World Explained · Football
Premier League 2026/27 start date, opening fixtures and Australian times
The Premier League starts on 21 August in England and 22 August in Australia. See every opening fixture, local kick-off time and where to watch.
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Football
Every published story filed under Football, newest first. Each one passed the same source, image and editorial checks.
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World Explained · Football
How Ferran Torres's extra-time goal won the 2026 World Cup
Spain searched for 105 minutes before one cross, one headed pass and one first-time finish broke Argentina's resistance in the World Cup final.
World Explained · Football
Golden Ball, Golden Boot and Ballon d'Or: what is the difference?
The names sound interchangeable, but they reward different achievements. Here is the simple difference between football's Ball, Boot and Ballon d'Or.
World Explained · Football
How the 48-team World Cup format worked in practice
The 2026 World Cup used 12 groups, a best-third-place ranking and a new Round of 32. Here is how 48 teams became one champion.
World Explained · Football
How the best third-place teams reached the 2026 World Cup knockouts
Eight of the 12 third-place teams advanced to the Round of 32. Points came first, followed by goal difference, goals and disciplinary conduct.
World Explained · Football
How Mbappé won the Golden Boot without reaching the final
Kylian Mbappé scored ten goals in eight matches and won the World Cup Golden Boot. France's semi-final loss did not remove his individual scoring record.
World Explained · Football
Spain won the 2026 World Cup. Here is how the final turned
Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time. The score was narrow, but the official match record shows how pressure, substitutions and one move decided it.
World Explained · Football
What Unai Simón's seven clean sheets actually tell us
Unai Simón kept seven clean sheets in eight World Cup matches. It is a remarkable record, but it describes Spain's whole defensive system as well as its goalkeeper.
World Explained · Football
Why Pau Cubarsí won the 2026 Best Young Player award
Pau Cubarsí was 19 and central to a Spain defence that conceded once in eight matches. Here is what the official record supports about his World Cup award.
World Explained · Football
Why Rodri won the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball
Rodri's Golden Ball was an overall-player award, not a passing trophy. The official record shows how his distribution and work shaped Spain's tournament.
World Explained · Football
Why Spain had to play eight matches to win the 2026 World Cup
Spain's route contained three group games and five knockout matches. The new Round of 32 made the 2026 champion's path one match longer than before.
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