Tag Archives: WC

Doha, Qatar | AFP |  World Cup matches in Qatar could kick-off as early as 1000 GMT if it holds four games a day during the 2022 tournament group stage, organisers confirmed Tuesday. The other three games would start at 1300, 1600 and 1900 GMT, Nasser al-Khater, assistant secretary general …

  Modrici, Croatia | AFP | Luka Modric’s journey from Croatian war child to the world’s best footballer was celebrated Monday when the Real Madrid midfielder hoisted the Ballon d’Or. A national hero in his home country and crowned the best player on the planet, Modric was rewarded for his …

Paris, France | AFP | The one sport which has been associated with Kenya for decades is middle-distance running but their 15-a-side rugby side are taking strides to change that. Kenyan athletes are reigning Olympic champions in four track events as well as marathon title holders in both the men’s …

Paris, France | AFP | Teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe told AFP on Thursday that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain football’s greatest players but that his own World Cup heroics could help crown him the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner. Mbappe, 19, inspired France to World Cup victory in Russia with …

Doha, Qatar | AFP | Qatar’s football World Cup 2022 will be a “carbon-neutral” tournament with zero harmful emissions, the country’s environment minister told a sustainability conference on Wednesday. Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi said strict standards in design and construction would offset the tournament’s carbon footprint, despite the huge number …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | The impassioned shouts of “Ros-si-ya” died away on the streets and tears filled the stadium as Russia bowed out of their home World Cup in the cruellest fashion: on penalties. The men in red exceeded the wildest expectations by coming within a penalty kick and …

Samara, Russia | AFP | England reached their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 on Saturday, comfortably beating Sweden to set up a last-four clash against Croatia, who ended Russia’s fairytale run in a nailbiting penalty shootout. Gareth Southgate’s young team started their match in Samara as firm favourites and …

Samara, Russia | AFP | Harry Kane will seek to fire England into their first World Cup semi-final for 28 years when they face Sweden on Saturday after Brazil were dumped out in the last eight by Belgium. Gareth Southgate’s young side face the Scandinavians in Samara at 1400 GMT …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Beckham have agreed on the terms of a friendly wager ahead of the England v Sweden World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. Ibrahimovic, Sweden’s all-time top scorer with 62 goals, has been vocal in support of his homeland from his …

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AFP | Brazilian bankers can breathe a sigh of relief: they’ll be allowed to close up and watch the national team in the World Cup on television. Financial authorities in Latin America’s biggest economy have told all banks they can arrange their working hours around …