Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

FIFA to reexamine four-team groups for 2026 World Cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the World Cup will extend to 48 teams in 2026 but revealed that the original plan of having 16 groups of three nations is now back on the table for change.

Soccer • 16 Dec 22

The Belgian international had the simplest of tasks to find the net

Lukaku strike sends Chelsea into Club World Cup final

Romelu Lukaku's gift-wrapped goal proved enough for Chelsea to overcome a resolute Al Hilal 1-0 and reach the Club World Cup final.

Soccer • 09 Feb 22

Arsene Wenger has been tasked with trying to shorten the gap between World Cups

European Leagues 'firmly opposed' to biennial World Cup

The Premier League has joined the rest of Europe's top competitions in announcing its firm opposition to FIFA plans for a World Cup every two years.

Soccer • 09 Sep 21

Qatar has already been touted as a potential replacement venue

Japan withdraws Club World Cup hosting role

Japan have withdrawn as hosts of December's Club World Cup, which features Chelsea as European champions, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Soccer • 09 Sep 21

Liverpool's Sadio Mane in action against Rafinha of Flamengo during the 2019 Club World Cup final

Football's next 'super' projects already in the works

The breakaway European Super League may have ended in dramatic failure last week, but it is far from the end of radical proposals for new competitions in the world game.

Soccer • 25 Apr 21

Robert Lewandowski celebrates his second goal

Lewandowski steers Bayern into Club World Cup final

Champions League holders Bayern Munich reached the Club World Cup final where they will face Mexican side Tigres after two goals from Robert Lewandowski gave them a clinical 2-0 win over Al Ahly.

Soccer • 08 Feb 21

Robert Lewandowski during the clash with Hertha Berlin

Bayern fume as flight delay hits Club World Cup plans

Bayern Munich were left fuming after a seven-hour delay to their departure to Qatar for the Club World Cup, when Berlin's airport refused to give their plane clearance for takeoff at midnight due to a night-time flight ban.

Soccer • 06 Feb 21

Champions League winners Bayern Munich previously won the Club World Cup in 2013

Bayern to face Al Duhail or Al Ahly in Club World Cup

European champions Bayern Munich will meet either Qatar's Al Duhail or Egyptian side Al Ahly in the semi-finals of FIFA's Club World Cup after the draw for the competition took place in Zurich.

Soccer • 19 Jan 21

Liverpool won last year's edition of the Club World Cup

Auckland City withdraw from FIFA Club World Cup

Auckland City have withdrawn from next month's Club World Cup due to the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine measures required by New Zealand's authorities FIFA has announced.

Soccer • 15 Jan 21

FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the FIFA Club World Cup Final match between Liverpool and Flamengo in 2019

Club World Cup to trial concussion subs

The Club World Cup will trial the use of an additional permanent concussion substitute, FIFA has said.

Soccer • 08 Jan 21

FIFA Club World Cup to keep existing format for 2021

The 2021 Club World Cup will be a seven-team tournament to be played in Japan, FIFA has announced.

Soccer • 04 Dec 20

FIFA president not interested in European Super League

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he is not interested in a European Super League amid reports that some elite clubs were in talks to set up a breakaway competition with the backing of world football's governing body.

Soccer • 22 Oct 20

Qatar 2022 organisers promise 'affordable' World Cup

Qatar has pledged to put on an "affordable" World Cup in two-and-a-half years' time with a post-pandemic global recession looming.

Soccer • 20 May 20

EPCR deny that cup competitions are under threat

A statement from European Professional Club Rugby has hit out at media reports reports regarding a proposal for an annual Club World Cup.

Rugby • 06 Apr 20

President of French Rugby Federation Bernard Laporte

Laporte touts Club World Cup to replace Champions Cup

French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte has proposed a radical new Club World Cup tournament to replace the existing European Champions Cup in a bid to increase club revenues that have taken a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rugby • 06 Apr 20

'It was not our best game we have ever played but it was enough to win'

Klopp struggles to find words after Qatar triumph

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he struggled to put his feelings into words after winning the Club World Cup.

Soccer • 21 Dec 19

Virgil van Dijk leads a training session in Doha

Liverpool boost as Van Dijk trains ahead of Club final

Virgil Van Dijk was present for Liverpool's training session on Friday morning in Doha with midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum the only absentee.

Soccer • 20 Dec 19

WATCH: Firmino fires Liverpool into World Cup final

Liverpool substitute Roberto Firmino scored a stoppage-time winner against Monterrey to put the Reds into the final of the Club World Cup.

Soccer • 18 Dec 19

Monterrey 1-2 Liverpool - Club World Cup recap

Relive all the action from the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final in Qatar as the European champions took on the North American kingpins.

Soccer • 18 Dec 19

Caoimhin Kelleher will join the Liverpool senior squad in Qatar

Kelleher jets out to Qatar to join Liverpool squad

Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is one of three Liverpool youngsters who will fly out to Qatar today to join the rest of the squad at the Club World Cup.

Soccer • 18 Dec 19

Takumi Minamino will join Liverpool in January

Minamino set for Anfield medical ahead of move

Red Bull Salzburg playmaker Takumi Minamino is set to have a medical at Liverpool on Wednesday ahead of his proposed £7.25million move.

Soccer • 18 Dec 19

"I have to be influential in football but not in politics"

Klopp keen to keep focus on football in Qatar

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, in Qatar for the Club World Cup, said that it is wrong that managers and players are asked to make judgments on the suitability of a country for hosting global tournaments.

Soccer • 17 Dec 19

Wijnaldum travels but Lovren ruled out for Reds

Georginio Wijnaldum has been included in Liverpool's Club World Cup squad in spite of injury fears, but Dejan Lovren has had to admit defeat in his bid to be fit.

Soccer • 15 Dec 19

Pedro Miguel celebrates in front of the home fans in Doha

Al Sadd advance at Club World Cup

Qatari champions Al Sadd converted a free-kick naively given away with a back pass to the goalkeeper to set up a 3-1 extra-time win over New Caledonian part-timers Hienghene Sport in the opening Club World Cup match on Wednesday.

Soccer • 11 Dec 19

Bafetimbi Gomis will be hoping to fire Al-Hilal to glory

The runners & riders at the FIFA Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup kicks off in Qatar on Wednesday. We took alook at the well known, and not so well known, teams doing battle.

Soccer • 11 Dec 19