Analysis

Tottenham Hotspur sit 16th in the Premier League table. They are only five points clear of the relegation zone. Zero wins from nine domestic games in 2026. Their next match is against north-London neighbours Arsenal, the Premier League champions-elect whom Spurs have beaten just once in their last 10 meetings. And yet, until Wednesday morning, there seemed to be very little alarm around the club that this is a season that could very well end in disaster.

Manchester United simply had to act in the January transfer window. The Red Devils had enjoyed a wonderful start to the 2025-26 season, most notably qualifying for the Women's Champions League proper for the first time and then going one further by putting themselves in this month's knockout rounds. But if they wanted to be competitive against Europe's best, and at the sharp end of domestic competitions, they needed more in the squad - and that's the approach United took.

There is no shortage of ways to describe Bernardo Silva. A daring dribbler; a sleek passer; a relentless presser; the engine of Manchester City’s field, as well as its brain. But Erling Haaland managed to sum up the City captain's attitude in brilliantly simple terms after master-minding their stunning comeback win against Liverpool: 'Let’s have it!'

The young defender is staying grounded as he approaches what is certainly the biggest moment of his young career

MLS returns with a packed schedule and familiar chaos. From stars like Messi, Rodriguez, and Son Heung-Min to the teams you can avoid, here’s who’s actually worth your weekend watch.

This is Legacy, GOAL’s podcast and feature series to mark the countdown to the 2026 World Cup. Each week, we explore the stories and the spirit behind the nations that define the world’s game. This week, we travel to Mexico, the only country to host three World Cups. From Pele’s triumph in 1970 to Diego Maradona’s magic in 1986, and now to the celebration set for 2026, it’s the story of a nation where football is not just played, but lived; a land of goals, history, and unending passion.

GOAL's writers debate Christian Pulisic’s form, Weston McKennie’s rise, and what it all means for Americans Abroad right now.

If Ruben Amorim had stayed in charge of Manchester United, Kobbie Mainoo would be speaking to prospective clubs right now about leaving - if he hadn't departed already. Instead, the homegrown midfielder is thriving under Michael Carrick and looks every bit United’s present as well as its future. With every game he plays, Mainoo is making Amorim’s decision to disregard his talent seem all the more ridiculous.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including another goal from McKennie and Weah suffering a tough outing against PSG.

GOAL breaks down which soccer stars have established ties to the two Super Bowl teams.

"Football is a whole skill to itself. A whole world. A whole universe to itself. Me love it because you have to be skilful to play it. Freedom! Football is freedom."

The jury has been out on Alejandro Garnacho among Chelsea fans and pundits alike since the divisive 21-year-old swapped Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge in the summer, but recent performances have cranked up scrutiny levels. A calamitous 45 minutes against West Ham last weekend prompted Gary Neville to point out that the winger looked like his confidence was "shot to pieces" - and it's difficult to argue with that observation.

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including a series of big games in France, England and Italy

Honest Ahanor is just 17 years old - and yet on Sunday he started his fifth successive game for Atalanta, against Como. Unfortunately, Ahanor's afternoon came to an abrupt end - and quite literally by his own hand. Just eight minutes into the game at Sinigaglia, the defender was involved in an innocuous, off-the-ball clash with Maxi Perrone, who shamelessly collapsed to the ground as if Ahanor had struck him in the face.

Michael Carrick is getting the bulk of plaudits for Manchester United’s resurgence since he took charge, but there is another undeniable factor to consider when analysing the uplift in performances and results at Old Trafford. Lisandro Martinez admittedly made his long-awaited first appearance after 301 days out through injury while Ruben Amorim was still in charge, but the true impact of his return is only being felt now.

Tottenham finished second-from-bottom in the Women's Super League last season. Since promotion seven years ago, their top-flight record against Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United stands at two wins, five draws and 42 defeats. Financially, they are not in the same place as the ‘big four’, not when Chelsea and Arsenal have both made £1-million transfers in the last year or so. And yet, despite all of this, Spurs are right in the fight with all of them for Women's Champions League qualification this season.

Can Nico Paz be the World Cup’s next breakout star? The Como playmaker has the tools to follow James Rodríguez’s iconic 2014 path - and shine on the biggest stage.

GOAL ranks the top 25 players in MLS. And while No. 1 should be of little surprise, there is plenty of talent littered all over the league.

GOAL sat down with the midfielder to discuss the upcoming World Cup and what kept him motivated in the years between USMNT appearances

When Manchester City signed Vivianne Miedema on a free transfer from Arsenal in the summer of 2024, it felt like one of the biggest coups in Women's Super League history. The Cityzens were not only signing the league's all-time top-scorer, they were also directly weakening a title rival in the process.

James Rodriguez is reportedly nearing a deal to sign with Minnesota United, which would be a perfect short term agreement for both parties ahead of the World Cup

The non-profit organization has forged relationships with MLS and U.S. Soccer, and ahead of the World Cup sees chances to further grow

GOAL sat down with the goalkeeper to discuss 2025 challenges, 2026 hopes, and changing perceptions once again

With the World Cup just five months away, GOAL takes a look at how El Tri’s squad could shape up next summer.

Real Madrid have paid a heavy price for failing to replace Toni Kroos following his retirement in 2024, but then doing so was always going to be a tough task. For starters, the ex-Germany international ranks as one of the finest deep-lying playmakers of the modern era.

As investment in the women’s game continues to grow, each and every transfer window feels bigger and bigger, as both the anticipation and likelihood of new record transfers and big money moves for the game’s greatest stars increases. In that sense, January is never as headline-grabbing as the summer window, but there has still been plenty of eye-catching business over the last few weeks - especially in the Women’s Super League.

Three years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo stunned the sporting world by joining Al-Nassr. Six months later, the Portuguese trailblazer was joined in the Saudi Pro League by a number of high-profile players, including Karim Benzema, Neymar, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte. Some of those superstars were clearly past their prime, but the mere fact that they were willing to move to the Middle East felt significant.

GOAL looks at why some of the USMNT's biggest stars will remain at their clubs following a rumor-filled January transfer window