The Independent Football

• Why some of the most dedicated World Cup fans are skipping this year’s tournament

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  The World Cup is set to get underway next week, but some hardcore fans won’t be attending this year’s tournament

• Pep Guardiola ‘quit Man City 100 times’ over historic decade in charge

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak says he became Guardiola’s ‘psychiatrist’ as he paid tribute to the Catalan coach

• Fenerbahce chairman jailed over betting scandal amid chaos in Turkish football

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  The ruling comes days before the club is due to elect his successor

• Joe Cole outlines key to success for Thomas Tuchel’s England at World Cup

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Joe Cole has given his verdict on England’s chances at this summer’s World Cup

• Veteran Man United goalkeeper pens one-year contract extension

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Heaton, 40, has played three times for the Red Devils since returning in 2021

• Iran’s players open up on how war with US has affected World Cup preparations: ‘Our duty is to fight for our people’

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Iran will play their World Cup matches in the US, a country they are currently at war with

• Sarina Wiegman insists England will not play for a draw in crunch Spain qualifier

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  A draw would take England to the finals and leave the holders relying on the play-offs

• Think ‘soccer’ is the wrong name? History says otherwise

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  The word is, in some parts of the world, shunned by some fans

• Jose Mourinho files complaint to European human rights court over Turkish football ban

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Jose Mourinho has failed a complaint after being sanctioned during his time in charge of Turkish side Fenerbahce

• Bart Verbruggen on Cruyff, Krul and why Netherlands can win the World Cup: ‘Our defence is one of the best in the world’

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  The 23-year-old, who is No 1 for Brighton and the Netherlands, tells Lawrence Ostlere that the Dutch are in North America to finally win the World...

• EFL chief executive to stand down after next season in major shake-up

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Birch has been in the role since January 2021 and will end his six-year tenure at the end of the 2026-27 campaign

• Scotland captain Caroline Weir says Fifa and Uefa should answer Israel questions ahead of World Cup qualifiers

  5-6-2026 Football The Independent Football

  Scotland are due to play Israel twice in World Cup qualifiers