Fifa World Cup 2018 Qualifiers

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: Italy fail to make finals for first time in 60 years after goalless draw with Sweden

It is the third time that the Italians will not compete at the World Cup, after not going to the first edition in 1930 and not qualifying for the 1958 finals in Sweden.

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: Moroccan fans in Brussels riot after national team seals Russia spot

Brussels has a big Moroccan population, many living in the Molenbeek district, which came to international prominence as the home and hideout of planners of the terror attacks in Paris in 2015 and in Brussels last year.

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: Gianluigi Buffon says Italy must not panic despite staring at disaster

Captain Buffon – bidding to reach a record sixth World Cup finals in Russia – is one of the last survivors of Italy's golden generation of 2006 World Cup winners.

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: Peru struggle to break down New Zealand as match ends in goalless draw

Peru, ranked 10th in the world to New Zealand's 122, were the better team but lacked a cutting edge, with the absence of goal-scoring captain Paolo Guerrero.

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: Northern Ireland livid at Switzerland's controversial goal, Croatia cruise

Switzerland's winner came from the penalty spot. Xherdan Shaqiri's volley was blocked by Corry Evans in the box and the referee pointed to the spot, even though he appeared to have been hit on the shoulder as he took evasive action.

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: Unexpected teams, politics, intrigue and drama galore in play-offs

World Cup play-offs invariably feature exhausting journeys with a hostile reception at the end and often produce a volatile clash of vastly differing footballing cultures.

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: Australia's Aaron Mooy says team will look to build on Syria win against Honduras

Aaron Mooy said that it doesn't matter if it's away or home – they will look to go for the win and hopeful of taking a good result back to Sydney.

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: Italy's Gian Piero Ventura believes team will definitely book Russia berth

Italy travel to Sweden for the first leg of their play-off on Friday in Stockholm with the return leg in Milan's San Siro on Monday.

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: Wilfried Zaha to make Ivory Coast debut against Morocco in must-win game

Zaha will need to hit the ground running as Ivory Coast have to defeat Morocco in the final qualifying game to ensure a fourth successive World Cup appearance after making the finals in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers: US coach Bruce Arena steps down after team's failure to qualify for finals

Bruce Arena, called upon last November to replace Jurgen Klinsmann as coach of the United States, resigned Friday, three days after the Americans failed to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia.