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World Cup Qualification UEFA

World Cup Qualification UEFA news

Semafor World Economy 2026 - Day 3

Infantino fires back over 'shameful' World Cup ticket prices

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has once again stepped in to defend the astronomical pricing of tickets for the 2026 World Cup. Facing an onslaught of criticism from supporters who have labelled the costs as "shameful," the head of world football's governing body claims the move is a financial necessity.

SSC Napoli v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8

Conte hits out at media for 'twisting' his words about Italy job

Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has issued a stern warning to the media, firmly denying reports that he has declared his availability to take over the vacant Italy national team job. The former Chelsea manager expressed intense frustration over recent speculation, insisting he remains fully committed to his current club contract and demanding accurate reporting to maintain focus.

Bosnia & Herzegovina v Italy - FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs

Donnarumma 'hurt' by claims Italy stars demanded World Cup huge bonus

Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma has furiously denied reports that the national team squad demanded a lucrative financial bonus prior to their catastrophic World Cup qualifying play-off defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina. The visibly emotional goalkeeper insists the players never prioritised money over the pride of wearing the Azzurri shirt during the devastating qualification campaign.

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SSC Napoli v AC Milan - Serie A

'We were throwing up' - Giaccherini backs 'brutal' Conte for Italy return

Former Italy winger Emanuele Giaccherini has endorsed Antonio Conte to take over the national team for a second time following Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation after a third consecutive World Cup qualification failure. The ex-Juventus man insists that the current Napoli boss possesses the unique leadership skills required to rebuild Italy’s shattered footballing reputation.

Bosnia & Herzegovina v Italy - FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs

A former Italy international has cast his vote for the coach of the season, delivering a typically colourful soundbite in the process. “With him, we’d often feel queasy right on th

Having proven himself at numerous clubs… is it time for him to return to the Azzurri? The question echoes through Italian football with renewed urgency. After guiding several clubs to silverware, the argument grows stronger that his experience and leadership could once again be vital for the national team. Supporters point to his tactical versatility, his ability to motivate players, and his deep understanding of the game as assets that could elevate the Azzurri at a critical juncture. Critics, however, caution that past success does not automatically translate into instant results on the international stage. They argue that the national team environment demands a different kind of management style, one that balances the expectations of a football-mad nation with the realities of a crowded international calendar. Moreover, with younger coaches waiting in the wings, some wonder whether the time is right to hand the reins to a new generation. Nonetheless, the case for his return remains

FBL-WC-2026-TUR-ROU-QUALIFIERS

Football legend Lucescu dies aged 80

The football world is mourning the loss of Mircea Lucescu, one of the most decorated managers in history, who has died at the age of 80. The iconic Romanian coach passed away after suffering severe medical complications, leaving behind a monumental six-decade legacy. He won an astonishing 35 major trophies during a legendary career across Europe's top clubs and international football.

Jannik Sinner

Sinner would trade title for Italy World Cup spot

Tennis world number one Jannik Sinner has admitted he would be willing to sacrifice one of his prestigious titles if it meant seeing the Italian national team back at the World Cup. The Azzurri’s footballing crisis reached a new low this week as they failed to qualify for a third consecutive tournament, leaving fans and sporting icons across the country in a state of shock.

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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Egypt are the team who have won the most AFCON titles in history, with seven to their name. It was in 1957, the inaugural edition of AFCON, where Egypt attained glory. They would go on to add three more trophies before the turn of the century (1957, 1986, 1998), before completing a threepeat in 2006, 2008, and 2010.

The first-ever AFCON featured just three teams. Between 1968 and 1990, eight teams featured in the tournament. An expansion in 1992 saw 12 teams feature in AFCON, and 16 from 1998. The latest expansion in 2019, though, sees 24 teams fight for glory.

Cameroon legend Rigobert Song set the record of most AFCON appearances in 2010, playing in his 36th game in the tournament. That record was equalled by Ghanaian icon Andre Ayew in 2024.

Cameroon icon Samuel Eto'o leads the all-time goalscoring charts with an impressive 18 goals over the course of 29 matches during six different tournaments.

Egypt's Essam El Hadary is the oldest player ever to play in AFCON at the age of 44 years and 21 days. He achieved this feat in 2017 during Egypt's 2-1 loss to Cameroon.

Former Ghana defender Joseph Odoi made his AFCON debut in 1984 at the age of 15 years and 164 days, becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the African Cup of Nations.

Samuel Eto'o, Mohamed Salah, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, Jay-Jay Okocha, Sadio Mane, Roger Milla, Ahmed Hassan, George Weah, etc, are some of the biggest names to have featured in the African Cup of Nations.

Charles Gyamfi, Hassan Shehata, Herve Renard, and Avram Grant are some of the most famous coaches to have led their respective teams at AFCON.