many others, took to Instagram, where he shared a picture of himself standing next to a chartered plane.“Thnk u guys fo…
Washington, Feb 24 (IANS) The killing of Mexico’s most wanted cartel leader has triggered violent unrest across the country, leaving highways blocked, vehicles torched, and American tourists stranded in resort cities, including Puerto Vallarta.Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed Sunday in a Mexican military operation that US officials said was aided by American intelligence.The Washington Post reported that “It was CIA intelligenc…
New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS) Five more Indian match officials have been added to the FIFA International List of Match Officials for 2026. Rachana Kamani (Gujarat), along with Ashwin Kumar (Puducherry) and Aditya Purkayastha (Delhi), have been added to the FIFA list of women and men referees, respectively.Meanwhile, Muralitharan Pandurangan (Puducherry) and Peter Christopher (Maharashtra) have been inducted as Assistant Referees. Ashwin Kumar and Aditya Purkayestha, along with making the FIFA list, h…