FIFA rejects countries banned from the World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious international soccer competition around. Squads from all corners of the globe come together to compete for the ultimate trophy. Being a world champion is something many nations aspire to, but for some it's nothing but a dream. And we're not just talking about national teams' quality. The truth is that, for one reason or another, many national squads don't even make it to the qualifying rounds, let alone the final stages of the tournament. Intrigued? Click on and find out which nations were banned by FIFA and why.

Michael Jordan expected to testify in NASCAR lawsuit

The billionaire NBA legend Jordan, 62, owns NASCAR team 23XI, which has filed the lawsuit alongside another competitor, Front Row Motorsports.

Proton's WEC hypercar exit means no Porsche 963s at 2026 Le Mans

Porsche is set to have no presence on the 2026 Hypercar grid as Proton confirms withdrawal

Stats boffins reveal favourites to win the World Cup ahead of draw for 2026 tournament

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Ashes breakfast: England bowlers flayed as Jamie Smith delivers abiding image after drop

It was a difficult first session in the field. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith put down a simple catch from Travis Head, off the bowling of Archer, and that seemed to suck the life out of England's bowlers.

'This tour is not about me', says Joe Root after century in second Ashes Test

Joe Root tells a press conference 'this tour is not about me' as he is praised for scoring a century in day 2 of the second Ashes Test match. Root ensured his first century on Australian soil was an unbeaten one, finishing 138 not out in a total of 334. But England were guilty of haphazard bowling and messy handling errors at the Gabba as they allowed Australia to move into a 44-run lead at 378 for six on the second night of the floodlit match.

Daniel Wiffen takes gold for Ireland in the 1500 metre freestyle race in Poland

Daniel Wiffen has won glory for Ireland in Poland this evening, taking the gold medal in the men’s 1500 metre freestyle at the European Short Course Championships. Wiffen faced intense competition from Hungarian Zalan Sarkany as the race picked up pace, and a close finish between the two top athletes was always expected. However, Wiffen […]

Unai Emery reveals Mikel Arteta 'secret' at Arsenal

'I think this is the secret he can have there.'

PSG vs Rennes – Beye sends strong messages: Tactics, Paris and Dembélé

This Saturday at 9:05 PM (CET), Paris Saint-Germain (2nd) faces Rennes (5th) at the Parc des Princes for Matchday 15 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season. In a press conference, Rennes coach Habib Beye spoke about the upcoming match and their Parisian opponents. He made some strong comments about PSG’s approach to the game and their level of play this season, including Ousmane Dembélé (28-year-old forward) and Désiré Doué (20-year-old...

Man leaves 'girlfriend to freeze to death' on top of Austria's tallest mountain

Max Verstappen reveals he could walk away from Formula One next year

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US senior becomes oldest woman to complete the Ironman World Championship at age 80

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Paddon, Lappi and Sordo join Hyundai 2026 WRC line-up

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Eric Garcia turns down PSG for Barça extension

Courted by PSG in recent weeks, Eric Garcia has ultimately decided to close the door...

After Désiré, another Doué has signed with PSG!

We already knew Guéla Doué, the solid Ivorian rightback from RC Strasbourg… We also knew...

Derek McInnes is looking forward to taking on title rivals Celtic

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Mystery surrounds Elden Campbell's death after police reveal the cause of the NBA great's passing

His sister, Sandra, initially claimed that the former NBA champion had been out on the water but suffered some kind of medical emergency after making it back on to land.

Kylie Kelce lands surprise role at Winter Olympics in Milan next year

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20 age-appropriate sports the whole family can participate in

Your family probably needs more time together that doesn't involve screens or sitting still. The challenge? Finding activities where nobody feels left out or overwhelmed. These sports solve that problem naturally. Kids learn coordination while parents rediscover childhood joy, and grandparents contribute real skill. You'll find age-old traditions and modern favorites here, all sharing one trait: they welcome complete beginners and mixed generations without awkwardness.

Football catch during cliff vault

A daring stunt combining pole vaulting off a cliff with catching a football in mid-air. This video captures the jump, the timing, the catch, and the dramatic fall toward the water from multiple cinematic angles.

Olympic flame for Milan Cortina 2026 arrives in Rome

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Cowboys star Dak Prescott livid at his own coach in furious response to play call during Lions loss

An irate Dak Prescott was seen screaming at his sideline during a consequential first-half drive during the Dallas Cowboys' defeat to the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football.

World Cup: The best and worst draw for the French team

France will learn its opponents for the 2026 World Cup this Friday (6 PM) in...

Full World Cup schedule: All 104 matches and their UK and US kick-off times

It may still be more than six months away, but the upcoming World Cup is bigger than ever and requires some serious planning ahead.

American skier's Olympics dreams are shattered by devastating injury with two months to go

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Iconic LeBron James scoring streak finally ends after 19 years and 1,297 games

Thursday night's Lakers win over the Toronto Raptors was the first time since January 5, 2007 that LeBron has not managed to get into double digits for points scored.

A phenomenon is arriving at PSG this winter, it’s confirmed

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Frosty Nathan Lyon says he is 'absolutely filthy' with Aussie selectors after Ashes Test snub

A frosty Nathan Lyon admits he was 'absolutely filthy' with being dropped from the second Ashes Test, even as chief selector George Bailey insists his axing is a 'one-off'.

Team Goh returns to Super Formula for 2026

Team Goh will make a comeback in Super Formula next year with a one-car entry

The journey of the Olympic flame around Italy begins

Lighting the Olympic torch at the Stadio dei Marmi

Thomas Frank should resign if Tottenham lose to Brentford, says ex-Spurs star

Thomas Frank has friends coming over. They will come with warm hearts and fond memories but if they leave with even a point it will make for a most uncomfortable reunion.

Behind the scenes of bike parkour

This video documents Day 2 of filming the bike parkour project. It shows how the riders tested lines, practiced movements, and worked with the camera team to capture clean and dynamic shots. The vlog highlights location setup, stunt rehearsal, and the teamwork required to film parkour-style biking safely and efficiently.

'It's fantastic': Clarke can't wait for Brazil blockbuster as World Cup finals countdown begins

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Leclerc: Ferrari F1 car so difficult it's in the wall or through Q1

Charles Leclerc qualified fifth for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix while team-mate Lewis Hamilton was dumped out in Q1

KTM's 850cc engine for 2027 MotoGP season breaks cover in Jerez test

Pol Espargaro posted a video on social media indicating that he is testing KTM’s new 850cc MotoGP bike for 2027

Olympics chaos deepens as furious coach claims delayed arena isn't even the correct size

It was revealed last month that construction on the arena - which is set to welcome NHL players back to the Olympics for the first time in more than a decade - is behind schedule.

F1 Abu Dhabi GP qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more

Here's everything you need to know about Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying, including TV timings, highlights, radio and weather forecast

Emily Frazer: Mosconi Cup is darts meets snooker

'Everyone is so buzzing for this event.'

Tom Brady shares doting birthday message to daughter as she shows glimpses of dad's sporting talent

Brady, who will participate in Friday's draw for the 2026 World Cup, toasted the new teenager with a carousel of sweet snaps from throughout her childhood as he gushed over his 'baby girl.'

Lewis Hamilton is replaced by Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc's brother at final race weekend

Hamilton labelled his first season at Ferrari as the 'worst ever' in Vegas and followed it up with a P12 finish at the penultimate race of the season in Qatar last weekend.

Cole urges Chelsea to sign Barcelona transfer target

'It’s a no-brainer!'

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Mohamed Salah (33 years old) expressed his anger after the 3-3 draw at Leeds, his...

Hamilton plans team shake-up at Ferrari after miserable season

Lewis Hamilton says he was surprised at his own resilience after enduring the most miserable run of form and results of his Formula One career.

'John Cena owed it to WWE fans to fix farewell tour'

WWE legend Wade Barrett gives the inside scoop on Cena's farewell.

M’sian women shuttlers set up semi-final clash with Indonesia in SEA Games

Spearheaded by Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, the Malaysians defeat Vietnam 4-1 in their quarter-final clash in Bangkok.

Under pressure Slot talks about how Liverpool will fight for positive result against Leeds

Liverpool manager Arne Slot previews the Premier League match against Leeds at Elland Road.

Woman dies on Austria mountain after partner left her

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Ligue 1 weekday matches are over!

Ligue 1 is about to undergo a major upheaval in its schedule. Starting from the...

Transfer – PSG has set its 3 priorities for this winter!

The 2025/2026 winter transfer window runs from Thursday, January 1st to Monday, February 2nd (8 PM CET) in France, and rumors surrounding Paris Saint-Germain are swirling. This time, PSG Inside Actus reports that there are three clearly defined priorities for three different positions: Tylel Tati (17-year-old defender from FC Nantes), Ayyoub Bouaddi (18-year-old midfielder from Lille), and Rodrigo Mora (18-year-old winger from FC Porto). “PSG...

Jesse Lingard terminates contract with South Korean club to pursue a new challenge

Lingard, who is set to make his final appearance for the club in the AFC Champions League next week against Melbourne City, has thanked fans an 'unforgettable experience'.