Across club football, he played 710 matches and scored 335 goals. In international football, he netted 31 times in 75 appearances for Argentina in their iconic sky-blue and white jersey. The one behind the numbers is Gonzalo Higuain, who lit up the pitch for European heavyweights like Real Madrid, Napoli, Juventus, Chelsea and AC Milan for years.

Eighty percent of respondents reported hotel bookings were tracking below initial forecasts. And around 65 percent of the total respondents cited visa barriers and broader geopolitical concerns as issues suppressing demand.

FIFA has faced searing criticism over the cost of World Cup tickets, with fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) branding the pricing structure "extortionate" and a "monumental betrayal".

Iran have suffered a significant on-field blow ahead of their World Cup campaign after winger Ali Gholizadeh suffered a season-ending knee injury while playing for his club Lech Poznan in Poland.

It was deep into the night. Under the floodlights of the Al Thumama Stadium, the lush green pitch still glowed with celebration in Morocco’s green and red.

The lack of a confirmed broadcast agreement with India or China is unusual at this stage.

Alongside their performances on the pitch, certain images will remain etched in the hearts of football lovers forever.

In a country where football is not merely a game but a pulse of everyday life, he was once its brightest star.

Coca-Cola Bangladesh has launched a nationwide campaign offering fans a chance to experience the FIFA World Cup 2026 beyond the screen, with exclusive match hospitality and official merchandise up for grabs.

“I had a dream,” Oleg Salenko told his roommate in an excited voice after waking up in a hotel in California. He went on, almost breathlessly, “I’m going to score a lot of goals, we’re going to destroy Cameroon and reach the final.” Hearing such ‘ramblings’ from his longtime friend, Dmitri Radchenko thought Salenko might need to be “sent to an asylum” this time.

Iran was the only FIFA federation among the 211 member countries without representation at this week's FIFA congress in Vancouver.

Ochoa first represented Mexico on the world stage at Germany 2006.

What unfolded on that green carpet that day may, in the record books, be reduced to a few numbers. But for those who witnessed it, it remains etched in a far deeper dimension. Like a line from a poem that suddenly lodges in your throat, or a familiar tune that brings back the scent of a long-lost afternoon -- just like that.

The first FIFA World Cup to be held on African soil took place in South Africa, where the piercing buzz of vuvuzelas and the vibrant, distinctive celebrations of African supporters created an unforgettable spectacle.

Soaring ticket prices and transport costs at this year's FIFA World Cup will expose fans to cyber fraud and scams as supporters are attracted by fakes in the mistaken belief they have bagged a bargain, an industry expert has warned.

The Iran war, World Cup logistical headaches and the unresolved question of Russia's international ban are set to feature in discussions among roughly 1,600 delegates from more than 200 member associations.

The cash injection was announced following a meeting of FIFA's ruling council ahead of the body's Congress taking place in Vancouver on Thursday.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup is remembered as a tournament of shocks and surprises. Traditional powerhouses like France and Argentina crashed out in the group stage, while emerging sides such as South Korea and Turkey defied expectations to reach the semifinals.

The year 2002 was widely tipped as Argentina’s moment to end their 16-year wait for a FIFA World Cup title. Few teams entered the tournament in Korea and Japan with greater expectation.

The FIFA Council will meet Tuesday in Vancouver to discuss new rules ahead of the first 48-team tournament in World Cup history.