News of 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.

Joy, ecstasy, relief – and so many tears

29-11-2024 12:00 The tens of thousands of Academia fans who travelled to Paraguay for the Copa Sudamericana final all had one singular goal: to see Racing Club win a continental crown for the first time since 1988. And our dream came true.

by Dan Edwards

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

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.

Two Rosario Central fans killed as football violence again rears head

10-11-2024 17:26 ​​Two fans shot dead after football match; Clashes outside Rosario Central’s stadium, with top hooligan gang leader killed.

Gustavo Costas gives soul to Argentina’s exhilarating spectacles

08-11-2024 00:45 Grizzled coach Gustavo Costas provides a connecting thread as Racing end three-decade drought to reach club's first continental decider in 32 years.

by Dan Edwards

Deyverson double gives Atlético Mineiro upper hand over River Plate

23-10-2024 11:28 Marcelo Gallardo's side slump to disappointing 3-0 defeat in Brazil, leaving River with an unenviable task in next week's second leg at the Monumental.

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.

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.

Neighbourhood remembers first ‘Olympic goal’ in football history

10-10-2024 06:10 At a low-income barrio in Barracas, a group gathered to remember football history last weekend: the eponymous ‘Gol olímpico’ (a goal scored direct from a corner) by Cesáreo Onzari in a match between Argentina and Uruguay a century ago.

by Claudio Gómez

Boca eye Gago as next in line to test Gallardo’s supremacy

02-10-2024 22:23 After Diego Martínez's Boca tenure ended with a whimper, the Xeneize are once again back to the drawing board. Fernando Gago would bring a fresh, adventurous style of play – the kind that has been rarely seen at La Bombonera of late.

by Dan Edwards

Court authorises transfer of Maradona's remains to mausoleum

01-10-2024 21:09 Court signs off on transfer of Diego Maradona's remains, at his daughters' request, from a cemetery to a mausoleum to be built for him in central Buenos Aires.

River cling on in Santiago to round off another eventful week

21-09-2024 00:33 River in the Libertadores, a title race is looking like a procession, Messi explodes back onto the scene, a ‘Chiqui’ Tapia masterclass and the futsal ‘muchachos’ fly the flag.

by Dan Edwards

AFA chief Tapia, with Riquelme in tow, extends mandate to 2028

17-09-2024 15:57 ‘Chiqui’ set to extend seven-year stay at helm of domestic football’s governing body after no challenger emerges for upcoming elections; Boca legend Juan Romàn Riquelme joins Tapia’s team.

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.

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.

Quinteros leads Vélez Sarsfield through a storming winter revival

30-08-2024 09:17 A sparkling run of six wins in seven game, culminating in last Monday’s 5-0 demolition of Barracas Central, has left Vélez at the summit of Argentina’s top flight.

by Dan Edwards

Miami football hub expands as FIFA's Infantino follows Messi to US

27-08-2024 09:49 FIFA is expanding in an upscale Miami enclave as its president relocates ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

No Messi but plenty of youth in squad for Argentina's World Cup qualifiers

19-08-2024 14:27 Lionel Scaloni names 28-,man squad for qualifiers against Chile and Colombia; Injured Messi misses out, while Armani, Acuña, Palacios and Dybala also fail to make the cut.

Gallardo is back at River for one purpose: glory

15-08-2024 17:38 River are already showing signs of switching from the patient, thoughtful, at times ponderous football which characterised them under Demichelis to Gallardo’s patented break-neck style, but it will take time for heads and legs to start responding to this increase in velocity.

by Dan Edwards