The Beautiful Game, Beautifully Told

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FT

The 48-Team World Cup Explained: How 2026 Actually Works

FT
The biggest tournament in football history starts on June 11. It will look nothing like the one you grew up watching. For nearly three decades, the World Cup followed a familiar shape. Thirty-two teams, eight groups, a clean run to the…

The Messiah of Naples: Diego Maradona

FT
Some football stories are written in trophies and statistics. Others are written in emotion. The story of Diego Maradona and Napoli belongs firmly to the latter. While walking through the narrow streets of Naples, one presence is…

Can Historic Title Win Spark Period of Arsenal Dominance?

FT
Arsenal have finally ended their 22-year wait to lift the Premier League trophy. The historic success completes a remarkable seven-year transformation under Mikel Arteta. After three successive second-place finishes, the Gunners shrugged…

Tearful Etihad Bids Farewell to Pep Guardiola as Era Ends

FT
An emotional atmosphere engulfed the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as Manchester City bid a tearful farewell to Pep Guardiola, marking the definitive end of the most successful era in the club's history. The 55-year-old manager could not keep…