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As the World Cup kicks off, many are asking whether the beautiful game is still as beautiful as it once was. The build-up to the tournament has been beset by geopolitical crises, visa problems, environmental concerns, and fears that business interests have taken over. So is a celebration of the sport itself still possible? In Perspective, we spoke to David Webber, Senior Lecturer in Sports Busines...
As the World Cup kicks off, many are asking whether the beautiful game is still as beautiful as it once was. The build-up to the tournament has been beset by geopolitical crises, visa problems, environmental concerns, and fears that business interests have taken over. So is a celebration of the sport itself still possible? In Perspective, we spoke to David Webber, Senior Lecturer in Sports Busines...
With a sensual voice that contrasts with the strength of her lyrics, Mélissa Laveaux creates music that blends her Haitian and Canadian heritage with themes of history, sexuality, and the dark humour she brings to questions of life and death. She joins us in the studio to discuss her latest album, “At My Softest, I Am Most Dangerous”, and her exploration of Voodoo traditions and beliefs surroundin...
Images shared by military bloggers show Russian forces using black-and-white striped camouflage on their trucks. The technique aims to deceive the AI recognition systems of Ukrainian drones, underscoring the constant adaptation of tactics in the conflict.
Mexico City’s storied Azteca Stadium has been the stage for some of the most iconic moments in World Cup history, from Pelé’s third title to Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal. The hallowed venue hosts the 2026 World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday, a throwback to the 2010 curtain-raiser in Johannesburg – and a rematch between coaches who faced off as players in the same stadium ...
This week, we step away from the headlines and out of the city to focus on French villages. There is a deeply rooted romantic image of village life: a stone church, a sleepy square, a small café. But what is life really like in French villages today? Like in many countries, rural France has seen populations decline, and many residents say daily life can be challenging. While some villages rely on ...
France's Charlie Dalin has died from cancer at the age of 42, his family announced on Thursday, one year after he sailed to a spectacular victory in the Vendée Globe. Dalin won the round-the-world race weeks after being diagnosed with a rare form of gastrointestinal cancer.
🇫🇷 ⚽ France's national team has arrived in Boston for the World Cup, where players were welcomed by fans outside their hotel. France will play its opening match against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey.
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday visited Spain's Canary Islands, the once-notorious centre of the European migration debate, where he threw a bouquet of flowers in the sea in tribute to the migrants who perished trying to reach the Atlantic archipelago. The pontiff made a plea for "human dignity" and condemned leaders, including Christians, who turn them away with "indifference".
Taiwan said that Chinese vessels "openly intruded" on disputed waters around Itu Aba island in the South China Sea on Thursday, staying for 15 minutes before the Taiwanese coast guard expelled them. The island is claimed by Taiwan, China, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off today in Mexico City, but for some, FIFA matches carry painful memories. FRANCE 24 spoke to an immigrant family whose father was detained by ICE at a football match at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey, where eight World Cup fixtures are set to take place over the coming month. The New Jersey State Police has insisted that immigrant football fans are safe to attend mat...
The United States and Iran traded air attacks for a second straight day on Thursday, with President Donald Trump vowing further strikes if Tehran does not immediately agree to a peace deal. The escalation in hostilities began this week with Monday's downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, which sparked a series of tit-for-tat attacks across Iran and on US bases around the reg...
Three Indian sailors on a commercial vessel hit by the United States off the coast of Oman are dead, New Delhi's shipping minister said Thursday. India's foreign ministry summoned a top US diplomat in New Delhi after the US attack on Wednesday on MT Settebello to lodge "a strong protest". It was the second reported US attack on a merchant vessel with predominately Indian crew this week.
1,569 days – four years and three months: That is how long Russia's war in Ukraine has lasted. It is a milestone, surpassing the duration of World War One. The two conflicts are often compared for their brutal infantry assaults and heavy casualties. For more, FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg reports from Kyiv, Ukraine.
Police blasted water cannons Wednesday at protesters in Northern Ireland who set small fires and hurled bricks, rocks and bottles at them during a second night of violence over a brutal stabbing on a Belfast street. Demonstrators wearing masks tore bricks from the walls outside homes and smashed sidewalks with sledgehammers to toss at riot police. In one place, the unruly crowd used sections of a ...
The Men's Football World Cup will kick off on Thursday, with the opening match taking place in Mexico City. The 2026 edition of the tournament is set to be the biggest yet, spanning three countries and including a record-breaking 48 teams. But the tournament has also been mired by controversy, not least over sky high ticket prices – which some accuse FIFA of having artificially inflated.
Escalating protests and social tensions in Mexico's capital threaten to derail FIFA World Cup celebrations on the eve of the opening ceremony as protesters effectively block off access to the plaza set to host the country's main fan celebrations. Mexico jointly hosts the soccer tournament with the US and Canada and kicks off festivities Thursday with a star-studded event, even as some critics say ...
FIFA President Gianni Infantino poke with reporters during a rare question-and-answer session on the eve of the opening match of an expanded 48-nation, 104-game World Cup tournament. He defended record ticket prices, said FIFA was powerless to get the US government to admit a Somali referee, and praised his ability to get Iran's national soccer team into the United States. FRANCE 24's Internationa...
Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Sagrada Familia Basilica as a masterpiece of “stones, colors and light,” as he marked the centenary of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí, with a Mass on Wednesday to inaugurate its final soaring sandcastle spire. Leo called Gaudí’s unfinished temple, one of the world’s most visited monuments, a “sign of unity and harmony for all of Spain,” an ongoing building pro...
The United States launched fresh attacks against Iran on Thursday, prompting Tehran to retaliate, as US leaders accused their counterparts of dragging out negotiations for a deal to end the three-month war. US President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly said negotiations with Tehran were close to an end, said Wednesday that Iran keeps "playing us for suckers" and will now "have to pay the price".
French pop icon Patrick Bruel was charged with rape and sexual assault on Wednesday, after nearly two dozen women came forward to make allegations against him, some dating back to the 1990s. He is the latest top French celebrity to face investigators in the wake of the #MeToo movement, after film legend Gerard Depardieu was handed a suspended 18-month prison sentence last year for sexually assault...
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico this Thursday, we take a look at the tournament’s expected economic impact – both globally and on host countries. But the real winner, it seems, is FIFA, with record revenues forecast at $11 billion. Also in this edition, markets react to a fresh flare-up in violence in the Strait of Hormuz, and SpaceX faces a lawsuit from an environmental group ahead...
As it races to become NATO’s frontline fortress against Russia, Poland has launched large-scale civilian courses teaching survival skills during times of crisis. The programme is intended to help bridge the gap between the military and society while psychologically preparing civilians for war.
For the first time ever, Cape Verde is heading to the World Cup. The West African island nation – home to fewer than half a million people – will be one of the smallest countries in tournament history. In the capital Praia, preparations are in full swing, with qualification sparking huge excitement and renewed hope among young people. In working-class neighbourhoods, football has long been an esca...
PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, June 11: First, the latest news from Russia. Then, how cutting-edge surveillance technology at the World Cup is fuelling privacy concerns. And finally, why American women are embracing witchcraft retreats in Ireland.
Across Lebanon, anxiety reigns. With no real ceasefire in sight, millions fear the loss of loved ones, or often the homes they have had to leave behind. FRANCE 24's reporters Antonia Kerrigan and Elena Volochine spent time with a family in the capital, to see how this, just one of many wars they have lived through, has once again upended their lives.
The French national team arrived in Boston on Wednesday, where they have established their base camp for the 2026 World Cup. Didier Deschamps' 26-man squad checked into the Four Seasons hotel before moving to their training facilities at Bentley University.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday with a record 48 teams vying for the most coveted prize in football and a slew of controversies over ticket prices, geopolitical tensions and visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration casting a pall over the beautiful game’s quadrennial extravaganza.
The New York Knicks mounted the largest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday, rallying from 29 points down to edge the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 and move within one win of the championship. OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining sealed the victory, giving New York a 3-1 series lead.
Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed 12 people on Wednesday, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanese citizens to join Israel's fight against Hezbollah. A border town said two municipal employees detained by Israeli forces were later released. Fighting has continued despite an April ceasefire and a conditional truce announced last week.
