England could avoid facing France until the World Cup final and any of the top-four ranked teams until the semi-final stage, after it was confirmed that FIFA are set to implement a Wimbledon-style seeding system to the 2026 World Cup draw. Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions will find out their opponents in the group stage on December 5, and the new draw system aims to give the best possible opportunity for a heavyweight clash in the final of the tournament next summer.
U.S. international Trinity Rodman said she is still weighing her next move as her contract with the Washington Spirit nears its end, noting that emotions and timing are shaping a decision she hasn’t made yet. Her deal expired after Sunday’s NWSL final against Gotham FC, officially making her a free agent and leaving her at a potential career crossroads.
Juventus have reportedly joined the race for Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, as the young Red Devils star continues to attract interest from Serie A amidst the stagnation of his Old Trafford career. The 20-year-old has frequently been linked with Napoli and Juve are now said to be 'monitoring' Mainoo, whom they see as the next Paul Pogba if they can convince Mainoo to swap Manchester for Turin.
GOAL’s writers found no shortage of drama in the Conference semis, highlighted by Messi’s Miami rolling on and Son Heung-min’s LAFC crashing out in dramatic fashion.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to receive only a one-match ban for his red card against the Republic of Ireland in Portugal's penultimate World Cup qualifier. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was sent off after elbowing Dara O'Shea off the ball and was set for a three-match ban for 'violent conduct'. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee has decided to let the 40-year-old off easy.
Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has offered his advice to teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, as the 18-year-old continues to adapt to the demands of fame since his rapid rise to prominence with Barcelona. Nadal advised Yamal to surround himself with the right people who genuinely want the best for him, warning him that fame can "make you unhappy" if you do not take the right path.
Jesse Lingard delivered one of his finest performances in Asia as the former Manchester United star produced a stunning brace and an assist in FC Seoul’s 3-1 victory over Shanghai Port in the AFC Champions League Elite. The 32-year-old dazzled on the continental stage once again, driving his side closer to the knockout rounds as his remarkable late-career revival continues.
Everton secured their first victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford for 12 years on Monday night despite a first-half red card, but the game will be best remembered for the bizarre manner in which the Toffees were reduced to 10 men. In a rare example of the lesser-seen on-pitch team-mate bust-up, midfielder Idrissa Gueye and defender Michael Keane completely lost it with one another under the eyes of 74,000 fans and plenty more watching on at home.
England manager Thomas Tuchel was in attendance at Old Trafford on Monday night for the Premier League meeting between Manchester United and Everton. After the Toffees claimed a first win at the stadium in 12 years, the German was seen in the tunnel speaking with Jack Grealish, setting speculation in motion that an international recall ahead of the World Cup is coming.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been slammed by Graeme Souness for showing a "lack of appetite". The Reds legend also pinpointed the first warning sign in Salah's game in the club's Community Shield clash against Crystal Palace in August. After consistently delivering for the past eight years and playing a key role in Liverpool's title-winning seasons, Salah seems to be finally slowing down and his decline has coincided with an alarming dip in form from Arne Slot's side.
Jamie Vardy’s new family home in a picturesque part of northern Italy was broken into by three burglars over the weekend, while the former Leicester City and England striker was playing for Cremonese in a home Serie A clash with Roma, with wife Rebekah in attendance at the game. Cremonese were soundly beaten 3-1, but that was the least of Vardy's problems.
Lionel Messi reportedly reached a complete agreement to rejoin Barcelona in 2023 and an official contract was drafted to welcome back their greatest legend, but the move never materialised. Messi left his boyhood club in 2021 as a free agent after spending almost two decades there. He then completed a high-profile free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, where he spent two years before heading to Inter Miami in the United States.
One year should be more than enough time to transmit your ideas to your squad and mould them to your way of playing. But Ruben Amorim's first anniversary as Manchester United coach against Everton felt like being back at square one, his players still no closer to working out how to beat mid-table Premier League opponents, even when playing against 10 men for more than 77 minutes.
Lionel Messi has lifted the lid on the impact that Omar Souto, the long-serving general manager of Argentina's national teams within the country's football association, had on his career. The 73-year-old passed away this week, sending Argentina's football community into mourning, with flags at the nation's two footballing hubs to fly at half mast in tribute.
Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt appeared to question manager Ruben Amorim's tactics after the Red Devils' embarrassing loss to 10-man Everton on Monday. The defeat ended a five-game unbeaten streak for United in the Premier League and sent them tumbling to 10th in the table, 11 points adrift of leaders Arsenal, and De Ligt pulled no punches after the final whistle.
Losing Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona in the summer of 2022 was a bitter blow for Bayern Munich. The Pole had scored 344 goals in just 375 appearances for the club, after all. Replacing him was never going to be easy, but it ended up taking Bayern more than a year to find a worthy successor, as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting rather unsurprisingly didn't exactly prove himself up to the task.
Santos boss Juan Pablo Vojvoda delivered an honest update on Neymar's latest injury setback after the forward's withdrawal from the Brazilian Serie A clash with Internacional. Neymar had just returned from a hamstring injury and was slowly settling in to playing again for Santos again, but a fresh knock forced him back onto the sidelines for Monday's game.
Harry Kane has directly responded to reports linking him with a transfer to Barcelona. The England captain has also revealed that talks over a new Bayern Munich contract are yet to begin, at least raising the possibility that his career could take another step, but he insists there is no reason for fans in Bavaria to be worried about an imminent departure.
Arsenal obliterated Tottenham in the north London derby as they took a step closer to finally ending their long wait for a Premier League title. Eberechi Eze, who almost joined Spurs in the summer, was the hero with his incredible hat-trick, and 442oons' latest animation recreates some of the best bits of the clash at Emirates Stadium
Antony has publicly apologised to Real Betis fans after being sent off towards the end of the weekend's La Liga draw against Girona. The former Manchester United winger accidentally struck an opponent in the face with his boot while trying to keep the ball alive with an overhead kick in the Girona penalty area. It’s one of the rare blots on his record since moving to the Andalucian club, initially on loan, last January.
Mikel Arteta is being backed to bring Arsenal’s long wait for Premier League title glory to a close as the Gunners are working with their “strongest ever squad” in the Emirates Stadium era. That is the opinion of Nigel Winterburn, who has told GOAL in an exclusive interview why domestic dominance can be restored in north London during the 2025-26 campaign.
In association with LiveScore Bet, one of the Premier League's greatest ever strikers joins the Front Three as Dimitar Berbatov takes on Ali and DSK in a Battle Royale quiz of epic proportions! Come for the quiz questions and answers, stay for Ali's BURN about the former Manchester United forward's silky first touch...
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez have reportedly finalised a wedding venue that holds a special meaning for the Al-Nassr and Portugal superstar. The couple got engaged in August this year after Ronaldo proposed to his long-term girlfriend. They plan to tie the knot next summer, following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has again come in to bat for divisive attacker Brenden Aaronson, who has been the subject of more abuse from his own fans, albeit while admitting that the USMNT star is an "annoying" player. It comes as Leeds are struggling to tread water on their return to the Premier League, sitting just inside the relegation zone on goal difference, with the pressure also mounting on Farke himself.
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has quickly addressed the shocking red card he was shown in the first half of his team's eventual win over Manchester United on Monday night, received for raising his hand to collegaue Michael Keane after an altercation between the pair on the pitch. Both Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Toffees boss David Moyes have also given their reaction.
Gary Neville singled out one "ambling" Manchester United player for criticism in a furious outburst during his former club's disappointing 1-0 home defeat to a 10-man Everton side. The United flops were deservedly booed off the pitch at full-time after their five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end.
Ex-Everton star Yannick Bolasie has hit out at Gary Neville's punditry, claiming the Manchester United legend "thinks he’s the second coming of Pep Guardiola". Neville was on Sky Sports commentary during the Premier League clash between the Toffees and the Red Devils as Ruben Amorim's side suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss against 10 men.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo still justifies his place in the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting not only his recent goalscoring form at international level but also the "hunger" that drives the 40-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Ronaldo is set to play at his sixth World Cup tournament, which is likely to be his last.
When Manchester City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma, most of the reaction focused on his ability, or lack thereof, with the ball at his feet, in sharp contrast to the man he was replacing, Ederson. But nearly three months into his spell with City, the Italian is struggling with a different challenge: the Premier League’s attitude to pushing in the box.
Gary Neville thought taking the Valencia job in December 2015 would begin his route to eventually becoming England manager; instead, his four-month stint in Spain drained his confidence, made him ill and put him off coaching for life. Neville's was a shock appointment as the former Manchester United defender took over one of the biggest clubs in La Liga despite having no club coaching experience, little knowledge of Spanish football and no grasp of the language.