#world-cup

#world-cup

It was not mathematically confirmed until the Latvia game a month later, but as I watched Ezri Konsa turn in the third goal away to Serbia in early September I smiled to myself in the Stadion Rajko Mitic, knowing England were going to the World Cup. But immediately, a key question surfaced: was I? The answer came on Thursday, with the announcement of the ticket prices that the most loyal supporters of international football would have to pay.

🏒 The gay hockey romance Heated Rivalry has been a massive hit, and the show has fans taking a closer look at the NHL -- the only major North American men's sports league with no current or former out gay players. Mey Rude explores whether that might change soon. Speaking of professional sports, the World Cup is coming to the U.S. this summer, and this week we learned that the Seattle-based game designated locally as the "Pride Match" will feature two countries where being gay is illegal.

In Guadalajara, the road to the World Cup is paved with erasure of the missing. The city of Guadalajara in Mexico is scheduled to host four World Cup matches next year, and labourers are working around the clock to revamp infrastructure in time for the tournament. On account of frenzied construction, the city's roads are presently a bona fide mess, constituting a perpetual headache for those who must transit them.

In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it's fundamental to recognise the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace. Football stands for peace, and on behalf of the entire global football community, the FIFA Peace Prize Football Unites the World will recognise the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations.

"I think that Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time, but he also knows that I'm a good player. There will be mutual respect if we play against each other." "He knows that I'm not trying to be him, to play like him, or wear the #10 like him. I want to be my own," he added. Speaking on how the Argentine was one of his role models, he said, "As a kid, I used to study Messi's passes. Other players made good passes, but Messi's passes were pretty much goals."

Al Jazeera reflects on the passing of World Cup-winning forward Diego Maradona, who died five years ago on Tuesday. The fifth anniversary of the death of one of football's most famous stars, Diego Maradona, was marked by his fans in Argentina on Tuesday. Considered by many the greatest football player in history, the World Cup winner enjoyed stellar careers at the club level in Spain with Barcelona and in Italy with Napoli.

The 27-year-old, who is eligible to play for the Scots through his grandparents, netted twice for Eddie Howe's men at St James' Park as they edged out Pep Guardiola's side in a thrilling Saturday night victory. Will that performance have swayed any Scotland fans sitting on the fence? Or perhaps it has flipped opinions entirely? Here, BBC Scotland looks at the state of play, the mood among the Tartan Army and what Barnes could bring to Steve Clarke's team.

He's got a massive journey ahead of him," said head coach David Gray of Kieron Bowie after the Hibernian striker's display in Saturday's 2-0 win over Dundee.

'It's the same with (Erling) Haaland or any player. You have to be winning those major trophies. With the way the season is going with Bayern Munich, it looks like we're in great shape. It looks like we're one of the favourites for the Champions League. It's the same with England. I think we're going to go into the tournament as one of the favourites.'

The World Cup final against Canada was played in front of 81,885 fans - a record for a women's rugby match and the second-highest attendance for a men's or women's World Cup final.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has been linked with a move away from the club due to the lack of game time at Old Trafford. According to TEAMtalk, the player wants to fulfil his dream of playing in the upcoming World Cup, and he knows he will need to play more often. Leaving Manchester United in January would be ideal for Mainoo.

Want some incredible football facts? We've got you covered. Whether you're revising for a pub quiz, bored at work or looking for something to read on the loo, we've got facts on all facets of the beautiful game. So strap in for a long, old ride and remember to add yours in the comments below! You may like Nemanja Vidic: holder of an unusual record (Image credit: Alamy)

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen faces a critical moment as he works to recover from his injury. According to journalist Sergi de Juan from AS, once he is fully cleared medically, Ter Stegen will meet with Barcelona to decide his next step. While staying at the club is possible, it would mean accepting a backup role, but this is a scenario that seems unlikely given his ambitions and competitive nature.

As most of you know, we offer a daily podcast titled "The Daily BPW Show" on our Patreon channel. If you want a discussion on what's going with Bayern Munich every day...we have you covered. This is what we have on tap for this episode: Should Manuel Neuer return to the national team? Predictions of Germany's match against Luxembourg Can Germany still compete at the World Cup, even if they qualify?

Zirkzee is starting to get worried about his World Cup chances; game time is limited, Benjamin Sesko has arrived, Matheus Cunha can also play as a nine, and so Zirkzee, like Kobbie Mainoo, could now ask for a loan move to get minutes with the World Cup in mind. For January, keep an eye on PSV, because I'm told that they're open to a loan deal.

A goalkeeper like Marc-André ter Stegen actually deserves to play in a World Cup - although Oliver Baumann is doing very, very well replacing him at the moment. We obviously hope that Marc-André will come back. But whether at Barcelona or any other club - this is also important to say, and he knows that in his communication with Julian: To make it back, he obviously has to play. If he does, then he has a great chance and will probably be our goalkeeper at the World Cup,

Ssshhhhhhhhh! The talking is over, for now at least, and England's World Cup is about to begin. The bad news is they start with a tough game against South Africa. The good news is they start with a tough game against South Africa. Victory today would give England instant momentum and legitimise the cautious confidence of their pre-tournament chatter. An excellent win over Australia in their last warm-up has increased that confidence.