Ivan Perisic has told GOAL how the Croatia squad is able to ignore any club rivalries and build a “big family” at international tournaments. Another “very special” opportunity is about to present itself in 2026, as the World Cup takes centre stage, with one group of vastly experienced performers preparing to catch the eye again on and off the field.
Real Madrid starlet Franco Mastantuono faces a nervous wait as he risks being dropped from Argentina's final World Cup squad. Despite reporting for international duty in peak physical condition, the teenage attacker could still be omitted by manager Lionel Scaloni before Sunday's deadline due to purely tactical considerations.
Former England manager Glenn Hoddle has launched a fierce critique against Thomas Tuchel following the omission of Adam Wharton from the World Cup squad. The teenage maestro inspired Crystal Palace to their historic continental victory just days after being overlooked in favour of veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson for the tournament in the United States.
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr has heaped massive praise on Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal ahead of the upcoming World Cup. The Brazil international believes the young Spanish winger possesses such extraordinary talent that he is capable of winning the prestigious international tournament entirely on his own, despite the fierce rivalry between their respective clubs.
Romelu Lukaku has sensationally revealed that the Belgium squad lobbied for Thierry Henry to take over as head coach following the departure of Roberto Martinez. The Napoli striker did not hold back in his assessment of the previous regime, suggesting that the tactical approach under former head coach Domenico Tedesco was destined for failure from the start.
FIFA has been hit with legal subpoenas by authorities in the United States as an investigation is launched into the ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup. Officials in New York and New Jersey are demanding answers over allegations of "artificially inflating prices" and "misleading fans" ahead of the tournament in North America.
The USMNT World Cup squad is here, but now comes the next question: who starts? GOAL looks at who could line up in Mauricio Pochettino’s XI when the tournament kicks off in June.
Ronald Koeman has officially confirmed his 26-man Netherlands squad for the upcoming World Cup, and the big talking point remains the high-profile omission of Jeremie Frimpong. The wing-back has been left at home as the Oranje boss prioritises reliability and specific tactical profiles for the tournament.
Chelsea striker Joao Pedro has made a sensational claim regarding his club team-mate Cole Palmer, suggesting the England playmaker would be the perfect fit to inherit Neymar's iconic No.10 shirt for Brazil. Both players are facing a summer away from the international spotlight after being left out of their respective final squads for the 2026 World Cup.
Vinicius Junior has opened up on the emotional return of Neymar to the Brazil national team, hailing the Santos forward as a true inspiration for the Selecao. The Real Madrid star revealed the depth of his teammate's struggles during a period of exclusion and injury before finally being named in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Real Madrid star Federico Valverde has opened up about the explosive training-ground incident involving team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni, admitting that the physical confrontation was a difficult learning experience. The Uruguay international, who is now preparing for the 2026 World Cup, expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support he received from the Bernabeu faithful during the fallout.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to defy the ageing process by competing in the 2030 World Cup with Portugal, potentially alongside his son, at the age of 45. The Al-Nassr forward has received the backing for a "perfect ending" to his career from his ex-Manchester United team-mate Eric Djemba-Djemba.
Brazil superstar Neymar has laughed off suggestions that his latest fitness setback could jeopardise his participation in the 2026 World Cup. The Santos forward was in the stands to support his club side in a Copa Sudamericana clash with Deportivo Cuenca on Tuesday night, where he faced questions regarding a calf issue.
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