Eddie Howe’s departure (and another summer of unwanted upheaval) marks the end of a chapter at #NUFC, but maybe in reality phase one ended some time ago. Are the owners still as ambitious as they were? Other than what Howe and players delivered, where’s the progress? www.nytimes.com/athletic/748...

What has happened to Newcastle’s big ambitions? (Gift Article)

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund made bold statements about the future and achieved early success, but the project has started to drift

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60 years ago today England won the World Cup for the only time. This is about what happened to the 11 gold medals awarded that day. But more than that, it’s about hardship, dementia, loss, inheritance tax — and a wider failure (ongoing) to honour the heroes of 1966 www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...

Hunting down the 1966 World Cup medals: Those sold, those kept — and the inheritance tax ‘disgrace’ (Gift Article)

England have won one World Cup. The story of what happened to the medals afterwards is complex

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Eddie Howe turned Newcastle’s dreams into reality. In the end, he had nothing left to give (Gift Article)

The end for Howe can only prompt sadness. There is no jubilation. He is not despised or berated by the vast majority of Newcastle supporters

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In a World Cup defined by chaotic games and big moments from the game’s biggest stars, the best team —emphasis on *team* — won. In praise of Spain, a counterpoint to what Arsene Wenger once called the “fast food” ethos of international football #worldcup #españa 🇪🇸 www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Spain are worthy World Cup winners. It’s a victory for method over madness (Gift Article)

In a World Cup that was so often illuminated by the game’s biggest stars, the greatest glory was claimed by its strongest collective

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Watching Lionel Messi play football is one of life's great pleasures. For many people, this could be the last time. His legacy doesn't hinge on today's World Cup final. It is already astonishing, perhaps unsurpassable #lionelmessi #argentina #worldcup #WorldCupFinal www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Lionel Messi. Is this the end?

There are good footballers, great footballers and then there is Lionel Messi, the teenage wunderkind illuminating the World Cup age 39

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On the eve of the 2010 World Cup final, the world held its breath — perhaps a slight exaggeration — to see whether an octopus in Oberhausen would "back" Spain or the Netherlands. It's the Paul the Octopus "deep dive" you never knew you needed to read www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...

Paul the Octopus was the World Cup prediction king. He was unique. Or was he?

Paul the Octopus predicted eight games out of eight correctly during the 2010 World Cup. But the story is not that simple...

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The story of England's World Cup campaign: from Tuchel's bizarre squad selection, ups and downs, surges of belief (particularly after beating Mexico), a growing sense of fatigue & the deflation that followed that meek collapse vs Argentina @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

Inside England’s World Cup: Tuchel clauses, ‘tattoo’ plans and a happy camp clouded by one big regret (Gift Article)

The inside story of the campaign which promised so much before ending in familiar, agonising fashion

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England 1-2 Argentina post-match analysis with @thom-harris.bsky.social @felipecardenas.bsky.social et al. On a typical Anglo-Argentinian street fight, Gordon's opener, Messi's final push, Argentina's winning mentality ... and Tuchel's fearful retreat #ENGARG 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇦🇷 www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

Many articles on England vs Argentina rivalry, a compelling theme. This one covers the usual ground (Rattin, Maradona, Beckham, Falklands) & insight from Javier Zanetti, Danny Mills, National Archives ... & the England player who walked into Oscar Ruggeri's ambush 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿� www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

The bitter history of England vs Argentina, a World Cup semi-final steeped in bad blood

England vs Argentina is just a game. It is also a rivalry built around emotions, tensions, controversies and bitter feuds

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Remember Paul the Octopus? A deep dive 🙁 on one of the weirdest World Cup stories * death threats from Argentina * huge “transfer bid” from Russia * a symbol of western decadence and decay, said Iran’s president * were there two Pauls? * and where is his monument? www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...

Paul the Octopus was the World Cup prediction king. He was unique. Or was he?

Paul the Octopus predicted eight games out of eight correctly during the 2010 World Cup. But the story is not that simple...

nytimes.com

"If I try to think quickly through these 40 days, it has been absolutely insane, the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of." Erling Haaland reflects on the whirlwind experience of his first World Cup ... which “changes Norway … and it changes me”. #erlinghaaland 🇳🇴 www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...

Erling Haaland beaten but unbowed after 40 days that changed his life, and put Norway on the map (Gift Article)

Norway's talismanic striker could not prevent his side exiting the tournament but he leaves some golden memories

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World Cup daily briefing: * Looking ahead to France v Spain * Does Portugal’s new coach *seriously* plan to stick with Cristiano Ronaldo? * Thoughts on scapegoating of players such as Colombia’s Jáminton Campaz, who has faced death threats, and USA’s Christian Pulisic www.nytimes.com/athletic/743...

Is Yamal right to be confident about knocking France out of the World Cup? Day 30 recap

All you need to know about today's World Cup games and the key talking points from day 30

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A World Cup rest day ☹️ so here we've got a load of @theathleticfc.bsky.social writers writing about our first World Cup memories. Mine includes references to Zico, Littbarski, Narey, Giresse, Conti, Falcão... and a Kuwaiti prince storming onto the pitch to protest www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

Vibrant kits, sumptuous goals and exhaustive wall charts: Our writers’ formative World Cup memories

The Athletic's writers look back at some of the early World Cup memories that kindled their love for the global tournament

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“You do not (want to) wake up the beast,” Thierry Henry said. “You look at his eyes, and he switches. When he goes into that mood, it’s very difficult to stop him.” Report from Atlanta on an underrated aspect of Lionel Messi’s brilliance: the glorious rage #messi 🇦🇷 www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

The glorious rage of Lionel Messi: ‘You look at his eyes and he switches’

Egypt awoke the beast in Lionel Messi. The rest was World Cup history...

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The World Cup was Cristiano Ronaldo’s kryptonite. Six WCs, 11 goals (1 in K/O stage), few highlights. And it’s not “a tournament too far”. That was said in 2022. But he’s absolutely right when he says his football legacy, an all-time great, has been defined elsewhere www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

The World Cup was Cristiano Ronaldo’s kryptonite but it does not define his football legacy (Gift Article)

Football's greatest prize eluded him but Ronaldo's impact on the sport cannot be disputed

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It should be easy to believe Gianni Infantino's statement regarding FIFA's "independent" processes and his chat with President Trump. Not so easy when his FIFA presidency has been defined by a craven desperation to please the rich and the powerful www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

Who is the real Gianni Infantino, FIFA president and ‘the king of soccer’?

Before the Club World Cup, The Athletic has spoken to dozens of people to gain a clearer picture of the most powerful man in football

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The ending was mad. Before that was the most insipid 30 mins seen at a World Cup since… well, Gijon in 1982. From 65 to 90+1 min, Algeria pass completion was 99%! Algeria made 110 consecutive passes, unchallenged, before Aouar and Mahrez went rogue. Much to ponder www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

The Disgrace of Kansas City? A crazy game nobody saw coming, with the outcome they did

For 30 minutes, it looked as though Algeria and Austria were happy to play for a convenient draw - then came a wild period of added time

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England World Cup so far: * game 1 uplifting (excellent set-pieces & fast breaks) * game 2 deflating (struggle vs low block) * predictable injury issues at right back Tuchel doesn't want to discuss those he left out, but doubts over squad selection haven't been eased www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...

Tuchel is laughing off questions but injuries are making some England omissions look like oversights (Gift Article)

Are England too predictable too often when faced with a resilient, well-organised defence? It seemed that way against Ghana

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Had the privilege of watching Messi in Dallas on Monday and Ronaldo in Houston 24 hours later. Two very different experiences: culturally, theatrically, stylistically. But whatever your preference, you cannot appreciate one of them fully without appreciating the other www.nytimes.com/athletic/738...

Watching Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in 24 hours. The World Cup is still in thrall to them

Watching the two greatest footballers of the modern era playing on the biggest stage in the twilight of their careers was irresistible

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This World Cup’s latest unlikely hero: Eloy Room, from spending most of 2025 without a club to dancing with the king and queen last night after his goalkeeping heroics earned Curaçao a precious 0-0 draw against Ecuador “I need a statue in Curaçao now” 🇨🇼 nyti.ms/3QrF9ch

Eloy Room spent last year training alone. Now he’s Curacao’s World Cup hero (Gift Article)

Room's 15 saves against Ecuador is the stuff of dreams, as is the journey to this point for him and Curacao

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“If it upsets him (Fabio Capello) or it upsets any player, so what? I really think, ‘Sod it’.” On this day in 2010, with England's World Cup campaign in meltdown after a dire 0-0 draw with Algeria, John Terry went rogue. Fear and loathing in South Africa, revisited www.nytimes.com/athletic/168...

England, ‘control freak’ Capello and chaos at 2010 World Cup (Gift Article)

Players and staff explain how it all went so wrong for England at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

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Enjoyed that! England 4-2 Croatia. Full-time analysis here (Bellingham, Kane's one-two penalty technique, some questionable defending, that Baturina goal) with @liamtharme.bsky.social @jameshorncastle.bsky.social Tim Spiers @theathleticfc.bsky.social #ENGCRO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇭🇷 www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

England almost guaranteed World Cup knockout place after Bellingham helps beat Croatia (Gift Article)

Analysis of England's opening World Cup game against Croatia

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Thoughts and expectations re England's prospects at this World Cup with @jackpittbrooke.bsky.social @jaydmharris.bsky.social @dansheldon.bsky.social and more @theathleticfc.bsky.social. Understand Tuchel's logic, but concerned by lack of quality in some areas #ENGCRO www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

Our experts’ World Cup expectations for England: ‘Anything less than the semis would be a failure’

Can Thomas Tuchel take England one step further in North America this summer?

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On June 16 2006 I was in Gelsenkirchen to watch Lionel Messi, 18, make his World Cup debut with a wonderful cameo vs Serbia & Montenegro. Twenty years on I was in Kansas City to watch him kick off his sixth World Cup with a hat-trick vs Algeria. Always a privilege www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

Watching Lionel Messi’s enduring brilliance, from his infancy to iconic status – 20 years apart

If this, finally, surely, is to be his last World Cup - Messi is not going to go quietly. It's a privilege to still be watching him

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"When I played for France against Senegal in the World Cup, it was a privilege. I was so proud to play for France and to wear that shirt 107 times. “But Senegal is also part of who I am." Patrick Vieira interview part two on France v Senegal (then and now) #FRASEN 🇫🇷🇸🇳 www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

Patrick Vieira interview: ‘I was so proud to play for France… but Senegal is also part of who I am’ (Gift Article)

The great France midfielder on the shock of losing to Senegal in 2002 and his evolving relationship with his own sense of identity

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"When I played for France against Senegal in the World Cup, it was a privilege. I was so proud to play for France and to wear that shirt 107 times. “But Senegal is also part of who I am." Part two of Patrick Vieira interview focuses on France v Senegal (then & now) 🇫🇷🇸🇳 www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

Patrick Vieira interview: ‘I was so proud to play for France… but Senegal is also part of who I am’ (Gift Article)

The great France midfielder on the shock of losing to Senegal in 2002 and his evolving relationship with his own sense of identity

nytimes.com

An interview with Patrick Vieira 🔵 the "warrior players", togetherness and "long teeth" that won France the World Cup in 1998 ⚪️ whether the class of 2026 can find that same mentality 🔴 how Deschamps can get the best out of Olise, Doué, Dembélé and Mbappé #worldcup 🇫🇷 www.nytimes.com/athletic/735...

Patrick Vieira interview: France’s ‘long teeth’ in 1998 and Didier Deschamps’ tactical dilemma

The World Cup winner discusses his choice of France's front six and identifies what today's team need to emulate the sides of 1998 and 2018

nytimes.com

“It’s a very religious and very spiritual atmosphere." Paul Clement on working with the Brazil squad — & with Carlo Ancelotti again: "Carlo is always a great fit for a big team; big characters, big personalities. "They’re desperate for that sixth star on the shirt" www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

Brazil, Carlo Ancelotti and the World Cup: ‘They’re desperate for that sixth star on the shirt’

It is 24 years since the South Americans last won this tournament but, under their Italian coach, they aspire to end that lengthy drought

nytimes.com

The 2026 World Cup: so much to dislike/deplore, so much to look forward to — as was the case in Qatar and Russia. If you feel conflicted, you're not the only one. But unless fatigue and the horribly bloated format kill it, the football will still be a joy to behold www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

Why a World Cup is the biggest event on planet Earth

In terms of global impact, socially, culturally and economically, nothing comes close to the World Cup

nytimes.com

Really enjoyed joining this discussion of the top 20 greatest footballers of all time - as featured in @theathletic.com Soccer 100 book #soccer100 out now @joe-devine.bsky.social hosted @amylawrence.bsky.social @nickmiller79.bsky.social Carl Anka & me youtube.com/watch?v=We9kLgtWFe8&feature=youtu.be

The 20 greatest football players of all time

YouTube video by The Athletic FC

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