News of world cup

Argentina on brink after Almada strike sinks Uruguay

Yesterday 08:47 Win means Argentina can become first team from region to book a place at next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a victory over arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

WORLD CUP

Messi injured as Argentina seek to seal World Cup place

17-03-2025 17:06 Forward and top-scorer Lionel Messi was ruled out for Argentina’s World Cup Qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay after sustaining an injury this week.

International football

Will Lionel Messi's last dance be the World Cup 2026?

17-03-2025 09:32 Argentina eyes 2026 World Cup qualification, but will Lionel Messi be leading the side out on the pitch?

Rugby Retirement

Argentina's record points scorer Sánchez retires from rugby

23-01-2025 14:25 Nicolás Sánchez leaves behind record-breaking legacy of 902 points scored across 104 tests for the Pumas.

FOOTBALL IN ARGENTINA

World champions, big names sign up for Argentina’s top flight

22-01-2025 14:45 New footballing season set to kick off with 30 teams battling it out for glory.

International football

FIFA confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host

12-12-2024 13:37 Football’s world governing body also finalises plans for 2030 tournament, awarding one opening match of tournament to Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in concession to CONMEBOL.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Argentina top World Cup qualifying group – but are they running on fumes?

21-11-2024 17:36 If the Albiceleste, as some of the more hysterical sectors of the sporting press have begun to hint, is entering a crisis, it is an extremely curious kind of crisis.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Paraguay's anti-Messi approach pays off with Argentina win

15-11-2024 14:36 Paraguay inflict a rare defeat on Lionel Scaloni's charges, giving their World Cup 2026 qualification hopes a huge boost.

by Dan Edwards

WORLD CUP QUALIFERS

Argentina fall to defeat in Paraguay

15-11-2024 10:20 Argentina slump to a 2-1 defeat to Paraguay in Asunción, failing to capitalise on Lautaro Martínez's opener.

CLUB FOOTBALL

Messi's Inter Miami to play in FIFA's Club World Cup in 2025

20-10-2024 08:09 Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will feature in next year's expanded FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced on Saturday.

International football

Dominant Messi in no rush to walk away from Argentina

19-10-2024 09:32 Tuesday night’s 6-0 thrashing of Bolivia proved to be another dream evening for Argentina's evergreen talisman, who once more rolled back the years to leave his audience spellbound and wanting more.

by Dan Edwards

WORLD CUP QUALIFERS

Messi shines at Monumental as Albiceleste thrash Bolivia

15-10-2024 22:59 Lionel Messi rolled back the years at the Monumental on Tuesday night, scoring a hat-trick and bagging two assists as Argentina thrashed Bolivia 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING

Argentina held by Venezuela in World Cup 2026 qualifiers

10-10-2024 22:56 Venezuela held Argentina to a 1-1 draw at home on Thursday in the ninth round of South America's World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Messi-less Albiceleste drop points – but no need to panic

12-09-2024 16:47 Argentina caught a glimpse of what that future without Lionel Messi may hold. And thankfully, it is not entirely bleak.

by Dan Edwards

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Pochettino appointed as new coach of United States' national team

10-09-2024 20:29 Former Newell's Old Boys star named new head coach of the United States national team and will lead host nation into 2026 World Cup.

WORLD CUP QUALIFERS

Colombia avenge Copa América loss with victory over Argentina

10-09-2024 19:52 World champions Argentina suffer second defeat of CONMEBOL qualifiers for 2026 World Cup with a James Rodríguez penalty condemning them to a 2-1 loss to Colombia.

WORLD CUP QUALIFERS

Argentina cruise past Chile in World Cup qualifiers after homage to Di María

06-09-2024 11:44 Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez and Paulo Dybala were on target as Argentina banked a 3-0 win over Chile on Thursday.

WORLD CUP QUALIFERS

Messi-less Argentina call up Dybala for World Cup qualifiers

26-08-2024 13:02 Roma forward Dybala has not made an international appearance since March 2023 but could get an opportunity to add to his 38 caps in Lionel Messi's absence.

STADIUM CHAOS

Copa América chaos raises concerns for 2026 World Cup

15-07-2024 15:10 Chaotic scenes at the Copa América final raise serious questions for the organisers of the 2026 World Cup.

STADIUM CHAOS

Miami’s showcase for football's World Cup collapses into chaos

15-07-2024 14:57 The Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia was meant to be Miami’s dress rehearsal for the World Cup football tournament in the United States. Hours before kick off, it collapsed into chaos.

Copa América 2024

Argentina's old masters lead way to Copa América final

10-07-2024 15:04 Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María are enjoying every minute of what could be their international farewell. But thankfully, this Argentina team remains so resilient as to absorb almost any departure, even those two legends.

by Dan Edwards

Olympic Games: Paris 2024

Four World Cup winners in Argentina's football team for Olympics

03-07-2024 10:06 Albiceleste youth coach Javier Mascherano names four World Cup winners – Gerónimo Rulli, Nicolás Otamendi, Julián Álvarez and Thiago Almada – in his 18-man squad for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

FOOTBALL

Maradona's heirs fail to block 1986 World Cup 'Golden Ball' trophy sale

30-05-2024 15:19 Maradona's heirs lose legal bid to block the sale of the Argentine football legend's 'Golden Ball' trophy from the 1986 Mexico World Cup.

FOOTBALL

River Plate secure qualification for 2025 Club World Cup

15-05-2024 15:57 Qualification for Copa Libertadores last 16 secures place at 2025 tournament in United States and a US$40-million windfall; River’s former manager Marcelo Gallardo sacked by Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad – is he off to Italy?

by James Grainger

OBITUARY

Former World Cup winning coach César Luis Menotti dies at 85

05-05-2024 18:42 César Luis Menotti, the endearing football romantic who led the Albiceleste to first World Cup triumph in 1978, has died at the age of 85.

HOME BURGLARY

Ubaldo Fillol's 1978 World Cup winners' medal stolen

18-03-2024 14:06 Legendary goalkeeper Ubaldo Fillol has been robbed of the gold medal he won in the Albiceleste's successful 1978 World Cup campaign.

Football

Argentina dare to dream of Olympic gold – will Messi be there too?

15-02-2024 15:38 Javier Masherano’s young side had to get to the Games in Paris first, and they did so in typically nail-biting fashion.

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL

Argentina’s Olympian ambitions put pressure on Mascherano

19-01-2024 11:34 Javier Masherano’s Argentina U23 team begin the road to potential Olympic glory on Sunday when the side takes on Paraguay

by Dan Edwards

FOOTBALL AUCTION

Six shirts worn by Messi at World Cup sell for US$7.8 million

14-12-2023 18:15 Six football shirts worn by Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have sold for US$7.8 million at auction.

FILM

Argentines relive Qatar 2022 World Cup win in theatres with new films

08-12-2023 12:09 As the nation nears the first anniversary of last year's Qatar 2022 World Cup win, two new two documentaries released this week – 'Elijo Creer' and 'Muchachos' – are bringing back the memories.

by Andrea Puerto

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Messi leaves door open to 2026 World Cup

02-12-2023 09:49 "As long as I feel I'm well and can continue to contribute, I'm going to do it. Today all I'm thinking about is getting to the Copa America. After that, time will tell if I'm there or not," says Argentina skipper.

VIOLENCE AT MARACANÃ

Attack on fans overshadows Argentina historic win over Brazil

22-11-2023 12:52 Violence at the Maracanã as Brazilian police attack Argentina fans; Messi leads players off pitch in protest; Albiceleste goes on to win 1-0, breaking Brazil’s unbeaten qualifying run dating back to 1954.

SAY IT AIN'T SO!

Lionel Scaloni casts doubt over his future with national team

22-11-2023 12:29 World Cup winning coach says "it's complicated to continue" in his role and that the side needs someone in charge who has the energy to take the team forward.

CHAOS IN THE MARACANÃ

‘Always the same’ – Bittersweet win in Maracanã marred by ugly scenes

22-11-2023 12:10 National team coach Lionel Scaloni’s comments cast doubt over his future and delivered another twist in the tale to a stunning and shocking night in Rio de Janeiro.

by Dan Edwards

A PIECE OF HISTORY

Messi's World Cup shirts could fetch US$10 million at auction

20-11-2023 11:26 A set of six match shirts that Lionel Messi wore during Argentina's victorious 2022 World Cup campaign will be auctioned in December, Sotheby's announced Monday, estimating their value at more than US$10 million.

WORLD CUP QUALIFERS

Uruguay stun Argentina at the Bombonera in World Cup qualifier

17-11-2023 00:43 Uruguay ends Albiceleste's 14-match unbeaten streak with a surprise 2-0 victory over the world champions at La Bombonera.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Uruguay, with Suárez back, pose challenge for unbeaten Albiceleste

15-11-2023 15:28 The reunion of best friends Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in the centennial River Plate Derby between Argentina and Uruguay will give a new dimension to Thursday's South American World Cup qualifying clash.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

England hold on to edge Argentina in World Cup third place play-off

28-10-2023 08:12 England cling on to beat the Pumas 26-23 and claim third place in the Rugby World Cup.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

Veteran Cubelli returns for Pumas World Cup third place play-off

26-10-2023 10:06 Facundo Isa said on Thursday Argentina want to make up for losing in 2015's Rugby World Cup third-place playoff when they face England in the corresponding fixture in this year's tournament.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

Déjà vu as Argentina, England battle for third place

26-10-2023 10:03 Argentina play England in the Rugby World Cup's third-place play off on Friday with both sides licking their wounds from two very different semi-final losses.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

Pumas out of Rugby World Cup after semi-final defeat

20-10-2023 18:11 New Zealand have booked themselves a place in the Rugby World Cup final after outclassing Argentina 44-6 in Paris.

International football

Albiceleste continue to impress, with or without Messi

19-10-2023 16:56 Shorn of the team's heart against Paraguay, Argentina reacted by recreating him across the pitch. Against Peru, on the other hand, the system was king, centred around Messi.

by Dan Edwards

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

Michael Cheika – behind the quips, a shrewd rugby brain

19-10-2023 13:05 Michael Cheika and his larger than life persona has taken the Pumas to the semi-final – now Argentina must defeat New Zealand for a chance at the Webb Ellis trophy.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

Cheika says Pumas want to inspire a nation in World Cup semi-final

18-10-2023 14:35 Argentina head coach says his team want to "have no regrets" once the final whistle goes on their Rugby World Cup semi-final with New Zealand on Friday.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

Isa set for 50th Pumas cap in World Cup showdown with New Zealand

18-10-2023 13:54 Head coach Michael Cheika makes just the one change to the starting XV from the one that surprised Wales in the quarter-finals: Gonzalo Bertranou replaces Tomás Cubelli at scrum-half.

WORLD CUP QUALIFERS

Messi double helps Argentina stay perfect in World Cup qualifiers

18-10-2023 08:27 Lionel Messi's first-half brace against Peru left reigning world champions Argentina on top of the South American qualifying table with 12 points from four games.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

Pumas veteran Nicolás Sánchez dreaming of one last hurrah

15-10-2023 09:42 Nicolás Sánchez may not be the central figure in Argentina's attack that he once was but he's still dreaming of World Cup glory.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023

Boffelli boots Pumas past Wales into World Cup semis

15-10-2023 09:34 Emiliano Boffelli kicked 19 points to help Argentina to a dramatic 29-17 victory over Wales in Marseille on Saturday to set up a World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Captain Otamendi makes it three in three for unstoppable Argentina

12-10-2023 23:57 The Albiceleste armband does seem to bestow superhuman powers on its bearer, and on Thursday it was Nicolás Otamendi who was the beneficiary as the defender scored one of the finest goals of his career to set Argentina on the way to another World Cup qualifying victory.

by Dan Edwards