The 2026 World Cup came to a close in New Jersey on Sunday as Spain were deservedly crowned champions after a dour 1-0 win over 10-man Argentina in one of the worst finals in the tournament history. La Roja substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a game that was essentially attack versus defence even before Enzo Fernandez got himself stupidly sent off for a second yellow card in the final minute of normal time.
At the end of a gruelling battle of footballing philosophies, Spain are world champions once again. It was control vs chaos in the 2026 World Cup final as Luis de la Fuente's pass masters came up against the holders and experts in the dark arts, Argentina. Ultimately, after 120 minutes of bruising action, La Roja (and football) would prevail 1-0, leaving Lionel Messi disconsolate.
After five weeks, a record 104 matches played and 308 goals scored, the 2026 World Cup is officially over. From a purely footballing perspective, FIFA's biggest tournament of all time did not disappoint, with 48 teams doing battle across three host countries and the vast expanse of North America. And when 46 of those nations had been whittled away, only the top two ranked teams on the planet remained: Spain and Argentina.
With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he was among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.
Ferran Torres scored the only goal to win Spain the 2026 World Cup in a remarkably drab final. La Roja were the only side eager to play football on the day, and ran out deserved winners in extra-time thanks to the Barcelona forward's heroics. With the victory, they secured back-to-back major trophy wins - and might have ended Leo Messi's Argentina career with a loss.
For some football fans, the summer is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most - and that's not just because it's filled by a World Cup every four years! Rather, it's because the end of the season means only one thing: It's time for transfers! The 2026 window is once again proving to be busy, with some huge names making big-money moves before deadline day on September 1.
And so the wait goes on. England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina on Wednesday means their quest for a first international trophy since 1966 will stretch into a seventh decade. The hope is that drought will come to an end in two years' time when the Three Lions co-host the 2028 European Championship, but will England ever again reach a World Cup final, never mind lift the most famous trophy in the sport?
Diego Luna spoke to GOAL in May in an interview courtesy of Carl's Jr. on how he has juggled U.S. National Team duty with his club career at Real Salt Lake.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has arguably been the busiest man at the 2026 World Cup, clocking up a staggering mileage that would see him circle the globe more than twice. As the tournament prepares for its grand finale between Argentina and Spain in New Jersey, the full scale of the president’s exhaustive itinerary has been revealed.
Mauricio Pochettino says he expects to make a decision on his future as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team next week. Pochettino and U.S. Soccer have held talks over a potential extension that would keep the Argentinian manager on board following the expiration of his contract after this World Cup.
MLS returned Thursday, with Commissioner Don Garber, league executives and players discussing the momentum generated by the 2026 World Cup, Christian Pulisic’s future and what comes next.
ATLANTA -- U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson addressed the White House’s involvement in the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension, saying President Donald Trump “is able to do what the President wants to do.” Trump’s call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino before Balogun’s one-match ban was suspended has drawn widespread criticism, although FIFA has maintained that its disciplinary process was independent.
It's here. The 2026 summer transfer window has arrived and it promises to be an extremely eventful one in the women's game, with several huge stars on the move. Alexia Putellas, Georgia Stanway and Sam Kerr are just some of those who have already completed summer transfers, with there plenty of rumours and reports of more to come and some surprises sure to be sprung, too.
There's no sporting event bigger than the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of professional football, where global superstars are born, dreams die and legends live forever. Sometimes, with just one goal, one pass, one tackle, one block or one save, a previously little-known player can become a national hero, a name eternally etched in the memory of a country's collective consciousness.
As time ticked on and the shadows continued to envelop the pitch in New Jersey, Argentina kept waiting. Surely, the moment would arrive, right? It always does? For the last two World Cups, there was always a Lionel Messi moment of magic, and it always seemed to arrive when Argentina needed it most.
England at least managed to put a bit of shine on their World Cup campaign. The highly-entertaining, 6-4 win over France in Saturday's bronze-medal match didn't change the fact that they collapsed in the semi-final against Argentina three days earlier, but it did at least save a little bit of face.
The World Cup final is finally upon us, and Sunday's showdown between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey promises to be an absolutely enthralling encounter between the two best teams in the tournament - with the emphasis very much on 'teams'.
Tottenham could be set for a surprise goalkeeper swap with Napoli, with reports in Italy suggesting a potential deal involving Guglielmo Vicario and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic as both clubs reassess their options between the posts this summer.
Tributes are flowing in for former England captain and manager Kevin Keegan following the announcement of his passing at the age of 75. Alan Shearer and Jamie Carragher were among those paying homage to a legend of the game.
Manchester United appear to hold an early advantage over Arsenal in the race to sign Manu Kone, with the Roma and France midfielder eyeing a step up and eager to test himself in the Premier League following an emotional World Cup exit.
Manchester City have announced a unique online auction featuring the personal contents of Pep Guardiola’s office following his emotional departure from the Etihad Stadium. Fans now have the rare opportunity to bid on everything from the legendary manager's tactical whistle to his private collection of ornaments and training apparel.
Whether you are looking for the next El Tráfico or a crucial playoff showdown, this guide covers every viewing option, live stream, and TV channel you need to watch LAFC live all season long.
Paris Saint-Germain have halted their pursuit of Lille’s 18-year-old sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi, cooling interest in the highly coveted midfielder. The French champions are opting to look within their current squad, effectively clearing the path for La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona to lead the race for Europe's most promising Moroccan starlet.
Bayern Munich have secured the long-term future of one of their most versatile performers following the conclusion of the World Cup. Austrian international Konrad Laimer has officially confirmed that he has signed a contract extension to remain at the Allianz Arena.
Unai Emery is reportedly ready to orchestrate a reunion with one of his former Villarreal stalwarts as Aston Villa step up their pursuit of AC Milan defender Pervis Estupinan. The Premier League side are leading the race for the Ecuadorian international as the Italian giants look to balance their books following a significant summer spending spree.
Manchester United goalkeeper Radek Vitek has signaled his readiness to leave Old Trafford this summer, insisting he is prepared to establish himself as a first-choice option elsewhere. The 22-year-old is coming off a productive loan spell and believes the time is right to step out of the shadows at the Theatre of Dreams.
Chelsea have announced the signing of France international Melvine Malard in a deal that represents a club-record sale for Manchester United. The forward worked with Blues boss Sonia Bompastor at Lyon and now reunites with her in London to strengthen an attack that has been depleted by departures, particularly that of Sam Kerr.
Arsenal are being heavily linked with a move for Spain international shot-stopper Misa Rodriguez following her departure from Real Madrid. The Gunners’ goalkeeping department is already well-stocked, thanks to Daphne van Domselaar and Anneke Borbe, but it appears it is going to be strengthened even further with the addition of the highly-rated 26-year-old.
It's official: Alexia Putellas is a London City Lionesses player. Michele Kang has lured some top talent to the club since taking over during the 2023-24 season, from five-time European champion Saki Kumagai to Sweden icon Kosovare Asllani, with a world-record fee paid for Grace Geyoro just last summer, too. But Putellas is a dream signing and the biggest indication yet that this project should be taken very seriously.