News of sport

Messi makes World Cup history to send Argentina into last 32

22-06-2026 16:49 Argentina's skipper scores twice as the Albiceleste defeat Austria 2-0 and secure their place in the knock-out round.

Timeless Messi eyes World Cup record as Argentina face Austria

22-06-2026 11:23 Argentine maestro on the cusp of more footballing history when the World Cup holders face Austria on Monday.

Messi eyes World Cup record and birthday win against Austria

20-06-2026 22:30 Albiceleste captain celebrates his birthday on Wednesday and he will hope to hold the World Cup scoring record outright by then.

Algeria file complaint over referee's decision on Messi tackle

19-06-2026 17:19 Argentina's skipper caught Algeria defender Aissa Mandi on the calf with a studs-up challenge from behind in the 30th minute of Tuesday's match but was not even booked.

What we learned after the first round of World Cup 2026 games

18-06-2026 11:33 From Lionel Messi rolling back the years to full stadiums and a Cape Verde team that shocked Spain, here is what we learned after the first round of games at the World Cup.

Lula jokes he is thinking of 'signing Messi' for Brazil

17-06-2026 21:47 Brazil president jokes that his nation should hire Argentina's Lionel Messi to play for his nation's football team.

'Competitive animal' Messi set for sixth World Cup

15-06-2026 20:57 Coach Lionel Scaloni has other injury concerns over goalkeeper Emi 'Dibu' Martinez and forward Julián Álvarez but both are expected to start in Kansas City against Algeria.

Fans deploy 'asado' to challenge Kansas City's BBQ crown

15-06-2026 20:16 Argentina begin their World Cup defence in Kansas City, the self-styled global barbecue capital, but their fans insist they're already king of the grill.

Thiago Almada stakes his claim for Argentina starting spot

12-06-2026 17:38 Creative midfielder Thiago Almada has struggled for regular minutes at his club side Atlético Madrid, but now he's eyeing a starting slot for Argentina in their World Cup opener.

Arruabarrena set to return to Boca Jnrs after talks with Riquelme

12-06-2026 17:10 Former coach says he is 'excited' by prospect of a second spell at La Bombonera, a decade after leading the club to a league-and-cup double.

Argentina calls up Senesi for World Cup after Balerdi injury

11-06-2026 16:52 Marcos Senesi has been added to the squad as a replacement for Leonardo Balerdi, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a muscle injury.

The World Cup effect: Football and politics in Argentina

11-06-2026 14:00 From dictatorship to democracy, World Cups have repeatedly coincided with some of Argentina's most consequential political and economic decisions.

Messi scores on return from injury as Argentina beat Iceland in World Cup warm-up

10-06-2026 11:30 With Lionel Messi back from injury to score his 117th international goal, Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 on Tuesday in their final friendly ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Real Madrid bids 150 million euros for Atlético's Julián Álvarez

09-06-2026 15:31 Real Madrid says Atlético Madrid had rejected the club's offer of 150 million euros for Argentine forward Julián Álvarez.

Scaloni gives encouraging update on Messi fitness ahead of World Cup

05-06-2026 22:05 National team coach Lionel Scaloni says skipper could play "a few minutes" in upcoming friendly matches, likely one of the two.

Injury-hit Argentina hope to reach full fitness at World Cup

05-06-2026 07:00 The composition of Lionel Scaloni’s squad clearly shows that he is ready to put his faith once more in the boys that took Argentina to glory in Qatar.

by Dan Edwards

Argentina's 2022 World Cup winners recall ‘worst team talk in world’

03-06-2026 16:07 Argentina's players and coaching staff remember "the worst team talk in the world" – before the 2022 World Cup final against France.

Algeria, Austria and Jordan – a look at Argentina’s Group J opponents

03-06-2026 16:06 Albiceleste will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan at the group stage of the 2026 World Cup; Defending champions are the clear favourites to progress in top spot.

Loyalty could be fatal to Argentina's World Cup title defence, says 1978 champion

29-05-2026 10:39 Argentina are contenders but their chances will be undermined if Lionel Scaloni relies too much on the players who triumphed four years ago, says 1978 World Cup winner Daniel Bertoni.

Argentina eye World Cup double ahead of Group J opener

29-05-2026 09:50 The Albiceleste arrive at the World Cup aiming to become the first team in more than half a century to successfully defend their title. But since winning the title in Qatar four years ago, they have not played a single European side.