Malaysia's boldest takes on news, entertainment and buzz.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has abandoned a controversial plan to sell 20% of World Cup operations to private investors, ending a three-day crisis that has significantly damaged his political standing and left his re-election prospects uncertain.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino's proposal to privatise the World Cup faces near-certain defeat after the Asian Football Confederation rejected it, joining UEFA and CONCACAF in opposition.
Johor Baru police arrested 12 men, including a teenager, after a violent altercation broke out during a World Cup final live screening at a restaurant in Taman Daya early Wednesday morning.
Spain's World Cup victory over Argentina demonstrates how football can unite a regionally diverse nation. The triumph, built on possession-based football and collective effort, offers lessons in cohesion relevant to Southeast Asian societies.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has praised the national football team's unity and unique character as the squad prepares for Sunday's World Cup final against Argentina, offering a moment of national pride amid domestic political challenges.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's original flight to New York was cancelled due to smoke from Canadian wildfires degrading air quality. She flew overnight via Defence Ministry aircraft instead, attending the World Cup final alongside US and Canadian leaders.
United Nations experts have demanded impartial investigations into claims that authorities disrupted protests highlighting Mexico's ongoing crisis of missing persons during the World Cup tournament.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has acknowledged his team's defensive vulnerability after conceding two late goals to Argentina in their World Cup semi-final, but maintains he would make identical tactical choices again.
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Residents of Buenos Aires have voiced strong support for Argentine football players who displayed a banner asserting sovereignty over the Falkland Islands following their semi-final victory over England, even as British officials demand FIFA investigation.
France's 2-0 World Cup semifinal defeat to Spain sparked unrest across multiple cities, resulting in 160+ arrests. Most incidents involved fireworks aimed at police, with no serious injuries reported.
Portugal will play Croatia in the World Cup round of 32 on Thursday, marking one year since the death of beloved forward Diogo Jota. The team has woven tributes throughout their campaign.
Belgium has strongly criticised FIFA's decision to overturn a red-card ban for a key United States player following President Trump's personal appeal to the football body ahead of their World Cup knockout fixture.
Penang police are ramping up enforcement operations targeting illegal betting rings as the FIFA World Cup enters its knockout stages. The crackdown has already netted 31 arrests across the state, with authorities warning of intensified raids ahead.
FIFA's refereeing chief has firmly rejected claims of bias in Argentina's contentious 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 win over Egypt, emphasizing that match officials maintained complete independence and that VAR decisions were correctly applied throughout.
Colombia's legendary striker Radamel Falcao has launched a scathing critique of his nation's football infrastructure after the team's World Cup elimination on penalties to Switzerland in the round of 16.
Malaysian authorities arrested 34 individuals operating an illegal World Cup betting call centre in Kuala Lumpur's Sentul district. The enforcement action targeted an unlicensed gambling facility coordinating illicit wagering activities.
Morocco advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Canada in Houston, ending the co-hosts' fairytale tournament run. Azzedine Ounahi scored twice in the last-16 clash.
The US embassy in Mexico City has instructed American citizens to exercise heightened vigilance during Sunday's World Cup knockout fixture between Mexico and England, citing safety concerns linked to mass gatherings.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into ticket resale platform StubHub following widespread complaints from World Cup fans who paid for tickets but never received them, despite the company's FanProtect Guarantee.
Harry Kane's second-half brace rescued England from a stunning World Cup upset against the Democratic Republic of Congo, securing a 2-1 victory and a last-16 clash with Mexico.
Canada advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history after Stephen Eustaquio scored a dramatic stoppage-time goal to defeat South Africa 1-0 at Los Angeles Stadium.
Ousmane Dembele's rapid-fire hat-trick in the opening half propelled France to a 4-1 rout of Norway, securing top spot in their World Cup group and setting up a more favourable knockout draw.
Ecuador mounted an unlikely comeback to beat Germany 2-1 in their final Group E match, advancing to the knockout stage as one of the tournament's best third-placed teams despite earlier struggles.
France faces Norway on Friday seeking group leadership to stay based in Boston through the quarter-finals, avoiding costly travel to distant American cities that could affect performance.
A vehicle struck a crowd of Mexico football supporters celebrating a World Cup victory in Cabo San Lucas on Wednesday, injuring 17 people. The driver was arrested at the scene in the popular resort town.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended mandatory hydration breaks at the World Cup, asserting they are driven by player welfare rather than commercial gain, despite criticism from coaches and players.
Penang authorities have apprehended 12 individuals suspected of running illegal online betting operations tied to the FIFA World Cup, recovering nearly RM9,000 in cash during intensified enforcement activities across the state.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima attended World Cup matches featuring the Netherlands and Curaçao on the same day, celebrating their teams' performances across two American cities.
The World Cup reached its 100-goal milestone in record time on Saturday when Cody Gakpo scored in Netherlands' 5-1 victory over Sweden. The achievement came in just 33 matches, the fastest since 1954.
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has rejected claims of internal tensions involving star player Mohamed Salah, saying the squad remains unified ahead of Sunday's critical World Cup Group G clash against New Zealand in Vancouver.
Deniz Undav came off the bench to score twice as Germany mounted a dramatic second-half comeback against Ivory Coast, winning 2-1 to secure their place in the World Cup knockout round.
Brian Brobbey's two-goal performance against Sweden has established him as the leading contender to replace Memphis Depay as the Netherlands' primary striker, vindicating Ronald Koeman's selection decision.
French supporters heading to the World Cup have been cautioned against touching or dressing Philadelphia's famous Rocky Balboa statue, which authorities say carries a curse that has haunted visiting teams.
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Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has publicly supported captain Achraf Hakimi following jeers from spectators during a World Cup match, as the Paris Saint-Germain defender faces rape charges in France.
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The International Sepaktakraw Federation has initiated disciplinary proceedings against five Thai players and three officials for their involvement in a controversial match withdrawal during the ISTAF Sepaktakraw World Cup 2026 in May.
Brazil's 3-0 victory over Haiti revealed tactical progress under Carlo Ancelotti, with Matheus Cunha's introduction providing the attacking balance and midfield-to-frontline connection that had been missing since Neymar's injury.
Morocco took control of Group C with a commanding 1-0 victory over Scotland, courtesy of Ismael Saibari's record-breaking 71-second goal at Foxborough. The North Africans dictated play throughout.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the national football team's locker room to congratulate them on securing the country's maiden World Cup finals victory, highlighting the squad's character amid adversity.
Lionel Messi has disclosed he is navigating significant personal challenges, revealing the emotional weight behind his reaction following a dominant 3-0 performance against Algeria where he scored his first World Cup hat-trick.
The mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has been approved for a US visa to attend the World Cup after being unable to witness her son's outstanding display in their opening match against Spain due to travel complications.
Ivory Coast has prevented forward Elye Wahi from travelling to Canada for a World Cup qualifier against Germany following his links to a match-fixing investigation involving a Ligue 1 fixture.
FIFA announced that more than one million supporters attended the first 16 matches of the World Cup in North America, with stadiums operating at 99.34% capacity despite earlier concerns about high ticket prices deterring attendance.
Iran's World Cup manager Amir Ghalenoei has criticized what he calls unfair treatment of his squad, alleging authorities ordered the team to abandon their Los Angeles base immediately following Monday's match against New Zealand.
Norway striker Erling Haaland marked his World Cup bow with two goals in a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq, extending his exceptional record of scoring on debuts across the Bundesliga, Premier League, Champions League and World Cup.
Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi, who played in Sunday's World Cup victory over Ecuador, was arrested in May in connection with a spot-fixing investigation being conducted by French authorities, according to The Athletic.
Ghana's government pursued legal proceedings in Canadian federal court to challenge Ottawa's decision to deny a World Cup visa to player Thomas Partey, who is defending against rape allegations in British courts.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick praised the quality of World Cup debutants after his team narrowly defeated Jordan 3-1, noting that smaller nations have significantly closed the gap on traditional powerhouses.