Erling Haaland has carried the hopes of a nation upon Norway's return to football's biggest stage after a 28-year absence, but while his goals have been vital to their cause, the Manchester City hitman hasn't been shouldering that burden alone. The Scandinavians are back at the World Cup having built a solid team unit that isn't solely reliant on its star striker, and the supporting cast have been showing what they can do in North America.
Arsenal have signed Spain international Ona Batlle on a free transfer from Barcelona, the Gunners' fourth summer signing to be announced in just eight days. Batlle follows Georgia Stanway, Geraldine Reuteler and Selina Cerci to the club, in a window of much change that has also seen the likes of Beth Mead and Katie McCabe depart.
Kylian Mbappe admitted he lost focus before missing a penalty against Morocco after a lengthy VAR delay caused confusion over whether the spot-kick would stand. The France captain also played down fears over an ankle knock and insisted he will be ready for the World Cup semi-final.
Spain sensation Lamine Yamal has set his sights on a dream World Cup final against defending champions Argentina, revealing his desire to swap shirts with icon Lionel Messi. The Barcelona starlet chose to remain grounded regarding pre-tournament promises, insisting that securing the prestigious trophy is the only objective that truly matters.
John Arne Riise has backed Erling Haaland to inspire Norway to victory over England in the World Cup quarter-finals, describing the Manchester City star as the world's best striker. The former Liverpool defender also believes the Drillos can dream of lifting the trophy if they overcome Thomas Tuchel's side.
Jude Bellingham’s “arrogance” is considered to be a good thing and more productive than similar qualities boasted by Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, with Danny Murphy explaining to GOAL why criticism of England’s No.10 has been made to look “laughable”. A ‘Galactico’ performer from Real Madrid has been starring at the 2026 World Cup finals.
France manager Didier Deschamps has addressed injury concerns surrounding captain Kylian Mbappe following his late substitution during the World Cup quarter-final victory against Morocco. The Real Madrid forward was withdrawn after picking up an ankle knock, prompting the coaching staff to carefully manage his fitness ahead of the semi-finals.
Jurgen Klopp is set to reshape Germany's coaching staff by bringing trusted former Liverpool assistants Peter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders into the national team setup. Senior German Football Association (DFB) officials and Red Bull are due to hold talks over the final details of the manager's move, with an unconventional agreement expected to avoid a costly compensation fee.
England face an anxious wait ahead of their World Cup quarter-final showdown against Norway after a sickness bug hit their camp in Miami. Midfielder Declan Rice has missed two successive training sessions, leaving Thomas Tuchel desperately sweating on his availability while staff battle to prevent the illness from spreading across the squad.
Morgan Rogers has seen a big-money transfer away from Aston Villa speculated on - potentially at £130 million ($175m) - but Stan Collymore has told GOAL why the likes of Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze are unlikely to be targeted as potential replacements for their fellow England international. Unai Emery is expected to bolster his ranks with a different type of player.
Wolfsburg have confirmed Christian Eriksen will begin an individual rehabilitation programme in Denmark, around a month after collapsing during an international match for Denmark. The German club will remain in regular contact with the midfielder and his medical team as he continues his recovery.
Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has expressed heavy frustration following his side's World Cup quarter-final elimination against France, claiming the opening goal should have been disallowed. The Atlas Lions manager insisted that a handball occurred in the build-up to Kylian Mbappe's strike, which completely disrupted his players' focus during the crucial Boston clash.
Bruno Fernandes has spoken out for the first time since Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup by Spain. The Manchester United captain admitted he was left "sad, frustrated and disillusioned", while thanking his team-mates, coaches, staff and supporters after a campaign that ended earlier than expected.
England need to find the answer to one big question at the 2026 World Cup: How do you keep Erling Haaland quiet? Ex-Three Lions defender Des Walker has attempted to provide a solution during an exclusive interview with GOAL, ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s side taking in an eagerly-anticipated quarter-final clash with Norway at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday.
This is no doubt the biggest selection decision of Thomas Tuchel's England tenure to date. The Three Lions are favourites going into Saturday's World Cup quarter-final clash with Norway in Miami. England really should have too much quality all over the field for their Scandinavian opponents. But that doesn't mean Tuchel has it easy. England have a handful of tricky decisions to make.
It’s fair to say that Keira Barry’s first senior England call-up was unexpected. After injuries plagued the early years of her professional career, it was in February that the young forward ended her 10-year association with Manchester United and moved to the United States to sign for Bay FC. Exactly a month after her debut, she was on the bench as the Lionesses beat Spain 1-0 at Wembley Stadium.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has opened up about the club's audacious attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe before his blockbuster transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. Reuniting with the French star at the World Cup, the legendary German coach detailed chartering a five-room private jet for the family during their record "non-transfer" saga.
Ousmane Dembele has revealed how Kylian Mbappe’s instructions moments before France’s second goal proved decisive in their World Cup quarter-final victory over Morocco. The winger also reflected on his growing leadership role and insisted Les Bleus remain fully focused on their bid to go all the way.
Hansi Flick is regularly left astounded by the maturity of Pau Cubarsi's displays for Barcelona. "It's incredible to watch how well he defends," the German coach admitted last season. "He's young, he's only 19, but then you realise how long he’s already been playing at this level. We're very fortunate to have him. In terms of his performances, he's right up there with Lamine Yamal."
Harry Kane has been in the form of his life across 2025-26, including at the World Cup finals, with former England international Danny Murphy explaining to GOAL why the prolific frontman is at the peak of his powers. There are considered to be two important reasons why the Three Lions’ record-breaking captain is performing at a career-best level.
Barcelona have requested a €210 million credit line as they prepare to strengthen their squad under Hansi Flick ahead of the new season. The funding is expected to support moves for Julian Alvarez, Joao Cancelo and Karim Adeyemi, while also helping the club manage its day-to-day financial commitments.
Arsenal have completed the surprise acquisition of former Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer, securing the Frenchman on a two-year contract. The 26-year-old moves to north London after his contract in Yorkshire expired, providing the reigning Premier League champions with experienced cover across their goalkeeping department.
France eased into the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup by seeing off a stubborn Morocco side in Boston on Thursday. Predictably, Kylian Mbappe was the protagonist, making amends for an abysmal first-half penalty miss by scoring a sublime goal and teeing up another for Ousmane Dembele as Les Bleus secured a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Former U.S. Men's National Team defender and Los Angeles FC head coach Steve Cherundolo is returning to U.S. Soccer as he takes over the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles. The U.S. will take part in the Olympic tournament for just the third time in 20 years after failing to qualify in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
Manchester United have seen their pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni come to an abrupt end after the Frenchman committed his future to Real Madrid. The Red Devils had identified the midfield powerhouse as a key target to bolster their engine room, but Los Blancos have moved swiftly to secure a new long-term agreement.
Newcastle United have completed the signing of highly-rated teenage midfielder Sean Steur from Ajax in a transfer deal worth up to £23 million. The 18-year-old prospect arrived on Tyneside to complete his medical before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract, with the Magpies successfully securing one of European football's brightest young talents.
Brazil's early elimination from the World Cup continues to generate shockwaves in national football, and no one has been more vocal in their dissatisfaction than the legendary Romario. The hero of the fourth World Cup title spared no criticism of Carlo Ancelotti's work and Endrick's lack of accuracy at the crucial moment of the defeat against Norway.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has delivered his definitive prediction for the final stages of the World Cup, backing France to lift the trophy once again. The current FIFA chief of global football development insists Didier Deschamps' men look unstoppable, while naming just one European powerhouse capable of halting Les Bleus' charge.