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World Cup Overview

Mou's right about Ballon d'Or - but not Mbappe's chances

France's record-breaking captain doesn't deserve to be crowned the best player in the world, despite having the backing of his new manager at Real Madrid

Morocco PM warns Lekjaa over 2030 final

The race to host the 2030 World Cup final has taken a dramatic turn following a public intervention from the Moroccan government. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has officially rebuked the nation's football chief for making premature claims about the tournament's showpiece event.

Chaos in Argentina: Scaloni exit and bonus row looms

The Argentine national team has been plunged into a state of absolute uncertainty as a series of off-field scandals and internal disputes threaten to derail the squad. Reports from Italy suggest that a combination of legal battles involving federation leadership and simmering resentment over unpaid bonuses has created a toxic atmosphere ahead of the upcoming international break.

Would 100 England goals for Kane be a record that stands forever?

Harry Kane is well on course to reach 100 goals for England. If he does did hit that milestone, will that be a record that stands forever? Former Three Lions striker Andy Cole has answered that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL. The ex-Manchester United star believes that somebody else is capable of posting “frigenting” numbers in the future.

Why Haaland's haircut has only enhanced his booming brand

The Norwegian forward's new look might have raised eyebrows, but his surprise trim certainly hasn't had a negative effect on the striker's ever-growing profile

Mexican Football Federation Unveils Rafael Marquez As New Coach Of National Team

Rafael Marquez unveiled as Mexico boss with bold 2030 World Cup target

Mexican football icon Rafael Marquez has officially been presented as the new head coach of El Tri with a clear mandate to lead the nation into the 2030 World Cup. The 47-year-old former Barcelona defender, who previously served as assistant coach, is determined to surpass the quarter-final ceiling that eluded him during his storied playing career.

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	Arsenal	4	4	0	0	8	1	7	12	W W W W
2	Manchester City	3	3	0	0	7	2	5	9	W W W
3	Hull	4	2	2	0	5	2	3	8	D D W W
4	Chelsea	4	2	1	1	10	9	1	7	D L W W
5	Brentford	4	1	3	0	7	4	3	6	D D D W

Pos

Team

+/-

PTS

Form

Arsenal

W
W
W
W

Manchester City

W
W
W

Hull

D
D
W
W

Chelsea

D
L
W
W

Brentford

D
D
D
W

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.