Inside the week that shook Gianni Infantino, FIFA and the football world
The grand announcement was supposed to come on the eve of the World Cup final at the Waldorf…
Infantino is teetering at FIFA. Is football finally poised for a great reset?
Oh, for those quaint days when Gianni Infantino floated around, handing out made-up peace prizes to the President…
Matildas set to meet Germany in friendly international
The Matildas’ preparations for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup will step up a gear in October with…
Australia World Cup midfielder allegedly tests positive for cocaine after speeding in Sydney
The 22-year-old made four appearances at the World Cup for Australia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images July 24, 2026…
How Argentina turned the World Cup final dirty with shoves, skulduggery and squealing
If you were hoping to finish this World Cup with a free-flowing game full of great football, endless…
The Lionel Messi I know, by one of his closest childhood friends
Leandro Benitez was a childhood friend of Lionel Messi and played alongside the Argentina star in the youth…
Football meets international football: Ranking every NFL soccer-style crossover jersey from 1-32
As the North America-hosted World Cup wraps up, another set of crossover jerseys have arrived and with it…
Serene Mbappe and emotional Messi are going goal for goal (and miss for miss) in World Cup chase
When the World Cup holds up a mirror to Kylian Mbappe, it’s as if he sees Lionel Messi.…
England’s Jordan Henderson requires wrist surgery, set to miss rest of World Cup
The 36-year-old suffered the injury climbing over the advertising hoardings after England’s 3-2 win over Mexico. Buda Mendes/Getty…
FIFA dismisses Belgium appeal over Folarin Balogun ban decision
The Athletic has live coverage of USMNT vs Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Folarin Balogun has…
Do hydrated players play better football? We asked an expert about this World Cup
Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app. The hydration breaks that…
Argentina keep winning World Cup games but why do they make it such a struggle?
Argentina have a game-state problem. It seems strange to be saying “they never make it easy for themselves”…