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Defector

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Bosnian players lift their coach, Sergej Barbarez, in celebration after they qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

Soccer

The World Cup’s Most Interesting Newbie Is Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Poker-Playing Manager

Ray Ratto

The French national team smiles after scoring a goal

France Is Great. What Else Is New?

Matt Ufford is the head of video and audio at Yahoo Sports.

Matt Ufford

A split image: On the left, a beatific Manuel Neuer with his fists raised in triumph; on the right, a feral roaring Gianluigi Buffon with his fists low, also in triumph.

Which Type Of Big Weird Guy Is Your Goalkeeper?

Luis Paez-Pumar

An aerial view of football players during a match on a soccer field built on the top of a 5-story building in Adana, Turkiye on August 20, 2025.

How To Watch The World Cup

Billy Haisley

People celebrate after the announcement of Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr. during an event to announce Brazil's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Museum of Tomorrow, in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brazil Couldn’t Kill Its Idol, So It Brought Him Along To The World Cup

Patrick Redford

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 5: FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 official draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The State Of Sportswashing

Sohini Desai

Somali World Cup Referee Denied Entry Into U.S.

Tom Ley

England’s Happy To Keep Its Head Down For Now

Lionel Messi of Argentina shows off the FIFA World Cup Trophy to fans while he is carried around the pitch on the shoulders of former teammate Sergio Aguero after the team's victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Argentina Is Cool, Calm, Collected, And Ready To Repeat As World Champs

Portugal Belongs To Cristiano Ronaldo For A Little Bit Longer

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump on the red carpet prior the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw

Border Security Theatrics Are Rising At History’s Stupidest World Cup

Bilal El Khannouss of Morocco celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Achraf Hakimi during the international friendly match between Morocco and Paraguay.

Forget A Generation, Morocco Is Simply Golden

Teammates of Netherland celebrate the teams own goal from Mert Müldür of Türkiye to the 2:1 on the top of the grape Virgil van Dijk of Netherlands during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between Netherlands and Türkiye at Olympiastadion on July 6, 2024 in Berlin, Germany

The Netherlands Has To Get Over The Hump At Some Point, Right?

Aaron Timms

A big inflatable soccer ball fills with air at the houston world cup fan zone.

The World Cup For Nobody Is Almost Here

David Roth

Senegal Men's Soccer Team centre-forward Nicolas Jackson (11) defends as United States Men's National Soccer Team defender Tyler Adams (4) works the ball during a FIFA soccer match between Senegal and the USA on May 31, 2026.

Podcasts

The Dutch Style Of Pickup Soccer And A Dog Named Jeff, With Leander Schaerlaeckens

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku and Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne pictured during a training session of Belgian national soccer team.

Belgium’s Old Dogs Are Back For One Last Trick

Florian Wirtz of Germany runs with the ball during the international friendly match between Germany and Ghana at MHP Arena on March 30, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany.

Germany Just Wants To Be Germany Again

FIFA Will No Longer Allow Fans To Bring Water Into World Cup Stadiums

Luka Modric of Croatia controls the ball during the international friendly match between Brazil and Croatia at Camping World Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Orlando, Florida.

Croatia Is Ready To Keep The Good Times Rolling

Raul Jimenez of Mexico celebrates after scoring a penalti during an international friendly match between Mexico and Paraguay.

Mexico Can’t Let This Chance Slip By

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

Funbag

There Are More Brendan Sorsbys To Come

Colombia's forward #07 Luis Diaz shoots during a friendly football match between Colombia and France at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, on March 29, 2026.

2026 World Cup