The Dutch Football (KNVB) has become the latest major governing body to voice its opposition to FIFA president Gianni Infantino's controversial proposal to sell off stakes in the World Cup. The plan, which involves private investors taking ownership in a new commercial subsidiary, has sparked a civil war within the global game.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has presented member federations with a massive financial incentive to approve his controversial plan to sell stakes in the World Cup. The 211 associations face a strict September 19 deadline to accept the proposal, which has already sparked severe backlash from major European governing bodies.
Marc Cucurella has proven to be a man of his word by unveiling a permanent tribute to Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente after his country's 2026 World Cup success. The Real Madrid left-back made a bold promise at the start of Spain's campaign in North America and has now shared the final results with his millions of followers.
Thomas Tuchel's England arrived at the FIFA World Cup 2026 as tournament favorites, only to crash out in the semi-finals against eventual runners-up Argentina, and the real story isn't bad luck, it's a tactical gamble.
Neymar has officially confirmed his retirement from the Brazil national team following a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign under Carlo Ancelotti. The Santos superstar also took the opportunity to hit back at recent media reports claiming he has been "bullying" younger team-mates in the Vila Belmiro dressing room.
FIFA has confirmed it is exploring a proposal to create a $20 billion company that would combine commercial rights and event operations across its men's, women's and youth tournaments. The new entity would sell minority stakes to private investors while, FIFA says, leaving control of competitions, governance and the international match calendar with soccer's global governing body.
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.