World Cup
Potential World Cup expansion to be discussed after 2026 edition Says Infantino
- Summary
- FIFA will examine the issue in committees after this World Cup
- A 64-team format would create 16 groups of four teams
- Longer tournaments and logistics could limit the number of potential hosts
- Infantino defends ticket prices and hydration breaks
Any further expansion of the World Cup, increasing the number of teams participating at the finals to 64, will be discussed after this year’s edition, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said without providing any details.
The 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States have seen 48 teams for the first time, a decision that was heavily criticised but which has not provoked much debate since the tournament kicked off on June 11.
“These are all issues that we will be examining after the World Cup,” Infantino, who successfully pushed for the expansion of the finals from 32 teams, told Swiss television outlet Blue Sport.
He did not elaborate, saying only: “I think it is important that when you want to tilizat a World Cup, you do it for the whole world — not just Europe and South America, but effectively the entire world.
“Every nation should be allowed to dream of participating in the World Cup. You can see that the quality of the teams is extremely high and it’s getting higher and higher, all over the world.
“If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they’ll lack the incentive to keep improving.”
Infantino hailed the 48-team tournament as a success, saying: “Every team played at a high level. Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point.
“Nine out of 10 African teams reached the knockout stage. At the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. That just goes to show how important it is to include all teams, to give them this opportunity to participate,” he added.
The size of the World Cup field was increased to 32 teams in 1998. The next finals in 2030 are to be co-hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, and the 2034 tournament will be in Saudi Arabia.
INFANTINO DEFENDS HYDRATION BREAKS AND TICKET PRICES
Infantino, who rarely gives media interviews and has limited his number of formal press conferences, admitted that introducing hydration breaks during each half, which many have seen as a cynical attempt to help television partners get more advertising revenue, had proved controversial.
“This is a topic that sparks a lot of debate. After all, we don’t want to get everything perfect; we like to give everyone something to disagree with… no, joking aside. Last year, during the Club World Cup in the USA, there were cooling breaks whenever it was very hot.
“These short breaks occurred in about 60% of the matches but not in the other 40% because the temperature wasn’t as high. There were many complaints, as the feeling was that all teams should face the same conditions,” he said.
He also defended the high ticket prices at the World Cup, saying: “The stadiums are full; capacity tilization is at 99.7% and it will likely reach 99.9% by the end.
“Experts determined the ticket prices before the tournament. Our experts worked on that and told us: ‘These are the prices you can go with’. We see the proof now: prices that some people claimed were too high are being resold on the secondary market —which is perfectly legal here — for four or five times the original cost.”
Infantino said he expected FIFA to generate a total of 13 to 14 billion Swiss francs ($16.08 billion to $17.32 billion) from the 39-day World Cup. “That is quite satisfactory,” he said.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
France and Spain will meet in a heavyweight World Cup semi-final showdown on July 14, with Les Bleus bidding to reach a third straight final and La Roja still in contention to follow their triumph at Euro 2024 by claiming the biggest prize of all.
Ahead of that game, AFP Sports looks at five of the best past encounters between the nations:
Arconada’s howler, France’s first title
1984 European Championship final: France 2 Spain 0
The first competitive meeting of the European neighbours came in Paris in the Euro 84 final, as a France team inspired by Michel Platini claimed their first major international title.
The game at the Parc des Princes hinged on a Platini free kick just before the hour mark which Spain goalkeeper Luis Arconada let squirm through his grasp and in to give France the lead.
It was Platini’s ninth goal in five games at the tournament, and set them on the way to victory. They had Yvon le Roux sent off late on but Bruno Bellone sealed their triumph.
France were European champions, and Spain would not reach another tournament final until they won Euro 2008.
French fightback in Hanover
2006 World Cup last 16: Spain 1 France 3
The only meeting of the teams at a World Cup before 2026 came in Germany in 2006, as they faced off in the last 16 in Hanover.
A strong Spain team topped their group with three wins out of three, while France laboured through as runners-up in their section, after being held by Switzerland and South Korea.
Spain went ahead through a David Villa penalty, but Franck Ribery equalised before half-time. Patrick Vieira then put France in front as extra time loomed, and Zinedine Zidane clinched the victory.
Raymond Domenech’s France ended up losing the final on penalties to Italy, while Spain were left bruised by another major tournament in which they fell short of their potential. La Roja bounced back to win the 2010 World Cup, though, in between back-to-back Euro triumphs in 2008 and 2012.
Mbappe wins Nations League
2021 UEFA Nations League final: Spain 1 France 2
There have been a series of meetings between the teams in a tournament context in recent years, beginning with the 2021 Nations League final in Milan.
In front of a restricted crowd due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mikel Oyarzabal gave Luis Enrique’s Spain the lead just after the hour mark.
Karim Benzema, the Real Madrid striker who had recently been brought back into the international fold after over five years in the wilderness, equalised from Kylian Mbappe’s assist. Mbappe then grabbed the winner as France won the second title of Didier Deschamps’ reign as coach, after the 2018 World Cup.
Yamal’s stunner
Euro 2024 semi-final: Spain 2 France 1
The France team at Euro 2024 was different to the side that has lit up this World Cup. They reached the last four by scoring three goals in five games – one was a penalty, the other two were own goals.
Randal Kolo Muani became the first France player to score in open play at the tournament when he gave them the lead early in the semi-final against Spain in Munich.
But Lamine Yamal equalised with a wonderful strike, four days before his 17th birthday. Dani Olmo scored the winner a few minutes later, and Spain went on to defeat England in the final.
Nine-goal thriller
2025 UEFA Nations League semi-final: Spain 5 France 4
France had started their transformation into a much more exciting team when the sides last met, in the Nations League semi-finals in June 2025 in Stuttgart.
Spain were 4-0 up early in the second half thanks to goals by Nico Williams, Mikel Merino, a Yamal penalty, and Pedri.
Mbappe pulled one back from the spot, but Yamal got Spain’s fifth, before France rallied and strikes by Rayan Cherki and Kolo Muani either side of a Dani Vivian own goal made the scoreline more respectable.
Spain went on to lose the final on penalties to Portugal. Spain also won 5-3 in the gold medal match at the 2024 Olympics – Manu Kone, Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Desire Doue, Cherki, Pau Cubarsi and Alex Baena all played in that game, and are in line to feature this time too.
-AFP
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, BROOKLYN
The quarter-final clash between Argentina and Switzerland in Arlington on Saturday entered the record books not only for the holders’ dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory, but also as the 100th match of the projected 104-game FIFA World Cup 2026.
With only the two semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final remaining, the tournament has now reached a significant milestone in its first edition featuring an expanded 48-team format and 104 matches.
Argentina ensured that the landmark encounter would be remembered for sporting reasons as well, overcoming a resilient Swiss side after extra time to continue their defence of the title they won in Qatar four years ago.
The victory extended several impressive records for Lionel Scaloni’s team. Argentina have now won all three of their FIFA World Cup meetings with Switzerland, having previously triumphed 2-0 in the group stage in 1966 and 1-0 after extra time in the Round of 16 at Brazil 2014.
La Albiceleste are also unbeaten in their last 12 World Cup matches, winning 10 and drawing two, the longest unbeaten run in the nation’s history at the tournament. Their success over Switzerland was also their sixth consecutive World Cup victory, another national record.
Perhaps even more remarkably, Argentina have now scored at least two goals in each of their last 12 World Cup matches, surpassing the previous tournament benchmark set by Uruguay between 1930 and 1954.
The encounter further strengthened Argentina’s reputation as masters of extra-time football. It was the 13th World Cup match in which they have required an additional 30 minutes, more than any other nation. They have now won 11 of those 13 extra-time contests, ahead of Germany on 12 and Italy and England on 11.
Captain Lionel Messi added another chapter to his extraordinary World Cup legacy. The 39-year-old became the first player ever to make 15 appearances in World Cup knockout matches, moving ahead of Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s previous mark of 14.
Messi also stretched his all-time World Cup appearance record to 32 matches. Cristiano Ronaldo is second on the list with 27 appearances, followed by Lothar Matthäus (25), Miroslav Klose (24), and Paolo Maldini, Manuel Neuer and Luka Modrić on 23 each.
Among Argentina’s scorers, Alexis Mac Allister found the net in a second World Cup edition, having also scored against Poland during the group stage in Qatar 2022. Julián Alvarez continued his reputation as a big-game performer by taking his World Cup tally to five goals, with four of his last five coming in knockout-stage matches.
For Switzerland, the defeat ended an impressive run that had seen them lose only once in their previous 19 matches. It was also the first time Murat Yakin’s side had trailed in a game at the 2026 World Cup.
Despite the disappointment, Dan Ndoye reached a personal milestone by scoring his 10th international goal for Switzerland, with half of those strikes coming on North American soil.
Swiss coach Murat Yakin also joined an exclusive club, becoming only the second manager to oversee Switzerland in 10 FIFA World Cup matches, matching the tally achieved by Karl Rappan across the 1938, 1954 and 1962 tournaments.
As the 100th match of the competition concluded, Argentina moved within two victories of retaining the World Cup trophy, while the tournament itself edged closer to the completion of its historic 104-match schedule. Only four matches now remain before the curtain falls on the largest FIFA World Cup ever staged.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- Summary
- Kane and Bellingham have scored 12 of England’s 13 tournament goals
- Declan Rice spent most of the previous three days in bed ill, Tuchel said
- England reached a second semi-final in three World Cups after their 2018 exit
England’s reward for another display of resilience at the World Cup is a semi-final against old rivals Argentina, a fixture laden with history and one that offers Thomas Tuchel’s side the chance to move within one game of ending a 60-year wait.
A day after overcoming Norway 2-1 in extra time to reach the last four, England found themselves preparing for a meeting with the reigning champions, adding another chapter to one of the World Cup’s most enduring rivalries.
England have reached the semi-finals for the second time in the last three tournaments, having fallen to Croatia in extra time at Russia 2018. Their only appearance in a World Cup final came in 1966, when they lifted the trophy on home soil.
Tuchel’s side have forged their run through a blend of star quality and sheer determination, twice coming from behind in the knockout phase to keep their tournament alive. The coach believes this has become a defining trait of his team.
“They just refuse to give in. They just refuse to accept defeat,” Tuchel said. “They overcome setbacks. They put a shift in. There is not one 1% complaint about that.”
Yet Tuchel tempered the celebrations with a warning that England have room for improvement.
“To overcome adversity and find ways to win is on the absolutely highest level,” he said. “We found a way, we’re in the last four, which is the most important thing. But I still think we can and have to play better football.”
England’s progress has been driven largely by the partnership of captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. The two have each scored six of England’s 13 goals at the tournament — the first pair of teammates to net that many goals each at a World Cup. Bellingham heads to Atlanta in ominous form after scoring four goals in his last two matches.
“World-class performance from a world-class player in big, big moments,” Tuchel said. “Absolute top class.”
England forward Noni Madueke suggested such displays have become routine for the Real Madrid man.
“It’s unbelievable what he’s doing,” Madueke said. “It’s very normal though for him.”
The squad were pushed to their limits by Norway, with players suffering cramp and illness in searing conditions.
Tuchel revealed that midfielder Declan Rice, who did not play the second half on Saturday, had spent most of the previous three days in bed ill. Madueke said results were all that mattered, however.
“Listen, if we play like this and win the next two games, I don’t mind. I’m not bothered,” he said.
History provides ample evidence of the challenge ahead. The teams have met five times previously at World Cups: England beat Argentina in 1962 and 1966 before Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal and brilliant solo effort inspired Argentina’s victory at Mexico 1986.
Argentina edged a last-16 tie on penalties in 1998 — remembered for Michael Owen’s wonder goal and David Beckham’s red card — before Beckham gained revenge by scoring the winner in England’s 1-0 group-stage triumph in 2002 in Japan.
England’s most recent major tournament semi-final ended more happily, with Ollie Watkins’ late winner securing a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands at Euro 2024 to send England into the final. Now they face another formidable test against Lionel Scaloni’s world champions, with a place in the 2026 final at stake.
Tuchel admitted the emotional demands of tournament football are unlike anything he has experienced as a club manager, but said there was nowhere else he would rather be.
“I feel very alive in these moments,” he said. “This is where I want to be. I don’t want to be anywhere else in the world.”
England, carried by the brilliance of Kane and Bellingham and a growing belief they can survive anything, will hope that feeling lasts at least one game longer.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Five classic France v Spain clashes before World Cup semi-final
Potential World Cup expansion to be discussed after 2026 edition Says Infantino
Argentina-Switzerland Quarter-final Marks 100th Match of Expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- World Cup3 days ago
Mission creep: FIFA’s embrace of technology backfires in controversy-riven World Cup
- World Cup1 week ago
Bizarre! FIFA makes U-turn to clear Balogun for US v Belgium World Cup clash following call from Trump
- World Cup3 days ago
‘You made us proud’: Egypt gives heroes’ welcome to World Cup team
- World Cup14 hours ago
England’s resilience faces ultimate test against Argentina in World Cup semi-final
- World Cup6 days ago
The Handwritten Note That Changed My Life: Remembering MKO Abiola, The Patron Saint of Nigerian Sports
- World Cup1 week ago
Pharaohs End World Cup Knockout Hoodoo, Beat Australia on Penalties to Reach Last 16
- World Cup14 hours ago
France do not fear Spain but respect their quality, players say
- IMMEMORIAL6 days ago
Twenty-Eight Years On, Nigerian Sports Still Salute MKO Abiola, Its Greatest Benefactor