The unthinkable prospect of a World Cup without Argentina or Lionel Messi could move a step closer to becoming reality on Thursday as the South American giants prepare to face arch-rivals Chile in a crucial battle on the road to Russia 2018.

Chinese authorities have stepped up security for Thursday's tense World Cup qualifier against South Korea, whose fans will receive a police escort after protests over Seoul's decision to deploy a controversial missile defence system.

After a year scarred by scandal and sporting catastrophe, Gareth Southgate will begin his attempt to steer England into calmer waters in Wednesday's friendly against Germany in Dortmund.

Argentina’s players, who have been arriving in Buenos Aires for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia, are sticking to a decision dating back to November not to talk to the media.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insisted midfielder Andre Gomes will become a pillar of the Catalans' midfield after silencing his critics with his first goal for the club in a 4-2 win over Valencia on Sunday.

Beleaguered Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has decided to stay at the club, according to British media reports on Monday.

Casemiro was Real Madrid's unlikely hero as he hit the winner to open up a five-point lead on Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Manchester United have been fined 20,000 pounds ($24,784.00) for failing to control their players in Monday's FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Chelsea, the governing body said on Friday.

Borussia Dortmund earned a 1-0 victory over battling Ingolstadt with Bundesliga top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbing his sixth goal in the last four league games to help them close in on second place on Friday.

Barcelona were pitted against Italian champions Juventus in the Champions League quarter-final draw made on Friday to set up a repeat of the 2015 final which the Spanish side won 3-1.

Wayne Rooney faces a battle to get back into the England squad due to his lack of playing time at Manchester United, with a number of in-form players currently ahead of him in the pecking order, manager Gareth Southgate has said.

Mali has been suspended from international football after the West African country's sports minister sacked the executive committee of its football federation, soccer's governing body FIFA said on Friday.

Veteran soccer official Marios Lefkaritis will end his 21-year stint on UEFA's executive committee in April after European soccer's governing body said the Cypriot had withdrawn as a candidate for re-election.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba will miss Sunday's Premier League trip to Middlesbrough with a hamstring injury, manager Jose Mourinho has said.

Russia's Premier League has closed Rostov's stadium because of the poor condition of the pitch, a week after Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho slammed the surface as unplayable.

Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Alejandro Remiro was rushed to hospital on Wednesday after suffering a head injury when he was struck by a ball in training.

Atletico Madrid booked their place in the Champions League quarterfinals for a fourth consecutive season but had goalkeeper Jan Oblak to thank for avoiding defeat in a 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

The Bangabandhu Gold Cup will get underway from the third week of April with the participation of six nations, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) confirmed yesterday.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that while the introduction of technology and other rule changes may benefit the sport in certain cases there is a real danger that football could become a "stop-and-go game".

Sevilla midfielder Samir Nasri has accused Jamie Vardy of cheating after the Frenchman was sent off for squaring up to the Leicester forward and bumping foreheads in their Champions League clash on Tuesday.