Mikel Arteta's sayings, habits and general attitude towards football have divided opinion. The Arsenal manager has rewritten the playbook of what coaches are supposed to say, and much of it has rubbed fans and pundits alike up the wrong way. One of his favourite terms? The usage of 'finishers' instead of 'substitutes'.
Amine Gouiri struck late as Algeria came from behind to beat Jordan 2-1 in a crucial Group J clash in San Francisco. The Desert Warriors responded after a disappointing first half and turned the game around through set-piece goals. Jordan's defeat confirms their elimination from the tournament on their World Cup debut.
Croatian supporters have declared their all-time greatest player a "national hero," a "football genius," and even a god, and they're not ready to say goodbye just yet.
A match loaded with star power - Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane and Martin Ødegaard among them - needed an unlikely spark, and Norway backup right back Marcus Pedersen provided it after a tense opening 42 minutes. Then Haaland took over, twice powering past a bewildered Senegal defence to seal a 3-2 win and send Norway into the knockouts for the first time since 1998.
Kylian Mbappe bagged his second consecutive brace as France made it two wins from two at the 2026 World Cup by beating Iraq 3-0 on Monday evening. After watching Lionel Messi score twice against Austria earlier in the evening, Mbappe did likewise during a storm-delayed Group I encounter in Philadelphia, meaning he remains one goal behind his former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate in this year's Golden Boot race, and two off the Argentine's overall tournament tally of 18.
Miroslav Klose has sent a classy message to Lionel Messi after the Argentine icon officially surpassed him as the highest goalscorer in World Cup history. The 38-year-old climbed to the top of the mountain alone following a clinical performance against Austria as the defending champions continued their pursuit of more glory.
Lionel Messi has hailed a "truly spectacular" night in Dallas after becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history during Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria. The Inter Miami star netted twice to secure La Albiceleste's place in the round of 32 while surpassing Miroslav Klose's long-standing record.
Manchester City and Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has become a father for the first time after welcoming a baby boy during the World Cup. The 24-year-old was granted special leave from the Red Devils' camp in the United States to travel to London for the birth of his son.
Harry Kane finds himself at the centre of a bizarre supernatural tug-of-war ahead of England’s crucial World Cup clash with Ghana. After a spiritualist claimed he would use voodoo to stop the Three Lions captain, world-famous psychic Uri Geller has stepped in to provide a metaphysical shield for the Bayern Munich star.
World Cup organisers have issued an urgent warning to supporters ahead of the Group I clash between France and Iraq, advising fans not to travel to the Philadelphia Stadium. Severe weather in the region has already forced a delay to the opening of the stadium gates, with the scheduled kick-off now under threat.
Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries firmly believes the Oranje have enough quality to win the 2026 World Cup following their dominant 5-1 victory over Sweden. The 30-year-old right-back insisted that confidence and energy are growing within Ronald Koeman's squad as they eye an unforgettable tournament run.
Lionel Messi became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, and then added another goal for good measure, as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in a bad-tempered game in Dallas to maintain their winning start to their title defence. The greatest player of all time should have broken Miroslav Klose's record after just eight minutes of play, when the Albiceleste were awarded a penalty for a Stefan Posch foul on Lautaro Martinez, but Messi dragged his spot-kick wide.
England striker Ollie Watkins has staunchly defended Jeremy Doku following widespread criticism over the Belgian winger's decision to leave the World Cup to attend the birth of his first child. Watkins hit back at viral comments labelling childbirth as a "disgusting moment", insisting that welcoming a firstborn is a blessing that transcends football.
Lionel Messi has cemented his status as the greatest to ever do it by becoming the outright leading goalscorer in World Cup history. The Inter Miami star overtook German legend Miroslav Klose during Argentina's high-stakes Group J encounter with Austria on Monday.
Canada are preparing for a crucial World Cup clash with Switzerland while rallying around injured midfielder Ismaël Koné after his devastating tournament-ending injury.
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Thibaut Courtois has opened up about his long-term future at Real Madrid, admitting that while he dreams of retiring at the Bernabeu, the final decision rests with the club. The 34-year-old Belgian international remains at the top of his game and is widely regarded as one of the premier goalkeepers in world football.
Nico Schlotterbeck has opened up about the emotional toll of his tournament-ending injury, admitting he needs time to come to terms with the blow. The Borussia Dortmund star was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious ankle injury during the group stages.
Turkey’s long-awaited return to the World Cup stage turned into a nightmare after they were dumped out of the tournament with a group stage game to spare. Despite the intense backlash following defeats to Australia and Paraguay, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has taken a definitive stance on the future of head coach Vincenzo Montella.
Another major tournament, another debate raging around Portugal's continued selection of Cristiano Ronaldo. The veteran forward's anonymous performance in his country's World Cup opener against DR Congo has reignited the now-biennial discussion over whether or not he should still be starting for the Seleccao at the grand old age of 41. Although you shouldn't expect anything to actually change so long as Roberto Martinez is in charge, the manager must learn when to take action.
Brazil icon Roberto Carlos believes the Selecao are ready to turn a corner at the 2026 World Cup provided they can successfully reintegrate Neymar into the starting XI. Speaking during the tournament in North America, the legendary left-back offered a candid assessment of the current squad compared to rivals Argentina while backing Carlo Ancelotti’s side to make a deep run.
Harry Kane lives for scoring goals, but will England’s record-shattering captain be keeping an eye on how the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are faring at the 2026 World Cup? Three Lions legend John Barnes has addressed that Golden Boot battle during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as individual ambition is blended with the collective pursuit of global glory.
Raphinha's World Cup campaign has been thrown into doubt after the Brazil winger suffered a hamstring injury against Haiti. His wife, Natalia Belloli, has revealed the emotional phone call that followed, while Brazil continue to monitor his recovery in the hope he can still play a part later in the tournament.
Belgium’s World Cup campaign has hit a stuttering start following two consecutive draws, but while the points tally is a concern, it is the performance levels that have drawn the sharpest tongue in football. Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not hold back when assessing their latest stalemate against Iran, delivering a scathing review of the Red Devils' toothless display.
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