FEATURES

The 2025-26 Premier League season is over, with top-flight players around England making their plans for the summer, whether they involve holidays or, for the lucky few, a chance to put on a show at the World Cup. Even those internationals will get the chance to switch off at some stage, but for their managers, the work never stops, with plans likely already being drawn up for the transfer window and next season.

This is Legacy, GOAL’s podcast and feature series counting 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 look at why Brazil turned toward the most decorated club coach on the planet, Carlo Ancelotti, how this decision reflects years of confusion in the national project, and why Ancelotti’s bond with players like Kaka and Vinicius Jr shaped their choice...

Mauricio Pochettino has named his 26-man roster for the World Cup, with some surprise additions and omissions. GOAL's writers weigh in on the squad.

Lionel Messi and Co. remain favorites, but strong starts from Nashville, San Jose and Vancouver have the league nicely poised heading into a long break.

Vancouver Whitecaps continued their Western dominance, while a teenager stood out in defeat in one of the more remarkable games in league history

For every USMNT player who gets the World Cup call, another is left to process the one that never comes. GOAL spoke to players and coaches about the pain of missing out, and why it can linger for years.

And there we have it: another Premier League season is in the books. It was a campaign that delivered at both ends of the table, with both the title race and the desperate fight for survival going right down to the wire in a nerve-shredding conclusion for fans of Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and West Ham. Ultimately, it was the Gunners who tasted glory for the first time in 22 long years, while the Hammers suffered the heartbreak of relegation on the final day.

And there you have it - the 2025-26 Premier League season is over. Arsenal are the champions while West Ham have been relegated alongside Wolves and Burnley as Tottenham secured survival on the final day. While the football hasn't always been the most scintillating, it's been a campaign full of twists and turns at both ends of the table, making it difficult to predict any result given the increased parity among the teams in the English top-flight.

The 2025-26 Premier League campaign drew to a tense conclusion on Sunday, as Tottenham scraped past Everton to consign West Ham to relegation in spite of a 3-0 victory over Leeds United. Meanwhile, in the north-east of England, Sunderland sensationally defeated Chelsea to secure a place in the Europa League, while simultaneously preventing the Club World Cup winners from qualifying for any form of continental competition next term.

Inter Miami came from behind in a frenetic 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union but suffered a major injury scare when Lionel Messi exited in the second half. Luis Suarez scored three as Miami showed resilience in the second-highest scoring match in MLS history. Attention now turns to Messi’s health with fewer than three weeks until the World Cup.

Spike Lee, Jason Sudeikis, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani were among the Arsenal fans celebrating in a packed Brooklyn bar as the Gunners beat Crystal Palace and lifted their first Premier League trophy since 2004.

Weston McKennie soared at Juventus, Christian Pulisic faded late at AC Milan and Gio Reyna endured another frustrating club season as GOAL ranks the USMNT’s top European-based players.

Tottenham ensured that they avoided relegation from the Premier League as they edged out Everton 1-0 on a nervy Sunday in north London. Joao Palhinha proved to be the hero as he netted the only goal of the game shortly before half-time, with Spurs then able to see the game out and condemn West Ham to the Championship despite their own victory over Leeds United across the capital.

A teary-eyed Mohamed Salah bid an emotional farewell to Anfield after taking outright possession of Liverpool's Premier League assist record in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Brentford at Anfield. Despite speculation around whether Arne Slot would drop 'The Egyptian King' after copping more indirect criticism from Salah after last week's loss at Aston Villa, the 33-year-old started in the right wing role he's made his own since first arriving from Roma in 2017.

Chelsea's miserable season reached a fitting conclusion on Sunday as a dire 2-1 defeat at Sunderland confirmed a 10th-placed Premier League finish and failure to qualify for any form of European football. Having hauled themselves back into the game, the Blues' cause wasn't helped by Wesley Fofana's second-half red card, which snuffed out any hopes of a comeback.

Redemption. That's what Barcelona were looking for in Oslo on Saturday. After losing the Champions League final last year, the Catalans were back in the showpiece event 12 months on and they got what they were after and then some, beating eight-time winners Lyon 4-0 to emphatically reclaim the status of champions of Europe.

Canada’s injury-hit squad faces tough roster decisions as Jesse Marsch prepares to unveil Canada’s 2026 World Cup team on May 29.

Luis Romo and rising star Gilberto Mora impressed as Mexico beat Ghana 2-0 in Puebla ahead of the World Cup.

Lindsey Heaps can become the first American to win two UWCL titles, strengthening her case as the best U.S. player to ever build a career in Europe.

Mic'd Up: The former USMNT midfielder talks Mauricio Pochettino, why Portugal will make a run, and the World Cup's impact this summer

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including a tight race in Italy and crucial battles in the UK

As the 2026 World Cup arrives on home soil, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Tyler Adams and the USMNT’s 2022 squad reflect on the goals, memories, heartbreak and brotherhood that still shape them.

Melchie Dumornay has always had something special. After catching the eye of then-Reims manager Amandine Miquel at the 2018 Under-20 Women's World Cup, the Haitian prospect would sign for the French club three years later, when she turned 18. Within weeks, Miquel had no doubts. "This is going to be one of the best players in the world in the next few years," she declared. Fast forward to today and Miquel has already been proven right.

When Barcelona were crowned Liga F champions for a seventh successive season back in April, Clara Serrajordi, the 18-year-old who played all 90 minutes in the crowning win over Espanyol, didn’t realise that the club hadn’t always enjoyed such consistent success. "In the early years, we didn’t win league titles, so we have to value this a lot,” Patri Guijarro said. “I was telling Serrajordi this and she was surprised."

So there we have it: England's 2026 World Cup squad is confirmed and it will go down as one of the most contentious of all time. Manager Thomas Tuchel has made it abundantly clear from the outset that he isn't afraid to ruffle some feathers with his decisions, and he has stayed true to his word with his divisive selections for the Three Lions' latest bid to end an agonising wait for a first major trophy since 1966.

In the end, Manchester United probably didn't have much other choice; after leading the club back into the Champions League during a remarkable interim tenure, Michael Carrick has been appointed head coach on a permanent basis. However, having already played down the achievement of returning to European football's top table, he will know the real work starts now.

The wait is over. Cristiano Ronaldo has finally done it. He's won the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr. The news will doubtless provoke nothing more than a shrug of the shoulders from an awful lot of people. Others will actually be quite bitter about it. What's interesting, though, is how much lifting a first major trophy with Al-Nassr clearly meant to Ronaldo.

As the 2025-26 Premier League season draws to a close, it's time to look back on what has been a campaign full of twists and turns. Arsenal eventually saw off the challenge of Manchester City to secure the title, but European places and the final berth in the relegation zone are still to be decided into the final day.

GOAL sat down with the 22-year-old shotstopper to discuss his rise, what he's learned with the USMNT, and what comes next.