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Pep Guardiola Thomas Tuchel 2026

Pep a Tuchel threat? Two reasons why England boss shouldn’t fret

Pep Guardiola is out of work, after leaving Manchester City, but should his sudden availability concern England boss Thomas Tuchel - a man under pressure to deliver at the 2026 World Cup? Former Three Lions star Michael Owen has given two reasons to GOAL why a German tactician filling the most demanding of roles should not fret about the shadow cast by a highly-decorated Catalan coach.

EnglandExclusive
Spain Training And Press Conference - FIFA World Cup 2026

'Perfect condition' - Yamal to return from injury in Spain's World Cup opener

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has delivered a massive fitness boost ahead of their World Cup opener, confirming that Lamine Yamal is in "perfect condition" to face Cape Verde. The Barcelona sensation suffered a serious injury towards the end of the 2025-26 campaign that threatened to derail his tournament debut, but he has worked hard to recover quicker than expected.

L. YamalSpain
Sweden v Tunisia: Group F - FIFA World Cup 2026

Isak & Gyokeres among the goals as Sweden thrash Tunisia

Sweden made a devastating statement of intent at the 2026 World Cup as they dismantled Tunisia 5-1 to move to the top of Group F. Spearheaded by the clinical duo of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, who both got their names on the scoresheet, the Scandinavians proved far too powerful for their African opponents in Monterrey.

A. IsakV. Gyoekeres
Lamine Yamal Spain GFX

Yamal can light up the World Cup - but will he be fit enough?

The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be another waypoint on Lamine Yamal's path to becoming a generation-defining superstar, but there is the genuine threat that an injury could deprive the tournament of one of its biggest names. The Spanish wonderkid made everyone sit up and take notice at Euro 2024, and two years on, the 18-year-old seemed primed to seize the limelight once again. But instead, it may well be a waiting game.

AnalysisSpain
Ousmane Dembele France GFX

Ballon d'Or holder Dembele out to alter his World Cup legacy

Four years ago in Qatar, Lionel Messi ended the GOAT debate by leading Argentina to victory over France in the World Cup final. There was a player on the other team, though, who actually appeared to have sufficient talent to potentially reopen it one day. After all, Kylian Mbappe had actually pipped Messi to the tournament's Golden Boot by outscoring the Argentine No.10 in that epic encounter in Lusail thanks to the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since Sir Geoff Hurst all the way back in 1966.

AnalysisFrance
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Marcelo Bielsa Uruguay GFX

Madness of 'El Loco': Inside Bielsa's 'toxic' Uruguay tenure

For a coach who's worked in professional football for nearly 40 years, Marcelo Bielsa hasn't won many trophies at the highest level. Pep Guardiola says that doesn't matter, though. "To be loved is this biggest title, bigger than the Champions League or Premier League or whatever," the Catalan once argued. "To be loved is the most important thing, and I think Marcelo has that more than any other manager in the world."

AnalysisUruguay
Cristiano Ronaldo Kylian Mbappe Portugal France 2026

Mbappe’s mindset: Share limelight or main character like CR7?

Kylian Mbappe is learning how to share the limelight, Frank Leboeuf has told GOAL, with the World Cup-winning Frenchman boasting similar main character energy to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Those qualities are currently illuminating La Liga and the 2026 World Cup, but could they pass through the English Premier League at some point?

K. MbappeExclusive
TOPSHOT-FBL-WC-2026-MATCH09-CIV-ECU

📽️ | Amad stuns Ecuador to end 12-year Ivory Coast wait

Amad Diallo proved to be the hero for Ivory Coast as his dramatic 90th-minute strike secured a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their 2026 World Cup opener. The Manchester United winger stepped off the bench to end the Elephants' 12-year wait for a win on the world stage while simultaneously snapping Ecuador's remarkable 19-game unbeaten streak.

A. DialloIvory Coast
Netherlands Japan ratings GFX

Drab Dutch held despite Summerville moment of magic

The Netherlands conceded a late equaliser as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Japan in their opening game of the 2026 World Cup. Second-half strikes from Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville looked to have got the Oranje over the line, but they were pegged back on both occasions as Group F began in Dallas.

Player ratingsNetherlands
Germany Curacao ratings GFX

Musiala & Wirtz pull strings as rampant Germany crush Curacao

Germany made an early statement at the 2026 World Cup as they ran out 7-1 winners over tournament debutants Curacao. A brace from Kai Havertz and goals from Felix Nmecha, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala, Nathaniel Brown and Deniz Undav ensured a relatively straightforward introduction to Group E for Die Mannschaft, though they were given something of a shock when Curacao found the net midway through the first half.

Player ratingsGermany

Betting spotlight

World Cup 2026 winner odds: Predictions and betting analysis
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TOPSHOT-FBL-WC-2026-MATCH04-USA-PAR

USMNT’s World Cup opener draws record 16 million viewers

The USMNT’s 4-1 World Cup-opening win over Paraguay drew 15.986 million viewers across FOX, FOX One and Tubi, making it the most-watched USMNT telecast ever and another major sign of soccer’s growing pull in the United States. The broadcast peaked at 18.86 million viewers, while the match also became the most-streamed English-language USMNT game on record.

USAC. Pulisic
FBL-WC-2026-MATCH07-BRA-MAR

Arsenal-linked Bouaddi responds to PL transfer talk

Morocco teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi has addressed mounting speculation regarding a potential move to the Premier League following a stellar performance at the 2026 World Cup opening. The Lille teenager was the talk of the tournament after dominating the midfield during the Atlas Lions' 1-1 draw with Brazil at MetLife Stadium.

TransfersA. Bouaddi
thomas-partey

Canada accused of ignoring 'international laws' as Ghana vow to fight over Partey ban

Ghana’s government has launched a scathing attack on Canadian authorities, accusing them of flouting international laws after Thomas Partey was denied entry into the country due to ongoing legal proceedings over rape charges against him. The Villarreal midfielder was expected to lead his nation in their 2026 World Cup opener against Panama, but he remains stranded at the team's base camp in Boston following a visa rejection stemming from the allegations.

T. ParteyGhana
England v Costa Rica - International Friendly

England World Cup theft saw £13.5k-worth of items stolen

The full extent of the security breach that rocked the England camp has been revealed, with two men officially charged in connection with the theft of £13,500 worth of equipment. Prosecutors in Jackson County have identified the suspects as two drivers for the trucking company responsible for moving the squad's gear across the United States.

EnglandEngland vs Croatia
Omar Artan

FIFA to pay barred Somali referee his full World Cup fee

Somali referee Omar Artan will reportedly receive his full tournament salary from FIFA despite being prevented from officiating at the World Cup. The 34-year-old was sensationally denied entry to the United States following an 11-hour interrogation by immigration officials at Miami International Airport.

USA
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