2026 world cup

The Digest: The 2026 World Cup will miss some of football's brightest talents after several top nations crashed out in qualifying, with Nigeria's Victor Osimhen headlining a list of global stars who fell short. The absence of these players reveals the fine margins in international football...

The Digest: The Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq have secured the final two spots in the 2026 World Cup intercontinental playoffs. Their paths, sealed by a tense penalty shootout and a last-gasp extra-time goal, showcased the unflinching pursuit of a place on the world's stage. Key...

The Digest: Lionel Messi has shifted his stance on the 2026 World Cup, expressing a clear desire to participate while prioritizing his physical readiness. The Argentine captain, who led his nation to glory in 2022, stated he wants to ensure he can still contribute at the highest level before...

The Digest: The Super Eagles' camp has officially opened in Rabat, Morocco, with 10 players arriving on Sunday to begin final preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs. The early arrivals, including key figures like Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, signal a focused start to a crucial week...

The Digest: Gabon’s head coach Thierry Mouyouma has admitted the Super Eagles' quality is forcing a tactical rethink. Ahead of their playoff semi-final in Rabat, the Panthers' coach revealed he must alter his team's approach at both a tactical and technical level to counter Nigeria's threat...

The Digest: A dispute over squad size has delayed the Super Eagles' team announcement for the playoff against Gabon. SCORENigeria can exclusively report that coach Eric Chelle is at odds with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), insisting on a larger squad to navigate potential injuries and...

The Digest: The Super Eagles have been dealt a significant blow ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff, with several key players set to miss the crucial fixtures in Morocco due to injury, suspension, and fitness concerns. Key Points: Striker Terem Moffi is out for several weeks...

The Digest: The Nigerian national team is set to reconvene in one week for a critical training camp ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff against Gabon, as confirmed in an official social media announcement that marks the final countdown to the high-stakes encounter. Key...

The Digest: Football legend Lionel Messi has expressed his desire to represent Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, acknowledging that his final decision will depend on his physical condition. The 38-year-old Inter Miami star, who led Argentina to victory in 2022, hopes to defend the title...

The Digest: South Africa's Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, has openly stated he does not want Nigeria's Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The declaration follows Nigeria's role in a FIFA protest that led to a points deduction for Bafana Bafana, exposing the deep-seated...

The Digest: The group stages of the CAF World Cup qualifiers have concluded, with nine African nations securing their direct passage to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The continent's representatives will include Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ivory Coast...

The Digest: The Confederation of African Football has finalized plans for the decisive 2026 World Cup African playoff, setting a November 2025 showdown in Morocco, where four nations will battle for the continent's final World Cup qualification spot. Key Points: The four-team playoff...

The Digest: Coach Eric Chelle has named a strong attacking side featuring Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman while implementing a significant reshuffle in the defensive line for the must-win match against Lesotho. Key Points: Coach Eric Chelle has named his starting eleven for the World...

The Digest: As the Super Eagles' World Cup hopes hang by a thread, a fierce debate over accountability grips the nation. While coaches like Finidi George and Jose Peseiro face public scrutiny, the true culprit is a deep-rooted systemic failure within Nigerian football that no single manager...

The field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking shape, with 24 nations from across the globe having already secured their spots for the tournament. Key Points: Africa (CAF): Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt Asia (AFC): Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia North America (CONCACAF)...

The Digest: Former captain John Mikel Obi has declared that the Super Eagles can still secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but insists the players must treat the final qualifiers as a non-negotiable mission. Key Points: Nigeria sits third in Group C with 11 points from eight games...

The Digest: The Super Eagles secured a crucial 1-0 win over Rwanda, with Tolu Arokodare scoring the match-winner. South Africa also triumphed 3-0 against Lesotho, maintaining their lead, while Benin defeated Zimbabwe to stay in contention. Nigeria now sits third in Group C, needing consistency...

The Digest: The road to the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup is well underway, with 16 nations having already secured their places. The tournament, which will feature a record 48 teams, continues to take shape as continental qualifiers near their conclusion. Key Points: A total of 16 countries...