Key-Player World Cup 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - USA - KEY PLAYER - ‪JERMAINE JONES - PROFILE

Jermaine Junior Jones, born 3 November 1981, is a German-American footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Turkish club Beşiktaş. He has previously played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, Blackburn Rovers and Schalke 04. He was born in Germany and represented them at U21 and senior level.

More
1 Jul 2014
Coaches National teams World Cup 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - NIGERIA - COACH - STEPHEN KESHI RESIGNS AFTER EXIT

He becomes the sixth manager to leave his job during the World Cup, following the departures of Honduras's Luis Suarez, Iran's Carlos Queiroz, Japan's Alberto Zaccheroni, Italy's Cesare Prandelli and Ivory Coast's Sabri Lamouchi.

Keshi, who captained Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup finals, was previously in charge of Mali and Togo.

More
1 Jul 2014
Fixtures+Results National teams Squad World Cup 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - FRANCE vs NIGERIA 2:0

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

France vs Nigeria 2:0

More
30 Jun 2014
Fixtures+Results National teams Squad World Cup 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - GERMANY vs ALGERIA 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

Germany vs Algeria 2:1

More
30 Jun 2014
Key-Player World Cup 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - GERMANY - KEY PLAYER - THOMAS MUELLER‬ - PROFILE

Müller's role can be described as an attacking all-rounder, a player able to play in a variety of forward positions. He can play in any of the attacking midfield roles but usually plays in the center for Bayern Munich, and on the right for Germany.

He has been used as an out-and-out striker on occasion. Müller has been praised for his maturity, pace, technique, awareness and positioning.

More
30 Jun 2014
Key-Player World Cup 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - FRANCE - KEY PLAYER - ‪KARIM BENZEMA - PROFILE

He has been named French Player of the Year twice for his performances in 2011 and 2012. Benzema is a former French youth international and has represented his nation from under-17 level onwards. 

Benzema has earned over 65 caps and represented France at three major international tournaments; the 2008 and 2012 editions of the UEFA European Football Championship and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

More
30 Jun 2014
Fixtures+Results National teams Squad World Cup 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 17 - LAST SIXTEEN - NETHERLANDS VS MEXICO 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
29th June 2014

Netherlands vs Mexico 2:1

Lucky dutchmen!

More
29 Jun 2014
Fixtures+Results National teams Squad World Cup 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 17 - LAST SIXTEEN - COSTA RICA VS GREECE 5:4 - win on penalties

LAST SIXTEEN
29th June 2014

Costa Rica vs Greece 5:4

Costa Rica through on penalties.

More
29 Jun 2014
Key-Player World Cup 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - MEXICO - KEY PLAYER - ‪Giovani dos Santos‬ - PROFILE

Giovani dos Santos‬ was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Giovani joined FC Barcelona's academy of La Masia at the age of eleven and played for Barcelona's Juvenil A category where he helped his team to make a comeback in the league and win the regional title. 

This title allowed them to participate in the Youth Copa del Rey, where they faced other regional champions, among them their historic arch-rivals, Real Madrid. 

More
29 Jun 2014
Key-Player World Cup 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - NETHERLANDS - KEY PLAYER - ARJEN ROBBEN‬ - PROFILE

Arjen Robben 

Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards as a winger. Robben is known for his dribbling skills, speed, crossing ability and his accurate left foot long-range shots from the right wing.

More
29 Jun 2014
World Cup 2026

2026 WORLD CUP - Final - Facts

Messi and Lamine Jamal 
Messi was just 19 years old when the photo of him with the baby, Lamine Jamal, in the bathtub was taken. Nineteen years later, on 19 July 2026, Messi and Lamine Jamal are competing against each other in the Football World Cup final, with Lamine wearing the No.19 shirt.

 

Best player | Rodri

Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri was named best player of the 2026 World Cup tournament.

 

Best top-scorer | Kylian Mbappé

Mbappé scored 10 goals and is now the men's Football World Cup all-time top scorer with 22 goals. 

 

2026 World Cup | recap

A record 10 African nations have qualified for the newly expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup, marking the continent's greatest achievement to date. Several of these teams progressed beyond the group stage into the knockout rounds, with at least one African team reaching the quarter-finals. This underlines their competitive performance, even though no African nation made it to the semi-finals or final.

From the round of 32, Spain, Argentina, England, and France emerged as the strongest teams, winning through the round of 16 and quarterfinals to reach the semifinals. 

Spain beat France 2:0 and Argentina beat England 2:1 to set up the final. England then beat France 6:4 in the third‑place match, while Spain defeated Argentina 1:0 after extra time in the final to win the 2026 World Cup.

Overall, the African teams showed a strong performance, though not yet title‑winning.

 

 

20 Jul 2026
afrofootball

Related articles