Dan Sheldon

🚨 Exclusive: Thomas Partey is unavailable to play in Ghana’s opening World Cup match against Panama in Canada on June 17 as he has been denied entry to the country. Full story @TheAthleticFC: nytimes.com/athletic/73544…

"If I try to think quickly through these 40 days, it's been absolutely insane, the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of." Erling Haaland on the whirlwind experience of his first World Cup ... which “changes Norway … and changes me” #erlinghaaland 🇳🇴 nytimes.com/athletic/74398…

He walks. He watches you. He doesn't speak. He is two seconds ahead. His every move causes panic. He is the greatest player of all time. This is what it's like to play against Lionel Messi. 📝 @stujames75, @MarkCarey93, @charlotteharpur and @Dan_Sheldon_ 🔗 nyti.ms/4yfPHvZ

Referee Michael Oliver will take charge of his seventh World Cup match — more than any other Englishman — when Spain play Belgium in Thursday’s quarter-final in Los Angeles but his chances of officiating this edition’s final on July 19 appear slim. Oliver — or fellow Englishman Anthony Taylor — will not be allowed to take charge of the showpiece at MetLife Stadium later this month if it includes either their native England or Argentina, who are on the same side of the draw and on course to meet in a possible semi-final. Officials are not allowed to take charge of their own nations to avoid potential conflicts of interest and ensure neutrality, but Oliver and Taylor cannot officiate Argentina matches for political reasons: namely the legacy of the 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina. More from @Dan_KP and @Dan_Sheldon_ ⬇️ 🔗 nyti.ms/4pkupt9

Folarin Balogun will be available to play the USMNT’s round of 16 match against Belgium with his one-game red-card ban suspended. The 25-year-old received a straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Multiple FIFA officials told The Athletic after the game that a team is not able to appeal against a red card or the subsequent suspension. However, Balogun is set to be available to face Rudi Garcia’s side as his suspension has been suspended. More from @Dan_Sheldon_ & @AdamCrafton_ 🔗 nyti.ms/3QRhcLJ

BREAKING @TheAthleticFC Folarin Balogun will be available to play the USMNT’s round of 16 match against Belgium with his one-game red-card ban suspended. Extraordinary development. Story with @Dan_Sheldon_ nytimes.com/athletic/74234…

Breaking: Folarin Balogun will be available to play the USMNT’s round of 16 match against Belgium with his one-game red-card ban suspended. Story with @AdamCrafton_ @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74234…

How teams prepare for hostile Azteca; 👮‍♂️ Security watching fire alarms all night long 🥕 Fruit & veg only eaten cooked or peeled 🚌 Talks with embassy to ensure no local tricks by locals on police escort to venue 🫜 Beet & cherry juice for altitude! nytimes.com/athletic/74193…

FIFA considered rescheduling England’s World Cup round-of-16 game against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca primarily because of concerns raised around the safety of supporters, with weather an additional, but not key, driver of the talks, The Athletic can reveal. Sunday’s match will start as originally planned, at 6pm local time (8pm ET; 1am Monday BST), but only after emergency discussions were held over bringing it forward by six hours. More from @Dan_Sheldon_ @AdamCrafton_ @mjshrimper 🔗 nyti.ms/4wmJQDn

FIFA is considering bringing forward the kick-off time of England’s World Cup round-of-16 game against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. Extreme weather has already impacted one match in Mexico City during this World Cup. Kick off in Mexico’s round-of-32 tie against Ecuador was pushed back by an hour due to thunder and lightning in the surrounding area. FIFA’s 2026 World Cup regulations state that world football’s governing body “has the right to cancel, reschedule or relocate one or more matches (or the entire FIFA World Cup 26) for any reason at its sole discretion, including as a result of force majeure or due to health, safety or security concerns.” The Mexico-England game being brought forward to 2pm ET/7pm BST means it may overlap with the day’s other last-16 tie between Brazil and Norway, which is due to begin at 4pm ET/9pm BST at MetLife Stadium. More from @Dan_Sheldon_ and @David_Ornstein nyti.ms/4v4Ok0l

🚨 FIFA in ongoing talks over possibility of moving #Mexico v #England kick-off earlier on Sunday due to weather disruption risk, including flooding. No confirmation yet but talks continue between parties - looking probable. W/ @Dan_Sheldon_ @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74197…

Julian Nagelsmann has resigned as Germany head coach following the nation’s World Cup exit to Paraguay. More from @SebSB & @amelieaclaydon 🔗 nyti.ms/44aWxFn

Southampton to significantly cut budget to women’s/girls’ programme + exit of SD Spacey-Kale, St Mary’s no longer home ground + academy drop to Cat 2. Decision made before Spygate scandal. Concerns re: return on investment for reaching WSL. @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74150…

Cape Verde have been the summer’s great underdog story. They have yet to be beaten and take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina tonight. But a rape allegation against captain Ryan Mendes has cast a cloud over the fairy tale. 📝 @NickMiller79, @Dan_Sheldon_ 🔗 nyti.ms/4yhMvQK

England’s team hotel in Mexico is expected to have roadblocks around its perimeter to guard against pre-game disruption. Thomas Tuchel’s side take on the World Cup co-hosts in the last 16 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Sunday. The move to ramp up measures around where England will stay comes after Ecuador’s time in the capital city ahead of their round-of-32 defeat by Mexico was interrupted by fans setting off fireworks, chanting and revving vehicle engines outside their hotel throughout the evening. Exclusive from @Dan_Sheldon_ ⬇️ 🔗 nyti.ms/4blsfna

Exclusive: England’s team hotel in Mexico is expected to have roadblocks around its perimeter to guard against pre-game disruption. This comes after Ecuador’s stay in Mexico was interrupted by fans setting off fireworks throughout the night. @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74179…

Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to miss a minute of action at the World Cup and the notion of dropping one of the all-time greats is unthinkable, and - irrespective of the fact he intends to leave his role at the end of the tournament - unlikely to be a battle Roberto Martinez wants to take on. But, other than when Portugal are in the attacking third, they are playing with nine outfield players. Ronaldo does not track back, nor is he going to start doing that at this stage of his career. So, the onus is on those around him to do the running instead. And this is something of which Nani has first-hand experience at a major tournament having been asked to do it ahead of their Euro 2016 triumph by Fernando Santos, then Portugal’s head coach. “We need to understand that Brazil will do it (run) for Neymar,” he adds. “France will do for (Kylian) Mbappe, Argentina will do it for (Lionel) Messi. There is no discussion in these teams because and don’t have people so famous like Ronaldo. “Messi is always walking because he saves energy when the ball comes to him. He’s explosive and at his best in the the final third. “Ronaldo is the same in that it’s almost like: ‘Don’t waste your energy sprinting 60 yards.’” Read Nani’s exclusive interview with @Dan_Sheldon_ ⤵️ 🔗 nyti.ms/4v9DdDx

“Everyone should be trying their best to connect with Cristiano at this World Cup. Trust me. He’s a man who can decide the game. "The only thing is players need to run for him.” At Euro 2016, Nani ran for Ronaldo. Now, a decade on, he is urging the 41-year-old's current team-mates to do the same. The former Portugal and Manchester United winger speaks exclusively to @Dan_Sheldon_ ⬇️ bit.ly/4gfMLt0

Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is under investigation by police in New Zealand over allegations he raped a woman in March. More from @Dan_Sheldon_ 🔗 nyti.ms/4gOdnBo

Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is under investigation by police in New Zealand over allegations he raped a woman in March, as first reported by @mikeburgess99. @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74085…

🎶 The White Stripes 🎶 Daft Punk 🎶 Baccara 🎶 Gala Here are the songs your teams picked to soundtrack their World Cup 📝 @Dan_Sheldon_ nytimes.com/athletic/74013…