With excitement building for the 2026 World Cup, more than one million tickets have already been sold following the conclusion of the pre-sale draw phase, according to FIFA. Supporters from 212 countries and territories have already secured tickets, underscoring the global appeal of the sport’s most prestigious event.
The 2026 World Cup will create a $4.5 billion sponsorship economy for the 13 cities in the United States and Canada set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a report by SponsorUnited released this week. The report provides a detailed look at how the cities fit within the broader sponsorship systems shaping North American sports.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been handed a major boost in his bid to face former club Liverpool, with the Real Madrid defender’s recovery from a hamstring injury progressing ahead of schedule. The 27-year-old England international has returned to light training and could feature at Anfield on November 4, seven weeks after suffering an injury against Marseille.
Arsenal will be relieved to have hit the international break after their sluggish form continued on Thursday, albeit in a 2-0 victory at Benfica that got their Champions League title defence up and running. The Gunners have found things tough as of late, winning just one of their last five games coming into this fixture, and those struggles continued in a rather toothless performance in Portugal despite goals from Beth Mead and Alessia Russo.
Jadon Sancho and rapper and singer girlfriend Saweetie have been accused of owing money to her ex-manager. Maybach Mayy took to Instagram to call out Saweetie in a series of posts and has called for reimbursement. Sancho and Saweetie, whose real name is Diamonte Harper, appear to have been dating for some time now after she was spotted in attendance at a Chelsea game last season.
Roy Keane had absolutely no sympathy for Rory McIlroy, who was on the receiving end of abuse at the Ryder Cup in New York last month. Team Europe claimed an impressive 15-13 win over Team USA but insults were aimed at McIlroy and Shane Lowry over the weekend at Bethpage Black, yet no-nonsense man Keane pulled no punches in his assessment of the abuse sent in the direction of the Irish golfers.
Mason Greenwood’s Marseille have reportedly made an enquiry for Real Madrid’s teenage forward Endrick, with the Brazilian growing increasingly 'frustrated' over his lack of minutes under Xabi Alonso. The 18-year-old has not featured since recovering from injury and could be open to a January loan exit as he looks to secure game time ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane was gifted a £87,000 Audi as Real Madrid handed BMWs to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham. It’s back to business for Europe’s elite and they’re doing it in serious style. The two footballing powerhouses, both partnered with German car giants, have given their players the keys to brand-new, high-performance machines to kick off the club season’s return.
Cavan Sullivan and Mathis Albert are among the headliners on a 21-player squad that will represent the United States in the upcoming U17 World Cup. Gonzalo Segares announced his squad on Thursday, and it includes plenty of firepower, headlined by the Philadelphia Union midfielder and the rising Borussia Dortmund star. The roster features players from 15 clubs.
Security concerns have prompted a request from the West Midlands police that Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters not attend Aston Villa's Europa League game next month. It means that there will be no away fans in attendance at Villa Park when the pair meet in the competition at the start of November. Villa have made an impressive start to their European campaign, winning both matches so far.
Diego Costa proved he’s lost none of his trademark aggression after bulldozing Chelsea Women’s legend Gemma Davison during a training session for a recent charity match. The former Blues striker sent Davison flying in a heavy challenge, with John Terry summing it up perfectly afterwards. The former captain admitted: “That’s Diego in a nutshell. He just doesn’t give a s***.”
América striker Henry Martín has overcome the knee sprain that has kept him sidelined since Matchday 8 against Chivas. But while he has returned to light training, he is still not fully recovered or match-fit - and therefore will not be included in the squad for Saturday’s clash with Cruz Azul. The Águilas will look to stay near the top of the Liga MX table.
It's unlikely that Maya Le Tissier didn't see the discourse around her going into Manchester United's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. After Sarina Wiegman said she saw the Red Devils' captain as more of a right-back, rather than a centre-back, the conversation was unavoidable, with everyone from Ian Wright to the Man Utd social media admin getting involved to wonder just why the England boss doesn't see Le Tissier as a serious contender for a starting role in the heart of the Lionesses defence. Perhaps it even served as fuel for the player herself, because she was outstanding in the 1-0 win in Spain that maintained United's perfect start to their first ever UWCL campaign.
Lamine Yamal has broken into the top 10 of the world's highest paid players. Forbes estimates that the teenage Barcelona star will earn enough this year to break the threshold for the first time in his career. High-profile sponsorship deals with the likes of Adidas, Visa and Konami have helped boost Yamal's earnings as a familiar face retains top spot in this rundown.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been hailed as the ultimate professional by his former Manchester United teammate Ben Foster — who revealed the Portuguese icon was 'definitely the teacher’s pet' under Sir Alex Ferguson. The former goalkeeper lifted the lid on the five-time Ballon d'Or winner’s legendary work ethic, discipline, and drive that set him apart from everyone else at Old Trafford.
Lionel Messi has sent a message to Barcelona as the Inter Miami forward celebrates an 'amazing' anniversary. It was on this day in 2004 that Messi made his La Liga debut as he was introduced late on in their 1-0 win at Espanyol. As the Blaugrana sought to see a narrow victory over their rivals, then boss Frank Rijkaard had no qualms about bringing the Argentine on for Deco late on.
Thibaut Courtois has offered an unusual piece of advice to Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens ahead of his daunting Anfield test against Premier League champions Liverpool. With Anfield remaining one of the most intimidating venues in world football, the 23-year-old faces a true baptism of fire as Ruben Amorim's struggling side face Arne Slot's free-scoring Reds.
England's Lionesses have yet another injury concern on their hands when it comes to their October fixtures after Jess Park was ruled out of Manchester United's final game before the international break. The winger has been in fine form since joining from Manchester City on deadline day but is now a doubt for her country's first game since Sarina Wiegman guided them to another European Championship triumph.
Manchester City are still awaiting the findings of their 115-charge FFP case. City were accused of 115 financial breaches in February 2023 while hearings, which lasted 10 weeks, took place last September. An outcome is said to be imminent and the most likely punishments if they are found guilty have been revealed by a financial expert as the club wait with bated breath on the decision.
Ricky-Jade Jones, one of the fastest players in the world, is inching closer to making his debut for Bundesliga outfit St. Pauli. The 22-year-old spent six years at Peterborough United, before making a free transfer from the League One outfit over the summer. Jones suffered an unfortunate injury during the pre-season, which forced him to miss the first two months of the ongoing campaign.
FIFA is rolling out a brand new VAR challenge initiative that gives managers the power to use purple and blue cards during matches to request a decision review from the referee, but it threatens to lead to even more frustrating delays. The cards are currently being tested at the 2025 Under-20 World Cup in Chile and in other smaller-scale tournaments and leagues.
Ryan Babel has finally closed the chapter on his first Liverpool home, a property that witnessed footballing dreams, life lessons, and unforgettable chaos. In a recent social media post, Babel shared one of the wildest moments the house had witnessed, when Dutch teammate Royston Drenthe built a nightclub inside and forgot to pay rent during his spell at Everton.
The FA will reportedly approach David Beckham to discuss using Inter Miami's training centre ahead of the 2026 World Cup. England booked their trip Stateside on Tuesday night as they battered Latvia in Riga to make it six wins from six. And while the showpiece event is months away, England are already making preparations for the World Cup in North America next summer.
Barcelona Femeni captain Alexia Putellas created Women's Champions League history on Wednesday as her goal against Roma saw her leapfrog former striker Jenni Hermoso and three-time Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmati. Putellas will now be eyeing further history with the dominant Catalan outfit just a month after he she received a mouth-watering offer from Paris Saint-Germain Feminines.
From Malmo’s tough streets to San Siro's grand stage, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has never backed down from a challenge or from hate. In an interview, the Swedish legend reflected on racism, fatherhood and the mindset that turned insults into fuel. The Swedish striker revealed how “gypsy” slurs from opposition fans only pushed him to perform harder and how he paved the way for Sweden’s new generation.
Bayern Munich have reportedly opened talks with Koln over the signing of German wonderkid Said El Mala. The Bavarian club are said to be the most advanced in their pursuit of the youngster, but they face competition from English sides, as Koln had previously rejected a substantial summer offer from Brighton.