A day in the life of the worst football team in the world www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

He used to be homeless. When I was at his salon, he got a phone call. He answered like this: "This is Mauro Shampoo from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, broadcasting to the world. Footballer, hairdresser, man, at your service. Let’s go, show, show, show!" www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

This is Mauro Shampoo, the most iconic Brazilian footballer you've never heard of. "Pelé, Maradona & Zico were all No 10s, and so was I. I played for the worst team in the world, but I was still a No 10. I was the best of the worst, show." www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Íbis SC call themselves 'the worst team in the world'. They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them. So why is everyone so... happy? www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Between 1980 and 1984, Ibis won none of their 55 matches. Their goal difference over that period was minus 206. Ibis say this was the longest winless run in football history. They have attracted global fame as a result. @jacklang.bsky.social went to Brazil to meet them.

Football in 2025 doesn’t look how we expected it to in 2000. Here’s a list of eight things I anticipated would happen in that time, that have not happened at all. www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Íbis SC call themselves 'the worst team in the world'. They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them. So why is everyone so... happy? www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

"I am hungrier than I was 25 years ago. I feel more alive than ever." Why Benfica are banking on José Mourinho, fuelled by a sense of unfinished business, to conjure a bit of the old devil magic and bring the glory days back to the Estádio da Luz www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Brazil's defeat to Bolivia last night brought the curtain down on their worst qualification campaign ever. Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

Brazil's defeat to Bolivia last night brought the curtain down on their worst qualification campaign ever. Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

Ecuador beat Argentina last night. That's 11 matches unbeaten. They finish second in South American World Cup qualifying, above Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia. "The feeling among the players and staff is that we are in a position to make history" www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...

Ecuador haven't lost in 10 games. Their defensive record is laugh-out-loud amazing. They qualified for the World Cup with a year to spare despite a points deduction. I spoke to coach Sebastián Beccacece about their rise – and their big ambitions for next summer www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...

Watched Matheus Cunha's Manchester United debut with his old futsal mentor in Recife – and a few of the kids who hope to follow in his footsteps one day www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

“He was a symbol of this region.” “We felt he was ours.” In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...

“He was a symbol of this region.” “We felt he was ours.” In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...

Stand-out performer so far at this Club World Cup? There’s a strong case for Jhon Arias, the softly spoken, Gabriel García Márquez-reading dreamer who has come from relative obscurity in Colombia to bring his brand of magical realism to Fluminense 🇧🇷🇨🇴 #Fluminense www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...

“He will soon be seen as one of the top managers in the world.” How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

“He will soon be seen as one of the top managers in the world.” How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

Igor Jesus is one of the breakout stars of the Club World Cup. The most interesting thing about him? Just over a year ago, barely anyone had even heard of him. 📝 @jacklang.bsky.social

Igor Jesus took the scenic route to the brink of global stardom. It might just have been the making of him www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

First came his opening goal, a thrilling reminder of what he can do when the service is right and he is not being double-marked. Eight minutes later, he set up the second goal in stylish fashion, evoking Guti’s 'Heel of God.' www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Igor Jesus took the scenic route to the brink of global stardom. It might just have been the making of him www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

Thou shalt not take Guti's name in vain www.nytimes.com/athletic/157...

Soccerway dot com

Argentine fans lit up the Club World Cup. River and Boca’s football? Not so much www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

River. Inter also playing, apparently

Players, fans and executives have been complaining to The Athletic about the heat at the Club World Cup — and it's about to get a lot hotter. The Athletic's staff on the ground explain the issues, how clubs and teams are trying to cope, what FIFA is doing and consider if it should do more.

It’s Brazil’s Club World Cup; the rest of us are just living in it www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

It’s Brazil’s Club World Cup; the rest of us are just living in it www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

The internet has been gripped with Monterrey wall fever, the kind of mass hysteria that only really takes hold during long, delirious days of summer tournaments. But what the Mexican team have been doing at the Club World Cup is not exactly new... 📝 @jacklang.bsky.social‬ 🔗 bit.ly/4eeHLS3

River vs Monterrey

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Botafogo's 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup was not just a huge moment for the South American game, it was the latest chapter in a great underdog tale. It sparked wild and lengthy celebrations. @jacklang.bsky.social‬ on a special night in Pasadena.

"It's... supernatural. We knew it would be hard. I believe Botafogo had a one per cent chance of winning this match today. But one per cent for us is a lot" www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

BOTAFOGO www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

BOTAFOGO www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Botafogo vs PSG

On Thursday, a feud that has gripped French football will go global. "I’m competing with a country, not an owner." "You live in a different world... cowboy." Get ready for John Textor (Botafogo) vs Nasser Al-Khelaifi (PSG) at the Club World Cup. 📝 @jacklang.bsky.social 🔗 bit.ly/40b2twk

"I’m competing with a country." "You live in a different world... cowboy." There's no love lost between PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi & his Lyon counterpart John Textor. Now, with Textor's Botafogo at the Club World Cup, their feud is about to go global www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

"I’m competing with a country." "You live in a different world... cowboy." There's no love lost between PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi & his Lyon counterpart John Textor. Now, with Textor's Botafogo at the Club World Cup, their feud is about to go global www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

How does Franco Mastantuono play? And what makes him stand out? Piece on River Plate’s 17-year-old who is joining Real Madrid in August. www.my times.com/athletic/6431422/2025/06/18/franco-mastantuono-real-madrid-signing-analysis-river-plate

We go again. Inter vs Monterrey

Exclusive FIFA has decided not to show videos or signage which explicitly mention challenging racism or discrimination in US Club World Cup venues FIFA point to statutes - "politically neutral" - when asked if US political climate played part in decision www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Under Luis Enrique, PSG are so much more than the sum of their parts. The same always used to be true of Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid. Now, though? The point is up for debate www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

Under Luis Enrique, PSG are so much more than the sum of their parts. The same always used to be true of Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid. Now, though? The point is up for debate www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

Fluminense goalkeeper Fábio will make his 1375th career appearance against Borussia Dortmund tomorrow. And no, that's not a typo. Peter Shilton's all-time record is now in his sights. What's his secret? www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

Hi from the Rose Bowl. PSG vs Atlético vs the heat. Live coverage here www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Ronaldo - Infantino - Baggio Now that's a front three

The Radar is back for the Club World Cup. We’ve profiled 50 players, from the biggest names in world football to... an assistant site engineer. Enjoy expert insight from our writers and informative data visualisations — with all 32 clubs represented ⤵️

There are just 365 days until the start of the 2026 World Cup. Hopes, fears, predictions? We debate the big questions.