Tottenham boss Antonio Conte is confident Son Heung-min will be fit for the World Cup after the South Korean forward had surgery for a serious facial injury.

Tunisia will pin their hopes on Montpellier's Wahbi Khazri to steer them through the World Cup group stage, given that he is their standout player in a squad that mainly comprises players based in Egypt, the Arab Gulf and at lowly clubs in Europe.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been named the best player in the world five times, will arrive in Qatar with a mission to prove that he can still make a difference.

Brazil's Neymar will be 31 years old in February and Qatar could be his final bid to help his nation win a record-extending sixth World Cup title.

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers said his playmaker James Maddison should be called up to Gareth Southgate's England squad after an excellent all-round attacking display in their 2-0 Premier League win over Everton on Saturday.

Fans in stadiums across Germany on Saturday called for boycotts of the upcoming Qatar World Cup.

Ghana captain Andre Ayew is heading to an extraordinary 10th major tournament and has won a record tally of caps for his country, yet he still lives in the shadow of his father.

Federico Valverde is as irreplaceable for Uruguay as he is for Real Madrid and will be central to his country's World Cup hopes as a player with youth and experience on his side in a squad blessed with an abundance of both.

South Korean superstar Son Heung-min has undergone a successful surgery following a facial injury, the country's football federation said Saturday, but declined to say if he will be ready for the World Cup in Qatar.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri will turn 20 years old two days before Spain face Germany in one of the most anticipated games of the World Cup group stage.

FIFA has written to World Cup teams urging them to focus on the soccer in Qatar and not let the sport be dragged into ideological or political "battles".

If surprise 2018 runners-up Croatia take the World Cup by storm again in Qatar, in the thick of it this time will probably be Mateo Kovacic, one of the beating hearts of their midfield.

Alphonso Davies' unlikely path to spearheading Canada's first World Cup campaign in nearly four decades began in a West African refugee camp where children's dreams are eclipsed by the need to survive.

Kylian Mbappe loves nothing more than carrying the weight of a team on his shoulders and there is evidence he will need to do just that when France start the defence of their World Cup title

England left back Ben Chilwell will miss the World Cup in Qatar after being ruled out for up to three months due to a hamstring injury, British media reported on Thursday, a week before Gareth Southgate is due to name his 26-man squad for the tournament.

Poland will look to their talisman Robert Lewandowski to score the goals to take them into the World Cup knockout round for the first time in more than 35 years but he will need support.

Germany forward Timo Werner has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar due to an ankle injury, his club RB Leipzig announced on Thursday.

Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen's return from a near-fatal heart attack at Euro 2022 to the peak of his powers during recent internationals has the country's fans dreaming of what the playmaker can achieve at the World Cup.

History beckons for Harry Kane in Qatar with the England captain just two goals away from matching Wayne Rooney's record of 53 for the Three Lions.

Lionel Messi has won nearly 40 trophies for club and country in an illustrious career but the Argentine forward's glittering resume has one major omission -- a World Cup winner's medal.