Barcelona have entered a crucial race against time to secure the signature of highly-rated Racing Santander defender Jorge Salinas during the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants are pushing to finalise an agreement for the versatile 19-year-old prospect before a looming deadline causes his current valuation to increase significantly.
Marco Materazzi has taken a fresh swipe at former team-mate and long-time rival Zlatan Ibrahimovic, sarcastically branding him the “greatest Interista in history” amid AC Milan’s ongoing instability. The ex-Inter defender also revisited Ibrahimovic’s 2009 departure from Giuseppe Meazza, linking it to the Nerazzurri’s historic Treble-winning campaign.
Achraf Hakimi was subjected to relentless booing from a large contingent of Scotland supporters during Morocco's narrow 1-0 World Cup victory at the Gillette Stadium. The hostile reception intensified throughout the match as the Paris Saint-Germain full-back captained his country, coming just days after major developments in his personal life.
The Algerian Football Federation has lodged a formal complaint with FIFA following refereeing decisions made during their 3-0 World Cup opening loss to Argentina. The African nation contends that Lionel Messi and Alexis Mac Allister were incredibly fortunate to escape red cards, casting a shadow over the reigning champions' victory.
Brazil secured their first win of the 2026 World Cup with a convincing 3-0 victory over Haiti, but concerns over Raphinha's fitness overshadowed the result. The Barcelona winger was forced off after suffering hamstring tightness, leaving Carlo Ancelotti awaiting further assessment. Meanwhile, there was better news elsewhere, with Neymar closing in on his return.
Spain might have one of the strongest squads at the 2026 World Cup, but that hasn't stopped debate raging around one position in particular. Despite having world-class goalkeepers David Raya and Joan Garcia at his disposal, head coach Luis de la Fuente has stood staunchly by Unai Simon. The statistical case against the Athletic Club man is impossible to ignore, but don't expect anything to change anytime soon.
The BBC has been forced to alter its World Cup highlights package after broadcasting the sickening audio of Canada midfielder Ismael Kone breaking his leg. The 24-year-old sustained the harrowing injury following a late challenge during a Group B fixture against Qatar, leaving his international team-mates deeply shaken by the incident.
Turkey's World Cup campaign ended in dramatic fashion as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay despite dominating possession and peppering the opposition goal with 33 attempts. Former Newcastle United midfielder Miguel Almiron also made tournament history with a controversial red card, but Paraguay held firm to secure a result that ended Turkey's hopes.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti announced that Neymar will be available to play in the Selecao's final group game against Scotland. The Santos attacking midfielder missed the first two games of the tournament with a calf injury, but the manager announced he will train with the team early next week, and will play a role next week to close out Group C play.
PHILADELPHIA -- Matheus Cunha proved his credentials up front, and Vinicius Jr had a hand in all three goals as Brazil found their stride at the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Haiti. The Real Madrid winger was at his devastating best, scoring and assisting, and has the Selecao well-positioned to top Group C. Haiti, for all of their efforts, are eliminated from the tournament in their first appearance since 1974.
The USMNT is into the World Cup knockouts after another statement win, with Folarin Balogun, Alex Freeman and a growing belief turning a strong start into something bigger.
Scotland suffered a potentially damaging 1-0 defeat to Morocco in their second match of the 2026 World Cup in Boston, meaning they will need to take something from their final Group C clash against Brazil to stand any chance of reaching the last 32. Steve Clarke's side fell behind inside two minutes, and in truth they never recovered.
Brazil have long inspired Haiti through its darkest moments. Now Les Grenadiers meet them on the World Cup stage aiming to prove they belong, not just admire.
The three biggest strengths of Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been highlighted by Peter Reid, with the former Leeds boss and Everton midfielder telling GOAL why the powerful frontman is a joy to watch. Injury issues of the recent past were put to the back of the 29-year-old’s mind last season as he delivered an immediate return on the faith shown in him by those at Elland Road.
Christian Pulisic has been ruled out of U.S. Men's National Team clash against Australia, Mauricio Pochettino revealed in an interview with FOX. Pulisic was subbed after halftime in the team's dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay. Although initial reporting suggested he might be able to play in Friday's clash in Seattle, the Argentine manager confirmed Ricardo Pepi will start in his place.
Michael Owen made his Liverpool breakthrough as a teenager, and the former Reds star has told GOAL why Rio Ngumoha should remain at Anfield for now - rather than tread a similar path to Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho. The highly-rated winger is, at 17 years of age, seeing a surprising switch to German giants Bayern Munich speculated on.
Harry Kane will not be paying any attention to the 2026 World Cup exploits of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, Danny Mills has told GOAL, as England’s record goalscorer would “rather be Olivier Giroud”. The prolific Bayern Munich striker has already opened his account in North America, alongside several other household names, but will forever prioritise collective success over any individual accolades.
Dejan Kulusevski has spent more than 12 months stuck on the sidelines at Tottenham, with Danny Murphy telling GOAL that the Swedish forward could end up heading down paths previously trodden by Fernando Torres and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Everyone connected with Spurs hope that the latter of those two Premier League legends will be emulated, with the 2026-27 campaign delivering a clean slate for all concerned.
Frank Lampard is close to signing a lucrative long-term contract extension with Coventry City following their sensational return to the top flight. The former England midfielder has transformed the West Midlands club since his arrival, successfully ending their painful 25-year absence from the Premier League by securing the Championship title last season.
Nicky Butt believes Manchester United should target Crysencio Summerville as part of a smarter recruitment strategy aimed at strengthening squad depth. The former midfielder praised the Netherlands international's explosive qualities and suggested he has the potential to become a regular starter if he can improve his consistency at the highest level.
Harry Kane has hailed England's post-match rendition of Oasis classic 'Wonderwall' after the Three Lions opened their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas. The captain described the celebration with supporters as one of his favourite moments in an England shirt and believes the song reflects the bond between the squad and its fans.
Jurgen Klopp faces an immediate executive crisis at RB Leipzig following reports that managing director of sport Marcel Schafer is prepared to quit the Bundesliga club. The internal friction has emerged directly from Klopp’s influential role in orchestrating the dismissal of head coach Ole Werner, completely undermining the sporting director's authority.
Juventus have stepped up their efforts to bring Randal Kolo Muani back to Turin, with new CEO Giovanni Carnevali reopening talks with Paris Saint-Germain. The French forward remains a key target as the Bianconeri seek to strengthen their attack, while improved relations between the two clubs could help unlock a deal that previously failed to materialise.
Decorated England icon Mary Earps has officially secured her return to English football by signing a lucrative two-year contract with London City Lionesses. The 33-year-old goalkeeper moves back to the Women's Super League as a free agent following a successful two-year spell in France with Paris Saint-Germain.
Ricardo Pepi is on World Cup duty with the USMNT, putting him in the global shop window, but Kasey Keller has told GOAL why the PSV striker faces a “tricky” decision when it comes to his future and mounting Premier League transfer speculation. The 23-year-old frontman attracted interest from Fulham during the winter, with more approaches from England expected to be made with the summer market of 2026 now open for business.
Former midfielder Nicky Butt has warned Thomas Tuchel that England must adapt their tactical identity if they are to survive against elite opposition during the knockout stages of the World Cup. Despite an entertaining 4-2 opening victory over Croatia in Group L, the ex-international believes a relentless high-tempo approach will prove unsustainable.
Thomas Muller has tipped Bayern Munich to monitor Switzerland youngster Johan Manzambi after the Freiburg midfielder starred in a World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 20-year-old scored twice off the bench and collected the Man of the Match award, further enhancing his growing reputation following an impressive Bundesliga campaign.
England are considered to miss Harry Maguire, amid defensive concerns at the 2026 World Cup, but Danny Mills has explained to GOAL why the Manchester United centre-half has been snubbed for a second time. He was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s initial 26-man squad and - despite leadership questions being asked - was overlooked again when Tino Livramentio withdrew through injury and a replacement needed to be found.