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World Cup

World Cup news

Italy v Northern Ireland  -  FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs

Gattuso quits as Italy boss

The Italian national team has been plunged further into a leadership crisis following the confirmed resignation of head coach Gennaro Gattuso. His departure completes a total collapse of the Azzurri hierarchy, following the exits of delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina after a devastating play-off defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina confirmed Italy's third consecutive World Cup absence.

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Conte Napoli

Del Piero backs Conte for second spell as Italy boss

Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero has described the nation's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as "embarrassing" while endorsing Antonio Conte for a second stint as head coach. The Azzurri’s dream ended in a devastating penalty shoot-out defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina, a result that has already triggered a wave of high-profile resignations within the Italian Football Federation.

MEXICO-CRIME-FBL-WC-2026

World Cup final ticket prices spike in last public sale

World Cup final ticket prices have risen sharply from initial projections. FIFA’s latest sales window lists seats as high as $10,900, with entry-level tickets priced at $5,785. In the original bid, the U.S., Canada and Mexico projected Category 3 tickets starting at $695 and capped at $1,550, marking a significant increase.

FBL-WC-2026-ITA-NIR-QUALIFIERS

Buffon confirms resignation from Italy national team role

Gianluigi Buffon has officially stepped down from his position as the delegation chief of the Italy national team following the Azzurri’s devastating failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The legendary former goalkeeper confirmed his departure shortly after FIGC President Gabriele Gravina also resigned from his post.

Max Dowman Arsenal 2025-26

Unique Dowman quality used as reason for England WC selection

A unique quality possessed by Max Dowman has been used as a reason why the 16-year-old Arsenal wonderkid should be included in England’s 2026 World Cup squad. The talented teenager is yet to start a Premier League fixture, but has become that division’s youngest goal-scorer during one of three outings off the bench. Bryan Robson is among those that believe Dowman could be a useful wildcard for England this summer.

Frequently asked questions

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have won the Ligue 1 title 12 times, more than any other club. Their first win was in 1986, and they claimed their record-breaking 12th title in 2023, surpassing AS Saint-Etienne.

The Ligue 1 consists of 18 teams since the 2023-24 season, prior to which 20 teams took part in the league. The inaugural season of the French first division in 1932-33 also consisted of 20 teams, divided in two groups of 10 teams each.

Mickael Landreau holds the record for the most Ligue 1 appearances, with 618 matches as a goalkeeper. His career spanned nearly two decades, playing for clubs like Nantes, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille, and Bastia.

Delio Onnis holds the record as the all-time top scorer in Ligue 1 with 299 goals. Playing as a centre-forward, his remarkable goal-scoring feats spanned the 1970s and 1980s, where he starred for clubs like AS Monaco and Reims, making him a legend in French football.

As of 2024, Dimitri Payet holds the record for the most assists in Ligue 1 history, with a total of 130 assists. The attacking midfielder achieved this milestone during his successful stints with several clubs, including Marseille and Lille.

Pierre Braine holds the record of being the oldest player in Ligue 1 history, aged almost 45 years in a Ligue 1 game in 1945.

At 15 years and 225 days, Kalman Gerencseri is the youngest player in Ligue 1 history. The Frenchman played for Lens against Monaco in a Ligue 1 game in 1960.

Notable players who have graced Ligue 1 include legends like Zinedine Zidane, George Weah, Thierry Henry, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.

Prominent managers in Ligue 1 include Arsene Wenger, Laurent Blanc, Carlo Ancelotti, Adi Hutter, Luis Enrique, etc.

The Orange Velodrome in Marseille is the largest stadium in Ligue 1, with a capacity of 67,394 spectators. Home to Marseille since 1937, it is renowned for its electric atmosphere and hosting significant football events in France.

Neymar is indeed the most expensive player in Ligue 1 history. His transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 was valued at a record €222 million, which remains the highest transfer fee ever paid for a player.