Japan and the Netherlands trade blows in the World Cup’s best match yet
The best match of the World Cup so far ended without a winner. This feels correct. Some draws are evacuations, […]
World Cup
Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi turns Brazil draw into breakout moment
The temptation, watching Ayyoub Bouaddi in a World Cup opener at 18, is to call him precocious. Resist it. Precocious
Brazil vs Morocco opens a changed World Cup rivalry
Five World Cup titles and a calf injury are not compatible at a tournament opener. Brazil have both. Neymar won’t
USA vs Paraguay brings a forgotten World Cup record back
The most interesting thing about USA vs Paraguay is that it happened before, in Montevideo, in 1930, before MLS existed,
Valentín Barco steps into Argentina’s World Cup picture
Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 in Auburn, Alabama, last Tuesday. The result was unimportant. The eighth minute was worth watching, when
Mexico opens World Cup with measured 2-0 win over South Africa
Mexico began the 2026 FIFA World Cup by doing what opening matches often deny their hosts. It made the occasion
Deschamps is making Mbappé central by design
Didier Deschamps doesn’t run France as a talent show. He captained the country to the 1998 World Cup, coached it
Mexico faces South Africa in the World Cup opener at Azteca
Mexico opens the first 48-team men’s World Cup against South Africa at Mexico City Stadium, inside a venue that’s become
Messi plays against son of former Barcelona teammate
Football rarely offers a clean measure of how long someone has been at it. Sure, all those injuries, scars, and
Michael Olise’s hat trick sharpens France’s World Cup attack
Michael Olise continued his superb form by dropping a hat-trick on Northern Ireland in Lille. The Bayern Munich attacker reassured