FIFA World Cup (Men's)

South Africa And Senegal Will Replay A World Cup Qualifier Because The Referee Has Been Banned For Match-Fixing

South Africa beat Senegal 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier last November, except for they didn't.

The match will have to be replayed because the referee from November, Ghanaian Joseph Odartei Lamptey, has been found guilty of match-fixing and banned for life.

Was there a dodgy penalty in this match that the referee might have called for match-fixing purposes? Reader, there was, though FIFA hasn't released the exact details behind Lamptey's ban.

Argentina Were Awful On Tuesday But Lionel Messi Was A Savage

On the face of it, a 1-1 draw with bottom-dwelling, already-eliminated Venezuela in front of 60,000 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires was a godawful result for Argentina, and it really was. But from a broader perspective there’s a lot more to analyze and discuss than simply draw = bad.

This Video Shows How The USMNT Earned A Draw With Honduras By KICKING THE BALL REALLY HARD

If we were to compare soccer to handwriting, we would say Germany plays like Catholic nun schoolteacher handwriting, with neat little letters, nothing out of place, everything in line.

Spain plays like cursive, with little loops and swooshes you barely notice until you see the bigger object and marvel in its beauty.

Brazil plays like graffiti letters, big and colorful and saying more than the words themselves could.

25 Stars In Serious Danger Of Missing The World Cup

With only a handful of matches remaining in World Cup qualifying, it’s become clear which nations are in serious danger of missing out on Russia next summer. While all will become clear in October, here are 25 global superstars who, if World Cup qualifying ended today, would either fail to appear at the tournament or would need to navigate a playoff to qualify. 

25 Stars In Serious Danger Of Missing The World Cup

Awful Defense Cost The USMNT At Least 3 Points This International Break

The United States came into this international break hoping to get at least four points, maybe all six from two matches against Costa Rica and Honduras in World Cup qualifying. You wouldn’t blame the Americans for their confidence, coming into the break with a 14-match unbeaten streak. That confidence is in tatters now thanks to some USMNT defensive struggles, which proved to be contagious for the rest of the team. 

Saudi Arabia Qualifies For The World Cup, Edging Australia On Goal Differential

For the first time since 2006, Saudi Arabia will be in the World Cup. The Green Falcons, having missed out on the last two tournaments, will return to the world stage after a 1-0 win over already qualified Japan on Tuesday. 

Bobby Wood Snatches 85th Minute Equalizer To Avoid Calamitous USMNT Defeat To Honduras

Booby Wood, on as a 73rd minute substitute for Darlington Nagbe, salvaged a point for the USMNT against Honduras by scoring his nation’s lone goal in the 85th minute. It took a superbly struck Kellyn Acosta free kick to trouble the staunch Honduran defense, and Wood was on hand to keep the U.S. in the automatic qualifying places — at least for now.

A Panama victory over Trinidad and Tobago later tonight would see the U.S. drop to fourth in the Hex, the spot that necessitates a dreaded inter-confederation playoff with Asia to determine who advances to Russia.

Good Dog Brings Goals To Brazil-Colombia World Cup Qualifying Match

Everyone loves a good dog. Especially when he brings goals. 

Moments after a dog wandered onto the pitch in the World Cup qualifier between Colombia and Brazil, Willian opened the scoring with a beautiful goal in a 1-1 draw between the two teams who came into the match atop the CONMEBOL standings. 

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