World Cup news

Rafael Leão made an unnecessary and potentially costly mistake in Portugal's friendly against Chile on Saturday.

Germany forward Lennart Karl (18) has suffered a serious muscle injury while striking a shot on goal. The setback will rule him out of the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

National team manager Julian Nagelsmann has outlined the injury suffered by Lennart Karl and clarified the rationale behind the surprise late call-up of Assan Ouedraogo.

FIFA has announced a significant protocol modification that will see every squad member take part in the pre-match national anthems at the upcoming World Cup. Moving away from traditional sporting custom, football's global governing body has mandated that both starting line-ups and substitutes congregate together on the pitch ahead of kick-off.

Thomas Tuchel has confirmed England will not block players from completing transfers during the World Cup, provided any business does not interfere with match preparations. The Three Lions boss has adopted a pragmatic approach as several squad members continue to be linked with moves during the tournament.

France captain Kylian Mbappe has candidly admitted that he has never rewatched his country's heartbreaking 2022 World Cup final defeat against Argentina. Despite netting a historic hat-trick during the thrilling showpiece event in Qatar, the Real Madrid superstar confessed that revisiting the painful memory could reopen old psychological wounds.

Ouedraogo for Karl—would that have been a hot take? Not for Julian Nagelsmann, which begs the question: what on earth is wrong with the man? Or, for that matter, what are we even discussing here? A commentary.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has reassured supporters that captain Harry Kane is in peak physical condition ahead of the upcoming World Cup tournament. Despite gruelling North American temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, the German head coach insists his star striker is sharp, lean, and fully prepared to lead the line effectively.

Had Lennart Karl not been ruled out of the World Cup due to injury, Lothar Matthäus would not have chosen Assan Ouedraogo as his replacement.

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he will be supporting England and Brazil at the 2026 World Cup. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion says his home nation and the Selecao are equally close to his heart, with his admiration for Brazilian football rooted in the country's culture, history and style of play.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted to feeling worried and concerned after viewing a journalist's photograph of the playing surface ahead of his side's World Cup warm-up against New Zealand. However, the German tactician insisted that the newly relaid pitch at the Raymond James Stadium will not alter his pre-determined selection plans.

FIFA has reversed its controversial decision to ban fans from bringing reusable water bottles into World Cup stadiums after widespread criticism from supporters, campaign groups and politicians. Concerns over fan welfare, soaring temperatures and the cost of refreshments at venues intensified pressure on the governing body, ultimately forcing a policy U-turn.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic that injured talisman Neymar will recover from a calf injury in time to feature at the 2026 World Cup. The Italian tactician confirmed that the 34-year-old forward is making excellent progress individually and will undergo a decisive medical scan on Monday before potentially rejoining full squad training next week.

Germany's World Cup preparations have been hit by a devastating blow after teenage forward Lennart Karl was ruled out of the upcoming tournament. The 18-year-old Bayern Munich prodigy sustained a severe thigh injury during Die Mannschaft's final training session, forcing national team manager Julian Nagelsmann to call up a late replacement.

It's so close we can almost taste it. The 2026 World Cup is now just 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.

Brazil are in a bad way. We know this because Neymar's fitness has been a topic of national debate for the past few months. Believe it or not, there are a significant number of Brazilians that believe that the Selecao has no chance of winning this summer's World Cup without a 34-year-old forward who has neither been fit nor good enough to play for his country since 2023.

Germany defender Lennart Karl has broken his silence with an emotional statement after his bitter World Cup exit.