Latest
This year
2026
Strand Pitch
'I probably would have gone down a much, much darker path if this pitch wasn’t here'
Keith Treacy is part of a group fighting to save a concrete pitch in Dublin’s north inner city which has nurtured some of Ireland’s sporting greats.
after diarra
Why Ireland's players union are backing a class action suit that could cost Fifa billions
Permutations
Here's who has qualified for the Europa League knockouts - and who they can face in the next round
Troubled Waters
Sport Ireland chief to defend organisation's handling of rowing allegations before Oireachtas Committee
AnalysisComment
Carrick is rewarded for taking a gamble where Arteta's dreary Arsenal show old faults
Arsenal left themselves open to bad luck by ceding control in the first half while wasting most of the second half with more utterly sterile excuses for attacking.
column
What the disgraceful treatment of James McClean has told us about modern England
With McClean returning to Derry City, we reflect on his 15-year career in England.
Fixture List
Leinster to face Edinburgh as Champions Cup last-16 ties confirmed
Munster travel to Exeter in the Challenge Cup as Ulster and Connacht play at home to URC opposition.
Profile
‘He hasn't anglicised himself at all’: ‘Authentic’ Brian Barry-Murphy climbing UK football ladder
We profile Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy, flying at the top of League One and tipped for bigger things.
column
In defence of the Saipan movie
Saipan movie plays fast and loose with some facts – but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get to the truth.
Interview
'I still haven’t fully processed it' - The Mayo teenager flying out for Junior Australian Open bid
Mayo tennis prospect Eoghan Jennings speaks to The 42.
AnalysisOpportunity
No 1 issue: Gavin Bazunu must improve stats and consistency at Stoke City
Data gurus rank the Irish international as the worst performing goalkeeper in the championship by one key metric.
weekend in amsterdam
Ulster awarded 28-0 win as postponed Cheetahs game is officially cancelled
The game was due to be played in Amsterdam but was postponed twice owing to snowfall and freezing temperatures.
column
Why football's posturing, meddling corporate class prevent good management
There is no evidence that United and Chelsea’s structures can succeed at the elite end of English football.
Analysisbrittle and broken
Ruben Amorim at least stood for something - unfortunately for him, it was never going to work
Amorim’s inflexibility now looks absurd, and the United hierarchy have run out of patience.
AnalysisBack to the drawing board
Assessing Ireland's midfield options after the shattering injury to Josh Cullen
Cullen has started every competitive game for which he has been available for the last five years – how can Ireland replace his influence?
bizarre episode
The Atomic Bowl: The untold story of the American football game played at Ground Zero in Nagasaki
A new documentary unearths the bizarre and chilling tale of the American military’s New Years’ game on the site on which they dropped the bomb.
Last year
2025
Political Football
Rip-off ticket prices, ICE raids, moving fixtures: What to expect from the MAGA World Cup
We look ahead to some of the storylines to expect from next summer’s World Cup in North America.
essay
What I think about when I think about Rory McIlroy in 2025
Assessing the making and the legacy of McIlroy’s extraordinary 12 months.
Comment
Villa's amazing run looks unsustainable while United are genuinely getting better
Villa are giving a historically emphatic two-fingers to Expected Goals, while Man United are onto the right thing with Ruben Amorim. They just need to get better players.
column
Best Heckle, WTF moment and Ronaldo red card of the year - The alternative 2025 awards
It’s time to look back on 2025 with the highly prestigious The 42 Alternative Awards of the Year.
column
The proof that America has conquered football - Welcome to the Rip-Off World Cup
Here is another event separating us all according to the great hierarchy of wealth, telling many of us that, actually, this World Cup just isn’t for you.
Explainer
Hoping to go to the World Cup? Here's how to try to get tickets
Fifa’s latest ticket sales window opens today and runs until 13 January.
AnalysisLiverpool
Liverpool show signs of arduous progress against Inter - but they have an Isak problem
This was another wretched outing for the club’s record signing: technically sloppy, physically overwhelmed, and just generally looking diffident and confused.
