Liverpool to sign Dutch striker Gakpo from PSV ...

Liverpool have agreed to sign the Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, the Eredivisie club said on Monday.

By Reuters

'French didn't mention this': ref hits back at ...

The World Cup final ended nearly a week ago but the drama around it continued as the match referee showed a photo on ...

By Reuters

MARC STRYDOM | At the temple of the World Cup, we felt godliness on Sunday

Those who watched got to see and feel and be part of and almost touch godliness. It was apt that the 2022 World Cup ...

By Marc Strydom

Fifa investigating how celebrity chef got onto World Cup final pitch

Fifa has launched an investigation into how individuals gained "undue access" to the pitch after the World Cup final ...

By Reuters

Goalkeeper Onana quits Cameroon national team

Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana has announced his retirement from international football a month after a fallout with ...

By Reuters

Brazil soccer star Pele to spend Christmas in hospital as cancer advances

Brazilian soccer legend Pele's cancer has advanced and he requires care related to renal and cardiac dysfunction, ...

By Reuters

‘Objective of African country winning the World ...

President of Confederation of African Football (Caf) Patrice Motsepe said the objective of an African nation winning ...

By SITHEMBISO DINDI

Messi extends contract with PSG — report

World Cup winner Lionel Messi has reached a deal with Paris St Germain to stay with the club for at least the 2023-24 ...

By Reuters

Messi the greatest even without World Cup heroics, says Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has no doubt that Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time and his opinion ...

By Reuters

Five lessons from the World Cup

The 2022 Fifa World Cup has come and gone with Argentina and their talisman Lionel Messi crowned champions after a ...

Mahlatse Mphahlele
Sports reporter

Argentina’s World Cup heroes airlifted in helicopters as street party ...

Argentina's World Cup heroes had to abandon an open-top bus parade in Buenos Aires on Tuesday as millions of ecstatic ...

By Reuters

All the World Cup groups, fixtures and results

Here is a full list of the groups and fixtures for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.

By TimesLIVE Sports Staff

All the Qatar 2022 World Cup squads

Here is a full list of all the 26-man squads of the 32 teams taking part in the 2022 World Cup.

By Sports staff

All the World Cup groups profiled and in video

TimeLIVE has profiled all eight groups for the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022.

By Sports staff

WATCH | A comprehensive video guide to Qatar's eight World Cup stadiums

Qatar has spent a fortune on its gleaming stadiums for the 2022 World Cup that starts on Sunday.

By Reuters

WATCH | Scenes out of this world as four million ...

Up to a million supporters are reported to have taken to the streets of Buenos Aires as world champions Argentina ...

By Marc Strydom and Reuters

Argentine tattooists swamped by demand for Messi tributes

Since Argentina's World Cup win turned Buenos Aires into a massive street party, tattoo artists have been hard at work ...

By Reuters

French federation condemns racist abuse of players after World Cup final ...

The French Football Federation has condemned the online racist abuse directed towards its players and pledged to take ...

By Reuters

PODCAST | South Africa cannot continue without VAR: Victor Gomes

Video assistant referee (VAR) has to come to South Africa, and the reality is at some stage it will, South Africa’s ...

By Sports Staff

WATCH | Crowds gather in Buenos Aires as Messi steps off plane with trophy

Huge crowds were gathering as Argentina stepped off the plane back home in Buenos Aires with the World Cup trophy at ...

By Marc Strydom and Reuters

After the controversy, Qatar delivered a World ...

Every continent was represented in the last 16 for the first time

By Martyn Herman

Pitch perfect: World Cup soccer fields made of sterner stuff

The resilient grass used in Qatar has opened up another path of innovation

Tanya Farber
Senior science reporter

WATCH | France's defeated World Cup stars return to heroes' welcome in ...

France's national soccer team returned from Qatar to the acclaim of huge crowds in Paris on Monday, after their heroic ...

By Reuters

France's Coman, Tchouameni racially abused after World Cup final defeat

France forward Kingsley Coman and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni have been subjected to online racist abuse after ...

By Reuters

'I would have given two cups — one for Kylian, one for Leo': heartbreak ...

France forward Kylian Mbappe put in a performance for the ages in the World Cup final against Argentina, but it proved ...

By Fernando Kallas and Rohith Nair

WATCH | The five most memorable moments of the ...

A World Cup dogged by controversy in its buildup will go down as one of the most memorable in history, capped by what ...

By Sports staff

Magical Messi hoists World Cup after final for the ages, and becomes Goat

As fireworks exploded and some 80,000 people roared, Lionel Messi smiled. His Argentina soccer shirt covered by the ...

By Ossian Shine

‘Hall of shame’: Twitter roasts France’s Dembélé for going missing in final

France winger Ousmane Dembélé has been slayed on social media for his poor performance as his team lost Sunday's ...

By Marc Strydom

We had to suffer to win the World Cup, say Argentina players

Argentina were made to suffer before landing their first World Cup title in 36 years, having twice squandered a lead, ...

By Karolos Grohmann

Argentina win greatest World Cup final against France on penalties

Argentina won their third World Cup in extraordinary style on Sunday, beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after ...

By Mitch Phillips

WATCH | Buenos Aires heaves with joy at Argentina ...

Argentina's capital Buenos Aires erupted in scenes of delirium as Lionel Messi steered their national team to a 4-2 ...

By Marc Strydom

Messi wins Golden Ball, Mbappé takes Golden Boot after incredible final

Lionel Messi not only realised his dream of finally lifting the World Cup at 35 with Argentina's 4-2 penalties win ...

By Marc Strydom

WORLD CUP FINAL WRAP | Argentina win on penalties to be champions of the ...

Follow the action as Argentina line up against France in the 2022 Fifa World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar at ...

By Marc Strydom

Starting XIs: Di Maria starts for Argentina, usual suspects in for France

Angel Di Maria is starting for Argentina in their World Cup final clash against France as coach Lionel Scaloni opted ...

By Reuters

Messi and Mbappé's battle for Golden Boot and Ball epic subplot to final

As if the battle of giants Argentina and France, who have progressed through epic contests to reach the final in one of ...

By Marc Strydom

WATCH | Outrage as Danish TV compares Morocco ...

A comment made by a news anchor on Danish TV comparing the Moroccan football team at the 2022 Qatar World Cup to ...

By Marc Strydom

WATCH | Argentina champions? ... Sundowns pick their final winners

It seems Argentina will win Sunday's World Cup final against France at Doha's Lusail Stadium (5pm SA time), if the ...

By Marc Strydom

OPINION | Perhaps football owes genius Messi the World Cup

He doesn’t have a divine or birth right to it but a strong argument can be made by football purists that somehow the ...

Mahlatse Mphahlele
Sports reporter

All France players start training ahead of World Cup final

France's Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate and Kingsley Coman, who missed training on Friday with a virus, were present ...

By Reuters

Scaloni tight-lipped on Argentina line-up ahead of World Cup final

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni kept his cards close to his chest when quizzed about his likely lineup as he prepares to ...

By Fernando Kallas

Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 to finish third in World ...

Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 in the World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday to secure a top three finish in the ...

By Reuters

Argentina's Batistuta does not mind losing goal record to Messi

Former Argentina international Gabriel Batistuta said he was happy to see Lionel Messi overtake him as the country's ...

By Reuters

Virus-hit France focused on finishing the job against Argentina — Deschamps

France have not been overly troubled by the virus that has hit several players in the past few days, coach Didier ...

By Reuters

In Messi's hometown, hope builds ahead of World Cup final

In Rosario, the Argentine city where Lionel Messi grew up, hope and excitement are rising that their hometown star can ...

By Reuters

Morocco's World Cup success boosts academy that gave players a start

At a soccer academy near Rabat, 100 young Moroccans hope to emulate the success of alumni who took the national team to ...

By Reuters

France players hit by colds as Argentina final ...

Several France players have caught colds, the French Football Federation said, as they prepare for the World Cup final ...

By Reuters

Fifa chief Gianni Infantino confirms 32 team Club World Cup in future

The 2025 Club World Cup will feature 32 teams, making the format similar to the Soccer World Cup, Fifa president Gianni ...

By Reuters

Poland's Marciniak to referee World Cup final

Poland's Szymon Marciniak will referee Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and France, the Polish FA said on ...

By Reuters

France or Argentina will lift the trophy but Morocco are heroes of World ...

It was good while it lasted. And it lasted very long - longer than any African campaign at the Fifa World Cup ever. It ...

By Matshelane Mamabolo

Goalless virtuoso Griezmann happy to put in hard yards for France

France's Antoine Griezmann proved once again that he is the ultimate team player with another virtuoso performance to ...

By Reuters

ANALYSIS | Tactical masterplan, and grit, take ...

Mike Tyson claimed everybody has a plan, until they get punched in the face, which is precisely what happened to ...

By Julien Pretot

'I think the world as a whole is proud of this Moroccan team': Regragui

Morocco leave Qatar disappointed but filled with pride at having written their names into the history books by becoming ...

By Simon Jennings

WATCH | Paris celebrates, but reports of clashes, after France beat Morocco

Supporters poured into Paris's freezing Champs-Elysees boulevard on Wednesday after a World Cup semifinal between ...

By Reuters and Sports Staff

Mbappé-inspired France just to good for brave Lions of Morocco

France were ultimately too good for a brave, spirited Morocco who missed costly chances as they took the game to the ...

By Reuters

France open as bookies' slight favourites over Argentina for final

France opened as a slight favorite to deny Lionel Messi's his elusive World Cup title after eliminating Morocco 2-0 in ...

By Reuters

This is how Morocco can beat France: ex-Chiefs ...

Muhsin Ertugral believes Morocco should stick to the tactical ploy that has tactics that have worked wonders for them ...

By Matshelane Mamabolo

From parallel conferences to Caf links: Four SA politicians who have taken ...

Morocco's World Cup feats have won them many fans, but also reopened old criticisms of the country.

Kyle Zeeman
Digital Editor

WATCH | Motsepe jumps out of chair celebrating Morocco at the World Cup

The CaF president put aside South Africa's frosty relationship with Morocco for a moment, which saw many South Africans ...

By Sports Staff

ANALYSIS | Messi at his magical best helping Argentina crush Croatia

The most clinical of smash-and-grabs kept Lionel Messi on track for his date with destiny and broke Croatian hearts as ...

By Ossian Shine

We are lucky to see the greatest player in our lifetime in the World Cup ...

Al-Ahli Saudi coach Pitso Mosimane has paid tribute to Lionel Messi for steering Argentina to the 2022 World Cup final.

By Marc Strydom

Four reasons why many South Africans will refuse ...

When Morocco take on France in the World Cup semifinal at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Wednesday night, a ...

Mahlatse Mphahlele
Sports reporter

WATCH | Thousands flood Buenos Aires streets as Argentina reach final

Thousands of Argentines filled the streets of central Buenos Aires with blue-and-white banners on Tuesday as they ...

By Reuters

Messi confirms Qatar final will be his last World Cup game

Lionel Messi has confirmed he will play his last World Cup game when Argentina take on France or Morocco in Sunday's ...

By Reuters

Messi and Alvarez steer Argentina past Croatia into World Cup final

Argentina's Julian Alvarez scored twice and earned a penalty converted by Lionel Messi as they swept past Croatia 3-0 ...

By Reuters

Morocco take Africa into new territory in its World Cup history

African teams have claimed several giant-killing results at World Cups but nothing like the unprecedented run of ...

By Mark Gleeson

WATCH | Morocco's secret weapon: their moms

Forget the wags — for Africa's heroic semifinal entrants Morocco, their moms have been the secret weapon at the World ...

By Marc Strydom

France favourites but Morocco are the 'Rocky Balboa of the World Cup'

After putting Belgium, Portugal and Spain to the sword in Qatar, Morocco are looking to bring another football ...

By MARK GLEESON

Argentina have worked out where to hurt Croatia, says Scaloni

Argentina will trust their system when they face Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals and believe they have worked out ...

By Rohith Nair

All the remaining World Cup fixtures and times

All the remaining World Cup fixtures and times.

By Sports Staff

COMMENT | Safa’s ‘funny valley’ has a mountain to climb to scale heights ...

Morocco’s World Cup success has shone a bright spotlight on Safa’s inadequacies and lack of productivity

By Marc Strydom

Tearful Ronaldo the lasting image of Portugal ...

Cristiano Ronaldo running to the tunnel in tears and as desolate as the football world has ever seen him will be the ...

By Reuters

EDITORIAL | Love them or hate them, Morocco are flying the African flag

As the World Cup unfolds and Morocco continue to defy the odds, Africa has a reason to celebrate

Tough Croatia the roadblock between Argentina and World Cup final dream

Argentina, led by superstar Lionel Messi, came into the World Cup as one of the favourites but they face a big ...

By Karolos Grohmann

Roger De Sa waits on Iran's FA to see if he and Queiroz still have a job

Roger De Sa's future with the Iran national team is hanging in the balance and he says he will resume talks with the ...

By SPORTS REPORTER

Croatia have no plan to man-mark Argentina superstar Messi

Croatia will not attempt to stop Argentina superstar Lionel Messi by man-marking him but instead will focus on ...

By Karolos Grohmann

Magnificent Morocco made history with age-old ...

Whatever happens against France, there can be no denying Morocco have made a statement for the return to football as a ...

By Matshelane Mamabolo

Royal Air Maroc plans 30 flights to carry Moroccan fans to semifinal

Morocco's Royal Air Maroc will operate 30 special flights to carry soccer fans from Casablanca to Doha for the ...

By Reuters

'Why shouldn't we dream?': Regragui urges Morocco to aim for the trophy

Walid Regragui's dream of his Morocco team becoming Africa's first World Cup semi-finalists came true on Saturday but ...

By Hritika Sharma

'There’s no hiding from it, it hurts,' says England's 'gutted' Harry Kane

Harry Kane said he is "absolutely gutted" and admitted there is "no hiding from it, it hurts", in response to his ...

By Reuters and Sports Staff

'Spirit of 2018': France driven by 'collective force' as old guard lead way

Didier Deschamps made only one late substitution as France beat England 2-1 in a nerve-racking World Cup quarterfinal ...

By Julien Pretot

WATCH: Moroccan ecstasy at World Cup history ...

Moroccan fans exploded in joy on Saturday as their team became the first from any African country to reach a World Cup ...

By Ahmed Eljechtimi and Andrew Mills

Giroud header sends France past England into World Cup semifinals

A brilliant Olivier Giroud header 12 minutes from time kept France on course to retain their World Cup title with a 2-1 ...

By Reuters

Morocco write World Cup history as they reach semifinals

Morocco wrote World Cup history last night as the first African and Arab country to reach the tournament’s semi-finals, ...

By Reuters

MOROCCAN MARVEL | Morocco beat Portugal to go through to World Cup ...

Morocco extended their dream run at the Fifa World Cup in Qatar on Saturday as they out-thought and outfought Portugal ...

By Reuters

World Cup 2022 top goal scorer: who could win Golden Boot?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has entered the knockout phase and one of the top honours players will be competing ...

By Reuters

Maradona is watching us from above and pushing ...

Lionel Messi said Argentina have felt the presence of the late, great Diego Maradona throughout their World Cup ...

By Reuters

Neymar says he is unsure if he will play again with Brazil

Brazil's Neymar said on Friday he was unsure if he would play again for the national team after their heartbreaking ...

By Reuters

US sportswriter Grant Wahl dies after 'acute distress' covering World Cup ...

Well-known US soccer journalist Grant Wahl died on Friday after suffering "acute distress" while covering a match at ...

By Reuters

Today's World Cup quarter fixtures: Morocco, France in quest for semis

Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal fixtures.

By Sports Staff

Argentina beat Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup semifinals

Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez saved penalties from Virgil van Dijk and Steven Berghuis before Lautaro Martinez ...

By Reuters

Leave Ronaldo alone, says Portugal coach Santos ...

Cristiano Ronaldo was upset when he was left out of Portugal's starting lineup against Switzerland but the conversation ...

By Reuters

Croatia beat Brazil on penalties to reach semifinals

Dominik Livakovic saved Rodrygo's first penalty and Marquinhos hit the post to give Croatia a 4-2 shoot-out win over ...

By Reuters

Moroccans scramble for flights ahead of World Cup quarterfinal against ...

Moroccans scrambled on Friday to get seats on the seven additional flights state carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) ...

By Reuters

Explainer: Why Morocco might always have been seen as Africa's best team ...

In the look-ahead to the 22nd edition of the global football spectacle in Qatar it was generally agreed that Senegal ...

By Matshelane Mamabolo and Marc Strydom

Today's World Cup quarterfinal fixtures: Brazil, Argentina seek glory

Friday's World Cup quarterfinal fixtures.

By Sports Staff

Dalic decries 'final before the final' as Croatia ...

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic wishes their World Cup last-eight clash against five-time world champions Brazil was instead ...

By Reuters

Brazil, France favourites entering World Cup quarterfinals

Brazil will enter the quarterfinals with the same status it did to start the event last month - as favourites to win ...

By Reuters

The other Lionel, Argentina's Scaloni, pits wits against Van Gaal

It is no secret that Argentina's dreams of a third World Cup triumph lie largely on the shoulders of Lionel Messi but ...

By Nick Mulvenney

Croatia's Lovren looks to put nightmares against Neymar to bed

As Croatia prepare to face World Cup favourites Brazil in their quarterfinal clash on Friday, defender Dejan Lovren is ...

By Fernando Kallas

Netherlands skipper Van Dijk dodges questions on Argentina's Messi

Virgil van Dijk deflected several questions about his looming confrontation with Lionel Messi but admitted the ...

By Mark Gleeson

'Terrifying' Brazil near full-strength for ...

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic described their World Cup quarter-final opponents Brazil as "terrifying" after the ...

By Fernando Kallas

Germany to stick with Flick despite dismal World Cup performance

Germany coach Hansi Flick will remain in his position despite his side's dismal performance at the 2022 World Cup, the ...

By Reuters

Hazard quits international football after Belgium's World Cup exit

Belgium captain Eden Hazard announced his retirement from international soccer aged 31 on Wednesday after his ...

By Reuters

'Mr Avocado Head' Regragui has Morocco daring to dream

Thanks to Walid Regragui, the coach who has made Morocco the first Arab nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinals, ...

By Shady Amir

Cameroon football boss Samuel Eto'o apologises for 'violent altercation'

Samuel Eto'o, the former Cameroon striker and current president of the country's football federation, has apologised ...

By Reuters

'Not in my wildest dreams': Ramos stunned by ...

Portugal's Goncalo Ramos was as surprised as anyone at being named in the starting lineup for Tuesday's 6-1 hammering ...

By Martin Petty

All the World Cup quarterfinal fixtures

All the World Cup quarterfinal fixtures.

By Sports Staff

Africa on fire: Morocco beat Spain on penalties to reach World Cup quarters

Morocco sensationally dumped Spain out of the World Cup in a last-16 penalty shootout on Tuesday.

By Reuters

WATCH | Cameroon boss Samuel Eto'o allegedly in altercation at World Cup

Samuel Eto'o, the former Cameroon striker and current president of the country's football federation, was involved in ...

By Reuters

Hat-trick hero Ramos helps Portugal thrash Swiss and reach quarters

Portugal's Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick on his first World Cup start to help his side demolish Switzerland 6-1 on ...

By Reuters

Germany team director Bierhoff quits after World ...

Germany team director Oliver Bierhoff has become the first casualty of their first-round World Cup exit in Qatar after ...

By Karolos Grohmann

ANALYSIS | Like watching Brazil again as Seleção capture spirit of '70 and ...

Brazil produced a footballing masterclass as they hammered South Korea 4-1 in their World Cup last-16 match that ...

By Reuters and Sports Staff

Brazil's Neymar feared for his World Cup after ankle injury

Brazil striker Neymar said he had feared the World Cup might be over for him after hobbling off in his first match in ...

By Reuters

Sublime Brazil crush South Korea with attacking samba masterclass

World Cup favourites Brazil produced a performance to delight fans and terrify potential opponents on Monday as they ...

By Reuters

Kalusha Bwalya calls for consistency in treatment ...

The Zambian football legend says the expectations placed on African coaches are often unrealistic and foreign coaches ...

By Matshelane Mamabolo

Keeper Kivakovic hero of the shoot-out as Croatia beat Japan on penalties

Croatia goalkeeper Dominic Kivakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida before Mario ...

By Reuters

Morocco's 'avocado head' Regragui plots another World Cup shock

Spain will be favourites to beat Morocco in the World Cup last 16 on Tuesday but the teams' experiences in the group ...

By Shady Amir