Argentina fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief as Lionel Scaloni has provided a positive fitness update on Lionel Messi ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Inter Miami superstar is set to return to action in a final warm-up fixture following a brief spell on the sidelines with a muscle complaint.
Former Barcelona and England striker Gary Lineker has once again weighed in on the eternal Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate, insisting that placing the Argentine above the Portuguese is simply a matter of footballing fact rather than a personal insult. Lineker also revealed how his unwavering stance on the GOAT debate caused a personal rift with the Al-Nassr and Portugal superstar.
Harry Kane has addressed concerns regarding England's perceived overreliance on his goalscoring exploits as the Three Lions prepare for the 2026 World Cup. The captain enters the tournament in the form of his life, having smashed records during a prolific title-winning season in Germany with Bayern Munich.
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has hilariously threatened to leave the country permanently if England win the World Cup this summer. The outspoken Irishman admitted his anxiety spikes whenever the Three Lions progress deep into major tournaments, revealing he would choose emigration over witnessing the ultimate English footballing celebration.
Fabio Cannavaro was caught up in an unexpected security check after arriving in the United States with the Uzbekistan national team. Footage circulating online shows the former Ballon d'Or winner having his belongings searched as part of extensive screening procedures ahead of Uzbekistan's friendly against the Netherlands.
Algeria attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza has confidently targeted a historic victory over Argentina in their upcoming 2026 World Cup opening match. The 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen prospect arrived in the United States ahead of the tournament and immediately shared his fearless ambitions, dismissive of the reigning world champions' psychological tactics.
Manuel Neuer's return and Oliver Baumann's demotion, coming just days before the World Cup, had been the dominant talking points surrounding the DFB team for weeks. Now Thomas Müller has also spoken out.
The widow of late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has sent a deeply moving letter to Scotland captain Andy Robertson ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Rute Cardoso urged the left-back to carry the memory and unfulfilled international dreams of his former Anfield team-mate, who tragically passed away following a road accident.
Kylian Mbappe has gone three straight matches without a goal for France, but Didier Deschamps is not concerned ahead of the World Cup. The Real Madrid forward joked that he is saving his finishing touch for the tournament, while Michael Olise stole the show with a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland.
Brazil have received encouraging news on Neymar's fitness after the forward underwent a scheduled MRI scan. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed the Santos star is progressing as expected in his recovery from a calf injury, although the Selecao are set to remain cautious over his return as they begin their World Cup campaign.
Somali match official Omar Artan will miss the upcoming World Cup after being sensationally denied entry into the United States. The referee was turned away by immigration authorities at Miami International Airport, completely ruining his historic opportunity to become the first representative from his country to officiate at the global showpiece.
The Netherlands narrowly escaped a major setback in their final pre-World Cup friendly, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan in Manhattan. A late stoppage-time penalty from Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo spared the blushes for Ronald Koeman's side, though the hard-fought triumph was heavily overshadowed by significant squad injury concerns.
Thomas Tuchel has no shortage of world-class talent to choose from within England's squad for the 2026 World Cup. But while the presence of players such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice mean that the Tuchel's team are among the favourites, it's worth imagining a world where every England-eligible player at the tournament opted to represent the Three Lions.
This is Legacy, GOAL’s feature and podcast series that counts down 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 dive into the rise of the Lionel Messi in the United States, the emotional connection that transformed Miami, his seismic impact on U.S. soccer, and the possibility that the upcoming World Cup might offer him the most fitting stage of his career - one built around comfort, belonging, and a crowd that treats him like their own hero.
It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just a two days away, with the best players from around the globe descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for what promises to be a superb summer of football. While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in late-July will go down as failure. We're set, then, for five-and-a-half weeks of drama, filled with joy and heartbreak in equal measure.
Tournament favourites Spain wrapped up their final preparations ahead of the World Cup with a convincing 3-1 friendly victory over Peru in Puebla. Real Sociedad attacker Mikel Oyarzabal continued his magnificent individual form by netting for the sixth successive international match, setting a confident tone for La Roja's upcoming campaign.
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