Keisuke Honda, one of Japan's biggest football stars in the first two decades of the millennium, said on Tuesday his country has the potential to win the World Cup next year.

Frustrated Italy fans streamed out of the San Siro, bracing for more World Cup playoff drama, after their team slumped to a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Norway on Sunday in their last qualifier.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates will attempt to overcome the disappointment of missing out on an automatic berth at next year's World Cup when they face off on Thursday for another shot at keeping their qualification dreams alive.

Fans from 212 countries and territories purchased tickets during the pre-sales period, which opened in mid-September, FIFA said in a statement.

France, World Cup winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, were without a host of players in Reykjavik including captain Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, both out injured.

Iceland, with a population of around 340,000, became the smallest country to qualify for the global showpiece when they reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

No country has ever won the World Cup with a foreign-born coach but Carlo Ancelotti said Monday that there was "always a first time" as he eyes glory with Brazil.

An avalanche of goals for the Ivory Coast and Senegal on Friday put both on the brink of World Cup qualification, which they can secure with home success in their last group matches next week to advance to next year’s finals in North America.

Speaking ahead of Brazil's friendly against South Korea on Friday in Seoul, Ancelotti said that tactical development has been hindered by a lack of training sessions with the full squad.

Tango. Azteca. Telstar. The FIFA World Cup has produced a host of iconic footballs that have graced the tournament over the years.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would consider relocating 2026 World Cup matches from cities he did not deem safe, months before the United States is set to co-host the quadrennial soccer showcase with Canada and Mexico.

Lionel Messi marked his final home World Cup qualifier with Argentina by matching two major records during a memorable night at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on Thursday.

“It was a technical decision based on many factors,” Ancelotti explained ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Chile in Rio.

The head of Brazil's football federation on Tuesday said he had nixed the much-derided idea of the national team wearing red -- the color associated with the ruling leftist party -- in the 2026 World Cup, which will take place months ahead of elections.

Due to anticipated high demand, FIFA World Cup tickets are released in phases, each via a different process.

With 6.5 million fans expected to attend, the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup will be the biggest FIFA World Cup yet, consisting of 48 teams and 104 matches across the three host countries.

So far, 13 teams have sealed their place. Alongside co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the USA, ten more countries have booked their spots:

Celebrities and soccer stars were due to walk the red carpet at the Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles - one of the host cities - for the year-to-go event there, a day after President Trump deployed Marines and the National Guard to quell protests.

The largest and most far-flung World Cup kicks off in 12 months with a record 48 teams spread across Canada, the United States, and Mexico and sceptics are asking whether its frenzied growth is worth the environmental cost.

The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, but most matches, including the final, are scheduled to be played on American soil.