While discontent over exorbitant World Cup ticket prices is growing worldwide, 14,000 fans in Mexico will watch the opening match for free. This perk stems from an investment made 60 years ago—and it has weathered recent opposition.
The World Cup has had no shortage of iconic moments across nearly 100 years of history. Every four years, billions of fans congregate to watch a tournament that has provided more drama, heartbreak and joy than any other event in sporting history. Football's grandest stage, the World Cup has always offered a platform for legends to be born, but it has also seen reputations destroyed and the downfall of so many famous faces.
FIFA has confirmed the key dates and squad regulations for the 2026 World Cup. Nations must submit their final player lists by June 1, with strict rules in place regarding injuries, replacements and goalkeeper selections.
Motherwell winger Tawanda Maswanhise announced himself on the international stage with a breathtaking Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) goal that is already being talked about as a contender for the strike of the tournament. The Scottish Premiership star, who has been in prolific domestic form, translated that confidence seamlessly into the AFCON as Zimbabwe faced South Africa in a Group B encounter on Monday.
We’ve got three predictions for the Zimbabwe vs South Africa match, as both teams aim to progress from the Africa Cup of Nations group stages on Monday, 29 December.
In Europe, much of the build-up to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has unfortunately - but inevitably - focused on which clubs will be most affected by the tournament's scheduling slap-bang in the middle of the season. As an incredibly prestigious tournament that rarely fails to deliver a barely-believable amount of drama, the AFCON deserves so much better.
Mexico now know their path for the 2026 World Cup. El Tri will open the tournament at the Estadio Azteca against South Africa (61), marking the first time an opening match from a previous edition has been repeated. South Korea (22) and the winner of a European playoff round out a Group A that also spares Javier Aguirre’s squad from several higher-profile opponents.
The World Cup 2026 draw has been made, with England set to face Croatia in the group stages, and the USMNT to take on Australia. Brazil have been drawn with Morocco, while France will play Senegal and Argentina must face Austria.
South Africa
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