It all started when hairdresser Roberto Giordano tried to take the flag from an English supporter. This counter-argument quickly led to a full-blown conflict between the two groups of supporters. The Argentina-England match at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium during the 1986 World Cup is perhaps the most remembered and relived game in the tournament’s history. But while Diego Maradona’s two goals – one infamous, the other sublime – have gone down in football folklore, the fights in the stands between the two groups of supporters were no less intense, especially in light of the Falklands War between the two countries

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As Fernando Romero, a schoolteacher in Buenos Aires, ate breakfast, these lines crossed his mind: “I was born in Argentina, in the land of Diego and Lionel, children of the Malvinas, which I will never forget.” He set the lyrics to the background score of the popular song Muchachos composed by reggae and punk nine-piece band La Mosca Tse-Tse on the stroke of the century. Argentinians refer to the Islas Malvinas and claim sovereignty over them as the Falkland Islands – now a self-governing British Overseas Territory, but also the cause of a 10-week war in 1982. Little did Romero

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Read 3 minutesUpdated: 6 July 2026 05:50 AM IST The round of 16 match between England and Mexico was delayed by an hour due to inclement weather on Sunday. The game was pushed to 7 pm local time from its scheduled 6 pm local time which was 6.30 am IST. FIFA had tentatively moved Sunday’s kickoff to noon but ultimately stuck to the original schedule. Last week, there were delays due to storms in the Mexico City stadium area Round of 32 between Mexico and EcuadorAccording to a report by the Associated Press news agency, the storm started in the

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the missing piece. Harry Kane blurted out the words with a huge smile. He was talking in a mixed zone about England’s bid to become world champions after defeating Norway. Then the memories came flooding back, his eyes drifted away from the cameras and wandered aimlessly. If he had closed his eyes, he would have relived the worst moment of his life. Al Bayt Stadium fell silent when he scored a penalty in regulation time against France in the quarter-finals of the last edition. His eyes were hollow, he did not cry, he recovered so quickly from the odds that

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The beauty of football lies in its ambiguity. This is not math. There is no single blueprint for success. France has lit up 2026 FIFA World Cup Thanks to the unstoppable brilliance of their front four: Kylian Mbappé, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise; Footballers who thrive on freedom and recoil from rigidity. It’s a fitting image for a nation that has often celebrated those who challenged convention and defied the rules — from revolution to Surrealism and the Nouvelle Vague. France is first in goals and assists, second in goals and expected goals. No one is surprised. Yet,

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Read for 2 minutesUpdated: 6 July 2026 09:40 AM IST The FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16 clash between Brazil and Norway at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium ended in heartbreak for the five-time champions, marking both a shock exit from the tournament and Neymar’s final international appearance. One of the brightest talents in Brazilian football, Neymar was reduced to tears. Norway lost 2-1That brought the Seleção’s campaign to a standstill on Monday. A heartbroken Neymar confirmed that he has played his last game for the national team. Also read | Erling Halland, and the Leap That Toppled an Empire

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Lionel Messi’s shadow has loomed over Lamina Yamal throughout his life. Messi was just a toddler when a photographer arranged to film him bathing Yamal. Years later, when he stepped into Barcelona’s La Masia academy, he was Messi’s blessed heir, a winder beyond his years. Every record he broke in the league was once held by the Argentine. But early Tuesday morning in India, when Spain take on Portugal in the World Cup knockout stages, the silhouette behind Yamal will not be that of Messi. He will be Messi’s great rival, another great and record holder in league and world

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After all, breathing was promised. The Azteca’s famous heights – the iconic stadium that has immortalized itself as the patron of two World Cup finals – may well be its last World Cup game. Packing their suitcases with decades of grievances earned on this very grass, England were allowed to escape with a 3-2 victory in front of a crowd of more than 80,000, their version of the football gods weighing in on the scales. It was a given that Mexico would come out swinging, as would a crowd of sluggers in the city’s dilapidated gym. All the armchair experts

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Bruno Guimaraes’ terrified face when his penalty kick bounced off Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland’s palm; Endrik, kneeling inside the box, weeping; Gabriel Magalhas was frustrated as Erling Haaland beat him in the air; Manager Carlo Ancelotti stomps down the tunnel in disbelief. The images will haunt Brazil—the country, the consciousness of its people, and the football team. The World Cup has never been a long wait; Their combined play at the World Cup never felt inadequate. Their talent void seems scarcely to tell; His claim to be the stirring soul of the game could hardly be mistaken; Samba beats rarely

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Read 3 minutes6 July 2026 11:44 AM IST He’s making them samba-people say, “I’m Brazilian, but this guy….”, gushing about Erling Haaland. With utter non-chalance, the Norwegian superstar pushed Brazil out of the World Cup and pushed his country into the quarters, speaking to the media in New York and telling them he couldn’t believe his own incredible run of 7 goals in 4 games at the FIFA World Cup. “First of all I would like to say that we are growing *”!#@& over time now. We (Norway) are actually one of the best teams in Europe and the world,”

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