World Cup

Yamal Withdrawn From Spain Squad In Abrupt Injury Row

Yamal Withdrawn From Spain Squad In Abrupt Injury Row

November 11, 2025 12:49 pm

Rising Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has been released from the Spain national team’s training camp as the squad prepares for World Cup qualifiers, marking a sharp turn in relations between club and country.

The decision by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) came after Spain’s medical staff learned, with frustration, that the 18-year-old had undergone a radio-frequency procedure to treat his groin discomfort on the very day camp opened — a treatment that meant a recommended 7–10 days’ rest. The medical update arrived late Monday night, prompting Spain’s federation to pull the young forward from the squad.

Yamal had been …

Lionel Messi Opens Up About Plans For Future Retirement

Lionel Messi Opens Up About Plans For Future Retirement

November 11, 2025 9:05 am

Inter Miami and Argentina captain Lionel Messi has offered a candid insight into how he views the end of his playing career, admitting he will only retire when his body or passion for football begins to fade.

In an interview, the 37-year-old World Cup winner stressed that he has no immediate plans to stop playing, emphasizing his continued joy and physical readiness for the game.

“As long as I can play and I’m in good shape, I will continue,” Messi said. “But when I feel that my body is no longer working properly or that I’m no longer enjoying it, …

Trump Threatens To Pull World Cup Matches From Boston

Trump Threatens To Pull World Cup Matches From Boston

October 15, 2025 8:44 am

President Donald Trump warned that several World Cup matches currently slated for suburban Boston could be relocated, alleging parts of the city have been “taken over” and questioning the leadership of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. 

Foxborough, Massachusetts, roughly 30 miles southwest of Boston, is scheduled to host multiple fixtures during the 2026 tournament, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada. Trump, speaking during a meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, made clear his dissatisfaction with local governance. 

When asked about Mayor Michelle Wu, Trump acknowledged her intelligence but labelled her “radical left,” saying, “We could take them …

South Africa Qualifies, Nigeria Heads To Play-Offs

South Africa Qualifies, Nigeria Heads To Play-Offs

October 14, 2025 6:08 pm

South Africa booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by topping Group C, overcoming a points deduction, while Nigeria secured a path forward via the African play-offs. 

In Mbombela, South Africa defeated Rwanda 3–0 to clinch top spot in their group. Thalente Mbatha opened the scoring in the fifth minute, Oswin Appollis added a second before halftime, and Evidence Makgopa sealed the win with a 72nd-minute header.

That victory came even after South Africa had earlier been docked three points by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player. The ruling, applied to their match against Lesotho, saw their 2–0 …

Arnold Urges Iraq To Focus On Indonesia Ahead Of Saudi Test

Arnold Urges Iraq To Focus On Indonesia Ahead Of Saudi Test

October 10, 2025 11:09 am

Iraq coach Graham Arnold has urged his side to ignore Tuesday’s Saudi Arabia game and put all its concentration on Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Indonesia in Jeddah. The encounter is in Asia’s fourth stage of qualification, where the winner of the three-team group will book a direct ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Arnold’s comments follow earlier remarks from the Iraqi FA that the match against Saudi Arabia should not distract the team from the more immediate challenge of facing Indonesia. “Right now there is no second game, it’s just Indonesia and getting the result that we will …

Casemiro Returns As Brazil Captain Under Ancelotti

Casemiro Returns As Brazil Captain Under Ancelotti

October 9, 2025 12:40 pm

Brazil midfielder Casemiro will captain the national team for the 17th time when they face South Korea in a friendly match on Friday in Seoul. The veteran’s return to the armband comes under the direction of head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is preparing the squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Casemiro last captained Brazil in October 2023 against Uruguay. His reinstatement marks a new phase in Ancelotti’s tenure. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the 33-year-old Manchester United midfielder said he believes leadership comes in many forms.

”I am one of those players who think there are …

2030 World Cup Nears Historic Expansion To 64 Teams

2030 World Cup Nears Historic Expansion To 64 Teams

September 25, 2025 8:39 am

The 2030 World Cup looks set to mark a historic milestone, with football edging closer to hosting its first-ever 64-team tournament. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez, speaking in New York ahead of a high-profile summit in the United States, hinted at a development he described as “something that will shock the world.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the presidents of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will also attend the meeting, underlining its significance.

Domínguez’s comments point to a growing momentum behind the expansion plans, which could be formally announced as early as next week when the FIFA Council convenes. The Council, where …

Messi May Miss Ecuador Clash, Focus Shifts To Inter Miami

Messi May Miss Ecuador Clash, Focus Shifts To Inter Miami

September 3, 2025 9:33 am

Lionel Messi’s participation in Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against Ecuador remains uncertain, as national team coach Lionel Scaloni weighs whether to risk the 37-year-old star during a crucial stage of Inter Miami’s season.

Reports from Argentina suggest that Messi may be held back from traveling with the squad to Quito, where the world champions are set to face Ecuador in a high-stakes fixture. The concern is not about form but about fitness, with both Argentina’s coaching staff and Inter Miami prioritizing his long-term health.

“Messi might not travel for Argentina’s game against Ecuador. With Inter Miami entering the decisive …

Qatar's Controversial World Cup And Western Hypocrisy

Qatar’s Controversial World Cup And Western Hypocrisy

November 30, 2022 2:53 am

The FIFA World Cup is perhaps the most complex sporting event at the international level. Every four years, it draws an intimidating number of visitors, media attention, and a global spotlight. This year, the tournament is being hosted by Qatar, which is perhaps the smallest nation to have had that privilege. Interestingly, Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA world cup has brought about what is arguably the highest controversy around a host country for any football event.

With a size of 4,471 square miles, Qatar is a country sitting on a barren sandy plain where most of its 2.8 million residents …

Qatar Confirms Seizure Of 144 fake World Cup trophies

Qatar Confirms Seizure Of 144 Fake World Cup Trophies

November 3, 2022 5:15 am

Authorities in Qatar have asserted that they have seized 144 counterfeit World Cup trophies following the latest raid on fakes hitting the market ahead of the football tournament that starts o November 20.

The disclosure was made on Wednesday by the interior ministry which said officers launched an operation “acting on a piece of information about a website that promotes the sale of cups that mimic the true shape of the World Cup.”

It released a photo showing the 144 life-sized trophies laid out across a floor and stated that “further legal procedures will be followed”.

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2022 World Cup Will Be My Last, Messi Confirms

2022 World Cup Will Be My Last, Messi Confirms

October 7, 2022 5:47 am

Argentina captain Lionel Messi said Thursday that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will ‘surely’ be the last of his career.

‘It’s my last World Cup, surely. I feel good physically, I was able to do a very good pre-season this year, which I couldn’t do last year. It was essential to get to where I am, with a good state of mind and a lot of hope,’ the 35-year-old told ESPN Argentina.

Messi, who is due to appear in his fifth World Cup, made his international debut in 2005 and has since won 164 caps for Argentina and …

Mali Replaces Nigeria At Women's Basketball World Cup

Mali Replaces Nigeria At Women’s Basketball World Cup

June 3, 2022 3:49 am

Mali has been announced as the replacement for Nigeria at the 2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup set to be played in Australia in September and October after the Nigerian team was forced to withdraw from the tournament.

The sport’s world governing body, Fiba, announced the move on Friday morning after the Nigerian government’s decision in May to withdraw from international basketball for two years.

Fiba went on to add that it will announce whether there will be any other decisions related to the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s participation in other Fiba competitions and any potential disciplinary measures in due course.

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𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤, is a nonpartisan online news portal founded on the truth to provide you with weekly, insightful articles written with precision and current updates on current events from Africa in particular and the rest of the world in general. All of our reports undergo extensive fact-checking to ensure their veracity, and we adhere strictly to the facts, no matter whose ox is gored.

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