Charlie Alford

Who is Slavko Vinčić, the World Cup final referee?

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:17 July 2026
Post last modified:18 July 2026

Football fans are used to viewing the referee as the arbiter who blows the whistle to start and end the match, awards penalties and shows cards. Their presence is largely confined to controversial decisions. Rarely does anyone stop to ask: who is this person? And what has led them to take charge of some of the most high pressure sports matches? When FIFA announced Slavko Vinčić would referee the 2026 World Cup final, the accompanying video was not merely an official announcement, but a window into the emotions of a man who had spent many years working towards a moment he…

World Cup final tickets — A luxury only the rich can afford

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:17 July 2026
Post last modified:18 July 2026

The 2026 World Cup final is shaping up to be the most expensive match in the tournament’s history. This is true at least when it comes to ticket prices. The final, set to be played at MetLife Stadium between Argentina and Spain, has seen resale prices skyrocket. The cheapest tickets are going for more than $8,000, while some premium seats are being listed for over $61,000. In the context of the football world, this Cup final could break not just records, but affordability expectations for fans globally. FIFA has said that official ticket prices are much lower. However, the enormous demand…

Oyarzabal and Porro fire European champions into World Cup final

Post author:Faz Ali
Post published:15 July 2026
Post last modified:15 July 2026

Spain are into the World Cup final after a controlled, clinical 2-0 win over France in Dallas. The semi-final was billed as a meeting of the tournament’s two standout sides, but one which never caught fire for Didier Deschamps’ team. Goals in each half from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro settled it, sending the European champions through to Sunday’s showpiece against either England or Argentina. France arrived with the joint-top scorer Kylian Mbappé and the World Cup’s top assist-maker Michael Olise, but neither could influence a game Spain managed from the opening whistle. Luis de la Fuente’s side, unbeaten in 37…

FIFA adopts new match ball for the final four matches of the 2026 World Cup

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:14 July 2026
Post last modified:14 July 2026

FIFA and Adidas have announced the launch of a new official match ball for the final four matches of the 2026 World Cup. This marks the first time the tournament has seen a change in the official match ball before the competition draws to a close. After the ‘Trionda’ ball has been in use from the start of the tournament through to the end of the quarter-finals, the new version – named the ‘Trionda Final’ – will feature in the semi-finals between France and Spain, and England and Argentina, as well as the third-place play-off and the final. This change is…

SOAS student ‘terror trial’ – final hearing approaches

Post author:The Canary
Post published:6 July 2026
Post last modified:6 July 2026

Wednesday 8 July will be a key hearing in the case of 22-year-old pro-Palestine student activist Sarah Cotte. Like every day of the trial, supporters from the Defend the SOAS 2 campaign will protest outside the Old Bailey. They’ll draw attention to what they say is the application of a pernicious terrorism law that has not just been misapplied in this instance but which should be repealed in its entirety. They say that a victory in this case would reinforce the right of protesters to support the Palestinian struggle for self-determination, which has been under consistent attack in recent years. Cotte,…

Starmer has never put the country first – not even in his final, insipid act

Post author:Rachael Swindon
Post published:22 June 2026
Post last modified:23 June 2026

It has finally happened. Keir Starmer, the man who promised to deliver “change” with all the revolutionary fervour of a Lib Dem focus group, has slithered out of Downing Street like a deflated balloon animal after a kids’ party gone wrong. Two years. That’s all it took for the great anti-Tory Labour landslide of 2024 to collapse into a humiliating pile of U-turns, scandals, and moral cowardice. Today, as he stood outside No. 10 delivering his resignation speech – all misty-eyed about his fantastic wife and being the best dad to his kids – I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.…

In final U-turn, Starmer now set to resign

Post author:Willem Moore
Post published:21 June 2026
Post last modified:21 June 2026

It was no secret that Andy Burnham would seek to replace Keir Starmer should he win the Makerfield by-election. After he achieved victory, though — exceeding even the most optimistic polling — Starmer did not go gently into that good night. Instead, he said in no uncertain terms that he would fight Burnham in any leadership challenge. At this moment in time, a leadership challenge would have proven to be very damaging for the Labour Party. Because this is Keir Starmer we’re talking about, though, it looks like Burnham doesn’t have to worry. Because true to form, Starmer has now U-turned…

Somali referee goes from World Cup snub to European final World Cup

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:12 June 2026
Post last modified:13 June 2026

In a remarkable twist just days after being excluded from the 2026 World Cup, Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan has been appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup. The match will be between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on 12 August in Salzburg, Austria. Historic appointment for Artan Artan will become the first Somali referee to take charge of a European Super Cup match. This appointment marks a major milestone in a career. He has risen rapidly to prominence across African and international football. His UEFA appointment comes in the wake of the controversy over his absence from the World Cup, where…

2026 World Cup final squad lists announced

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:3 June 2026
Post last modified:9 June 2026

FIFA has announced the final squads for the 2026 World Cup, with a week left before the tournament kicks off on 11 June. It’s confirmed that 1,248 players representing 48 national teams will take part in the biggest edition in World Cup history, hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. Featuring 104 matches, this World Cup involves a record number of national teams and players. FIFA has said this reflects the global expansion of the game and provides an opportunity for broader representation of nations and fans. According to FIFA’s statement, the final squads include 357 players who have previously featured…

The farewell World Cup: 16 legends set for their final tournament

Post author:Alaa Shamali
Post published:30 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

The 2026 World Cup will not just be another milestone in the history of the game; it could become the final chapter for some of the greatest stars who have left their mark on global football over the last two decades. While all eyes will be on the race for the title in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the tournament will also be an exceptional occasion to bid farewell to an entire generation of legends who built glory for their national teams and cemented their names in the history books. The average age of these stars is about 37, and…

Littler reclaims Premier League Crown in thrilling final in London

Post author:Faz Ali
Post published:29 May 2026
Post last modified:8 June 2026

Luke Littler edged Luke Humphries 11-10 to win the Premier League title at the 02 in London, completing a tense, high quality final that went the distance. The result returned the trophy to Littler after a trilogy of finals between the two top ranked players and it underlined the narrow margins that separate the elite darts professionals. Littler-Humphries: too close to call The final was a study in momentum swings and clinical finishing under pressure. Humphries began with a blistering session, averaging well over 110 and producing a sequence of big checkouts that left him 6-3 ahead at the break. Littler…