World Cup news

England boss Thomas Tuchel stands accused of insulting Harry Maguire with his claim that the Manchester United defender could be fifth-choice centre-half in his 2026 World Cup plans. Maguire has been drafted back into the Three Lions fold for international friendly action, but has been warned that he may struggle to earn another major tournament spot.

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has moved to ease fears regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s fitness after a hamstring injury sidelined the legendary forward from the March international camp. The 41-year-old remains central to the Selecao’s plans as he prepares for a record sixth World Cup campaign in North America. Martinez emphasised that the captain’s elite mentality and remarkable goalscoring record ensure his place remains secure.

Brazil’s 2026 kits revealed - iconic yellow meets bold Jordan revolution.

The iconic duo of Ronaldo and Rivaldo made a surprise appearance at Brazil’s training base to inspire a squad currently struggling for form. As the Selecao face growing scrutiny following a 2-1 friendly defeat to France, Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has admitted that the weight of the nation's 2002 World Cup success remains a heavy burden for the modern generation.

UEFA is set to freeze ticket prices broadly for Euro 2028, ensuring football remains accessible across the UK and Ireland. This commitment is in direct contrast to FIFA’s widely criticised pricing strategy for the 2026 World Cup in North America. By prioritising affordability and larger allocations for national associations, European football's governing body aims to protect fans from the hyper-inflation currently seen in global sports.

Nine nations are competing for the title but there can only be one winner! GOAL's Front Three host a special Battle Royale-style football quiz to determine who has the best ball knowledge

Gary Lineker has questioned Thomas Tuchel’s decision to omit Trent Alexander-Arnold from his latest England squad. The former Three Lions striker believes the snub might be "personal" rather than tactical as the Real Madrid star remains frozen out.

Ronald Araujo admits that Uruguay may require divine intervention when facing Lamine Yamal and Spain at the 2026 World Cup, telling his international colleagues: “If they know how to pray, they better.” Araujo knows all about the threat that the teenage wonderkid will pose when they lock horns on the grandest of stages at a major tournament this summer.

The German national team’s two friendly wins were accompanied by plenty of discussion about Julian Nagelsmann’s decisions, actions and comments. In the end, the national coach was largely proven right!

The tennis player and the motorcyclist are cheering on Gattuso’s team in Bosnia.

England's World Cup group stage opponents Ghana have taken the ruthless decision to sack head coach Otto Addo just 10 weeks before the tournament begins. The Black Stars announced the departure of the former Borussia Dortmund assistant following a narrow 2-1 friendly defeat to Germany in Stuttgart.

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior has been urged to abandon Brazil’s iconic number 10 shirt following a series of underwhelming performances for the Selecao. Critics suggest that the winger is struggling under the psychological weight of the jersey, which is traditionally reserved for "creative geniuses" like Neymar. Amid a lack of goals for his country, a former international defender has delivered a blunt reality check regarding his role in the national setup.

The Neymar chants began just moments after Hugo Ekitike put France 2-0 up on Brazil at the Gillette Stadium. It was the last thing Carlo Ancelotti would have wanted to hear, but probably the first thing he would have expected in the circumstances. The Italian's decision to leave out the Selecao's all-time leading goal-scorer from his latest squad had dominated the build-up to Thursday's high-profile friendly in Foxborough.

This is Legacy, GOAL’s feature and podcast series following the road to the 2026 World Cup, and every week, we revisit the stories, moments, and myths that shaped the global game. This week, we revisit the extraordinary, turbulent and often unbelievable road to England's triumph in 1966. This is the rise, the redemption, and the lasting weight of '66 - the story of the only time football truly 'came home'...

You cannot fault Thomas Tuchel when it comes to honesty. This is a coach who said on national radio that his mother finds star player Jude Bellingham "repulsive", who told England fans at Wembley off for being "silent" in a friendly against Wales and said Bukayo Saka's goal tally for the Three Lions, the highest of any Arsenal player in history, was not good enough.

Neymar has detailed the immense emotional burden while toiling for full fitness at Santos. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar says the pressure to perform in his homeland is "crushing" as he eyes a World Cup spot with Brazil. Despite the weight of expectation, the veteran forward took time to laud former team-mate Kylian Mbappe’s elite finishing.

First on the bench, then the match-winner, and finally an emotional leader too: Deniz Undav has made the most of his role as a substitute. Still, he shouldn’t get his hopes up too much.