Free Republic

FIFA will take no action against Argentina after its players sang a song referencing the Falkland Islands in their dressing room following their comeback victory over Egypt. Footage shared online by the country's football association showed the group celebrating in their dressing room post-match and belting out the song Muchachos, which includes the line 'for the Malvinas', Argentina's name for the South Atlantic islands it invaded in 1982 to trigger a war which claimed the lives of 907 people. FIFA, who have banned England player Jarell Quansah for two games following a red card, states that it strictly prohibits political...

The internet is making sure the U.S. won’t exit the World Cup quietly, and Ryanair was the latest player to join the banter. The American dream of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup was crushed in a 1-4 loss to Belgium, marking the team’s heaviest defeat since 1990. As the pomp and fanfare quickly fizzled out, memes mocking the U.S. team came pouring in, with Ryanair unabashedly joining the fun. The internet is making sure the U.S. won’t exit the World Cup quietly, and Ryanair was the latest player to join the banter The Irish airline has seemingly made a...

Public unrest began in parts of London late Thursday night, and it appears Morocco’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the hands of France is the reason. France took down Morocco 2-0, forcing the African country’s elimination for the second consecutive tournament, this time in a quarterfinal match. As a result, many feared Paris would erupt into riots, especially after the chaos that followed Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Champions League victory over Arsenal in May. Instead, images and videos from Edgware Road in northwest London showed police clashing with large crowds as smoke billowed through the streets and debris...

The USMNT (United States Men's National Team) was knocked out of the 2026 World Cup after their round-of-16 loss to Belgium this past Monday, but that didn’t stop them from earning a cool $16 million in FIFA prize money. 20 percent of that will go to U.S. Soccer, and the rest to the players. And while that might have served as a silver lining after fizzling out of the tournament, the men's team will have to accept the fact that the 80 percent ($12.8 million) will actually be split with the USWNT (United States Women's National Team). Under the U.S....

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said his team was the victim of an "injustice" in its 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 defeat against Argentina, suggesting FIFA wanted Lionel Messi to "stay in the running" at the competition. Reigning world champions Argentina fought back from down 2-0 to win the game following a stunning late intervention by Messi, who created one goal and scored another. But Egypt were furious at having a goal disallowed following a VAR review and then a subsequent failure to check on an apparent foul by Alexis Mac Allister in the immediate buildup to Enzo Fernández's stoppage-time winner. And...

Egypt manager Hossam Hassan restrained by security in Atlanta after confronting a fan with an Israeli flag, days after waving a PLO flag on the pitch. ...Egypt's national soccer team manager, Hossam Hassan, confronted a fan waving an Israeli flag in the stands in Atlanta on Tuesday, following his team's World Cup defeat to Argentina. After the final whistle, Hassan was heading down to the dressing rooms when he spotted the fan with the Israeli flag in the stands. He attempted to lunge at him but was restrained by stadium security forces on the scene. Hassan and his brother, who...

President Donald Trump reportedly pushed for FIFA to allow United States striker Folarin Balogun to play on Monday against Belgium. FIFA stunned the soccer world with its announcement Sunday that Balogun's one-match ban for his straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup Round of 32 had been suspended and he would be allowed to play in the Round of 16. Sunday afternoon, several reports emerged that Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday and asked for the World Cup governing body to review Balogun's ban. According to The Athletic, FIFA has granted Belgium the ability...

At 93, sprightly referee Frank Foster is still brandishing red and yellow cards and running the field three times a week for his local soccer association. Having taken charge of around 5,500 matches over a 46-year officiating career, SWNS reported that the great-grandfather credits his longevity and match-day stamina to a lifetime of healthy habits and a foundational diet. Foster puts his incredible fitness down to the strict wartime rations he was fed as a teenager, noting that it ensured he grew up eating “healthy food” rather than “sweets and cakes.” Decades later, his game-day preparation is still fueled by...

After the Royal Belgian Football Association released a 283-word statement saying it was “astonished” at Folarin Balogun’s reinstatement, manager Rudi Garcia compared it to April Fools’ Day at his pre-match press conference. “I didn’t know that July 5 was equal to April 1 at FIFA,” Garcia said in French, through an interpreter. “We’re not defending the national team or federation,” Garcia continued. “We’re defending in football. … It’s the first time in World Cup history that such a decision is taken. I am a head coach, I will focus on my team, on tomorrow’s game. Regardless of the 11 starting...

Uefa has strongly criticised Fifa's shock decision not to uphold Folarin Balogun's automatic ban at this World Cup, calling it "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable". United States striker Balogun, who was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina, should have served a suspension for the last-16 tie against Belgium (Tuesday 01:00 BST). But Fifa opted not to enforce an immediate sanction on the 25-year-old, meaning the co-hosts' leading goalscorer will be available to play. Uefa said that intervening to effectively cancel a suspension at a tournament "crossed a red line". On Sunday, President Trump thanked Fifa for "reversing a great injustice". The Belgian Football...

In a major boost to the USMNT, FIFA have decided to suspend the one-game ban handed to striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to be available for their World Cup round of 16 clash against Belgium on Monday night. On Sunday morning, the governing body unexpectedly intervened to suspend the mandatory one-match ban stemming from the forward's red card on July 1. The 25-year-old forward was sent off during the Americans' recent victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina following a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic. Though it initially appeared to be a fairly innocuous tackle, replays showed that the striker did appear...

Former South Korea men’s national team head coach Hong Myung-bo is said to be taking refuge in the United States upon resigning from his role after a disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. Hong and South Korea failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup after coming in third place in Group A behind Mexico and South Africa. Following a strong start to the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Czechia, South Korea lost back-to-back games and was eliminated in the group stage. Hong resigned from his role as head coach soon after, but plenty more controversy...

Seattle’s “Pride Match” for the Iran-Egypt game is unofficial and unlicensed. That’s entirely the point. SEATTLE — FIFA has not endorsed the Seattle host-city committee’s “Pride Match” designation, which will not be part of the official branding when Iran and Egypt meet tonight at Lumen Field. “I think they’ve always been aware of what we’re doing,” said Louise Chernin, who as chair of the organizing committee’s Pride Match Impact Council began planning for the day nearly a year and a half ago. Chernin began her match day at Rough & Tumble, a women’s sports bar in Ballard, a historically Scandinavian...

The Iranian and Egyptian soccer federations have urged FIFA to strip any “Pride Match” displays and rainbow symbols from Friday’s World Cup match in Seattle. The contest, slated for June 26 at Lumen Field, is scheduled during the city’s Pride weekend and has been referred to as the “Pride Match.” While FIFA confirmed to the New York Times that rainbow flags remain permitted at all World Cup matches this summer, its president, Gianni Infantino, has previously distanced the governing body from the event’s promotional themes. He insisted there would be no official “Pride Match” at the tournament in an interview...

Former San Francisco Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff has launched a profanity-filled attack over the club’s ongoing Pride Night controversy. The former Giant directed much of his criticism at the questions team president Buster Posey faced from reporters while defending what he believes Posey wanted to say publicly. According to TMZ, Huff, who helped the Giants win World Series titles in 2010 and 2012, posted a series of messages on X after Posey declined to answer questions Tuesday regarding the organization’s Pride Night controversy, which has remained in the spotlight following Major League Baseball’s decision to warn several Giants pitchers...

A self-proclaimed psychic has tearfully claimed that aliens are about to invade the planet and are targeting the World Cup game between Scotland and Brazil on Wednesday in Miami. Vo Bahiana, a Brazilian spiritualist with over 23million followers on social media, outlined her prediction in a video that has gone viral across social media. She claims she has had two dreams about the invasion. She predicted that aliens would come out from a spacecraft hovering above Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, which is set to be packed full with 65,000 fans for the standout game of the day at the World...

FIFA has confirmed that rainbow flags will be permitted inside Lumen Field when Iran face Egypt in Seattle's designated "Pride Match" on Friday, dismissing lobbying efforts from both Muslim-majority nations. The world governing body stated that the 2026 World Cup is "an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds," adding that "fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome at matches and events."

* Iran and Egypt have both criticised the branding of their World Cup group-stage meeting as a "Pride Match" * Egyptian football officials formally lodged objections with FIFA over LGBTQ+ themed activities surrounding the fixture * The June 26 match in Seattle was designated by local organisers as part of Pride Month celebrations Iran and Egypt have expressed opposition to branding of their upcoming World Cup meeting as a "Pride Match," with both football federations raising concerns ahead of the Group G fixture in Seattle. The two nations were drawn together for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the tournament...

Former Cuauhtémoc Mayor Sandra Cuevas has gone viral during Mexico’s World Cup run, drawing attention for both her team spirit and her revealing outfit at a recent gathering, as reported by The New York Post. Cuevas, 40, has been celebrating Mexico’s victories over South Africa and South Korea as El Tri continues its strong start in the tournament.

1. Croatian team shares the importance of their Catholic faith 2. Players from Curaçao and Germany join in prayer after competing against one another 3. Lionel Messi thanks God after making history. 4. Team USA shares a moment of prayer after historic win against Paraguay - After the game, defender Mark McKenzie led the team in a moment of prayer on the field.- Star winger Christian Pulisic is known for leading several of his teammates in a Bible study he calls “Bible Time."- Goalkeeper Matt Freese recently spoke to Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast: “Right now I’m listening to ‘Bible...