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World Cup Overview

Saliba return date set as Arsenal star makes major injury breakthrough

Arsenal have received a significant boost in their quest to defend the Premier League title as William Saliba steps up his rehabilitation from a long-term back injury. The French international has reportedly returned to the grass for the first time since the summer, sparking hope that his absence from Mikel Arteta’s starting XI is finally nearing its end.

'I see a lot of potential’ - Inter's Martinez backs Italy to bounce back

Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez has offered strong backing to Italy as the four-time world champions attempt to rebuild following their historic absence from the international stage. The Spanish shot-stopper insists the talent pool remains elite under Roberto Mancini, arguing that restoring collective belief will prove decisive during this transitional period.

Spain v Türkiye - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

Aghehowa reveals World Cup heartbreak after missing Spain glory

Porto striker Samu Aghehowa has opened up about the emotional torment of missing Spain's World Cup campaign following a devastating knee injury. The 22-year-old forward faced a gruelling 223-day rehabilitation process after rupturing his cruciate ligament, leaving him psychologically unable to watch matches as La Roja pursued glory in North America.

Poland v Argentina: FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

Football Leaks whistleblower launches attack on Infantino over City & PSG allegations

The man behind the Football Leaks revelations has launched a blistering attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino, claiming the Swiss official has no place in the sport’s future. Rui Pinto, whose leaked documents sparked the long-running Premier League investigation into Manchester City, alleges that Infantino actively helped elite clubs circumvent financial regulations during his time at UEFA.

Officially: the Swiss federation withdraws its support for Infantino in the FIFA elections

FIFA president loses the support of his country

'I need some confidence' - Vinicius opens up on mental struggle after WC exit

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior has candidly addressed his recent drop in form, admitting that he is currently battling a lack of confidence on both the domestic and international stages. The Brazilian forward, usually so clinical and flamboyant, has found goals hard to come by lately as he continues to process the emotional fallout of a disappointing World Cup this summer.

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	FC Oporto	7	7	0	0	18	3	15	21	W W W W W
2	Benfica	7	5	1	1	22	7	15	16	L W W W W
3	Sporting de Lisboa	7	4	3	0	17	8	9	15	D D W W W
4	Santa Clara	7	4	3	0	11	4	7	15	D W W D W
5	Arouca	7	3	2	2	10	7	3	11	D L D W L

Pos

Team

+/-

PTS

Form

FC Oporto

W
W
W
W
W

Benfica

L
W
W
W
W

Sporting de Lisboa

D
D
W
W
W

Santa Clara

D
W
W
D
W

Arouca

D
L
D
W
L

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most World Cup titles?

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.