Music, fireworks and the occasional round of gunfire erupted across Iraq's capital Baghdad early Wednesday after the national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in decades.

Football is often called the beautiful game. But what unfolded on that night in 2006 at the Frankenstadion in Nuremberg, (now the Max-Morlock-Stadion) could hardly be described as beautiful.

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso was emotional and apologetic after his side suffered a playoff penalty shootout loss in Bosnia on Tuesday, to miss out on their third successive World Cup, but he refused to talk about his future.

Iraq became the 48th and final team to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday, defeating Bolivia 2-1 in an intercontinental playoff in Mexico to seal their first appearance at the finals in 40 years.

Michal Sadilek's penalty sent the Czech Republic to the World Cup as they beat Denmark in a shootout in Prague on Tuesday following a 2-2 draw after extra time.

Italy will miss out on a third straight World Cup after falling to Bosnia and Hercegovina in Tuesday's breathless qualification playoff final, the Azzurri blowing their chance to reach this summer's tournament in North America with a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat.

Turkiye ended a 24-year wait to qualify for the World Cup by beating Kosovo 1-0 in their playoff final on Tuesday, sealing a return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 2002.

Sweden beat Poland 3-2 to book their ticket to the World Cup on Tuesday, as Viktor Gyokeres struck two minutes from time to decide a frantic qualification playoff final.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended a friendly in Turkey between Iran, whose participation in this year's World Cup is in doubt, and Costa Rica on Tuesday.

Iraq coach Graham Arnold said Monday he is trying to shield his squad from news of the war in the Middle East as they prepare for a crunch 2026 World Cup playoff against Bolivia.

In an age of ruthless VAR certainty, we revisit the midday sun of Wembley -- where a linguistic barrier, a Soviet flag, and a six-centimetre margin birthed football’s most enduring riddle.

The Caribbean nation set to play Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E.

The London-based human rights organisation's report -- "Humanity Must Win" -- called on both FIFA and host countries the US, Canada and Mexico to take urgent action to protect fans, players and other communities.

A man died in Mexico City's newly renovated Estadio Banorte on Saturday after falling from a box seat area shortly before the stadium's reopening match, security officials said.

The United States were routed 5-2 by Belgium on Saturday in a humbling defeat for Mauricio Pochettino's team as they prepare to co-host this summer's World Cup.

Nicknamed ‘The Iceman’, Bergkamp was the crown jewel of a Dutch team brimming with talent – Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Marc Overmars among them.

Football has seen many legends, but the way a dog from South London became part of the game's greatest drama remains a truly unique story.

July 5, 1982. The stands were a sea of yellow spring, thousands of souls swaying to the wild rhythm of samba. Onto the pitch walked a team for whom football was not merely a leather ball -- it was an elusive, intangible art. Tele Santana’s Brazil, widely regarded as the most beautiful, most romantic, and yet most heartbreaking chapter in football history. They did not come to the field to win wars; they came to write poetry with their feet on a canvas of green.

Viktor Gyokeres scored a hattrick as Sweden brushed Ukraine aside 3-1 on Thursday to set up a showdown with Poland for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

Italy's bid to end a 12-year World Cup absence will continue after beating Northern Ireland 2-0 on Thursday to reach the play-off final.