International Football Federation, FIFA on Wednesday decided the hosts for the two upcoming editions of its flagship men's World Cup, controversially confirming Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 event while picking Spain, Portugal and Morocco as joint hosts for the 2030 tournament.
The Indian football team's winless streak this year continues as they played a 1-1 draw against the lower-ranked Malaysia at Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.
In their last match of 2024, the Indian senior men's national team will face Malaysia in a friendly match at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium on Monday, November 18.
The football's past and future is symbolised by the cup's design, which was inspired by NASA's Voyager Golden Records. The 24-carat gold cup also features many graphics that illustrate the periodic table, astronomy, and the football's magnificence.
"In World Cup 2026, there will be nine or ten African countries (and regions) participating in the World Cup," said Infantino on Tuesday, noting that the increase is to be made in line with FIFA's expanded World Cup format.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed delight on Thursday night at the "unparalleled competitiveness of this selection process."
A strong team display, along with the heroics of the substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, helped seal Australia's spot in the quadrennial showpiece, set to commence in November this year. Australia join reigning world champions France, Tunisia, and Denmark in Group D.
The 33-year-old footballer from Bonoua returned a positive test for trimetazidine, a drug banned because it can boost endurance, after a 2022 World Cup qualifying defeat to Cameroon on November 16.
The Chilean Football Federation last month filed a complaint with world football's governing body claiming that Ecuador's Byron Castillo is in fact Colombian, and has falsified his age.
Jordan took the lead, as Ahmad Saleh controlled an aerial through ball inside the Indian penalty box and played it to Abu Amara on the first touch, as the latter side-footed it home.
