Thomas Tuchel is preparing to hand Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott his international debut during England's final World Cup preparations. Despite not being named in the final 26-man tournament squad, the 22-year-old has been thrust into the spotlight for the upcoming friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica.
Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood endured a bittersweet evening in Fort Lauderdale as he officially became the most-capped player in New Zealand men's football history. However, the veteran striker's record-breaking night against Haiti was completely overshadowed by a shambolic performance from the All Whites.
Romelu Lukaku reached yet another historic milestone as Belgium secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Croatia in their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The Napoli striker came off the bench to silence any doubts over his match fitness, netting a landmark 90th goal for his country to seal the result in Rijeka.
Despite the convincing 4-0 win over Finland, Germany still lacks tactical discipline at times. Julian Nagelsmann is right to trust his young players, and his instincts are sound. Here are three takeaways from the penultimate friendly before the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Curiously, all ten of Germany's outfield starters wore pink boots during Sunday's 4-0 friendly win over Finland. Could this be the personal preference of highly rated young talent Lennart Karl?
Two goals, one assist – Deniz Undav is making a strong case for a place in the World Cup starting line-up and presenting the national coach with a pleasant selection headache.
Canada face Uzbekistan and Republic of Ireland in their final pre-World Cup friendlies, with Jesse Marsch managing injury concerns after Marcelo Flores’ heartbreaking setback and searching for goals from Jonathan David and Cyle Larin.
Christian Pulisic looked back to his best, Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun impressed, and the USMNT offered real reason for World Cup optimism against Senegal.
Scotland's World Cup preparations have been rocked by a "cruel" injury to midfield anchor Billy Gilmour, leaving his team-mates and coaching staff in a state of shock. The Napoli star was forced off during the 4-1 friendly victory over Curacao, with Scott McTominay leading the tributes to a player who has become central to the Tartan Army's ambitions.
Our expert shares the best Mexico vs Australia Predictions, Lineups, Odds & Tips: El Tricolor win with a clean sheet, as one of the World Cup 2026 host nations begin their warm-up schedule.(30/05/2026)
Carlo Ancelotti has delivered a blunt assessment of his current Brazil squad, suggesting the Selecao no longer boast the individual icons of years gone by. The Italian tactician claims that the five-time world champions must now lean on a collective effort rather than expecting a single superstar to carry the nation to glory.
Interim Italy manager Silvio Baldini has launched a fiery critique against the administration of the national game while warning the federation against pursuing unrealistic managerial targets. The veteran coach expressed deep frustration over systemic issues ahead of the national team's upcoming friendly fixtures, calling for local leadership to rebuild the setup.
Brian Gutierrez’s growing role, Raul Rangel’s No. 1 case, and Edson Alvarez’s fitness are among the key storylines as Mexico face Ghana in Puebla on Friday. GOAL looks at five keys to watch in El Tri’s first pre-World Cup friendly.
Nico Williams has received incredibly positive news regarding the hamstring injury sustained during Athletic Club's recent clash with Valencia. While initial fears suggested the winger could miss the upcoming World Cup, medical tests have confirmed he should be fit in time for the tournament in North America.
Former international Dietmar Hamann (52) has criticised Julian Nagelsmann (38). With the World Cup this summer in mind, he accuses the national team manager of two things in particular: his handling of so-called squad players and a lack of presence.
Attempts are underway to quell the crisis engulfing El Kan, with club officials working swiftly to contain the fallout and restore stability to the dressing room. The precise nature of the dispute remains unclear, but sources close to the team suggest that competing ambitions, scheduling pressures and the intense media spotlight have created a perfect storm. Supporters, eager for silverware, are watching developments closely, hoping that calm can be restored before Saturday’s crucial fixture. In the short term, coaches are focusing on maintaining morale through daily team-building sessions, while the board pursues talks with key stakeholders to address underlying grievances. Should the current efforts succeed, El Kan could yet salvage its season; failure, however, might trigger a mass exodus of talent and tarnish the club’s hard-earned reputation. For now, the situation remains fluid, underscoring the delicate balance between on-pitch performance and off-pitch politics in modern footba
Al-Hadari heaped praise on the performance of the Black Atlas star, singling out his command on the ball, his incisive runs and his ability to unlock defences with a single pass. The veteran goalkeeper underlined the forward’s maturity, noting that he has grown into a complete player capable of influencing games in multiple ways. Al-Hadari stressed that the 23-year-old’s work-rate and off-the-ball movement create headaches for opposition back lines, and he highlighted the player’s willingness to track back and press as a key factor in the team’s recent defensive solidity. He also pointed out that the star’s confidence is contagious, lifting the entire squad and inspiring younger teammates to aim higher. According to Al-Hadari, the forward’s blend of technical ability and physicality makes him a rare talent, and he expressed confidence that bigger stages await the player in the near future.
Oufkir was in inspired form for the Windmills, delivering a performance that underlined his growing influence in the side. The midfielder, known for his composure and range of passing, controlled the tempo from the base of the midfield and provided the spark that ignited several dangerous attacks. His reading of the game disrupted opposition builds, while his quick distribution launched counter-attacks that kept the back line on high alert. Although the final scoreline did not reflect the dominance he helped create, his ability to dictate play and maintain possession earned him praise from coaches and supporters alike. As the Windmills look to build on this display, Oufkir’s continued development could prove crucial to their season-long ambitions.
The unfortunate incident surrounding the Egypt friendly match has repeated itself, prompting fresh concerns within the national team’s camp and among fans. Details remain scarce, but sources close to the federation confirm that the same logistical and organisational issues that marred the previous get-together resurfaced during the most recent gathering, forcing coaches to adjust the training schedule at the last minute.
While the exact nature of the problem has not been disclosed, insiders whisper that communication breakdowns between the back-room staff and club representatives played a significant role. As a result, players arrived on different schedules, equipment was misplaced, and the planned warm-up session had to be abbreviated. These glitches, though minor on the surface, underline deeper coordination failures that could affect team harmony heading into crucial qualifiers.
Egypt’s football hierarchy is now under pressure to address these recurring problems. Fans have taken to
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
