Jurgen Klopp faces an immediate executive crisis at RB Leipzig following reports that managing director of sport Marcel Schafer is prepared to quit the Bundesliga club. The internal friction has emerged directly from Klopp’s influential role in orchestrating the dismissal of head coach Ole Werner, completely undermining the sporting director's authority.
Juventus have stepped up their efforts to bring Randal Kolo Muani back to Turin, with new CEO Giovanni Carnevali reopening talks with Paris Saint-Germain. The French forward remains a key target as the Bianconeri seek to strengthen their attack, while improved relations between the two clubs could help unlock a deal that previously failed to materialise.
Decorated England icon Mary Earps has officially secured her return to English football by signing a lucrative two-year contract with London City Lionesses. The 33-year-old goalkeeper moves back to the Women's Super League as a free agent following a successful two-year spell in France with Paris Saint-Germain.
Ricardo Pepi is on World Cup duty with the USMNT, putting him in the global shop window, but Kasey Keller has told GOAL why the PSV striker faces a “tricky” decision when it comes to his future and mounting Premier League transfer speculation. The 23-year-old frontman attracted interest from Fulham during the winter, with more approaches from England expected to be made with the summer market of 2026 now open for business.
Former midfielder Nicky Butt has warned Thomas Tuchel that England must adapt their tactical identity if they are to survive against elite opposition during the knockout stages of the World Cup. Despite an entertaining 4-2 opening victory over Croatia in Group L, the ex-international believes a relentless high-tempo approach will prove unsustainable.
Thomas Muller has tipped Bayern Munich to monitor Switzerland youngster Johan Manzambi after the Freiburg midfielder starred in a World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 20-year-old scored twice off the bench and collected the Man of the Match award, further enhancing his growing reputation following an impressive Bundesliga campaign.
England are considered to miss Harry Maguire, amid defensive concerns at the 2026 World Cup, but Danny Mills has explained to GOAL why the Manchester United centre-half has been snubbed for a second time. He was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s initial 26-man squad and - despite leadership questions being asked - was overlooked again when Tino Livramentio withdrew through injury and a replacement needed to be found.
Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic dominated headlines as the USMNT enjoyed a dream start to their 2026 World Cup campaign, but who are the unsung heroes in Mauricio Pochettino’s team? In conversation with GOAL, former keeper Kasey Keller has picked out three players that have a crucial role to play for the co-hosts at FIFA’s flagship event.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has been ordered to stand trial before a French criminal court following a definitive ruling by the Versailles Court of Appeal. The Moroccan international has been under intense judicial scrutiny since early 2023 over allegations of sexual assault, a claim the full-back has consistently and vehemently denied.
Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he will not rush Endrick into Brazil's starting line-up despite growing calls for the teenage forward to feature from the outset. The Selecao boss remains convinced of the striker's immense potential and believes patience is the best approach as Brazil seek a crucial result in Group C.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has strongly defended Rodri after criticism emerged following La Roja's goalless World Cup 2026 opener against Cape Verde. The Manchester City midfielder was accused of slowing Spain's play, but the head coach dismissed those claims and insisted the midfielder remains the best player in the world.
Spain international winger Nico Williams has firmly shut down mounting transfer speculation by expressing an unwavering desire to commit the absolute remainder of his playing career to Athletic Club. The former Barcelona target extended his contract until 2035 last summer but reaffirmed his deep loyalty while away on duty at the 2026 World Cup.
The Premier League fixture list for 2026-27 has been released. Arsenal will be looking to defend their title, while the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United have sights locked on the ultimate prize. Coventry are back in the big time after a 25-year absence, while several managerial changes mean that new eras are being ushered in across the division. Here, GOAL picks out the most notable matches from what promises to be another thrilling top-flight campaign.
Newly-appointed permanent managers will be in place at Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City when the 2026-27 campaign gets underway, while Mikel Arteta remains in charge of defending champions Arsenal. With full fixture lists having been released, GOAL takes a look at the respective schedules of teams from London and the North West that will be hoping to savour title glory when another action-packed season comes to a close.
Monaco forward Ansu Fati has stunned the football world by launching a professional music career with his debut official single, 'Sea como sea'. The 23-year-old former Barcelona prodigy has signed a global distribution contract with Music Brokers, a subsidiary of Sony Music, to become the first La Masia graduate to release a standalone commercial track.
Iran have lodged a formal complaint with FIFA after being subjected to strict U.S. travel restrictions during the 2026 World Cup. The Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) argues the rules are harming the team's preparation and recovery, while American authorities insist the conditions were agreed in advance.
Barcelona star Dani Olmo has sent a playful yet pointed warning to international team-mate Marc Cucurella following the defender's surprise summer switch to arch-rivals Real Madrid. The former Chelsea full-back has committed to a lucrative six-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, adding immense spice to future El Clasico showdowns given his deep boyhood roots in Catalonia.
Cristiano Ronaldo has come under fire after Portugal were held to a draw by DR Congo in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Former England striker Jay Bothroyd claimed the veteran forward is becoming a burden on the team, while Roberto Martinez continues to back his captain despite growing scrutiny.
Thomas Tuchel has successfully persuaded FIFA to alter its pre-match media guidelines following a frustrating experience during his tournament debut in Texas. The England head coach complained that a dense wall of press photographers completely obstructed his view of the players during the national anthems, prompting football's governing body to launch an immediate tactical compromise.
Mohamed Salah's end-of-season exit left Liverpool with a major problem - and Yan Diomande looks like the best possible solution. Unfortunately for the Reds, they're likely to have as much trouble signing the teenage sensation this summer as Ecuador's defenders had trying to keep up with him in Philadelphia on Sunday. In a way, Diomande's dazzling display on his World Cup debut was a positive for Liverpool, as it illustrated precisely why they believe he could have a transformative effect on an attack that struggled so badly last season.
Marcus Rashford remains determined to secure a permanent return to Barcelona despite Anthony Gordon's arrival at Camp Nou. Manchester United are keen to sell the England forward this summer, but the 28-year-old is prepared to wait for the Catalan club and has made them his preferred destination.
There was something all-too predictable about Brazil's performance in their World Cup opener against Morocco. Having been consistently inconsistent since Carlo Ancelotti was appointed a year ago, a disjointed display in New Jersey yielded only a point as the Selecao were forced to rely on a moment of magic from Vinicius Jr to snatch an equaliser. Looking ahead, the Italian tactician has plenty of food for thought.
Freiburg starlet Johan Manzambi came off the bench to score a sensational late brace, inspiring Switzerland to an emphatic 4-1 World Cup victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina at SoFi Stadium. The 20-year-old completely transformed the tense affair, keeping the Swiss firmly in the qualification hunt.
England have received a major boost ahead of their second World Cup group-stage match, with Harry Kane and Declan Rice both expected to be available against Ghana. Concerns emerged after the 4-2 win over Croatia, but Thomas Tuchel has eased fears surrounding two of his most important players.
Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT opened the World Cup with a 4-1 win over Paraguay, but the manager said the performance was built on more than tactics. He emphasized ambition, internal competition, and belief, while making clear that no player should feel guaranteed a place in his squad in a recent interview.
Mauricio Pochettino says Christian Pulisic's availability for the U.S. Men's National Team's second World Cup match will go right down to the wire as the star winger deals with an injury suffered in the team's tournament-opening win over Paraguay. The USMNT boss said Pulisic will be analyzed by medical staff on Thursday night before a decision is made ahead of Friday's match in Seattle.
Luis Romo’s winner sealed Mexico’s place atop Group A, sending El Tri back to Azteca and fueling belief that this could be their strongest World Cup team since 2002.
Canada made history with their first men’s World Cup win as Jonathan David delivered a hat-trick and Jesse Marsch’s press overwhelmed Qatar, but Ismael Koné’s serious injury cast a shadow over a dominant night in Vancouver.
With Christian Pulisic's status still up in the air, the USMNT must solve Australia's towering backline, manage the Socceroos' physicality and stay balanced in a crucial World Cup group-stage clash.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is already setting records on and off the pitch. More than 1.5 million fans have attended matches through June 17, while over 54 million viewers tuned in across the United States, Mexico, and Canada to watch the host nations open their campaigns. The tournament has delivered record-breaking crowds, television audiences, and streaming numbers.