Tech, trackers and tourniquets: How England are preparing for Mexico World Cup altitude July 3, 2026 For an array of reasons, England face the toughest test of their World Cup credentials late on Sunday night when they face co-hosts Mexico. At the Azteca Stadium, they will come up against a team who have won four games out of four at this tournament, are backed by fervent home support and who have [...]
Ferdinand, Crouch, Foster: How footballers have built media empires for the future July 3, 2026 Footballers need to retire eventually. Calum Hopkins takes a look at how they can do it in a changing media landscape. With the World Cup knockouts well underway, it is time to consider whether the people sitting in the studio continue to have the power. We are seeing a massive shift in football; the audience [...]
Fifa accused of bullying in attempt to kill off multi-billion class action claim July 3, 2026 Fifa has been accused of using bullying tactics in a bid to kill off a class action lawsuit claiming billions in lost earnings from football’s governing body on behalf of current and former players. Justice For Players is pursuing a mega claim deriving from the European Court of Justice’s landmark Diarra Ruling, which declared Fifa’s [...]
Cruyff turn: Starmer allows pubs to stay open for England World Cup game July 2, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has performed a Cruyff turn as he announced that pubs would be able to stay open until 5am for England’s game against Mexico on late Sunday night. Before the change in policy, pubs were set to be forced to kick punters out at half time in the early hours of Monday morning. [...]
Sumo’s London return shows the capital really is a global sport leader July 2, 2026 An astonishing thing is happening in Greenwich’s historic Borough Hall. The somewhat garish landmark of SE10, until next Wednesday, is at the epicentre of London’s love affair with Sumo. Having returned to the capital in 2025 for the first time since the early 1990s, City AM revealed last month that the highest level of the [...]
Pull an all-nighter for the 1AM England World Cup game at these London pubs July 2, 2026 After a nail-biting game last night Londoners are preparing to watch this weekend’s England World Cup fixture, although the kick off is at the rather unconventional time of 1AM on Monday morning. If you’re staying up on Sunday night into Monday morning to watch the game, there are plenty of options for places to book. [...]
Inside Arabian Falcons: The Dubai football side managed by Jonjo Shelvey July 2, 2026 Arabian Falcons have just re-signed Jonjo Shelvey as their manager, with the Dubai football team boasting off-pitch figures such as Jason Puncheon. Matt Hardy investigates Hear someone discussing Arabian Falcons and it would be easy to assume they were talking about either the Peregrine or the Saker – two heritage symbols of the Middle East [...]
Why World Cup players could pay tax in five different countries July 1, 2026 Football fever has arrived as England prepare for their first knockout game this evening, but for all the excitement the 2026 World Cup could create some major tax headaches for players. Fifa is protected because it negotiates some of the most lucrative broadcasting and sponsorship deals in the sports world, which usually come with tax [...]
German FA HQ raided by police in bribery probe days after shock World Cup exit July 1, 2026 Police have carried out a major raid on the headquarters of Germany’s football federation, the DFB, in a probe into suspected bribery relating to Euro 2024. The raid on Wednesday morning – 36 hours after the men’s national team suffered a shock elimination from the current World Cup by Paraguay – involved more than 150 [...]
Hated World Cup hydration breaks here to stay for even hotter 2030 and 2034 July 1, 2026 Hydration breaks are expected to remain a feature of future World Cups despite attracting widespread criticism, City AM understands. The divisive three-minute pauses, taken midway through each half, have become one of the tournament’s hottest talking points. They have effectively turned football into a game of four quarters and head coaches have said they are [...]