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Why Haaland's haircut has only enhanced his booming brand

The Norwegian forward's new look might have raised eyebrows, but his surprise trim certainly hasn't had a negative effect on the striker's ever-growing profile

Mexican Football Federation Unveils Rafael Marquez As New Coach Of National Team

Rafael Marquez unveiled as Mexico boss with bold 2030 World Cup target

Mexican football icon Rafael Marquez has officially been presented as the new head coach of El Tri with a clear mandate to lead the nation into the 2030 World Cup. The 47-year-old former Barcelona defender, who previously served as assistant coach, is determined to surpass the quarter-final ceiling that eluded him during his storied playing career.

Crystal Palace FC v Manchester City - Premier League 2026/27

Nketiah weighs up Ghana allegiance switch

Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah is weighing up his international future after Ghana made a fresh approach to secure his allegiance. Despite having previously represented England at senior level, the forward remains eligible to switch to the Black Stars under current FIFA regulations, leaving him with a major decision to make regarding his long-term international career.

Pochettino demands Spurs be awarded 2016-17 PL title after Chelsea rule breaches

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has sensationally claimed that Spurs should be retrospective winners of the 2016-17 Premier League title. The Argentine argues that Chelsea’s admission of financial rule breaches means the trophy belongs in north London. Though the Blues were fined £10 million by the FA earlier this summer, Pochettino believes a lack of sporting sanctions is a betrayal of fair play.

Kane has ‘hat in ring’ for BdO but isn’t guaranteed Golden Ball

Harry Kane has his “hat in the ring” when it comes to Ballon d’Or recognition, ex-England striker Andy Cole has told GOAL, but the prolific Bayern Munich striker is not considered to be a guaranteed pick for Golden Ball glory in 2026. The Three Lions captain does figure on the list of nominees, but faces fierce competition from the likes of Rodri, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Michael Olise and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Ballon d'Or 2026: Arteta & Enrique lead Johan Cruyff Trophy nominees

France Football has officially revealed the shortlist for the 2026 Men's and Women's Coach of the Year awards, highlighting the tactical masterminds who defined the last season. The nominations for the Johan Cruyff Trophy are heavily dominated by Spanish talent, reflecting a golden era for the nation’s coaching exports across Europe’s top leagues.

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	Manchester City	3	3	0	0	7	2	5	9	W W W
2	Arsenal	3	3	0	0	6	1	5	9	W W W
3	Hull City	3	2	1	0	3	0	3	7	D W W
4	Chelsea	3	2	0	1	8	7	1	6	L W W
5	Brentford	3	1	2	0	5	2	3	5	D D W

Pos

Team

+/-

PTS

Form

Manchester City

W
W
W

Arsenal

W
W
W

Hull City

D
W
W

Chelsea

L
W
W

Brentford

D
D
W

Frequently asked questions

Who has won the most World Cup titles?

Brazil have won the World Cup five times, more than any other country. They first lifted the trophy in 1958, before successfully defending their title four years later. They then made it three in 1970, while also emerging victorious in 1994 and 2002 to show what they're made of.

How many teams are in the World Cup?

The most recent edition of the World Cup, which took place in Qatar in 2022, featured 32 teams. However, from the upcoming edition in 2026, as many as 48 teams will be contesting for the ultimate prize in international football. The number of teams that will be featuring has almost quadrupled since the inaugural edition in 1930, which hosted 13 teams.

Who has made the most World Cup appearances ever?

Lionel Messi holds the record of making the most appearances in World Cups, having represented Argentina 26 times across five editions.

Who is the all-time World Cup topscorer?

Germany's Miroslav Klose tops the all-time goalscoring charts in World Cups, having scored an incredible 16 goals in 24 games across four consecutive editions from 2002 to 2014.

Who is the oldest World Cup player and how old was he?

Egyptian legend Essam El Hadary is the oldest player to have ever featured in a World Cup game. The goalkeeper was 45 years and 161 days old when he participated in Egypt's 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia at the 2018 World Cup.

Who is the youngest World Cup player and how old was he?

Former Manchester United man Norman Whiteside is the youngest player ever to play a World Cup game. The midfielder was just 17 years and 41 days old when he featured for Northern Ireland in a game against Yugoslavia at the 1982 World Cup.

Which famous footballers have featured at the World Cup?

Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Gerd Muller, Roberto Baggio, Ronaldo, Romario, Eusebio, Johan Cruyff, David Villa, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo among others are some of the biggest legends in footballing history who have graced the pitch during World Cups.

Which famous managers have led teams at the World Cup?

The likes of Didier Deschamps, Franz Beckenbauer, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Vicente del Bosque, Vittorio Pozzo, Louis van Gaal, Sven-Goran Eriksson, and Ivica Osim are some of the most accomplished individuals to have managed at the World Cup finals.