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Breaking: Ukraine joins Spain and Portugal's 2030 World Cup bid

NYON, Switzerland - Ukraine has joined Spain and Portugal in their bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said on Wednesday, in what they hailed as an act of European solidarity.

They said the decision, announced at a news conference at the Swiss headquarters of UEFA, had the full support of European soccer's governing body and also of the Spanish, Portuguese and Ukrainian governments.

"Our bid is not an Iberian bid anymore, it's a European bid," Luis Rubiales, president of the RFEF, said. 

Brothers like no other: Siblings who played for different national teams

If you've ever found yourself watching a Stoke City match, you probably noticed the towering Harry Souttar. At 6-6, Souttar is a large lad even for an EFL Championship center back. Harry's brother, John, is also a notable defender who features for Rangers and the Scottish national team. 

But while John is a Scottish national, Harry — also an Aberdeen native — represents Australia (his mother's native land) when the international breaks come around.

Luis Enrique is giving instructions to the Spanish national team players via walkie-talkies

Seeing a coach standing on the sidelines yelling at his/her players is part of the soccer weave. However, this traditional rite seems to have its days numbered after witnessing the new technology innovation in the Spanish national team camp: mini walkie-talkies.

Predicting 10 Of The Biggest World Cup Snubs

This week serves as the final international break before clubs must release players to their national teams just one week before the World Cup begins, so the latest squad selections should be huge indicators of the final 26-man rosters for the competing nations.

However, a look at the current teams indicates that this won't be a traditional World Cup of blockbuster snubs, but rather an exploration of player pools in an attritional battle against lingering muscle strains.

Team-By-Team Guides: 2022 World Cup Previews

To prepare you for the tournament, The18 has launched 2022 World Cup team previews for each of the 32 nations competing in Qatar. 

Below you will find each team listed along with a link to those previews that have been published. Check back throughout the buildup to the 2022 World Cup as we publish a complete list of World Cup team previews, updated with the latest on each team participating in the greatest men's soccer tournament in the world. 

Barça Extends 18-Year-Old Gavi's Contract And Raises Release Clause To $1 Billion

Amid reported interest from Man City, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool, Barcelona has secured the services of football's most highly regarded midfield talent through 2026 after 18-year-old Gavi put pen to paper on a new three-year deal that sees his release clause rise to $1 billion.

The Top 10 Best Young Players Playing At The 2022 World Cup

Youngsters and World Cups are two things that have historically got along.

From Pele in 1958 to Mbappe in 2018, young players have taken the world by storm in this tournament.

Over the last couple of years, we've been introduced to insane talents that dazzled on the biggest stage.

Hence, we feel it is important to list and rank the best young players playing at this year's World Cup.

Qatar 2022's Top 10 Best Young Players

10. Rodrygo Goes, 21 (Brazil)

Real Madrid’s talisman.

What Is Happening With Marc Cucurella?

What started off as a semi-normal transfer war between Chelsea and Barcelona has gone viral. Fabrizio Romano tweeted out confirmation that Brighton left-back Marc Cucurella agreed to join Chelsea, but Brighton tweeted that the claim is completely false. So which one is it? Is Romano wrong for the first time ever, or is he so good at his job that he knows a transfer is happening before the club even does?

Just How Hot Is Qatar? Hot But Not Sweltering Temps Will Be The Norm At World Cup

Scorching temperatures are one of the many reasons Qatar is the most controversial World Cup host of all time. During June and July, the months in which the World Cup is traditionally held, temperatures in the Arab nation peak around 120 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature at which, unsurprisingly, it is simply unsafe to play a 90+ minute soccer match.

The Top 9 Best Midfielders Playing At The 2022 World Cup

Midfielders are the heartbeat of any soccer side. They control the pace of play, create chances, contribute to attack and defense and oversee the transition between the two. With technique, creativity and intelligence, a world class midfielder is a joy to watch.

From iconic legends to up-and-coming stars, the 2022 Qatar World Cup is filled to the brim with exceptional midfield players. Who rises to the top? Without further ado, here are the ten best 2022 World Cup midfielders, ranked.  

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