The conflict between European football leaders and the global governing body has escalated dramatically. Aleksander Ceferin has compared Gianni Infantino to the naked emperor from the famous fairytale, while Nasser Al-Khelaifi has proposed a new global club body. This latest war of words highlights the deepening rift over power, commercial rights, and transparency in the sport.
The civil war at the summit of global football has reached a boiling point as FIFA launched a scathing attack on UEFA in a United States federal court. The global governing body has accused their European counterparts of orchestrating a calculated campaign of misinformation designed to destabilise the organisation and sabotage the upcoming presidential elections.
New Valencia manager Javier Aguirre has dismissed his viral World Cup exchange with Anthony Gordon, describing his famous touchline remark as spontaneous banter. The Mexican coach dismissed any lingering tension with the Barcelona winger ahead of their reunion, joking that he will cover his mouth when they meet in La Liga this season.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly preparing to overhaul his tactical approach by following a successful blueprint established at Barcelona. The Selecao boss is looking to maximise the output of Raphinha by shifting him into a more central attacking role during the current international break.
Aymeric Laporte reflected on his remarkable international career following Spain's 2026 World Cup triumph, opening up on the decision to switch his allegiance from France five years ago. The Athletic Club defender insisted that his pride in representing La Roja goes far beyond silverware, pointing to deep personal ties that shaped his path.
Barcelona and Spain sensation Lamine Yamal has finally opened up about the emotional conversation he shared with Lionel Messi following the 2026 World Cup final. The teenage superstar was seen embracing the Argentine GOAT in a moment that truly felt like the ultimate changing of the guard in global football.
Brazil have won the World Cup five times, more than any other country. They first lifted the trophy in 1958, before successfully defending their title four years later. They then made it three in 1970, while also emerging victorious in 1994 and 2002 to show what they're made of.
How many teams are in the World Cup?
The most recent edition of the World Cup, which took place in Qatar in 2022, featured 32 teams. However, from the upcoming edition in 2026, as many as 48 teams will be contesting for the ultimate prize in international football. The number of teams that will be featuring has almost quadrupled since the inaugural edition in 1930, which hosted 13 teams.
Who has made the most World Cup appearances ever?
Lionel Messi holds the record of making the most appearances in World Cups, having represented Argentina 26 times across five editions.
Who is the all-time World Cup topscorer?
Germany's Miroslav Klose tops the all-time goalscoring charts in World Cups, having scored an incredible 16 goals in 24 games across four consecutive editions from 2002 to 2014.
Who is the oldest World Cup player and how old was he?
Egyptian legend Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to have ever featured in a World Cup game. The goalkeeper was 45 years and 161 days old when he participated in Egypt's 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia at the 2018 World Cup.
Who is the youngest World Cup player and how old was he?
Former Manchester United man Norman Whiteside is the youngest player ever to play a World Cup game. The midfielder was just 17 years and 41 days old when he featured for Northern Ireland in a game against Yugoslavia at the 1982 World Cup.
Which famous footballers have featured at the World Cup?
Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Gerd Muller, Roberto Baggio, Ronaldo, Romario, Eusebio, Johan Cruyff, David Villa, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo among others are some of the biggest legends in footballing history who have graced the pitch during World Cups.
Which famous managers have led teams at the World Cup?
The likes of Didier Deschamps, Franz Beckenbauer, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Vicente del Bosque, Vittorio Pozzo, Louis van Gaal, Sven-Goran Eriksson, and Ivica Osim are some of the most accomplished individuals to have managed at the World Cup finals.