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World Cup

World Cup Overview

Gianni Infantino

Infantino accused of 'deception' as UEFA, CONCACAF, AFC launch joint attack

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing the most significant threat to his leadership yet after three of the world’s most powerful football confederations launched a scathing joint attack. In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global game, UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC have officially accused the governing body of "deception" following the fallout of a plan to sell off commercial rights to the World Cup.

Harry Kane Lionel Messi Cristiano Ronaldo 2026

‘Big ask’ for England captain Kane to emulate Messi & Ronaldo

Harry Kane has been told that emulating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by gracing the World Cup finals in the twilight of his playing career will be a “big ask”. Ex-Bayern Munich star Dietmar Hamann - who has been speaking to GOAL - is not convinced that the two-time Bundesliga title winner will, at 36 years of age, form part of England’s major tournament plans in the summer of 2030.

Jurgen Klopp Germany 2026

‘Honeymoon period of one game’ - No special treatment for Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has been warned that he will get no special treatment as head coach of Germany, with Dietmar Hamann telling GOAL that the former Liverpool manager’s “honeymoon period” will last “one game”. The enigmatic 59-year-old has returned to the dugout for the first time since bidding an emotional farewell to Anfield in the summer of 2024.

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World Cup, fixtures & results

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Standings

PosTeamPWDLFA+/-PTSForm
1Angers crestAngers00000000
2Auxerre crestAuxerre00000000
3Brest crestBrest00000000
4Le Havre crestLe Havre00000000
5Le Mans crestLe Mans00000000
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Frequently asked questions

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.

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.

Lionel Messi holds the record of making the most appearances in World Cups, having represented Argentina 26 times across five editions.

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.

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.

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.

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.