Qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup began on Oct. 12 ... action played their first matches. There are 55 European nations, although 54 will compete as Russia remain suspended due to the ...

as FIFA has completely barred them from participating in the World Cup. Countries like Russia, Congo, and Pakistan are prohibited from taking part in FIFA matches and tournaments, each due to its ...

Since being banned from competitive football after invading Ukraine, Russia have largely ... window. One match was called off after Eritrea withdrew from 2026 World Cup qualifying reportedly ...

As prestigious global sporting events go, it doesn’t get much bigger than the World Cup. Starting from June 14, an audience of billions will watch 32 national teams compete across 11 cities in Russia ...