One of world football’s most storied sides — and the reigning world champions — take on opponents who only made their Africa Cup of Nations debut in 2013. When Argentina played in the inaugural World Cup in 1930, finishing runners-up to Uruguay, Cape Verde was still a Portuguese colony. Nicknamed La Albiceleste, Argentina have missed...

With the group stage of the 2026 World Cup complete, 26 of the 48 teams have been eliminated and 32 have advanced. Among the first 16 to go, 12 finished last in their groups: Czech Republic, Qatar, Haiti, Turkey, Curacao, Tunisia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Panama. The other four early exits...

Katie said Ruairi has had a season ticket since he was born and regularly goes to home, away, and European matches with his family. Supporting Man Utd is their whole life, she added. She met her husband at Old Trafford and has held her own season ticket for nearly 20 years, as did her late...

England will be without right-backs Jarell Quansah and Reece James for the World Cup last-32 tie against DR Congo due to injury. Neither player trained on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s match in Atlanta (17:00 BST), which will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer. Manager Thomas Tuchel may again select Djed Spence at right-back, or...

With traditional number nines seemingly seen as a dying breed, clubs are looking to other parts of the pitch for goals. That shift makes creative midfielders who can unlock defences especially valuable. England appear to have produced several such players at the same time — although Tottenham have spent £185m this summer on a midfield...

Many point to this as the moment the football rivalry between the two nations truly took hold. They met in the quarter-finals, a game Argentina still say was unfairly decided, arguing Geoff Hurst’s winner should have been ruled offside. Controversy went far beyond that. Argentina captain Antonio Rattin was dismissed after just 33 minutes for...

Bournemouth have completed the signing of right-back Juanlu Sánchez from Sevilla in a deal worth up to £11.1m. The 22-year-old joins with more than 100 senior appearances to his name and experience in the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and La Liga. He also won Olympic gold with Spain in 2024, scoring the semi-final winner...

Italian club Como have completed the signing of defender Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea in a deal worth over £30m. The 27-year-old has agreed a five-year contract with Cesc Fabregas’ side, who secured a Champions League place by finishing fourth in Serie A last season. Chelsea will receive an initial £25.7m, with a further £5.1m in...

Date: 2 May 2009. Venue: Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu. Occasion: a La Liga clash. Guardiola made a bold call: he shifted Messi off the right flank to lead the line—though not as a classic centre-forward. Samuel Eto’o took the right, Thierry Henry the left, and Messi’s instructions were clear: drop in, receive, decide. By the final...