The match ball from Argentina’s 1986 World Cup quarterfinal win over England, remembered for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal, is heading back to auction as one of soccer’s most famous collectibles returns to the market. Heritage Auctions has listed the ball with a starting bid of $2.5 million. The same ball previously sold for nearly $2.4 million in 2022, while Maradona’s shirt from the match sold that year for about $9.2 million, setting a major benchmark for soccer

Ronaldo shuts down retirement talk after World Cup knockout drama in Toronto Cristiano Ronaldo has cooled intense speculation over his international future after Portugal’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in a tense knockout clash at the

The 2026 World Cup Texas schedule brings major knockout matches to Houston and Arlington, with Brazil, Japan, Norway, Côte d’Ivoire, Australia, Egypt and Canada all appearing in the state. The first Texas knockout match is Brazil vs. Japan at 12:00 PM CDT on Monday, June 29, 2026, at Houston Stadium. The game falls exactly 68 years after Brazil won its first World Cup championship against Sweden on June 29, 1958. Pelé, then 17, scored five goals across the semifinal and final of

South Africa have written a new chapter in their football history after securing a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the very first time. Bafana Bafana defeated South Korea 1-0 in their final Group A match, completing one of the tournament's most inspiring turnaround stories. The achievement is even more remarkable considering the challenges South Africa faced before the competition began. Due to administrative issues and visa

The FIFA World Cup 2026 winner prediction debate is underway, and one question is already dividing soccer fans: Which country will become world champion? The tournament began on Thursday, June 11, 2026, and will conclude with the final on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The expanded competition features 48 teams playing 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico. FIFA World Cup 2026 Winner Prediction Four major contenders a

Argentina vs Algeria turned into a Lionel Messi statement night as defending champions Argentina opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J campaign with a commanding 3-0 win. Messi scored in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes to complete his first FIFA World Cup hat-trick, equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record and give Argentina the perfect start to their title defence. Argentina vs Algeria Result: Messi

Four Indian-origin players at the FIFA World Cup 2026 are giving Indian fans a meaningful connection to football’s biggest tournament, even though India did not qualify. The expanded 48-team competition began on Thursday, June 11, 2026, and is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Sarpreet Singh, Tahsin Jamshid, Samuel Moutoussamy and Nishan Velupillay are representing four different national teams, each with its own notable football history. Watch:

  FIFA World Cup 2026: Australia Stun Turkiye 2-0 in Vancouver for First Big Upset Australia delivered the first major shock of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a disciplined 2-0 win over Turkiye at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday, June 14. The Socceroos combined sharp counter-attacking football with strong defensive organisation to secure a memorable Group D victory. The result moves Australia near the top of the group standings and puts pressure on Turkiye

WASHINGTON — The State Department will launch a six-month B1/B2 visa interview pilot on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, allowing a limited number of applicants to pay $750 for an interview appointment within 10 business days at selected U.S. embassies and consulates overseas. The paid option will be tested through Thursday, December 31, 2026. It is designed to measure demand for faster interview scheduling at consular posts where regular appointment waits can exceed one

LOS ANGELES — How U.S. Soccer funded Mauricio Pochettino returned to focus after the USMNT opened its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday, June 12, 2026. Folarin Balogun scored twice as the United States delivered a confident attacking performance in Los Angeles. The victory provided an encouraging first tournament result for Pochettino, although one match cannot determine whether the federation’s expensive coaching decision will produce a dee

Brazil will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign without Neymar Jr, as the forward has been ruled out of the opening Group C match against Morocco. Neymar’s return to international football has been delayed by a calf injury, leaving Carlo Ancelotti with an early selection challenge before one of Brazil’s most important group-stage fixtures. Neymar was included in Brazil’s World Cup squad despite concerns over his fitness. The coa

A spider-cam crashed onto the pitch during the Hungary-Kazakhstan football friendly at Nagyerdei Stadium in Hungary, narrowly missing a member of the broadcast crew. No injuries were reported after the aerial broadcast camera system fell near the touchline during the match, which was temporarily halted while officials and stadium personnel assessed the situation. Hungary-Kazakhstan Spider-Cam Crash Raises Safety Questions The incident happened

NJ Transit World Cup travel concerns increased after another round of delays and cancellations disrupted evening commuters at New York Penn Station this week. The service problems came days before New Jersey is set to host FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at the Meadowlands, adding pressure on transit agencies already preparing for a major increase in passenger traffic. Penn Station delays blamed on Amtrak wire issues According to NJ Transit, the di

World Cup Fever Returns To India The FIFA World Cup 2026 may be hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but the excitement will strongly echo across India. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with 48 teams competing in 104 matches, making it the biggest edition in World Cup history. For Indian football fans, the World Cup is not just an international sporting event. It is a celebration that returns every

2026 World Cup watch parties in North Texas are becoming a major local attraction as Dallas, Arlington and nearby cities prepare for a summer of soccer crowds, fan events and big-screen match viewings. The FIFA World Cup 2026 begins on Thursday, June 11, 2026, and Dallas Stadium in Arlington is scheduled to host nine matches, including group-stage games, knockout matches and a semifinal. The first Arlington match is set for Sunday, June 14,

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Bay Area schedule includes five group-stage matches and one knockout-round game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, which will be called San Francisco Bay Area Stadium during the tournament. The Bay Area will host matches from Saturday, June 13, 2026, through Wednesday, July 1, 2026, giving Northern California soccer fans six chances to watch World Cup action in person. The venue is one of 16 host stadiums ac

The FIFA World Cup in Dallas begins on Sunday, June 14, 2026, when Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, hosts Netherlands vs. Japan at 3:00 PM CT. Dallas will host nine FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, including five group-stage games, two Round of 32 matches, one Round of 16 match and one semifinal. The matches will be played at Dallas Stadium, the tournament name for AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The venue is one of the most important U.S. stadiums in the 2026 World Cup schedule, with games run

Bay Area World Cup Security Plans Intensify Bay Area World Cup security preparations are accelerating as officials warn that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could bring serious drone, cyberattack and crowd-safety risks to Santa Clara. Six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches are scheduled in Santa Clara, drawing massive crowds, international visitors and high-profile guests. Officials said the scale of the event has pushed federal, state and local agencies into a faster,

FIFA confirmed Iran will play in the 2026 World Cup despite tensions with the U.S. Officials rejected relocation or replacement ideas. Iran missed the FIFA Congress after a Canada entry issue but remains set to compete in Group G. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reaffirmed that Iran will participate in the

A proposal suggesting that Iran be replaced by Italy in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 has drawn attention amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between the United States and Iran. The tournament, scheduled to be held primarily in the United States, is already under scrutiny due to the broader geopolitical climate, which could impact participation and logistics. The suggestion reportedly came from Paolo Zampolli, a senior envoy connected to U.S. President Donald Trump. He is said to ha