An Italian man who ran onto the pitch during a World Cup match in Qatar carrying a rainbow flag has been released following a brief detention, the Italian foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Diplomatic foes the United States and Iran face off on the pitch at the World Cup on Tuesday in a match that some Iranians fear may see further run-ins with stadium security or clashes with pro-government fans over raging protests back home.

Soccer fans at the almost alcohol-free World Cup are ready to pay high prices for a beer, a few have tried to smuggle booze into stadiums but most simply accept that drinking is off limits at the first tournament in a Muslim country.

France coach Didier Deschamps refused to discuss Karim Benzema after the injured Ballon d'Or winner was spotted arriving on holiday on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion following his withdrawal from the World Cup.

Designed by KINEXON, a Germany-based AI solutions provider, the balls used in this year's FIFA World Cup contain a lightweight sensor inside them.

Victories against the odds by Arab teams competing at the Middle East's first World Cup have inspired their supporters, bringing a rare sense of optimism and unity for fans from the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean.

Diplomatic foes the United States and Iran face off on the pitch at the World Cup on Tuesday in a match that some Iranians fear may see further run-ins with stadium security or clashes with pro-government fans over raging protests back home.

Neymar has lauded Casemiro as "the best midfielder in the world" after the latter fired Brazil into the knockout rounds of the World Cup against Switzerland.

Pundit and former German international striker Sandro Wagner apologised on Monday for his "ill considered" remark when he commented on the World Cup match between Germany and Spain the day before for the German TV channel ZDF.

Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes admitted the World Cup favourites lacked some of their usual verve after they needed a late Casemiro strike to beat Switzerland and secure a place in the last 16.

A Brazil side lacking spark without the injured Neymar needed a late strike from Casemiro to edge out Switzerland 1-0 on Monday as the five-time winners secured their place in the World Cup last 16 with one game to spare.

Mohammed Kudus scored twice as Ghana edged South Korea 3-2 in a dramatic World Cup match on Monday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last 16.

Opposition defenders ganging up on players like Neymar is nothing new.

Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez issued a thinly-veiled threat to Lionel Messi on Monday after he took offence at a dressing-room video appearing to show the Argentine forward nudge away a Mexican jersey with his foot after their World Cup win over "El Tri".

There is nothing better than sitting in front of the TV, tuning in on the latest football games, and digging into your favourite supply of snacks. With FIFA World Cup 2022 now in full swing, it's time to start collecting the ultimate snack ideas you can easily munch on with your friends and family while watching the games! No matter which team you are rooting for to win (or lose), these delicious game-day snacks definitely pack a punch and satisfy every taste bud and desire!

Football is an exciting sport. It is intense, physical, and loved all over the world. Modern football has seen many changes and modern technology is being used more and more to improve the game experience but even something as grand as football has its fair share of superstitions. Football has some interesting superstitions and even some ‘curses’ as well. Are the curses true? We don’t know for sure. Are the superstitions valid and does the ritual leave an impact on the result? Once again, we cannot say with absolute certainty. But then again, if we could, they would not be called superstitions. Either way, they might seem illogical to many but they sure make football more interesting than it already is.

On November 19 luxury brand Louis Vuitton released a new brand campaign featuring the two greatest legends of the football world, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. With no ball in sight, both players appeared to be engrossed in an intense game of chess on top of a chequered Louis Vuitton suitcase. When we say, this one photo quite literally broke the internet in a matter of hours, we are not exaggerating. However, it turns out that there is much more to this photo than meets the eye. Curious yet?

Cameroon fought back from two goals down to earn a 3-3 draw against Serbia at the World Cup on Monday, keeping both teams in contention for a place in the last 16.

Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana has been dropped for Monday's crucial World Cup clash with Serbia, who welcome back Filip Kostic to their starting line-up.

Portugal could qualify early for the next phase of the World Cup with a game remaining if they beat Uruguay on Monday, a task probably much easier said than done.