FIFA Men's World Cup

European Heavyweights Given One Last Chance To Qualify For 2022 World Cup Through UEFA Playoffs

The past two European champions could have to play against each other in a playoff for a place at next year’s World Cup as a consequence of failing to secure automatic qualification this week.

Both Italy, who won the continental title in July, and Portugal, who were winners of Euro 2016, will be on tenterhooks as they await the outcome of the draw for the March playoffs for the 12 European countries who remain in contention for three places at the World Cup.

Canada 2, Mexico 1: The Snowbank Celly Heard Round The World

Over halfway through Concacaf World Cup qualifying and only one nation remains unbeaten: table-topping Canada, which began this entire cycle ranked 73rd in the world and needing to navigate beyond Suriname in the first round and Haiti in the second to even be present in the Octagonal.

Jamaica Just Got Concacaf’d By One Of The Worst Calls Of The Qualifying Campaign

The U.S. has had its share of misfortune in Concacaf World Cup qualifying matches. For once, the nonsense that goes on during Concacaf games went the USMNT’s way.

Michail Antonio Smashes One Of The Greatest Goals Ever Scored Against The USMNT

At the time of writing this there’s no telling how the rest of the USMNT versus Jamaica in Kingston will play out, but it’s almost guaranteed what will live longest in the memory is Michail Antonio’s 100 mph howitzer from over 25 yards out to pull the Reggae Boyz level in the 22nd minute. 

It’s hard to fault Tyler Adams for showing him inside when the danger level is so low, and it’s impossible to fault Zack Steffen — the ball is in the back of the net before he can even get into his dive animation. 

No Coach, No Crowd, No Problem: Netherlands Redeem Team Clinches World Cup Spot

There was every reason for Dutch stress on Tuesday evening: The ghost of the failed 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign; Saturday’s calamitous draw with 73rd-ranked Montenegro despite leading 2-0 with less than 10 minutes to play; Louis van Gaal’s bike accident on Sunday and fractured hip, forcing him to watch this key clash against Norway from a wheelchair in a box seat; an empty De Kuip in Rotterdam after the country entered a three-week lockdown period with Covid-19 cases soaring.   

Italy Blows Chance To Qualify For WC Directly As Switzerland Surges Into Qatar

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — Italy missed out on automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar four months on from their Euro 2020 triumph after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland on Monday.

The Azzurri went into their final Group C qualification clash knowing they needed to win by enough goals to stay ahead of Switzerland to claim a place at next year's finals in Qatar.

Knives Out For Portugal’s Coach After Stunning Failure To Directly Qualify For Qatar

On Sunday in front of 65,000 faithful at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal — needing only a draw to qualify for the World Cup — threw it all away in the 90th minute by allowing Aleksandar Mitrović to convert a back post header that sent Serbia to Qatar instead.

South Africa Claims It Was ‘Robbed’ By Penalty Call, Wants Replay Against Ghana

CAPE TOWN — South Africa will make a formal complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and global soccer governing body FIFA over the officiating in its 1-0 away defeat by Ghana in the African World Cup qualifiers on Sunday.

The result meant Ghana leapfrogged their opponents to take top spot in Group G and advance to the final qualifying stage in March, where they will hope to be one of five teams from the continent to book their place at Qatar 2022.

Dutch Coach Suffers Bad Fall Off Bike, Says He’ll Still Coach Massive WC Qualifier

AMSTERDAM — Veteran Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal suffered a hip injury when he fell off his bicycle on Sunday but will be able to coach his team in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Norway in Rotterdam.

Van Gaal, who was cycling near the team hotel when he fell and was taken to hospital for tests, used a golf cart to conduct Monday's training before the Group G decider, where the Dutch need a draw to seal a place at next year's finals in Qatar.

90th-Minute Goal Sends Serbia To World Cup And Condemns Ronaldo’s Portugal To Playoffs

LISBON - Serbia clinched an automatic berth in the 2022 World Cup finals after a 90th-minute header by halftime substitute Aleksandar Mitrović gave them a comeback 2-1 win over Portugal in their Group A qualifier on Sunday.

The result lifted Serbia into top spot on 20 points, three more than second-placed Portugal who only needed a draw to finish top on goal difference and qualify but will now head into the March playoffs.

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