The Football Ferns broke their long losing drought on Tuesday night, with a memorable 2-0 win over South Korea.

Lionel Messi has won a record-breaking seventh Ballon d'Or award — but his family members were the real winners. The Argentine footballer was recognised as the greatest footballer on the planet on Tuesday morning in a glamorous, black-tie affair in Paris.

Goalkeeper Lily Alfeld has been appointed captain of the Wellington Phoenix for their maiden A-League women's season. The appointment was made following a vote by her teammates.

Lionel Messi won the men's Ballon d'Or for a record-extending seventh time today, ending the year in style after a brilliant final season with Barcelona and earning his first major international trophy with Argentina.

The Wellington Phoenix have continued their strong start to the season, though it was a nervy affair. They trumped the Central Coast Mariners 2-1 on Saturday night, hanging on for their first win of the campaign in a frenetic second half.

The Football Ferns showed some encouraging signs of development but not enough to avoid defeat in South Korea tonight.

The All Whites' road to the 2022 Football World Cup will go through North America, after FIFA announced its qualifying playoff draw on Saturday.

The tiny Arab nation of Qatar has for years employed a former CIA officer to help spy on football officials as part of a no-expense-spared effort to win and hold on to the 2022 World Cup tournament, an investigation by The Associated Press has found.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's firing by Manchester United today Sunday underscored the oddity of his appointment three years ago and flaws in the club's determination to persevere so long with a manager whose credentials were constantly doubted as a vast investment in players made little significant impact on the pitch.

So far, so good for the Wellington Phoenix men. They have opened their 2021-22 A-League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Macarthur, a solid result given the upheavals of the off season and the high-profile players they have lost.

After overseeing yet another humiliating loss as Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer walked over to the angry away fans and held both hands up in apology, before giving them a quick wave.

FIFA have confirmed major changes to format of the World Cup Intercontinental play-offs. As first revealed by the Herald on Friday in a world exclusive, the playoffs will take place over a single leg, at a neutral venue.

There is set to be a radical change to the format of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental playoffs, which would have massive implications for the competing nations, which could include New Zealand.

The All Whites have finished their year off in perfect style, with a 2-0 win over The Gambia on Wednesday morning.

All Whites coach Danny Hay was pleased with the resolve shown by a young team in the 2-1 win over Algeria A this morning, saying the Africans were a greater challenge than the opponents they faced last month.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Aminata Diallo has been taken into police custody following an attack on other players from the women's team, the club said Wednesday.

The All Blacks' winning culture has been likened to that of Manchester United by one of the legendary football club's greatest players.

Wellington Phoenix is auctioning off two playing kits to boost the funds raised by "selfless" teenager Jemima Gazley, who died of brain cancer last month.

A second player who was in contention for the latest All Whites' squad was ruled out because he was unvaccinated against Covid-19.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the two most powerful men in football, are facing jail after being formally charged with fraud and other offences over the £1.3 million (NZ$2.5m) payment that ended their careers.

All Whites coach Danny Hay has named his squad for the November international window, with fixtures against Gambia and one other nation, while an unnamed unvaccinated player has missed selection.