World Cup 2026: Everything you need to know about the final weekend

It’s time to battle it out for football’s biggest prize this weekend The stage is set. After weeks of unforgettable football, the World Cup 2026 is down to its final two matches. Before Spain and Argentina battle it out for football’s biggest prize, England and France will go head to head in the third place […] mchezo.life

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Miami: France and England will bid a gloomy farewell to the World Cup tomorrow when they face each other in the dreaded third-place play-off in Miami.

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Both teams head to Florida still raw from semi-final defeats that have left both footballing nations licking wounds, which, in the eyes of many, were largely self-inflicted.

France, the tournament’s outstanding team en route to the last four, were anonymous in the face of a tactical masterclass by Spain on Tuesday and slumped to a 2-0 defeat.

England added another chapter to their long history of World Cup heartache on Wednesday when they surrendered the initiative and a lead to lose 2-1 to Argentina in Atlanta.

France and England must now attempt to summon the remnants of their competitive will and physical reserves for a game that is widely disliked throughout football.

“None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match,” England manager Thomas Tuchel said after his team’s agonising semi-final defeat.

“They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is.

“We have one less day of recovery than France, but we will do it with professionalism.”

The match will mark a sad footnote to Didier Deschamps’ long reign as France coach.

Deschamps, who, like Tuchel, has faced stinging criticism for the tactical decisions that marked his team’s semi-final defeat, is stepping down as manager after the tournament.

The 57-year-old’s departure ends a successful 14-year spell in charge that included a World Cup triumph in 2018, defeat in the final in Qatar in 2022 and a run to the last four in the current tournament.

“There’s a third-place finish to play for, so we’ll do everything we can to get it,” Deschamps said after France’s semi-final loss.

“We’re not where we wanted or expected to be. The disappointment matches our ambitions, but we have to accept it. We have no other choice.” Yet while it will be scant consolation, the game might well prove pivotal for the World Cup’s Golden Boot race.

France captain Kylian Mbappe is joint top scorer for the tournament alongside Argentina skipper Lionel Messi on eight goals, and will be looking to add to his tally against an unsettled English defence.

England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham -- who are on six goals apiece -- could also enter the running with a big performance at the Hard Rock Stadium.

For England’s all-time record goalscorer Kane, the game may also mark the final World Cup appearance of his career.

The Bayern Munich forward turns 33 this month and it is questionable whether he will be around for the 2030 finals.

Kane declined to speculate on his international future following Wednesday’s defeat.

“It’s too early to talk about that,” Kane told reporters.

“I’m taking it year by year and the national team is my pride and joy. It’s what I love to do more than anything.... I never want to put a limit on these things.”

The match is also an opportunity for Mbappe to move into top spot in the all-time World Cup scoring charts. The Real Madrid striker is currently on 20 goals, one behind Messi on 21.

Much may depend on the strength of the lineups fielded by both teams.

Tuchel is expected to rotate his starting side heavily after what has been a gruelling campaign.

An energy-sapping last-16 trip to the thin air of Mexico City and the Estadio Azteca was followed by a brutally hot quarter-final win over Norway in Miami before the shattering defeat to Argentina.

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Padel Federation announced that the International Padel Federation (FIP) has awarded Doha the hosting rights for the 2026 and 2028 editions of the FIP Padel World Cup, reinforcing Qatar's position as a global destination for major international sporting events.

Both editions will be held at the iconic Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, a venue that has hosted some of the world's most important international Padel events in recent years - including the Qatar Major Premier Padel four times, and the last World Team Championships - and has established itself as one of the sport's leading destinations.

The decision to award the hosting rights for the 2026 and 2028 FIP World Cups to Doha was based on a series of key criteria, including the high quality of sporting infrastructure, the conditions offered to athletes and national delegations, proven experience in staging major international events, high safety standards, financial guarantees, and the strong sporting legacy developed by Qatar in recent years.

A further element reflecting the growth and ambition of the FIP World Cup is the prize money, which will reach unprecedented levels in the history of Padel and will be distributed equally between the men's and women's competitions. The 2026 edition will offer a record prize fund of €1.2 million, rising further to €1.35 million in 2028. This represents the highest prize money ever awarded in an official Padel competition and underlines the commitment of FIP and the Qatar Padel Federation to further enhance the prestige of the event and showcase the highest level of competition among national teams.

Tareq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Padel Federation, said: "We are honoured by the International Padel Federation's decision to award Doha the hosting rights for both the 2026 and 2028 FIP World Cup. Having previously hosted the championship on two occasions, we are proud that Qatar continues to be entrusted with one of the sport's most watched events."

"This confidence reflects the dedication of the Qatar Padel Federation and all our partners to delivering world-class tournaments that meet the highest international standards. Hosting two consecutive editions presents a unique opportunity to build on our experience, further enhance the event, and create an exceptional experience for players, teams and fans from around the world. We look forward to welcoming the global Padel community back to Doha and contributing to the continued growth and success of our sport."

"The awarding of the 2026 and 2028 editions of the FIP World Cup to Doha is a decision that looks to the future of our sport," said FIP President Luigi Carraro. He continued: "Qatar has consistently demonstrated that it possesses all the necessary qualities to host world-class events, and awarding two consecutive editions of the World Cup to the country will provide continuity for the tournament's growth, ensuring an outstanding experience for players, federations and fans.

"Doha is one of the global homes of Padel. On more than one occasion it has demonstrated its ability to deliver exceptional standards of organisation and hospitality, and it holds a special place in the history of international Padel. We are confident it will once again help write new and historic chapters in the story of our sport, with the invaluable contribution of the Qatar Padel Federation, whom I thank for its commitment and passion in supporting the growth of Padel worldwide."

أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم (فيفا) تعليق تنفيذ عقوبة الإيقاف المفروضة على مهاجم المنتخب الأمريكي فولارين بالوغون، ليصبح مؤهلًا للمشاركة في مواجهة منتخب بلجيكا ضمن دور الـ16 من كأس العالم 2026، في قرار استثنائي أثار جدلًا واسعًا داخل الأوساط الكروية.
وجاء القرار بعد تقارير أكدت أن الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب أجرى اتصالًا هاتفيًا مع رئيس الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم جياني إنفانتينو، طالب خلاله بإعادة النظر في البطاقة الحمراء التي حصل عليها بالوغون خلال مواجهة الولايات المتحدة والبوسنة والهرسك، معتبرًا أن قرار الطرد كان قاسيًا.
وأكد فيفا في بيانه أن القرار لا يعني إلغاء البطاقة الحمراء، وإنما تعليق تنفيذ عقوبة الإيقاف لمدة عام على سبيل الاختبار، استنادًا إلى المادة (27) من لائحة الانضباط، وجاء في نص القرار:
“استنادًا إلى المادة (27) من لائحة الانضباط في فيفا، يُعلَّق تنفيذ عقوبة الإيقاف لمباراة واحدة لمدة سنة على سبيل الاختبار. وبناءً عليه، يحق لفولارين بالوغون المشاركة في مباراة دور الـ16 من كأس العالم 2026 أمام بلجيكا. وإذا ارتكب اللاعب مخالفة انضباطية مماثلة خلال فترة الاختبار، فيجوز تنفيذ عقوبة الإيقاف المعلقة بالإضافة إلى أي عقوبة جديدة تُفرض عليه.”
وتعد المادة (27) من لائحة الانضباط موجودة منذ سنوات، إلا أن تفعيلها يُعد نادرًا للغاية، وقد سبق للجنة الانضباط في فيفا أن استخدمتها مع النجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو في نوفمبر 2025، عندما تعرض للطرد خلال مباراة البرتغال أمام جمهورية أيرلندا في التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العالم. ورغم معاقبته بالإيقاف ثلاث مباريات، جرى تعليق تنفيذ مباراتين لمدة عام على سبيل الاختبار، ليغيب عن مباراة واحدة فقط أمام أرمينيا ويصبح مؤهلًا للمشاركة في كأس العالم 2026.
وعقب صدور القرار، وجّه الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب رسالة شكر إلى ا|فيفا» عبر منصته، قال فيها: “شكرًا (فيفا) على فعل ما كان صائبًا، وتصحيح ظلمٍ كبير.”
في المقابل، كان الاتحاد البلجيكي أكبر المتضررين من القرار، حيث أصدر الاتحاد البلجيكي بيانًا أعرب فيه عن “دهشته” من تعليق العقوبة، معتبرًا أن القرار يتعارض مع اللوائح المنظمة لكأس العالم . كما وصف مدرب المنتخب البلجيكي رودي غارسيا القرار بأنه أشبه بـ”كذبة أول أبريل”، مشددًا على أن الاتحاد البلجيكي لا يدافع عن منتخب بلاده فحسب، بل عن نزاهة اللعبة وعدالة تطبيق اللوائح.
وأعاد القرار الاستثنائي فتح باب النقاش حول حدود صلاحيات لجنة الانضباط في فيفا وآلية تطبيق المادة (27)، خاصة مع تأثيره المباشر على واحدة من أبرز مباريات دور الـ16،

Doha: The Qatar Football Association (QFA) is taking part in delivering the FIFA World Cup 2026, with several of its staff managing match operations as part of a knowledge and expertise transfer programme between the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and FIFA.

The programme draws on the organisational experience Qatar gained from hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and other major international tournaments.

QFA staff are taking on key roles at several stadiums, including overseeing operations and coordinating with participating teams, helping to deliver a seamless match experience in line with FIFA standards.

Abdulla Mohammed Jassim Al Ishaq, Deputy Match Director, New York New Jersey Stadium

Abdulla Mohammed Jassim Al Ishaq is taking part as Deputy Match Director at New York New Jersey Stadium, leading operational activities and overseeing the stadium’s readiness to host fixtures in line with FIFA requirements. His role includes managing team arrival and match coordination meetings, collaborations with participating teams and various operational bodies, as well as following up on pre-match ceremonies, pitch management, dressing rooms and match official facility readiness.

Ali Hamoud Al Nuaimi, Match Commissioner, Houston Stadium

Ali Hamoud Al Nuaimi is serving as Match Commissioner at Houston Stadium, overseeing all organisational aspects of the match and monitoring proceedings and ensuring all parties comply with tournament regulations and FIFA requirements. He is also responsible for documenting events related to the match and preparing official match reports.

Abdulla Al Ansari, Match Coordinator, Houston Stadium

Abdulla Al Ansari is working as Match Coordinator at Houston Stadium, liaising between teams and tournament management, running coordination meetings, ensuring the readiness of dressing rooms and other facilities, and managing team schedules from arrival at the stadium through to departure.

Ahmed Al Sayed, Match Coordinator, Miami Stadium

Ahmed Al Sayed is serving as Match Coordinator at Miami Stadium, handling team logistics and ensuring compliance with tournament regulations. His responsibilities also include reviewing and approving player and technical staff lists, overseeing team schedules, and coordinating with match officials, the match commissioner, media, security and the anti-doping team.

This participation reflects the growing trust placed in Qatari professionals on the international stage, and the talent Qatar continues to build through its experience organising major global events.