FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Jun

15

2026

Ivory Coast’s historic win ignites continental pride at 2026 FIFA World Cup

FOOTBALL

AFRICA has finally written its name in the 2026 FIFA World Cup history books — and it came wrapped in dramatic, heart-stopping fashion. In a match that will echo through continental football for generations, Ivory Coast struck in the 90th minute to beat Ecuador 1-0, securing Africa's first-ever victory at this tournament. Substitute Amad Diallo delivered the clinical finish, steering Wilfried Singo's cross into the far corner to end Ecuador's 19-match unbeaten run and give the Elephants their first World Cup win since 2014. This wasn't just a win - it was Africa's liberation from the curse that had haunted…

Jun

11

2026

By RUUD GULLIT

EXCLUSIVE: Ruud Gullit calls on Gianni Infantino to resign amid growing World Cup controversy

FOOTBALL

I have stayed quiet for a long time because I wanted to judge this World Cup on football matters. But the deeper we get into the preparations, the more it becomes clear that football is no longer the main story. For that reason, I believe Gianni Infantino should seriously consider stepping down as FIFA President. A World Cup should unite people. Instead, this tournament is becoming a symbol of division, political disputes, travel restrictions, and administrative failures. We are hearing reports that Iranian supporters have had their ticket allocations withdrawn. We have seen the case of Somali referee Omar Artan,…

Jun

10

2026

By The African Mirror

Kagisho Dikgacoi backs Bafana to shock hosts Mexico in World Cup opener

FOOTBALL

FORMER Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi believes the weight of expectation on Mexico could play into South Africa’s hands when the two nations meet in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament kicks off on Thursday, 11 June 2026, at the iconic Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium) in Mexico, with a Group A clash between the hosts and South Africa, a repeat of the 2010 opening game at Soccer City, Johannesburg, where Siphiwe Tshabalala’s thunderbolt opener was cancelled out by Rafael Márquez in a 1-1 draw. Dikgacoi, who provided the assist for Tshabalala’s famous strike, says…

Jun

09

2026

By GUSTAVO MORELLO

What the tattoos of World Cup players say about their love, life and religious beliefs

FOOTBALL

AS the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 11, 2026, traditional news and social media channels will be full of pictures of the players. Many of them will be showing their tattoos. Body art has become increasingly part of international soccer, although its prevalence can vary across geographical regions. A study of athletes participating in the 2018 World Cup found that Latin American players were the most heavily tattooed, followed by those from Oceania and Europe. African and Asian players are the least tattooed. I have been studying tattoos and their spiritual and religious roles since 2018. Tattoos are…

Jun

09

2026

By STEVE GEORGAKIS

From ‘USA94’ to now: how soccer has changed since the last American World Cup

FOOTBALL

THE United States hosted its first World Cup in 1994. Soccer has changed dramatically in many ways since then – on and off the pitch. As the US (with Mexico and Canada) gets set to host the mega-event once again, more than anything, the tournament’s defining change since 1994 is its sheer scale-up. The scale-up This scale-up can be clearly quantified. The 1994 tournament featured 52 matches across 32 days with 24 teams. By contrast, the 2026 event (the first three-nation World Cup) will involve 78 matches in the US alone, over 39 days. The competition’s 48 teams are divided…

Jun

09

2026

By JOHN N. TREY ROGERS; JACKIE LYN A. GUEVARA; JOHN SOROCHAN, and RYAN BEARSS

We designed the turf for soccer’s biggest World Cup ever – here’s how we created the same playing experience across 3 countries

FOOTBALL

WIDTH 104 matches in 16 stadiums across Canada, the United States and Mexico, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be soccer’s biggest event ever. It’s our job as turfgrass researchers hired by FIFA, the game’s governing body, to make sure those pitches feel the same for players and that the grass thrives. That’s not so simple. In fact, it seemed like an impossible challenge at first. Picking the right turf The scale of this job was unprecedented: three distinct climatic zones, over 3,100 miles between the farthest stadiums, and venues ranging from stadiums open to the heat of Mexico City…

Jun

02

2026

By WYCLIFFE W. NJORORAI SIMIYU

Africa at the World Cup: 10 teams, local coaches and tactical depth usher in a new era

FOOTBALL

THE 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup marks a seismic shift in the global football landscape. The decision to expand the final stage of the tournament from 32 teams to 48 has significantly benefited the Confederation of African Football (Caf). In 2018 and 2022, Africa was represented by five nations; this year, a record 10 teams will take the stage. They are, in order of their FIFA world ranking: Morocco (ranked 8), Senegal (14), Algeria (28), Egypt (29), Côte d'Ivoire (34), Tunisia (44), Democratic Republic of Congo (46), South Africa (60), Cape Verde (69) and Ghana (74). As a sport scientist…

May

29

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Ten lions roar: Africa’s historic World Cup armies named

FOOTBALL

THE squads have been named, the kits laid out, and the dreams of a continent crystallised into 26-man rosters. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup prepares to kick off on 11 June in Mexico City, Africa stands at a historic crossroads: for the first time in the tournament's 96-year history, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will send ten nations to football's grandest stage. The expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams has opened a door that African football's advocates, coaches, and players have long agitated for. The result is a continental roll call of extraordinary breadth…

May

25

2026

By The African Mirror

KINGS OF AFRICA: Sundowns seize CAF championship in Rabat’s Lion Den

FOOTBALL

THERE are football nights that merely settle a title. Then there are football nights that write myths. Sunday evening at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat was emphatically the latter - a contest of suffocating tension, heart-stopping reversals and, ultimately, sublime South African defiance that buried a decade of continental near-misses under a cascade of gold and navy confetti. Mamelodi Sundowns are, once again, kings of Africa. The Brazilians from Chloorkop claimed the 2025-26 CAF Champions League title with a 1-1 draw on the night, sealing a 2-1 aggregate victory over hosts AS FAR - and in doing so,…

Apr

18

2026

By The African Mirror

Agent confirms uncertainty over Pule Mmodi’s future at Kaizer Chiefs

FOOTBALL

KAIZER Chiefs winger Pule Mmodi is facing an uncertain future at the club, with his representatives confirming that discussions regarding his future have been placed on hold for now. Despite enjoying one of their most promising campaigns in recent years, Amakhosi are dealing with uncertainty surrounding several key players, with a number of contracts set to expire at the end of the current campaign. Among those in a similar position to Mmodi are defender Dillan Solomons, goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, former Stellenbosch FC midfielder Sibongiseni Mthethwa, as well as Gaston Sirino. Having featured in 25 matches across all competitions, registering one…